Differing proliferative responses in proximal and distal colons of growing rats fed food eaten by adenoma patients

Animal dietary studies related to human colorectal carcinogenesis are usually based on AIN-76A diet, which is dissimilar to human food in source, preparation, and content. Our aim was to examine colonic epithelial proliferation in rats fed a diet based on the mean daily food intake of adenoma patients. Foods were prepared as reported by the adenoma patients and dehydrated; 64 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either “human adenoma” or AIN-76A diet and every eight weeks, eight from each group were sacrificed. Both groups gained weight equally, had no colonic histological changes, but during the study showed progressive lengthening of colonic crypts (P<0.01) and decreased proliferation (P<0.05) in distal colons. Compared to controls, rats fed human adenoma diet had significantly longer crypts (P<0.01) and more labeled cells (P<0.05) at 32 weeks; overall they had increased proliferation (P<0.01), most significantly in the distal colon. Thus, food eaten by adenoma patients induced hyperproliferative changes in the rat colon during growth and maturity, especially the distal colon, as found in humans at risk for neoplasia.     

Anti-Sm-RNP activity in sera of patients with rheumatic and autoimmune diseases

Summary The sera of various rheumatic and autoimmune diseases were examined for the presence of anti- RNP/Sm activity. An enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed. Anti- RNP Ab's were detected in 18%, 20%, 28%, 16% of the sera of SLE, myasthenia gravis (MG), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and thyroid diseases respectively. The anti- RNP Ab's belonged to the IgG and IgM isotypes. Most of the IgG anti- Sm antibodies were detected in SLE sera, but they were found also in two sera of MG and in one sera of RA patients. IgM anti- Sm antibodies were not found in SLE sera, but they were detected in low titer in MG, RA and autoimmune thyroid diseases. The activity against RNP and/or Sm was further confirmed by employing immunoblotting assays. In none of the patients, except those with SLE, was any clinical manifestation of SLE noted. The mere presence of anti- Sm antibodies of the IgG isotypes is not sufficient for the development of SLE, however, its presence is highly specific for SLE.     

Antinuclear autoantibodies in uveitis

We have studied 44 sera of patients with uveitis, and controls for the presence of ANF and other antinuclear antibodies (ss-DNA, ds-DNA, Poly (I), Poly (G), RNP, Sm, histones) and for the presence of a common anti-DNA idiotype (16/6 Id) employing the ELISA method. Various incidences of antinuclear antibodies were found in sera of patients with uveitis. The uveitis specimens were found to have high titers of autoantibodies to ss-DNA, ds-DNA, Poly (I), histones and Poly (G). High titers of anti-Sm antibodies were detected only in 9% of the uveitis patients, which is markedly lower than the reported percentage of anti-Sm antibodies in SLE. No significant differences were found in the incidence of antinuclear antibodies between sera of patients with localized uveitis and uveitis concomitant with a systemic disorder. Similarly, no relationship was found between location of uveitis (anterior versus posterior) and autoantibody profile. Our results imply that despite considering uveitis as a specific organ malady, it should be regarded serologically as an autoimmune condition.     

Aspirin, warfarin and a thienopyridine for acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Although clopidogrel and aspirin (dual therapy, DT) are used for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), sometimes treatment with warfarin (triple therapy, TT) is required. AIM: To determine the incidence, complications, and outcomes of TT. METHODS: We analyzed Israeli surveys of ACS from 2000 to 2004. RESULTS: In these surveys, 5,706 (96%) were discharged alive from hospital. Post-ACS TT and DT were 76 patients (1.3%) and 2,661 patients (46.7%), respectively. The TT group was older with more prior cardiac disease. During hospitalization, the TT patients received more intravenous anticoagulant and antithrombotic agents, and had more heart failure, arrhythmias, ischemia, and major bleeding (2.6 vs. 0.6%, p=0.03). There were no differences in adjusted 30-day and 6-month mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: TT is feasible among ACS patients who require concomitant warfarin treatment.