Anti-ganglionic AChR antibodies in Japanese patients with motility disorders.

BACKGROUND: The existence of several autoantibodies suggests an autoimmune basis for gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility. Whether GI motility disorders are features of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) or are related to circulating anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibodies (Abs) is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between autonomic dysfunction, anti-gAChR Abs, and clinical features in patients with GI motility disorders including achalasia and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). METHODS: First study: retrospective cohort study and laboratory investigation. Samples from 123 patients with seropositive AAG were obtained between 2012 and 2017. Second study: prospective study. Samples from 28 patients with achalasia and 14 patients with CIPO were obtained between 2014 and 2016, and 2013 and 2017, respectively. In the first study, we analyzed clinical profiles of seropositive AAG patients. In the second study, we compared clinical profiles, autonomic symptoms, and results of antibody screening between seropositive, seronegative achalasia, and CIPO groups. RESULTS: In the first study, we identified 10 patients (8.1%) who presented with achalasia, or gastroparesis, or paralytic ileus. In the second study, we detected anti-gAChR Abs in 21.4% of the achalasia patients, and in 50.0% of the CIPO patients. Although patients with achalasia and CIPO demonstrated widespread autonomic dysfunction, bladder dysfunction was observed in the seropositive patients with CIPO as a prominent clinical characteristic of dysautonomia. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a significant prevalence of anti-gAChR antibodies in patients with achalasia and CIPO. Anti-gAChR Abs might mediate autonomic dysfunction, contributing to autoimmune mechanisms underlying these GI motility disorders.

A case of combined Morgagni and esophageal hiatal hernias successfully repaired by endoscopy and laparoscopy.

An 87-year-old woman with a 4-month history of postprandial gastrointestinal obstruction was admitted to our facility after suddenly vomiting black matter. Computed tomography and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed gastric prolapse and prolapse of the duodenum and transverse colon. Morgagni hernia combined with esophageal hiatal hernia was diagnosed. Gastric and duodenal obstructions were successfully repaired by endoscopy, followed by laparoscopic repair. Endoscopic repair helped the patient avoid fasting before surgery. The patient had a history of several chest bruises, which were detected by chest X-rays and suspected to be the cause of the hernias over time.

Two cases of hepatopulmonary syndrome with improved liver function following long-term oxygen therapy.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a complication of liver disease that is characterized by hypoxemia and intrapulmonary vascular dilatations. The only established therapy for this disorder is liver transplantation. Here, we report two patients (a 63-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man) with HPS associated with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. We gave the patients low-dose oxygen supplementation to improve their respiratory symptoms. Surprisingly, their liver function improved from Child Pugh class C to class A, and ascites disappeared after a year of oxygen supplementation. We believe that long-term oxygen therapy contributed to the improvement of liver function in these two cases. Long-term oxygen therapy might offer a new therapeutic approach to improve liver function in patients with cirrhosis with hypoxemia.

Increasing hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma mortality and aging: Long term trends in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan has been increasing. The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiological trends in HCC mortality in Japan. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of all patients whose death was caused by liver disease between 1981 and 2000 at two hospitals. The courses of death were separated based on presence or absence of HCC when death ensued. Additionally, cohorts of patients with HCC were analyzed in 5-year time periods. RESULTS: The number of deaths from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated HCC steadily increased 2.6 times from 49 to 128 during observation period. The mean age at death from HCV-associated HCC from 1996 to 2000 was significantly higher than that in the period from 1981 to 1985 (p<0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Deaths from HCV-associated HCC increased from 1981 to 2000, consistent with the aging of the population in Japan.

Enhanced expression of type I interferon and toll-like receptor-3 in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains enigmatic. In order to address this issue, we analyzed by laser capture microdissection and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction the site-specific expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for cytokines (interferon (IFN)-alpha, -beta, -gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta, -4, -6, -10, -12p40, -18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and toll-like receptors (TLRs) (TLR-2, -3, -4, -7, -9) in portal tract and liver parenchyma from patients with early-stage PBC. Expression of IFN-alpha, -beta and TLR-3 proteins was also studied by immunohistochemistry. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) served as disease controls. The expression levels of type I IFN (IFN-alpha, -beta) and TLR-3 mRNAs, which are known to induce type I IFN, were significantly higher in portal tract and liver parenchyma as compared to AIH and CHC. A strong positive correlation between the mRNA levels of type I IFN and TLR-3 was also seen in both areas. Immunohistologically, IFN-alpha is present in the mononuclear cells in portal tract and sinusoidal cells. Macrophages in portal tract and hepatocytes expressed IFN-beta and TLR-3. Furthermore, the level of IFN-alpha mRNA in the portal tract was positively correlated with serum alkaline phosphatase. In conclusion, these data indicate that TLR-3 and type I IFN signaling pathways are active in both the portal tract and liver parenchyma of early-stage PBC, and form the basis for our hypothesis that these signaling pathways are involved in the pathophysiology of PBC.

Antibody titer to gp210-C terminal peptide as a clinical parameter for monitoring primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The presence of antibodies to the 210-kDa glycoprotein of the nuclear pore complex (gp210) is highly indicative of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, the significance of anti-gp210 antibody titers for monitoring PBC remains unresolved. METHODS: We used an ELISA with a gp210 C-terminal peptide as an antigen to assess serum antibody titers in 71 patients with PBC. RESULTS: Patients were classified into three groups: Group A in whom anti-gp210 titers were sustained at a high level, Group B in whom anti-gp210 status changed from positive to negative under ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy, Group C in whom anti-gp210 antibodies were negative at the time of diagnosis. The rate of progression to end-stage hepatic failure was significantly higher in group A (60%) as compared to groups B (0%) and C (4.2%). The sustained antibody response to gp210 was closely associated with the severity of interface hepatitis. The significance of anti-gp210 antibody was confirmed by National Hospital Organization Study Group for Liver Disease in Japan. CONCLUSIONS: The serial quantitation of serum anti-gp210-C-terminal peptide antibodies is useful for monitoring the effect of UDCA and for the early identification of patients at high risk for end-stage hepatic failure.

Lipopolysaccharide signaling induces serum amyloid A (SAA) synthesis in human hepatocytes in vitro.

To investigate the role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in hepatocyte activation, we examined the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the putative receptor for LPS in human hepatocytes. TLR4 mRNA and protein expression was confirmed in human hepatocytes. Stimulation of human hepatocytes with LPS results in rapid degradation of IkappaB-alpha and mitogen activated protein kinase activation. Human hepatocytes stimulated by LPS produced serum amyloid A protein. Our data suggest that human hepatocytes utilize components of TLR4 signal transduction pathways in response to LPS and these direct LPS-mediated effects on hepatocytes may contribute to liver inflammation and injury.

Liver cell adenoma with malignant transformation: a case report.

A 57-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a liver mass detected by computed tomography. She had taken oral contraceptives for only one month at the age of thirty. Physical examination revealed no abnormalities, and laboratory data, including hepatic function tests, were within the normal range, with the exception of elevated levels of those serum proteins induced by the absence of vitamin K or by raised levels of the antagonist (PIVKA)-II (3,502 AU/ml). Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a hyperechoic mass measuring 10 X 10 cm in the left posterior segment of the liver. Because hepatocellular carcinoma could not be completely excluded, this mass was resected. The tumor consisted of sheets of uniform cells with clear cytoplasm, perinuclear eosinophilic granules and round nuclei. These histological findings were consistent with liver cell adenoma. Background hepatic tissue appeared normal. After resection of the tumor, serum PIVKA-II fell to within the normal range. An area of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a mid-trabecular pattern was immunohistochemically found, which was positive for PIVKA-II. Sinusoidal endothelial cells were CD34-positive, containing scattered PIVKA-II positive cells. This tumor was therefore finally diagnosed as liver cell adenoma with focal malignant transformation to HCC.