bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enzymes degrading bacterial chemotactic F‐met peptides in human ileal and colonic mucosa
Authors: CHADWICK V. S. , SCHLUP M. M. T. , COOPER B. T. , BROOM M. F. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBacterial chemotactic F‐met peptides have been identified in culture supernatants of intestinal bacteria and in human faecal dialysates. These potent inflammatory agents could play a role in intestinal inflammatory disorders should they cross the epithelial barrier of the gut. We have identified mucosal peptidases which degrade F‐met‐leu‐phe (FMLP) in ileal and colonic mucosal biopsies obtained at colonoscopy. A carboxypeptidase, inhibited by D‐L‐benzyl succinate (BzS), accounted for more than 60% of total FMLP‐ase activity, other uncharacterized peptidases contributing the rest of the activity against the intact peptide. An F‐met deformylase, inactive against di‐ and tri‐peptides, cleaves released F‐met completing the degradation. Total FMLP‐ase, carboxypeptidase and F‐met deformylase activities were measured in serial mucosal biopsies from 15 control patients undergoing colonoscopy for occult bleeding with negative findings and from 15 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 10 with Crohn's disease (CD). Highest activities were found in terminal ileum and lowest in the rectum. Total FMLP‐ase and carboxypeptidase activities were similar in controls and UC patients but were substantially reduced in CD, especially in the terminal ileum (controls 493 ± 146 and 116 ± 73 nmol/100 μg protein per h, respectively and CD 231 ± 96 and 41 ± 36 nmol/100μg protein per h, respectively (P= 0.0018 and 0.015). F‐met deformylase activities were similar in all groups. There was no correlation between enzyme activity and severity of inflammation. FMLP degrading peptidases probably contribute to the mucosal barrier of the gut in regions of high bacterial colonization, limiting intestinal absorption and inflammatory responses to these potent bacterial products in the intestinal lumen.
Liver copper concentration in Wilson‘s disease: Effect of treatment with ‘anti‐copper’ agents
Authors: GIBBS K. , WALSHE J. M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSerial copper determinations have been made on the livers of 10 patients with Wilson's disease. Two were studied before and eight after the start of treatment in order to assess the effect, if any, on the concentration of the metal. In two patients who were receiving no therapy and in one in whom it had been discontinued, the level of copper rose. In the latter patient, resumption of treatment then resulted in a fall in the level of copper in the liver. A similar fall was seen in seven patients on continuous therapy. In one patient, a very poor complier, there was a tendency for the liver copper concentration to rise over a 5‐year period.All three therapies investigated—penicillamine, trientine and tetrathiomolybdate—when taken regularly, appear to be effective in reducing liver copper levels.Sixty‐nine single determinations of liver copper have been plotted against time on treatment. This shows that the copper concentration falls rapidly in the first year. Thereafter, there is no linear relationship between the duration of treatment and liver copper. Poor compliers have a higher liver copper concentration than do good compilers.Determinations made from different portions of the liver showed that in only one of 19 examples was there an overlap between the near normal and the abnormal range.The principal mechanism of action of ‘anti‐copper’ agents in Wilson's disease appears to be the mobilization of copper from the tissues, but a secondary detoxifying action may come into play later.
Primary biliary cirrhosis in Taiwan
Authors: CHAN CHO‐YU , LEE SHOU‐DONG , HUANG YI‐SHIN , WU JAW‐CHING , TSAI YANG‐TE , TSAY SHYH‐HAW , LO KWANG‐JUEI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAmong 30 consecutive patients diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in Taiwan, 27 were females and the median age of symptom onset was 54.5 years. Most had similar clinical manifestations to those reported in the Western countries, but ascites and oesophageal varices as commonly found at the late stages of cirrhosis of liver were noted in nine patients (30%) and 13 patients (43%) respectively. Only one patient was asymptomatic. Hyperbilirubinaemia was noted in 21 patients (70%) and hypoalbuminaemia in 8 patients (27%). All patients had elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase and 28 (93%) had antimitochondrial antibodies. Ten out of 21 patients (48%) were positive in antinuclear antibodies, of which most were of speckled type. Sixteen out of 18 patients (89%) had elevated serum IgM levels. Interestingly, only one of 26 patients (3.8%) was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, in contrast to its high prevalence (15%) in the Taiwan population. Special associated diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, malignant lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, were each noted in one patient respectively. Eight patients had a history of gallstones before the diagnosis of PBC. The mean follow‐up period was 23.6±19.8 months, and nine patients died during that period. In conclusion, the clinical manifestations of PBC in Taiwan are similar to those in Western countries, but most of our cases were at later stages.
Pre‐operative nutritional support in children with end‐stage liver disease accepted for liver transplantation: An approach to management
Authors: CHIN S. E. , SHEPHERD R. W. , CLEGHORN G. J. , PATRICK M. , ONG T. H. , WILCOX J. , LYNCH S. , STRONG R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPre‐operative nutritional support was studied in 28 children with end‐stage liver disease awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation. Nasogastric supplemental administration of a standard semi‐elemental enteral nutritional formula was compared with a similar formula enriched with branched chain amino acids, and with a group receiving oral nutrition only. The duration of treatment in all groups was similar (mean 90 days). Energy intakes in the supplemented groups were 120–150% of recommended daily intakes (RDI), whereas ad libitum intakes in the oral group ranged 58–100% RDI. A significant improvement in mean Z‐score for body weight (denoting catch‐up) was noted only in those children who received nasogastric supplements enriched with branched‐chain amino acids. The standard enterally‐fed group maintained their body weight and Z‐scores did not change significantly. In contrast, body weight Z‐scores in those fed orally declined significantly. Nutritional supportive therapy of malnourished children with end‐stage liver disease can minimize or improve nutritional status in children awaiting liver transplantation. The use of nutritional formulae rich in branched‐chain amino acids may have nutritional advantages in children with chronic liver disease which require further study and evaluation.
Polymerized albumin binding to serum in various liver diseases: Its significance and relation to hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: DASH SRIKANTA , PANDA SUBRAT K. , NAYAK NABEEN C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSensitive and specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed to detect separately the binding of polymerized human serum albumin (PHSA) to its antibody (A‐PHSA) and to the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). A‐PHSA was not detected in normal serum, whereas more than one‐third to about half of sera from patients with acute liver cell injury showed this antibody. Frequency of A‐PHSA positivity was low in chronic liver diseases, being relatively higher in those with continuing liver injury. A‐PHSA detection was not related to seropositivity for HBsAg.PHSA binding of HBsAg positive sera showed a higher frequency of positivity in chronic carriers than acute hepatitis B. Of 172 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, PHSA binding was demonstrated in 25 (15%), the frequency being significantly high if HBeAg was also present (84%). Binding was infrequent in sera having anti‐HBe (2.9%) and in those negative for both HBeAg and anti‐HBe (2.7%). Binding of HBsAg to PHSA was significantly higher than to human serum albumin (HSA). Immunoblotting of separated HBsAg components showed PHSA binding specifically to the high molecular weight peptide. PHSA binding in HBsAg positive serum may indicate the latter's infectivity as detected in a study of maternal‐fetal transmission, where it demonstrates 100% infectivity in HBsAg and HBeAg positive mothers.PHSA possibly mediates the attachment of the HBV to the hepatocyte and a competitive binding between A‐PHSA with HBsAg for PHSA may modulate the course of HBV infection.
Immunohistochemical studies on the localization of cancer associated antigens DU‐PAN‐2 and CA19‐9 in carcinomas of the digestive tract
Authors: OHSHIO G. , OGAWA K. , KUDO H. , YAMABE H. , NAKASHIMA Y. , KIM Y. C. , ENDO K. , WATANABE Y. , MANABE T. , TOBE T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe immunohistochemical localization of DU‐PAN‐2 antigen and CA19‐9 antigen in carcinomas of the digestive tract was studied using an immunoperoxidase technique. Staining for DU‐PAN‐2 antigen and CA19‐9 antigen was observed in 104 (79%) and 96 (73%) of 131 carcinomas of the digestive tract, respectively. Diffuse staining (more than 20% of carcinoma cell stained) for DU‐PAN‐2 was detected in 14 of 21 (67%) pancreatic carcinomas and 11 of 19 (58%) carcinomas of the biliary tract (including cholangiocarcinoma). Diffuse staining for CA19‐9 was detected in 15 (71%) of pancreatic carcinomas and nine (47%) of the carcinomas of the biliary tract. In colon carcinomas, no diffuse staining for DU‐PAN‐2 was observed, whereas diffuse staining for CA19‐9 was found in 41%. There was a positive correlation between the differentiation degree (or grade) of the adenocarcinomas of the colon and the expression of CA19‐9, but not that of DU‐PAN‐2.These immunohistochemical studies showed that DU‐PAN‐2 antigen is expressed diffusely in most cases of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and biliary tract and is more specific for adenocarcinomas of the pancreas and biliary tract than CA19‐9.
Persistence of anti‐HBs and protective efficacy after administration of hepatitis B vaccine
Authors: YOSHIDA KEN , FUJIYAMA SHIGETOSHI , SATO TATSUO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTo evaluate the effect of hepatitis B vaccine on the persistence of anti‐HBs and its efficacy in preventing hepatitis type B, anti‐HBs and anti‐HBc levels were studied over a period of 5.5 years.Plasma‐derived hepatitis B vaccine, containing 20 μg of HBsAg protein, was injected subcutaneously in 122 healthy medical staff members, followed by two identical injections 1 and 6 months later. Anti‐HBs and anti‐HBc levels were then measured by radio‐immunoassay. The anti‐HBs titres were expressed as the sample/negative (S/N) ratios, and an S/N ratio of more than 2.1 was considered positive.The mean (and s.d.) anti‐HBs titre peaked 7 months after the first vaccination with an S/N ratio of 153.6 ±149.8, after which it decreased with time. The mean anti‐HBs titre dropped to an S/N ratio of 8.0 ±5.1 5.5 years after the first vaccination. The percentage of vaccinees who were anti‐HBs positive also gradually decreased with time after a peak of 84.2% at 7 months following the first vaccination. The percentage of vaccinees who were anti‐HBs positive was 38.9% 5.5 years after the first vaccination. The anti‐HBc level was not positive in all subjects during the observation period.Five vaccinated volunteers who had developed anti‐HBs after the basic vaccination, but whose acquired antibody level became negative within 4.5 years following the first vaccination, were administered a booster dose of 20 μg of HBsAg 4.5 years after the first vaccination. Only one of these subjects did not respond to the booster vaccination. The peak anti‐HBs titre of this subject was very low following the initial vaccination.From these observations, it was concluded that, although the acquired antibody titres and percentage of vaccinees who were anti‐HBs positive decreased with time, the incidence of hepatitis B infection would be lower in vaccinees than that in other non‐vaccinated general medical staff members in Japan. This was probably due to the persistence of immunological memory in vaccinees who had responded well after basic vaccination.
Clinicopathological staging for colorectal cancer: An International Documentation System (IDS) and an International Comprehensive Anatomical Terminology (ICAT)
Authors: FIELDING L. P. , ARSENAULT P. A. , CHAPUIS P. H. , DENT O. , GATHRIGHT B. , HARDCASTLE J. D. , HERMANEK P. , JASS J. R. , NEWLAND R. C. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe purpose of tumour staging for colorectal cancer (CRC) is to help define clinical management, facilitate communication between physicians, provide a basis for stratification and analysis of treatment results in prospective studies, and provide some prognostic information for patients and their families. The World Congresses of Gastroenterology, Digestive Endoscopy, and Coloproctology, Working Party on staging for CRC studied six commonly used systems to review their strengths and weaknesses. Although it was concluded that defining a new staging system was unnecessary, it was recognized that there is a need to define a terminology to describe the full anatomic extent of spread of CRC. Furthermore, we note that there are several additional features, derived from both clinical and pathology information, which have had prognostic significance shown by appropriately constructed multivariate analyses and which can be used to formulate a more accurate prognostic index than that provided by a description of anatomical tumour spread.Thus the Working Party came to two principal conclusions. First, a standard format should be adopted for the collection of the essential data required for prospective studies, and we recommend the ‘International Documentation System (IDS) for CRC’ for this purpose. Second, a nomenclature which describes the full anatomical extent of tumour spread and residual tumour status in CRC has been defined and should be adopted, from which all currently used staging systems can be derived. We have called this nomenclature the ‘International Comprehensive Anatomical Terminology (ICAT) for CRC'.In the event that these recommendations are adopted, we envision that there will be improved clarity in the documentation of treatment outcome for patients with CRC and improved communication of results derived from prospective studies. Furthermore, an acceptance of IDS and ICAT would set the scene to develop a prognostic index for individual patients with CRC by the expansion of anatomical clinicopathology staging information to include additional factors which have independent prognostic significance.
Diagnostic utility of ultrasonography in hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction in a tropical country
Authors: ARORA A. , SHARMA M. P. , ACHARYA S. K. , PANDA S. K. , BERRY M. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe present study was undertaken to define the role of ultrasonography (US) in screening and diagnosis of hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction. Forty‐five consecutive patients clinically suspected to have hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction were included in the study for screening by US and for assessment of patency or block in the hepatic vein (HV) and/or inferior vena cava (IVC). Four patients were excluded from the study. Eleven patients had a diagnosis other than hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction and all these patients were found to have patent HV and IVC. Thirty patients were finally diagnosed to have hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction. Using US, as a screening test 27 (90%) out of 30 such cases were correctly identified as cases of hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction and in these cases the site of block in hepatic venous outflow tract (major HV and/or IVC) was correctly diagnosed in 90% of the cases.Our results indicate that US is a sensitive and accurate test and should be the initial investigation for screening and identifying the site of obstruction in patients with hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction.
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug associated ulcer: Epidemiology, causation and treatment
Authors: LANGMAN M. J. S. , BROOKS P. , HAWKEY C. J. , SILVERSTEIN F. , YEOMANS N. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTEpidemiological evidence consistently indicates that aspirin or non‐aspirin non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use is associated with the occurrence of gastric ulceration, gastric and duodenal ulcer bleeding, and ulcer death. Evidence on duodenal ulcer occurrence conflicts, possibly because of differences in study populations.A wide range of mechanisms could explain the occurrence of non steroidal‐induced damage. These include inhibition of bicarbonate secretion, effects on mucus formation, and vascular actions. Not all effects are dependent on cyclo‐oxygenase inhibition.Short‐term studies in humans provide indications of likely therapeutic effects, but cannot demonstrate clinical efficiency.Although anti‐secretory drugs and prostaglandins can protect patients against the development of duodenal or gastric ulcers, but not both, there is no clinical evidence which bears upon the critical issue of protection against complications.
Time as a factor in the expression of ethanol injury to the gastric mucosa
Authors: FRYDMAN GARY M. , PENNEY ANGELA G. , MALCONTENTI CATHY , O'BRIEN PAUL E. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA technique of quantitative histology was used to assess the influence of time after injury on the histological expression of gastric mucosal damage. Rats, pretreated with either natural prostaglandin E2 or saline, were subjected to intragastric administration of either 50% or 100% ethanol. Fifteen minutes later the ethanol was removed from the stomach. Rats were sacrificed at either 30 min or 24 h after ethanol instillation. In rats pretreated with saline and subjected to 100% ethanol with or without prostaglandin pretreatment, the extent of deep mucosal damage was markedly underestimated by early evaluation. Only 5.4% of the volume of the gastric mucosa showed evidence of damage at 30 min after ethanol, compared with 57.3% of the volume of the mucosa, at 24 h after 100% ethanol exposure.Assessment of gastric mucosa 24 h after ethanol injury showed that PGE2 reduces the extent of surface area damaged and the volume of the mucosal damage. When 50% ethanol was used as the injurious agent, no difference was noted in the volume of the mucosa damaged when the stomach was assessed at either 30 min or 24 h after injury.These results indicate that full histological expression of injury is not present 30 min after 100% ethanol instillation, at least in part because of fixation of the gastric mucosa by 100% ethanol. Fifty per cent ethanol, which does not cause mucosal fixation, may be better as a test agent.
Clinicopathological study of liver involvement in cytomegalovirus infection in infant autopsy cases
Authors: KOSAI KEN‐ICHIRO , KAGE MASAYOSHI , KOJIRO MASAMICHI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTTo clarify the pathogenesis of hepatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, we clinicopathologically investigated 18 infants and 10 adults with cytomegalic inclusion bodies (CIB) in the liver among a total of 75 autopsy cases with CIB in any organ of the body. CMV infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. When CIB were present in the liver, CMV infection also tended to be systemic. All the adults were immunocompromised patients, but diseases inducing immunodeficiency were present in only two of the infants. The severe and systemic CMV infections we found in infants might have been associated with congenital CMV infection. Histotogically, hepatocyte necrosis, cholestasis, extramedullary hematopoiesis and fatty degeneration were more frequent and prominent in infants than in adults. However, inflammatory cell infiltration was only slight. In addition, the frequent association with premature birth and hypoplasia of the thymus suggested that insufficient development of immunity may result in hepatic CMV involvement in infants. CIB were most frequently observed in hepatocytes in both infants and adults, but in infants they were also frequently seen in the bile duct epithelium. These histopathological findings and the high incidence of jaundice in infant patients suggest that the bile duct is also an important site of CMV proliferation in infants, and that CMV infection may be one cause of infantile jaundice.
Changes in serum and hepatic levels of immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase in two models of hepatic fibrosis in rats
Authors: OKUNO MASATAKA , MUTO YASUTOSHI , KATO MICHIMASA , MORIWAKI HISATAKA , NOMA AKIO , TAGAYA OSAMU , TANABE YOSHIO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractChanges in serum and hepatic levels of immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase (IRPH) as well as cellular localization of the enzyme were studied in 2 models of hepatic fibrosis, which was induced in male rats either by subcutaneous administration of CCl4 (Group A) or by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum (Group B). Hepatic fibrosis appeared at the 8th week in Group A and at the 12th week in Group B, and liver cirrhosis developed at the 16th week in both models. Although tissue contents of hydroxyproline (HP) and IRPH increased in both models, only HP levels correlated with the degree of fibrosis. Serum IRPH levels and serum asparate aminotransferase (AST) activities increased, showing a significant positive correlation, in group A, whereas both remained in a control range in Group B. Moreover, in another model which received a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4, serum IRPH showed a marked increase and then a rapid decrease in parallel with the change in serum AST. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed a difference between the two fibrosis models: in group A, IRPH was positive mainly in parenchymal cells in the peripheral zone of the pseudolobulus, while in group B the staining was diffuse. These results indicate that the elevation of serum IRPH is, at least in part, due to the parenchymal cell damage, and that IRPH levels should be carefully evaluated when being used as a parameter to estimate the activity of fibrogenesis in the liver.
Significance of plasma glutathione determination in patients with alcoholic and non‐alcoholic liver disease
Authors: SHIGESAWA TATSUO , SATO CHIFUMI , MARUMO FUMIAKI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTPlasma glutathione levels were determined in 79 patients with various types of liver disease and 18 healthy controls in order to study their significance in the course of liver disease. Plasma was taken at the time of needle liver biopsy. A positive linear correlation was found between plasma and hepatic glutathione concentrations, as has been suggested in experimental animals. In patients with acute viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis and alcoholic liver disease, plasma glutathione levels were significantly decreased compared with those in controls. Of importance is the fact that the plasma levels increased after recovery in patients with acute viral hepatitis and after abstinence from alcohol intake in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Determination of plasma glutathione may be valuable in the evaluation of liver disease, particularly in acute viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease in which the hepatic content of glutathione is suggested to be decreased. Such patients may be susceptible to oxidative stress and radical‐related hepatic injury.