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.     

Prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) among biopsied cases of a urban hospital in Japan: significance of measurement of serum ferritin in the detection of NASH]

From April 1989 to December 2004, we performed liver biopsy on 475 patients and obtained biopsy proven 35 cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver. Among them, 18 cases were diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). During the last three years, we have tried to detect NASH using ultrasonography and elevated value of serum ferritin (> 300 ng/ml). All of the eligible 7 cases biopsied during the course were diagnosed as NASH. In these 7 cases, ALT levels improved after the body weight loss accompanied by the parallel decrease of serum ferritin levels. Measurement of serum ferritin is useful in the detection of NASH but the normal value of ferritin cannot rule out the possibility of NASH.     

Lymphoepithelial (branchial) cyst and amylase

A case of a branchial cyst with a high amylase activity of the cyst fluid was found in a 58-year-old female. The literature on branchial cysts with high amylase activity is reviewed. Amylase that showed high activity in the cystic fluid was revealed to be due to the salivary isoenzymes (S3 and S4) which migrated more to the anodic side on electrophoresis.     

Dual Effects of Hexanol and Halothane on the Regulation of Calcium Sensitivity in Airway Smooth Muscle

Background: Contraction of airway smooth muscle is regulated by receptor-coupled mechanisms that control the force developed for a given cytosolic calcium concentration (i.e., calcium sensitivity). Halothane antagonizes acetylcholine-induced increases in calcium sensitivity by inhibiting GTP-binding (G)-protein pathways. The authors tested the hypothesis that hexanol, like halothane, inhibits agonist-induced increases in calcium sensitivity in airway smooth muscle by inhibiting G-protein pathways.

Methods: Calcium sensitivity was assessed using [alpha]-toxin-permeabilized canine tracheal smooth muscle. In selected experiments, regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation was also determined by Western blotting in the presence and absence of 10 mm hexanol and/or 100 [mu]m acetylcholine.

Results: Hexanol (10 mm) and halothane (0.76 mm) attenuated acetylcholine-induced calcium sensitization by decreasing regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation during receptor stimulation. Hexanol also inhibited increases in calcium sensitivity due to direct stimulation of heterotrimeric G-proteins with tetrafluoroaluminate but not with 3 [mu]m GTP[gamma]S, consistent with prior results obtained with halothane. In contrast, in the absence of receptor stimulation, both compounds produced a small increase in calcium sensitivity by a G-protein-mediated increase in regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation that was not affected by pertussis toxin treatment.     

Growth factors induce actin disruption in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Exposure of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells to platelet-derived growth factor, nerve growth factor or epidermal growth factor resulted in a time- and dose-dependent alteration in the distribution of actin stained by rhodamine-phalloidin. These growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor of 80 ng/ml, nerve growth factor of 10 ng/ml or epidermal growth factor of 10 ng/ml) caused disappearance of actin filaments from the peripheral region of a cell in 1 or 2 h and change of cell configuration to spindle shape in 3 or 4 h. Other growth factors, fibroblast growth factor of 10 ng/ml and insulin of 25 mumol/ml had no effect on actin distribution. The alteration of actin and the change of cellular shape might be associated with stimulation of cell growth and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells.     

Effects of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol and sodium selenite on pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters after initiation with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine.

The modulating effects of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol and sodium selenite on development of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)-amine (BOP)-initiated pancreatic tumors were investigated. Female Syrian golden hamsters were given s.c. injections of BOP (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline alone once a week for 3 weeks and then administered 2000 p.p.m. caffeine, 25 p.p.m. nicotine, 20% ethanol or 4 p.p.m. sodium selenite in their drinking water for the next 37 weeks. Control animals were given tap water alone after BOP initiation. Only the BOP-treated groups developed pancreatic adenocarcinomas and dysplasias. The multiplicity of pancreatic carcinomas was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in animals receiving caffeine than in the controls. In addition, caffeine treatment slightly increased the incidence of carcinomas. Nicotine and ethanol also showed tendencies to enhance pancreatic carcinogenesis, although there were statistically no significant differences regarding lesion development. In contrast, sodium selenite administration was associated with a tendency for a decrease in the number of carcinomas and dysplasias. Thus, among these chemicals of obvious significance to human life-style, caffeine enhanced the development of pancreatic tumors when administered during the post-initiation phase in this hamster model.     

Progressive supranuclear palsy with asymmetric lesions in the thalamus and cerebellum,with special reference to the unilateral predominance of many torpedoes

This report concerns a notable case of progressive supranuclear palsy exhibiting asymmetric dentate nucleus and thalamic degeneration with numerous torpedoes. The neuronal loss in the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus was predominant on the right side, while in the cerebellum, a quantitative study revealed the contralateral predominance of the neuronal loss in the dentate nuclei and torpedo formation, with preserved Purkinje cells. The abnormal tau-protein-related profiles in the two nuclei did not show any laterality in their distribution, indicating that the dentatothalamic tract may have been affected in a non-specific way in this case. In addition, the fact that the prominent sites of torpedo formation and loss of dentate nucleus neurons are identical supports the hypothesis that the torpedoes may be formed in association with neuronal loss in the dentate nucleus because of a plausible metabolic change in Purkinje cells through synaptic detachment of their axon terminals. Received: 4 January 1996 / Revised: 27 March 1996 / Accepted: 5 April 1996     

A case of solitary bronchial papilloma with elevated serum CEA concentration

A rare case of solitary bronchial papilloma was reported. A 57-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film which was discovered on regular health check up. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a polypoid tumor which obstructed the left B4 bronchus. Serum concentration of CEA was elevated up to 14 ng/ml by Z-GEL method. Left upper lobectomy was performed. On macroscopic examination of the excised specimen, the tumor arose in B4 bronchus and was yellowish white in color and was cauliflower-like in shape sized 3.5 X 1.5 cm. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of papillary proliferation of stratified squamous epithelium with ciliated columnar epithelial covering. Findings suggestive of inflammation or malignancy were not observed.