Plasma osteopontin predicts inflammatory bowel disease activities.

A glycoprotein osteopontin (OPN) is involved in inflammatory diseases, but its roles in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are controversial. To analyze the involvement of the systemic immune response, we simultaneously examined plasma OPN levels and 17 cytokines. This study included 24 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, 17 Crohn's disease (CD) patients, and 23 normal controls. Clinical parameters were also examined. The plasma OPN levels of the UC and CD patients were significantly higher than those of the normal controls and correlated significantly with their clinical activity indices. In the UC patients, significant relationships were observed between the levels of plasma OPN and multiple cytokines, including interleukin (IL) -1ß, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-13, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In the CD patients, the correlation was not significant except for IL-8. Our findings reflect different inflammatory states of the colon and rectum in both diseases.

Spontaneous Regression of Polyposis following Abdominal Colectomy and Helicobacter pylori Eradication for Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome.

The etiology of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) remains unknown and many cases are refractory to treatment. Therefore, new therapies are urgently needed. Furthermore, a number of CCS cases with gastrointestinal carcinoma have been reported. Our patient had rapid onset of CCS and early development of colon carcinoma associated with adenomas. High anterior resection of the sigmoid colon and ileostomy were performed, and her symptoms and endoscopic and histological findings improved. Helicobacter pylori eradication was carried out 2 years later, surgical closure of an ileal fistula the following year. After 4 months, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy showed that the CCS lesions had completely disappeared, and biopsies confirmed a normal stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon histologically. The patient has maintained remission for 2 years. The clinical course of this case, showing complete regression of CCS lesions following abdominal colectomy and H. pylori eradication, suggests the significance of H. pylori infection in the treatment of CCS.

l-[1-(13)C]Alanine is a useful substance for the evaluation of liver function.

BACKGROUND: Using a rat model of hepatectomy, we investigated whether the severity of hepatopathy could be quantitatively measured from changes in expiratory (13)CO(2) levels after intravenous administration of l-[1-(13)C]alanine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under nembutal anesthesia, 20 mg/kg l-[1-(13)C]alanine was administered to rats via the femoral vein, and expiratory (13)CO(2) levels were measured for 15 min. Then, 30, 70, or 90% hepatectomy was performed. In the control group, simple laparotomy was performed. A breath test was conducted 20 min after laparotomy. We examined the correlation of total (13)CO(2) output (S) or single point (13)CO(2) level (SP) every 1 min for 15 min with liver weight/body weight (LW/BW) (%). RESULTS: In the control group, the breath test graph showed a specific peak level about 3 min after administration, but in all groups undergoing hepatectomy, it did not show any peak level during measurement. The correlation coefficient between S(12--15) after l-[1-(13)C]alanine administration and LW/BW was 0.902 (P < 0.0001). The correlation coefficient between SP(7) after l-[1-(13)C]alanine administration and LW/BW was highest, 0.908 (P < 0.0001). The severity of hepatopathy could also be evaluated, with significant differences in S(12-14) compared to control when the volume of resected liver was 30% or greater, but there was no significant difference between the groups undergoing 70 and 90% hepatectomy. However, the severity of hepatopathy could be evaluated, with significant differences in S(15) and SP(7) in all comparisons between groups. CONCLUSION: In the breath test with intravenously administered l-[1-(13)C]alanine, the severity of hepatopathy could be quantitatively evaluated in a short period by measuring S(15) and SP(7).