Self-controllable prodromal symptoms of syncope attributed to carotid sinus syndrome during the end stage of cancer: a case report

Background

Carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) can cause prodromal symptoms of syncope such as dizziness and nausea. Patients with end-stage cancer lose self-efficacy associated with reduced activities of daily life (ADL). Herein, we report a case of end-stage cancer in which self-efficacy was enhanced as the patient gained self-control of prodromal symptoms of syncope.

Case presentation

A 70-year-old patient with end-stage esophageal cancer and enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes developed CSS. The CSS was a mixed type with both bradycardia and decreased blood pressure, accompanied by prodromal symptoms prior to syncope episodes. The patient incidentally discovered that he could decrease the duration of symptoms by contracting the muscles in his hands and legs. By applying this coping method at the onset of prodromal symptoms, he was also able to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, which resulted in enhanced self-efficacy. As a result, the frequency of prodromal symptoms also decreased even though ADL improved.

Conclusion

This patient was diagnosed with vasoinhibitory-predominant mixed-type CSS. The coping method the patient developed seemed to avoid the onset of abrupt blood pressure decrease via peripheral vascular constriction action. Achievement of adequate coping such as self-control of prodromal symptoms enabled our patient to improve his self-efficacy even at the end stages of cancer. This case of enhanced self-efficacy could possibly illustrate a placebo effect for prevention of recurrence.

     

Expression of a putative dioxygenase gene adjacent to an insertion mutation is involved in the short internodes of columnar apples (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>)

Determining the molecular mechanism of fruit tree architecture is important for tree management and fruit production. An apple mutant ‘McIntosh Wijcik’, which was discovered as a bud mutation from ‘McIntosh’, exhibits a columnar growth phenotype that is controlled by a single dominant gene, Co. In this study, the mutation and the Co gene were analyzed. Fine mapping narrowed the Co region to a 101 kb region. Sequence analysis of the Co region and the original wild-type co region identified an insertion mutation of an 8202 bp long terminal repeat (LTR) retroposon in the Co region. Segregation analysis using a DNA marker based on the insertion polymorphism showed that the LTR retroposon was closely associated with the columnar growth phenotype. RNA-seq and RT-PCR analysis identified a promising Co candidate gene (91071-gene) within the Co region that is specifically expressed in ‘McIntosh Wijcik’ but not in ‘McIntosh’. The 91071-gene was located approximately 16 kb downstream of the insertion mutation and is predicted to encode a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase involved in an unknown reaction. Overexpression of the 91071-gene in transgenic tobaccos and apples resulted in phenotypes with short internodes, like columnar apples. These data suggested that the 8202 bp retroposon insertion in ‘McIntosh Wijcik’ is associated with the short internodes of the columnar growth phenotype via upregulated expression of the adjacent 91071-gene. Furthermore, the DNA marker based on the insertion polymorphism could be useful for the marker-assisted selection of columnar apples.     

Antifibrotic effect of methylated quercetin derivatives on TGFβ-induced hepatic stellate cells

Quercetin (QCT) and isorhamnetin (ISO), natural flavonoids, were both shown to possess antifibrotic activity in in vivo and in vitro models of hepatic fibrosis. Although ISO is a direct metabolite of QCT differing by a methyl group, it has been reported to be absorbed more adequately and eliminated slower than QCT after oral administration. Our aim of the study was to investigate biological effect of mono-methylated QCT derivatives against fibrosis using rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). All test derivatives were synthesized from QCT. HSC-T6 cells were induced by TGFβ and treated with derivatives followed by cell proliferation assay, immunofluorescence staining of αSMA, and gene expression analysis of fibrosis markers. All compounds showed a dose- and time-dependent antiproliferation effect. ISO, 3-O-methylquercetin (3MQ), and rhamnetin (RHA) reduced αSMA mRNA; 3MQ prevented the augmentation of collagen I mRNA; and compounds, except azaleatin and 3MQ, reduced Timp1 mRNA expression in TGFβ-induced HSCs. In conclusion, each compound had singular effect against different features of fibrosis depending on the position of methyl group although the further mechanism of action of compounds during fibrosis development remains to be investigated. These findings suggest that antifibrotic effect of quercetin can be enhanced by adding methyl group on functionally important position.     

Heart rate and electroencephalogram changes caused by finger acupressure on planta pedis

Preliminary experiments were carried out to investigate the feasibility of using an electroencephalogram and heart rates to evaluate the efficacy of finger acupressure on the key points of planta pedis (both soles). Continuous electroencephalograms were recorded from 19 electrodes based on the International 10-20 electrode placement system on 22 university students (21+/-2.3 years). Spectral power changes were obtained at each electrode site. The power of the alpha1 frequency range (8-10 Hz) increased slightly during acupressure although no statistical significance was observed, while heart rates decreased in all subjects (p<0.05). Cerebral cortex asymmetry in the spectral power changes was not clearly observed during the right and left sole acupressure. This preliminary study suggests that a classification of subjects is necessary in understanding brain wave data during acupressure on soles.     

Norlichexanthone produced by cultured endolichenic fungus induced from Pertusaria laeviganda and its antioxidant activity

Endolichenic fungi, nonobligate microfungi that live in lichen, are promising as new bioresources of pharmacological compounds. We found that norlichexanthone isolated from the endolichenic fungus in Pertusaria laeviganda exhibited high antioxidant activity. Norlichexanthone produced by endolichenic fungus had the antioxidant activity with same level of ascorbic acid. This is the first report of high antioxidant activity of norlichexanthone.

Abbreviations: AAPH: 2,2?-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; FL: fluorescein sodium salt; HPLC-PDA: high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array; LC-ESI-MS: liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry; ORAC: oxygen radical absorbance capacity; PB: phosphate buffer; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TLC: thin-layer chromatography     

Role of brain histamine H1- and H2-receptors in neostigmine-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

We previously reported that when neostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase, was injected into the third cerebral ventricle, the concentration of hepatic venous plasma glucose was increased via central muscarinic receptors in anesthetized rats. To determine whether brain histamine receptors are involved in cholinergic system transmission with regard to central nervous system (CNS)-mediated glucoregulation, we examined the effects of the H1 receptor antagonist pyrilamine and the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine on neostigmine-induced hyperglycemia in anesthetized rats. The injection of pyrilamine (5 x 10(-9)-5 x 10(-7) mol) into the third cerebral ventricle suppressed hyperglycemia induced by intraventricular injection of neostigmine (1 x 10(-9) mol) in a dose-dependent manner. Injection of ranitidine (5 x 10(-9)-5 x 10(-7) mol) into the third cerebral ventricle did not suppress the hyperglycemia induced by neostigmine, but enhanced it in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that neostigmine-induced CNS-mediated hyperglycemia is transmitted by not only brain cholinergic muscarinic receptors but also in part by histamine H1 receptors.     

Physiological significance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic textile materials during intermittent exercise in humans under the influence of warm ambient temperature with and without wind

The purpose of this present study was to compare the physiological effects of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the fabrics investigated in exercising and resting subjects at an ambient temperature of 30°C and a relative humidity of 50% with and without wind. Three kinds of clothing ensemble were tested: wool and cotton blend with high moisture regain (A), 100% cotton with intermediate moisture regain (B), 100% polyester clothing with low moisture regain (C). The experiments were performed using seven young adult women as subjects. They comprised six repeated periods of 10-min exercise on a cycle ergometer at an intensity of 40% maximal oxygen uptake followed by 5 min of rest (20 min for the last rest). The experiments comprised two sessions. During session I (first three repetitions of exercise and rest) the subjects were exposed to an indifferent wind velocity and during session II (last three repetitions of exercise and rest) they were exposed to a wind velocity of 1.5 m · s⁻¹. Rectal temperature and skin temperatures at eight sites, pulse rate and clothing microclimate were recorded throughout the whole period. The main findings can be summarized as follows: rectal temperature during session II was kept at a significantly lower level in A than in B and C. Clothing microclimate humidity at the chest was significantly lower in A than in B and C during session II. Skin and clothing microclimate temperatures at the chest were significantly lower in A than in B and C during session II. Pulse rate was significantly higher in C than in A and B during sessions I and II. It was concluded that the hydrophilic properties of the fabrics studied were of physiological significance for reducing heat strain during exercise and rest especially when influenced by wind. Accepted: 3 June 1998     

Properties of rice cooked with commercial water-soluble soybean polysaccharides extracted under weakly acidic conditions from soybean cotyledons

It has been found that commercial water-soluble soybean polysaccharides (SSPS) can make cooked rice and noodles non-sticky and prevent rice grains and noodles from adhering to each other. We studied in detail the phenomenon of rice cooked with SSPS. We assumed that the phenomenon resulted from the interaction between SSPS and starch during cooking, and studied the effects of SSPS on the gelatinizing behavior of rice starch by using a Rapid-Visco-Analyzer. The addition of SSPS reduced the viscosity of the gelatinized starch. This lower final viscosity of the rice starch was more distinct from than that of potato starch. These results imply that the properties of SSPS in forming a non-sticky condition might result from a decrease in the viscosity of the gelatinized starch.     

Heparan sulfate is required for bone morphogenetic protein-7 signaling

Although genetic studies have suggested that heparan sulfate (HS) is involved in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-mediated embryonic morphogenesis, it is unclear whether HS is directly involved in BMP-mediated signaling. Here, we investigate the involvement of HS in BMP-7 signaling. We show that HS and heparin chains specifically bind to BMP-7. Digestion of cell-surface HS with heparitinase interferes with BMP-7-mediated Smad phosphorylation in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic cells. Inhibiting sulfation of cell-surface HS with chlorate also causes interruption of Smad phosphorylation. Addition of exogenous heparin to ROS 17/2.8 cells prevents BMP-7-mediated Smad phosphorylation rather than enhances the BMP-7 signal, suggesting that HS should be anchored on the plasma membrane for BMP signaling. Moreover, BMP-7 binding to ROS 17/2.8 cells is inhibited by chlorate treatment and exogenous application of heparin. These results demonstrate that BMP-7 specifically binds to cell-surface HS and the BMP-7-HS interaction is required for BMP-7 signaling.