Polymorphisms in ADAM33 are associated with allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen

BACKGROUND: A recent report provided evidence that a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33), a member of the ADAM family, is a novel susceptibility gene in asthma linked to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. However, there has been no investigation of the genetic role of ADAM33 variants in nasal allergy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the association between ADAM33 polymorphisms and Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis), a most common seasonal allergic rhinitis in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a case-control association study among a Japanese population, involving 95 adult individuals with JCPsis and 95 normal healthy controls. A total of 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33 were genotyped using PCR-based molecular methods. RESULTS: Six SNPs of ADAM33 gene, three in introns (7575G/A, 9073G/A and 12540C/T) and three in the coding region (10918G/C, 12433T/C and 12462C/T), were strongly associated with JCPsis (P = 0.0002-0.022 for absolute allele frequencies) and most of the SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. A higher frequency of the common alleles of these SNPs was noted for the subjects with JCPsis in comparison with healthy controls. We also identified a haplotype associated with the disease susceptibility. In addition, associations were found between ADAM33 polymorphisms and various cedar pollinosis phenotypes including clinical severity, eosinophil counts in nasal secretion and allergen-specific IgE levels in sera, but not total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that polymorphisms in the ADAM33 gene are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollen, but the functional relationship still needs clarification.     

MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT BLEEDING DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING THE FLUSH KNIFE FOR GASTRIC TUMORS

The gastric vasculature responsible for intraoperative bleeding in endosocpic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the ramified vascular network occupying the middle of the submucosal layer and large vessels penetrating the muscle layer. Appropriate management for these vessels must be addressed. The trimming of the ramified vascular network can be safely performed with coagulation mode following shallow mucosal cutting. A large penetrating vessel usually requires precoagulation prior to dissection. These procedures are effectively performed with the water jet short needle knife (Flush knife).     

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine in a patient with a choking feeling in the esophagus]

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of a choking feeling around the esophagus. Laboratory examinations revealed eosinophilia, and high levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E. A computed tomography scan (CT) showed wall thickening of the esophagus and terminal ileum, and ascites around the liver. An endoscopic examination revealed mild mucosal edema in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Biopsy specimens showed diffuse eosinophilic infiltration in the mucosa. We therefore diagnosed eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Oral prednisolone relieved clinical conditions and the CT image improved. This case was considered valuable, because there have been few reports of eosinophilic esophagitis in Japan.     

Differential effects of the pyrethroid tetramethrin on tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin-resistant single sodium channels

The differential effects of the pyrethroid tetramethrin on tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) and tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) single sodium channel currents in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were investigated using the outside-out configuration of patch-clamp technique. Channel conductances were 10.7 and 6.3 pS for TTX-S and TTX-R sodium channels, respectively, at a room temperature of 24–26°C. The single-channel current of TTX-S sodium channels at the test potential of −30 mV was −1.27 ± 0.25 pA, and was not changed after exposure to 10 μM tetramethrin (−1.28 ± 0.23 pA). The open time histogram of TTX-S single-channel currents could be fitted by a single exponential function with a time constant of 1.27 ms. After exposure to 10 μM tetramethrin, the open time histogram could be fitted by the sum of two exponential functions with time constants of 1.36 ms (τ_fast) and 5.73 ms (τ_low). The percentage of contribution of each component to the population was 62% for the fast component representing the normal channels and 38% for the slow component representing the tetramethrin modified channels. The amplitudc of TTX-R single-channel currents was slightly changed from −0.72 ± 0.14 to −0.83 ± 0.07 pA by 10 μM tetramethrin. The open time histogram of TTX-R single-channel currents could be fitted by a single exponential function with a time constant of 1.92 ms. In the presence of 10 μM tetramethrin, the open time histogram could be fitted by the sum of two exponential functions with time constants of 2.07 ms (τ_fast) and 9.75 ms (τ_slow). The percentage of contribution of each component was 15% for the fast, unmodified component and 85% for the slow, modified component. Differential effects of tetramethrin on the open time distribution of single sodium channel currents explains the differential sensitivity of TTX-S and TTX-R sodium channels.     

HTLV-I, HIV-I, and Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Western Province, Papua New Guinea: A Serological Survey

Seven hundred and twenty-three serum samples from individuals in 13 Gidra-speaking villages in Western Province, Papua New Guinea were tested for evidence of infection with human T- lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). No samples were positive for antibodies to HIV-I. Antibodies to HTLV-I were found in 13 samples (1.8%), HBV surface antigens (HBsAg) were found in 86 samples (11.9%), and antibodies to HCV were found in 30 samples (4.1%). Six (46.2%) of 13 HTLV-I positive samples were positive for HCV or HBsAg. The seropositive rate varied in different villages and the incidence of HTLV-I and HCV was higher in coastal and riverine areas than inland.     

Pulmonary kinetics of 13N-ammonia in smoking subjects--a quantitative study using dynamic PET]

To evaluate the effect of smoking on nonrespiratory function in the lung, a dynamic PET with 13NH3 in the lung was performed in 18 normal volunteers without lung disease nor congestion (9 non-smokers, 4 exsmokers, 5 smokers). After intravenous bolus injection of 13NH3, twenty serial 5.5-second scans followed by six 30-second scans were performed. Regions of interests were assigned on the ventral, lateral and dorsal part of the right lung and time-activity curves were generated through 26 images. The activity curve demonstrated a biexponential clearance from the lung with fast and slow component. The retention fraction (RF), fractional size of the slow component, was calculated, and the half-times (t 1/2) of both components were also evaluated. A significant increase of RF and prolongation of t 1/2 of slow component were observed in smokers compared to non-smokers and exsmokers. However, no significant difference of RF nor t 1/2 of both components was observed between non-smokers and exsmokers. These results suggest that long term smoking may modify the pulmonary kinetics of 13NH3, but the change is reversible after cessation of smoking for one year or longer.