Characterization of autonomic dysfunction in patients with irritable bowel syndrome using fingertip blood flow

Abstract  Fingertip blood flow (FTBF) as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) measurement is considered an indicator of sympathetic nerve function. We evaluated autonomic function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by assessing FTBF with both LDF and continuous-wave (cw) Doppler sonography. Firstly, the two methods were compared in 40 healthy volunteers. Next, 59 patients with IBS as well as 118 healthy volunteer controls were studied. In the supine position, FTBF in the right index finger was measured with cw Doppler sonography, whereas FTBF in the left index finger was assessed with LDF. After baseline measurement for at least 5 min, the volunteers received sympathetic stimulation from cold stress applied without notification in the form of an icebag (0 °C) upon the left forearm for 1 min. The new cw Doppler sonography method can be used in place of the old LDF method for clinical purposes. FTBF velocity before stimulation ( V _pre) was significantly lower in the IBS group than that in the healthy volunteers ( P  < 0.01). In addition, the time required for FTBF to return to V _pre after stimulation was significantly longer in the IBS group than that in the control group. ( P  = 0.02). Thus, measurement of FTBF with cw Doppler sonography can be useful in the assessment of sympathetic nerve function. The IBS patients showed an abnormal FTBF response suggesting the presence of excess sympathetic activity.     

Acotiamide hydrochloride (Z-338), a novel prokinetic agent, restores delayed gastric emptying and feeding inhibition induced by restraint stress in rats

Abstract  Acotiamide hydrochloride (Z-338) is a member of new class prokinetic agents currently being developed for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). DNA microarray analysis showed that acotiamide altered the expressions of stress-related genes such as γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, GABA transporters and neuromedin U (NmU) in the medulla oblongata or hypothalamus after administration of acotiamide. Therefore, effects of acotiamide on stress-related symptoms, delayed gastric emptying and feeding inhibition, in rats were examined. Acotiamide significantly improved both delayed gastric emptying and feeding inhibition in restraint stress-induced model, but did not affect both basal gastric emptying and feeding in intact rats, indicating that acotiamide exerted effects only on gastric emptying and feeding impaired by the stress. On the other hand, mosapride showed significant acceleration of gastric emptying in intact and restraint stress-induced model, and itopride showed no effect on restraint stress-induced delayed gastric emptying. In addition, gene expression of NmU increased by restraint stress was suppressed by administration of acotiamide, while acotiamide had no effect on delayed gastric emptying induced by an intracerebroventricular administration of NmU, suggesting that the suppressive effect of acotiamide on gene expression of NmU might be important to restore delayed gastric emptying or feeding inhibition induced by restraint stress. These findings suggest that acotiamide might play an important role in regulation of stress response. As stress is considered to be a major contributing factor in the development of FD, the observed effects may be relevant for symptom improvement in FD.     

Fermentable metabolite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zymomonas mobilis</Emphasis> controls collagen reduction in photoaging skin by improving TGF-β/Smad signaling suppression

Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation causes damages on human skin and premature skin aging (photoaging). UV-induced reduction of type I collagen in dermis is widely considered primarily induction of wrinkled appearance of photoaging skin. Type I procollagen synthesis is reduced under UV irradiation by blocking transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling; more specifically, it is down-regulation of TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII). Therefore, preventing UV-induced loss of TβRII results decreased type I collagen reduction in photoaging skin. Zymomonas mobilis is an alcohol fermentable, gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium whose effect on skin tissue is scarcely studied. We investigated the protective effects of fermentable metabolite of Z. mobilis (FM of Z. mobilis) against reduction of type I procollagen synthesis of UV-induced down-regulation of TβRII in human dermal fibroblasts FM of Z. mobilis was obtained from lyophilization of bacterium culture supernatant. The levels of TβRII and type I procollagen mRNA in human dermal fibroblasts were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and TβRII protein levels were assayed by western blotting. TβRII, type I procollagen, and type I collagen proteins in human dermal fibroblasts or hairless mouse skin were detected by immunostaining. FM of Z. mobilis inhibited down regulation of TβRII mRNA, and protein levels in UVB irradiated human dermal fibroblasts consequently recover reduced type I procollagen synthesis. These results indicate UVB irradiation inhibits type I procollagen synthesis by suppression of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and FM of Z. mobilis has inhibitory effect on UVB-induced reduction of type I procollagen synthesis. While short period UVB irradiation decreased both TβRII and type I procollagen protein levels in hairless mouse skin, topical application of FM of Z. mobilis prevented this decrease. Wrinkle formation in hairless mouse skin surface was accelerated by continuous 5 month UVB irradiation along with a reduction of type I collagen in the dermis, but this change was prevented by topical application of FM of Z. mobilis. From this experimental data, it is suggested that FM of Z. mobilis is effective for suppression of wrinkle formation in photoaging skin by inhibition of type I procollagen synthesis reduction.     

垫治疗青少年颞下颌关节紊乱病的临床疗效分析

目的：考察[牙合]垫对青少年颞下颌关节紊乱病患者临床症状的改善情况。方法：采用稳定性[牙合]垫或再定位[牙合]垫治疗71例颞下颌关节紊乱患者，比较治疗前后张口度、颌面部疼痛和关节弹响的变化情况。结果：治疗组51例患者中疼痛34例，张口受限15例，疼痛伴张口受限14例，单纯性疼痛20例，治疗后疼痛及张口受限均得到缓解，缓解率为100％。治疗前疼痛指数和张口度分别为7．5±2．09和26．5±5．12mm，治疗后分别为2．4±1．58和40．1±5．03mm，差异均有显著性（P〈0．05）；关节弹响41例，治疗后18例弹响消失，16例弹响减轻。对照组中有2例弹响自行消失，3例疼痛自行缓解，其余无变化，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：[牙合]垫对颞下颌关节紊乱病患者的临床症状有显著缓解作用。     

垫治疗青少年颞下颌关节紊乱病的临床疗效分析

目的:考察垫对青少年颞下颌关节紊乱病患者临床症状的改善情况。方法:采用稳定性垫或再定位垫治疗71例颞下颌关节紊乱忠者,比较治疗前后张口度、颌面部疼痛和关节弹响的变化情况。结果:治疗组51例患者中疼痛34例,张口受限15例,疼痛伴张口受限14例,单纯性疼痛20例,治疗后疼痛及张口受限均得到缓解,缓解率为100%。治疗前疼痛指数和张口度分别为7.5±2.09和26.5±5.12mm,治疗后分别为2.4±1.58和40.1±5.03mm,差异均有显著性(P<0.05);关节弹响41例,治疗后18例弹响消失,16例弹响减轻。对照组中有2例弹响自行消失,3例疼痛自行缓解,其余无变化,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:垫对颞下颌关节紊乱病患者的临床症状有显著缓解作用。