Association of kidney function with cancer incidence and its influence on cancer risk of smoking: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

The association between kidney function and cancer incidence is inconsistent among previous reports, and data on the Japanese population are lacking. It is unknown whether kidney function modifies the cancer risk of other factors. We aimed to evaluate the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cancer incidence and mortality in 55 242 participants (median age, 57 years; 55% women) from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. We also investigated differences in cancer risk factors between individuals with and without kidney dysfunction. During a median 9.3-year follow-up period, 4278 (7.7%) subjects developed cancer. Moderately low and high eGFRs were associated with higher cancer incidence; compared with eGFR of 60-74 ml/min/1.73 m², the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for eGFRs of ≥90, 75-89, 45-59, 30-44 and 10-29 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.18 (1.07-1.29), 1.09 (1.01-1.17), 0.93 (0.83-1.04), 1.36 (1.00-1.84) and 1.12 (0.55-2.26), respectively. High eGFR was associated with higher cancer mortality, while low eGFR was not; the adjusted subdistribution HRs (95% CIs) for eGFRs of ≥90 and 75-89 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.58 (1.29-1.94) and 1.27 (1.08-1.50), respectively. Subgroup analyses of participants with eGFRs ≥60 and <60 ml/min/1.73 m² revealed elevated cancer risks of smoking and family history of cancer in those with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m², with significant interactions. Our findings suggest that the relationship between eGFR and cancer incidence was U-shaped. Only high eGFR was associated with cancer mortality. Kidney dysfunction enhanced cancer risk from smoking.     

An updated review on pathophysiology and management of burning mouth syndrome with endocrinological,psychological and neuropathic perspectives

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oro‐facial pain disorder of unknown cause. It is more common in peri‐ and post‐menopausal women, and sex hormone dysregulation is believed to be an important causative factor. Psychosocial events often trigger or exacerbate symptoms, and persons with BMS appear to be predisposed towards anxiety and depression. Atrophy of small nerve fibres in the tongue epithelium has been reported, and potential neuropathic mechanisms for BMS are now widely investigated. Historically, BMS was thought to comprise endocrinological, psychosocial and neuropathic components. Neuroprotective steroids and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor family ligands may have pivotal roles in the peripheral mechanisms associated with atrophy of small nerve fibres. Denervation of chorda tympani nerve fibres that innervate fungiform buds leads to alternative trigeminal innervation, which results in dysgeusia and burning pain when eating hot foods. With regard to the central mechanism of BMS, depletion of neuroprotective steroids alters the brain network–related mood and pain modulation. Peripheral mechanistic studies support the use of topical clonazepam and capsaicin for the management of BMS, and some evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioural therapy. Hormone replacement therapy may address the causes of BMS, although adverse effects prevent its use as a first‐line treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may have important benefits, and well‐designed controlled studies are expected. Other treatment options to be investigated include brain stimulation and TSPO (translocator protein 18 kDa) ligands.     

Psychiatric symptoms associated with oculogyric crisis: a review of literature for the characterization of antipsychotic-induced episodes.

Antipsychotics have been found to induce recurrent psychotic episodes lasting minutes to hours, mostly accompanied by oculogyric crisis (OGC). To characterize this side effect, antipsychotic-induced and postencephalitic OGCs that were reported in the literature were compared to find out common characteristics of OGCs and their associated symptoms. Both postencephalitic and antipsychotic-induced OGCs were found to occur late in the day and at regular intervals, and were associated with autonomic symptoms such as profuse sweating, facial flushing, transitory hypertension and difficulty in micturition. They were often associated also with transient psychiatric episodes: visual hallucinations and illusions, auditory hallucinations, delusions, catatonic phenomena, obsessive thoughts and panic attacks. These (OGC) characteristics will be useful in recognizing antipsychotic-induced psychiatric episodes. The associated psychiatric episodes were noted to recur occasionally also without OGC in a few postencephalic cases, and during gradual dose reduction or after a switch to a novel or low-potency antipsychotic in drug-induced cases. These findings suggest that episodes with the OGC characteristics but without OGC per se, may be less severe reactions to antipsychotic medication than those with OGC, and may represent manifestations of subclinical OGC.     

Myosin heavy chain composition of tongue muscle in microphthalmic (mi/mi) mice before and after weaning.

To elucidate the effects of teeth on muscle fibers in the tongue during the developmental process, we examined the expression of muscle contractile proteins and the genes for those proteins in normal mice and microphthalmic (mi/mi) mice with impaired tooth eruption. The mice were observed during the growth period, including weaning, which is when feeding movements undergo major changes. Expression of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC)-2a protein, whose contraction speed is relatively slow, disappeared after weaning in normal mice, while it remained in high concentrations even after weaning in mi/mi mice. The presence of MyHC-2a after weaning in mice with no tooth eruption was attributed to a compensation for lack of proper masticatory function and sucking-like movements, as MyHC-2a is necessary for these movements.     

系膜细胞α-平滑肌肌动蛋白表达与细胞表型的关系

目的：探讨增殖性肾小球肾炎大鼠动物模型中系膜细胞α－平滑肌肌动蛋白（α－SMA）表达与细胞表型的关系。方法：应用单克隆抗体1－22－3（MoAb1-22-3)及Habu蛇毒素分别诱导大鼠增殖性肾小球肾炎动物模型。用免疫组化技术并结合计算机图像分析，检测两个不同诱因引起模型的各个阶段的系膜细胞内α－平滑肌肌动蛋白，SMeb的表达程度，系膜细胞增殖和细胞外基质（ECM）分泌的情况。结果：在MoAb1-22-3模型，随着系膜细胞增殖程度的加理，ECM积聚增多，α－SMA的表达程度也增加，三者平行变化并具有高度相关性，而Habu模型则系膜细胞增殖和ECM增加的同时α－SMA，SMemb表达不增加。结论：α－SMA不是系膜细胞被激活并处于增殖／分泌表型唯一标志。