Factors Involved in the Degeneration of Lymphoid Tissue in the Appendix.

Introduction: Studies evaluating the age-related alteration of human appendix have been reported. Although the appendix shows a degeneration of lymphoid tissues with aging, the mechanism of action remains unclear.

Material And Methods: Surgically resected appendix tissues from patients with colon cancer, intestinal malrotation and ulcerative colitis (UC) were utilized for histological and flow cytometric analysis.

Genetically engineered mouse models for studying inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition that is mediated by very complex mechanisms controlled by genetic, immune, and environmental factors. More than 74 kinds of genetically engineered mouse strains have been established since 1993 for studying IBD. Although mouse models cannot fully reflect human IBD, they have provided significant contributions for not only understanding the mechanism, but also developing new therapeutic means for IBD.

Prediction of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion in patients with febrile status epilepticus.

Introduction: Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is the most common subtype of acute encephalopathy among children in Japan. The pathogenesis of AESD is mostly delayed cerebral edema caused by excitotoxic injury. It is difficult to discriminate AESD and complex febrile seizure in the early phase.