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Biomedical subjects

E F Stange

Publications and source records attributed to E F Stange.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Minimal renal dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease is related to disease activity but not to 5-ASA use.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting data exist about proteinuria in inflammatory bowel diseases. It is still unclear whether the occurrence of proteinuria in inflammatory bowel disease patients is an extra-intestinal manifestation of disease or the result of adverse effects to medication, especially to aminosalicylates (ASA). METHODS: A total of 95 patients (51 with Crohn's disease and 44 with ulcerative colitis) were enrolled in the study. Disease activity was assessed by Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) or the Truelove index, respectively. Urine was collected over 24 h and protein excretion of specific marker proteins for tubular (alpha 1-microglobulin-alpha 1-MG) and glomerular (albumin-Alb, Immunoglobulin G-IgG) dysfunction was measured using a highly sensitive immunoluminometric assay. RESULTS: Out of 51 Crohn's disease patients, 20 showed elevated urinary alpha 1-MG. The amount of alpha 1-MGuria was strongly correlated to the CDAI (r=0.6, P < 0.001). Only four Crohn's disease patients showed slightly elevated values for glomerular proteins in urine. Similar results were obtained for ulcerative colitis: whereas only two ulcerative colitis patients showed albuminuria, tubular proteinuria was detected in 28 out of 44 ulcerative colitis patients. Proteinuria was strongly dependent on disease activity (P < 0.01) but was not related to ASA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria of tubular marker proteins occurs in the majority of inflammatory bowel disease patients and is related to disease activity rather than to ASA treatment. Tubular proteinuria seems to reflect a renal extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease and may serve as a new relevant marker of disease activity.

Adolescent↗

Biliary cholesterol hypersecretion in gallstone-susceptible mice is associated with hepatic up-regulation of the high-density lipoprotein receptor SRBI.

Enhanced hepatocellular trafficking of cholesterol to the bile canaliculus and cholesterol hypersecretion appears critical for gallstone formation. Therefore, we studied in more detail the hepatic cholesterol transport pathways in a mouse model of cholesterol gallstone disease. Biliary lipid secretion rates, plasma lipoprotein levels, hepatic expression of lipoprotein receptors, lipid regulatory enzymes, and putative cholesterol transporting proteins were analyzed in gallstone-susceptible C57L/J and gallstone-resistant AKR/J mice, which were fed a lithogenic diet. Biliary cholesterol hypersecretion in C57L mice was associated with decreased plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and significant hepatic induction of the HDL receptor (SRBI) and cholesteryl ester hydrolase. In response to the lithogenic diet, fatty-acid binding protein of liver (FABPL) was markedly induced in both mouse strains. Caveolin 1 was elevated only in plasma membranes of gallstone-susceptible C57L mice, which also failed to down-regulate cholesterol synthesis. These data suggest a role of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway for genetically determined gallstone susceptibility in the mouse.

Animals↗

Indirect evidence that intestinal bile salt absorption in rats and hamsters is under positive feedback control.

Bile salts are reabsorbed from the intestine by active and passive transport mechanisms with great efficacy. Conflicting data do not allow to judge for certainty whether bile salt absorption is under negative or positive feedback control. To address this issue, we analyzed bile salt absorption in vivo along the entire intestinal tract of rats and hamsters that received intraduodenal bile salt infusions for 54 h following interruption of the enterohepatic circulation. Taurocholate absorption in rats was complete, even when unphysiologically high concentrations of taurocholate were given. The combined infusion of taurocholate together with potent inhibitors of bile salt synthesis such as deoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate or taurochenodeoxycholate, failed to inhibit bile salt absorption. In the hamster, taurochenodeoxycholate and taurocholate absorption was complete and could not be inhibited when given in supraphysiological concentrations. Finally, taurocholate absorption was not impaired when deoxycholic acid was infused. These results provide indirect evidence that bile salt absorption is under positive feedback control regulated by luminal bile salt concentrations.

Animals↗

Defensins -- innate immunity at the epithelial frontier.

Physical barrier function was formerly believed to play the major role in mucosal protection against luminal bacteria. This view has now been challenged by the discovery of specialized molecules that possess antimicrobial activity. More than 100 peptides have been identified so far, and the number is still growing. These peptides are distributed widely and conserved throughout phylogeny. The epithelial expression of antimicrobial peptides is of particular interest as many pathogens adhere to epithelial surfaces and may eventually invade the host. This rapidly acting defence system of innate immunity is already engaged before adoptive immune interactions take place. These antimicrobial peptides consist of constitutive and inducible forms, potentiating this barrier function in terms of an inflammatory response. One important subgroup of antimicrobial peptides is the family of defensins, which are classified as alpha (alpha-) and beta (beta-) defensins. Eight different peptides with varying antimicrobial properties have been identified. They are distributed widely in humans, and organ-specific expression patterns have been observed. Homologous peptides have been found in other mammals, vertebrates, invertebrates, insects and plants. The identification of alpha-defensins and their murine counterparts, cryptdins, in the small intestine prompted intensive research into epithelial antimicrobial defence.

Animals↗

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 causing end-stage renal disease in a 45-year-old patient.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is caused by deficiency of peroxisomal alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase which is in humans exclusively expressed in liver cells. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, and initial symptoms usually occur in early childhood. Up to the age of 25 years, 90% of the patients are symptomatic, and many patients develop end-stage renal failure. Pronounced medical care is necessary in PH1 patients to prevent generalized oxalosis with complications due to bone disease and peripheral gangrene. The rather short survival of patients on hemodialysis is caused by sudden arrhythmias and heart block. As no dialysis procedure is able to remove the daily produced oxalate, early transplantation is mandatory. Our 45-year-old patient is remarkable on the basis of the late manifestations of PH1. The diagnosis was delayed by unspecific symptoms of nephrolithiasis with recurrent pyelonephritis. Clinical course and diagnostic cornerstones of primary hyperoxaluria are outlined. The principles of conservative treatment and experiences with dialysis and transplantation are discussed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Limited heat-shock protein 72 induction in Caco-2 cells by L-glutamine.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: L-glutamine (L-gln) is a conditionally essential amino acid which is consumed by certain tissues like the intestine in large amounts as energy source during critical illness. Apart from nutritive action, recent data suggest a link to heat-shock protein (hsp) induction. We investigated the effect of L-gln on hsp72 expression in the intestinal cell line Caco-2 under basal and heat-shock conditions and compared it with related amino acids. METHODS: Total cellular protein was extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE. Immunoblots were performed with anti-hsp72 followed by chemiluminescence detection and densitometric scanning. RESULTS: Following heat shock, hsp72 protein expression increased by 72 and 53% at 2 and 4 mmol/l L-gln, respectively, compared to heat shock alone (p < 0.05). Under basal conditions a limited increase occurred only at 8 mmol/l L-gln (p < 0.01). Levels remained unaffected when related amino acids including alanine, glutamate or glycine were supplemented under basal and heat-shock conditions. Similarly, the nonmetabolizable glutamine analogue DON or the toxic metabolite L-pyroglutamate did not induce hsp72. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the glutamine-mediated effect may be specifically attributed to the metabolic action of L-gln.

Alanine↗

[Azathioprine in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Evidence base].

AIM: An overview on the evidence-based indications for an immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases is given. CROHN'S DISEASE: In Crohn's disease, these are the induction of remission in chronic active Crohn's disease, steroid-dependent Crohn's disease, fistulizing Crohn's disease and the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. The optimal dose is 2.5 mg/kg body weight, treatment should be maintained for at least 4 years. ULCERATIVE COLITIS: In ulcerative colitis, these are steroid dependency, the maintenance of remission in chronic active ulcerative colitis and the maintenance of remission after induction of remission with cyclosporin or tacrolimus in acute attacks of disease.

Azathioprine↗

48-hour hemodynamic effects of octreotide on postprandial splanchnic hyperemia in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension: double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Octreotide is effective during 48 h in the treatment of acute variceal bleeding, probably by reducing variceal blood flow and pressure. Its basal and postprandial effects on splanchnic and systemic hemodynamics, and hormonal changes over this time interval have not yet been studied. Twenty-four patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension were randomized to receive a liquid meal and either octreotide (Oct, 100 microg bolus intravenous, followed after 2 h by a continuous infusion of 25 microg/hr for 20 hr) or placebo (Plac) given at three consecutive days. Splanchnic (Doppler ultrasound) and systemic hemodynamics (noninvasive cardiac monitoring) were assessed on four consecutive days (one control day and three treatment days) during 2 hr. The postprandial increase in mean blood velocity of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA-V(mean) +44%), portal blood velocity (PV-V(mean), +44%) and total hepatic blood flow (HBF, +40%) observed in the placebo group during the control day was abolished during the first day of treatment (SMA-V(mean), +3%, P < 0.01; PV-V(mean), +6%, P < 0.05; HBF, -25%, P < 0.01) and still reduced after 48 hr in the octreotide group (SMA-V(mean) +28%, P < 0.05; PV-V(mean), +22%, P > 0.05; HBF, -8%, P < 0.05). The postprandial increase in cardiac index (CI, + 10%) and decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI, -6%) were blunted after the initial injection of octreotide only (CI, -8%, P < 0.05; SVRI, +18%, P < 0.01). Endothelin-1-levels, which were increased at baseline (Plac 25 +/- 17, Oct 16 +/- 13 ng/liter, P > 0.05) decreased significantly after 48 hr of treatment with octreotide (Plac 27 +/- 20, Oct 8 +/- 4 ng/liter, P < 0.05). Octreotide is effective during 48 hr in the prevention of postprandial hyperemia in cirrhotics, even if its efficacy is decreasing over time. Moreover it may have positive effects on systemic vasodilation in cirrhotics. These findings suggest a potential role of this drug in the chronic treatment of portal hypertension.

Aged↗

Mycophenolate mofetil: lack of efficacy in chronic active inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressant with pharmacodynamic properties comparable to azathioprine. Recent reports found MMF to be effective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: An open-label prospective and uncontrolled multicentre 6 month trial of MMF in combination with steroids was conducted in 24 chronic active IBD patients. A daily steroid demand of >/= 10 mg prednisone in the preceding 2 months and a Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) > 150, or moderate to severe activity according to Truelove, served as criteria for chronic activity. The treatment consisted of a steroid pulse and tapering protocol in combination with MMF 2 g/day. A prednisone dose of 5 mg/day was maintained during months 4-6. The primary end-point was induction and maintenance of remission. RESULTS: Only 10 of 24 patients had achieved remission after 3 months. All but one Crohn's disease patient had relapsed by the end of the study at 6 months. Depression and migraine necessitated drug withdrawal in two patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, MMF 2 g/day was unable to induce and maintain remission for a period of 6 months in 23 of 24 chronic active IBD patients. Further controlled investigations are required in view of recent conflicting reports.

Adult↗

Synergistic sedation with low-dose midazolam and propofol for colonoscopies.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Patients undergoing colonoscopy are often sedated with benzodiazepines and long-acting opiates. Since low-dose midazolam also acts synergistically with short-acting propofol, we compared this synergistic sedation with a standard combination of midazolam and the opioid nalbuphine for colonoscopies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 79 patients presenting for colonoscopies were randomly assigned to the following protocols. Patients in group I (n = 32) received a median dose of 9 mg midazolam (interquartile range [IQR] 6 to 12); 20 patients (59%) needed additional nalbuphine (median 20 mg, IQR 10 to 20). Patients in group II (n = 47) received 2 mg midazolam and repeated injections of propofol (median 100 mg, IQR 53 to 145) with a maximal bolus of 50 mg. RESULTS: Patients treated with the synergistic sedation (group II) recovered remarkably sooner after the procedure compared with those in group I, with a median time to discharge of 17 minutes vs. 93 minutes (P<0.001). Of the patients treated with analgosedation (group I), 28 % were unable to take part in a reaction time measurement and attention awareness test 1 hour after the procedure. All patients treated with the synergistic sedation were able to participate (P=0.002), and performed better. Despite a lower proportion of complete amnesia, patients treated with synergistic sedation more often rated the procedure as comfortable (81% vs. 50 %). Quality of sedation from the point of view of the endoscopist, and cardiorespiratory parameters, were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose midazolam combined with propofol is an effective and economic alternative to benzodiazepine-based analgosedation. It is associated with a high degree of patient comfort and rapid recovery times, and has a potential cost benefit concerning nursing care and bed facilities.

Adult↗

Treatment of infected pancreatic pseudocysts by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided cystogastrostomy.

It has been appreciated for a long time that surgery is the treatment of choice for symptomatic, and especially infected, pancreatic pseudocysts. This paradigm is now being challenged by endoscopic cystoenterostomy and cystogastrostomy, which have both been employed with success in selected patients. We present three cases in which infected pancreatic pseudocysts resolved following endoscopic cystogastrostomy guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).

Adult↗

Intracellular transport of high-density lipoprotein 3 in intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) is tubulin associated.

BACKGROUND: A retroendocytotic pathway for high-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL(3)) in cultured intestinal epithelial cell lines has been described. In small intestinal crypt cells and Caco-2, HDL(3) is internalized, transported to lipid droplets and, after solubilization of these lipid droplets, resecreted. In the present study we examined the mechanisms of intracellular transport of HDL(3) in the Caco-2 cell line. METHODS: Apolipoprotein E free HDL(3 )was gold-labeled for transmission electron microscopy and 1, 1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine iodide [DiI(3)] labeled for fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. For tubulin desintegration Caco-2 cells were incubated with taxol, colchicine and beta- and gamma-lumicolchicine. Tubulin staining was performed using a FITC labeled antibody. Uptake of HDL(3) was quantified by FACS analysis. RESULTS: HDL(3) was rapidly internalized and found to be in contact with lipid droplets in the perinuclear region after 10 min. By transmission electron microscopy a frequent colocalization of HDL(3)-containing vesicles and tubular structures was demonstrated. The close association of HDL(3)-containing vesicles with fluorescence stained tubulin could be confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Preincubation of the cells with taxol and colchicine did not completely prevent internalization but reduced it during a 2-hour incubation period to less than 50% of the control cells. The transport of DiI(3)-labeled HDL(3) to the lipid droplets in the perinuclear region was almost completely blocked by taxol and colchicine. CONCLUSION: Internalization and intracellular transport of HDL(3) in intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) is dependent on a tubulin-mediated mechanism.

Biological Transport↗