Phlebosclerotic colitis that was difficult to distinguish from collagenous colitis

Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare and recently known disease entity and its etiology is still to be elucidated. Some phlebosclerotic colitis cases are difficult to distinguish from collagenous colitis because of the similarity of pathological findings. In all Japanese case reports of phlebosclerotic colitis in which an association with the use of Chinese herbal medicine is suspected, sansisi (gardenia fruit) was included, suggesting pathogenesis of this disease. We report a case of phlebosclerotic colitis that wasdifficult to be distinguished from collagenous colitis, and an association with the use of Chinese herbal medicine was suspected as the cause of the disease.     

Number of aberrant crypt foci in the rectum is a useful surrogate marker of colorectal adenoma recurrence

Aim: Endoscopic screening and removal of colorectal adenomas can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, given the possibility of adenoma recurrence, surveillance colonoscopy is currently recommended after the initial screening and removal of colorectal adenomas. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) have been shown to serve as a reliable surrogate marker of colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, the relationship between the number of ACF at the initial endoscopic polypectomy and the likelihood of colorectal adenoma recurrence after polypectomy were investigated. Methods: High‐magnification chromoscopic colonoscopy was performed in 82 subjects who underwent endoscopic polypectomy to identify ACF in the lower rectum. Surveillance colonoscopy was then performed 3 years after the baseline polypectomy at Yokohama City University Hospital. Results: The number of ACF was greater in patients who showed adenoma recurrence (7.88 ± 6.35) than in those who did not (2.19 ± 2.95) (P < 0.001). Receiver–operating curve analysis showed that the number of ACF was a highly specific predictor of the risk of adenoma recurrence. Conclusions: This is the first study conducted to investigate the relationship between the number of ACF after endoscopic polypectomy and the likelihood of recurrence of colorectal adenomas. These results suggest that the number of ACF is a useful predictor of the likelihood of colorectal adenoma recurrence.     

Sex-specific mating pheromones in the nematode Panagrellus redivivus

Nematodes use an extensive chemical language based on glycosides of the dideoxysugar ascarylose for developmental regulation (dauer formation), male sex attraction, aggregation, and dispersal. However, no examples of a female- or hermaphrodite-specific sex attractant have been identified to date. In this study, we investigated the pheromone system of the gonochoristic sour paste nematode Panagrellus redivivus, which produces sex-specific attractants of the opposite sex. Activity-guided fractionation of the P. redivivus exometabolome revealed that males are strongly attracted to ascr#1 (also known as daumone), an ascaroside previously identified from Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites. Female P. redivivus are repelled by high concentrations of ascr#1 but are specifically attracted to a previously unknown ascaroside that we named dhas#18, a dihydroxy derivative of the known ascr#18 and an ascaroside that features extensive functionalization of the lipid-derived side chain. Targeted profiling of the P. redivivus exometabolome revealed several additional ascarosides that did not induce strong chemotaxis. We show that P. redivivus females, but not males, produce the male-attracting ascr#1, whereas males, but not females, produce the female-attracting dhas#18. These results show that ascaroside biosynthesis in P. redivivus is highly sex-specific. Furthermore, the extensive side chain functionalization in dhas#18, which is reminiscent of polyketide-derived natural products, indicates unanticipated biosynthetic capabilities in nematodes.     

Interaction of Necl‐4/CADM4 with ErbB3 and integrin α6β4 and inhibition of ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling and hemidesmosome disassembly

Nectin‐like molecule 4 (Necl‐4)/CADM4, a transmembrane cell–cell adhesion molecule with three Ig‐like domains, was shown to serve as a tumor suppressor, but its mode of action has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed that Necl‐4 interacted in cis with ErbB3 through their extracellular regions, recruited PTPN13 and inhibited the heregulin‐induced activation of the ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling. In addition, we extended our previous finding that Necl‐4 interacts in cis with integrin α₆β₄ through their extracellular regions and found that Necl‐4 inhibited the phorbol ester‐induced disassembly of hemidesmosomes. These results indicate that Necl‐4 serves as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling and hemidesmosome disassembly.     

Inhibition of enamel demineralization by buffering effect of S‐PRG filler‐containing dental sealant

The buffering capacity and inhibitory effects on enamel demineralization of two commercially available dental sealants were evaluated in this study. The effects of filler particles were also examined. Disks of enamel and cured sealant materials of BeautiSealant (silica or S‐PRG filler) or Teethmate F‐1 were incubated in lactic acid solutions (pH 4.0) for 1–6 d. The pH changes and amounts of ions released in the solutions were assessed, and enamel surfaces were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The pH of the solution with BeautiSealant (S‐PRG filler) was neutralized from pH 4.0 to pH 6.1 (after incubation for 1 d) and from pH 4.0 to pH 6.7 (after incubation for 6 d). In addition, no release of calcium ions was detected and the enamel surface was morphologically intact in scanning electron microscopy images. However, the pH of the solution with Teethmate F‐1 remained below pH 4.0 during incubation from days 1 to 6. Calcium release was increased in solutions up to and after 6 d of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the structures of hydroxyapatite rods were exposed at the specimen surfaces as a result of demineralization. Ions released from S‐PRG filler‐containing dental sealant rapidly buffered the lactic acid solution and inhibited enamel demineralization.     

Efficacy of plasma exchange therapy for Kawasaki disease intractable to intravenous gamma-globulin

Kawasaki disease (KD) causes coronary artery lesions (CALs) in 500 Japanese children each year. Intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG) decreases the incidence of these lesions from 25% to 8% of the total KD cases. We examined whether plasma exchange is a safe and effective prophylaxis against CALs in children with KD intractable to IVGG therapy. Eighty-nine children with KD at high risk of CALs were selected on the basis of increases in fractional changes in inflammatory markers such as white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein between the baseline and 1–2 days after IVGG treatment. Of 105 children who received a second course of IVGG therapy because the initial course was ineffective, plasma exchange (PE) was performed in 46 children who had not responded to the second IVGG treatment. The outcome was compared with the results when a third course of IVGG therapy was given to the other 59 children. No complications occurred with the plasma exchange therapy. CALs developed in only 8 of the 46 children (17.3%) who underwent plasma exchange, but they occurred in 24 of the 59 (40.7%) who had received a third course of IVGG therapy (P 0.0012). We concluded that PE was a safe, effective prophylactic measure against CALs in children with KD intractable to IVGG therapy. PE should be performed at an early stage, as soon as fractional increases in inflammatory markers are found after IVGG therapy.     

Action of aspirin on whole blood-aggregation evaluated by the screen filtration pressure method.

BACKGROUND: There are few monitoring systems widely used in clinical practice for evaluating the effectiveness of aspirin therapy, so in the present study aspirin's antiplatelet effects we investigated with a whole blood aggregometer using a screen filtration pressure (SFP) method. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five healthy male volunteers took 100 mg/day aspirin for 14 days. Whole-blood aggregation was analyzed at baseline and on days 7 and 14, using collagen and adenosine diphosphate as the stimuli, and compared with the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) aggregation measured by optical aggregometer. The platelet-aggregation threshold index (PATI) for both methods, which was defined as the putative agonist-concentration giving half-maximal aggregation, and the PRP-maximal aggregation rate were analyzed. The maximal aggregation rate induced by 1.6 mg/L collagen decreased from 85.5% (80.8-92.8) [median (interquartile range)] at baseline to 51.5% (39-63.8) on day 14 (p<0.0001). The PRP-PATI and whole-blood PATI for collagen increased from 0.32 (0.28-0.70) to 1.82 mg/L (1.25-2.89) (p<0.0001) and from 0.28 (0.22-0.3) to 1.06 mg/L (1.01-1.29) (p<0.0001) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The whole-blood PATI and PRP-PATI for collagen, as well as the maximal PRP aggregation rate, clearly distinguish platelet aggregability before and after aspirin intake. However, whole-blood analysis by the SFP-method is easier to perform, and is a promising method of monitoring aspirin's effects.