Human colon epithelial cells secrete an array of proinflammatory cytokines that includes IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF, TNF alpha and IL-6. This response may serve to attract neutrophils and macrophags to the site of infection. In addition to IL-8 and MCP-1, the chemokine family contains other members, which, alone or in combination, can recruit and/or activate inflammatory and lymphoid cells. In this study, we asked whether colon epithelial cells express a broader array of chemokines than previously described. The colon epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was stimulated for 3h with IL-1 alpha, or was infected with Salmonella dublin. RNA was extracted and chemokine mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. Ex pression of GRO alpha, GRO beta, GRO gamma and IP-10 increased by bacterial infection or IL-l alpha stimulation. These data strongly support the notion that epithelal cells are an important and integral component of the host's natural immune system.
Bacterial Infections ; Chemokines ; Colon* ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans* ; Immune System ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella

We have experienced three cases of mucinous ductal ectasia of the pancreas. They showed the characteristic duodenoscopic findings and underlying pathology was hyperplasia in two cases and adenocarcinoma in one case. When endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was performed, bulging ampulla of Vater, patulous ampullary orifice and mucus leakage from papillary orifice were noted. Also cyst-like dilatation of main duct or side branch of the uncinate process were observed.
Adenocarcinoma ; Ampulla of Vater ; Dilatation ; Dilatation, Pathologic* ; Hyperplasia ; Mucins* ; Mucus ; Pancreas* ; Pathology

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prevalence* ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: Chemokines are potent regulators of the host inflammatory or immune responses. Mucosal synthesis of chemokines may be important in the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). We performed this study to investigate the expression of C-X-C chemokine genes in UC. METHODS: Mucosal tissues were obtained from six normal controls and six UC patients by endoscopic biopsies. In patients with UC, mucosal tissues were separately obtained from both involved and uninvolved regions. RNA was extracted and mRNA levels of five C-X-C chemokines were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. RESULTS: Mucosal mRNA levels of all chemokines tested increased in the involved region of UC compared with the uninvolved region of UC or normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that mucosal expression of C-X-C chemokines contributes to the pathogenesis of UC
Biopsy ; Chemokines ; Chemokines, CXC ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Ulcer*

Granular cell tumors involving the esophagus are rare tumors. Since Abrikossoff first reported five cases of granular tumor of the tongue in 1926, fewer than 200 cases of esophageal granular cell tumors have been reported in the world. The granular cell tumors usually were seen in tongue, skin & breast. it has rarely been noted in the esophagus. The treatment of this tumor was not established well. Therefore, we report a case of granular cell tumor of the low esophagus, which was resected by polypectomy following 'O'-band ligation. This 56-year-old male patient was transferred to our hospital because of abnormal endoscopic finding on the esophagus at local clinic. There was esophageal polypoid lesion on the low esophagus. After polypectomy, the lesion was revealed as granular cell tumor in histopathologic examination.
Breast ; Endoscopes ; Esophagus ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Tongue

No abstract available.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*

We evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with SO dyskinesia(n=16) who were confirmed by ERCP manometry during past 5 years. They were 14 male and 2 female and mean age was 52-year-old(range, 32-75). According to the criteria suggested by Hogan and Geenen, 13 patients were classified into biliary type and 3 patients into pancreatic type. Among the patients with biliary type(n=13), 12 patients fulfilled the criteria for group II dysfunction of SO and 1 patient for group III. Among the patients with pancreatic type(n=3), all fulfilled the criteria for group II. The manometric abnormalities were increased basal pressure(n=4), tachyoddia(n=7), increased retrograde propagation(n=3), tachyoddia and increased retrograde propagation(n=l), and tachyoddia and increased basal pressure(n=l). As treatment, 12 patients received conventional endoscopic sphincterotomy and 3 patients received endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy in addition to conventional endoscopic sphincterotomy. Satisfactory results (complete absence or marked reduction of pain) were obtained in 13(87%) out of 15 patients by endoscopic treatment. In conclusion, SO dyskinesia is not so common disease and the detection of patients with SO dyskinesia may increase by frequent application of ERCP manometry.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Dyskinesias ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction* ; Sphincter of Oddi* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Retrograde transpapillary cholangioscopy can be safely performed by use of a mother-baby-scope system after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Improved endoscopes are now available and may lead to a better acceptance of this technique. Cholangioscopy is complementary to cholangiography for differential diagnosis of various types of bile duct lesions. From march 1992 to September 1994, we performed 15 cases of peroral cholangioscopy for evaluation of bile duct lesions. Indications of peroral cholangioscopy were 6 cases of benign biliary diseases and 9 cases of malignant biliary diseases. In benign diseases, two cases of extrahepatic bile duct stones, 1 case of intrahepatic duct stone with stricture, 2 cases of benign elevated lesions of bile duct and 1 case of occluded expandable metallic stent were involved. In malignant diseases, 7 cases of primary bile duct cancer, 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion were involved. By use of peroral cholangioscopy with biopsy, differential diagnosis of bile duct lesion was possible. As a complication, severe abdominal pain and hypotension was developed in one case during the procedure and in another case, cholangitis was developed after the procedure. In conclusion, peroral cholangioscopy is a safe and useful procedure in various types of biliary diseases especially in the differential diagnosis of malignancy.
Abdominal Pain ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiography ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopes ; Hypotension ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents

If manometric profiles of sphincter of Oddi(SO) measured from the pancreatic duct and the bild duct are essentially equal, then measurement of manometric profiles from only one duct would be adequate in evaluating SO dysfunction. We report a series of 9 patients whom we evaluate with SO manometry. Cannulation of both the biliary sphincter segment and pancreatic sphincter segment was archived consecutively in one session and we compared the manometric parameters of choledochal sphincter from those of pancreatic sphincter. 1) In 7 out of 9 patients(78%), normal manometric finding of SO were seen in both choledochal and pancreatic sphincters. However, in 2 out of 9 cases(22%) abnormal manometric findings were noted in only one sphincter segment. Elevation of basal pressure(n = l) and increased retrograde propagation(n = 1) were found in the pancreatic sphincter segment alone. 2) Tbe mean intraductal pressure in the pancreatic duct was significantly greater(12.6+/- 5.8mmHg) than that of common bile duct(3.8+/- 3.3mmHg)(p<0.01). However, basal pressure, amplitude, frequency and propagation sequence in the phasic contraction of SO were not different significantly between choledochal and pancreatic sphincter segment. In conclusion, SO manometry of both the pancreatic and bile duct is needed if complete manometric information is desired. Selective cannulation of common bile duct and pancreatic duct during SO manometry is necessary in order to diagnose segmental 50 dysfunction.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Catheterization ; Common Bile Duct ; Humans ; Manometry ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Sphincter of Oddi

Idiopathic Myelofibrosis (IMF), a clonal disorder of a multipotent hemtopoietic progenitor cell of unknown etiology, is characterized by massive splenomegaly, leukoerythroblastic blood changes, and bone marrow fibrosis. Portal hypertension occurs in approximately 10% of patients with IMF. Alsom there mey be bleeding from esophageal varices. A 59-year-old woman was admitted with intermittent abdominal distension and melena. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed extensive esophageal varices with red colored signs, and subsequently esophageal variceal ligation was performed. Marked splenomegaly and ascites was observed through abdominal US and MRI scan. Bone marrow biopsy revealed an increase in reticulin and fibrosis. Extramedullary hematopoiesis and sinusoidal change were observed in the liver biopsy specimen. This case of IMF causing an esophageal variceal hemorrhage is herein reported.
Ascites ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Ligation ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Reticulin ; Splenomegaly ; Stem Cells