Peripheral blood dendritic cells in alcoholic and autoimmune liver disorders.

Little is known about effects of alcohol consumption on dendritic cell (DC) function and resultant immune response. However, quantitative and qualitative disturbances of DCs are speculated to be involved in alcohol-related as well as in other liver pathology. The present study aimed to evaluate changes in circulating DC subsets in alcoholic liver disease (N = 43), autoimmune hepatitis (N = 26) and primary biliary cirrhosis (N = 20). DCs isolated from the peripheral blood of recruited participants were stained with monoclonal antibodies against blood dendritic cell antigens (BDCAs) and estimated using the flow cytometry. Myeloid DCs were defined as BDCA-1(+)/CD19(-) cells, and lymphoid DCs as BDCA-2(+)/CD123(+) cells. Total numbers of circulating DCs in subjects with some liver diseases were markedly lower than in the healthy participants (p = 0.03). There was a significantly lower percentage of circulating BDCA-2(+)/CD123(+) (p = 0.02), and a tendency for the percentage of circulating BDCA-1(+)/CD19(-) cells to decrease in patients with liver diseases compared to the controls (p = 0.09). These results may suggest that decreased numbers of DCs may be responsible for reduced adaptive immune responses and increased susceptibility to infections and cancer development observed in patients exposed to alcohol. Moreover, numerical abnormalities of DCs may contribute to the breakdown of self-tolerance, a feature of autoimmune diseases.

Is melatonin involved in the irritable bowel syndrome?

There is a substantial evidence that large quantities of melatonin are produced in gastrointestinal tract, however, is still unclear which is the role of melatonin in digestive system in human physiology and pathophysiology. In the present study we investigated urinary excretion of a main melatonin metabolite, 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The investigation was carried out in 67 persons, both sexes, aged 20-45 years old who according to Rome III Criteria were diagnosed as sufferers of constipation (C-IBS, n=21 persons) or diarrhoea (D-IBS, n=24 persons) form of irritable bowel syndrome and as healthy subjects (K, n=22), matched for control. Samples were obtained from the collected diurnal urine. The concentration of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMLT) was measured with ELISA method, creatinine (crea) was automatically analyzed with biochemical analyzer and 6-SMLT/crea calculated. There were statistically significant differences between groups: the 6-SMLT/crea level was lower in C-IBS (103.86+/- 82.83 ng/mg) and D-IBS (112.72+/-85.29 ng/mg) groups compared to K group (202.7+/-89.28 ng/mg), respectively, p=0.002, p=0.003. There were no differences between C-IBS and D-IBS groups, however, there were observed differences between men and women with C-IBS. The 6-SMLT/crea. level was higher in women with C-IBS (139.31+/-96.45) compared to men with C-IBS (35.51+/-41.05) (p=0.04). These results suggest that different melatonin secretion and metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome.

[The effect of prokinetic treatment and eradication of Helicobacter pylori on gastric emptying and symptoms of functional dyspepsia]. / Wplyw leczenia prokinetycznego i eradykacji Helicobacter pylori na opróznianie zoladka i objawy dyspepsji czynnosciowej.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to estimate clinical symptoms and gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia (f.d.) before and after treatment. METHODS: 40 patients were examined. Control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The severity of symptoms was estimated in 0-3 score. Gastric emptying was measured with radionuclide method. Examinations were performed prior and after treatment with famotidine (group I), cisaprid + famotidine (group II), cisaprid (group III), eradication of H.p. (group IV). RESULTS: Significantly delayed gastric emptying was observed in patients with f.d. Severity of symptoms score was significantly reduced after treatment, and was: group. I 13.8-11.2, group II. 14.8-8.8, group III 13.7-6.9, group IV 13.3-9.0. Gastric emptying was improved after treatment in groups: II 64.3-45.5 and III 65.1-46.7 respectively. In groups I and IV there was a minor nonsignificant change in gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Gastric emptying is significantly delayed in patients with f.d. 2. Prokinetic therapy with cisapride results in the improvement of gastric emptying together with alleviation of clinical symptoms of f.d. 3. Antisecretory treatment with famotidine and eradication of Helicobacter pylori do not effect gastric emptying, but exerts positive clinical response.

The effect of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis on the levels of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in various rat tissues.

The effects of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) on the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in pancreas, liver, brain, kidney and different parts of the digestive tract in rats have been studied. The acute pancreatitis was induced by the continuous intravenous infusion of caerulein in the doses of 5 x 10(-6) g/kg/h and 7.5 x 10(-6) g/kg/h for 12 hours, and the 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations were determined by the method of Curzon and Green. The changes evoked by caerulein varied qualitatively and quantitatively between organs. The significant decrease of both 5-HT and 5-HIAA was observed in pancreas, liver, brain and kidney while in the stomach there was a significant fall of 5-HT level accompanied by the relevant increase of 5-HIAA level. In the duodenum, an opposite effect was noticed, the level of 5-HT was higher than normal whereas the 5-HIAA level was reduced. The significant decrease of the 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in pancreas observed in the present study suggests the importance of 5-HT in the development of acute pancreatitis.

[Enkephalinase (EC. 3.4.24.11) -- characteristics, distribution and role in the human]. / Enkefalinaza (EC 3.4.24.11)--wlasciwosci, wystepowanie i rola w organizmie czlowieka.

Enkephalinase, the enzyme originally purified from kidney, is largely represented in brain and other tissues, namely in the airways, blood cells, kidney and the gastrointestinal tract. The highest enkephalinase activity was observed in duodenum and jejunum. Beside the participation in hydrolysis of proteins, enkephalinase degrades many biologically active peptides in the tissues and on that way can regulate some secretory or motoric functions.

Enkephalinase activity in the intestinal epithelial cells of the fetus of 19 days and their immortalized and transformed counterparts the SLC-cell lines.

Enkephalinase (EC 3.4.24.11), an enzyme widely distributed in brain and peripheral tissues of human and various animal species, was measured in the intestinal fetal cells and in the intestinal epithelial cells of adult rat, where its activity was respectively 96,1 +/- 10,18 fmol/mg protein and 52,27 +/- 8,43 fmol/mg protein. The immortalized cell lines: SLC-11 (after transfection with the plasmid containing oncogene from the human adenovirus type 2-E1A), SLC-21 (plasmid containing oncogene from polyoma virus) and SLC-41 (plasmid containing oncogene from simian virus 40 large tumor antigen) presented relatively strong enkephalinase activity; it was respectively 28,3 +/- 1,7, 37,9 +/- 3,6 and 49,3 +/- 3,1 fmol/mg protein. The cells of SLC-12T and SLC-44T lines, obtained after transfection with the mutant Ha-ras-1-gene and possessing tumorigene potency have the enkephalinase activity very decreased: 1,6 +/- 0,9 and 8,7 +/- 3,2 fmol/mg protein (p < 0,001). This interesting properties of the tumorigene cells may constitute a new subject of investigations in the carcinomas therapy.

[Gastrointestinal parasitosis in patients treated in the Gastroenterology Clinic of the Medical Academy and Clinical Ward at the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin in the years 1981-1990]. / Parazytozy przewodu pokarmowego u pacjentów Kliniki Gastroenterologii Akademii Medycznej i Oddzialu Klinicznego Instytutu Medycyny Wsi w Lublinie w latach 1981-1990.

Gastroenteric parasites were found in 118 patients, which made up 1.1% of the total number of patients. This number included 62 men and 50 women aged 17-74, 41 on average. The most frequent parasite was Giardia intestinalis. It was found in 82 patients, which constituted 0.78% of the total number of patients and 69.5% of patients infected by parasites. Trichuris trichiura was diagnosed in 16 patients, which made up 0.150% of the total number of patients and 13.4% of the cases of parasitoses. Ascariasis and oxyuriasis were observed in 8 and 7 patients, respectively. The most rarely found parasites were Taeniarhynchus saginatus (3 patients) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2). Parasitic diseases were most often concomitant with: cholecystitis (23 patients), and duodenal ulcer (15). The results of biochemical tests most frequently showed abnormal values of haemoglobin (31.3% of all parasitoses), elevated lipase values (28.8%), eosinophilia (22.2%). Hypoacidity was observed in 48.3% of cases and the positive bile culture results in 28.8%.

[Expression of HLA-DR antigens by colonic epithelium in ulcerative colitis]. / Ekspresja antygenów HLA-DR przez nablonek okreznicy we wrzodziejacym zapaleniu jelita grubego.

Expression of HLA-DR antigens by colon epithelium was examined in 35 patients with ulcerative colitis (uc) among whom 21 were in relapse and 14 in remission. Control group consisted of 18 subjects with functional disorders of alimentary tract. Immunohistochemical technique using immunoperoxidase was applied. Colon epithelial cells from all control subjects were HLA-DR negative. Cells of 17 out of 21 patients with ulcerative colitis in relapse and in 4 of 14 patients in remission were HLA-DR positive. No significant correlation was observed between the number of patients with HLA-DR positive epithelium and the insensitive of inflammation estimated clinically, endoscopically and histologically. 6 patients with initially HLA-DR positive epithelium during relapse were studied for the second time and in 4 of them the negative reaction was observed after remission occurred. The aberrant expression of HLA-DR may play an important role in the initiation and/or perpetuation of inflammatory process in ulcerative colitis.

[Evaluation of the consequences of hepatic artery embolization under experimental conditions]. / Ocena nastepstw embolizacji tetnicy watrobowej w warunkach doswiadczalnych.

The experiments were performed in the healthy mongrel dogs aged 5 to 8 years whose body weight ranged from 10-20 kg. Just after the coeliac arteriography the hepatic artery was embolized. The dogs were divided into 2 groups because of the application of two different embolizing materials. Spongostan was used as the embolizing material in group I consisting of 7 dogs. In group II consisting of 5 dogs the embolizing material was absolute ethyl alcohol with urogranic acid. The symptoms of the postembolization syndrome were observed in all dogs after the embolization for 1-5 days. In most dogs the transient increase of the aminotransferase activity was observed while the results of thymol turbidity test and bilirubin levels in serum were not significantly changed. In dogs of group II the clinical picture after the embolization was clearly more severe. The anatomo- and histopathological examinations in dogs after the hepatic artery embolization were carried out. In group I no hepatic changes were found macroscopically. In the histopathological studies of liver the numerous, tiny foci of coagulative necrosis with the resorptive reactions were noticed. In group II multifocal deliquescent necrosis in the liver, numerous, small perivascular and extravascular foci of coagulative-deliquescent necrosis with the inflammatory and the resorptive reactions were noted.

The effect of stimulation and blocking of histamine H2 receptors on the turnover of the serotonin in different parts of the alimentary tract and the brain of the rat.

In the experiments performed on Wistar rats it was found that histamine (0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) caused an acceleration of the turnover of serotonin (5-HT) in the stomach. After the lowest dose of ranitidine (3 mg/kg i.p.) a decrease in the rate of 5-HT turnover in the stomach was observed, whereas the higher doses (15.0 and 30 mg/kg i.p.) accelerated the turnover of this amine. In the duodenum, both doses of histamine accelerated the turnover of 5-HT, however, ranitidine in all doses induced a reduction in the rate of 5-HT turnover in this part of the alimentary tract. In the intestine, both doses of histamine enhanced the turnover of 5-HT but after all doses of ranitidine a decrease of the turnover was observed. The blockade of histamine H2 receptors with ranitidine did not completely abolish the effects of histamine on the 5-HT system, in the parts of the rat digestive system studied which suggests also an indirect activity of other receptors in presented observations. In the rat brain, an acceleration of the turnover of 5-HT after both doses of histamine was found. However, ranitidine only reduced the rate of 5-HT turnover at the lowest dose. In animals treated with ranitidine (15 mg/kg i.p.) for three days, histamine did not produce any change in the turnover of 5-HT in rat brain. These experiments show, that in the alimentary tract a relationship exists between histaminergic and serotoninergic systems.

Effects of pentagastrin and oxyphenonium on the levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in different parts of the digestive tract, blood and brain of rats.

In the experiments of Wistar rats it was found that pentagastrin in a dose of 0.6 microgram/kg decreased the level of serotonin and increased that of 5-HIAA in the stomach wall, and in a dose of 3 micrograms/kg it had no effect on these parameters, while in a dose of 6 micrograms/kg it decreased only the serotonin level. Oxyphenonium 0.5 mg/kg increased only the 5-HIAA level in the stomach, and in a dose of 5 mg/kg it decreased also the level of serotonin, In the duodenum these substances remained unchanged after pentagastrin administration, but oxyphenonium 5 mg/kg caused a significant fall of serotonin and increase of 5-HIAA, which was associated with a decrease in the number of enterochromaffin cells. In the small intestine pentagastrin 0.6 micrograms/kg increased the serotonin level and decreased that of 5-HIAA, in a dose of 3 micrograms/kg it decreased only the 5-HIAA level, and in the 6 micrograms/kg dose it had no effect on the levels of these substances. Oxyphenonium increased only the intestinal 5-HIAA level but only when administered in a dose of 5 mg/kg. In the brain both higher doses of pentagastrin decreased the serotonin level, and all three doses raised significantly the 5-HIAA level. Oxyphenonium in the higher dose raised the brain serotonin level, but was without effect on the 5-HIAA level. The blood serotonin level was not changed by pentagastrin and oxyphenonium.

Effects of histamine and cimetidine on the levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in various parts of the digestive tract and in the blood and brain of rats.

In the investigations on male Wistar rats it was demonstrated that histamine (0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg) decreased the serotonin level, without affecting the level of 5-HIAA in the stomach and duodenum. Contrary to this, cimetidine (15, 75 and 150 mg/kg) raised slightly the level of serotonin and decreased the 5-HIAA level in the stomach and duodenum. In the jejunum histamine in the lower dose raised the levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA, and in the higher dose it decreased only the concentration of serotonin. Cimetidine, on the other hand, only in the highest dose increased the serotonin level and decreased significantly the level of 5-HIAA. In the brain a rise of the serotonin level was observed only after histamine. No effects were observed of histamine and cimetidine on the blood serotonin level. Histamine reduced the number of enterochromaffinocytes in the duodenum. These results point to an evident interaction between the histaminergic and the serotoninergic structures in the digestive tract of rats.