Colorimetric sensing method for polyamines utilising an inclusion complex of stimuli-responsive amylose.

Incorporation of carboxyl groups into amylose led to a unique stimuli-responsive supramolecular system that shows distinct colour change in response to biologically important polyamines. When spermine was added to an aqueous solution containing iodine and amylose modified with carboxyl groups, the solution clearly changed from colourless to bluish purple. This colour change was attributed to the encapsulation of iodine into the helical cavity of amylose, which was triggered by the electrostatic association between the amylose and spermine.

Increased expression of Smad6 deteriorates murine acute experimental pancreatitis in two models.

Background: Smad6 is implicated in the inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein signalling. However, the function of Smad6 in the pancreas remains obscure.

Methods: To elucidate the unknown function of Smad6, we developed transgenic mice selectively expressing Smad6 in pancreatic acinar cells using a plasmid construct coding rat elastase 1 enhancer/promoter.

Preferential increase of extracellular matrix expression relative to transforming growth factor beta1 in the pancreas during the early stage of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in rats.

Objectives: To elucidate the role of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 and extracellular matrix (ECM) after acute necrotizing pancreatitis, we studied the regulation of TGF-beta1 and ECM after induction of pancreatitis.

Methods: We examined the serial changes of levels of plasma TGF-beta1 by enzyme-linked immunoassay and expression of TGF-beta1 and ECM by Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively, in the pancreas after induction of sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis.

Results: Plasma total (active and inactive) TGF-beta1 levels at 3 hours after induction of pancreatitis were significantly increased compared with baseline values.

High glucose activates rat pancreatic stellate cells through protein kinase C and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Objective: Hyperglycemia is implicated in fibrosis in many organs. Exocrine and endocrine pancreas are closely linked both anatomically and physiologically, and pathological conditions in the exocrine gland can cause impairment of endocrine function and vice versa. Chronic pancreatitis causes pancreatic fibrosis and sometimes results in diabetes mellitus.

Analysis of in vitro skin permeation of 22-oxacalcitriol having a complicated metabolic pathway.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze simultaneous skin permeation and metabolism of 22-oxacalcitriol (OCT) having several metabolites in skin by observing skin permeation of only unchanged OCT through excised rat skin.

Methods: A diffusion model including metabolic processes was employed to express simultaneous skin permeation and metabolism of OCT. In vitro permeation experiments of OCT from Oxarol ointment through full-thickness and stripped rat skin were carried out using Franz-type diffusion cells.

Green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits ethanol-induced activation of pancreatic stellate cells.

Background: Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrogenesis and inflammation. Ethanol, a major cause of chronic pancreatitis, directly induces PSC activation and oxidative stress. Inhibition of PSC activation or stimulation to PSC might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the prevention of pancreatic fibrosis, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea extracts, is a potent antioxidant of polyphenols.

Pressure activates rat pancreatic stellate cells.

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a central role in development of pancreatic fibrosis. In chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic tissue pressure is higher than that of the normal pancreas. We here evaluate the effects of pressure on the activation of rat PSCs.

[A case of MPO-ANCA positive vasculitis associated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and various cardiac conducting system abnormalities following propylthiouracil treatment].

A 50-year-old woman had been treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) for hyperthyroidism. She was admitted to our hospital because of hemosputum, and severe hypoxemia developed. The CT scan showed diffuse infiltration in both lung fields, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, and the level of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) was high; and therefore diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with MPO-ANCA positive vasculitis induced by PTU was diagnosed.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor interaction is an important regulator for the development of pancreatic fibrosis in mice.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays important roles in various pathophysiological processes. However, the role of the RAS in pancreatic fibrosis has not been established. We investigated the role of angiotensin II (ANG II)-ANG II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor pathway in the development of pancreatic fibrosis with AT(1a) receptor-deficient [AT(1a)(-/-)] mice.

[The long-term follow-up study of Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis].

To elucidate the long-term outcome of the ulcerative colitis we analyzed 124 patients suffering for more than 10 years concerning the long-term prognosis, cumulative rate of colectomy, cumulative risk of cancer development and cumulative survival rate. Long-term prognosis were divided to three categories as good, fair and poor, according to present disease activities, social availability and subjective judgement. One hundred and twenty four patients were divided to 66 patients with good prognosis, 27 fair and 31 poor (2:1:1).

Minute lesions of the rectum and sigmoid colon in patients with Crohn's disease.

Sigmoidoscopy with a spray of 0.1% indigocarmine was performed on 20 patients with Crohn's disease whose main lesions were located proximal to the transverse colon and on 10 age-matched healthy volunteers. Minute lesions such as apthoid lesions, areas of erythema, and small ulcers were found in 90% of patients with Crohn's disease and in 0% of healthy volunteers (p less than 0.

Formation of 5-hydroxykynurenine and 5-hydroxykynurenamine from 5-hydroxytryptophan in rabbit small intestine.

In order to clarify the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [indole:oxygen 2,3-oxidoreductase (decyclizing), EC 1.13.11.