Ingestion of High β-Glucan Barley Flour Enhances the Intestinal Immune System of Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Prebiotic Effects

The prebiotic effect of high β-glucan barley (HGB) flour on the innate immune system of high-fat model mice was investigated. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with HGB flour for 90 days. Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the cecum and serum were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 in the ileum as well as the composition of the microbiota in the cecum. Concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and organic acids were analyzed by GC/MS. Concentrations of sIgA in the cecum and serum were increased in the HGB group compared to the control. Gene expression levels of IL-10 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) significantly increased in the HGB group. HGB intake increased the bacterial count of microbiota, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Concentrations of propionate and lactate in the cecum were increased in the HGB group, and a positive correlation was found between these organic acids and the IL-10 expression level. Our findings showed that HGB flour enhanced immune function such as IgA secretion and IL-10 expression, even when the immune system was deteriorated by a high-fat diet. Moreover, we found that HGB flour modulated the gut microbiota, which increased the concentration of SCFAs, thereby stimulating the immune system.     

Further isolation and characterization of grammistins from the skin secretion of the soapfish Grammistes sexlineatus.

Soapfishes contain peptide toxins (grammistins) in the skin secretion. Two grammistins (Gs 1 and Gs 2) and six grammistins (Pp 1, Pp 2a, Pp 2b, Pp 3, Pp 4a and Pp 4b) have already been isolated from Grammistes sexlineatus and Pogonoperca punctata, respectively. In this study, five grammistins (Gs A-E), together with grammistins Gs 1 and Gs 2, were further isolated from G. sexlineatus by gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. Sequence analyses revealed that grammistins Gs A (28 residues) and Gs C (26 residues) are analogous to grammistin Pp 3 and grammistin Gs B (12 residues) to grammistin Pp 1, while grammistins Gs D (13 residues) and Gs E (13 residues) are identical with grammistins Pp 1 and Pp 2b, respectively. Grammistins Gs A-C exhibited antibacterial activity with a broad spectrum against nine species of bacteria in common with the other grammistins but had no hemolytic activity differing from the other grammistins. Grammistins Gs A-E, Gs 1 and Gs 2 could release carboxyfluorescein entrapped within liposomes made of either phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylglycerol/phosphatidylcholine (3:1), demonstrating their membrane-lytic activity. However, no clear relationship between the membrane-lytic activity and the biological activity of grammistins was recognized.     

Melanoma arising from a plaque‐type blue naevus with subcutaneous cellular nodules of the scalp

Plaque‐type blue naevus (PTBN) is a very rare variant of blue naevus (BN). The potential malignancy of subcutaneous cellular nodules (SCN) in PTBN was discovered in 2012, and there is currently no clear consensus on prognostic factors or management guidelines of such lesions. PTBN on the scalp have not been described in the literature. We report the clinical, histopathological and immunohistological features of a 50‐year‐old man who presented with a 30‐year history of scalp PTBN, with malignant proliferation of nodular elements and fatal outcome 8 years later. This case suggests that long‐term monitoring of patients with PTBN is required. Early surgical removal of such lesions should be considered, especially in the presence of any case of enlargement or change.     

Computed tomographic scan mapping of gastric wall perfusion and clinical implications

Background

Several postoperative gastrointestinal complications are attributed to ischemia. We herein evaluate the gastric wall perfusion using computed tomography (CT) scan perfusion index on trial to address the etiology of ischemic complication after sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods

A retrospective study of 205 patients undergoing CT scan of the abdomen to evaluate the pattern of gastric vascular perfusion was performed. The perfusion index of the gastric mucosa was measured at 5 gastric points using CT perfusion scanning.

Results

Gastric perfusion at the angle of His (AOH) (53.51 ± 14.38) was statistically significantly lower (P < .001) than that at the other gastric points studied: fundus, greater curvature, lesser curvature, incisura angularis, and mid gastric points (76.16 ± 15.21, 73.27 ± 16.55, 76.12 ± 16.12, and 75.24 ± 14.9, respectively). Gastric perfusion was significantly lower at all the gastric points (and especially so at the AOH) among obese patients (33 cases) compared with nonobese patients (18 cases). Gastric perfusion at all the points studied showed a decrease as the body mass index increases. Hypertensive patients had a better gastric perfusion compared with nonhypertensive patients.

Conclusions

Gastric wall perfusion is statistically significantly decreased at the AOH and gastric fundus compared with perfusion at other gastric points. Gastric perfusion at all the gastric points studied decreased with the increase in body mass index. Gastric leakage in obese patients following sleeve gastrectomy could be attributed to a decrease in the blood supply at AOH.     

Acute leukemia with the phenotype of a natural killer/T cell bipotential precursor

 An acute leukemia with an unusual immunophenotype developed in a 17-year-old girl. At the initial presentation, extramedullary involvement was not evident, but with advancing disease, massive splenomegaly and an osteolytic rib tumor developed. The disease was aggressive and refractory to intensive chemotherapeutic regimens for myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, and the patient died 3 months after the initial presentation. The leukemic cells were of irregular shape and variable size; they had deeply indented or bi-lobed nuclei and relatively fine, azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. They were positive for acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase in granular staining, but they were negative for myeloperoxidase. The leukemic cells had a unique immunophenotype: it was positive for T-cell antigens (CD1a, CD2, cytoplasmic CD3, CD4), myeloid antigens (CD13 and CD33), NK-cell antigen (CD56), CD19 and CD30. DNA analysis revealed no gene rearrangement in the T-cell receptor β, γ and δ, or immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. The leukemic cells of our patient are thought to have arisen from the transformation of a putative precursor cell common to both the T- and NK-cell lineage in the bone marrow. The current literature on precursor NK-cell malignancy is reviewed, and its clinicopathological feature is discussed. Received: 29 April 1998 / Accepted: 28 August 1998     

Target motion tracking with a scanned particle beam

Treatment of moving targets with scanned particle beams results in local over- and under-dosage due to interplay of beam and target motion. To mitigate the impact of respiratory motion, a motion tracking system has been developed and integrated in the therapy control system at Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung. The system adapts pencil beam positions as well as the beam energy according to target motion to irradiate the planned position. Motion compensation performance of the tracking system was assessed by measurements with radiographic films and a 3D array of 24 ionization chambers. Measurements were performed for stationary detectors and moving detectors using the tracking system. Film measurements showed comparable homogeneity inside the target area. Relative differences of 3D dose distributions within the target volume were 1 +/- 2% with a maximum of 4%. Dose gradients and dose to surrounding areas were in good agreement. The motion tracking system successfully preserved dose distributions delivered to moving targets and maintained target conformity.