Increase of chemokine interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in the serum of patients with autoimmune liver diseases and increase of its mRNA expression in hepatocytes

To clarify the role of IP-10 in autoimmune liver diseases, we studied the serum levels of IP-10 in 14 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), 23 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and 65 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (20 type B and 45 type C). The hepatic expression of IP-10 mRNA and the correlation between the serum levels of IP-10 and clinical parameters were also evaluated. In addition to 20 healthy controls, 16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were included as an extrahepatic inflammatory disease. The serum level of IP-10 was significantly (P < 0.02) higher in patients with AIH, PBC, and chronic hepatitis B and C than in healthy controls, and it was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in patients with AIH, PBC, and chronic hepatitis B and C. The serum level of IP-10 was not elevated in RA patients. After successful treatment of AIH and chronic hepatitis C, the serum level of IP-10 decreased to the same level as in healthy volunteers. As we previously showed in cases with chronic hepatitis B or C, in situ hybridization in both AIH and PBC cases demonstrated the expression of IP-10 mRNA in hepatocytes around focal or lobular necrosis surrounded by infiltrating mononuclear cells, whereas IP-10 mRNA was not expressed in areas around the damaged bile ducts in PBC cases. The present results suggest that IP-10 is specifically produced by hepatocytes in inflammatory areas irrespective of the aetiology of hepatitis, and that IP-10 may help to recruit T cells to the hepatic lesions in autoimmune liver diseases as well as in chronic viral hepatitis.     

Serum IFN-inducible protein-10: a new clinical prognostic predictor of hepatocyte death in biliary atresia

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether chemokines such as serum IP-10 levels in patients with biliary atresia (BA) correlate with liver function and histology and assess its value as a medium to long-term prediction of prognosis in postoperative BA patients. METHODS: Thirty postoperative BA patients (mean age, 10.8+/-3.5 years) and eight normal controls (mean age, 10.3+/-3.3 years) were studied. The BA patients were divided into three groups according to liver function. Group I (n = 8) was jaundice free, had normal liver function and no evidence of severe cholangitis or portal hypertension. Group II (n = 12) had moderate liver dysfunction. Group III (n = 10), had severe liver dysfunction. Hepatic histology was assessed using conventional needle biopsy. Serum IP-10 levels were determined using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum levels of IP-10 in group III (458.0+/-240.0 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those in group II (233.6+/-126.9 pg/mL; P < .0001). Levels in group II were also significantly higher than those in group I (144.8+/-23.4 pg/mL; P < .05), but there was no significant difference between group I and controls (107.9+/-34.0 pg/mL). Liver biopsy findings showed a progression of fibrosis and mononuclear cell infiltration from group I to group III. There was intimal hyperplasia and swelling of endothelial cells of branches of the hepatic artery in the portal area in group III. CONCLUSION: Because IP-10 levels correlate closely with histological findings in postoperative BA patients, it would appear to play a specific role in hepatocyte death and hepatic artery changes, thus providing important information about progressive fibrosis in BA patients that facilitates treatment decision making and prediction of prognosis.     

Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients

Effects of aromatherapy (odorless condition, lavender, and hiba oil) on mood and anxiety were investigated in 14 female patients who were being treated with chronic hemodialysis. A control period consisting of natural hospital smells was established before each test session, and then aromatic test conditions were systematically evaluated for odorless conditions as well as aromatic conditions containing lavender and hiba oil aromas. The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Hiba oil aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMD and HAMA, and lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA. The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA in an odorless condition were not significantly different from those of the control conditions. These results indicate that in chronic hemodialysis patients hiba oil is an effective, non-invasive means for the treatment of depression and anxiety, and that lavender alleviates anxiety.     

Mutational effects of γ-rays and carbon ion beams on Arabidopsis seedlings

To assess the mutational effects of radiation on vigorously proliferating plant tissue, the mutation spectrum was analyzed with Arabidopsis seedlings using the plasmid-rescue method. Transgenic plants containing the Escherichia coli rpsL gene were irradiated with γ-rays and carbon ion beams (320-MeV ¹²C⁶⁺), and mutations in the rpsL gene were analyzed. Mutant frequency increased significantly following irradiation by γ-rays, but not by 320-MeV ¹²C⁶⁺. Mutation spectra showed that both radiations increased the frequency of frameshifts and other mutations, including deletions and insertions, but only γ-rays increased the frequency of total base substitutions. These results suggest that the type of DNA lesions which cause base substitutions were less often induced by 320-MeV ¹²C⁶⁺ than by γ-rays in Arabidopsis seedlings. Furthermore, γ-rays never increased the frequencies of G:C to T:A or A:T to C:G transversions, which are caused by oxidized guanine; 320-MeV ¹²C⁶⁺, however, produced a slight increase in both transversions. Instead, γ-rays produced a significant increase in the frequency of G:C to A:T transitions. These results suggest that 8-oxoguanine has little effect on mutagenesis in Arabidopsis cells.     

Deleted HTLV provirus in peripheral blood cells of a patient with T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia

We describe the first case of T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) in which the peripheral blood cells contained a human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) related tax sequence. Serum screening tests for anti-HTLV-I/II antibodies were negative. Polymerase chain reaction disclosed the presence of an HTLV-I tax sequence in the peripheral blood. Other sets of oligonucleotide primers for HTLV-I gag , pol , env and the long terminal repeat regions and for the HTLV-II pol region were negative in the DNA of the cells. Although patients with T-PLL have been reported to be seronegative for HTLV-I, our findings point to the possibility that HTLV-I infection might be involved in the aetiology of at least some cases of T-PLL and that there may be alternative mechanisms involved in HTLV-associated leukaemogenesis.     

Risk stratification for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease

Background

The number of patients with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease complicated by chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has been increasing. Additionally, CPA is reportedly associated with mortality in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD). In the present study, we aimed to identify risk factors for developing CPA and stratify the risk for CPA development in patients with MAC-LD.