Detection of Helicobacter pylori Gene by Means of Immunomagnetic Separation-Based Polymerase Chain Reaction in Feces

Background: Detection of Helicobacter pylori is usually performed by culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histology, or urease test on gastric biopsy samples. Although methods based on feces are non-invasive, their sensitivity has been relatively low. In this study, to improve its sensitivity, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) was used as a pre-PCR step for direct detection of H. pylori in feces. Methods: Fresh fecal samples were taken from 72 patients attending for endoscopy. Of these, 57 patients had a positive H. pylori status according to the results of culture, histology, and PCR on gastric biopsy samples. Anti-H. pylori antibody-sensitized immunomagnetic beads were used to concentrate the bacteria. PCR was then performed to detect the H. pylori urease A-encoding gene. Results: Of the 57 H. pylori-positive patients, 35 (61.4%) had positive fecal samples by IMS-based PCR method. None of the 15 H. pylori-negative patients had positive fecal samples. The sensitivity of this method was 61.4%, and the specificity 100.0%. Conclusions: This study confirms that non-invasive diagnosis of H. pylori infection could be made from feces by using IMS-based PCR.     

CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Inhibition of Depolarization-Induced Calcium Influx in Oiigodendrocytes

Ca2+稳态平衡的调节在少突胶质细胞功能和存活中起重要作用.大麻素CB1和CB2受体在许多细胞中调节Ca2+水平和/或K+电流.本文利用培养的少突胶质细胞中,通过增高细胞外K+浓度(50 mM诱导膜去极化,研究大麻素复合物在此过程引发钙内流中的作用.CB2受体激动剂ACEA导致去极化诱导的少突胶质细胞胞浆的Ca2+瞬变表达浓度依赖性抑制,最大效应为(94±3)%,半效应浓度(EC50)为(1.3±0.03)μM.这种作用可被CB2/CB2激动剂CP55、940、内源性大麻素类AEA和2-AG所模拟,但是CB2受体选择性激动剂JWH133没有作用.CB2受体拮抗剂AM251(1μM)也可减少细胞外高K+诱导的Ca2+反应.但不能防止ACEA(3 μM)诱发的抑制效应.然而,ACEA和AEA减少去极化诱导的Ca2+瞬变的能力在CB2受体敲除小鼠和经百日咳毒素预处理的少突胶质细胞中明显降低.内流性K2+通道阻断剂BaCI:(300 μM)和CsCl2(1 mM)降低电压诱导的Ca2+内流并部分阻断ACEA的抑制效应.本文表明,大麻素抑制少突胶质细胞中去极化诱导的Ca2+瞬变是通过包括PTX-敏感的Gi/o蛋白和阻断K2+内流通道的CB2受体依赖性和非依赖性机制.     

Interactions of Endotoxin with Cortisol and Acute Phase Proteins in Septic Shock Neonates

ABSTRACT. CRP, α1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin were studied in 13 septic shock neonates. Endotoxin was recovered from eight infants. Serum Cortisol concentration from infants with en-dotoxemia (917 ± 596 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that from infants without en-dotoxemia (398 ± 239 ng/ml). Serum Cortisol correlated well with immature neutrophil counts denned as the unit "band/neutrophil". Increased Cortisol level and immature neutrophil counts preceded the elevation of CRP, α1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin in four extremely premature neonates. We conclude that positive interactions between endotoxin, Cortisol and acute phase protein synthesis are present in the initial period of infection, and delayed acute phase protein synthesis is suspected in extremely premature neonates.     

Role of vagotony in sinus node dysfunction in children with symptomatic congenital long QT syndrome

The present study examined chronotropic dysfunction and the role of vagotony in congenital long QT syndrome, sinus node function and the effects of parasympathetic blockade. Six patients with congenital long QT syndrome were studied. The four males and two females, aged 1–15 years, had episodes of syncope and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Congenital long QT syndrome was defined as a corrected QT interval greater than 0.45 s, T wave alternans and the age at diagnosis. The sinus heart rate measured from a 24 h electrocardiograph was abnormally low (< 50 min) in three patients (1, 4 and 5 years old) and did not increase sufficiently with the administration of atropine in five of the six patients with congenital long QT syndrome. From intracardiac electrophysiological studies, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged in three patients and the total sinoatrial conduction time was prolonged in two patients. In most patients who had an abnormally long sinoatrial conduction time and corrected sinus node recovery time, these values returned to normal following atropine administration. In one patient, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged paradoxically by atropine. Sinus node dysfunction in congenital long QT syndrome was affected by vagotony associated with a right sympathetic nerve system abnormality.     

The effect of nifedipine on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats

Effective drug therapy for pulmonary hypertension has not yet been developed. This study was designed to estimate the long-term hemodynamic and histopathological effects of nifedipine on severe pulmonary hypertension using animal models. Injection of one dose of monocrotaline produced subacute pulmonary hypertension in 7 week old Sprague-Dawley rats. Nifedipine (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally every day. For 5 weeks, bodyweight and hemodynamic parameters were measured, and right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle with septum (LV + S) were weighed separately. Medial thickness of the small pulmonary arterial wall was calculated by Suwa's method. Compared with the control group, the increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, total pulmonary resistance index, weight ratio of RV/(LV + S) and medial hypertrophy in the nifedipine-treated rats were significantly limited without causing systemic hypotension. These results suggest that treatment with nifedipine may also be effective in attenuation of pulmonary hypertension when applied to humans.     

Infectious diseases in African children

Present status and problems of infectious diseases in African children are detailed. The Department of Paediatrics, Mie University School of Medicine has 10 years' experience of international medical cooperation with African countries. At present, the department is participating in two projects in Ghana and Zambia. The activities have been carried out in the field of priority infectious diseases in African children. Major infectious diseases in Africa are malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory infections and some specific parasitic diseases. Human immunodeficiency virus infection has also become a threat to the health and survival of children in Africa. To reduce morbidity and mortality due to these diseases, primary health care activity may be an effective and economical measure. Japan is expected to make further technological and economical contributions to the control of the infectious diseases in developing countries. Japanese paediatricians should be aware of the condition of child health in developing countries and consider what can be done to help.     

Epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome in Japan

An epidemiological survey was carried out to examine the present situation with respect to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Kanagawa Prefecture. Questionnaires on sudden unexpected death of infants aged < 1 year in 1990-91 were sent to the hospitals and clinics in Kanagawa Prefecture which may take care of such infants. By analysing information from 10 485 replies, 48 out of 73 reported sudden infant deaths were confirmed to be SIDS, although autopsy was not performed in 13 cases (27%). The incidence of SIDS per 1000 live births in Kanagawa Prefecture was 0.29 in 1990 and 0.31 in 1991; and if limited to autopsy cases 0.19 and 0.25, respectively. Sudden infant death syndrome cases in Japan were found to occur more frequently when infants were < 6 months old, at home and sleeping alone, but less in the winter and between midnight and early morning. There was little difference between the numbers in prone and supine sleeping positions at discovery. It was not clear whether SIDS occurred more often to babies sleeping prone than supine, because there were no controls matched with the SIDS cases. In future, continuous epidemiological surveys of SIDS in Japan should be carried out.     

Urinary prolactin excretion in children with renal disease

The contribution of the kidney to the metabolism of prolactin has not yet been established. In the present study, urinary prolactin concentrations in 30 children with renal disease were measured by a newly devised, highly sensitive, time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. Median prolactin concentrations in the urine of children with renal disease, were 1.86 pmol/L⁻¹ of urine (range: 0.17–546.31 pmol/L⁻¹. By stepwise regression analysis, change in urinary prolactin levels as a function of the urinary β 2-microglobulin concentrations was detected. These results indicate that prolactin urinary excretion in children with renal disease is dependent on the renal proximal tubular function.     

Modulation of bullous pemphigoid antigen gene expression by γ-interferon in cultured keratinocytes

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against BP antigens. gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), a T-cell lymphokine, is known to enhance the expression of several cell-surface proteins. In this study, keratinocytes were cultured in the presence of gamma-IFN, the expression of BP antigen protein was examined by flow cytometry and BP antigen messenger RNA (mRNA) (encoding 230-kDa protein) was quantified by slot-blot hybridization. The results indicated that BP antigen gene expression by keratinocytes was upregulated by gamma-IFN. This enhancement of gene expression was detected at both the protein and mRNA level, suggesting pretranslational regulation. These results imply the involvement of not only humoral immunity but also cell-mediated immunity in the development of BP.