Experimental-Induced Colitis in Rats by Ethanolic Solution of Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid and Ethanol Alone : A Comparative Study

Epidemiological data suggest an increase in both developed and undeveloped countries of inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, its etiology and pathophysiology remain unknown. Appropriated animal models are needed. We have studied a rat model of hapten-induced chronic colitis. In Wistar rats, intracolonic instillation of 20 mg or 42 mg of the hapten trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in 30 % and 40 % ethanol proved to induce chronic colitis after 14 to 21 days of administration, in dose-dependent fashion when compared with ethanol alone that induced only acute colitis after three days of administration. This chronic colitis shares some characteristics with inflammatory bowel disease in humans, specially with Crohn\u27s disease, such as transmural inflammation, development of strictures, ulcerations and infiltration of inflammatory cells throughout the colonic wall. These features make this model suitable for further studies of intestinal inflammation

Distribution and Localization of Endocrine Cells in the Human Gastro-intestinal Tract -In Relation to Histogenesis of Rectal Carcinoid-

The distribution of endocrine cells in the human intestine was studied by immunostaining using the labeled avidinbiotin technique. The total number of endocrine cells was abundant in the proximal portion of the small intestine and the distal portion of the large intestine. Gastrin, cholecystokinin, and motilin immunoreactive cells were localized in the proximal portion of the small intestine. Peptide YY, serotonin, and glucagon/glicentin immunoreactive cells were distributed more abundantly in the lower large intestine. The serotonin and somatostatin concentrations in the colonic mucosa determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay were higher in the distal than proximal portion of the large intestine, being in correlation with the distribution of serotonin and somatostatin immunoreactive cells estimated by immunostaining. Therefore, the regional differences in the number of endocrine cells and the mucosal concentrations of the hormones probably reflect differences in the physiological functions of different regions of the gut. Not many endocrine cells with unknown peptides and animes and immature endocrine cells were present in the lower large intestine. Therefore, the frequent occurrence of carcinoids in the rectum is difficult to explain by the quantitative dominance of endocrine cells alone in the rectal mucosa, and other factors are considered to need evaluation

A Clinico-pathological Study of Gastric Polyps Treated with Endoscopic Polypestomy

181 gastric polyps obtained by endoscopic polypectomy were studied clinico-pathologically. The polyps occurred most frequently in the lower portion, and the incidence of the polyps tended to increase with age. 91% (164/181) of the polyps were occupied by hyperplastic polyps, and 3 polyps and one polyp respectively with dysplastic and carcinomatous foci were detected in 164 hyperplastic polyps. Although hyperplastic polyps rarely transform into dysplasia or carcinoma, careful follow-up is recommended

Small Colonic Cancer with Invasion of the Subserosal Layer. Report of a Case

Small, flat-type advanced colonic adenocarcinomas are rare. We present a case of small colonic carcinoma invading the subserosal layer. A 61-year-old asymptomatic man was admitted for further examination of positive occult blood test. Barium enema and endoscopic examination revealed a small (10 mm in diameter) flat lesion with elevated margins and a central depression, in the transverse colon. Biopsy specimen taken from the tumor showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Based on radiologic and endoscopic evaluation, a provisional diagnosis was made of colonic tumor with invasion of the deep submucosal layer. Surgical resection of the transverse colon was performed. The tumor was macroscopically a type IIa + IIc lesion measuring 10 mm in diameter. Histological examination showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma infiltrating the subserosal layer. Awareness of this type of tumor should allow early diagnosis and treatment, resulting in improved prognosis

Superficial Depressed Type (IIc) Early Cancer of the Colon : Report of Two Cases

Two cases of superficial depressed type (IIc) early cancer of the colon are reported. Case 1 was a 65-year-old male and case 2 a 69-year old male. The lesion was located in the descending colon in both cases, and was removed by strip biopsy endoscopically in the former and surgically in the latter. The size of the lesion after resection was 6 mm in case 1 and 5 mm in case 2. Histopathologically, both cases were well differentiated adenocarcinoma without adenomatous components, and carcinoma developed de novo by submucosal (sm) invasion. As to the immunohistochemical staining of the cancer tissue by tumor associated antigen, case 1 showed a strong expression of carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) and partial expression of sialyl Lewisx, and case 2 showed expressions of both CEA and sialyl Lewisx . The nuclear DNA content by flow cytometry was aneuploid only in case 1. Thus, although the two cases were morphologically the same IIc type cancer, the process of carcinogenesis and secondary phenomena varied

Eosinophil Activation in Ulcerative Colitis

To evaluate the activity level of eosinophils in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), we analyzed peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and the percentage of hypodense eosinophils among all eosinophils in peripheral blood. Patients with active UC had significantly higher serum ECP levels and eosinophil counts, compared with patients in remission and healthy controls. Serum ECP levels correlated positively with eosinophil counts. In patients who could be followed from the active stage of UC to remission, ECP decreased significantly over time and eventually reached approximately normal levels, while eosinophil counts showed no significant change. The mean percentage of hypodense eosinophils (specific gravity < 1.082 g/ml) in peripheral blood was 5% or less in patients in remission and healthy controls, but it was 31.7 % in patients with active UC. These results suggest that eosinophils are activated in patients with UC, and that they are involved in injury to the colorectal mucosa by inducing the release of cytotoxic proteins such as ECP