[Benzoxazole derivative B-98 ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute murine colitis and the change of T cell profiles in acute murine colitis model].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The unique role of enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in the production of leukotrienes makes it a therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of B-98, a newly synthesized benzoxazole derivatives and a novel 5-LO inhibitor, in a mouse model of IBD induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal control, DSS colitis (DSS+saline), low dose B-98 (DSS＋B-98 20 mg/kg) and high dose B-98 (DSS＋B-98 100 mg/kg). B-98 was administered with 3% DSS intraperitoneally. The severity of the colitis was assessed via the disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histopathologic grading. The production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 was determined by RT-PCR. Th cells were examined for the proportion of Th1 cell, Th2 cell, Th9 cell, Th17 cell and Treg cell using intracellular cytometry. RESULTS: The B-98 group showed lower DAI, less shortening of the colon length and lower histopathologic grading compared with the DSS colitis group (p<0.01). The expression of IL-6 in colonic tissue was significantly lower in the B-98 groups than the DSS colitis group (p<0.05). The cellular profiles revealed that the Th1, Th9 and Th17 cells were increased in the DSS colitis group compared to the B-98 group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that acute intestinal inflammation is reduced in the group treated with B-98 by Th1, Th9 and Th17 involved cellular immunity.

[Analysis of risk factors for low bone mineral density in patients with inflammatory bowel disease].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several clinical risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in the patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been suggested. However, its prevalence and pathophysiology in Korean population have not been fully studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for low BMD in Korean IBD patient. METHODS: BMD of the lumbar spine and femur was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 30 patients with IBD. Biochemical parameters of bone metabolism, such as serum calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, and deoxypyridinoline were measured. The associations between low BMD and clinical parameters such as disease duration, disease activity, drug history, body mass index (BMI), and others were evaluated retrospectively using medical records. RESULTS: Low BMD at the lumbar spine or femur was observed in 63.3% of the patients, and there was no significant difference between the patients with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Clinical and biochemical parameters were irrelevant to BMD. In the patients without glucocorticoid treatment prior to BMD measurement, already 50.0% of patients had low BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Low BMD is a common feature in Korean IBD patients, even those who do not use glucocorticoid. The multiple factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of low BMD. Therefore, BMD should be examined in all IBD patients, irrespective of glucocorticoid treatment.

A case of ischemic colitis associated with the herbal food supplement ma huang.

Ischemic colitis is a condition that usually occurs in the elderly, as a form of vascular disease. However, ischemic colitis also occurs, though rarely, in healthy young adults. Moreover, food supplements containing Ephedra sinica or ma huang have been linked to adverse central nervous and cardiovascular events. A 40-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department after 2 episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea that lasted 24 hours. His medical history was unremarkable for risk factors of bowel ischemia, except for well-controlled hypertension. However, a weight-loss supplement, Ephedra sinica, had been prescribed for daily use during the previous month. Both abdominal/pelvic computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed findings compatible with ischemic colitis. His conditions spontaneously improved without any serious complications, and he was advised to discontinue the use of herbal medications containing ephedrine. In this paper, we describe a case of ischemic colitis that was potentially linked to the use of ma huang with a review of the relevant literature.