J Gastroenterol
January 2011
Autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) represent a wide spectrum of chronic inflammatory diseases that are characterized by an immune-mediated attack against either hepatocytes (in the case of autoimmune hepatitis types 1 and 2, AIH-1, 2) or cholangiocytes (in primary biliary cirrhosis, PBC). PBC is considered a model autoimmune disease due to the homogeneity of patients, the high specificity of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), and the specificity of biliary epithelial cell (BEC) destruction. It ensues from a multi-lineage loss of tolerance to the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate buccal perimandibular neurovascularisation associated with the mandibular accessory buccal foramina (ABF) which were detected using a limited cone-beam computed tomography (limited CBCT).
Methods: Five Japanese cadaveric mandibles had been examined using helical CT to investigate the presence or absence of ABF. Two mandibles indicating the presence of AMF were examined more minutely using a limited CBCT.
Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography has been applied as a tool for non-invasive evaluation of the coronary arteries. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MDCT in screening for coronary artery disease (CAD), and to identify the indications for screening in diabetes patients with CAD.
Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of 52 Japanese type 2 diabetes patients who underwent examination with a 64-slice MDCT scanner, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography and ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid arteries.
Aims: Anti-gp210 and anti-centromere antibodies are different risk factors for the progression of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms with these risk factors is unknown.
Methods: We determined the HLA-DRB1 genotype in 334 Japanese PBC patients and studied their serum antibodies to gp210 and centromere during the 1-452-month observation period.
Unlabelled: Although it has been recognized that interferon (IFN) treatment is crucial for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation, its benefits have not been determined among patients without a sustained viral response (SVR).
Methods: Eighty patients who received IFN plus ribavirin treatment after living donor liver transplantation were grouped as follows: group I (n = 18) SVR; group II (n = 25) no-SVR but viral response [VR] positive; Group III (n = 13) no-VR but biochemical response [BR] positive; and group IV (n = 24) no-VR and no-BR.
Results: In groups II and III, not only the histological activity grade and fibrosis stage, but also the serum parameters including transaminases and type IV collagen were stable for 3 years after induction of IFN-based treatment.
Unlabelled: Improvements in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may depend upon dissection of mechanisms that determine recruitment of mononuclear cells to intralobular bile ducts, including the role of the chemokine-adhesion molecule CX3CL1 (fractalkine). We submit that there are unique interactions between intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (BECs), endothelial cells (ECs), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells (LMCs), and that such interactions will in part dictate the biliary-specific inflammatory response. To address this, we studied fresh explanted livers from pretransplantation patients with PBC and with inflammatory liver disease due to viral infection (disease controls) and biopsy material from patients with a discrete liver tumor (normal controls).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFB-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are known to be involved in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. We assessed serum levels of these cytokines in PBC patients. Serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in PBC patients than in healthy controls (1253.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod
November 2009
Objective: The accuracies of intraoral radiography (IOR), multidetector helical computerized tomography (MDHCT) at slice thicknesses 0.63 mm and 1.25 mm, and limited cone-beam computerized tomography (LCBCT) were compared for detection of horizontal tooth root fracture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe artificial endocrine pancreas is a feedback control instrument that regulates insulin delivery on a minute-by-minute basis according to measured blood glucose levels. Only one type of bedside-type artificial endocrine pancreas is now available in Japan: STG-22 (Nikkiso Co. Ltd.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern B Cybern
February 2010
The remarkable capability of living organisms to adapt to unknown environments is due to learning mechanisms that are totally different from the current artificial machine-learning paradigm. Computational media composed of identical elements that have simple activity rules play a major role in biological control, such as the activities of neurons in brains and the molecular interactions in intracellular control. As a result of integrations of the individual activities of the computational media, new behavioral patterns emerge to adapt to changing environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn innate immune response to bacterial components is speculated to be involved in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Recently, CD4-positive T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, characterized by the secretion of interleukin (IL)-17, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Human Th17 cells are generated from Th0 cells by IL-6 and IL-1 beta and maintained by IL-23.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 60-year-old woman with hepatic encephalopathy was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and hepatic arteriography revealed diffuse hepatic arteriovenous fistulae (HAVF). Overt portosystemic shunt could not be identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe mechanisms operating in lymphocyte recruitment and homing to liver are reviewed. A literature review was performed on primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), progressive sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and homing mechanisms; a total of 130 papers were selected for discussion. Available data suggest that in addition to a specific role for CCL25 in PSC, the CC chemokines CCL21 and CCL28 and the CXC chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 are involved in the recruitment of T lymphocytes into the portal tract in PBC and PSC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe liver is an organ consisting of the largest reticulo-endothelial cell network in the body and playing an important role in host defense against invading microorganisms. The organ is comprised of parenchymal cells and many different types of non-parenchymal cells, all of which play a significant role. Even biliary epithelial cells are not only the target in autoimmune liver diseases but also have central role in orchestrating several immune cells involved in both innate and acquired immunity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHybrid liposomes (HL-n) can be prepared by dissolving both vesicular and micellar molecules in buffer solution with ultrasonication. A clear solution of HL-n composed of 95 mol% dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 5 mol% polyoxyethylenedodecyl ether (C(12)(EO)(n), n=21 and 25) having hydrodynamic diameter of 100 nm could be kept over 1 month on the basis of dynamic light scattering measurements was obtained. (1) Increases of fusion and accumulation of HL-n including NBDPC as a fluorescence probe into human breast tumor (MDA-MB-453) cell membranes were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi
May 2009
Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the regional frequency and anatomical properties of mandibular lingual foramina.
Material And Methods: The regional frequency of the lingual foramina was investigated using limited cone-beam computed tomographic images of mandibles obtained from 190 examinations of 181 patients. The mesio-distal position of the lingual foramina was classified into 17 areas of the midline area and each tooth area.
BCR signaling plays a critical role in purging the self-reactive repertoire, or in rendering it anergic to establish self-tolerance in the periphery. Differences in self-reactivity between human naive and IgM(+) memory B cells may reflect distinct mechanisms by which BCR signaling dictates their survival and death. Here we demonstrate that BCR stimulation protected naive B cells from apoptosis with induction of prosurvival Bcl-2 family proteins, Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1, whereas it rather accelerated apoptosis of IgM(+) memory B cells by inducing proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 67-year-old female visited our department complaining a general fatigue. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a giant ulcer at distal portion of the stomach. NSE was the only tumor marker showing an abnormal value.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this retrospective study with limited cone-beam computed tomography (limited CBCT), we investigated the anatomic characteristics of the accessory mental foramina and accessory branches of the mandibular canal. The CBCT records of approximately 150 patients were evaluated, and 17 accessory mental foramina were found in 16 patients. The anatomic peculiarities of the mandibular canal that might be relevant to endodontic treatment were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element and it is abundant in connective tissues, however biological roles of Zn and its transporters in those tissues and cells remain unknown.
Methodology/principal Findings: Here we report that mice deficient in Zn transporter Slc39a13/Zip13 show changes in bone, teeth and connective tissue reminiscent of the clinical spectrum of human Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The Slc39a13 knockout (Slc39a13-KO) mice show defects in the maturation of osteoblasts, chondrocytes, odontoblasts, and fibroblasts.
There is limited experience with patient-reported measurements of health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in survivors of cancer in childhood in low-income countries. The purposes of this study were to collect such measurements in Brazil, to test hypotheses about differences among diagnostic groups, and to compare results with those from other countries. Survivors were eligible if diagnosed with cancer in childhood, attending a long-term follow-up clinic, cancer free, literate, and at least 13 years of age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDentomaxillofac Radiol
September 2008
Objectives: This study aims to confirm the radiographic morphology of mandibular condyles with microscopic observation and to investigate the mechanism of osseous changes of adult human mandibular condyles.
Methods: Following the radiographic examinations of ten temporomandibular joints (TMJs) from five cadavers using conventional tomography, helical CT and limited cone beam CT for dentistry (limited CBCT), ten mandibular condyles were removed. Micro CT images were made of the undecalcified dissected joints in the sagittal plane, perpendicular to the long axis of the condyles, to produce images similar in orientation to the radiographic images.
Approximately 5% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) lack characteristic anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Yet clinically AMA+ and AMA- patients are similar. Using both AMA+ and AMA- patients, we quantitated the frequency of autoreactive T cells that respond to the major CD4 T-cell epitope, PDC-E2 163-176, using limiting dilution assays and quantitation of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and IL-4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpidemiological data suggest a relationship between maternal infection and a high incidence of schizophrenia in offspring. An animal model based on this hypothesis was made by injecting double-stranded RNA, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-I:C), into early pregnant mice, and their offspring were examined for biochemical and histological abnormalities. Mouse brains were examined with special reference to oligodendrocytes, which have been implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders.
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