Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric mucosal phospholipid contents and their fatty acid composition

To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the 'gastric mucosal barrier', phospholipid contents and the fatty acid composition of endoscopic biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa were analysed in healthy volunteers with and without H. pylori infection. The gastric corporeal phos-phatidylcholine (PC) content of H. pylori -positive healthy volunteers was less than that of H. pylori -negative healthy volunteers ( P < 0.05). Moreover, H. pylori -positive healthy volunteers had a decrease in linoleic acid composition ( P < 0.0001) and an increase in arachidonic acid composition ( P < 0.0001) and in the arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio ( P < 0.0001) of antral and corporeal PC compared with H. pylori-negative healthy volunteers. These findings suggest that H. pylori infection enhances production of various eicosanoids, resulting in changes in the gastric mucosal phospholipid contents and their fatty acid composition, that may consequently cause the gastric mucosal barrier to be weakened.     

Symbolic meanings of island in dreams

Abstract Six dreams reported from neurotic patients in the therapy of Jungian analysis are presented to illustrate the symbolic meanings of islands in dreams. The island in dreams symbolizes (i) the entrance point into Jungian analysis, (ii) a complex in which a dreamer has got involved and (iii) the beginning of the newly organized ego consciousness. The multiple meanings of islands are suggested to originate from several levels of the unconscious from which the identical symbol of island comes from.     

Relationship between Plasma Concentration and Antihypertensive Effect of the Dihydropyridine Calcium Antagonist,Benidipine, in Rats

Although benidipine hydrochloride, a hydrophobic and weakly cationic dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, has slow onset but long-lasting anti-hypertensive effect in experimental animals and man, after administration it rapidly disappears from the plasma. Correlation of the plasma concentration with reduction in blood pressure has been investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and concentrations in the mesenteric artery were compared with those in plasma after oral and intravenous administration of benidipine to rats. After oral administration of benidipine to spontaneously hypertensive rats, the fall in blood pressure showed an anti-clock hysteresis phenomenon. Using concomitant analysis, plasma concentrations and anti-hypertensive activity could both be closely fitted to a one-compartment open model and the effect compartment for the pharmacological activity of benidipine could be described by a Hill equation. Concentrations in the mesenteric artery increased rapidly and then declined more slowly than in plasma. The mean residence time of benidipine in the mesenteric artery corresponded closely to the reciprocal of the rate constant for elimination of benidipine from the effect compartment. From these results it seems that benidipine is retained longer in the plasma membrane, an effective site, because of its physicochemical properties, and thus shows a more sustained anti-hypertensive effect than would be predicted from its disposition in plasma.     

Use of Automatic Mode Change Between DDD and AAI to Facilitate Native Atrioventricular Conduction in Patients with Sick Sinus Syndrome or Transient Atrioventricular Block

The benefits of the automatic DDD (DDD/AMC) mode in the Chorus II pacemaker (Chorus 6234; Ela Medical Inc.), which automatically switches the modes between DDD and AAI to respect spontaneous AV conduction as much as possible in AAI while preserving safety pacing in DDD during paroxysmal AV block (AVB) only, remain unproven. This study examined the functions of the DDD/AMC mode in 12 patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS; n = 10) or paroxysmal complete AVB (n = 2). A short-term (24 hours) comparative study between simple DDD mode and the DDD/AMC mode was performed in 8 of the 12 patients, and a medium-term (55.2 ± 54.6 days) follow-up of the DDD/AMC mode was completed in all 12 patients. A comparative pair of 24-hour surface Holter ECGs was obtained in 6 of the 8 patients in the short-term study. Telemetry and built-in Holter histograms were collected in the outpatient clinic in all 12 patients. Although the percentage atrial pacing of the telemetry increased from 59.2 ± 35.4 in DDD to 70.4 ± 31.8 in DDD/AMC (P < 0.009; n = 8), the percentage ventricular pacing decreased from 64.6 ± 37.7 in DDD to 36.2 ± 43.1 in DDD/AMC (P < 0.027) in the short-term study. In particular, the reduction of percentage ventricular pacing to < 10% was observed in four patients with SSS not associated with ± first-degree (1°) AVB on preoperative ECGs. Between the two modes a significant difference in arrhythmic events was not observed by the 24-hour surface Holter ECGS taken from the six patients in the short-term study. AAI-DDD switching associated with automatic modulation of AV delay and AV hysteresis occurred in all patients in the medium-term study. From the medium-term study, the total AV delay (AV delay plus AV hysteresis) exceeded 300 ms in 6 of the 12 patients in DDD/AMC, and usually became longest during nighttime. From the short- or medium-term study in the 12 patients, two patients preferred the DDD/AMC mode while one preferred the DDD mode. These results suggest that the DDD/AMC mode is useful, at least in SSS patients without ≥ 1° AVB, by reducing the percentage ventricular pacing.     

Human herpesvirus-6-associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia

We report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). We analysed DNA extracted from an exanthematous lesion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was positive for HHV-6 but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Immunohistochemical staining of the skin with monoclonal antibody against HHV-6 confirmed the infection. The possibility of HHV-6 infection should be considered when an atypical skin rash is seen in patients with ALL.     

Reversal of altered intestinal mucosal immunity in rats fed elemental diet by supplementation of oleic acid

We have previously demonstrated that elemental diet (ED) induces decreased lymphocyte transport in intestinal lymph and significant changes in T cell subsets and the number of IgA-containing cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues of rats. In order to examine whether the low fat content contributes to the induction of immunological changes in gut-associated lymphoid tissues, the effects of additional fatty acid in the ED were investigated. Rats were divided into four groups: elemental diet alone, elemental diet supplemented with 5% oleic acid (OA), elemental diet with 10% OA and conventional diet as a control. These diets were given at the same daily calorie intake for 4 weeks. The flow rate of intestinal lymph showed no significant difference between the four groups. However, lymphocyte flux as well as the percentage of CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ cells were significantly greater in the control and the 10% OA groups than in the ED and 5% OA groups. Intestinal lymph showed decreased concentrations of IgG and IgA in the ED group, whereas the addition of 10% OA significantly attenuated the decrease in these levels. In mesenteric lymph nodes, the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio was significantly decreased in the ED group, but 10% OA reversed this change. Immunohistochemical analysis of the ileal mucosa showed that in the ED group the population of CD4⁺ cells was decreased, while the number of CD8⁺ cells was increased. Supplementation of OA to ED produced similar stepwise attenuation of the changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in the lamina propria, while the 10% OA group reached levels that were not statistically different from controls. In the elemental diet, group, there was a significant decrease in immunoglobulin-containing cells of the IgA class in the lamina propria of the intestine. Similarly, the addition of OA induced dose-dependent recovery in the number of IgA-containing cells. These results suggest that a low dietary concentration of fat may be closely related to changes in lymphocyte transport in intestinal lymph and mucosal immunity of intestinal mucosa induced by the feeding of a long-term ED.     

Protocol consisting of cisplatin, etoposide and irinotecan induced complete pathological remission of primary small cell carcinoma of the bladder

A 73-year-old man with primary small-cell carcinoma of the bladder was treated by radical cystectomy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological complete remission was achieved by combination chemotherapy composed of cisplatin, etoposide and irinotecan. The patient is free of disease 19 months after surgery.     

Mutations in type I collagen genes in Japanese osteogenesis imperfecta patients

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue characterized by bone fragility and low bone mass. COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes are very large and have been rarely analyzed systematically in Japan. The aim of this project was to develop an effective and convenient method of finding mutations in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 gene by using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of genomic DNA from the COL1A1 or COL1A2 gene were followed by heteroduplex analysis by DHPLC. Products containing heteroduplexes were then sequenced. RESULTS: Twenty-two OI families were analyzed, and 193 of the 1122 PCR products in the COL1A1 gene, all containing heteroduplexes, were sequenced. Sixty-two samples had single-base substitutions or single-base deletions or insertions within introns. Eight had single-base substitutions in exons. Six were pathogenic mutations, and two were silent mutations. In 16 families not identified with pathogenic mutation in COL1A1, COL1A2 was similarly analyzed. A total of 138 of the 848 PCR products were sequenced, and 46 samples had single-base substitutions, or single-base deletions or insertions within introns. Twenty-four samples had single-base substitutions in exons. Three were pathogenic mutations and the others silent. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations were identified in nine COL1A1/COL1A2 associated with OI type I-IV genes by scanning with DHPLC. Software was used to detect point mutation and large deletions/insertions in COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes.     

Roles of specific cytokines in bone remodeling and hematopoiesis in Gaucher disease

BACKGROUND: Gaucher disease type 1 and type 3 are characterized by bone disease and hematological symptoms. It is known that monocyte/macrophage lineage is activated in Gaucher disease, and accordingly certain cytokines are elevated in blood. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible relationships between cytokines and bone remodeling and hematological abnormalities in this disease. METHODS: The concentrations of seven cytokines and two related proteins were measured in patients with Gaucher disease type 1 and type 3 (n= 8; age range, 2-50 years) who had received enzyme replacement therapy. RESULTS: Concentrations of interleukin-18 and transforming growth factor-beta1 were elevated in patients of all clinical types. Elevation of these cytokines in Gaucher disease has not been previously reported. Analysis of correlation among cytokines and bone-turnover markers showed that interleukin-18 concentration was correlated with each of two bone formation markers of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin concentration, whereas macrophage colony-stimulating factor concentration correlated with the bone absorption marker of N-telopeptide to helix in urine. Concentrations of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were inversely correlated with hemoglobin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-18 and monocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor are cytokines mainly involved in the mechanism of bone disease, while macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha may play a role in the development of hematological abnormalities in Gaucher disease.