Kenji Sawada

1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses colonic tumorigenesis induced by repetitive intrarectal injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in rats

The effect of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha (OH)D3) on colonic tumorigenesis induced by chronic treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was studied in rats. Seventy-four female F344 rats received an intrarectal injection of 1 mg of MNU once a week for 40 weeks. Two-thirds of rats were given concomitant administration of 0.2 ml of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) or MCT containing 0.04 microgram of 1 alpha (OH)D3 through an intragastric route thrice weekly. Numbers of rats bearing colonic tumor were 21 in MNU alone (n = 24), 17 in MNU + MCT (n = 25) and 12 in MNU + 1 alpha (OH)D3 group (n = 25) (uncorrected chi 2 = 8.72). The result indicated that colonic tumorigenesis induced by the chronic treatment with MNU was suppressed by oral supplementation of 1 alpha (OH)D3 and the inhibitory effect of 1 alpha (OH)D3 was partly due to the effect of MCT.

High concentration and retained amidation of fecal bile acids in patients with active ulcerative colitis

SummaryFecal bile acid profiles of 14 patients with ulcerative colitis in the active phase were analyzed to study the potential significance of bile acids in the pathophysiology of this disease, and the results were compared with those in 12 healthy controls. The excretion levels of total bile acids (mean ± SD) in patients were higher than in controls, 445.1 ± 392.1 vs 215.5 ± 148.0 µmol/day, 3.1 ± 1.7 vs 1.6 ± 1.0 µmol/g wet feces (P<0.05), and 17.2 ± 9.2 vs 12.4 ± 13.3 µmol/g dry feces. Fecal profiles of individual bile acids showed higher levels of primary bile acids (52 ± 27%) in patients compared to those (26 ± 21%) in controls. Proportions of glycine and taurine conjugates in patients (26 ± 24%) were higher than in controls (5 ± 2%) (P<0.05), whereas proportions of unconjugates and sulfates were lower in patients than in controls. Accordingly the extent of deconjugation and dehydroxylation of bile acids was lower in patients than in controls. These trends were prominent in patients with more severe disease activity. A high concentration of bile acids in the intestine may have a significant role in the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis at active phase.

Acute Mycotic Thyroiditis

An autopsy case of acute thyroiditis in acute lymphocytic leukemia is presented. The thyroiditis was mycotic and developed severe necrotic inflammation with a hemorrhage and a perithyroidal abscess, and resulting in disseminating mycosis with multiple microabscesses in both kidneys and in myocardium.

Effects of 5β-chol-3-en-24-oic acid, and lithocholic acid and its sulfates on prostaglandin E2 output in perfusion of the rat colon

SummaryThe effects of bile salts on the output of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were studied in rats by colonic perfusion. Bile salts and their concentrations in infusates were as follows; chenodeoxycholic acid sodium salt (CDCNa), sulfolithocholic acid disodium salt (SLCNa) and sulfotaurolithocholic acid disodium salt (STLCNa) were at 1 mmol/1, lithocholic acid sodium salt (LCNa) was at 0.6 mmol/1, 5β-chol-3-en-24-oic acid sodium salt (A3Na) was at 0.006 mmol/1, and sulfoglycolithocholic acid disodium salt (SGLCNa) was at 0.8 mmol/1. Median values of PGE2 outputs were 40.9, 52.4, 65.5, trace, 7.6, 9.8 and 9.8 pg/10 min/cm in the CDCNa, LCNa, Λ3Na, SLCNa, STLCNa, SGLCNa and control groups, respectively (control vs CDCNa, LCNa, Λ3Na, SLCNa group, p< 0.01 by median test). There was such a dissociation in PGE2 output and electrolyte concentration in the perfusates that high concentration of Na+ and Cl- ions was observed only in the SGLCNa group (p< 0.01 by t-test compared with the control group), whereas in the remainder of the groups substantial net movement of electrolytes and water was not observed. Light microscopy showed no evidence of morphological damage in any group. These results indicated that CDCNa, LCNa and Λ3Na increased PGE2 outputs in the colon at low concentration without functional or morphological changes.