Effects of cyclosporin A on water-immersion stress-induced gastric lesion and gastric secretion in rats

Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressive agent which is well known as a specific inhibitor of calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B). In this study, we investigated the effects of cyclosporin A on water-immersion stress-induced gastric ulcer formation and gastric acid secretion in rats. We also examined the localization of calcineurin immunohistochemically. Calcineurin was specifically expressed in gastric parietal cells and chief cells of the gastric mucosa. The intraperitoneal administration of cyclosporin A dose-dependently suppressed the development of gastric mucosal lesions induced by water-immersion stress and inhibited gastric acid secretion, as assessed by pylorus ligation. These results indicated that calcineurin may play an important role in gastric acid secretion. Received: October 14, 1999 / Accepted: January 28, 2000     

Pica during pregnancy among Mexican‐born women: a formative study

Although pica, the craving and purposive consumption of non‐food substances, is common among many populations, especially during pregnancy, the health consequences are not well understood. Further, very little is known about pica among Mexican populations in the United States and Mexico. Therefore, we conducted formative research to understand pica in this understudied population. Our objectives were to identify the frequency and types of pica behaviours, to understand perceived aetiologies and consequences of pica and to ascertain if the behaviour was common enough to warrant a larger study. We held nine focus group discussions (three in the Salinas Valley, California; six in Xoxocotla, Morelos, Mexico) with 76 Mexican‐born women who were currently pregnant or had delivered within the past 2 years. Earth, adobe, bean stones and ice were the most commonly reported pica substances. Twenty‐eight of the 76 participants (37%) reported ever engaging in pica; 22 participants (29%) reported doing so during pregnancy. The proportion of women reporting pica in the United States and Mexico was 43% and 34%, respectively. Women attributed pica to the overwhelming organoleptic appeal of pica substances (especially smell and texture) and to micronutrient deficiencies. Perceived consequences of unfulfilled pica cravings were birthmarks or fetal loss; fulfilled pica cravings were also thought to be generally harmful to the mother or child, with several women specifying toxic lead, pesticides or ‘worms’. In sum, pica among Mexican women is common enough to warrant a larger epidemiologic study of its sociodemographic correlates and physiological consequences.     

Mycobacterium abscessus and massiliense lung infection during macrolide treatment for bronchiolitis obliterans after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), post-transplant lung infection is critical for their prognosis. Mycobacterium abscessus complex is not fully recognized as a nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pathogen of post-SCT lung infection. Here, we present three post-allogeneic SCT patients who developed pulmonary infection caused by M. abscessus complex including M. abscessus and M. massiliense. In all three cases, macrolide antibiotics had been administered for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) before the confirmation of their infection, and macrolide resistance was noted in the M. abscessus isolates, one of which resulted in an unfavorable treatment outcome. It is important to consider M. abscessus lung infection as well as other NTM in patients receiving allo-SCT, particularly those receiving macrolide therapy for BOS.     

Influences of environmental noise level and respiration rate on the accuracy of acoustic respiration rate monitoring

We tested the hypothesis that the environmental noise generated by a forced-air warming system reduces the monitoring accuracy of acoustic respiration rate (RRa). Noise levels were adjusted to 45–55, 56–65, 66–75, and 76–85 dB. Healthy participants breathed at set respiration rates (RRset) of 6, 12, and 30/min. Under each noise level at each RRset, the respiration rates by manual counting (RRm) and RRa were recorded. Any appearance of the alarm display on the RRa monitor was also recorded. Each RRm of all participants agreed with each RRset at each noise level. At 45–55 dB noise, the RRa of 13, 17, and 17 participants agreed with RRset of 6, 12, and 30/min, respectively. The RRa of 14, 17, and 16 participants at 56–65 dB noise, agreed with RRset of 6, 12, and 30/min, respectively. At 66–75 dB noise, the RRa of 9, 15, and 16 participants agreed with RRset of 6, 12, and 30/min, respectively. The RRa of one, nine, and nine participants at 76–85 dB noise agreed with RRset of 6, 12, and 30/min, respectively, which was significantly less than the other noise levels (P?<?0.05). Overall, 72.9% of alarm displays highlighted incorrect values of RRa. In a noisy situation involving the operation of a forced-air warming system, the acoustic respiration monitoring should be used carefully especially in patients with a low respiration rate.     

Glucocorticoid therapy suppresses Wnt signaling by reducing the ratio of serum Wnt3a to Wnt inhibitors,sFRP-1 and Wif-1

Clinical Rheumatology - Our previous study suggested that suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by increasing serum Wnt co-receptor inhibitors, sclerostin and Dickkopf-1, impairs bone...     

Obstructive Colitis with Minor Perforation Induced by Double Sigmoid Adenocarcinoma

A 72-year-old women was referred to our hospital because of lower left abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed prominent sigmoid colon dilation and double tumors on both the oral and anal sides. Surgical resection revealed an expanded sigmoid colon involved in double cancer that showed strong adhesion to the surrounding tissues. The pathological findings revealed obstructive colitis and minor perforation in the dilated colon. The minor perforation was considered to have been caused by fecal impaction in the closed cavity between the two tumors, resulting in an increase in colon pressure.     

Screening for Gaucher Disease Using Dried Blood Spot Tests: A Japanese Multicenter,Cross-sectional Survey

Objective For patients with Gaucher disease (GD), a rare, inherited lysosomal storage disease, obtaining a definitive diagnosis is currently time-consuming and costly. A simplified screening method to measure the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity using dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper has recently been developed. Using this newly developed screening method, we evaluated real-world GD screening in patients suspected of having GD. Methods This multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study with a diagnostic intervention component evaluated real-world screening in patients suspected of having GD based on their clinical symptoms and a platelet count <120,000/μL. The endpoint was the number of patients with low GBA activity determined using DBS. Results In 994 patients who underwent initial DBS screening, 77 had low GBA activity. The assay was not repeated in 1 patient who was diagnosed as having a high possibility of GD due to clinical symptoms, and a further 21 patients completed the study without undergoing the second assay. Of the remaining 55 patients who had 2 DBS assays performed, 11 had a low GBA activity in both assays. Overall, DBS screening identified 12 (1.2%) patients with a low GBA activity, a proportion consistent with prior screening studies. Conclusion These results suggest that the simplified DBS method was less burdensome to patients, was easily utilized by many physicians, and could be a useful first-tier screening assay for GD prior to initiating burdensome genetic testing.     

Telomere length in human liver diseases

Abstract: To determine the role of telomere-mediated gene stability in hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the telomere length of human liver with or without chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). The mean telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length of normal liver (n=13), chronic hepatitis (n=11), liver cirrhosis (n=24) and HCC (n=24) was 7.8±0.2, 7.1±0.3, 6.4±0.2 and 5.2±0.2 kb, respectively (mean±standard error). TRF length decreased with a progression of chronic liver diseases and that in HCC was significantly shorter than that in other chronic liver diseases (p<0.05). The ratios of TRF length of HCC to that of corresponding surrounding liver of well differentiated (n=7), moderately differentiated (n=10) and poorly differentiated (n=4) HCCs were 0.83±0.06, 0.75±0.05 and 0.98±0.09, respectively. The ratio of poorly differentiated HCC was significantly higher than that of moderately differentiated HCC (p<0.05). A comparison between the size and telomere length ratio of moderately differentiated HCCs revealed a decrease of the ratio with size until it reached 50 mm in diameter. In contrast, the ratio increased as the size enlarged over 50 mm. These findings suggest that the gene stability of the liver cells mediated by the telomere is reduced as chronic liver disease progresses and that telomerase is activated in poorly differentiated HCC and moderately differentiated HCC over 50 mm in diameter.