Changes of blood fluidity in the early hepatopathy in rats

The present study was designed to examine the influence of the early stage hepatopathy on blood fluidity by using a rat experimental system. F344 male rats, 4 weeks of age, were fed chow containing 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) at 0.06%. These rats were autopsied 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after starting DAB feeding. Blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava under pentobarbital anesthesia and blood fluidity and platelet aggregation activity were examined by a Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer and a platelet aggregometer, respectively. We also examined histological changes in the liver after staining with hematoxylin-eosin. Histological observation of the liver revealed early-stage hepathopathy when the organs were obtained from rats that fed DAB for more than 16 weeks. Although DAB-feeding of rats for 8 and 12 weeks barely affected blood fluidity, long-term intake (>16 weeks) caused decrease in fluidity. On the other hand, platelet aggregation activity was increased when rats were fed DAB for more than 16 weeks. The present results suggest that assaying for blood fluidity may be useful for the assessment of the degree of hepatopathy.

Proliferating potential and apoptosis in the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism: a study based on Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining and the terminal dUTP nick-end labeling assay

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients. SHPT progresses from initial diffuse hyperplasia (diffuse) to early nodularity (early), then to multinodular hyperplasia (nodular), and finally to a single nodule (single) consisting of uniform parenchymal cells. We analyzed the roles of proliferation and apoptosis in SHPT progression. Seventy-four parathyroid glands from 36 HD patients with SHPT, and 10 parathyroid glands from 10 non-HD patients without SHPT were used for analysis. The former were classified as diffuse (N = 17), early (N = 22), nodular (N = 20), and single (N = 15); the latter were classified as normal (N = 10). To analyze proliferating cells we used Ki-67, and to detect apoptotic cells, we used the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Concerning the Ki-67 labeling index (LI), the incremental order was single, nodular, early, diffuse, and normal. Oxyphilic cells and around the central portion of each lesion were distinctly stained by Ki-67. Concerning the TUNEL LI, the incremental order was early, diffuse, nodular, single, and normal. Chief cells and around the peripheral portion of each lesion were distinctly stained by TUNEL. In the progression from early to nodular, for oxyphilic cells, the Ki-67 LI increased and the TUNEL LI decreased; for chief cells, the Ki-67 LI decreased and the TUNEL LI showed no significant change. We considered that proliferative activity increases and that the apoptosis rate decreases as SHPT progresses from diffuse to single. Moreover, the specific differences in the rate of proliferation and apoptosis between oxyphilic and chief cells might be associated with SHPT progression.

Genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in relation to alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in Japan

Long-term consumption of large amounts of alcohol is the main cause of chronic pancreatitis. All heavy drinkers, however, do not contract chronic pancreatitis. Although genetic predisposition to alcoholism and alcoholic liver disease has been reported, genetic susceptibility to alcoholic pancreatitis is still a matter of debate. To determine the relation between genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, we examined genotype patterns of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH 2), alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH 2) and cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1) in 54 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis who were diagnosed in general hospitals in all over Japan and compared with those in 30 patients with chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis or in 46 alcoholics with normal pancreatic function. There were no significant differences in the distribution of genotypes of ALDH 2 and CYP2E1 among those three groups. As for the ADH 2 genotype, distribution of 2(1)/2(1), 2(1)/2(2), and 2(2)/2(2) was 35%, 30%, and 35% in alcoholics with normal pancreatic function; 4%, 39%, and 57% in the chronic alcoholic pancreatitis group; and 0%, 50%, and 50% in the chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis group, respectively. The frequency of ADH 2(2) allele was significantly higher in the chronic alcoholic pancreatitis group, compared with alcoholics with normal pancreatic function; but, it was not significantly different from that in the chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis group. We also examined the relation between pancreatic fibrosis or pancreatitis histologically diagnosed and genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in alcoholic autopsy cases. Twenty of 31 cases showed moderate or severe pancreatic fibrosis and showed intralobular + interlobular fibrosis, which is characteristic in alcoholic pancreatitis or intralobular fibrosis. ADH 2(2) allele tended to show a high frequency in the intralobular + interlobular fibrosis group, compared with that in the intralobular fibrosis group (75.0% vs. 41.7%, p < 0.1). The chronic pancreatitis group had a significantly higher frequency of the ADH 2(2) allele than that in cases without such findings (87.5% vs. 58.7%, p < 0.05). However, the ALDH 2 and CYP2E1 genotypes showed no significant relation to the findings of pancreatic fibrosis or histological pancreatitis. These data suggest that the risk of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis diagnosed clinically and pathologically seems to be associated with the ADH 2(2) allele in the genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes.

Detection of IgM antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis by enzyme linked fluorescence immunoassay

A simple, sensitive enzyme linked fluorescence immunoassay has been developed to detect IgM antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis. Reticulate bodies and elementary bodies from C trachomatis L2/434 Bu strain were isolated and used as antigens in the assay. Of 113 serum samples obtained from infants with pneumonia, 27 (23.9%) had IgM antibodies to C trachomatis L2 reticulate bodies and nine (8.0%) had IgM antibodies to C trachomatis L2 elementary bodies (titre greater than or equal to 1/500). Specific IgM antibodies were not detected in 20 control serum samples obtained from healthy adults and children. The possible use of enzyme linked fluorescence assay to determine IgM antibodies in the serodiagnosis of C trachomatis infection is discussed.

Comparison of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and enzyme linked fluorescence immunoassay for detection of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis

An enzyme linked fluorescence immunoassay (ELFA) has been evaluated for the detection of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis. Reticulate bodies and elementary bodies from C trachomatis L2/434 strain were used as antigens. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has also been evaluated using the same antigens. Results obtained by ELISA and ELFA for human sera with these two antigens were compared with each other and with the results obtained by a micro-immunofluorescence (micro-IF) test. Serum IgG antibodies against C trachomatis L2 reticulate bodies and elementary bodies were found in 32 (20.0%) and 11 (6.9%), respectively, of 160 serum samples from pregnant women by the micro-IF test (titre greater than or equal to 1/32). All of these 32 pregnant women had IgG antibodies to C trachomatis reticulate bodies (titre greater than or equal to 1/100), whereas 20 (12.5%) had IgG antibodies to elementary bodies in the ELISA. On the other hand, 25 (15.6%) and 19 (11.9%) of them had IgG antibodies to C trachomatis L2 reticulate bodies and elementary bodies, respectively, by the ELFA (titre greater than or equal to 1/500).

An application of fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies to the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in children

A method for rapid identification of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) from clinical specimens using fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies was evaluated. Attempts to isolate C. trachomatis by McCoy cell cultures were simultaneously performed. C. trachomatis was isolated from 8 of 62 newborns with neonatal conjunctivitis in tissue culture as compared with 12 positives using monoclonal antibodies. C. trachomatis was isolated from 2 of 7 infants with pneumonia in tissue cultures as compared with 3 positives using monoclonal antibodies. In order to identify either elementary bodies (EB) or reticulate bodies (RB) in clinical specimens, EB and RB of C. trachomatis L2/434 strain were isolated, purified and reacted with monoclonal antibodies. Majority of fluorescence observed in the clinical specimens was considered to be EB.