[Autopsy case of primary amyloidosis developing refractory ascites and undergoing rapid deterioration].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Fujiyama.
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A 21-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed acute lupus peritonitis is described. Acute lupus peritonitis appeared during generalized lupus flare, with nausea, vomiting, frequent diarrhea, and abdominal tenderness with rebound and guarding. The patient was afebrile and had decreased bowel sounds. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed marked thickening of the gastric, duodenal, and jejunal walls, massive intraluminal fluid collection, and increasing ascites. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed edematous mucosa with multiple erosions of the stomach and duodenum. The ascitic fluid was remarkable for low complement levels and elevated anti-DNA antibody. These manifestations of acute lupus peritonitis resolved after steroid pulse therapy with methylprednisolone. We should consider acute lupus peritonitis in a patient with SLE when abdominal symptoms are severe. Experience with our patient indicates that steroid pulse therapy is effective for this rare but severe manifestation of SLE.
To define the role of glicentin the active site of enteroglucagon, we evaluated the trophic effects of recombinant rat glicentin on rat small intestine and IEC-6 cells. In vivo, a significant increase was observed in jejunal wet weight, protein content, DNA content, and alkaline phosphatase activity after the subcutaneous administration of 100 micrograms/kg per day of glicentin for 2 weeks. In the ileum, however, there were no significant differences between the control versus glicentin groups in any of these parameters. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity 3.5 h after an intraperitoneal injection of glicentin was increased in the jejunal mucosa, but not in the ileal mucosa. In vitro, glicentin, at a dose of more than 100 ng/ml, significantly increased both tritium-thymidine incorporation and the number of IEC-6 cells. These findings indicate that glicentin exerts direct trophic effects on the rat small-intestinal mucosa and on the rat small-intestinal cell line, IEC-6, and that this peptide appears to be an active site of enteroglucagon.
We recently found that complement C3 is locally synthesized and secreted into the exocrine pancreas. In the present study, we attempted to demonstrate the secretion of complement C4 and factor B in the exocrine pancreas. In five samples of pancreatic fluid, both C4 and factor B proteins were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoblot analysis revealed the C4 and factor B molecules in pancreatic fluid to be identical with these molecules in serum. Reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines suggested ductal epithelial cells to be the local production sites of these proteins in the pancreas. The secretion of C4 and factor B in ductal cell lines (PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2) was independently regulated by interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma; C4 secretion was induced by IFN-gamma, whereas factor B secretion was induced by IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, or IFN-gamma. These observations indicate that: (a) complement C4 and factor B are secreted into the exocrine pancreas, (b) ductal epithelial cells appear to be the site of C4 and factor B biosynthesis, and (c) local secretion of C4 and factor B in the pancreas is differentially regulated by IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma.
We investigated the effect of enteral glutamine on intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation after whole abdominal radiation in rats. Rats irradiated with 10 Gy to the abdomen were randomly divided into a glutamine-free diet group and a glutamine-rich diet (2% glutamine) group. After 3 days of feeding of each diet, the 6-h urinary recovery of polyethylene glycol 4000 was significantly decreased in the glutamine-rich diet group compared to that in the glutamine-free diet group. The 6-h urinary recovery of phenolsulfonphthalein was also decreased in the glutamine-rich diet group, but the difference was not significant. Plasma endotoxin concentration was significantly lower in the glutamine-rich diet group. Twenty-four hour after gavage with 14C-labeled Escherichia coli, the detection rate of 14C-labeled bacteria in the mesenteric lymph nodes of rats was significantly lower in the glutamine-rich diet group. The adherence of 14C-labeled E. coli in the jejunal mucosa was significantly lower in the glutamine-rich diet group than in the glutamine-free diet group, but there were no significant differences in the ileal mucosa. These findings suggest that in rats with intestinal injury induced by irradiation, enteral glutamine maintains the intestinal barrier and reduces bacterial translocation.
We performed molecular analysis of complement components (C3, C4, and factor B) in human bile by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyarylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting. Complement C3 was detected as a molecule composed of a 115-kDa alpha-chain linked to a 70-kDa beta-chain by disulfide bonds, and C3 levels ranged from 45 to 650 micrograms/ml (n = 15). C4 was detected as a triple chain (98-kDa alpha-chain, 73-kDa beta-chain, and 33-kDa gamma-chain) molecule linked by disulfide bonds, and C4 levels ranged from 2.5 to 60 micrograms/ml. Factor B, a component of the alternative pathway, was also detected, as an intact form. Factor B levels ranged from 0.3 to 8.0 micrograms/ml. The sizes and subunit structures of complement components in human bile were compatible with those reported in human serum. The results of a hemolytic assay indicated that complement molecules in human bile were functionally active. These molecules may participate in local immune and inflammatory responses in the biliary tract.
A molecular analysis of complement components (C3, C4, and factor B) in human saliva was performed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Complement C3 was detected as a molecule composed of a 115-kDa alpha-chain linked to a 70-kDa beta chain by disulfide bonds, and C3 levels ranged from 0.52 to 15.0 micrograms/ml (n = 15). C4 was detected as a triple-chain molecule (98-kDa alpha chain, 73-kDa beta chain, and 33-kDa gamma chain) linked by disulfide bonds, and C4 levels ranged from 0.086 to 4.8 micrograms/ml. Factor B was detected as a 100-kDa single chain, and factor B levels ranged from 0.042 to 0.62/microgram/ml. The sizes and subunit structures of the complement components in human saliva were compatible with those reported in human serum. The results of a hemolytic assay indicated that the complement molecules in human saliva were functionally active. These complement components may participate in the local immune and inflammatory responses in the oral cavity.
Fibroblast-like cells in the periacinar region may play an important role in periacinar fibrosis. In the present study, we isolated and cultured periacinar fibroblast-like cells (PFCs) derived from human pancreatic acini and examined the characteristics of human PFCs morphologically and immunocytochemically. Immunocytochemical study of human PFCs showed that they were positively stained with antibodies against type I collagen/procollagen, type III collagen/procollagen, fibronectin, prolyl hydroxylase beta sub-unit, type IV collagen, laminin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and nonmuscle myosin. Electron microscopic study showed that human PFCs contained a number of microfilaments, forming dense bodies in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that human PFCs possess characteristics of myofibroblasts. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, a marker of the myofibroblast-like phenotype, was increased with time in culture and was enhanced by treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1. Collagen synthesis in human PFCs was stimulated by TGF-beta 1 and the proliferation of human PFCs was stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor. These findings suggest that PFCs from human pancreas seem to be involved in periacinar fibrosis.
MMP-9 (gelatinase B) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR), which are involved in cancer cell invasion and metastasis, are reported to be predominantly expressed by immune/inflammatory cells in human colorectal cancers. To investigate their significance in cancer progression, we morphometrically analyzed the tissue expression of MMP-9 and u-PAR among different stages of colorectal cancer. The numbers of MMP-9- and u-PAR-positive cells along the invasive margin were significantly smaller in cases with liver metastasis than in cases without liver metastasis, and were also smaller in cases with an infiltrating margin than in cases with an expanding margin. Both variables were larger in colon cancer cases with conspicuous lymphocytic infiltration. These results indicated that the degree of tissue expression of MMP-9 and u-PAR by host cells is inversely associated with liver metastasis and an infiltrating growth pattern in human colorectal cancers. Essentially the same results were obtained for the number of macrophages distributed along the invasive margin. We also found that the expression pattern of MMP-9 was similar to that of MMP-8 (polymorphonuclear leukocyte collagenase). These data are consistent with clinicopathologic studies of host cells. Therefore, our data suggest a dual role of MMP-9 and u-PAR expression in colon cancer tissue; i.e., not only are these proteinases cancer-promoting factors, but also they are related to the host defensive mechanism when they are expressed by host cells.
The increased expression of decay-accelerating factor (DAF) has been detected in intestinal epithelial cells at the inflamed mucosa. In this study, we examined the effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on DAF expression in three intestinal epithelial cell lines. DAF mRNA expression was evaluated by Northern blot analysis, and DAF protein expression was analysed by biotin labelling and immunoprecipitation. TNF-alpha induced a marked increase in DAF mRNA and protein expression in HT-29, T84 and Caco-2 cells. In HT-29 cells, the effects of TNF-a on DAF mRNA accumulation were observed in a dose-dependent manner; DAF mRNA accumulation reached a maximum at 3-6 hr, and then gradually decreased. These effects of TNF-alpha required de novo protein synthesis. Messenger RNA stability studies suggested that TNF-alpha partially regulated DAF gene expression by a posttranscriptional mechanism. Moreover, the combination of TNF-alpha and interleukin (IL)-4 induced an additive increase in DAF mRNA accumulation in HT-29 and T84 cells. In human intestinal epithelial cells, TNF-alpha acts as a potent inducer of DAF mRNA expression, indicating an important role for TNF-alpha in the regulation of DAF expression at the inflamed mucosa.
The present study was performed to examine the effect of ageing on pancreatic hyperplasia observed after proximal small bowel resection (PSBR). Young and old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups, which underwent either an approximate 90% PSBR or a jejunal and ileal transection (TRC). One week after the operation, the pancreatic wet weight and the protein, DNA and RNA content of the pancreas were all significantly higher in young PSBR rats than in young TRC rats. However, no differences were seen in the old rat groups. Plasma enteroglucagon levels were elevated in both young and old PSBR rats, but the ratio of increase between the PSBR and TRC groups was significantly higher in young rats. Plasma cholecystokinin and gastrin levels did not increase after PSBR in either the young or old rats. These findings suggest that pancreatic hyperplasia observed after PSBR is attenuated by ageing, probably due to an insufficient increase in plasma enteroglucagon levels.
A 55-year-old man with myelofibrosis was treated with natural alpha-interferon with a good hematologic response. Initially, he had anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and hepatospleomegaly. A bone marrow biopsy showed replacement with fibrosis with an increase in megakaryocytes. Natural alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) was started at a dose of 3 x 10(6) units/day. The leukocyte and platelet counts gradually normalized, and the liver and spleen decreased in size. However, the patient complained of a dry cough and dyspnea on the 61st treatment day, when the accumulated dose of alpha-IFN treatment had reached 1.8 x 10(8) units. He subsequently developed acute respiratory failure (PaO2 < 60 mm Hg) with bilateral lung infiltrations, suggesting the occurrence of interstitial pneumonitis associated with alpha-interferon therapy. Immediately, the alpha-interferon was discontinued and high-dose methylprednisolone (1.5 g/day) was administered for 3 days. This treatment was followed by oral prednisone therapy. Steroid therapy brought about gradual improvement as suggested by a repeat radiograph. Since high levels of fibrogenic cytokines, such as PDGF and TGF-beta, have been reported in patients with myelofibrosis, it is necessary to pay attention to interstitial pneumonia as a complication in alpha-IFN therapy for myelofibrosis.
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The chemokines are members of a bipartite superfamily of soluble proteins that have been implicated in a wide range of acute and chronic inflammatory processes, as well as other immunoregulatory functions. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1alpha) belongs to the C-C subfamily of these chemokines and is primarily a potent chemoattractant and activator of monocytes. MIP-1alpha is also thought to play a role in host defence. We examined the expression of MIP-1-alpha in normal lung, inflammatory lung tissue and lung cancer cells by the immunoperoxidase method using a MIP-1alpha monoclonal antibody. MIP-1alpha protein was found to be expressed not only by alveolar macrophages, but also by bronchial ciliated cells, hyperplastic alveolar type II cells and activated fibroblasts surrounding malignant tissue. Of 33 cases of lung cancer, 23 (70%) expressed MIP-1alpha. These observations suggest that lung cancer cells, non-neoplastic alveolar type II cells and fibroblasts can participate in inflammatory cell recruitment via the production of MIP-1alpha. Tumour derived MIP-alpha may also affect the interaction between lung cancer and host inflammatory cells.
PURPOSE: Portal vein thrombosis is a rare complication of Crohn's disease, and its precise cause and appropriate treatment are not known. We describe a patient with extending portal vein thrombosis in Crohn's disease who was successfully treated with combined anticoagulant therapy. METHOD: Urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator were administered from a catheter inserted into the superior mesenteric artery, and heparin and a serine protease inhibitor also were given intravenously. RESULTS: On admission, thromboembolic occlusion was observed throughout the entire portal venous system in association with massive ascites and remarkable intestinal edema. After administration of combined anticoagulant therapy, thrombus rapidly decreased in size, and color Doppler ultrasonography showed a gradual increase in portal venous flow. The patient had no recurrence of symptoms while receiving warfarin after resolution of thrombus. CONCLUSION: This case report suggests that combined anticoagulant therapy is effective for patients with severe portal vein thrombosis in Crohn's disease and that color Doppler ultrasonography is useful for evaluation of portal venous flow.