No significant difference in neutrophil activation found among three H2RAs.

Background: Even with the most effective treatment, Helicobacter pylori eradication is difficult in some patients. Therefore, patients sometimes require acid-suppressive therapy without H. pylori eradication.

The 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 genes do not appear to be associated with schizophrenia in the Japanese population.

Several lines of evidence suggest that disturbance of myelin-related genes is associated with the etiology of schizophrenia. Recently, the 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) gene and the oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) gene were reported to be related to the development of schizophrenia, based on the results of genetic association and microarray studies. In the present study, no significant association with schizophrenia was observed by single-marker or haplotype analysis for 6 tag SNPs of these genes (759 cases, 757 controls).

Association between gene polymorphisms of SLC22A3 and methamphetamine use disorder.

Background: Methamphetamine (MAP) is one of the most frequently used illegal substances in Japan, and family and twin studies have suggested that genetic factors contribute to psychostimulant dependence, including MAP dependence. Organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) has been reported to be involved in the disposition of MAP as well as MAP-induced behavioral changes in animals. Moreover, SLC22A3 (which encodes OCT3) is a candidate gene for MAP dependence because it is located within a chromosomal region associated with substance dependence.

Primary levofloxacin resistance and gyrA/B mutations among Helicobacter pylori in Japan.

Background: Recent years have witnessed a decrease in the rate of Helicobacter pylori eradication due to antimicrobial resistance, clarithromycin or metronidazole resistance in particular. As one of the alternatives to the standard regimens, levofloxacin-containing therapy has been considered a promising regimen. Nevertheless, there is a little information concerning the prevalence of levofloxacin resistance and this resistance mechanism.

Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on histologic change in the distal esophagus.

Background: Although cases of reflux esophagitis (RE) developing after treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori have been discussed in some detail, no reports are available concerning the histologic examination of RE both before and after eradication therapy.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-one patients and 111 specimens were investigated using endoscopic and histologic techniques. The histologic findings including basal zone height, papillar height, Ki-67 labeling index, and COX-2 expression before and after treatment for H.

MDR1 T-129C polymorphism can be predictive of differentiation, and thereby prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinomas in Japanese.

The expression level of MDR1 mRNA was evaluated in colorectal adenocarcinomas and adjacent noncancerous colorectal tissues obtained from 21 Japanese patients. It was lower in the former than in the latter (p=0.012), suggesting its down-regulation as a consequence of malignant transformation of colorectal tissues, possibly with the suppression of differentiation.

Association study between kynurenine 3-monooxygenase gene and schizophrenia in the Japanese population.

Several lines of evidence suggest that metabolic changes in the kynurenic acid (KYNA) pathway are related to the etiology of schizophrenia. The inhibitor of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is known to increase KYNA levels, and the KMO gene is located in the chromosome region associated with schizophrenia, 1q42-q44. Single-marker and haplotype analyses for 6-tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of KMO were performed (cases = 465, controls = 440).

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric emptying measured using the 13C-octanoic acid breath test and the acetaminophen method.

Background: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori eradication and gastric emptying has been reported; however, the effect of eradication therapy on gastric emptying is still unclear. This study evaluated the relationship between three gastric emptying techniques, the scintigraphic technique, the 13C-octanoic acid breath test, and the acetaminophen method, measured simultaneously, and the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastric emptying and abdominal symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia who were H.

MDR1 haplotype frequencies in Japanese and Caucasian, and in Japanese patients with colorectal cancer and esophageal cancer.

The genotype frequencies of MDR1 T-129C, C1236T, G2677A,T and C3435T SNPs were compared in 154 healthy Japanese and 100 healthy Caucasians to provide basic information on the inter-ethnic differences of pharmacotherapeutic outcome. The variants were found at allelic frequencies of 5.5%, 65.

Diagnostic significance of gently sloping depression and irregular margin in superficial elevated colorectal tumors.

Introduction: Recently, superficial elevated colorectal tumors have been increasingly diagnosed after improvements in endoscopic instruments and techniques. However, their biological characteristics remain obscure and it is difficult to predict malignant potential. The aim of this study is to clarify the characteristics of superficial elevated tumors in endoscopic examination for the evaluation of malignant potential.

HLA-DQB1 locus and gastric cancer in Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background And Aims: It has been suggested that the incidence of digestive diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori is influenced by the strain diversity of H. pylori, factors involving the host or environment, and the duration of infection. The authors have previously reported that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1*0401 plays an important role in the development of atrophic gastritis in H.

Comparison of synthetic DNA templates with authentic cDNA templates in terms of quantification by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Synthetic DNA templates were compared with authentic cDNA templates as standards for the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The single-stranded DNA template used here targeted the multidrug resistant transporter P-glycoprotein/MDR1. The double-stranded DNA template, targeting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), was synthesized using an exonuclease-free large fragment E.

Association between chromogranin A gene polymorphism and schizophrenia in the Japanese population.

It has been reported that expression of the chromogranin A (CHGA) gene is reduced in the prefrontal cortex and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia. Single-marker and haplotype analyses of SNPs within the CHGA gene were performed in 633 subjects with schizophrenia and 589 healthy controls. A significant association with schizophrenia was observed to one SNP marker, rs9658635 (p=0.

MDR1 C3435T polymorphism is predictive of later onset of ulcerative colitis in Japanese.

Recently, a silent polymorphism of C3435T of the MDR1 gene, encoding the multidrug resistant transporter MDR1/P-glycoprotein, has been found to be associated with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC), but this remains controversial. This study was conducted to find a possible reason for the discrepancies, and it was suggested that the age of onset was important for the association, namely, C3435T was predictive of susceptibility to later onset UC, but not for early onset UC. Linkage disequilibrium of C3435T with T-129C, C1236T and G2677A, T was suggested to be altered in UC, but the analysis of their haplotype provided no advantage in terms of prediction over that with only C3435T.

Telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and lesions unstained with Lugol's solution.

Background/aims: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that protects erosion of telomeres at the ends of chromosomes and its activity has been detected in immortalized cells and most human cancers.

Methodology: We analyzed telomerase activity in primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) without any preoperative treatment and lesions unstained with Lugol's solution, using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (a TRAP) assay.

Results: Strong telomerase activities were detected in all resected specimens of esophageal SCCs, and in 33 of 40 endoscopic biopsy specimens of lesions unstained with Lugol's solution.

Leukocytapheresis therapy for steroid-naïve patients with active ulcerative colitis: its clinical efficacy and adverse effects compared with those of conventional steroid therapy.

Background: Steroid administration currently plays a central role in the medical management of ulcerative colitis (UC); however, long-term steroid usage causes adverse effects, which necessitates stoppage of drug intake, leading to worsening of the disease. A steroid-sparing, well-tolerated treatment is therefore required. As several investigators have reported the efficacy of leukocytapheresis (LCAP) combined with steroid therapy, we investigated the clinical usefulness and safety of LCAP for steroid-naïve patients with active UC for comparison with those of conventional steroid therapy.

MDR1, MRP1 and MRP2 genotypes and in vitro chemosensitivity in Japanese patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas.

In our previous paper, the chemosensitivity of human colorectal adenocarcinoma was evaluated against 12 anticancer drugs including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), mitomycin C (MMC) and cisplatin (CDDP), and it was found that the anticancer drugs were effective against those with a relatively high growth rate. MMC was effective for those with a relatively high mRNA expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), whereas no correlation was found for the multidrug resistant transporter MDR1 and MRP1. In this study, 3 genotypes of MDR1, 4 genotypes of MRP1, and 6 genotypes of MRP2 were additionally evaluated, and it was suggested that MDR1 C3435T and MRP2 G1249A were related with the susceptibility to colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Levofloxacin- versus metronidazole-based rescue therapy for H. pylori infection in Japan.

Background: The ideal second-line treatment regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection may differ between the areas, countries and races.

Aim: The aim was to confirm which was the better regimen for second-line therapy after treatment failure with a standard triple therapy in Japan, a high dosage of levofloxacin- or metronidazole-based therapy.

Patients: Sixty outpatients with persistent H.

Genetic variation in Echinacea angustifolia along a climatic gradient.

Backgrounds And Aims: Echinacea angustifolia is a widespread species distributed throughout the Great Plains region of North America. Genetic differentiation among populations was investigated along a 1500 km north-south climatic gradient in North America, a region with no major geographical barriers. The objective of the study was to determine if genetic differentiation of populations could be explained by an isolation-by-distance model or by associations with climatic parameters known to affect plant growth and survival.

Amelanotic malignant melanoma of the esophagus: report of a patient with recurrence successfully treated with chemoendocrine therapy.

We report a case of primary amelanotic malignant melanoma of the esophagus, an extremely rare disease. A 58-year-old man was diagnosed as having middle esophageal cancer with lymph node metastasis, which was classified as esophageal cancer, Stage III:T3N1M0, by International Union Against Cancer (UICC) criteria. Preoperative chemotherapy was performed, but the response assessment was no change (NC).

Improved assay for catechol-O-methyltransferase activity utilizing norepinephrine as an enzymatic substrate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

We have previously established a rapid catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) assay using norepinephrine (NE) as a natural substrate and flow-injection analysis. In this study, the method is improved for screening of COMT inhibitors or activators using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with fluorescence detection. The excess substrate, NE, was removed by the addition of borate in the eluent for HPLC to make an ionic complex with NE, which was eluted faster than the enzymatic product, normetanephrine.

Effect of CYP2C19 polymorphism on the safety and efficacy of omeprazole in Japanese patients with recurrent reflux oesophagitis.

Background: The polymorphic enzyme cytochrome P450 2C19 affects omeprazole metabolism. This influence on metabolism might affect serum gastrin levels, and safety, during long-term treatment of reflux oesophagitis.

Aim: To examine the relationship between cytochrome P450 2C19 genotype and the safety profile of long-term omeprazole treatment.

Behavioral changes following antisense oligonucleotide-induced reduction of organic cation transporter-3 in mice.

The organic cation transporter-3 (OCT3) can transport monoamines, similar to neuronal monoamine transporters. Due to the lack of selective ligands, however, the functional role of OCT3 is still unknown. Thus, we investigated behavioral effects of antisense against OCT3 (AS) in mice.