Intensive Smoking-cessation Intervention in the Dental Setting

Smoking exerts detrimental effects on dental treatment and oral health. Our goal was to evaluate effectiveness in terms of the abstinence rate in smoking-cessation intervention delivered by dental professionals. Individuals who were willing to quit smoking were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a non-intervention group. Intensive intervention was provided, consisting of 5 counseling sessions, including an additional nicotine replacement regimen. Reported abstinence was verified by the salivary cotinine level. Thirty-three persons in the intervention and 23 in the non-intervention group started the trial. On an intent-to-treat basis, 3-, 6- and 12-month continuous abstinence rates in the intervention group were 51.5%, 39.4%, and 36.4%, respectively, while the rates in the non-intervention group were consistent at 13.0%. Adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) by logistic stepwise regression analyses were 7.1 (1.8, 28.5), 8.9 (1.7, 47.2), and 6.4 (1.3, 30.7), respectively. Intensive smoking-cessation intervention in the dental setting was therefore effective.

Medium-chain fatty acids stimulate interleukin-8 production in Caco-2 cells with different mechanisms from long-chain fatty acids

BACKGROUND AND AIM

It has been suggested that dietary fat exacerbates intestinal inflammation. We investigated the effect of fatty acids on interleukin (IL)-8 production in a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2).

METHODS

The cells were cultured as monolayers on microporous membranes in culture inserts. Oleic acid (OA), capric acid (CA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were applied to the apical compartment of Caco-2 cell monolayers. The concentration of IL-8 in the basolateral medium was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of IL-8 mRNA was measured by using competitive reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction. Protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) and H-7 (a protein kinase inhibitor) were used to study the mechanisms by which IL-8 production is stimulated.

RESULTS

Both OA and CA enhanced IL-8 production (approximately fivefold), whereas DHA and EPA did not. Both OA and CA also enhanced IL-1-induced IL-8 production. The onset of OA-induced IL-8 production was delayed compared with that of CA-induced IL-8 production. Both OA and CA enhanced IL-8 mRNA expression (approximately fivefold) after 6 and 3 h, respectively. The protein kinase inhibitor (H-7) reduced both OA- and CA-induced IL-8 production by 88.0 and 85.9%, respectively. The protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) reduced OA-induced IL-8 production by 29.3 and 54.5%, respectively, but showed no effect on CA-induced IL-8 production.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that not only OA but also CA stimulates IL-8 production in intestinal epithelial cells, and the mechanisms of action differ between OA and CA.

Comparison of tests for fecal lactoferrin and fecal occult blood for colorectal diseases: a prospective pilot study

OBJECTIVE

This prospective pilot study was conducted to compare the usefulness of measuring fecal lactoferrin (Lf) to that of fecal occult blood (FOB) test for detection of colorectal diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The subjects were 351 patients who underwent colonoscopy. A fecal sample was obtained on the day before colonoscopy. Fecal Lf was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The FOB test was performed by combined assay (latex agglutination) of hemoglobin and transferrin.

RESULTS

The specificities of the fecal Lf and FOB tests were the same (88.7%). For patients with colorectal cancer (13), colorectal polyp (69), ulcerative colitis (18), Crohn's disease (13), non-specific colitis (8), internal hemorrhoids (60), colon diverticulum (27), and miscellaneous diseases of the colon (10), the rates of positivity for fecal Lf were 7/13, 14/69, 12/18, 7/13, 4/8, 22/60, 8/27, and 6/10, respectively. The corresponding rates for FOB were 8/13, 12/69, 11/18, 4/13, 4/8, 9/60, 2/27, and 1/10. For patients with internal hemorrhoids, the rate of positivity for fecal Lf was significantly higher than that for FOB. In other disease groups, there was no significant difference in the rate of positivity between fecal Lf and FOB.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that measurement of fecal Lf is as useful as FOB in detecting colorectal diseases.

Relationship of the substance P to indicators of host response in human gingival crevicular fluid

BACKGROUND

The substance P (SP) level in human gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was studied in relation to clinical periodontal variables and to various indicators of host response in the GCF.

METHODS

GCF was collected from periodontal sites with gingival inflammation and shallow or moderately deep pocket in 48 subjects. The total amount of SP and the substances based on host response factors in a 30-s sample were determined by ELISA and enzymatic methods.

RESULTS

Significant correlation was found between SP and probing depth (r= 0.637, p<0.001), while correlation was weak between SP and either gingival (r= 0.177, p=0.23) or plaque index (r=0.008, p=0.96). SP also showed significant correlation with the indicators of host response: prostaglandin E2, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase, interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (r=0.434-0.867, p<0.01-0.001).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that neuropeptide SP in GCF may have a potential as an indicator of periodontal inflammation and the host response.

Fecal eosinophil granule-derived proteins reflect disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were: 1) to examine whether the fecal levels of eosinophil granule-derived proteins reflect disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and 2) to examine the extracellular release of these proteins from eosinophils and their stability in feces by an in vitro study.

METHODS

We investigated 42 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 37 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 29 control subjects. The stool samples were collected at 4 degrees C over 48 h and were homogenized. The fecal levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Fecal Hb (Hb), alpha1-antitrypsin (AT), and lactoferrin (Lf) were also measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Fecal ECP and EPX concentrations were significantly increased in both active UC and active CD compared to inactive UC and inactive CD, respectively. Fecal EPX concentration correlated with the fecal Hb, AT, and Lf concentrations more closely than fecal ECP concentration. Even in the inactive stage, CD patients who relapsed within the following 3 months showed higher fecal ECP and EPX concentrations compared to the patients who did not. EPX was released extracellularly more efficiently than ECP (18.6% vs 6.3%, after incubation for 15 min at 25 degrees C). EPX was more stable in the feces than ECP.

CONCLUSIONS

The measurement of eosinophil granule-derived proteins in feces is useful for evaluating disease activity and predicting relapse in patients with IBD. EPX may be more suitable than ECP as a fecal eosinophil marker.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: prevalence and recognition of putative antigens

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), and the putative antigens recognized by perinuclear staining pattern ANCA (p-ANCA)-positive sera.

METHODS

Sera from UC (n = 52) and CD (n = 43) patients, and from healthy controls (n = 74) were studied. The indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method was used for the detection of ANCA and its binding pattern. p-ANCA-positive sera were studied further for putative antigens. ELISAs using lactoferrin (Lf), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cathepsin G (Cat G) as antigens were performed.

RESULTS

ANCA was positive in 40 of the 52 (76.9%) UC (p-ANCA in 33) and in 32 of the 43 (74.4%) CD (p-ANCA in 31) patients. UC and CD patients showed significantly higher titers of p-ANCA than controls; however, no significant difference was observed between UC and CD. In UC, 23, 17, and nine of the 33 patients with p-ANCA-positive sera showed reactivity with Lf, MPO, and Cat-G, respectively. In CD, 21, 20, and 11 of the 31 patients with p-ANCA-positive sera showed reactivity with Lf, MPO, and Cat-G, respectively. Fourteen of the UC and six of the CD patients showed reactivity with two different antigens, and seven of the UC and 11 of the CD patients showed reactivity with all three antigens. The presence of anti-Lf and anti-MPO antibodies was further confirmed by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONS

ANCA is useful in distinguishing patients with IBD from normal subjects but is not sufficient for the differential diagnosis of CD and UC. p-ANCA reactivity might be derived from the recognition of heterogeneous neutrophil-associated antigens.

Bile acids inhibit tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced interleukin-8 production in human colon epithelial cells

To clarify the regulatory mechanism of the production of various inflammatory mediators by intestinal epithelial cells, the effect of bile acids (tauroursodeoxycholate, TUDC; taurochenodeoxycholate, TCDC; and taurocholate, TC) on the cytokine-induced production of interleukin (IL)-8 in a human colon epithelial cell line (HT-29) was examined. HT-29 cells were incubated for 24 h in a culture medium containing tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha; 1 ng/mL) and/or interleukin (IL)-1beta (1 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of bile acids. The IL-8 concentration in the medium was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding assay of TNF alpha was performed using [125I]-TNF alpha (100 pmol/L). Interleukin-8 production during incubation with TNF alpha was markedly reduced in the presence of 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTUDC, 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTCDC and 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTC, by 56, 85, 86, 91, 37 and 70%, respectively. The IL-8 production during incubation with IL-1beta was not significantly reduced in the presence of these bile acids. The specific binding of TNF alpha to cells was inhibited 33, 47, and 14% by 1 mmol/LTUDC, TCDC and TC, respectively. These findings suggest that bile acids inhibit TNF alpha-induced IL-8 production by the colonic cells. The suppression may be partly due to inhibition of TNF alpha binding to the cells by bile acids.

[Measurement of fecal lactoferrin for diagnosis on pediatric gastrointestinal disease]

The fecal proteins in blood and granules related with inflammation have been measured to examine the conditions of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To noninvasively examine the conditions in pediatric patients with various gastrointestinal diseases, we evaluated the usefulness of measuring the concentration of fecal lactoferrin (Lf), which is the specific granule component in neutrophils. Lf was measured by ELISA in patients with infectious enteritis (E), Henoch Schönlein purpura (HSP), and ulcerative colitis (UC), and in control subjects. The fecal Lf levels were significantly higher in patients with E, HSP, and UC than in control subjects. The fecal Lf levels were significantly increased in not only patients with bacterial but also those with viral gastroenteritis. These findings suggest that the measurement of fecal Lf concentration is useful for noninvasive monitoring of the disease activity in pediatric patients with gastrointestinal disease and the activities of neutrophils elevate in patients with viral infectious enteritis.

Cyclosporine A inhibits interleukin-8 production in a human colon epithelial cell line (HT-29)

Intestinal epithelial cells produce various inflammatory mediators. However, the way in which immunosuppressive agents influence the production of these mediators by intestinal epithelial cells is not understood. The effects of cyclosporine A (CsA), tacrolimus (FK506), and dexamethasone (DEX) on cytokine-induced production of interleukin (IL)-8 in a human colonic cancer cell line (HT-29) were examined. HT-29 cells were stimulated with either IL-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) together with CsA, FK506, or DEX. The presence of IL-8 protein was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) by reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction. CsA (1, 5, and 10ng/ml) significantly reduced IL-1 beta-induced IL-8 production (by 32%, 41%, and 48%, respectively), and reduced TNF alpha-induced IL-8 production (by 21%, 42%, and 50%, respectively). FK506 or DEX had no effect on IL-1 beta- or TNF alpha-induced IL-8 production. The expression of IL-8 mRNA was also inhibited by CsA. These findings suggest that CsA may influence the production of inflammatory mediators in colonic cells in a different manner from FK506 and DEX.

The forms and the levels of fecal PMN-elastase in patients with colorectal diseases

OBJECTIVES

To compare the form of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-elastase in feces with that in plasma and to investigate the usefulness of measuring fecal PMN-elastase levels in patients with colorectal diseases.

METHODS

We examined PMN-elastase complexed with alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), chymotrypsin, and alpha 2-macroglobulin by ELISA in feces and plasma. Fecal levels of total PMN-elastase were determined in patients with colonic polyp (N = 19), colonic cancer (N = 20), ulcerative colitis (UC; N = 36), colonic Crohn's disease (CD; N = 26), and in control subjects (N = 20).

RESULTS

Most PMN-elastase was not complexed with alpha 1-AT, chymotrypsin, or alpha 2-macroglobulin in feces, whereas most plasma PMN-elastase was complexed with alpha 1-AT. Fecal concentrations and daily fecal excretion of PMN-elastase were significantly increased in patients with active UC (medians 54.8 micrograms/g, 15.14 mg/day) and active CD (41.5 micrograms/g, 10.24 mg/day) compared to those values in control subjects (0.6 micrograms/g, 0.11 mg/day) and in patients with colonic cancer (2.5 micrograms/g, 0.33 mg/day). In inactive UC and CD, these values (3.4 micrograms/g, 0.52 mg/day and 5.2 micrograms/g, 0.59 mg/day, respectively) were significantly lower than in active UC and CD, respectively. In UC, all patients whose rectal biopsies showed infiltration of PMN had high fecal PMN-elastase levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the measurement of fecal PMN-elastase concentrations are useful for monitoring the disease activity of UC and CD, especially when evaluating whether intestinal inflammation has disappeared completely.

Intestinal protein loss and bleeding assessed by fecal hemoglobin, transferrin, albumin, and alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in patients with colorectal diseases

Four fecal proteins (hemoglobin, transferrin, albumin, and alpha 1-antitrypsin) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with colorectal diseases. Levels of all 4 proteins were significantly increased in patients with colonic cancer and ulcerative colitis (UC) compared to levels in control subjects, while fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin was particularly elevated in colonic Crohn's disease (CD). That is, the fecal protein pattern of CD was distinct from those of colonic polyps, colonic cancer, and UC. To investigate whether levels of these fecal proteins reflect disease activity in UC and CD, comparative evaluation of fecal proteins in the active and inactive phases was performed. In UC, differences in the fecal concentrations of all 4 proteins were significant between the active and inactive phases of the disease. In CD, however, the difference in alpha 1-antitrypsin concentration was significant. Our results suggest that measurements of these 4 fecal proteins would be useful in the screening of colorectal diseases. In addition, these markers can also be used as indicators of disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Immunochemical detection of human lactoferrin in feces as a new marker for inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders and colon cancer

We have developed a new immunochemical test for fecal lactoferrin (LF) utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA had a sensitivity of about 10 micrograms/L of lactoferrin and the measurable range was 10.0-1000.0 micrograms/L (1.0-100.0 micrograms LF/g feces). The stability of lactoferrin in feces was greater than that of myeloperoxidase and leucocyte elastase. The fecal concentration of lactoferrin (mean +/- SD) in 35 normal subjects was 0.75 +/- 0.83 microgram/g feces, whereas that in 24 patients with colon cancer was 74.4 +/- 88.3 micrograms/g feces. The fecal lactoferrin concentration of 38 patient with active ulcerative colitis was 307.4 +/- 233.9 micrograms/g feces, and that in 36 patients with active Crohn's disease was 191.7 +/- 231.1 micrograms/g feces. The ELISA for human fecal lactoferrin might be useful in the diagnosis of colon disease.

Clinical study of a new fecal occult blood test using a combination assay of hemoglobin and transferrin

The applicability of a new immunological fecal occult blood test in which hemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin (Tf) are simultaneously assayed was evaluated. The mean absorbance and standard deviation (510/630 nm) obtained by this test was 0.840 +/- 0.805 in 51 fecal samples from patients with colon cancer, 0.248 +/- 0.305 in 95 samples from patients with colon polyps, and 0.104 +/- 0.053 in 110 samples from control patients; these values differed significantly (P less than 0.005). Hb and Tf concentrations were separately determined in the same fecal samples, and qualitative evaluation was performed with a cutoff value of 5.1 micrograms/g feces for Hb and 0.4 micrograms/g feces for Tf. Hb or Tf was positive in 41 of the 51 samples in the colon cancer group, 33 of the 95 in the colon polyp group, and 3 of the 110 in the control group. Qualitative analysis of the values obtained by the combination assay of Hb and Tf with a cutoff value of 0.200 revealed positive rates of 41/51 in the colon cancer group, 33/95 in the colon polyp group, and 4/110 in the control group. These results suggest the usefulness of a combination assay of Hb and Tf as a fecal occult blood test.

Immunochemical detection of human blood in feces

We have developed a new immunochemical test for fecal occult blood utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of human hemoglobin (HbAo) and transferrin (Tf) simultaneously. The ELISA had a sensitivity of about 15 ng/ml Hb, and the measurable range was 1.5-750 micrograms Hb per g feces. The stability of Tf in feces was greater than that of Hb. In 17 out of 18 patients with colon cancer, 8 out of 15 patients with colon polyps, and 11 out of 20 patients with upper-gastrointestinal disorders. The Hb and Tf values were more than 10 micrograms/g feces, in terms of Hb concentration. The ELISA for human fecal HbAo and Tf might be useful for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.