Quality of Life-Related Factors in Patients with Long-Term Disease after Laryngectomy for Head and Neck Cancer / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

Objective：To research studies on patients with head and neck cancer who underwent laryngectomy (patients with laryngectomy) in terms of function, activity, participation, and environment, and examine quality of life (QOL) -related factors.Methods：The participants were patients who underwent laryngectomy and belonged to the Japanese Laryngectomy Clubs. We investigated basic attributes, QOL, sarcopenia, neck and upper limb function, and upper limb-related activities of daily living (ULADL). Statistical analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression analysis after correlation analysis to investigate QOL-related factors.Results：The number of valid responders was 272 patients, median age was 74.0 years, median postoperative follow-up was 8.7 years, and 94 were still employed after surgery. Multiple logistic regression analysis results revealed that factors related to QOL included ULADL, sarcopenia, and neck and upper limb function.Conclusions：The QOL-related factors of laryngectomy were neck and upper limb function, ULADL, and sarcopenia. Rehabilitation for these factors is considered important in improving QOL.

Allopregnanolone suppresses mechanical allodynia and internalization of neurokinin-1 receptors at the spinal dorsal horn in a rat postoperative pain model

BACKGROUND: To identify a new strategy for postoperative pain management, we investigated the analgesic effects of allopregnanolone (Allo) in an incisional pain model, and also assessed its effects on the activities of the primary afferent fibers at the dorsal horn. METHODS: In experiment 1, 45 rats were assigned to Control, Allo small-dose (0.16 mg/kg), and Allo large-dose (1.6 mg/kg) groups (n = 15 in each). The weight bearing and mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the hind limb were measured before and at 2, 24, 48, and 168 h after Brennan's surgery. In experiment 2, 16 rats were assigned to Control and Allo (0.16 mg/kg) groups (n = 8 in each). The degree of spontaneous pain was measured using the grimace scale after the surgery. Activities of the primary afferent fibers in the spinal cord (L6) were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: In experiment 1, the withdrawal threshold of the Allo small-dose group was significantly higher than that of the Control group at 2 h after surgery. Intergroup differences in weight bearing were not significant. In experiment 2, intergroup differences in the grimace scale scores were not significant. Substance P release in the Allo (0.16 mg/kg) group was significantly lower than that in the Control group. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic administration of Allo inhibited mechanical allodynia and activities of the primary afferent fibers at the dorsal horn in a rat postoperative pain model. Allo was proposed as a candidate for postoperative pain management.

Olanzapine Attenuates Mechanical Allodynia in a Rat Model of Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is a global clinical problem; nevertheless, nerve injury treatment methods remain limited. Olanzapine has antinociceptive and anti-nueropathic properties; however, its preventive effects have not been assessed in nerve injury models. METHODS: We prepared a partial sciatic nerve ligation (Seltzer model) or sham-operated model in male Sprague-Dawley rats under isoflurane anesthesia. In a pre-treatment study, we administered olanzapine (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 1 h before nerve ligation. In post-treatment and dose-dependent studies, we injected 3 different doses of olanzapine intraperitoneally 1 h after nerve ligation. Mechanical allodynia was measured before and 7 days after surgery. Immunohistochemical analysis using anti-Iba-1 antibody was used to assess the effect of olanzapine at the spinal level. RESULTS: In the pre-treatment study, median withdrawal thresholds of the normal saline groups were significantly lower than those of the sham-operated groups; however, those of the olanzapine (10 mg/kg) and sham-operated groups were not different. In the post-treatment and dose-dependent studies, the median withdrawal thresholds of the olanzapine (2.5 mg/kg) and normal saline groups were not different; however, those of the olanzapine (10 and 50 mg/kg) groups were significantly higher than those of the normal saline groups. Olanzapine did not have a significant effect on the density of Iba-1 staining. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine attenuated mechanical allodynia dose-dependently in the Seltzer model. This anti-allodynic effect of olanzapine was observed even when injected 1 h after nerve ligation. This effect of olanzapine appeared to be unrelated to microglia activation in the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord.

THE HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF SOYBEAN HYPOCOTYL EXTRACT IN DIABETIC RATS AND THEIR MECHANISM / 营养学报

Objective: To study the hypoglycemic effects of soybean isoflavones (SI) and soyasaponins (SS) in diabetes, and their inhibitory activities on alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) and alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1). Methods: GK/Jcl type 2 diabetic rats were given diet containing 20 g/kg of soybean hypocotyl extracts (SHE) for 20 weeks, then the blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance test were observed. SI and SS were isolated by ODS column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from SHE. The inhibitory activities of each component of SI and SS against alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase were tested by colorimetric method. Results: SHE decreased blood glucose significantly in type 2 diabetic rats and improved glucose tolerance in both normal and diabetic rats. In alpha-glucosidase inhibitory assay, Group B, Group E and DDMP (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) saponins showed potent inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 10-40 靘ol/L. Isoflavone aglycones also showed potent inhibitory activities against alpha-glucosidase with IC50 values of 20-150 mol/L, while isoflavone glycosides showed a little lower potencies. Inhibition of SI and SS on alpha-amylase was low, and their inhibitory activities were about 10%~20% at the concentration of 1g/L. Conclusion: SI and SS may decrease blood glucose and improve oral glucose tolerance in diabetic rats, probably via the inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase.