Search

Background/Aims. It is difficult to confirm the accurate cutoff value to diagnose Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection using commercial serology kits. It is reported that there were many cases with present/past infection that even the serum Hp-IgG antibody (HpAb) titers were below the cutoff value (e.g., 10 U/mL for E-Plate®), suggesting that we might overlook many gastric cancer (GC). We investigated an association between gastric cancer risk and serum Helicobacter pylori antibody titers. Methods. We conducted a primary screening between 2014 and 2015. We performed gastroendoscopy if HpAb titers were ≥3.0 U/mL (i.e., more than measurable limit, E-Plate). These patients were divided into two groups: HpAb = 3.0–9.9 U/mL (“negative-high” group) and HpAb ≥ 10 U/mL; cutoff value (“over-10 U/mL” group). Hp infection status was investigated, and the number of GC patients was counted. Results. Among the 3321 subjects in the primary screening, 56.9% (1891/3321) showed HpAb titers ≥3.0 U/mL; 1314 patients underwent gastroendoscopy. Ten were GC. 421 patients were “negative-high” group; two were GC. After evaluating 381 patients for Hp infection, 22.6%/60.6% was with present/past infection among the “negative-high” group. Conclusion. We also found a correlation between HpAb titers and Hp infection status. “Negative-high” group has a risk of GC.

Background: We previously showed that the apolipoprotein (apo) Eϵ2 allele is associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of the present study is to further investigate the association between apo E genetic polymorphism, plasma lipid levels (particularly remnant lipoproteins), and diabetic nephropathy. Subjects and Methods: One hundred fifty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes who had a duration of diabetes longer than 10 years were divided into the three apo E groups: apo E2 (n = 22), E3/3 (n = 102), and E4 (n = 34). Plasma levels of lipids and remnant lipoproteins were measured. The effect of apo E2 triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins, including remnant lipoproteins, on the accumulation of cholesteryl esters by human mesangial cells (HMCs) was estimated by measuring the stimulation of radioactive carbon-labeled oleate incorporation into cholesteryl esters. Results: The frequency of overt nephropathy was significantly greater in apo E2 patients with diabetes (59.1%) than apo E3/3 (34.3%) or apo E4 patients (8.8%), and the frequency of normoalbuminuria was significantly greater in apo E4 patients with diabetes (67.6%) than apo E3/3 (34.3%) or apo E2 patients (4.5%). Logistical regression analysis showed that odds ratios of apo E2 and apo E4 genotypes for the presence of overt nephropathy were 10.179 (P = 0.0349) and 0.129 (P = 0.0028), respectively. Plasma TG and remnant-like lipoprotein particle cholesterol levels were significantly greater in apo E2 patients and significantly lower in apo E4 patients than apo E3/3 patients. Apo E2 TG-rich lipoproteins stimulated the accumulation of cholesteryl esters by HMCs significantly more than apo E3/3 or apo E4 TG-rich lipoproteins. Conclusion: Apo E2 is a positive factor and apo E4 is a negative factor for diabetic nephropathy. Apo E2 TG-rich lipoproteins, including remnant lipoproteins, affected HMCs. Remnant lipoproteins may have an important role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

Both floating Vibratome sections from the following organs of rats, fixed in vivo by vascular perfusion; early and recovery stages of ethionine-induced fatty liver, secreting mammary gland, Gentamicin-injured renal cortex and resting adrenal cortex, and intact red cells of guinea pigs suspended in an isotonic buffer were treated, respectively, with the digestion medium containing each one of the following esterases; mold lipase, snake venom phospholipase and cholesterol esterase from microorganism. After digestion, the samples were immersed in 0.05-0.1% Pb(NO3)2, fixed in osmium buffer, dehydrated by Idelman's procedure, and finally embedded in epon. The derived fatty acids through enzymic digestions were detected in ultrathin sections as lead soaps, which were never seen in the duplicate control sections. Such a developed lead soap after digestion should indicate the location of substrate. This technique might be useful for the qualitative analysis of some mixedphased lipids in ultrastructure.

A case of generalized amyloidosis is reported which diffusely involved the alveolar septa. A 67-year-old Japanese housewife showed no clinical evidence of systemic disease. She had complained of anorexia and diarrhea for a year and finally died of pneumonia-like symptom. Autopsy revealed a generalized amyloidosis, in which amyloid materials deposited beneath the basement membrane prominently in alveolar septa, and slightly in glands of alimental tract, thyroid and kidneys, perireticularly in the myocardium and adipose tissues, focally in the interstitial spaces of urogenital tract, thyroid, eosphagus and pancreas, and within the walls of small blood vessels in many organs. No amyloid tumor was detected in the respiratory system. Severe alveolar septal amyloidosis occurred diffusely in both lungs in this case. The arrangement of amyloid deposition in the lungs was discussed in relation to gas diffusion in the alveolar walls.