Fructo-oligosaccharides ameliorate steatohepatitis, visceral adiposity, and associated chronic inflammation via increased production of short-chain fatty acids in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Within the spectrum of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in combination with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dysbiosis was reported to contribute to NASH pathogenesis.

Serological and Histological Examination of a Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Mouse Model Created via the Administration of Monosodium Glutamate.

The administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to mice induces hepatic steatosis and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the metabolic features of MSG-treated mice and the histological changes that occur in their livers and adipose tissue. MSG mice were prepared by subcutaneously injecting MSG into newborn C57BL/6J male mice.

Splenic lymph follicles generate immunoglobulin M-producing B cells in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: To reveal the site of immunoglobulin (Ig)M production in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) we performed immunohistochemical analysis on spleens collected from patients with PBC.

Methods: Splenic tissue samples were collected at the time of the autopsy from patients with hepatic failure. Immunostaining for IgM, CD21 and CXCL13 were performed using the splenic tissue samples.

B-cell-activating factor affects the occurrence of thyroid autoimmunity in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon alpha.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients frequently suffer from thyroid disorders during interferon therapy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between serum B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels and the presence of antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy.

Autoantibody IgG subclasses to recombinant antigens and the role of bacterial stimuli in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: Serum antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) of the IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses has been reported to be predominant in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis from developed countries. No data are available as to the significance of AMA subtypes in Japanese primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients who have previously manifested unique serological features, nor it is known whether AMA subclasses are influenced by bacterial stimuli, as suggested by the molecular theory of PBC. We undertook a three-step study to address these questions.

Ursodeoxycholic acid reduces CpG-induced IgM production in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment reduces IgM serum levels in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) without affecting serum antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) titers. We previously reported that PBC-associated hyper-IgM is secondary to a disease-specific hyperproduction following bacterial stimulation by B cells.

Methods: We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with PBC and controls and evaluated whether bacterial CpG challenge in the presence of UDCA at concentrations consistent with those achieved in treated patients led to changes in total IgM, IgG-AMA, and IgM-AMA production.

[A case of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus with remarkable response to chemotherapy with CPT-11 and CDDP].

A 63-year-old man visited our hospital with complaints of the chest pain and loss of appetite. A computed tomography of chest showed wall thickening in the lower portion of the esophagus and carinal and para-aorta lymph node swelling. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an irregular ulcerated lesion in the middle portion of the esophagus, which was pathologically diagnosed as small cell carcinoma.

Values of Doppler sonography predicts high risk variceal bleeding in patients with viral cirrhosis.

Background/aims: Gastrointestinal bleeding such as rupture of esophagogastric varices remains one of the leading causes of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. As a critical issue, assessment of the bleeding risk of esophageal varices is extremely important. In the present study, by determining the relationship between several parameters measured by pulsed Doppler sonography and the bleeding risk of esophageal varices assessed by upper endoscopy, we investigated what is the most valuable parameter as a supplement to the bleeding risk.