The purpose of this study was to examine how S-R compatibility affected P 300, the stimulusevaluation process and response process. The P 300 component is thought to reflect information processing of stimuli. Previous studies used visual stimuli. In this study, we measured S-R compatibility effects on EMG-RT and P 300 using electrical somatosensory stimuli. Subjects performed the oddball task (Task 1) and the four-choice stimuli response task (Task 2) . They were presented electrical stimuli through ring electrodes on the index and little fingers of both hands and instructed to respond quickly to stimuli. S-R compatibility was decided by position of the stimuli. EMG-RT and P 300 latency for compatible and incompatible conditions were analyzed.
For ERP analysis, data of subjects who reacted faster to compatibility ware used. Neither P 300 latency nor amplitude differed significantly between compatibility and incompatibility in Tasks 1 and 2, but for Task 2, latency tended to be prolonged by incompatibility. Therefore, it is thought that S-R compatibility mainly has an effect on response processing. However, judging from the tendency of P 300 latency to be prolonged by incompatibility for Task 2, it was considered that there is the possibility that S-R compatibility influenced P 300 latency, even if using a somatosensory stimulus.

Objective: Ganoderma lucidum (Rei-shi) is widely used as an alternative medicine agent to promote health and longevity. The water-soluble extract from culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (WER) is prepared from a solid medium composed of bagasse and rice bran overgrown for 3–4 months with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia.
Design: In this study, we evaluate antioxidant activity of WER in vitro, and examined the effects of oral treatment of WER on oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.
Method: Male ICR mice were treated with STZ (150 mg/kg, i.p.) and were housed for a week for induction of experimental diabetic state. WER (1 g/kg daily) was orally administered for an additional 9 weeks, and the levels of blood glucose, oxidative stress in plasma, liver and kidney of the mice were assessed.
Result: WER inhibited generation of superoxide anion and lipid peroxidation in concentration dependent manner in vitro. Oral administration of WER to diabetic mice significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose, hydroperoxides, triglyceride, ALT, and AST. Moreover, WER prevented the increase in lipid peroxide levels and the decrease in activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) in liver and kidney of diabetic mice. In addition, histochemical studies revealed that treatment of WER precluded the sinusoidal dilation in liver and expansion of mesangial matrix in kidney of diabetic mice. Normal mice treated with WER showed no change in any parameters studied.
Conclusion: These data suggested that WER can act as an antioxidant in vivo, and show the antidiabetic effects by relieving diabetic hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress.

Objective: The water-soluble extract of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (WER) is prepared from a solid medium composed of bagasse and rice bran overgrown with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia. Recently, we have reported that WER had glucose-lowering effect in streptozotosin-induced diabetic mice, an animal model of type 1 diabetes. Here, we investigated whether long-term treatment with WER affects hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in KK-A^y mice, a type 2 diabetic animal model with obesity.
Methods: Female KK-A^y mice were given free access to water and high-fat food containing 0.5% WER for 8 weeks, with blood glucose and plasma insulin levels assessed every week. At the end of the experimental period, insulin tolerance test (ITT) was performed, and plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT and adiponectin were measured. Furthermore, expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle cell membrane and adipocytes was also determined by immunostaining and Western blot analysis.
Results: The mice with high-fat ingestion showed a gradual increase in levels of blood glucose and body weight. In the WER-treated mice, the blood glucose level was significantly suppressed after 2 weeks of treatment. WER also reduced plasma levels of ALT and insulin, but did not affect the other parameters. Additionally, ITT revealed that WER improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, expression of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes of the WER-treated mice was increased.
Conclusion: These results indicate that WER has a glucose-lowering effect in type 2 diabetic mice. WER also improved hyperinsulinemia and insulin sensitivity, which may derive from enhancement of glucose uptake through GLUT4 of skeletal muscle cells and adipocytes.