Usefulness of contrast-enhanced wide-band Doppler ultrasonograpy to diagnose alveolar echinococcosis of the liver and evaluate the effect of the treatment.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus multicularis and most commonly involves the liver. Early diagnosis and accurate evaluation of the effect of the treatment are essential to improve the prognosis of patients with alveolar echinococcosis of the liver (AEL). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the characteristic imaging of AEL by contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow (CE-DF) employing a wide-band Doppler technique for the diagnosis and the accurate evaluation of the effect of the treatment.

Growth arrest by troglitazone is mediated by p27Kip1 accumulation, which results from dual inhibition of proteasome activity and Skp2 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

In our study, we examined whether human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expresses peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and the effects of PPAR gamma activation by its selective ligands on cell growth and cell invasion in HCC cells. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that HCC-derived cell lines, HepG2 and HLF, express PPARgamma mRNA and protein. Luciferase assay in HLF cells showed that troglitazone, a selective ligand for PPAR gamma, transactivated the transcription of a peroxisome proliferator response element-driven promoter in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that the expressed PPARgamma functions as a transcriptional factor.

Ethanol induces transforming growth factor-alpha expression in hepatocytes, leading to stimulation of collagen synthesis by hepatic stellate cells.

Background: Liver fibrosis often develops in alcoholic liver diseases without accompanying inflammation; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Using ethanol-exposed human HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells as a model for alcoholic liver diseases, we previously found that ethanol exposure causes HepG2 cells to secrete an approximately 6,000 Da nonheparin-binding polypeptide that stimulates collagen synthesis in human IMR-90 fibroblasts. The aim of the current study was to characterize and identify this factor.

PPAR gamma ligand-induced apoptosis through a p53-dependent mechanism in human gastric cancer cells.

We have recently demonstrated that the PPAR gamma ligand troglitazone induced cell growth arrest and evoked apoptosis in a gastric cancer cell line, MKN-45. Since in general, p53 plays an important role in the induction of apoptosis and growth inhibition, we tried to clarify whether or not p53 mediates troglitazone-induced apoptosis and growth arrest in gastric cancer cells. Troglitazone increased the number of apoptoic cells in MKN-28, MKN-45 and MKN-74, but not in KATO-III cells.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia as detected by a monoclonal antibody is highly associated with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Some forms of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) may be precancerous but the cellular phenotype that predisposes to gastric carcinogenesis is not well characterised. Mucin staining, as a means of differentiating GIM, is difficult. A monoclonal antibody, mAb Das-1 (initially called 7E(12)H(12)), whose staining is phenotypically specific to colon epithelium, was used to investigate this issue.

Leukocytapheresis for treatment of IBD.

The recent development of effective and safe devices to remove leukocytes selectively from circulating blood has facilitated the application of leukocytapheresis for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Successful results of preliminary trials of leukocytapheresis for IBD led to several nationwide multicenter clinical trials in Japan. As a result, five or six consecutive leukocytaphereses, which were undergone weekly, improved both symptoms and endoscopic findings in approximately 60%-80% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Cell kinetics and genetic instabilities in differentiated type early gastric cancers with different mucin phenotype.

To clarify the biological impact and molecular pathogenesis of cellular phenotype in differentiated-type gastric cancers (DGCs), we investigated cell kinetics and genetic instabilities in early stage of DGCs. A total of 43 early gastric cancers (EGCs) were studied. EGCs were divided into 3 phenotypic categories: gastric (G type, n = 11), ordinary (O type, n = 20), and complete intestinal (CI type, n = 12) based on the combination of HGM, ConA, MUC2, and CD10.

Transferrin receptor in tissue and serum: updated clinical significance of soluble receptor.

The transferrin receptor is an essential component of cellular uptake of iron, and it binds to serum transferrin. Recently, 2 different types of transferrin receptors have been recognized: transferrin receptor (TfR or transferrin receptor 1) and transferrin receptor 2. Most cells possess a ubiquitous system controlling the biosynthesis of TfR at the posttranscriptional level to avoid excess iron influx into the cells through TfR.

Genetic and phenotypic polymorphisms of the A subunit of Coagulation factor XIII in Japanese population.

To clarify whether genetic polymorphisms in exon 14 of Coagulation factor XIII A-subunit gene (FXIIIA) affect phenotype expressions, we studied genetic polymorphisms in exon 14 of FXIIIA in a Japanese population and the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms and phenotype expression. Genetic polymorphisms in exon 14 of FXIIIA of 144 unrelated Japanese were analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism. Plasma FXIIIA antigen concentrations, FXIII activities, and phenotype were also determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Minute findings by magnifying colonoscopy are useful for the evaluation of ulcerative colitis.

Background: Colonoscopy has an important role in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. However, colonoscopic findings are inadequate for the prediction of relapse without histologic examination. In this study, the role of magnifying colonoscopy in ulcerative colitis was evaluated.

[Two cases of stage IV type 4 gastric cancer with good response to TS-1].

We report two patients with Type 4 gastric cancers having multiple lymph node metastasis and carcinomatosa which responded well to TS-1. After administration of TS-1 orally for two courses, both patients showed improved extension of the gastric wall and almost complete reduction of metastatic lymph nodes. In case 2, colonic stenosis due to peritonum carcinomatosa disappeared after chemotherapy with TS-1.

Quantitative analysis for human glucocorticoid receptor alpha/beta mRNA in IBD.

We have previously reported that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), the augmented expression of the beta isoform of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGRbeta), as a putative dominant negative regulator of glucocorticoid action, is associated with glucocorticoid (GC) unresponsiveness of UC patients. In this study, we quantified the levels and serial changes of hGR transcripts in PBMC of IBD patients by a real-time fluorescence monitoring of PCR. As results, relative hGRbeta mRNA expression was significantly higher in the active stage of UC than in inactive periods of UC or CD patients.

Up-regulation of transferrin receptor expression in hepatocytes by habitual alcohol drinking is implicated in hepatic iron overload in alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Hepatic iron overload is often seen in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We previously reported that the expression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-protein adducts, which is a lipid peroxidative product and can be used as a marker of radical-mediated cellular damage, was increased in iron-overloaded hepatocytes with ALD. However, the mechanism of hepatic iron overload in ALD has not been clarified.

Natural history of colorectal nonpolypoid adenomas: a prospective colonoscopic study and relation with cell kinetics and K-ras mutations.

Objective: Serial colonoscopic observations were prospectively conducted to elucidate the natural history of nonpolypoid tumors. Furthermore, to clarify whether cell kinetic status affects the tumor development, proliferative indices, apoptotic indices, and K-ras codon 12 point mutations on biopsy specimens were investigated.

Methods: Seventy-five colorectal tumors, 13 polypoid and 62 nonpolypoid type (56 flat elevated and six depressed type) were studied.

Leukocyte apheresis using a centrifugal cell separator in refractory ulcerative colitis: a multicenter open label trial.

Recently, successful results of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatments with leukocyte apheresis have been reported by several institutes. To certify the efficacy of leukocyte apheresis in refractory UC patients, a multicenter open label trial was conducted, and results were analyzed. Fifty patients diagnosed with active steroid-resistant UC were enrolled in this study from 14 medical centers.

Troglitazone induces G1 arrest by p27(Kip1) induction that is mediated by inhibition of proteasome in human gastric cancer cells.

We examined in the present study whether human gastric cancer cells express peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), the effect of PPARgamma activation by troglitazone, a selective ligand, on cellular growth, and the mechanism of the growth arrest by troglitazone in gastric cancer cells. RT-PCR, northern blot and western blot analysis demonstrated that all four tested human gastric cancer cell lines, MKN-28, MKN-45, MKN-74 and KATO-III, expressed PPARgamma mRNA and protein. WST-1 assay and flow cytometric analysis revealed that troglitazone inhibited the growth and induced G1 arrest in all four gastric cancer cell lines.

gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid content of hepatocellular carcinoma-associated des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin.

Serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) is a useful marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the exact mechanism of its synthesis and its structural properties in liver diseases are unknown. DCP is measured by the monoclonal antibody MU-3. The purpose of this study was to examine the epitope of MU-3 and to characterize the differences in DCP between HCC and benign liver diseases.

Adaptive cytoprotection against acetic acid induced colonic injury in rats.

Background And Aims: The phenomenon of prostaglandin dependent adaptive cytoprotection has been well established in the stomach and duodenum but not in the colon. This study investigated whether it also occurs in the colon.

Methods: Fisher rats received intracolonic administration (0.

High-frequency probe EUS-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection: a therapeutic strategy for submucosal tumors of the GI tract.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-frequency probe EUS (HFPE)-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection in the management of submucosal tumors of the GI tract.

Methods: HFPE-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection was attempted in 28 patients with submucosal tumors less than 2 cm in diameter. HFPE was performed with a 20-MHz "through-the-scope" probe.

Clonality and field cancerization in intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas.

Background: Multiple lesions of intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor of the pancreas (IPMT) in the same pancreas often are encountered. To elucidate field (multicentric) cancerization and clonality of IPMT, clonal analyses of IPMT and its precursor lesion of ductal hyperplasia were performed. K-ras codon 12 mutations and X-chromosome inactivation of human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA) were investigated.