Jaundice due to suspected statin hepatotoxicity: a case series.

Statin drugs are widely used worldwide and are generally considered safe and well tolerated. Only small proportion of patients receiving statins develop elevations of liver enzymes and an even smaller proportion will have clinically significant hepatitis induced by statins. We describe four patients with jaundice caused by drug-induced liver injury, where the most likely agent was a statin drug, over a period of approximately three year in Iceland.

Gastrointestinal sensitivity to soy and milk proteins in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: sensitivity to food antigens has been postulated as a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: in this study we used a recently developed mucosal patch technique to evaluate rectal mucosal sensitivity to soy and cow's milk (CM) proteins in IgAN patients (n = 28) compared to healthy subjects (n = 18). The rectal mucosal production of nitric oxide (NO) and release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were measured.

Self-reported food intolerance and mucosal reactivity after rectal food protein challenge in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: A dietary link to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been suspected and an influence on arthritic symptoms by different diets has been reported. Our primary aim was to record the self-experienced adverse food reactions in patients with RA. A secondary aim was to relate self-experienced adverse reactions to dairy produce and wheat to the local mucosal reactivity observed after rectal challenge with cow's milk protein (CM) and wheat gluten.

Tissue localization and the establishment of a sensitive immunoassay of the newly discovered human phospholipase B-precursor (PLB-P).

Human phospholipase B-precursor (PLB-P) is a newly identified and purified protein from human neutrophils. The precise function of PLB-P in vivo is not yet known. Its existence in neutrophils and the enzymatic activity against phospholipids imply a role in the defence against invading microorganisms and in the generation of lipid mediators of inflammation.

Gluten sensitivity in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: Coeliac disease is more frequent in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients compared to the healthy population. Several hypotheses postulate that food antigens like gluten may be involved in the onset of IgAN.

Methods: In this study, we used a recently developed mucosal patch technique to evaluate the rectal mucosal inflammatory reaction to gluten in patients with IgAN (n = 27) compared to healthy subjects (n = 18).

The prevalence of celiac disease in blood donors in Iceland.

Background: Prospective epidemiological studies based on serological methods have shown that celiac disease is more common than previously thought. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease among apparently healthy blood donors in Iceland.

Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 813 apparently healthy blood donors at the FSA Hospital Blood Bank in Akureyri, Iceland, between December 2004 and January 2007 and screened for human tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies.

Cow's milk protein sensitivity assessed by the mucosal patch technique is related to irritable bowel syndrome in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction: Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are reported to have a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms partly attributed to an overrepresentation of celiac disease. We have observed that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms are frequent complaints in this patient group. Allergic manifestations to various drugs are also common in pSS.

Gluten sensitivity in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the rectal mucosal response to gluten as an indication of gluten sensitivity in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Material And Methods: Rectal challenges with wheat gluten were performed in 20 patients with pSS and 18 healthy control subjects. Fifteen hours after challenge the mucosal production of nitric oxide (NO) was measured.

Mucosal reactivity to cow's milk protein in coeliac disease.

Patients with coeliac disease (CD) on a gluten-free diet may still have gastrointestinal symptoms. On clinical grounds cow's milk (CM) protein sensitivity may be suspected. Here, using rectal protein challenge, we investigated the local inflammatory reaction to gluten and CM protein in adult patients with CD in remission.

Palmoplantar pustulosis and gluten sensitivity: a study of serum antibodies against gliadin and tissue transglutaminase, the duodenal mucosa and effects of gluten-free diet.

Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting mainly smoking women. Some patients also have psoriasis. A subgroup of patients with psoriasis has been shown to have silent gluten sensitivity with relevance for their psoriasis.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis have an increased number of lymphocytes in the duodenal mucosa in comparison with patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective: To determine if there is evidence of inflammation in the duodenal mucosa in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to compare the results with those in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PsV).

Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients with PsA underwent gastroduodenoscopy, and biopsy specimens were taken from the duodenal and gastric mucosa. In addition to routine processing, the duodenal mucosal specimens were stained for CD3+, CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, tryptase-positive mast cells, and EG2-positive eosinophil granulocytes.

Kinetics of mucosal granulocyte activation after gluten challenge in coeliac disease.

Objective: To elucidate the dynamics of the rectal inflammatory response to rectal gluten challenge in coeliac disease by measuring inflammatory mediators released by activated neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells/basophils.

Material And Methods: The release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and histamine was measured continuously during the early challenge period (3-6 h after gluten challenge) in coeliac patients (n = 9) and healthy controls (n = 5). A segmental perfusion technique was used to carry out this part of the study.

Gut mucosal granulocyte activation precedes nitric oxide production: studies in coeliac patients challenged with gluten and corn.

Background And Aims: To elucidate the dynamics of nitric oxide (NO) production induced by rectal gluten challenge and the relation between NO production and mucosal granulocyte activation.

Subjects And Methods: Release of rectal NO was measured in 13 patients with coeliac disease and in 18 controls before and after rectal wheat gluten challenge. Rectal gas was collected with a rectal balloon using a newly developed instrument/technique, the "mucosal patch technique".

Eosinophil granulocytes are activated during the remission phase of ulcerative colitis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish a method of investigating intestinal eosinophil and neutrophil granulocytes by flow cytometry, and to compare the distribution and activity of these cells in different stages of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Biopsy samples were taken from six locations of the entire colon and from the terminal ileum in 10 patients with active total UC, 10 patients with inactive total UC, eight patients with active distal UC, and 11 control subjects. Cell suspensions from biopsies and from peripheral blood were incubated with fluorophore conjugated monoclonal antibodies.

Clinical and subclinical intestinal inflammation assessed by the mucosal patch technique: studies of mucosal neutrophil and eosinophil activation in inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome.

Background And Aims: There is a clear need for a rapid, simple, safe, and sensitive method of determining the type and intensity of inflammation in the gut mucosa in clinical practice. In this study, we have evaluated the potential of a new method, the mucosal patch technique, in patients with and without apparent gut inflammation, as assessed by conventional diagnostic procedures.

Subjects And Methods: The technique tested is based on the idea that inflammatory mediators released from the rectal mucosa can be absorbed by and then extracted from cellulose patches brought into contact with the mucosa by use of an instrument with an inflatable balloon.

Inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase II by its own splice isoform.

cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (cGK I, cGK II, and cAK) are important mediators of many signaling pathways that increase cyclic nucleotide concentrations and ultimately phosphorylation of substrates vital to cellular functions. Here we demonstrate a novel mRNA splice isoform of cGK II arising from alternative 5' splicing within exon 11. The novel splice variant encodes a protein (cGK II Delta(441-469)) lacking 29 amino acids of the cGK II Mg-ATP-binding/catalytic domain, including the conserved glycine-rich loop consensus motif Gly-x-Gly-x-x-Gly-x-Val which interacts with ATP in the protein kinase family of enzymes.

Band 6 protein, a major constituent of desmosomes from stratified epithelia, is a novel member of the armadillo multigene family.

Desmosomes are intercellular adhering junctions characteristic of epithelial cells. Several constitutive proteins--desmoplakin, plakoglobin and the transmembrane glycoproteins desmoglein and desmocollin--have been identified as fundamental constituents of desmosomes in all tissues. A number of additional and cell type-specific constituents also contribute to desmosomal plaque formation.

NGF increases [Ca2+]i in regenerating mature oligodendroglial cells.

The effect of NGF on [Ca2+]i of mature regenerating oligodendroglial cells was investigated by measuring fluo-3 fluorescence. NGF caused transient increases in [Ca2+]i, which could be inhibited by anti-NGF antibody. The rise in [CA2+]i was in part due to influx of extracellular Ca2+ since it was markedly attenuated in Ca2+-free solution.

Neuronal expression of regulatory helix-loop-helix factor Id2 gene in mouse.

Id-like helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins, which lack a basic DNA binding domain, have been suggested to serve as general inhibitors of differentiation. We present data that Id2 is expressed in specific cell types during neurogenesis and in the adult. At early stages of neurogenesis, Id2 is expressed in the ventricular zone of neuroepithelium.

The complete cDNA coding sequence for the mouse CDEI binding protein.

This work describes the cDNA sequence of the mouse CDEI binding protein (CDEBP), comprising the complete coding sequence. The cDNA encodes a protein of 695 amino acid residues. The derived amino acid sequence displays a sequence identity to human amyloid precursor-like protein (APLP) of > 92%.

Identification of a synaptic vesicle antigen (Mr 86,000) conserved between Torpedo and rat.

Antisera were raised in guinea pigs to synaptic vesicles purified from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. In cholinergic nerve terminals from Torpedo the major antigens identified had Mr 300,000-150,000, 86,000, and 18,000. The Mr 86,000 antigen was conserved between Torpedo and rat, where it is neuron-specific and concentrated in nerve terminals.