Changes in laryngeal sensation evaluated with a new method before and after radiotherapy

Radiotherapy of the laryngopharynx sometimes leads to functional disabilities including swallowing dysfunction. One of the reasons for these disabilities is a deterioration of laryngeal sensation. Laryngeal sensation is an important factor in swallowing, but quantitative evaluation of laryngeal sensation has been difficult. In this study, we evaluated changes in laryngeal sensation before and after radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, using a flexible laryngoscope and probes. This study was conducted in 12 patients, 8 with laryngeal cancer and 4 with hypopharyngeal cancer, who received radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy at our medical centre. Measurements were performed using a 3.3-mm-diameter flexible laryngoscope with a probe port and four types of probes with 0.06-, 0.13-, 0.20-, and 0.30-mm nylon filaments attached to a wire tip. Sensation was evaluated at the tip of the epiglottis and the arytenoid region. Measurements were performed before radiotherapy, 1, 3 months, and 1 year after completion of radiotherapy. Sensation of the epiglottis and arytenoid deteriorated significantly 1 and 3 months after radiotherapy compared with before radiotherapy. Laryngeal sensation recovered in most cases within 1 year after radiotherapy. The present study clearly demonstrates the deterioration of laryngeal sensation with radiotherapy

Gender differences of the influential factors on the mental health condition of teachers in the A university

The purpose of this research was to investigate the gender differences of the influential factors on the mental health condition among university teachers in the A university in Japan. A questionnaire survey was mailed to 924 university teachers in Japan, with a survey return rate of 43.8% (N=405). The General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Japanese version of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) and the Work Situation Questionnaire (WSQ) developed by the authors were administered to subjects. The GHQ-28 total score and all of sub-score of the woman was significantly higher than men. In the correlated factor of mental health, level of job satisfaction and job control, social support of significant others was observed in the both sexes. However, gender differences was observed in the coping style. Some copings including self-distraction and self-blame were related to the men, but the woman was related to the substance use. University teachers had some gender differences in the factors affecting their mental health condition. In order to improve university teacher’s mental health condition, it is necessary to increase their level of job satisfaction and feeling of job control in the workplace. Especially, it was considered women’s coping using substance use was important

Flurbiprofen ameliorated obesity by attenuating leptin resistance induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caused by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, is involved in the development of obesity. We demonstrated that flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID), exhibited chaperone activity, which reduced protein aggregation and alleviated ER stress‐induced leptin resistance, characterized by insensitivity to the actions of the anti‐obesity hormone leptin. This result was further supported by flurbiprofen attenuating high‐fat diet‐induced obesity in mice. The other NSAIDs tested did not exhibit such effects, which suggested that this anti‐obesity action is mediated independent of NSAIDs. Using ferriteglycidyl methacrylate beads, we identified aldehyde dehydrogenase as the target of flurbiprofen, but not of the other NSAIDs. These results suggest that flurbiprofen may have unique pharmacological properties that reduce the accumulation of unfolded proteins and may represent a new class of drug for the fundamental treatment of obesity