Survey on visual and musculoskeletal symptoms in VDT workers]

With the spread of visual display terminals (VDT) in offices, the numbers of workers using VDT and the working hours at such equipment have increased rapidly in recent years. Also, preventive measures for fatigue have been proposed and the office-working environment has been improved. To examine the effects of the rapid changes in working conditions and environment on the health of VDT workers, we conducted a questionnaire survey in 2002. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to 3,927 office workers; 2,374 (60.5%) responded. Subjects whose questionnaires had missing data were excluded from analysis. As a result, 1,406 (male: 1,069, female: 337) workers aged 20 to 59 were subjected to analysis. By a logistic regression model, we examined the association between VDT use and visual and musculoskeletal symptoms. Prevalence of eye strain and/or pain (72.1%) was the highest, followed by neck stiffness and/or pain (59.3%), low back stiffness and/or pain (30.0%) and hand or arm strain and/or pain (13.9%). Women consistently reported more discomfort than men. As a result of the logistic regression model, eye strain and/or pain was associated with dissatisfaction with airflow, but not with factors affecting visual symptoms as reported in previous studies, for example, reflection of light and blurred characters on the screen. It was thought that airflow appeared as a risk factor because the lighting environment had been improved in offices to prevent reflection of light on the screen. Neck stiffness and/or pain was associated with raising the shoulders during VDT work, the unsuitable shape of the computer mouse for a hand, and the inconvenient arrangement of the mouse in relation to the body. Hand or arm strain and/or pain were associated with the arrangement of the mouse and inappropriate height of the desk. Low back stiffness and/or pain were associated with dissatisfaction with the chair and using the keyboard without a wrist rest. Although measures to prevent fatigue had been implemented for VDT workers, risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms would be the same as in previous studies.     

Growth inhibition of multiple myeloma cells by a novel IkappaB kinase inhibitor.

Involvement of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in cell survival and proliferation of multiple myeloma has been well established. In this study we observed that NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in all human myeloma cell lines, thus confirming the previous studies. In addition, we found the phosphorylation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB in addition to the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and the activation of NF-kappaB DNA binding and that various target genes of NF-kappaB including bcl-x(L), XIAP, c-IAP1, cyclin D1, and IL-6 are up-regulated. We then examined the effect of a novel IkappaB kinase inhibitor, 2-amino-6-[2-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-6-hydroxyphenyl]-4-piperidin-4-yl nicotinonitrile (ACHP). When myeloma cells were treated with ACHP, the cell growth was efficiently inhibited with IC(50) values ranging from 18 to 35 mumol/L concomitantly with inhibition of the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha/p65 and NF-kappaB DNA-binding, down-regulation of the NF-kappaB target genes, and induction of apoptosis. In addition, we observed the treatment of ACHP augmented the cytotoxic effects of vincristine and melphalan (l-phenylalanine mustard), conventional antimyeloma drugs. These findings indicate that IkappaB kinase inhibitors such as ACHP can sensitize myeloma cells to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents by blocking the antiapoptotic nature of myeloma cells endowed by the constitutive activation of NF-kappaB.     

Anatomical status of the human musculus uvulae and its functional implications

In our ongoing series of anatomical studies to determine the three‐dimensional architecture of the human velar muscles, we have previously reported on the palatopharyngeus. The present study deals with the musculus uvulae (MU), in which the positional relationships of its origin to the posterior nasal spine and the palatine aponeurosis, as well as the interrelation between its anatomical status and functions, have yet to be clarified. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed on 25 and 2 cadavers, respectively. In the former, bilateral MUs and their adjacent structures were exposed mainly from the nasal aspect. In the latter, the soft palates embedded in paraffin were cut into frontal and sagittal sections and alternately processed with HE and Azan stains. The left and right MUs adjacent to each other were found to run longitudinally along the midline beneath the nasal aspect of velum. It was overlaid by glandular tissue that increased in amount as it coursed distally. After originating from the oral surface of palatine aponeurosis, it ran backward to cross above the sling formed by the levator veli palatini muscles of both sides and reached the tip of uvula with its muscle fibers intermingled with glandular tissue. Past studies have proposed three functions of MU to enhance the efficiency of velopharyngeal closure: space occupier, stiffness modifier, and velar extensor. All of the above‐described anatomical characteristics of MU could be explained as being adapted for these functions. This implies that MU is actively responsible for maintaining the velopharyngeal closure efficiency. Clin. Anat. 27:1009–1015, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anthropometric characteristics and comorbidities in Japanese patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: A single institutional case–control study

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a well‐known genetic disorder characterized by café‐au‐lait spots and neurofibromas, but many other clinical characteristics and associated comorbidities also have been reported. This study aimed to characterize NF1 further by investigating its association with anthropometric characteristics and other diseases. We performed a case–control study of 227 NF1 patients (101 male, 126 female) and a randomly selected age‐ and sex‐matched control group of 681 non‐NF1 patients (303 male, 378 female) who visited our institution in Japan. We examined adult (≥20 years) height and body mass index (BMI), and, in the total sample, allergic diseases (bronchial asthma [BA], atopic dermatitis [AD] and allergic rhinitis) and other respiratory cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders. In adults, the mean BMI was lower in the NF1 group than in the control group, and was significantly statistically different among men (P = 0.0238). In the whole sample, the prevalences of BA (P = 0.0184), AD (P = 0.0144) and valvular heart disease (P = 0.0166) were significantly greater in the NF1 group than in the control group. To date, no similar research on the BMI or the prevalence of allergic disease in NF1 patients has been reported. Our results suggest that NF1 patients tend to have lower BMI and may have alterations in specific metabolic pathways and altered allergic immunity.     

Inactivation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase is neither necessary nor sufficient for the onset of pronuclear formation in mouse oocytes

Mammalian oocytes are arrested at metaphase II due to high MAP kinase activity. After fertilization, oocytes resume meiosis, leading to female chromosome segregation, polar body emission and pronuclear (PN) formation. Previous biochemical studies showed that MAP kinase activity remained high for several hours after fertilization and began to decrease in parallel with PN formation. It has been thought that MAP kinase activity is incompatible with PN formation, and its inactivation is required for the initiation of PN formation in mammalian oocytes. In this study, we revisited this hypothesis by examining MAP kinase activity and PN formation in individual mouse oocytes using cytological analysis. We showed that MAP kinase activity in oocytes could be evaluated using phospho‐ERK1/2 immunofluorescent staining. Co‐immunofluorescent staining of phospho‐ERK1/2 and nuclear pore components showed that PN formation preceded MAP kinase inactivation and could be initiated while MAP kinase activity was still high. Moreover, artificial inactivation of MAP kinase or its downstream target, ribosomal S6 kinase, accelerated but did not rapidly induce PN formation. Our results show that although the MAP kinase pathway negatively regulates PN formation, its inactivation is neither necessary nor sufficient for PN formation. These results suggest the involvement of other essential factor(s) in this process.     

Lifestyle intervention might easily improve blood pressure in hypertensive men with the C genotype of angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESRecent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period.SUBJECTS/METHODSThe subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period.RESULTSThirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024).CONCLUSTIONSIn the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.     

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Association of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with autism spectral disorder (ASD) has been suggested since 1980s. Despite the observed association, its role as a risk factor for ASD remains to be defined. In the present review, we systematically evaluated the available evidence associating congenital CMV infection with ASD using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Any studies on children with CMV infection and ASD were evaluated for eligibility and three observational studies were included in meta-analysis. Although a high prevalence of congenital CMV infection in ASD cases (OR 11.31, 95% CI 3.07–41.66) was indicated, too few events (0–2 events) in all included studies imposed serious limitations. There is urgent need for further studies to clarify this issue.