A case of spontaneous colonic perforation in collagenous colitis.

Background: Collagenous colitis (CC) is a clinicopathologic syndrome characterized by chronic watery diarrhea and distinctive histopathologic features. Spontaneous perforation of CC is extremely rare, because CC is usually managed medically, and the need for surgical intervention is rare. We report a surgical case of spontaneous colonic perforation of CC with acute abdomen disease.

Magnified single-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis of intestinal follicular lymphoma: a case series.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the magnified endoscopic findings in the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma in the small intestine in comparison with those of intestinal follicular lymphoma and lymphangiectasia. Four patients with follicular lymphoma and 3 with lymphangiectasia in the small intestine were retrospectively analyzed. A prototype magnifying singleballoon enteroscope was used.

Increased Expression of Interleukin-36, a Member of the Interleukin-1 Cytokine Family, in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-36 (IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ) is a recently reported member of the IL-1 cytokine family. In this study, we investigated IL-36 expression in the inflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and characterized the proinflammatory actions of IL-36 cytokines in human colonic epithelial cells.

Methods: IL-36 mRNA expression was evaluated using real-time PCR.

Interleukin (IL)-1β Is a Strong Inducer of IL-36γ Expression in Human Colonic Myofibroblasts.

Backgrounds And Aims: Interleukin (IL)-36 cytokines are members of the IL-1 cytokine family. In this study, we investigated the expression of IL-36γ in human colonic myofibroblasts to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-36γ induction.

Materials And Methods: IL-36 mRNA was analyzed by real-time PCR method.

A case of Crohn's disease that developed anti-infliximab and anti-adalimumab antibodies.

There are few reports about the rapid appearance of anti-adalimumab antibodies in patients with Crohn's disease positive for anti-infliximab antibodies. We report the case of a 29-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease who revealed a loss of response to infliximab due to high levels of antibodies to infliximab, and did not respond to the subsequent therapy by adalimumab, with a rapid appearance of antibodies to adalimumab. As one of the possible mechanisms of non-response to adalimumab, immunologic reactivity of infliximab to adalimumab was suspected, since the patient's IgG that was obtained just before the induction of adalimumab reacted with infliximab and adalimumab.

Agranulocytosis immediately after oral administration of cibenzoline and dabigatran in a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

This case report describes agranulocytosis immediately after oral administration of cibenzoline and dabigatran in a 70-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). No blasts were found in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and the white blood cell count increased abruptly by intravenous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulation factor, suggesting an allergic response caused by cibenzoline or dabigatran, or both. Though antiarrhythmic drugs with anticoagulation therapy are commonly used to treat paroxysmal AF, caution has to be paid to drug-induced agranulocytosis.

[An elderly woman with duodenal perforation difficulty diagnose].

An 86-year-old woman was referred with acute epigastric pain. She had tenderness, but no muscular guarding of the epigastric lesion. Abdominal ultrasound showed a gallstone with a normal gallbladder wall and no ascites.

[Characteristic of elderly patients with ulcerative colitis and therapeutic issue].

Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) primarily affects young adults, but the proportion of elderly patients with UC seems to be increasing. It is important that the clinical characteristics of elderly patients be analyzed.

Methods: In the older group consisted of 32 outpatients (23 aged 50-64 years old, 9 aged 65 or over) in our hospital, we evaluated disease duration, severity, therapeutic efficacy and other clinical problems.

Increased aggregation response of platelets in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Platelets play an important role in hemostatic and inflammatory responses. To evaluate any potential enhancement of platelet activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we measured the platelet aggregation responses to various stimuli.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy controls, 24 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 25 patients with Crohn's Disease (CD) were studied.

Interleukin-17 augments tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced granulocyte and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor release from human colonic myofibroblasts.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-17 is a newly identified T-cell-specific cytokine. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-17 on colony-stimulating factor (CSF) release in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs).

Methods: CSF release and mRNA expression were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Northern blotting, respectively.

Interleukin-22, a member of the IL-10 subfamily, induces inflammatory responses in colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts.

Background & Aims: Interleukin (IL)-22, a member of the IL-10 subfamily, is a recently identified T-cell-derived cytokine. We investigated IL-22 expression in the inflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and analyzed its biologic activities in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs).

Methods: Mucosal IL-22 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical procedures.

Development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis is aggravated in mice genetically deficient for complement C5.

The complement system is a potent effector of innate immunity. To elucidate the pathophysiological role of the complement system in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we evaluated the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in genetically complement C5-deficient mice. We used DBA2/J mice, which are genetically deficient in complement C5.

Elevated circulating platelet-derived microparticles in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: Platelet-derived microparticles (PDMPs) are active molecules involved in the hemostatic and inflammatory responses. To evaluate the changes in the platelet function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we measured circulating PDMP levels.

Methods: Twenty-five healthy controls, 44 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 43 patients with Crohn's Disease (CD) were studied.

Suppression of inflammatory cytokine secretion by granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis in active ulcerative colitis.

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effects of granulocyte/monocyte adsorption apheresis, changes were investigated in the cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Four patients with active UC were enrolled. All patients responded to granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis.

Interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha upregulate interleukin-23 subunit p19 gene expression in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts.

The recently identified cytokine interleukin-23 (IL-23) consists of p19 and p40 subunits. The major cellular source of IL-23 is dendritic cells and/or macrophages. We investigated the expression of IL-23 p19 mRNA in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs).