Correlation of circulating betatrophin concentrations with insulin secretion capacity, evaluated by glucagon stimulation tests.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between plasma betatrophin concentrations and insulin secretion capacity in people with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Glucagon stimulation tests (1 mg) were performed in 70 people with Type 2 diabetes after an overnight fast. Plasma betatrophin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Insulin secretion capacity was evaluated by measuring increments of C-peptide concentration in response to glucagon stimulation, and creatinine clearance was determined by comparing creatinine concentrations in serum and 24-h urine samples. RESULTS: Plasma betatrophin concentrations were positively correlated with duration of Type 2 diabetes (r = 0.34, P = 0.003), and negatively correlated with increments of C-peptide concentration (r = 0.37, P = 0.001) and creatinine clearance (r = 0.37, P = 0.001). The correlation with increments of C-peptide concentration remained significant after adjustment for age and duration of Type 2 diabetes (r = 0.25, P = 0.037). Multivariate analysis identified age and increments of C-peptide concentration as independent factors associated with plasma betatrophin levels. CONCLUSION: Plasma betatrophin levels inversely correlate with insulin secretion capacity, suggesting that betatrophin levels are regulated by insulin secretion capacity in humans.

Aquagrams of raw milk for oestrus detection in dairy cows.

The purpose of this research was to develop rapid and cost-effective method for oestrus detection in dairy cows by means of near infrared spectroscopy and aquaphotomics, using raw milk from individual cows. We found that aquaphotomics approach showed consistent specific water spectral pattern of milk at the oestrus periods of the investigated Holstein cows. Characteristic changes were detected especially in foremilk collected at morning milking. They were reflected in calculated aquagrams of milk spectra where distinctive spectral pattern of oestrus showed increased light absorbance of strongly hydrogen-bonded water. Results showed that monitoring of raw milk near infrared spectra provides an opportunity for analysing hormone levels indirectly, through the changes of water spectral pattern caused by complex physiological changes related to fertile periods.

Serum oxytocin concentrations in elective caesarean delivery: a randomized comparison of three infusion regimens.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine serum oxytocin concentrations following different regimens of prophylactic oxytocin administration in women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. METHODS: Thirty healthy pregnant patients were randomized, after clamping of the umbilical cord, to receive intravenous oxytocin in one of the following groups: G1 (n=9), 10 IU of oxytocin infused over 30 min (0.33 IU/min); G2 (n=11), 10 IU of oxytocin infused over 3 min and 45 s (2.67 IU/min); and G3 (n=10), 80 IU of oxytocin infused over 30 min (2.67 IU/min). Both patient and surgeon were blinded to allocation. Uterine tone was assessed by surgical palpation. Serum oxytocin concentration was determined by enzyme immunoassay before anaesthesia (T0) and at 5 (T5), 30 (T30) and 60 (T60) min after the start of oxytocin infusion. RESULTS: Serum oxytocin concentrations (mean±standard error, ng/mL) were not significantly different in the groups at T0 (0.06±0.02, 0.04±0.02 and 0.07±0.04, respectively, P=0.76), and T60 (0.65±0.26, 0.36±0.26 and 0.69±0.26, respectively, P=0.58). G3 showed higher concentrations than G1 at T5 (3.65±0.74 versus 0.71±0.27, P=0.01) and at T30 (6.19±1.19 versus 1.17±0.37, P<0.01), and were higher than G2 at T30 (6.19±1.19 versus 0.41±0.2, P<0.01). Haemodynamic data and uterine tone were considered satisfactory and similar in all groups. No additional uterotonic agents were needed. CONCLUSION: Serum oxytocin measurements made using enzyme immunoassay in healthy pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean delivery showed that administration of 80 IU oxytocin over 30 min resulted in higher serum oxytocin levels after 5 and 30 min than the two other regimens. The concentrations did not differ between groups at 60 min.

A translating stage system for µ-PIV measurements surrounding the tip of a migrating semi-infinite bubble.

We have designed, fabricated and evaluated a novel translating stage system (TSS) that augments a conventional micro particle image velocimetry (µ-PIV) system. The TSS has been used to enhance the ability to measure flow fields surrounding the tip of a migrating semi-infinite bubble in a glass capillary tube under both steady and pulsatile reopening conditions. With conventional µ-PIV systems, observations near the bubble tip are challenging because the forward progress of the bubble rapidly sweeps the air-liquid interface across the microscopic field of view. The translating stage mechanically cancels the mean bubble tip velocity, keeping the interface within the microscope field of view and providing a tenfold increase in data collection efficiency compared to fixed-stage techniques. This dramatic improvement allows nearly continuous observation of the flow field over long propagation distances. A large (136-frame) ensemble-averaged velocity field recorded with the TSS near the tip of a steadily migrating bubble is shown to compare well with fixed-stage results under identical flow conditions. Use of the TSS allows the ensemble-averaged measurement of pulsatile bubble propagation flow fields, which would be practically impossible using conventional fixed-stage techniques. We demonstrate our ability to analyze these time-dependent two-phase flows using the ensemble-averaged flow field at four points in the oscillatory cycle.

Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in rats.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that reportedly counteracts the anti-inflammatory effect of endogenous glucocorticoids. There have only been a few reports that demonstrate a potential link between MIF and bronchial asthma. In an attempt to further clarify the precise role of MIF in asthma, the present authors examined the effect of anti-MIF antibody (Ab) on airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in an ovalbumin-immunised rat asthma model. Actively immunised Brown Norway rats received ovalbumin inhalation with or without treatment of anti-MIF Ab. The levels of MIF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly elevated after the ovalbumin challenge. An immunohistochemical study revealed positive immunostaining for MIF in bronchial epithelium, even in nonsensitised rats, and the MIF staining in bronchial epithelium was enhanced after the ovalbumin challenge. Anti-MIF Ab significantly decreased the number of total cells, neutrophils and eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the ovalbumin-challenged rats, and also attenuated the ovalbumin-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to ovalbumin and methacholine. However, anti-MIF Ab did not affect the level of serum ovalbumin-specific IgE, suggesting that anti-MIF Ab did not suppress immunisation itself. The results indicate that macrophage migration inhibitory factor plays a crucial role in airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

Trace of native cattle in Japanese Holstein assessed by mitochondrial DNA sequence polymorphism.

On the basis of sequence variation in the displacement loop region of mtDNA, 588 Japanese and North American Holstein cows were classified into 5 mitochondrial haplotypes, which were found in Japanese Black cattle. One of the haplotypes (named type 1), which was present at the highest frequency in Japanese Black cattle, was not observed in either European or African cattle. This haplotype is characterized by 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. One is called the type B polymorphism, and it refers to a base change from T to C at nucleotide 16042 of the mitochondrial genome (T160042C). The other is called the type I polymorphism, and it refers to the base change as G16093A. The proportion of the Japanese Holstein population with both polymorphisms was 18.3%, whereas none of the North American cows had this genotype. Because the mitochondrial types were inherited maternally, it is clear that a considerable number of Japanese Holstein cows are descended from native Japanese cattle. Polymorphisms B and I accounted for no variance in the estimated breeding value for milk production among cows from the Hyogo herd (582 cows) or the Chiba region herd (758 cows). This result suggests that most autosomal genes of native animals have been successively replaced by those of pure Holstein after grading up of over 15 generations, even though resulting animals have native animal-oriented mitochondrial types and may still have some number of the native autosomal genes.

Association between interleukin-18 gene polymorphism 105A/C and asthma.

BACKGROUND: IL-18 has been shown to exert anti-allergic or allergy-promoting activities, but the existence of genetic polymorphisms in the coding regions of IL-18 gene has not been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphism is present in the coding regions of the IL-18 gene and, if so, to further analyse the association between polymorphism and asthma in a case-control study. METHODS: We screened the coding regions of the IL-18 gene for polymorphisms by using PCRsingle-stranded conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing of PCR products, followed by analysis of the association between polymorphism and asthma. RESULTS: We identified one polymorphism (105A/C) in the coding regions. The frequency of the 105A allele was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in controls (P<0.01; odds ratio (OR)=1.83 (1.37-2.26)). Significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between the 105A/C and -137G/C polymorphisms in the 5' flanking region of the IL-18 gene (D=0.58, P<0.0001). However, in asthmatic patients the 105A allele was not associated with either total serum IgE or IL-18 levels. CONCLUSION: The 105A/C polymorphism of the IL-18 gene may be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma.

Increased levels of interleukin-8 in BAL fluid from smokers susceptible to pulmonary emphysema.

BACKGROUND: It has previously been shown that smokers with computed tomographic (CT) evidence of subclinical emphysema have signs of neutrophil activation, despite having no appreciable increase in the number of neutrophils in their bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. METHODS: The levels of the following chemoattractants in BAL fluid from 61 community based older volunteers classified into four groups according to current smoking status and the presence or absence of emphysema were determined: interleukin 8 (IL-8), epithelial neutrophil activating protein 78 (ENA-78) and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) which are primarily chemotactic for neutrophils; monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) which are predominantly chemotactic for mononuclear leucocytes. RESULTS: Of the five chemoattractants studied, only the level of IL-8 in BAL fluid clearly distinguished between subjects with and without emphysema among current smokers (median values 34.7 and 12.2 pg/ml, respectively, p<0.01). In addition, the levels of IL-8 and neutrophil elastase-alpha(1) protease inhibitor complex in BAL fluid were significantly correlated (r=0.65, p<0.01). There was no difference in either the release of IL-8 from cultured alveolar macrophages at 24 hours or the expression of IL-8 messenger RNA of alveolar macrophages in the two groups of current smokers with and without emphysema. CONCLUSION: An accelerated response of IL-8 to chronic smoking is a factor that characterises those smokers who are susceptible to pulmonary emphysema, although the cellular source of IL-8 remains to be determined.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in relation to HLA-DR in sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene associates with HLA-DR alleles previously found to be of prognostic interest in Scandinavian sarcoidosis patients. This may contribute to characteristics associated with these HLA-DR alleles, such as a good (DR17) or poor (DR14 or 15) prognosis. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for analysing an I/D polymorphism in the gene coding for ACE in 138 subjects; 65 controls and 73 sarcoidosis patients, and for HLA-DR genotyping 67 patients. Serum ACE level (S-ACE) was measured in all controls and 72 patients. Sixty-one patients were classified as chronic or nonchronic after 2 years follow-up. All patients were recruited and followed at our outpatient clinic. RESULTS: No significant differences in ACE alleles or genotypes were seen between controls and patients or between patients positive and negative for DR17 or DR14/15. The ACE genotype did not differ between nonchronic and chronic patients. The ACE genotype tended to influence the S-ACE in patients, whilst in controls S-ACE significantly differed between the ACE genotypes. CONCLUSION: This study does not support an association between ACE genotype and sarcoidosis or disease outcome. However, because significantly (P < 0.001) more DR17 positive (17 of 19) than DR14/15 positive (seven of 26) patients were classified as nonchronic, these results instead strengthen the prognostic importance of HLA-DR alleles in Scandinavian sarcoidosis patients.

Measurement of serum hyaluronic acid level during the perioperative period of liver resection for evaluation of functional liver reserve.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations reflect the degree of hepatic fibrosis and sinusoidal endothelial cell damage. The HA concentrations were examined to evaluate liver damage during the perioperative period of hepatectomy. METHODS: The HA level of serum samples from 79 patients who underwent a hepatectomy was measured, and the results were compared to conventional liver function tests, the degree of fibrosis, liver regeneration and complications. RESULTS: Hyaluronic acid concentrations correlated with the severe fibrosis or histological activity index, and also correlated with liver function tests including transaminase level, platelet counts, prothrombin time activity, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICG R15), liver activity at 15 min by technetium-99m galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy (LHL 15), and portal pressure. The HA level postoperatively correlated with liver function, especially with total bilirubin. Hyaluronic acid levels at day 28 postoperatively correlated with ICG R15 and LHL 15. The hyaluronic acid level before surgery and at day 28 postoperatively correlated with the regeneration of remnant liver in major hepatectomy. The HA levels were significantly higher in patients with hepatic failure or prolonged ascites. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the measurement of the HA level is useful for monitoring liver damage or predicting complications associated with liver surgery.

(CCTTT)n repeat polymorphism in the NOS2 gene promoter is associated with atopy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in the regulation of the T(H)1/T(H)2 balance, indicating the potential for NO to contribute to the development of atopy and several other allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma. NO synthase 2 (NOS2) is critically involved in the synthesis of NO during several inflammatory states, and the gene encoding NOS2 is located at chromosome 17q11.2-q12, where 2 genome scans have identified a candidate locus for atopy and asthma. OBJECTIVE: The 14-repeat allele of the (CCTTT)(n) repeat polymorphism in the NOS2 promoter region is a powerful enhancer of promoter activity in reporter constructs in vitro. We tested whether this potentially functional allele in the NOS2 gene influences the development of atopy and asthma. METHODS: We studied a total of 497 unrelated Japanese subjects (141 nonatopic healthy controls, 102 atopic healthy controls, 56 nonatopic asthmatic subjects, and 198 atopic asthmatic subjects). The odds ratio (OR) was calculated for atopy and asthma in carriers of the 14-repeat allele through use of logistic regression models. Atopy was defined as a positive specific IgE level to at least 1 of 10 common inhaled allergens. RESULTS: The 14-repeat allele was inversely associated with atopy (OR = 0.42, P < .01). The association remained significant when the model was controlled for asthmatic status (OR = 0.36, P < .01). This allele, however, was associated neither with the development of asthma nor with total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the (CCTTT)(n) repeat polymorphism in the promoter of the NOS2 gene that affects promoter activity is a risk factor for the development of atopy, and this genetic effect seems independent of asthma.

Prognostic factors in hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma: immunohistochemical analysis of tumor biological factors.

The present study was designed to provide a systemic analysis of prognosis in 62 patients who underwent hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis. The analyzed factors included microvessel counts stained by CD34 and expression of two adhesion molecules, E-cadherin and CD44 variant exon 6-(v6) in these tumors. No significant factors related to recurrence were identified and only negative expression of CD44v6 tended to correlate with recurrence (P = 0.075). A short disease-free period to recurrence was noted in patients with high CEA levels (>10 ng/ml) and H2/3 classification. A short surgical margin, H2/3 classification, high microvessel counts (>60/field, x200), and negative expression of CD44v6 and E-cadherin tended to be associated with poor prognosis. A high microvessel count was the most significant prognostic factor by multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. Hepatic resection without tumor exposure and a careful follow-up in cases identified with poor prognostic factors are necessary.

Increased total serum IgE levels in patients with asthma and promoter polymorphisms at CTLA4 and FCER1B.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that total serum IgE levels are largely determined by genetic factors, and we recently established that the -109C/T promoter polymorphism at FCER1B is a genetic factor that affects total serum IgE levels. The gene encoding cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) is another candidate factor in high IgE responsiveness, because B7-CD28/CTLA4 interaction can promote the differentiation and development of the T(H)2 lymphocyte subset. OBJECTIVE: We intended to determine whether CTLA4 is associated with increased levels of total serum IgE or with the development of asthma or atopy. METHODS: We performed a case-control study involving 339 patients with asthma and 305 healthy control subjects, of whom 226 of the patients with asthma and 219 of the healthy control subjects had previously been genotyped for the -109C/T promoter polymorphism at FCER1B. In the current study, we genotyped 2 polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene, one involving the promoter (-318C/T) and the other involving exon 1 (+49A/G), in addition to the FCER1B promoter polymorphism. RESULTS: Patients with asthma who were homozygous for the -318C allele at the CTLA4 promoter region had higher levels of total serum IgE than patients with asthma carrying the -318T allele (P =.00470). The analysis of -318C/T (at CTLA4) and -109C/T (at FCER1B) promoter polymorphisms showed a significant correlation between the combined genotypes and increased levels of total IgE in patients with asthma (P =.000014). In contrast, no correlation between total serum IgE levels and -318C/T or +49A/G genotypes was detected in 305 healthy control subjects. There was no evidence indicating an association between a putative allele for asthma or atopy and alleles at any of the CTLA4 polymorphic loci. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that promoter polymorphisms of both CTLA4 and FCER1B are genetic factors that influence total serum IgE levels in patients with asthma. This supports the theory that variance in total serum IgE levels in patients with asthma is determined by mutations in multiple genes, each of which has a relatively small effect on the phenotype.

Coexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and COX-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding liver: possible involvement of COX-2 in the angiogenesis of hepatitis C virus-positive cases.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been reported to be responsible for enhanced tumor growth and angiogenesis in various tumors. However, the relationships between tumor vascularity and COX-2 and iNOS expression have not been evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we examined the expression of iNOS and COX-2 and microvessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemical staining in 100 tissue sections collected from HCC patients. iNOS expression was significantly higher in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive HCCs (P = 0.011). COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with iNOS expression (P = 0.046) and tumor MVD (P = 0.011) in HCV-positive HCCS: iNOS expression was neither correlated with MVD nor had any influence on patient survival; however, combined negative expression of iNOS and COX-2 had a significant impact on patient survival (P = 0.041 and 0.018, log-rank test for overall and recurrence-free survival rate, respectively). The present findings suggest that combined expression of iNOS and COX-2 may play an important role in prognosis of HCV-positive HCC patients and that this could be partially attributable to modulation of angiogenesis by COX-2.

The gene polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-beta, but not that of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is associated with the prognosis of sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVES: Few genetic markers for the prognosis of sarcoidosis have been found. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Induced TNF-alpha or TNF-beta levels have been shown to be associated with the polymorphisms of the TNF genes. We investigated the roles of such polymorphisms in the development and prolongation of sarcoidosis. SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: One hundred ten Japanese patients with sarcoidosis and 161 control subjects were genotyped for three biallelic polymorphisms in the promoter region of TNF-alpha gene by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. A polymorphism of the TNF-beta gene (TNFB*1/TNFB*2) was detected by NCO: I restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products spanning intron 1 and exon 2 of the TNF-beta gene. RESULTS: None of the polymorphisms conferred susceptibility to sarcoidosis. However, our study identified the allele TNFB*1, detected by the presence of a NCO: I restriction site, as a marker of prolonged clinical course, with the resolution of sarcoidosis being defined as the disappearance of all clinical symptoms, physical signs of active lesions, abnormal chest radiograph findings, and abnormal results of pulmonary function and biochemical tests. When the probability of remission in patients homozygous for TNFB*2 was defined as 1.00, it was 0.48 (95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.88; p < 0.05) in patients with TNFB*1 (genotypes TNFB*1/1 and TNFB*1/2). CONCLUSIONS: The TNFB*1 allele is a marker for prolonged clinical course in patients with sarcoidosis. Our study is the first to link a cytokine gene polymorphism to the prognosis of sarcoidosis.

The ACE gene polymorphism and cough threshold for capsaicin after cilazapril usage.

Persistent dry cough is an occasional but clinically important adverse reaction to angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEI). Its reported incidence is variable, and why cough occurs in only certain individuals has been unclear. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene is associated with serum ACE activity. We have previously shown that susceptibility to cough induced by ACEI is associated with this polymorphism such that patients with genotype II are more susceptible to cough than patients with other genotypes. In order to confirm and extend our previous observation, we conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study in 10 healthy volunteers with genotype II and 10 with genotype DD. The cough threshold was determined by the concentration of inhaled capsaicin causing two or more coughs. After the usage of an ACEI, cilazapril, for 4 weeks, changes in the cough threshold in subjects with genotype II [before: 6.6+/-3.7 nM (mean+/-SD); after: 5.0+/-4.6 nM] significantly differed from those in subjects with genotype DD (before: 9.0+/-9.4 nM; after: 9.3+/-9.1 nM). Skin responses to intradermal bradykinin, which is a substrate of ACE and tussigenic, were significantly increased in subjects with genotype II (before: 1.6+/-0.6 vs. after: 2.6+/-0.5 cm2, P<0.05) but not in subjects with genotype DD (before: 1.4+/-0.5 vs. after: 1.6+/-0.6 cm2, n.s.) after usage of cilazapril. By contrast, skin responses to intradermal substance P did not change in subjects with either genotype. These findings provide further evidence of a link between ACEI-induced cough and I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and suggest that ACEIs induce cough by modulating the tissue level of bradykinin.

Association between a C+33T polymorphism in the IL-4 promoter region and total serum IgE levels.

Susceptibility to asthma and other atopic diseases is known to be associated with elevated total IgE levels. Several investigators have linked the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene and nearby markers located on chromosome 5q to elevated total IgE levels. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the IL-4 gene promoter region (C+33T) has recently been identified. As part of an effort to identify genetic variants contributing to the susceptibility to elevated total serum IgE levels, an association analysis of a newly identified promoter polymorphism (C+33T) with total serum IgE levels was conducted. The study was conducted using 240 Japanese subjects (120 asthmatics and 120 healthy controls). The IL-4 C+33T polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The frequency of the T allele was 0.675 in asthmatic subjects and 0.671 in healthy controls. An ANOVA model adjusted for age, sex and disease status suggested a genetic association of C+33T polymorphism with elevated total serum IgE levels (P < 0.05). The data suggest that IL-4 promoter C+33T polymorphism may be one of the genetic polymorphisms that explain genetic linkage or association between elevated total serum IgE levels and markers on chromosome 5q.