Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid Is Related to Happiness and a Sense of Fulfillment—A Study among Female Nursing Workers

Background: Omega (ω) 3 fatty acid (FA) is a polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) that can modulate some mental statuses. However, most studies have not considered the functional differences between eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We investigated associations among happiness, a sense of fulfillment and serum ω3 PUFA levels. Methods: Participants were 133 female staff from a hospital and nursing homes. Happiness was measured using the Japanese version of the subjective happiness scale (SHS); a sense of fulfillment was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Serum FA concentrations were measured. A partial correlation test and a regression model were applied. Results: The SHS scores showed significantly positive correlations with a sense of fulfillment, DHA% and EPA% (p < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.005, respectively), after controlling for age, BMI, menopause, snacking habits and leisure-time physical activities. A sense of fulfillment was significantly negatively correlated with α-linoleic acid%, and positively correlated with DHA% and EPA% (p < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.005, respectively), after controlling for the confounders. A regression model showed that a sense of fulfillment, EPA, and not stopping menstruation explained happiness (standardised beta, B = 0.18, p < 0.05; B = 0.24, p < 0.01; and B = 0.32, and p < 0.05, respectively), whereas age, BMI and snacking habits could not. Simultaneously, a regression model could not explain the association between DHA and happiness. Conclusion: Happiness was related with serum EPA%, a sense of fulfillment, and premenopause.     

Comparison of the University of Pittsburgh staging system and the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM classification for the prognostic evaluation of external auditory canal cancer

Background

The purpose was to compare survival differences between patients with external auditory canal (EAC) cancer treated according to the University of Pittsburgh modified TNM staging system and those treated in accordance with the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual on the TNM staging system for cutaneous cancers of the head and neck.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, single-institution review of 60 patients with EAC cancer treated with curative intent between September 2002 and March 2018. Survival outcomes were measured on the basis of the two staging systems.

Results

The C-index values for the overall survival (OS) rate revealed that the University of Pittsburgh staging system had higher prognostic accuracy than the 8th edition of the AJCC staging system. Univariable and multivariable analysis showed that T classification according to the University of Pittsburgh staging system was an independent predictor of the OS rate (hazard ratio 5.25; 95% confidence interval 1.38–24.9; P?=?0.015). Meanwhile, the AJCC staging system could not differentiate T2 from T3–4 cancers.

Conclusion

The University of Pittsburgh staging system for patients with EAC cancer is a valuable tool for use in clinical decision-making and predicting survival outcome.

     

Altered expression of alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase in prostatic adenocarcinoma following hormone therapy

alpha-Methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) is a sensitive and specific tissue marker for the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. However, limited data are available on AMACR expression in residual prostatic carcinoma following hormone therapy. We analyzed 64 residual or recurrent prostatic adenocarcinomas following hormonal therapy for the expression of AMACR using a monoclonal antibody (P504S) to AMACR. In 20 localized cases, AMACR staining was absent in 11 (55%), 1+ in 6 (30%), and 2+ or 3+ in 3 (15%). However, in 15 metastatic cases, AMACR was absent in 1 (7%), 1+ in 3 (20%), and 2+ or 3+ in 11 (73%). None of the 29 postradiotherapy cases showed complete absence of AMACR staining: 2 (7%) were 1+, and 27 (93%) were 2+ or 3+. AMACR expression was reduced significantly in the majority of posthormonal residual carcinomas, whereas in postradiotherapy and in hormone-refractory metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma, AMACR expression was retained. Therefore, the diagnosis of residual prostatic carcinoma after hormonal therapy using AMACR immunostaining must be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, AMACR might have a role in the recurrence of prostatic adenocarcinoma after medical therapy.     

Plasma lipoprotein (a) levels in children with minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome

We studied the plasma lipoprotein (a)[Lp(a)] levels in 31 children with minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome (MLNS) in both stages of acute NS and remission.The mean Lp(a) levels in acute NS were significantly higher than those of the controls. The Lp(a) levels in remission were significantly lower than the Lp(a) levels in acute NS. In addition, the Lp(a) levels in remission were not significantly different from those of the controls. However, there were 5 patients whose Lp(a) levels remained higher than 30 mg/dl (the generally accepted limit for cardiovascular risk) after remission. Two of these 5 patients had Lp(a) levels greater than 40 mg/dl. In these patients apoprotein (a) [apo(a)] phenotypes were of lower molecular weight than those of the other 23 patients whose apo(a) phenotypes were examined. Additional episodes of relapse may put the patient with sustained elevated Lp(a) levels at significant risk for the development of cardiovascular disease in the long term. Received: 17 November 1998 / Revised: 9 March 1999 / Accepted: 16 March 1999     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase variant and schizophrenia/depression

Patients with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency often show psychiatric manifestations. Since a common variant of the MTHFR gene, T677(Ala), responsible for the thermolabile MTHFR with less than 50% specific MTHFR activity, has been reported, we examined whether the T677 allele is associated with psychiatric disorders in an unrelated Japanese population consisting of 297 schizophrenics, 32 patients with major depression, 40 patients with bipolar disorder, and 419 controls. The genotype homozygous for the T677 allele was significantly frequently observed in schizophrenics with an odds ratio of 1.9 (P = 0.0006), and in patients with major depression with an odds ratio of 2.8 (P = 0.005). Our data suggest associations of the MTHFR gene variant with schizophrenia and depression in the Japanese. Am. J. Med. Genet. 74:526–528, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mutation analysis of the retinoid X receptor beta,nuclear‐related receptor 1, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha genes in schizophrenia and alcohol dependence: Possible haplotype association of nuclear‐related receptor 1 gene to alcohol dependence

Because retinoid cascades are involved in the regulation and development of the central nervous system, including dopaminergic neurons, retinoic acid signaling defects may contribute to schizophrenia and substances dependence. Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) form heterodimer complexes with nuclear‐related receptor 1 (NURR1) or with peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs). We examined 48 Japanese patients with schizophrenia and 32 patients with alcohol dependence to detect mutations in the retinoid X receptor beta gene (RXRB) on chromosome 6p21.3, the NURR1 gene (NR4A2) on chromosome 2q22–q23, and the PPAR alpha gene (PPARA) on chromosome 22q12.2–13.1. A Val95Ala polymorphism of the RXRB gene, a Val227Ala polymorphism in the PPARA gene, and two synonymous single‐nucleotide and CA repeat polymorphisms in the 5′ region and 3′ untranslated region of the NR4A2 gene were identified. Extended case control samples did not suggest an association between the diseases and the RXRB or PPARA polymorphisms. However, they revealed a significant association between the NR4A2 gene haplotype and alcohol dependence, indicating that 2q22–q23 including the NR4A2 gene locus is a possible genomic region contributing to genetic susceptibility to alcohol dependence. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Microsatellite instability in B-cell lymphoma originating from Bloom syndrome

Bloom syndrome (BS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by lupus-like erythematous telangiectasias of the face, sun sensitivity, stunted growth infertility and immunodeficiency. In addition, BS patients are highly predisposed to cancers. Although recently the causative gene of BS (BLM) was identified as a DNA helicase homologue, the function of BLM in DNA replication has not been elucidated. In this study, p53 mutation and microsatellite instability in B-cell lymphomas originating from 2 sibling BS patients were investigated. In the originally developed tumor of both patients, no p53 mutation was detected. In one patient, however, after treatment by ionizing radiation the B-cell lymphoma recurred, showing a 9-bp deletion in exon 7. In lymphoma cells and an EB-virus-transformed cell line from BS lymphocytes of this patient, microsatellite instability was also detected from the reduced length of microsatellite DNA markers, although in the other patient microsatellite instability was not detected. Thus, 2 B-cell lymphomas, despite having the same BLM mutation, showed different phenotypes in terms of p53 mutation and microsatellite instability. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.