Influence of SNPs in cytokine-related genes on the severity of food allergy and atopic eczema in children

Although many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) studies have reported an association of atopy, allergic diseases and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, almost all of these studies sought risk factors for the onset of these allergic diseases. Furthermore, many studies have analyzed a single gene and hardly any have analyzed environmental factors. In these analyses, the results could be masked and the effects of other genes and environmental factors may be decreased. Here, we described the correlation between four genes [interleukin (IL)-4 (C-590T), IL-4 receptor (A1652G), FCER1B (G6842A) and STAT6 (G2964A)] in connection with IgE production; the role of IL-10 (C-627A) as a regulatory cytokine of allergy; and the severity of food allergy (FA) and atopic eczema (AE) in 220 Japanese allergic children. In addition to these SNPs, environmental factors, i.e., patient's attitude, indoor environment, and so on, were also investigated in this study. Our study was retrospective, and the correlation was analyzed by our defined clinical scores divided into three terms: worst symptoms, recent symptoms and general amelioration at the most recent examination during the disease course. Our results indicated that IL-10 AA, the genotype with lower IL-10 production, is associated with higher IgE levels in the serum (p < 0.0001, estimate; 0.912). Marginal liver abnormalities were observed in the subject group with both FA and AE (p < 0.1191, estimate; 0.1490). Our defined clinical scores enabled evaluation of various aspects of disease severity. Based on the scores, while no single SNP selected in this study determined severity, the combination of the SNP with laboratory data and environmental factors appeared to determine severity.     

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN VIDEO CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN CROHN’S DISEASE

Background and Aims: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become increasingly important as a simple method for observing the entire small intestine. The indications for VCE are obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and investigation of Crohn’s disease (CD). However, the correlation between endoscopic findings obtained by VCE and clinical findings in known cases of CD is not clear, and we therefore investigated this in the present study. Patients and methods: In 30 patients with known CD (Crohn’s disease activity index [CDAI] 0–420; median = 158.3), double contrast enteroclysis (ENT) was performed 1–3 weeks prior to VCE. The relationship between the VCE findings and hematological analysis/CDAI was examined. Results: In 17 of 30 patients, the entire small intestine could be investigated by VCE, whereas in the remaining 13 patients the terminal ileum could not be investigated. The following exhibited positive correlations: total lesions and CDAI (correlation coefficient values: r_s = 0.661, adjusted P < 0.0061), ulcers and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (r_s = 0.607, adjusted P < 0.0061), total lesions and CRP (r_s = 0.604, adjusted P < 0.0061). Conclusions: Analysis with VCE suggests that CDAI and CRP indicate the activity of intestinal lesions in patients with known CD, and that CRP, in particular, is associated with the activity of ulcerative lesions of the intestine. This may contribute to revised guidelines for VCE in the future.     

Case of severe ulcerative colitis successfully treated with intravenous cyclosporine without high dose corticosteroid]

A 44-year-old women developed marked myopathy one year earlier, when she was treated with intravenous prednisolone for acute severe exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. When she was admitted to our hospital for another severe exacerbation, intravenous cyclosporine A was administered as monotherapy because she could not tolerate corticosteroid. The treatment was successful and she obtained complete remission. Cyclosporine A monotherapy is considered to be a valuable alternative to proctocolectomy for severe ulcerative colitis patients who cannot tolerate corticosteroid.     

Magnesium intake is inversely associated with the prevalence of tooth loss in Japanese pregnant women: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

There have only been a few studies on the role of mineral intake in tooth loss. We investigated the association between mineral intake and the prevalence of tooth loss in Japan. We used the baseline data on 1002 pregnant women who were enrolled in the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study between November 2001 and March 2003. Tooth loss was defined as the previous extraction of one or more teeth. Nutrient intake was assessed by a validated diet history questionnaire. Prevalence odds ratios and confidence intervals were estimated by applying a multiple logistic regression model. The adjusted odds ratio upon comparison of the highest quartile with the lowest quartile of magnesium intake was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.99), showing a tendency for an inverse dose-response relationship (p for linear trend = 0.05). There were no associations between the level of consumption of calcium, phosphate, iron, zinc, or copper and tooth loss. The present findings suggest that intake of magnesium is related to reduced prevalence of tooth loss among young Japanese women.     

Effectiveness of short-contact topical tretinoin in promoting wound healing in db/db mice.

We have investigated the effects of short-contact topical application of tretinoin using 16 male db/db mice by creating two full-thickness wounds on the skin of the back. A 0.1% tretinoin aqueous gel was applied to one wound for five minutes daily for five successive days while only aqueous gel was applied to the other (control). The mean (SD) percentage surface area unhealed before and after treatment were 0.88 (0.3) and 0.64 (0.15). In tretinoin-treated mice and non-treated mice (controls), the mean (SD) thicknesses of granulation were 1.383 (697) micro m and 683 (413) micro m, the density of capillary vessels in granulation was 12.2 (5.5)% and 5.7 (3.9)%, respectively. Differences between the two groups were significant for each variable. Wound healing was accelerated with short-contact topical application of tretinoin in db/db mice.     

Spontaneous regression of gastric varices after iatrogenic injury to a gastrorenal shunt

We present a patient with gastric varices complicating portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus. The patient underwent balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. The gastric varices almost completely disappeared, without any sclerotic agent being used, after iatrogenic injury of the gastrorenal shunt at the time of the interventional procedure.     

Augmentation of intrarenal angiotensin II levels in uninephrectomized aldosterone/salt-treated hypertensive rats; renoprotective effects of an ultrahigh dose of olmesartan.

Recent studies have suggested that aldosterone plays a role in the pathogenesis of renal injury. In this study, we investigated whether local angiotensin II (Ang II) activity contributes to the progression of renal injury in aldosterone/salt-induced hypertensive rats. Uninephrectomized rats were treated with 1% NaCl in a drinking solution and one of the following combinations for 6 weeks: vehicle (2% ethanol, s.c.; n=9), aldosterone (0.75 mug/h, s.c.; n=8), aldosterone+Ang II type 1 receptor blocker olmesartan (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.; n=8), or aldosterone+olmesartan (100 mg/kg/day, p.o.; n=9). Aldosterone/salt-treated hypertensive rats exhibited severe proteinuria and renal injury characterized by glomerular sclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Aldosterone/salt-induced renal injury was associated with augmented expression of angiotensin converting enzyme and Ang II levels in the renal cortex and medullary tissues. Renal cortical and medullary mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as well as the collagen contents were increased in aldosterone/salt-treated hypertensive rats. Treatment with olmesartan (10 or 100 mg/kg/day) had no effect on blood pressure but attenuated proteinuria in a dose-dependent manner. Olmesartan at 10 mg/kg/day tended to decrease renal cortical and medullary Ang II levels, TGF-beta and CTGF expression, and collagen contents; however, these changes were not significant. On the other hand, an ultrahigh dose of olmesartan (100 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased these values and ameliorated renal injury. These data suggest that augmented local Ang II activity contributes, at least partially, to the progression of aldosterone/salt-dependent renal injury.     

Association of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression with Tumor Angiogenesis and with Early Relapse in Primary Breast Cancer

Angiogenesis is an independent prognostic indicator in breast cancer. In this report, the relationship between expression of vascular endothclial growth factor (VEGF; a selective mitogen for endothelial cells) and the microvessel density was examined in 103 primary breast cancers. The expression of VEGF was evaluated by immunocytochemical staining using anti-VEGF antibody. The microvessel density, which was determined by immunostaining for factor VIII antigen, in VEGF-rich tumors was clearly higher than that in VEGF-poor tumors ( P <0.01). There was a good correlation between VEGF expression and the increment of microvessel density. Furthermore, postoperative survey demonstrated that the relapse-free survival rate of VEGF-rich tumors was significantly worse than that of VEGF-poor tumors. It was suggested that the expression of VEGF is closely associated with the promotion of angiogenesis and with early relapse in primary breast cancer.     

Vasodilator effects of C-type natriuretic peptide on cerebral arterioles in rats

The vasodilator effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) were investigated in isolated rat cerebral arterioles. CNP caused dose-dependent vasodilation, maximally by 10.0±2.2% at 10⁻⁶ M. The median effective concentration (EC₅₀) was 5.2×10⁻¹⁰ M. In contrast, atrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide, other members of the natriuretic peptide family, produced little or no vasodilation. Pretreatment with methylene blue (10⁻⁴ M) abolished CNP-induced vasodilation, whereas pretreatment with N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine or indomethacin did not inhibit vasodilation. Thus, CNP is suggested to cause significant vasodilation in cerebral arterioles via a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent mechanism. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.