Definition of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux for studies on respiratory diseases

Objective Nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER) has been associated with respiratory diseases. Our aim was to study a questionnaire method to identify nGER subjects with respiratory involvement in a general population. Material and methods A subgroup of Icelandic participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III (ECRHS III) reporting symptoms of nGER (n = 48) as well as age and gender paired controls (n = 42) were studied further by a structured interview, questionnaires, laryngeal fibrescopy, and exhaled breath condensate. A subgroup underwent 24-h oesophageal pH impedance (24-h MII-pH) measurements. Symptoms of nGER were assessed with a modified version of the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ), where symptoms were divided into daytime and nocturnal. A report of nGER both at baseline and at follow-up was defined as persistent nGER. Results Participants reporting persistent nGER had significantly more signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux according to the reflux finding score than those without nGER (Mean?±?SD: 5.1?±?2.3 vs. 3.9?±?2.2, p = 0.02). Of the 16 persistent nGER subjects that underwent 24-h MII-pH, 11 had abnormal gastroesophageal reflux, but none of three control subjects (69% vs. 0%). Pepsin was more commonly found in exhaled breath condensate in the nGER group (67% vs. 45%, p = 0.04). Conclusions Participants with nGER symptoms at least once a month, reported on two occasions, had a high level of positive 24-h MII-pH measurements, laryngeal inflammation and pepsin in exhaled breath condensate. This nGER definition identified a representable group for studies on nGER and respiratory diseases in a general population.     

Studies on the changes of serum immunoglobulin levels in liver diseases

Journal of Gastroenterology -     

Importance of clinical epidemiology research in studies on respiratory diseases

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has generated great interest since the 1990s and many physicians worldwide have based their clinical practice on this idea. Its underlying concepts include a diverse array of findings from clinical epidemiological research.In western countries, many clinical databases of clinical epidemiology are in circulation. Clinical epidemiological research using these data in western countries constitutes the majority worldwide. However, because race, lifestyle, culture, etc., differ among western countries and Japan, it is difficult to apply the results of clinical epidemiological research obtained in Japan to western countries. Unfortunately, there is no large-scale database for respiratory diseases prevalent in Japan. Many specialists agree with the opinion that it is necessary to collect medical information specific to the Japanese population and analyze the clinical data.KiHAC (Kinki Hokuriku Airway Disease Conference) was established in September 2001 with the aim of generating evidence through clinical epidemiological research for airway diseases by targeting physicians practicing respiratory medicine, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology, primarily in the Kinki and Hokuriku regions located in the central to western parts of Japan. As a part of the KiHAC, clinical research societies will attempt to cooperate with each other to make joint research possible and to share and utilize information, in addition to further promoting clinical research in the field of respiratory medicine.     

Tissue immunopathology methods for the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary diseases

The authors draw attention to the diagnostic value of tissue immunopathology methods in numerous bronchopulmonary diseases. Having emphasized the strict technical requirements and difficulties of these methods--all obstacles that are necessary for an accurate evaluation of the lesion--they use concrete examples to demonstrate the usefulness of extra-thoracic, skin or muscle biopsies to diagnose some systemic diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or Churg and Strauss syndrome. They also refer to bronchial biopsies which provide information on the aetiology and pathogeny of adult asthma, and to the prognostic and therapeutic value of collagen studies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.     

Effect of epidermal growth factor on pathological changes of the gastric mucosa in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis

OBJECTIVE : To study the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on pathological changes of the gastric mucosa in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). METHODS : The established CAG rat models were divided into groups A and B. The rats in group A received 10 μg/kg EGF subcutaneously. In group B, rats were subcutaneously injected with the same quantity of normal saline. Twelve weeks later, all rats were killed by cervical dislocation and their gastric mucosa were examined microscopically. RESULTS : The grading of the inflammatory cell infiltration in group A was lower than that in group B (P < 0.01). The thickness of the gastric mucosal gland layer was 215.0 ± 20.7 μm in group A and 139.2 ± 13.8 μm in group B (P < 0.01). The ratio of the thickness of the gastric mucosal glands to that of the muscularis mucosa (L₁/L₂) was 2.70 ± 0.34 in group A and 1.27 ± 0.27 in group B (P < 0.01). The number of gastric glands in a 1‐mm length of mucosal layer was 26.20 ± 1.27 in group A and 19.90 ± 1.78 in group B (P < 0.01). In group A, the gastric glands were rearranged, without signs of malignant proliferation. The width of gastric mucosa expressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was larger in group A than in group B (77.70 ± 4.16 μm vs 54.40 ± 4.54 μm; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS : Epidermal growth factor plays a therapeutic role in reversing gastric mucosal atrophy in rats with CAG. It promotes the expression of PCNA, which induces a protective proliferation in gastric mucosal lesions in rats with CAG.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病发病机制及病理学现今认识

非酒精性脂肪性肝病（nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD）是一种无过量饮酒史、以肝实质细胞脂肪变性和脂肪贮积为特征的遗传-环境-代谢应激相关性临床病理综合征。NAFLD疾病谱随其病理进展而表现不一．包括单纯性脂肪肝及由其演变的脂肪性肝炎和肝硬化。1980年Ludwig等首次命名了非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,NASH）,并认为其为代谢综合征的特征之一。近年NAFLD已成为欧美等国慢性肝病中的第一大病种,