bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of superoxide dismutase in mechanism of diethyldithiocarbamate‐induced gastric antral ulcer in rats: Protective effect of prostaglandin, cimetidine and pirenzepine
Authors: CHEN SHENG‐HSUAN , PAN SHIANN , OKITA KIWAMU , TAKEMOTO TADAYOSHI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe role of superoxide radicals and the protective effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), allopurinol, 16, 16‐dimethyl‐prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2), cimetidine and pirenzepine in diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC)‐treated rats were evaluated. Pretreatment with Cu,Zn‐SOD (superoxide radical scavenger) 60 000 units/kg, allopurinol (competitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase) 50 mg/kg, dmPGE2 (prostaglandin analogue) 10 μg/kg, cimetidine (H2‐receptor antagonist) 10 mg/kg or pirenzepine (selective antimuscarinic drug) 10 mg/kg all significantly reduced the DDC‐induced (800 mg/kg) gastric antral ulcer formation in rats. DDC treatment substantially decreases the gastric mucosal Cu, Zn‐SOD activity. In this study treatment with DDC and SOD, DDC and dmPGE2, DDC and cimetidine, and DDC and pirenzepine were demonstrated significantly to prevent the decrease of gastric mucosal Cu, Zn‐SOD activity. However, allopurinol did not have this effect. The results suggest that SOD and/or superoxide radicals may play an important role in the mechanism of DDC‐induced gastric antral ulcer. The protective property against ulcer formation of these drugs studied might be due to the action of SOD in the gastric mucosa.
Marked retention of indocyanine green and sulfobromophthalein with chronic persistent hepatitis
Authors: IKEJIMA KENICHI , ICHIKAWA SHOICHI , KITAMURA TSUNEO , WATANABE SUMIO , HIROSE MIYOKO , YOKOI YUKIO , UCHIDA SHIGEYUKI , OIDE HIROSUMI , SUZUKI HIDEO , KITAMI NORIYUKI , SATO NOBUHIRO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier with marked retention of indocyanine green (ICG) and sulfobromophthalein (BSP) was admitted to our hospital for assessment of liver function. On admission, he was asymptomatic and blood chemistry tests showed normal values for transaminases and bilirubin. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti‐HBe) were positive. A history of drug abuse or alcoholism was denied. Dye excretion tests revealed marked retention of ICG (R15= 70%) and BSP (R45= 23%). Histopathological examination of a liver biopsy specimen obtained during laparoscopic observation showed chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH). Familial research of the patient failed to prove the existence of dye excretory defect in his siblings. Usual cases of CPH due to continuous HBV infection do not show such severe disturbance of organic anion transport.This pattern of the dye excretory defect with CPH has not been reported. Although the relationship between this dye excretory defect and HBV infection is unclear, the existence of the constitutional dye excretory defect due to abnormal organic anion transport in the liver might be considered.
Subcortical somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with hepatic encephalopathy caused by severe acute hepatitis
Authors: YANG SIEN‐SING , CHU NAI‐HSIN , WU CHI‐HWA 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe studied the median nerve stimulated somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) of 23 patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) resulting from severe acute hepatitis and 22 healthy volunteers. Ten patients who improved and survived more than 60 days were classified as Group 1 and the remaining 13 patients who died shortly after the SEP studies were classified as Group 2. The mean N9‐N13 interpeak latencies (IPL) were not different among control and two patient groups. The mean N13‐N20 IPL of Group 2 was significantly prolonged when compared with normal controls (P < 0.001) and Group 1 (P < 0.001). Five of the six patients with abnormal N13‐N20 IPL died of hepatic failure within 24 h after SEP testing. The occurrence of abnormal subcortical conduction together with cortical dysfunction suggested that brain damage in terminal hepatic encephalopathy was diffuse. The presentation of abnormal prolongation of N13–N20 IPL of SEP during the course of severe acute hepatitis indicated a poor prognosis. Peripheral somatosensory conduction is unaffected even in terminal HE.
A rupture of lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma causing haemothorax
Authors: AKIMARU KOHO , MIYAIRI KEN , TANAKA HIROHARU , IMAI SHIGERU , IWASE IZUMI , UCHIYAMA KIICHIRO , SHIBUYA TETSUO , SHOJI TASUKU 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA 67 year old male with non‐resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both lobes and liver cirrhosis was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization and regional chemotherapy. He was doing well for 18 months. He was readmitted for fever, chest pain and multiple pulmonary metastases. During interleukin‐2 therapy, he suddenly developed dyspnoea and palpitation, and was in shock. Left‐sided haemothorax was confirmed by draining 3 L of fresh blood. In spite of intensive care, he died within 36 h. Autopsy showed that the haemothorax was caused by rupture of one of the metastases in the upper lobe of the left lung, and that the primary HCC was totally necrotic. Survey of the literature failed to find a report of fatal bleeding from a lung metastasis of HCC.
Regulation of core promoter of hepatitis B virus
Authors: YUH C‐H. , TING L‐P. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn order to understand the cycle and disease process of hepatitis B virus (HBV) at the molecular level, the regulation of viral gene expression was studied. This paper reports the characterization of HBV core promoter: two 3.5 kb transcripts, the precore and the pregenomic RNA are made from it. A short sequence (from nt1744 to 1851, referred to as the basic core promoter or BCP) is identified, that is sufficient to direct the correct initiations of both precore and pregenomic messages. Sequences upstream of BCP (from nucleotide, nt1636 to 1744, referred to as the core upstream regulatory sequence or CURS) have a strong stimulatory effect on BCP. Deletion analysis of CURS suggests that it contains multiple regulatory elements that control BCP in an interactive manner. The CURS stimulates BCP in a position‐ and orientation‐dependent manner. Therefore, it is unlikely that the effect is mediated through the enhancer II that has been co‐localized to the same sequence.
Hepatitis B core antigen forms oligomers and complexes with the p gene product in hepatitis B virus core particles
Authors: JENG K‐S. , HU C‐P. , CHANG C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe nucleocapsid core of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is composed of the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), a viral genome, a polymerase and a protein covalently linked to the 5'‐end of the minus DNA strand. The interactions among the constituents are still very limited. By using the in vitro phosphorylation method, it was found that the p gene product formed complexes with HBcAg in the core particles through non‐covalent linkage. After complete digestion of the HBV genome, the complexes between the HBcAg and p gene product remained intact. These results indicate that the HBcAg and p gene product are not complexed through the HBV genome. Also, it was found that the 21 kD HBcAg formed oligomers through disulfide linkages in the extracellular viral particles.
Classification of hepatitis C virus into subgroups on the basis of sequence variations in the envelope protein
Authors: HADA H. , KOIDE N. , HANAFUSA T. , TAKABATAKE H. , SAKAGUCHI K. , SHINJI T. , SASAKI S. , OKA T. , TAKAYAMA N. , YUMOTO Y. , TSUJI T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn order to investigate the possibility that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be classified into subgroups based on the variations in the envelope region, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared among the reported viral isolates including HCV1, HCJ1, HCJ4, HCVJ, HCVBK, HCVNK and HCJ6. From the homology analysis, the HCV isolates were classified into three subgroups: group I (HCV1 and HCJ1); group II (HCJ4, HCVJ, HCVBK and HCVNK); and group III (HCJ6). Furthermore, two novel regions were found in the E1 envelope region. One is located at aa246–258 (intersubtype variable region 1; ISVR‐1) where the amino acid sequences were relatively conserved within each subgroup, while the sequences were extremely different among the subgroups. Another is located at aa315–328 (intersubgroup common region‐1; ISCR‐1) where the amino acid sequences were completely identical among all seven HCV isolates despite the fact that the marked variations were distributed throughout the envelope region. The results suggest that the combination of ISVR‐1 and ISCR‐1 can be utilized as marker sequences for the classification of HCV strains and that the letter region might be one of the candidates for the vaccine.
Analysis on the status of hepatitis B virus DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: WONG F‐H. , LIAW Y‐F. , HU C. , CHAO Y. , CHANG C. , PAO C. C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 46 hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients were examined for the presence and for the physical states of HBV DNA by Southern blot analysis. Twenty‐one of 46 patients (45.7%) were found to have HBV DNA in their PBMC. Further fractionation of PBMC of these patients indicated that HBV DNA can be found in both T and B lymphocytes but not in macrophages. Results also suggested that the PBMC‐associated HBV DNA was in a changing and unstable state. No HBV DNA could be detected in the long‐term culture of either Epstein‐Barr virus‐immortalized B cells or in interleukin‐2‐cultured T cells of these patients.
A Prospective study of septic complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Authors: MOLLISON LINDSAY C. , DESMOND PAUL V. , STOCKMAN KEITH A. , ANDREW JOHN H. , WATSON KATRINA , SHAW GIDEON , BREEN KERRY 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Prophylactic antibiotics are used in an attempt to avoid the septic complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We prospectively performed blood cultures and surveyed patients for complications. The aims were first, to determine the incidence of bacteraemia associated with ERCP, second, to assess the incidence of clinical sepsis following the procedure and third, to evaluate the effectiveness of our antibiotic prophylaxis.One hundred and fifty successive patients underwent 179 ERCP. Bacteraemia related to the procedure or the underlying pathology was found in nine procedures (5.2%). Bacteraemias were more likely to complicate therapeutic procedures (P= 0.015), biliary obstruction (P= 0.045) or underlying pathology (P= 0.022).Although 61% of ERCP received antibiotics, 22 septic events occurred. Five bacteraemic patients were septic despite antibiotics. Septic complications were associated with the same factors as bacteraemia.It was concluded that patients with biliary obstruction and undergoing therapeutic endoscopic procedures are at greatest risk of bacteraemia. Single dose prophylactic antibiotics may not prevent sepsis in these patients and longer‐acting drugs or repeated dosing may be necessary.
A dynamic study of viraemia in chronic hepatitis C infection
Authors: MENG ZONG‐DA , SUN YONG‐DE , SUN DE‐GUI , LIU CAI‐YUN , COPLAND JOY , GOWANS ERIC J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe dynamics of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), anti‐hepatitis C virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in six cases with chronic HCV infection were studied for 3‐7 years. Two of the six cases showed continued elevation of ALT, and three showed intermittent elevation. All cases were persistently positive for anti‐HCV after initial seroconversion. Five of the six cases were persistently positive for HCV RNA detected by nested polymerase chain reaction, and one was positive intermittently. Thus hepatitis C virus replicates continually in a majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C, although some cases may show intermittent replication, and replication of hepatitis C virus does not always correlate with elevated ALT.
Liver biopsy bleeding time: An unpredictable event
Authors: DILLON JOHN F. , SIMPSON KENNETH J. , HAYES PETER C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to observe the correlation between liver biopsy bleeding time, prothrombin time ratio and platelet count. The subjects were 51 consecutive patients referred for laparoscopic liver biopsy. The intervention was laparoscopy under local anaesthetic and liver biopsy with observation of post biopsy bleeding time. No correlation was found between observed liver biopsy bleeding time and platelet count or prothrombin time ratio. Thus, mild to moderate coagulopathy does not appear to be associated with prolonged bleeding following liver biopsy. Equally, normality of these coagulation studies does not indicate an absence of risk for post liver biopsy bleeding.
The effects of abdominal irradiation for seminoma of the testis on gastrointestinal function
Authors: YEOH ERIC , HOROWITZ MICHAEL , RUSSO ANTONIETTA , MUECKE TIMOTHY , ROBB TREVOR , CHATTERTON BARRY 
Published: March 2008

Abstract To evaluate the long‐term effects of abdominal irradiation for the treatment of seminoma of the testis on gastrointestinal function, 15 randomly selected patients who had been treated for stage I seminoma of the testis 2‐10 years previously had the following parameters of gastrointestinal function evaluated: gastrointestinal symptoms; absorption of bile acid; vitamin B12; lactose and fat; gastric emptying; small intestinal and total gut transit; and intestinal permeability. Results were compared to those obtained in 18 normal volunteers.There was an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (P < 0.01) in the patients and stool frequency was above the control range in two of them. Gastric emptying was faster (P < 0.01) in the patients. There were no significant differences in vitamin B12, bile acid, lactose or fat absorption, small intestinal transit or whole gut transit between the two groups, although faecal fat excretion was greater than the control range in three of the patients. At least one parameter of gastrointestinal function was abnormal in 11 of the 15 patients. Patients with right‐sided seminoma had a greater bowel frequency when compared to those with left‐sided seminoma (P < 0.05). We conclude that mild abnormalities in gastrointestinal function occur frequently when abdominal irradiation is used to treat stage I seminoma.
Society stress and peptic ulcer perforation
Authors: LAM SHIU‐KUM , HUI WAI‐MO , SHIU LING‐PO , NG MATTHEW MT 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTo examine the relationship between society stress and peptic ulcer perforation, time‐trend analysis was performed on the annual incidence of perforated peptic ulcer per 100 000 population in Hong Kong during the years 1962–85, when Hong Kong, as a developing city, went through significant socio‐economic and political changes, and the trend was correlated with specially designed and validated society stress scores estimated annually during the same period. The society stress scores were derived independently by two expert panels blinded to the purpose of the study, one selecting and categorizing negative news events for Hong Kong during this period, and the other weighing the categories and scoring the impact of the news on Hong Kong. The incidence of perforation increased significantly during the years and manifested three distinct peaks, which coincided with the worst economic recession in Hong Kong, the influx of mainlander Chinese and Vietnamese boat people, and the Sino‐British negotiation on the sovereignty of Hong Kong after 1997. Both linear and autoregression analysis, the latter taking into consideration point fluctuations in rates, showed that perforation rates correlated significantly with the society stress scores (r= 0.57, P < 0.002). The peak effects and the significant correlations indicate that an association exists between society stress and peptic ulcer perforation, and suggest that chronic society stress plays an important role in the aetiology of this condition, although the relatively low r value also suggests the presence of other aetiological factors.
Rat peripheral mononuclear cell thymidine kinase activity increases during liver regenerative processes after partial hepatectomy
Authors: MORIMOTO MANABU , NUMATA KAZUSHI , TANAKA KATSUAKI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDeoxythymidine kinase (TK; EC 2.7.1.21) activity in the liver has been used as a marker of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. In this study we examined TK activity of various organs, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMNC) in 70% partially hepatectomized rats. TK activity of lymph nodes, small intestine, heart, lung, kidney and thymus did not increase significantly during the course of the study, except for spleen at 72 h. On the other hand, PMNC‐TK and liver cystolic TK activity increased in a parallel fashion at all times after partial hepatectomy; they began to increase 12 h after surgery and peaked 48 h post‐surgery. Fractionation of PMNC into T cells and B cells revealed that both populations increased and peaked 48 h post‐surgery. Plasma TK peaked 12–24 h after surgery, then declined at 36, 48 and 72 h after partial hepatectomy. This change paralleled plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). PMNC‐TK activity correlated significantly with liver cystolic TK activity 24 h (r = 0.743; P < 0.05) and 48 h (r = 0.708; P < 0.05) after partial hepatectomy. However, it did not correlate with plasma levels of TK, AST and ALT. The results indicate that in the early stage of liver regeneration PMNC‐TK may provide a marker of liver regenerative processes.
The long‐term efficacy of interferon alfa in chronic hepatitis C patients: A critical review
Authors: SARACCO GIORGIO , RIZZETTO MARIO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWith current therapeutic regimens, sustained responses occur in no more than 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C who are treated with interferon. Relapses occur usually within 6 months from therapy suspension, but clinical and virologic recurrencies can be observed as late as after 3 years of follow up. The rate of long‐term responses seems to depend on the dosage and the period of administration of interferon, but the best therapeutic protocol remains unknown. As a direct marker of permanent recovery is not available, indirect signs of disease resolution are: (i) continuously normal alanine aminotransferase levels; (ii) clearance of HCV‐RNA; (iii) disappearance of anti‐C100/NS4; and (iv) significant histological improvements assessed at least 2 years after therapy withdrawal. Known baseline predictive features of long‐term response are the absence of cirrhosis, low viraemic levels and infection with HCV of type III or IV genotype (Okamoto's classification). According to recent reports, the lower the heterogeneity of the hypervariable region of the envelope 2 gene of HCV, the higher the chance of a sustained remission. There is not yet any consensus on the efficacy of a second therapeutic course of interferon in inducing a permanent response, and controlled trials are needed to clarify this issue.
Sonographic patterns of radiolucent gall‐bladder stones for predicting successful shock‐wave lithotripsy
Authors: TSUCHIYA YUKIHIRO , SAITO HIROBUMI , SAITO NOBUHIKO , ABE ASAMI , UKAJI MINORU , KUNIYUKI HIROSHI , MIKAMI SIGERU , NATSUKI YUTAKA , NISHIARAI HIROMI , HANIYA KAZUO , TAKANASHI HIDEKI , OHTO MASAO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine whether the sonographic patterns of gallstones are useful for predicting the outcome of piezoelectric shock‐wave lithotripsy. Pretreatment analysis of gallstones based on our sonographic classification was conducted on 115 patients with radiolucent solitary stones of 10–30 mm in diameter, monitored for at least a year after the first lithotripsy. All stones were categorized as type I with gradual attenuation of echoes: type Ia, the stone echo appears as a full moon, usually accompanied by comet‐tail artifacts beyond the stone itself (n= 55); type Ib, the stone echo showing the anterior half of the stone, seen as a half moon (n= 29); and type Ic, the stone echo seen as a crescent (n= 31). The most complete fragmentation, ‘pulverization', was achieved at a significantly higher rate for type Ia (51%) than for type Ib (14%, P < 0.005) and type Ic (7%, P < 0.0001) after significantly fewer shock‐waves (vs type Ib, P < 0.01; vs type Ic, P < 0.0001). The rate of complete clearance at 12 months after lithotripsy was significantly greater for type Ia (91%) than for type Ib (62%, P < 0.01) and type Ic (45%, P < 0.0001). Comparison of the sonographic and computed tomography (CT) patterns of stones revealed a close relationship between the two: the vast majority (98%) of type Ia showed the iso‐ or hypo‐dense, and the majority (90%) of type Ic the rimmed. We conclude that the sonographic patterns of radiolucent gallstones appear to provide another parameter for predicting fragmentation and clearance of the stones in lithotripsy treatment, and to be probably alternative to pretreatment CT.
Thrombomodulin expression of sinusoidal endothelial cells in chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: ZENIYA MIKIO , FUKATA HIROYUKI , TODA GOTARO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe expression of thrombomodulin on sinusoidal endothelial cells was studied using the immuno‐peroxidase method and both light and electron microscopy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (type B: four cases; type C: 28 cases). Thrombomodulin was found on sinusoidal endothelial cells, especially on the surface in both type B and type C chronic hepatitis. There was no correlation between the level of thrombomodulin expression and clinical data including serum level of transaminase, and coagulating factors. The supernatant of liver tissue homogenate obtained from the patients showed a clear 80 kDa single band by western blotting. We concluded that the expression of thrombomodulin might be related to hepatic inflammatory responses in chronic viral hepatitis.
Hepatic sinusoidal cells and sinusoidal circulation
Authors: TANIKAWA KYUICHI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIto cells, located in the space of Disse, extend their numerous long cytoplasmic processes to surround the sinusoidal wall. Conventional and immune electron microscopy demonstrates abundant microfilaments and a great amount of actin and myosin in these cytoplasmic processes. These morphological findings suggest the possibility of control of the sinusoidal circulation by their contraction. Two mechanisms may be involved in their contraction: namely nervous and humoral factors. Ito cells, often in close contact with the nerve endings, which contain many granules of substance P (SP), have numerous receptors for this peptide. Ito cells also have receptors for endothelin‐I (ET‐1), more commonly found in the periportal area of the hepatic lobule. Experimental studies using cultured Ito cells showed their contraction following treatment with ET‐1 or SP. These results suggest that Ito cells play an important role in the regulation of hepatic sinusoidal circulation.