Volumes of Velopharyngeal and Glossopharyngeal Airway Were Not Changed after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: Report of Three Cases.

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in velopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal airway morphology and volume after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in three adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients who had bilateral large tonsils using three-dimensional computed tomography. Case Report. All three patients (one male and two females) who presented with a history of heavy snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were examined with overnight nocturnal polysomnography, which indicated moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Because all patients had large tonsils, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was expected to enlarge the pharyngeal airway. Polysomnography and three-dimensional computed tomography scanning were performed and compared, both before and 3 months after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Results. Unexpectedly, although the morphology of the glossopharyngeal airway clearly changed after UPPP, the volume changes in the velopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal airways were negligible.

Delta-tocotrienol induces apoptotic cell death via depletion of intracellular squalene in ED40515 cells.

Here, we examined the effect of tocotrienols (T3) on the growth of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells. All three forms (ß-, γ-, and δ-T3) inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner; δ-T3 showed the strongest growth-inhibitory effect. δ-T3 increased the G1, G2/M, and subG1 populations and induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. δ-T3 treatment also increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3, -6, -7, -9, and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and this was accompanied by downregulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and XIAP. Moreover, δ-T3 decreased nuclear p65 NF-κB levels, indicating downregulation of NF-κB activity. This cytotoxic effect of δ-T3 was abrogated by squalene (SQL) but not mevalonate (MVL), farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), or cholesterol (CL). δ-T3 decreased intracellular SQL levels, and inhibition of de novo cholesterol synthesis did not affect the action of SQL. Furthermore, δ-T3 significantly decreased farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1) expression. Taken together, it is evident that δ-T3, due to its ability to potently induce apoptosis via the depletion of intracellular SQL, shows the potential to be considered a therapeutic agent in patients with ATL.

Genistein induces apoptotic cell death associated with inhibition of the NF-κB pathway in adult T-cell leukemia cells.

We have shown that genistein inhibits the growth of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells in vitro and in vivo, and this leads to pronounced G2/M arrest. This report shows that genistein induces apoptotic death in ATL cells. Although the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, did not inhibit genistein-induced apoptosis, release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) into the cytosol occurred. Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibition also abrogated genistein-induced apoptosis. Genistein decreased nuclear p65 translocation and IκBα phosphorylation, and downregulated the anti-apoptotic proteins, XIAP, cIAP and survivin, NF-κB-responsive gene products. Thus, genistein is a promising agent for ATL that induces caspase-independent apoptosis through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.

The NF-κB specific inhibitor DHMEQ prevents thrombus formation in a mouse model of antiphospholipid syndrome.

BACKGROUND: ß2-glycoprotein I (ß2GPI)-dependent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are considered to play a pivotal pathogenic role in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) by inducing the expression of tissue factor, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines, most of which are dependent upon the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, the NF-κB is regarded as a promising target for the development of a novel therapeutic strategy. However, progress has been limited owing to the fact that there are no widely-used in vivo models, or highly specific inhibitors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the effects of an NF-κB-specific inhibitor, DHMEQ, in preventing thrombus formation using an original mouse model of APS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specificity of a monoclonal aPL WB-6 was examined by ELISA. WB-6 was injected into normal BALB/c mice with or without DHMEQ treatment. A pulse laser was radiated to a cutaneous vein in the window of a dorsal skinfold chamber attached to the mouse and thrombus formation was observed and recorded under a microscope. RESULTS: WB-6 bound preferentially to the caldiolipin (CL)-ß2GPI complex rather than to CL alone, or ß2GPI alone. WB-6, but not isotype-matched control antibody, induced a prothrombotic state in the mice by inducing tissue factor expression upon circulating monocytes, resulting in thrombus formation at the site of laser-induced endothelial injury. This diathesis was almost completely ameliorated by DHMEQ treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of the NF-κB pathway is a promising strategy for the development of a novel treatment for APS.

Seasonal trends of blood pressure during pregnancy in Japan: the babies and their parents' longitudinal observation in Suzuki Memorial Hospital in Intrauterine Period study.

OBJECTIVE: Blood pressure (BP) increases both in winter and in the last trimester of pregnancy. Some interaction seems to exist between season and gestational age. The present study observed home BP values during pregnancy with adjustment for seasonal variation and gestational age. METHODS: We observed 10353 home BP measurements from 101 normal pregnant women attending a maternity hospital in Japan. Home BP values were examined by mixed linear model adjusting for meteorological data and gestational age. RESULTS: The lowest home BP values were observed in the second trimester [mean (+/-standard deviation) systolic/diastolic BP, 101.8 +/- 7.9/59.8 +/- 5.8 mmHg at gestational week 20]. In the last trimester, home BP values gradually increased and the values after gestational week 26 were significantly higher than those at gestational week 20 (110.1 +/- 9.7/66.8 +/- 7.7 mmHg at gestational week 40). A 10 degrees C increase in daily minimum outdoor temperature was associated with a mean reduction of 2.5/2.5 mmHg (Delta systolic BP/Delta diastolic BP: 95% confidence interval, 2.3/2.4 to 2.6/2.7 mmHg) in home BP with adjustment for gestational age. The largest and smallest estimated home BP changes during pregnancy were 12.8/12.5 and 3.1/3.0 mmHg in pregnant woman who delivered in January and July, respectively. CONCLUSION: Interactions among BP, season and gestational age should be considered when evaluating BP in pregnant women. Risks associated with high BP might be underestimated in pregnant woman in summer who will deliver in winter.