Kazuyuki Tsuji

Neutrophils enhance invasion activity of human cholangiocellular carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells: An in vitro study

Background and Aim:  Tumor–mesenchymal interactions are involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion in several types of carcinoma. Mutual interactions between carcinoma cells and neutrophils, however, have been poorly understood. In the present study we examined the effect of neutrophils on invasion activities of carcinoma cells in vitro. Role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as a mediator was also evaluated.

Increased neutrophil chemotaxis in obstructive jaundice: an in vitro experiment in rats.

Background and Aims: Changes in neutrophil functions in obstructive jaundice have been poorly understood. An in vitro experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of obstructive jaundice on the functions of macrophages (secretion of neutrophil chemoattractants) and neutrophils (chemotaxis and superoxide anion generation).

Effect of obstructive jaundice on neutrophil chemotactic activity: An in vivo assessment in zymosan-induced peritonitis model in rats

The effect of obstructive jaundice on local neutrophil accumulation in response to inflammatory stimulus was investigated in rats. Obstructive jaundice was produced by bile duct ligation for 7 days. Zymosan (200 mg) was injected intraperitoneally and 4h later myeloperoxidase activity in the peritoneal fluid was measured to quantify neutrophil recruitment. Zymosan‐induced neutrophil recruitment was significantly greater (more than two‐fold) in bile duct‐ligated rats than in sham‐ligated or normal animals. Depletion of peritoneal cells significantly suppressed neutrophil recruitment after zymosan injection in all three groups, with no significant differences between the groups. In normal rats, replacement of their peritoneal cells by those from bile duct‐ligated rats did not enhance zymosan‐induced neutrophil recruitment. In contrast, bile duct‐ligated rats treated with peritoneal cell replacement from normals showed significantly increased neutrophil recruitment after zymosan injection. In vitro neutrophil chemotaxis in response to formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe was significantly enhanced in bile duct‐ligated rats, compared with that in sham‐ligated animals. The results suggest that local neutrophil recruitment in response to inflammation may be enhanced in obstructive jaundice and that increased neutrophil chemotactic activity, not macrophage activity, may play a prime role in the mechanism.

Influence of biliary obstruction on neutrophil chemotaxis

Abstract: The effect of obstructive jaundice on neutrophil chemotactic function was investigated, with a potent chemotactic factor, IL-8 (recombinant rat GRO-β), in rats that received 7-day bile duct ligation. Carrageenin or IL-8 was injected into a preformed air pouch, and exudate was collected 4 h later for measurement of myeloperoxidase activity. In vitro chemotaxis of peripheral neutrophils to IL-8 was evaluated by a modified Boyden chamber method. Both carrageenin and IL-8 induced significantly pronounced intra-air pouch neutrophil recruitment in the bile duct-ligated group compared with a sham-ligated group. In vitro neutrophil chemotaxis was significantly increased in the bile duct-ligated group compared with the sham-ligated group. The present experimental model suggests enhanced neutrophil chemotaxis to IL-8 in obstructive jaundice.

Effects of obstructive jaundice on neutrophil production and acquisition of chemotactic activity in the bone marrow

Background and Aims:  Increased numbers and enhanced functions of peripheral neutrophils have been observed in obstructive jaundice. However, the effects of obstructive jaundice on the bone marrow, that is neutrophil production and acquisition of neutrophil chemotactic activity, have been poorly understood. In the present study, differentials of bone marrow cells and chemotactic activity of bone marrow neutrophils were evaluated in bile duct‐obstructed rats.

MR imaging in The Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of B-RTO for Gastric Varices

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) has become a new treatment option for gastric varices. In the present study, mid-term follow-up data after B-RTO were presented, and the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR-portography in the assessment of therapeutic effect was evaluated. METHODOLOGY Twelve patients with gastric varices were treated with up to three sessions of B-RTO. The patients were followed up with MRI, MR-portography, and endoscopy for a mean of 12.3 months. RESULTS In ten patients, one (n = 8) or two (n = 2) sessions of B-RTO were effective to produce immediate (< 2 weeks) variceal obliteration on MRI and MR-portography. Endoscopic confirmation of variceal eradication was obtained within three (n = 9) or six (n = 1) months after B-RTO in these patients. The remaining two patients who underwent three sessions of B-RTO showed only a significant reduction in variceal size immediately after B-RTO, but variceal obliteration was observed within three months with subsequent variceal eradication. There were no signs of exacerbation of gastric varices on MRI and endoscopy in any patient during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that B-RTO is effective for the treatment of gastric varices. MRI and MR-portography may provide accurate assessment of therapeutic effect.

The Effect of Biliary Pressure on Antibiotic Excretion into Bile

Abstract: Biliary obstruction has been recognized to inhibit excretion of antibiotics into bile. In the present study, using cefpirome sulfate (CPR), we sought to determine the effect of biliary pressure on antibiotic transfer into bile in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Thirty‐six patients with a variety of biliopancreatic diseases (free of renal disease or hypoproteinemia) received a single intravenous dose of CPR (1 g) prior to ERCP. Under fluoroscopy a diagnostic catheter with a metal ball tip was advanced into the middle portion of the extrahepatic bile duct or, in cases of common bile duct obstruction, above the obstruction. Biliary pressure was measured via the same catheter using duodenal pressure as a reference. Subsequently, bile was aspirated, and blood was withdrawn simultaneously. The mean interval between CPR administration and the bile and blood samplings was 67±12 minutes. The bile CPR concentration and the bile/serum ratio of CPR concentrations showed a significant inverse correlation with biliary pressure, but the serum CPR concentration did not. The bile CPR concentration and the bile/serum ratio of CPR concentrations differed significantly between the group with normal biliary pressures, below 10 mmHg, and that with biliary pressures exceeding 10 mmHg. The serum CPR concentrations of the two groups were similar. These results suggest that biliary pressure plays an important role in determining antibiotic transfer into bile.