Search

Copyright of Acta Oto-Laryngologica is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effects of two oxylipins - jasmonic acid (JA) and 9, 10-ketol-octadecadienoic acid (KODA) - on ethylene metabolism and ethylene receptor genes were examined in peach fruit (Prunus persica L.) harvested at 88 days after full bloom (DAFB), in the pre-climacteric stage, and at 102 DAFB, at the beginning of the climacteric stage. Immediate post-harvest applications of either n-propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) (a JA analog) or KODA stimulated ethylene production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) concentrations in fruit that were harvested at 88 and 102 DAFB. KODA application significantly increased levels of ACC oxidase (PpACO1) expression at 5 and 8 days after treatment (DAT) in 88-DAFB-harvested fruit, and at 1 DAT in 102-DAFB-harvested fruit. Expression levels of ethylene response factors (PpERS1) were not influenced by either PDJ or KODA applications at 88 or 102 DAFB. In contrast, levels of ethylene-receptor-coding genes (PpETR1) expression in 88-DAFB KODA-treated fruit increased at 8 and 14 DAT. Expression levels of constitutive triple response (PpCTR1) in the untreated control fruit decreased with DAT in both 88- and 102-DAFB-harvested fruit. These results suggest that certain oxylipins may promote ethylene production in peach fruit, and that PpETR1 and PpCTR1 may be associated with the autocatalytic system of ethylene production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for head and neck cancers, the radioisotope method has been the gold standard. However, this method has several problems, such as unavoidable radiation exposure and requirements of expensive equipment. Aims/Objectives: To overcome these problems, we evaluated the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS)-guided SLN-detection method, and predicted the SLN metastatic status using novel ultrasound technology, superb microvascular imaging (SMI). Methods: Ten patients (6 with oral and 4 with oropharyngeal cancers) without neck lymph node metastasis were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound contrast agent, Sonazoid™, was infiltrated into the mucosa at the primary site to observe the lymphatic ducts and SLNs in the neck field. The detected SLNs were examined for blood flow using SMI to categorize the SLNs metastases-positive or negative. Results: SLNs were successfully detected in 8 out of 10 cases. In 7 out of the 8 cases, in whom SLNs were successfully detected, the metastatic status of SLNs was correctly diagnosed with SMI. Conclusions and significance: Although more clinical data are needed based on a larger cohort, establishing the CEUS-guided SLN-detection and criteria for the accurate diagnosis of SLN-metastases using SMI would be valuable as an alternative to radioisotope method, in oral and oropharyngeal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of applying abscisic acid (ABA), Abz (abscinazole, an inhibitor of CYP707A), and nordihydroguaiaretic acid ((NDGA), an inhibitor of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED)) on fruit firmness, anthocyanin biosynthesis, aroma volatiles, and their related genes were investigated in grape berries (Vitis vinifera L. × Vitis labrusca L. cv. Kyoho). ABA and Abz application promoted the accumulation of anthocyanin and aroma volatiles, the activity of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase, and cellulase, but reduced fruit firmness. On the other hand, NDGA showed the opposite tendencies. Abz decreased VvCYP707A1 expression but increased VvPYL8 expression. VvPP2C49 expression was negatively correlated with ABA concentration. The expression levels of VvMYBA2 and VvUFGT correlated with anthocyanin concentration, unlike those of VvLAR1. ABA and Abz application increased endogenous ABA concentrations and the expression levels of VvOPR3, VvACO1, and VvPG, whereas NDGA application decreased them. These results suggest that ABA concentrations influence anthocyanin formation and fruit softening through the expression of VvMYBA2, VvUFGT, and VvPG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multifocal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection into the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, which might be linked to a second primary tumor of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), was investigated. Patients and methods: One hundred and five patients with various head and neck diseases including 14 patients with OPC were enrolled in this study. Swabs from the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils were collected in each individual, and auto-nested GP5+/GP6+ PCR for HPV DNA was performed. Results: HPV DNA was detected in the palatine tonsil or the pharyngeal tonsil in a small subset of upper respiratory tract cancer other than OPC (URTC) and non-cancer diseases. Furthermore, HPV DNA was detected in both the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils in the same individual in 2 of 48 (4%) URTC cases, and 1 of 43 (2%) non-cancer cases. On the other hand, p16-positive OPC cases demonstrated a higher HPV DNA detection rate (4 of 9, 44.4%) compared with other disease groups. Conclusion: HPV DNA detection in both the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils in the same individual, especially in HPV-OPC, suggested the ability of HPV to infect tonsillar tissues of Waldeyer’s ring multifocally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The detection of human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA in oral rinse with auto-nested GP5+/ GP6 + PCR is useful as a biomarker of oropharyngeal cancer. Background: This study aimed to determine the usefulness of oral rinse to detect HPV-DNA as a biomarker of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Patients and methods: One hundred and ten patients with various head and neck diseases, including 19 patients with OPC, were enrolled. Oral rinse and tonsillar swab were collected, and auto-nested GP5+/GP6 + PCR for HPV-DNA was performed. For oropharyngeal cancer, p16 immunostaining was also conducted. Results: The rate of HPV-DNA detection in both oral rinse and tonsillar swab was significantly higher in OPC compared with non-OPC upper respiratory tract cancer and non-cancer diseases. HPV-DNA was detected in oral rinse in nine out of 12 p16-positive OPC cases, while none of the p16-negative OPC cases demonstrated detectable HPV-DNA. All p16-positive cases were also positive for HPV-DNA in tumor tissue. Based on p16 immunostaining, the sensitivity and specificity of HPV-DNA detection in oral rinse were 75% and 100%, respectively. Among eight of nine evaluable OPC cases positive for HPV-DNA in oral rinse at diagnosis, HPV-DNA was undetectable in oral rinse in seven cases after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Reduced-RADPLAT for HPC achieved comparative survival and locoregional control rates with lower toxicities compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapies including original RADPLAT. S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy showed a survival benefit.Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of targeted intra-arterial (IA) infusion of cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy with a reduced dose (reduced-RADPLAT) for resectable hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC).Methods: Between 1999–2012, 50 patients with stage II–IVA HPC primarily treated by reduced-RADPLAT were analyzed. They were treated by 2–5 courses of IA cisplatin infusion (100 mg per body) with simultaneous systemic infusion of sodium thiosulfate concurrent with conventional radiotherapy (66–70 Gy). After 2003, S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine, adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to all eligible patients.Results: During a median follow-up of 48.6 months, the estimated 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional control, and laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS) rates were 76.0% and 62.0%, 58.0% and 50.0%, 66.0% and 62.0%, and 56.0% and 54.0%, respectively. Grade 3 toxicities were observed in 30.0%. No patient had grade 4 or higher toxicities. No patient required tube feeding or tracheotomy at 3 months after treatment. T4-lesions and S-1 administration were significant factors predicting poor and good OS, PFS, and LEDFS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conclusion: SPARC-expression is an indicator of the prognosis in terms of OS, independent of HPV-infection. HPV-negative patients with SPARC-Low show survival as favorable as HPV-positive patients, probably because of their higher salvage rate after relapse than SPARC-High patients.Objective: The objectives of the study were to clarify the correlation between the expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and HPV-status, and to determine the prognostic value of SPARC-expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients.Methods: Fifty-three formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were obtained from patients with OPSCC who underwent curative treatment. The SPARC protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. SPARC-expression level was divided into two categories, SPARC-High and SPARC-Low, according to the staining index.Results: Twenty-two out of the 53 OPSCC patients were HPV-positive. There was no significant correlation between the HPV-status and SPARC-expression level. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that the HPV-status and SPARC-expression are independent prognostic indicators of favorable and unfavorable overall survival (OS) (p = 0.021 andp = 0.012), respectively. For disease-free survival, the HPV-status was the only predictive factor (p = 0.022). After stratification by the HPV-status, high SPARC-expression was a significant predictor of poor OS in HPV-negative OPSCC patients using Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test (p = 0.014). Ten out of 28 SPARC-Low patients relapsed, among which six patients (60%) were salvaged. However, 14 out of 25 SPARC-High patients relapsed, and only three patients (21.4%) were salvaged. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conclusions: Intra-arterial high-dose cisplatin chemoradiation (CRT-IA) with sodium thiosulfate (STS) causes relatively less severe cisplatin ototoxicity than intravenous cisplatin chemoradiation without STS (CRT-IV). The results of this study also suggest that early detection of ototoxicity is possible by testing the hearing loss at ultra-high frequencies. Objectives: To investigate protective effects of STS against cisplatin ototoxicity. Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, 18 patients with head and neck carcinomas were treated with intra-arterial infusions of high-dose cisplatin (range 100-180 mg/body, mean 111 mg/body; range 2-5 courses, mean 3.6 courses) and systemic administration of cisplatin (range 66-185 mg/body, mean 130 mg/body; range 1-3 courses, mean 2.6 courses) and concurrent radiation therapy (range 60-70 Gy, mean 69 Gy). Cisplatin was neutralized by STS in CRT-IA but not in CRT-IV. Results: Intra-arterial infusion in the high-dose cisplatin group caused significant hearing loss at ultra-high frequencies of 10 and 12 kHz ( p = 0.028, 0.039, respectively), whereas the group receiving systemic administration of cisplatin had significant hearing loss at high frequencies of 8 and 10 kHz ( p = 0.016, 0.027, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Longitudinal assessments of carnitine and fatigue in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma suggest that cisplatin damages the carnitine system in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy and that carnitine deficiency increases fatigue. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to monitor carnitine levels and fatigue in patients who received cisplatin-based CRT and, for comparison, in patients treated by surgery alone. Methods: To investigate the level of carnitine, mice were administered cisplatin. Next, a prospective analysis was performed to compare plasma carnitine levels before and after cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy and to assess the relationship between carnitine levels and fatigue. Results: The plasma levels of total carnitine (TC), free carnitine (FC), and fatty acylcarnitine (AC) were significantly lower in mice receiving cisplatin compared with control mice. Mean total carnitine and free carnitine levels were significantly lower 2 weeks after chemoradiotherapy (total carnitine: Mean = 45.6, SD = 16.5, p = 0.01; free carnitine: Mean = 37.8, SD = 12.7, p = 0.02) than before chemoradiotherapy (total carnitine: Mean = 57.7, SD = 12.2; free carnitine: Mean = 48.1, SD = 11.6). There was a significant inverse correlation between carnitine levels and fatigue after chemoradiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (uniconazole) on the levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and on anti-oxidant activity were investigated in apple seedlings. In uniconazole-treated seedlings, ABA reached its highest concentrations 24 h after the beginning of a dehydration treatment, and remained at high concentrations compared to levels in well- watered, uniconazole-untreated seedlings. Uniconazole decreased stomatal aperture up to 9 h after its application, and stomata! aperture remained constant for 72 h. A!though the EC50 values of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picry!hydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and superoxide (O[sub2][sup-]) radical-scavenging activities were decreased by dehydration treatment, those in uniconazole-treated seedlings were higher than those in untreated seedlings. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in uniconazole-untreated seedlings increased at the start of the dehydration treatment, but SOD activity in uniconazole-treated and well-watered seedlings did not increase. These facts suggest that application of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor induced stomata! closure earlier by increasing ABA concentrations, increased anti-oxidant activities, and may induce tolerance against water-stress damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions. The GG genotype of MDM2 SNP309 is associated with an earlier onset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the Japanese population. SNP309 may be a key factor in the tumorigenesis of HNSCC as well as other hereditary or sporadic tumors. Objective. This study was designed to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 309 in the MDM2 gene with HNSCC. An MDM2 protein down-regulates the p53 pathway. Recently, an important SNP was discovered in the MDM2 promoter region, which could affect the tumorigenesis of HNSCC by attenuation of the p53 pathway. Patients and methods. Patients with 103 HNSCCs were genotyped using direct sequencing and real-time PCR. The relationship between the SNP309 genotypes and the clinicopathological features was statistically analyzed. Results. The number of patients genotyped to TT, TG, and GG was 29 (28%), 46 (44.7%), and 28 (27.2%), respectively. The average age at tumor onset was 65.6 years for TT, 62.9 years for TG, and 56.7 years for GG. The patients with the GG genotype had a significantly earlier tumor onset in comparison to those with the TT genotype (p=0.032). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), phaseic acid (PA), dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) and epi-DPA concentrations in the skin, pulp and seed of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) were quantified during development and storage using (±)-[3', 5', 5', 7', 7', 7'-²H6] ABA and [7', 7', 7'-²H3]-PA, -DPA and epi-DPA as the internal standards. ABA in the skin and pulp increased toward harvest. In addition, the increase in ABA coincided with a decrease in fruit firmness. These results suggest that ABA may induce the maturation of mangoes. In contrast, ABA in the seed decreased toward harvest, suggesting a lack of dormancy of the mango seed. In the skin, pulp and seed, concentrations of DPA or epi-DPA coincided with those of ABA. Therefore, the PA-DPA pathway may be predominant in mango skin, pulp and seed. ABA, DPA and epi-DPA contents increased in stored fruit, but were not found to be associated with the relative humidity conditions of storage. n-Propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) treatment at 91 days after full bloom (DAFB) decreased endogenous ABA and its metabolite, but not at 70 DAFB. Our results suggest that the interaction between ABA and jasmonates may differ with fruit growth stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor composed of HIF-1α and HIF-1ββ that is the central regulator of responses to hypoxia. The specific binding of HIF-1 to the hypoxia-responsive element (HRE) induces the transcription of genes that respond to hypoxic conditions, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here we report that expression of HIF-1α is increased in diverse Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected type II and III cell lines, which express EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the principal EBV oncoprotein, as well as other latency proteins, but not in the parental EBV-negative cell lines. We show first that transfection of an LMP1 expression plasmid into Ad-AH cells, an EBV-negative nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line, induces synthesis of HIF-1α protein without increasing its stability or mRNA level. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase inhibitor PD98059 markedly reduces induction of HIF-1α by LMP1. Catalase, an H2O2 scavenger, strongly suppresses LMP1-induced production of H2O2, which results in a decrease in the expression of HIF-1α induced by LMP1. Inhibition of the NF-κB, c-jun N-terminal kinase, p38 MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways did not affect HIF-1α expression. Moreover, LMP1 induces HIF-1 DNA binding activity and upregulates HRE and VEGF promoter transcriptional activity. Finally, LMP1 increases the appearance of VEGF protein in extracellular fluids; induction of VEGF is suppressed by PD98059 or catalase. These results suggest that LMP1 increases HIF-1 activity through induction of HIF-1α protein expression, which is controlled by p42/p44 MAPK activity and H2O2. The ability of EBV, and specifically its major oncoprotein, LMP1, to induce HIF-1α along with other invasiveness and angiogenic factors reported previously discloses additional oncogenic properties of this tumor virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catechins, ascorbic acid and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations during fruit development and the antioxidant activity in skin and flesh were investigated in astringent 'Saijyo' and non-astringent 'Fuyu' persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb.). The IC50 values (a midpoint of 50% between zero and full inhibition of diazo dye formation) of superoxide (O2-)scavenging activity remained low in the skin throughout fruit development. The IC50 values of the activity increased with d after full bloom (DAFB) in the flesh of the non-astringent type, whereas values remained low until harvest in the astringent type. However, IC50 values increased sharply after the removal of astringency with ethanol spray. Catechin concentrations in the flesh also decreased after the removal of astringency, whereas the concentrations in the skin did not decrease. Ascorbic acid concentrations in the skin and flesh were high at the beginning and middle of fruit development, but β-cryptoxanthin in the skin and flesh increased toward harvest. However, β-cryptoxanthin concentrations in the skin and flesh were lower than catechins and ascorbic acid. In addition, IC50 in the flesh of the non-astringnet type was high despite the increase of β-cryptoxanthin at harvest. These results suggest that catechins and ascorbic acid influence O2-scavenging activity at the beginning and middle of fruit development, and catechins are associated with the O2-scavenging activity at ripening. Changes in 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radicalscavenging activity with fruit developmental stage were similar to that for O2-. That is, IC50 values of DPPH-radicalscavenging activity decreased rapidly after the removal of astringency. β-cryptoxanthin did not eliminate the DPPH-radicals. Therefore, the DPPH-radicals in persimmons may be eliminated primarily by catechins and ascorbic acid. The utilization of tannins before the removal of astringency is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]