Although undifferentiated gastric cancer (UGC) diagnosed after Helicobacter pylori eradication (HPE) carries a poor prognosis, characteristics of post-HPE UGC have not been evaluated in detail ...because of its low incidence. Therefore, we compared the clinicopathologic characteristics of UGC and differentiated gastric cancers (DGC) diagnosed after successful HPE.
GC lesions from patients who had successfully completed HPE and who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2004 and March 2016 were analyzed. Tumors were divided into DGC and UGC groups. Clinicopathologic factors of background and tumor characteristics were compared using univariate and multiple logistic analyses.
A total of 129 tumors from 115 patients were evaluated; 113 tumors were in the DGC group and 16 in the UGC group. Depressed-type tumors (P = 0.024) and sub-submucosal invasion (P<0.001) were significantly higher in the UGC group. The UGC group had larger tumor diameters (25.9±7.3 mm) than the DGC group (13.2±10.2 mm) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that female sex (odds ratio OR 3.24, 95%CI:1.02-10.37; P = 0.047) and absent follow-up (OR 4.99, 95%CI:1.60-15.57; P = 0.006) were significant independent risk factors for UGC. The DGC group showed a gradually decreasing temporal trend by trend test (P = 0.015), while the UGC group showed a relatively constant incidence over time, although the number of cases was small.
UGC was diagnosed even after long time spans following HPE, although the number of cases was small. Female sex, and especially absent follow-up, were risks for post-HPE UGC, suggesting that diligent long-term follow-up after HPE is essential.
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic disorder characterized by tissue eosinophilic infiltration and vasculitis. Although EGPA causes multiple organ damage, it causes ...cholecystitis less frequently. We herein report a case of acute cholecystitis associated with EGPA in which successful treatment with glucocorticoid therapy allowed surgery to be avoided. EGPA can present as acute cholecystitis. It is important not to overlook acute cholecystitis associated with EGPA in patients with abdominal pain with peripheral eosinophilia. Furthermore, in cases of mild cholecystitis associated with EGPA that are diagnosed preoperatively, cholecystectomy might be avoided with conservative glucocorticoid treatment.
Anisakidosis is developed by ingesting Anisakis in marine fish, including the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, without proper pre-treatment such as cooking or freezing. Two sibling species of ...Anisakis are found in S. japonicus from Japanese waters, and the prevalence and species of Anisakis in the fish depend on the sea area. For example, Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) is found in the Pacific stock of S. japonicus, whereas A. pegreffii is found in the Tsushima Warm Current stock. S.japonicus caught in the Bungo Channel, off the coast of Saganoseki in Oita Prefecture, which is branded as Sekisaba, inhabits a very limited area; however, the infection states of Anisakis found in Sekisaba remain unclear. In this study, we compared the infection states of Anisakis in Sekisaba with those in S. japonicus caught in the South Oita area and Nagasaki Prefecture. All Anisakis from the Nagasaki Prefecture were A. pegreffii, while most of them found in Sekisaba and fish from the South Oita area were A. simplex s.s. Interestingly, the prevalence of Anisakis in Sekisaba was significantly lower than that in the other two areas. This may reflect the fact that Sekisaba might belong to a distinct stock of S. japonicus, varying from other stocks.
Although excessive immune responses by Th17 cells, a helper T cell subset, are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the mechanism by which its localization in an ...inflamed colon is regulated remains unclear. Chemokines and their receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, however, the relative significance of each receptor on Th17 cells remains unknown. We generated C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) knockout (KO) and CCR6 KO mice in the syngeneic background using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the phenotypes of experimental colitis worsened in both mutant mice. Surprisingly, the phenotype of colitis in CCR2/CCR6‐double knockout (CCR2/6 DKO) mice was opposite to that of the single‐deficient mice, with significantly milder experimental colitis (p < .05). The same was true for the symptoms in CCR6 KO mice, but not in wild type mice treated with a CCR2 inhibitor, propagermanium. Colonic CCR2+CCR6+ Th17 cells produced a potentially pathogenic cytokine GM‐CSF whose levels in the gut were significantly reduced in CCR2/6 DKO mice (p < .05). These results suggest that GM‐CSF‐producing CCR2+CCR6+ Th17 cells are pathogenic and are attracted to the inflamed colon by either CCR2 or CCR6 gradient, which subsequently exacerbates experimental colitis in mice.
Antibiotics disrupt normal gut microbiota and cause dysbiosis, leading to a reduction in intestinal epithelial barrier function. Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier, which is known as ..."leaky gut", results in increased intestinal permeability and contributes to the development or exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. We have previously reported on a murine model of intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction associated with dysbiosis induced by the administration of ampicillin and vancomycin. Saireito, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is often used to treat autoimmune disorders including ulcerative colitis; the possible mechanism of action and its efficacy, however, remains unclear. In this study, we examined the efficacy of Saireito in our animal model for leaky gut associated with dysbiosis. C57BL/6 mice were fed a Saireito diet for the entirety of the protocol (day1-28). To induce colitis, ampicillin and vancomycin were administered in drinking water for the last seven consecutive days (day22-28). As previously demonstrated, treatment with antibiotics caused fecal occult bleeding, cecum enlargement with black discoloration, colon inflammation with epithelial cell apoptosis, and upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Oral administration of Saireito significantly improved antibiotics-induced fecal occult bleeding and cecum enlargement by suppressing inflammation in the colon. Furthermore, Saireito treatment ensured the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier by suppressing apoptosis and inducing cell adhesion proteins including ZO-1, occludin, and E-cadherin in intestinal epithelial cells, which in turn decreased intestinal epithelial permeability. Moreover, the reduced microbial diversity seen in the gut of mice treated with antibiotics was remarkably improved with the administration of Saireito. In addition, Saireito altered the composition of gut microbiota in these mice. These results suggest that Saireito alleviates leaky gut caused by antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Our findings provide a potentially new therapeutic strategy for antibiotic-related gastrointestinal disorders.
A 35-year-old man with fever and diarrhea visited our hospital because of white string-like fecal excretion. Based on a morphological examination of the excreted object, a Diphyllobothrium infection ...was suspected. Additionally, Gram staining of a fecal sample revealed Campylobacter infection. After the intraduodenal administration of meglumine/diatrizoate sodium, the tapeworm was excreted. A polymerase chain reaction-based DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that the tapeworm excreted in this case was Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiensis. This report presents a rare case of coinfection with Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiensis and Campylobacter jejuni. Therefore, it is important to consider the coexistence of other intestinal infections when diagnosing parasitic infections in patients with fever.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder in the intestine, and the dysfunction of intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) may trigger the onset of IBD. Secretory leukocyte ...protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a serine protease inhibitor that has been implicated in the tissue‐protective effect in the skin and lung. We found that SLPI was induced in lipopolysaccharides‐treated colon carcinoma cell line and in the colon of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐treated mice. SLPI‐deficient mice were administered DSS to induce colitis and sustained severe inflammation compared with wild‐type mice. The colonic mucosa of SLPI‐deficient mice showed more severe inflammation with neutrophil infiltration and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines compared with control mice. Moreover, neutrophil elastase (NE) activity in SLPI‐deficient mice was increased and IEB function was severely impaired in the colon, accompanied with the increased number of apoptotic cells. Importantly, we demonstrated that DSS‐induced colitis was ameliorated by administration of protease inhibitor SSR69071 and recombinant SLPI. These results suggest that the protease inhibitory activity of SLPI protects from colitis by preventing IEB dysfunction caused by excessive NE activity, which provides insight into the novel function of SLPI in the regulation of gut homeostasis and therapeutic approaches for IBD.
We have revealed that SLPI is induced by inflammatory stimuli in the intestine and exerts a protective effect against colitis by protecting the intestinal epithelial barrier. Importantly, administration of recombinant SLPI and protease inhibitor SSR69071 could ameliorate DSS‐induced colitis. Hence, we have demonstrated a pivotal role for SLPI in regulating intestinal inflammation, as well as provided insight into a novel therapeutic target for treatment of IBD.
Button battery ingestion accidents have been reported in multiple previous reports. However, ingestion of cylindrical-type batteries is significant less described in the literature. Cylindrical ...batteries can reportedly cause corrosive damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa after long-term retention, leading to ulceration and perforation. Here, we present a case of endoscopic removal of eight AA batteries that had been ingested and caused corrosive changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa. A 45-year-old man with mental retardation was brought to our hospital due to the suspicion of cylindrical battery ingestion. A plain abdominal x-ray revealed a total of eight cylindrical batteries. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed approximately 24 hours after ingestion, and four AA batteries were removed using a polypectomy snare. The remaining four batteries were followed up and removed under colonoscopy after confirming that they had reached the rectum. Leaked components of retained cylindrical batteries can cause chemical mucosal damage in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, early extraction should be considered in case of cylindrical battery ingestion. On the other hand, when the cylindrical battery has passed the pyloric ring, conservative management with close monitoring is acceptable if there are no clinical symptoms. Additionally, a polypectomy snare is useful in the extraction of ingested cylindrical batteries.
Antibiotics sometimes exert adverse effects on the pathogenesis of colitis due to the dysbiosis resulting from the disruption of gut homeostasis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying ...colitogenic effects of antibiotic‐induced colitis are largely unknown. Here, we show a novel murine fecal occult bleeding model induced by the combinatorial treatment of ampicillin and vancomycin, which is accompanied by an enlarged cecum, upregulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and IL‐12, a reduction in Ki‐67‐positive epithelial cell number and an increase in the apoptotic cell number in the colon. Moreover, gas chromatography–tandem mass analysis showed that various kinds of metabolites, including glutamic acid and butyric acid, were significantly decreased in the cecal contents. In addition, abundance of butyric acid producer Clostridiales was dramatically reduced in the enlarged cecum. Interestingly, supplementation of monosodium glutamate or its precursor glutamine suppressed colonic IL‐6 and IL‐12, protected from cell apoptosis and prevented fecal occult blood indicating that the reduced level of glutamic acid is a possible mechanism of antibiotic‐induced fecal occult bleeding. Our data showed a novel mechanism of antibiotic‐induced fecal occult bleeding providing a new insight into the clinical application of glutamic acid for the treatment of antibiotic‐induced colitis.
Here, we show a novel murine fecal occult bleeding model induced by the combinatorial treatment of ampicillin and vancomycin, which is accompanied by an enlarged cecum, the presence of fecal occult blood, an upregulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, a reduction in Ki‐67‐positive epithelial cell number and an increase in the apoptotic cell number in the colon. Supplementation of monosodium glutamate or its precursor glutamine improved the effects of antibiotic‐induced fecal occult bleeding.