HLA-DQB1 locus and the development of atrophic gastritis with Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori is known to be involved in digestive diseases such as peptic ulcer, atrophic gastritis, and gastric cancer. It is supposed that the incidence of these digestive diseases associated with H. pylori is influenced by the strain diversity of H. pylori, factors involving the host or environment, and the duration of infection. In this study, we directed our attention to HLA, a host factor, and investigated the relation between HLA-DQB1 genotype of H. pylori-infected patients and the development of atrophic gastritis. HLA-DQB1 genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method on 122 H. pylori-infected patients with atrophic gastritis and 28 uninfected Japanese controls. Infected patients with developed atrophic gastritis were classified as the open type and those with undeveloped atrophic gastritis as the closed type. To estimate the grade of atrophic gastritis reliably, histological and serological evaluations were also undertaken. The allele frequency of DQB1*0401 was significantly higher in the open-type group compared to either the closed-type or the uninfected group. These results suggest that immunogenic factors play an important role in the development of atrophic gastritis in H. pylori-infected patients, and that DQB1*0401 is a useful marker for determining susceptibility to this disease.

Sufficient effect of 1-week omeprazole and amoxicillin dual treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication in cytochrome P450 2C19 poor metabolizers

Omeprazole is widely used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. It is metabolized by cytochrome P450 2C19 enzyme (CYP2C19) in the liver. Because this enzyme exhibits a genetic polymorphism, patients with low metabolic activity (poor metabolizers) may be exposed to higher concentrations of this drug than are patients who are extensive metabolizers. Eighty-six patients with cultured H. pylori-positive gastritis or peptic ulcers who completed the treatment and assessment of anti-H. pylori therapy were analyzed for CYP2C19 genotyping using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method [the wild-type or two mutant genes (ml in exon 5 and m2 in exon 4), or both]. Patients were classified into three groups according to the H. pylori eradication regimen: group I (n = 21; omeprazole 40mg/ day and amoxicillin 2000mg/day for 1 week); group II (n = 21; group I regimen plus sucralfate 4000mg/day, for 1 week); group III (n = 44; group I regimen plus clarithromycin 800mg/day, for 1 week). The combination of two mutant alleles (ml/ml, ml/m2, m2/m2-poor metabolizers) was observed in 13 of 86 patients (15%), and all poor metabolizer patients achieved H. pylori eradication regardless of their treatment regimens. In addition, the eradication rates of the poor metabolizers were significantly higher than those of other genotypes who carry homozygous or heterozygous normal allele (extensive metabolizers) in group I or groups I and II combined. CYP2C19 genotyping can provide a new strategy to choose an optimal regimen, and this genotyping is especially useful for Japanese, as the frequency of poor metabolizers is five times greater than that found among Caucasians.

Prevalence of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism in Japan

A nationwide epidemiologic survey of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism was conducted in 1998 to clarify the prevalence of the two disorders in Japan. From a total of 14,100 departments of pediatrics, internal medicine, neurology, and endocrinology in whole Japan, 2952 (20.9%) study departments were selected at random. Of these departments receiving the first questionnaire, 1855 (62.8%) responded. From these departments 390 patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and 203 with pseudohypoparathyroidism who visited the hospitals in 1997 were reported. The total numbers of patients were estimated to be 900 (690-1100) for idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and 430 (330-520) for pseudohypoparathyroidism (95% confidence intervals in parentheses). Using these data, the period prevalence of the diseases were 7.2 (5.5-8.8) per million population in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, and 3.4 (2.6-4.2) in pseudohypoparathyroidism (95% confidence intervals in parentheses).

A novel epidermal growth factor-like molecule containing two follistatin modules stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of erbB-4 in MKN28 gastric cancer cells

We have isolated a gene from stomach fibroblasts encoding novel proteins containing two follistatin modules which might bind TGF-beta-related growth factors and a single epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain which is closely related to EGF/Neuregulin (NRG) family growth factors. Sequence analysis revealed novel cDNA clones, the protein products of which were designated tomoregulin (TR) and consisted of at least three isoforms which were distinguished by their cytoplasmic domains. The cytoplasmic domains in all isoforms were short and contained potential G-protein activating motifs. Precursors of TR (Pro-TR) are glycosylated transmembrane proteins. Two secreted soluble forms resulting from proteolytic cleavage were distinguished by the presence or absence of the EGF-like domain. The EGF-like domain of TR was highly conserved compared to EGF/NRG family growth factors with the exception of an arginine to histidine substitution at position 39 (Arg --> His 39). Soluble TR stimulated erbB-4 tyrosine phosphorylation in MKN 28 gastric cancer cells, although it was weak compared to neuregulin-induced erbB-4 tyrosine phosphorylation; this suggests that TR might be a ligand for erbB-4- or erbB-4-related receptor tyrosine kinase. TR may have important roles in normal development of middle to late stages of embryos and maintenance of adult central nervous system tissues as high expression of TR mRNAs was observed in these tissues. The modular features suggest multiple roles for TR; these include functioning as a ligand for erbB- receptor, a regulator of TGF-beta-related growth factor signaling by direct interaction through the follistatin modules, and a G-protein-coupled receptor.

Mouse pancreatic polypeptide modulates food intake, while not influencing anxiety in mice

This study was designed to investigate the effects of synthetic mouse pancreatic polypeptide (mPP) on feeding and anxiety in mice. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of mPP (0.003-3 nmol) dose-dependently increased food intake. A significant increase was observed 20 min after i.c.v. injection and continued for 4 h. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of mPP (0.03-30 nmol) dose-dependently decreased food intake. A significant decrease was observed 20 min after i.p. injection and continued for 4 h. In the elevated plus maze test, the i.c.v. injection of mPP (0.003-3 nmol) did not affect anxiety behavior. These results suggest that mPP modulates food intake and the Y4 receptor in the brain may contribute to the regulation of feeding, whereas appearing not to influence anxiety in mice.

A case of acute pancreatitis complicating Salmonella enteritis

We report a case of acute pancreatitis complicating Salmonella enteritis. A 43-yr-old woman who was admitted to our department because of Salmonella enteritis developed clinical acute pancreatitis with laboratory and radiographic signs on the fourth hospital day. She was free from symptoms on the eighth hospital day, but her elevated serum amylase and lipase levels persisted for more than 2 m.o. In this case, clinical acute pancreatitis was a complication of bacterial enteritis caused by Salmonella enteritidis, and it was characterized by onset a few days after the onset of enteritis and by sustained elevation of serum pancreatic enzyme levels.

Interaction of docetaxel ("Taxotere") with human P-glycoprotein

The interaction of docetaxel ("Taxotere") with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was examined using porcine kidney epithelial LLC-PK1 and LLC-GA5-COL150 cells, overexpressing human P-gp selectively on the apical plasma membrane by transfection of human MDR1 cDNA into the LLC-PK1 cells. The basal-to-apical transport of [14C]docetaxel in LLC-GA5-COL150 cells significantly exceeded that in LLC-PK1 cells, but the apical-to-basal transport was decreased in LLC-GA5-COL150 cells. The intracellular accumulation after its basal or apical application to LLC-GA5-COL150 cells was 4- to 20-fold lower than that of LLC-PK1 cells. Multidrug resistance (MDR) modulators, i.e., cyclosporin A and SDZ PSC 833, inhibited the basal-to-apical transport and increased the apical-to-basal transport of [14C]docetaxel in LLC-GA5-COL150 cells, but verapamil affected only apical-to-basal transport. The intracellular accumulation after basal or apical application to LLC-GA5-COL150 cells was also increased by these three MDR modulators. These observations demonstrated that docetaxel is a substrate for human P-gp, suggesting that docetaxel-drug interactions occur via P-gp. The inhibition of [14C]docetaxel transport by the MDR modulators, as well as daunorubicin and vinblastine, was also found in LLC-PK1 cells, which endogenously express P-gp at lower levels, and concentrations showing similar levels of inhibition were lower than those in the case of LLC-GA5-COL150 cells. These observations indicate that it is necessary to consider the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of docetaxel via P-gp.

Decreased food intake and body weight in pancreatic polypeptide-overexpressing mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a 36-amino acid hormone produced by F cells within the pancreatic islets and the exocrine pancreas. The definitive function of PP in mammalian physiology remains to be determined. This study examined the effects of chronic overexpression of PP through the development of PP transgenic mice.

METHODS

PP transgenic mice were created by using mouse PP complementary DNA under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate early enhancer-chicken beta-actin hybrid promoter (pCAGGS expression vector).

RESULTS

A unique line of transgenic mice was created that overexpresses PP in the pancreatic islets with low levels of expression in other tissues including the brain. Plasma PP concentrations were more than 20 times higher than those of control littermates. However, PP overproduction led to postnatal lethality in half of the pups because of markedly decreased milk intake. The remaining PP transgenic mice gained less weight with specifically reduced food intake and fat mass compared with controls, a result that was more evident in male than in female mice. The transgenic mice exhibited a reduced rate of gastric emptying of a solid meal but had normal oxygen consumption and fasting leptin levels. Immunoneutralization with anti-PP antiserum reversed the phenotypic changes of transgenic animals.

CONCLUSIONS

PP could be involved in feeding and body weight regulation partly through regulation of gastric emptying.

Expression of heregulin alpha, erbB2, and erbB3 and their influences on proliferation of gastric epithelial cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Heregulins (HRGs) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of various cell types. However, very little is known about their function in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HRGs on gastrointestinal cells.

METHODS

We examined the expression of erbB receptors and HRG-alpha in human gastric cancer cell lines, rat gastrointestinal epithelial cells, and human gastric fibroblasts by Western blot analysis or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Receptor phosphorylation and heterodimerization induced by HRG-alpha were detected by Western blot analysis. We also evaluated the in vitro effects of HRG-alpha on cell proliferation and restitution.

RESULTS

Cancer cell lines and rat epithelial cells expressed erbB2 and erbB3, but protein expression of erbB4 was not detected. HRG-alpha was detected only in gastric fibroblasts. HRG-alpha activated tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erbB2, and erbB3 and induced not only erbB3/erbB2 but also erbB3/EGFR and erbB2/EGFR heterodimer formation in MKN-28 cancer cells. Simultaneous cultivation of MKN-28 cells with gastric fibroblasts resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of erbB3 in MKN-28 cells. HRG-alpha also stimulated proliferation of MKN-28 cells and gastric epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that HRG-alpha may affect epithelial cell proliferation through mesenchymal-epithelial interaction in the gastric mucosa.

CYP2C19 genotype-related efficacy of omeprazole for the treatment of infection caused by Helicobacter pylori

OBJECTIVES

Omeprazole is used for the treatment of infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, and it is metabolized by the polymorphic cytochrome P4502C19 (CYP2C19). We have found that the anti-H pylori efficacy by the combination of omeprazole and antibiotics is related to the CYP2C19 genotype.

METHODS

One hundred eight patients with cultured H pylori-positive gastritis or peptic ulcer were treated with three regimens: quadruple treatment without proton pump inhibitors (n = 25), dual treatment with omeprazole and amoxicillin (INN, amoxicilline) (n = 26), and triple treatment with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (n = 57). The CYP2C19 genotype was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and the assessment of the eradication of H pylori was based on all negative examinations, including culture, histology, and 13C-urea breath test.

RESULTS

The eradication rates for the extensive metabolizers were 50% and 86% for the dual and triple treatments, respectively. In contrast, all of the poor metabolizers treated with omeprazole and antibiotics (n = 15) showed an eradication of H pylori.

CONCLUSION

The anti-H pylori effect of dual treatment is highly efficient for CYP2C19 poor metabolizers, which suggests that clarithromycin is not necessary as a first line of therapy for this type of patients. Genotyping can provide a choice for the optimal regimen based on individual CYP2C19 genotype.

Inhibition of adipogenesis by a COOH-terminally truncated mutant of PPARgamma2 in 3T3-L1 cells

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor that is thought to be an important regulator of adipocyte differentiation. This ligand-dependent transcription factor is also activated by thiazolidinediones, a new class of synthetic antidiabetic drugs, resulting in a marked adipogenic response in cultured cells and enhanced insulin sensitivity in vivo. The importance of the COOH-terminal region of PPARgamma2 in thiazolidinedione-induced adipogenesis has now been investigated by expression of a mutant protein (PPARgamma2-DeltaC) that lacks the COOH-terminal 16 amino acids of full-length PPARgamma2. The mutant protein failed to bind a thiazolidinedione ligand, but its ability to bind the peroxisome proliferator response element was similar to that of the wild-type protein. Expression of PPARgamma2-DeltaC inhibited the thiazolidinedione-induced increase in trans-activation activity of endogenous PPARgamma in CV-1 cells. Furthermore, the mutant protein prevented thiazolidinedione-induced adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, whereas expression of recombinant wild-type PPARgamma2 promoted adipogenesis. These data show not only that the COOH-terminal region of PPARgamma2 is indispensable for thiazolidinedione-induced adipogenesis mediated by this protein in 3T3-L1 cells, but also that the PPARgamma2-DeltaC mutant acts in a dominant negative manner by interfering with the access of endogenous PPARgamma to the peroxisome proliferator response element of target genes.

Regulation of nuclear translocation of forkhead transcription factor AFX by protein kinase B

The regulation of intracellular localization of AFX, a human Forkhead transcription factor, was studied. AFX was recovered as a phosphoprotein from transfected COS-7 cells growing in the presence of FBS, and the phosphorylation was eliminated by wortmannin, a potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. AFX was phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase B (PKB), a downstream target of PI 3-kinase, but a mutant protein in which three putative phosphorylation sites of PKB had been replaced by Ala was not recognized by PKB. In Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) cultured with serum, the AFX protein fused with green fluorescence protein (AFX-GFP) is localized mainly in the cytoplasm, and wortmannin induced transient nuclear translocation of the fusion protein. The AFX-GFP mutant in which all three phosphorylation sites had been replaced by Ala was detected exclusively in the cell nucleus. AFX-GFP was in the nucleus when the cells were infected with an adenovirus vector encoding a dominant-negative form of either PI 3-kinase or PKB, whereas the fusion protein stayed in the cytoplasm when the cells expressed constitutively active PKB. In CHO-K1 cells expressing AFX-GFP, DNA fragmentation was induced by the stable PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, and the expression of the active form of PKB suppressed this DNA fragmentation. The phosphorylation site mutant of AFX-GFP enhanced DNA fragmentation irrespective of the presence and absence of PI 3-kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that the nuclear translocation of AFX is negatively regulated through its phosphorylation by PKB.

Low phagocytic activity of resident peritoneal macrophages in diabetic mice: relevance to the formation of advanced glycation end products

Formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is accelerated in diabetic subjects along with hyperglycemia. Although several lines of evidence indicate that AGEs stimulate macrophages to secrete several cytokines and growth factors, little is known about the effect of AGEs on the primary function of macrophages, such as phagocytosis. On the other hand, impairment of the phagocytic function of monocytes/macrophages is suggested to contribute to the low resistance to infection in diabetic subjects. In the present study, we examined the effect of AGEs on the phagocytic function of macrophages. Using flow cytometric analysis of mouse resident peritoneal macrophages, we showed that AGEs suppress phagocytosis of fluorescent microspheres by cultured macrophages. In addition, experiments using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice demonstrated a significant decrease in the phagocytic activity of resident peritoneal macrophages 12 weeks after induction of diabetes compared with age-matched control mice. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages correlated inversely with AGE content in the adjacent peritoneal tissue. Furthermore, reduced phagocytic activity of macrophages was associated with a reduction in intracellular ATP content. Because phagocytosis is an important component of the defense system, suppression of such activity by AGEs may explain, at least in part, the increased susceptibility of diabetic patients to infection.

Insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B by the serine-threonine kinase Akt

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) is an important regulator of the cellular concentrations of the second messengers cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cGMP. Insulin activates the 3B isoform of PDE in adipocytes in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent manner; however, downstream effectors that mediate signaling to PDE3B remain unknown. Insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of endogenous or recombinant PDE3B in 3T3-L1 adipocytes have now been shown to be inhibited by a dominant-negative mutant of the serine-threonine kinase Akt, suggesting that Akt is necessary for insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of PDE3B. Serine-273 of mouse PDE3B is located within a motif (RXRXXS) that is preferentially phosphorylated by Akt. A mutant PDE3B in which serine-273 was replaced by alanine was not phosphorylated either in response to insulin in intact cells or by purified Akt in vitro. In contrast, PDE3B mutants in which alanine was substituted for either serine-296 or serine-421, each of which lies within a sequence (RRXS) preferentially phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, were phosphorylated by Akt in vitro or in response to insulin in intact cells. Moreover, the serine-273 mutant of PDE3B was not activated by insulin when expressed in adipocytes. These results suggest that PDE3B is a physiological substrate of Akt and that Akt-mediated phosphorylation of PDE3B on serine-273 is important for insulin-induced activation of PDE3B.

Intracerebroventricularly administered corticotropin-releasing factor inhibits food intake and produces anxiety-like behaviour at very low doses in mice

AIM

Previous studies have demonstrated that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) produces behavioural, physiological and immunological responses similar to those induced by stress. However, these findings have been validated largely in laboratory rats.

METHODS

We examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of CRF on anxiety and food intake in mice. Using the elevated-plus maze, we measured anxiety levels after i.c.v. CRF in mice. We also measured food intake for 2 h after i.c.v. CRF.

RESULTS

CRF increased the normal preference for the closed arms of the maze at a very low dose of 3 pmol, indicating an anxiogenic effect. CRF powerfully suppressed food intake at the doses of 3-300 pmol for over 2 h.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that i.c.v. CRF evokes anxiogenic behaviour and suppresses feeding with the same dose-response relationships in mice. CRF may thus play a role in integrating the overall responses to stress through co-ordinated actions in the brain of this species.

In situ demonstration of parathyroid hormone-related protein mRNA in sclerosing hepatic carcinoma

A 69-year-old man had a hepatic tumour occupying the left and half of the right lobe, with portal vein thrombus. There were hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia with increased nephrogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate; bone metastases were excluded. Serum parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) was elevated, but no increase in intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) or vitamin D3 metabolites was found. At autopsy the histological features were typical of sclerosing hepatic carcinoma. By immunohistochemistry PTHrP was detected in cancer cell nests but not in the fibrous stroma. PTHrP transcripts were demonstrated by in situ hybridization using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived single-stranded DNA probe. Tumour cells expressed AE1 and CA19-9 (markers for cholangioepithelium) and CEA (for bile canaliculi). Electron microscopy revealed microvilli on the apical surface, and secretory granules 100 nm in diameter were observed. These findings indicate that this case is one of cholangiocellular sclerosing hepatic carcinoma. The interaction between cancer and stromal cells may be the cause of PTHrP overexpression.

Dominant negative forms of Akt (protein kinase B) and atypical protein kinase Clambda do not prevent insulin inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene transcription

Transcriptional regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic gluconeogenesis, by insulin was investigated with the use of adenovirus vectors encoding various mutant signaling proteins. Insulin inhibited transcription induced by dexamethasone and cAMP of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene fused with the PEPCK promoter sequence in HL1C cells stably transfected with this construct. A dominant negative mutant of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase blocked insulin inhibition of transcription of the PEPCK-CAT fusion gene, whereas a constitutively active mutant of PI 3-kinase mimicked the effect of insulin. Although a constitutively active mutant of Akt (protein kinase B) inhibited PEPCK-CAT gene transcription induced by dexamethasone and cAMP, a mutant Akt (Akt-AA) in which the phosphorylation sites targeted by insulin are replaced by alanine did not affect the ability of insulin to inhibit transcription of the fusion gene. Akt-AA almost completely inhibited insulin-induced activation of both endogenous and recombinant Akt in HL1C cells. Furthermore, neither a kinase-defective mutant protein kinase Clambda (PKClambda), which blocked insulin-induced activation of endogenous PKClambda, nor a dominant negative mutant of the small GTPase Rac prevented inhibition of PEPCK-CAT gene transcription by insulin. These data suggest that phosphoinositide 3-kinase is important for insulin-induced inhibition of PEPCK gene transcription and that a downstream effector of phosphoinositide 3-kinase distinct from Akt, PKClambda, and Rac may exist for mediating the effect of insulin.

Requirement for Akt (protein kinase B) in insulin-induced activation of glycogen synthase and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 (PHAS-1)

The roles of Akt (protein kinase B) and the atypical lambda isoform of protein kinase C (PKClambda), both of which act downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, in the activation of glycogen synthase and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 (PHAS-1) in response to insulin were investigated. A mutant Akt (Akt-AA) in which the phosphorylation sites targeted by growth factors are replaced by alanine was shown to inhibit insulin-induced activation of both Akt and glycogen synthase in L6 myotubes. Expression of a mutant Akt in which Lys179 in the kinase domain was replaced by aspartate also inhibited insulin-induced activation of glycogen synthase but had no effect on insulin activation of endogenous Akt. A kinase-defective mutant of PKClambda (lambdaDeltaNKD), which prevents insulin-induced activation of PKClambda, did not affect the activation of glycogen synthase by insulin. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was inhibited by Akt-AA in Chinese hamster ovary cells. However, lambdaDeltaNKD had no effect on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation induced by insulin. These data suggest that Akt, but not PKClambda, is required for insulin activation of glycogen synthase and for insulin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with immunoglobulin A nephropathy: a case report and review of cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome with glomerular disease

A 35-year-old man with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) presented with transient elevation of serum creatinine, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia with fragmented red cells with nephrotic syndrome. Hemolytic anemia and the temporarily deteriorated renal function were improved after hemodialysis and plasma exchange. Histological findings were consistent with HUS and IgA nephropathy. Including this case, we reviewed the cases of HUS accompanied by glomerular diseases reported from 1969 to 1996. Surprisingly, most cases showed nephrotic syndrome at the onset of HUS. Several possible relationships between HUS and nephrotic syndrome are discussed.

Gastric ulcer formation after the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake: a case study of Helicobacter pylori infection and stress-induced gastric ulcers

BACKGROUND

Both Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and various stresses are known to induce peptic ulcer disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, the pathogenetic relationship between the two factors has not yet been clarified. We conducted a case-control study to examine whether H. pylori infection played a role in the development of gastric ulcer (GU) induced by life-event stresses that were experienced after the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples from patients in the devastated area who developed GUs during the 2 months following the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and those from GU patients in the same area during the corresponding period of the previous year, and from gender-, age- and institute-matched ulcer-free controls were tested for the presence of the H. pylori IgG antibody.

RESULTS

A significant association between H. pylori infection and the development of GU in uninjured patients was observed in all sets [matched odds ratio (OR) = 3.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.95-5.35]. Moreover, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients who developed GUs after the earthquake was not different from that for GU patients in the previous year. In contrast, there was no association between H. pylori infection and the development of GU in the physically injured patients after the earthquake.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori infection may play an important role in the development of GUs that are induced by emotional life-event stresses.

Urocortin reduces food intake and gastric emptying in lean and ob/ob obese mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Gastric emptying plays an important role in regulating food intake. This study was designed to investigate whether intraperitoneally injected urocortin reduces gastric emptying, feeding, and body weight in lean and ob/ob obese mice.

METHODS

Food intake and body weight were measured after intraperitoneal injections of one of the following: urocortin, deamidated form of urocortin (urocortin OH), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), CRF6-33, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), and leptin in 16-hour food-deprived animals. Gastric emptying was assessed 2, 4, or 8 hours after intraperitoneal injection. Repeated injections of urocortin were continued for 5 days in ob/ob mice.

RESULTS

Urocortin (0.003-3 nmol) dose-dependently and potently decreased food intake and body weight gain in lean mice. The ranking order of potency was urocortin > urocortin OH >/= CRF > CCK-8 > CRF6-33 > leptin. Gastric emptying was also potently reduced by urocortin with a similar ranking order of potency of urocortin > CRF > urocortin OH > CCK-8. Simultaneous administration of urocortin and CRF receptor antagonist, alpha-helical CRF9-41, blocked the effects of urocortin. Urocortin reduced food intake and body weight gain, as well as the rate of gastric emptying, in ob/ob mice, which was significantly faster than that of lean mice. Five daily injections of urocortin significantly lowered body weight and improved glycemic control in ob/ob mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The urocortin-induced decrease in food intake and body weight in lean and ob/ob mice is closely related to gastric emptying and opens new possibilities for the treatment of obesity.

Improvement of molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine (BTR) associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha

The molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to tyrosine (BTR), which has recently been possible to easily determine by an enzymatic method, can be clinically used as a substitute for that of BCAA to aromatic amino acids (AAA). We used this method to investigate the diagnostic implications of serum BTR in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. There was a good correlation between BTR and staging (fibrosis) scores both before and after treatment. BTR increased significantly at 24 months after treatment in the responder group (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant increase in BTR was observed in patients with improved staging (P = 0.015), but not grading (necroinflammatory), scores. BTR in chronic hepatitis C patients seems to be reflected by the extent of liver fibrosis, and, in the responder group, it can be improved, together with liver fibrosis, by interferon-alpha treatment.