Serum immunoglobulin G4 associated with number and distribution of extrapancreatic lesions in type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis patients

Background and Aim: Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is characterized by the increase of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 and abundant IgG4 plasma cell infiltration in the pancreas and various extrapancreatic lesions (EPL), which are proposed as IgG4‐related disease. We assessed the correlation between serum IgG4 and the number of EPL, and the association between serum IgG4 and the distribution of EPL in type 1 AIP patients. Methods: Serum IgG4 was measured in 35 type 1 AIP patients and 71 non‐AIP patients. The clinical characteristics and distribution of eight EPL were determined in 35 type 1 AIP patients. Results: Serum IgG4 in type 1 AIP was significantly higher than in non‐AIP (P < 0.001). A total of 33 patients had EPL among 35 patients with type 1 AIP (94.3%). There was a significant correlation between serum IgG4 and the number of EPL (ρ = 0.75, P < 0.001). Further, to assess the association between serum IgG4 and the distribution of EPL, type 1 AIP patients were divided into two groups: as abdominal localized EPL and systemic EPL. Both serum IgG4 and total numbers of EPL in systemic EPL were remarkably higher than those in abdominal localized EPL. Serum IgG4 cut‐off value was 346 mg/dL to distinguish between abdominal localized EPL and systemic EPL according to the receiver–operator characteristic curve data. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that serum IgG4 was useful in both the diagnosis of type 1 AIP and the detection of systemic EPL. Our finding may help the concept and diagnostic criteria of IgG4‐related disease with type 1 AIP.     

Asian consensus report on functional dyspepsia

Background and Aim: Environmental factors such as food, lifestyle and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection are widely different in Asian countries compared with the West, and physiological functions and genetic factors of Asians may also be different from those of Westerners. Establishing an Asian consensus for functional dyspepsia is crucial in order to attract attention to such data from Asian countries, to articulate the experience and views of Asian experts, and to provide a relevant guide on management of functional dyspepsia for primary care physicians working in Asia. Methods: Consensus team members were selected from Asian experts and consensus development was carried out by using a modified Delphi method. Consensus teams collected published papers on functional dyspepsia especially from Asia and developed candidate consensus statements based on the generated clinical questions. At the first face‐to‐face meeting, each statement was reviewed and e‐mail voting was done twice. At the second face‐to‐face meeting, final voting on each statement was done using a keypad voting system. A grade of evidence and strength of recommendation were applied to each statement according to the method of the GRADE Working Group. Results: Twenty‐nine consensus statements were finalized, including seven for definition and diagnosis, five for epidemiology, nine for pathophysiology, and eight for management. Algorithms for diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia were added. Conclusions: This consensus developed by Asian experts shows distinctive features of functional dyspepsia in Asia and will provide a guide to the diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia for Asian primary care physicians.     

Fish to meat intake ratio and cooking oils are associated with hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels

Aim: Dietary habits are involved in the development of chronic inflammation; however, the impact of dietary profiles of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal alanine transaminase levels (HCV‐PNALT) remains unclear. The decision‐tree algorithm is a data‐mining statistical technique, which uncovers meaningful profiles of factors from a data collection. We aimed to investigate dietary profiles associated with HCV‐PNALT using a decision‐tree algorithm. Methods: Twenty‐seven HCV‐PNALT and 41 patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study. Dietary habit was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. A decision‐tree algorithm was created by dietary variables, and was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUROC). Results: In multivariate analysis, fish to meat ratio, dairy product and cooking oils were identified as independent variables associated with HCV‐PNALT. The decision‐tree algorithm was created with two variables: a fish to meat ratio and cooking oils/ideal bodyweight. When subjects showed a fish to meat ratio of 1.24 or more, 68.8% of the subjects were HCV‐PNALT. On the other hand, 11.5% of the subjects were HCV‐PNALT when subjects showed a fish to meat ratio of less than 1.24 and cooking oil/ideal bodyweight of less than 0.23 g/kg. The difference in the proportion of HCV‐PNALT between these groups are significant (odds ratio 16.87, 95% CI 3.40–83.67, P = 0.0005). Fivefold cross‐validation of the decision‐tree algorithm showed an AUROC of 0.6947 (95% CI 0.5656–0.8238, P = 0.0067). Conclusion: The decision‐tree algorithm disclosed that fish to meat ratio and cooking oil/ideal bodyweight were associated with HCV‐PNALT.     

Simple organocatalyst component system for asymmetric hetero Diels–Alder reaction of isatins with enones

A simple two catalyst component system consisting of primary β-amino alcohols as a catalyst and amino acids as a co-catalyst put together works as an efficient organocatalyst system in the hetero Diels–Alder reaction of isatins with enones to afford the chiral spirooxindole–tetrahydropyranones in good chemical yields and stereoselectivities (up to 86%, up to 85 : 15 dr., up to 95% ee).

A simple two catalysts component system of β-amino alcohols (catalyst) and amino acids (co-catalyst) works as an efficient organocatalysts in hetero Diels–Alder reaction of isatins with enones to afford chiral spirooxindole-tetrahydropyranones.     

Synthesis of Pd–Ru solid-solution nanoparticles by pulsed plasma in liquid method

We have synthesized solid-solution nanoparticles (Pd : Ru = 1 : 3, 1 : 1 and 3 : 1) in an immiscible Pd–Ru system by the pulsed plasma in liquid method using Pd–Ru mixture bulk electrodes. The particle sizes of the floated and sedimented samples were measured to be <10 and <20 nm, respectively, via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The lattice parameters of nanoparticles followed the Vegard''s law, and the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results almost coincided with those obtained for the starting bulk mixtures. The solid-solution structures and local structure were confirmed via HR-TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS).

We have synthesized solid-solution nanoparticles (Pd : Ru = 1 : 3, 1 : 1 and 3 : 1) in an immiscible Pd–Ru system by the pulsed plasma in liquid method using Pd–Ru mixture bulk electrodes.