Factors Affecting Energy Metabolism and Prognosis in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Background/aims: Nutritional status is a factor affecting prognosis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we aimed to clarify the factors associated with hypermetabolism and the prognosticators of ALS.

Methods: Forty-two inpatients (22 men, 20 women) diagnosed with ALS according to the revised El-Escorial criteria were investigated.

Factors affecting pancreatic hyperamylasemia in patients undergoing peroral single-balloon enteroscopy.

Background And Aim: Acute pancreatitis following balloon-assisted enteroscopy is a rare but serious complication. The causative mechanism is uncertain and prevention strategies are not established. We conducted a retrospective study to clarify the risk factors for pancreatic hyperamylasemia.

Phase I clinical trial of the vaccination for the patients with metastatic melanoma using gp100-derived epitope peptide restricted to HLA-A*2402.

Background: The tumor associated antigen (TAA) gp100 was one of the first identified and has been used in clinical trials to treat melanoma patients. However, the gp100 epitope peptide restricted to HLA-A*2402 has not been extensively examined clinically due to the ethnic variations. Since it is the most common HLA Class I allele in the Japanese population, we performed a phase I clinical trial of cancer vaccination using the HLA-A*2402 gp100 peptide to treat patients with metastatic melanoma.

The sky blue method as a screening test to detect misplacement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube at exchange.

Background: During tube exchange for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), a misplaced tube can cause peritonitis and death. Thus, endoscopic or radiologic observation is required at tube exchange to make sure the tube is placed correctly. However, these procedures cost extensive time and money to perform in all patients at the time of tube exchange.

Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor-8 blockade triggers tumor destruction through coordinated cell-autonomous and immune-mediated mechanisms.

Carcinogenesis reflects the dynamic interplay of transformed cells and normal host elements, but cancer treatments typically target each compartment separately. Within the tumor microenvironment, the secreted protein milk fat globule epidermal growth factor-8 (MFG-E8) stimulates disease progression through coordinated alpha(v)beta(3) integrin signaling in tumor and host cells. MFG-E8 enhances tumor cell survival, invasion, and angiogenesis, and contributes to local immune suppression.

Similarities between N-glycan glycoform of tonsillar IgA1 and that of aberrant IgA1 abundant in IgA nephropathy patient serum.

Background: There are many reports on the presence of an incompletely glycosylated O-linked oligosaccharide(s) in the IgA1 hinge region of some IgA nephropathy patients. As the candidates of such IgA1, tonsillar IgA1 and aberrant IgA1, which are abundant in an IgA nephropathy patient, were proposed. On the other hand, in mice, the abnormality of the N-linked oligosaccharide chain of IgA induced the IgA nephropathy.

Effect of geranylgeranylacetone on gentamycin ototoxicity in rat cochlea culture.

Objective: Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an anti-ulcer drug, has been reported to induce heat shock proteins (HSPs) in several animal organs. Purpose of this study was to investigate whether GGA has protective effect on gentamycin (GM) ototoxicity and whether it induces HSP70 in rat cochlea.

Methods: We used cochlea explant culture from postnatal 5-day rat.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the human semicircular canals and measurement of each membranous canal plane defined by Reid's stereotactic coordinates.

Objectives: Equations for estimating the planar relationships of the human semicircular canals were devised by Blanks et al from a dissected bony labyrinth in a human skull. However, a similar study on the membranous semicircular canal planes has never been published.

Methods: In this study, the angle between each membranous canal plane and Reid's stereotactic horizontal plane was measured on serial histologic sections of 7 temporal bones from Japanese adults.

Disordered balance of IgA subclass production in the tonsils of some IgA nephropathy patients.

Background: There are reports concerning the relationship between tonsillectomy and immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Two reports on the biochemical analysis of over-produced IgA1 from IgAN patients were recently published. On the other hand, histochemical analysis of tonsillar tissue indicated the disordered balance in IgG and IgA producing cells and in the IgA subclass producing cells in IgAN patients.

Compositional similarity between immunoglobulins binding to asialo-, agalacto-IgA1-Sepharose and those deposited in glomeruli in IgA nephropathy.

Background: It has been found that the immunoglobulin A1-binding protein (IgA1-BP) can be separated from human serum using an asialo-, agalacto-IgA1 (aglyco-IgA1)-Sepharose column (13). As the IgA content in IgA1-BP was significantly higher in IgA nephropathy patients than that in other nephropathy patients, the relationship between IgA in IgA1-BP and glomerular deposited IgA was predicted.

Methods: IgA1-BP was separated from serum using the aglyco-IgA1-Sepharose column and the aglyco-IgA1-HPLC column.

Natriuretic peptides up-regulate aquaporin 3 in a human colonic epithelial cell line.

Several specialized channels termed aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate water transport in the gastrointestinal tract. AQP3 localizes to epithelial cells in the human small intestine and colon. However, the regulatory mechanisms responsible for AQP3 function in the gastrointestinal tract are not well understood.

Alteration of aquaporin mRNA expression after small bowel resection in the rat residual ileum and colon.

Background: Diarrhea occurring after small bowel resection gradually improves due to intestinal adaptation. It is known that several water channels, termed aquaporins (AQP), are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate water transport. However, the changes of AQP after bowel resection remain unclear.

Tonsillar IgA1 as a possible source of hypoglycosylated IgA1 in the serum of IgA nephropathy patients.

Background: There are many reports of incompletely glycosylated O-linked oligosaccharides on the IgA1 hinge region in certain IgA nephropathy patients. In addition, other reports have noted a relationship between tonsillectomy and IgA nephropathy.

Methods: Immunoglobulins from extracts of tonsillectomized tissue and other sources were analysed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Mucosal permeability regulates receptor binding of luminal epidermal growth factor in the adult rat intestine.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates repair in the damaged intestine, but its role in the normal intestine is not clear. Because EGF receptors are found on the basolateral surface but not the luminal surface, we hypothesized that mucosal permeability regulates EGF binding. Adult male rats were divided into 3 groups, one that was fed normal chow (the control), one that was starved for 4 days, and one that was given methotrexate (MTX) intragastrically (10 mg/kg/day for 3 days).

Enhancement of aquaporin-3 by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in a human colonic epithelial cell line.

Background: Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) plays an important role in water transport in the intestine. Several specialized channels termed aquaporins (AQP) facilitate water transport in the gastrointestinal tract. Aquaporin-3 localizes to epithelial cells in the human small intestine and colon.

Detection of enriched Thomsen-Friedenrich antigen on IgA1 from IgA nephropathy patients.

Background: Human serum IgA1 has a mucin-like structure on its hinge portion which is composed of a mucin-type sugar chain and amino acid sequence rich in proline, serine and threonine. There are incompletely glycosylated O-linked oligosaccharide(s) on the IgA1 hinge region in some nephropathy patients.

Methods: We made a detailed analysis of the incompleteness of the sugar chain by digesting IgA1 with various glycosidases.

Alteration in expression of polyamine and glucose-related enzyme mRNA after small bowel resection in the rat residual ileum.

The adaptive hyperplasia of the residual intestine after a massive bowel resection is not fully understood. We investigated the alterations in polyamine and glucose-related enzyme mRNA expression during intestinal adaptation. Six-week-old male Wistar rats underwent an 80% resection of the small intestine.

In vitro alterations in fecal short chain fatty acids and organic anions induced by the destruction of intestinal microflora under hypotonic and aerobic conditions.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unknown. It has been suggested that luminal factors such as the microflora, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), food antigens and so on play important roles in the disease progression. Many reports have revealed alterations in the SCFA and organic acid concentration of the colon, especially increased lactate and decreased butyrate, in IBD patients.