Ablation of DGKα facilitates α-smooth muscle actin expression via the Smad and PKCδ signaling pathways during the acute phase of CCl -induced hepatic injury.

Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) is constitutive in vascular smooth muscle cells, but is induced in nonmuscle cells such as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs play important roles in both physiological homeostasis and pathological response. HSC activation is characterized by αSMA expression, which is regulated by the TGFβ-induced Smad pathway.

Deletion of diacylglycerol kinase ε confers susceptibility to obesity via reduced lipolytic activity in murine adipocytes.

Lipid metabolism is closely involved with signal transduction and energy homeostasis. Excess calorie intake causes abnormal lipid metabolism, promoting obesity and insulin resistance. Diacylglycerol (DG) represents not only a lipidic second messenger but also an intermediate metabolite for triglyceride metabolism in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

[Acute respiratory failures caused by post-tracheotomy tracheomalacia].

A 77-year-old man underwent thoracic surgery. He had a history of two previous operations: parapharyngeal tumor removal with temporal tracheotomy 14 years ago and, two years later, a sinus surgery when, according to our anesthesia registry, intubation was extremely difficult due to stricture of the trachea underneath the tracheotomy scar. Pathology was not fully elucidated.