Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) in Ulcerative Colitis

One of the eosinophil granule proteins is eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) which is basic and cytotoxic. The association of ECP in ulcerative colitis (UC) was studied by immunohistochemical method and RIA. ECP was localized in the lamina propria and the interstitium of the UC colon mucosa, showing a significant increase in distribution compared to the control. The ECP content, which was compared among the three groups according to the severity of UC classified by Matts\u27 histopathological classification, disclosed an increasing tendency as the histological severity increased. The serum ECP level in active UC 17.68±12.25μg/L (n = 21) was significantly higher than that in inactive UC. In view of these findings, it was speculated that ECP has a role, though partial, in the damage of the colonic mucosa in UC on the basis of its biological features

Natural Variation in the Flag Leaf Morphology of Rice Due to a Mutation of the NARROW LEAF 1 Gene in Oryza sativa L.

We investigated the natural variations in the flag leaf morphology of rice. We conducted a principal component analysis based on nine flag leaf morphology traits using 103 accessions from the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences Core Collection. The first component explained 39% of total variance, and the variable with highest loading was the width of the flag leaf (WFL). A genome-wide association analysis of 102 diverse Japanese accessions revealed that marker RM6992 on chromosome 4 was highly associated with WFL. In analyses of progenies derived from a cross between Takanari and Akenohoshi, the most significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for WFL was in a 10.3-kb region containing the NARROW LEAF 1 (NAL1) gene, located 0.4 Mb downstream of RM6992. Analyses of chromosomal segment substitution lines indicated that a mutation (G1509A single-nucleotide mutation, causing an R233H amino acid substitution in NAL1) was present at the QTL. This explained 13 and 20% of total variability in WFL and the distance between small vascular bundles, respectively. The mutation apparently occurred during rice domestication and spread into japonica, tropical japonica, and indica subgroups. Notably, one accession, Phulba, had a NAL1 allele encoding only the N-terminal, or one-fourth, of the wild-type peptide. Given that the Phulba allele and the histidine-type allele showed essentially the same phenotype, the histidine-type allele was regarded as malfunctional. The phenotypes of transgenic plants varied depending on the ratio of histidine-type alleles to arginine-type alleles, raising the possibility that H(233)-type products function differently from and compete with R(233)-type products

Adenocarcinoma of the Colon Presenting as Intussusception In Adult: Report of Two Cases

We present two adult cases of intussusception caused by adenocarcinoma of the colon. These cases represent typical cases of adult intussusception, a rare disease characterized by insidious onset, vague abdominal symptoms, and elusive diagnosis. On physical examination, the masses were palpable in the right hypochondrium. Colonic intussusception were diagnosed by characteristic finding on ultrasonography (US) and computer tomography (CT). Endoscopic examination showed pedunculated tumors with central ulceration, in the cecum, which caused colonic intussusception, and endoscopic biopsies showed adenocarcinoma of the colon. US and CT are useful non-invasive diagnostic tools that allow early detection of intussusception. Colonoscopy is recommended for differential diagnosis and possibly a direct reduction of intussusception

Ultraflex Stent Placement for Palliation of Esophageal Cancer

Nine patients with malignant esophageal obstruction were treated with non-covered or covered Ultraflex stents. All patients achieved palliation, six of nine patients showed improvement of at least one dysphagia grade, and five patients could tolerate a normal or near-normal diet. Major (massive bleeding) and minor complications (ingrowth, overgrowth, stent migration, and bleeding) were encountered during follow-up in 2 and 4 patients, respectively. Ultraflex stents for esophageal cancer offer effective palliative treatment and quickly improve dysphagia. However, care should be exercised particularly of potentially serious life-threatening complications such as massive bleeding

Primary Bile Duct Cystadenocarcinoma with Direct Invasion to the Gastric Wall

Bile duct cystadenocarcinomas are rare cystic neoplasms of the liver. A 70-year-old woman with a cystadenocarcinoma with the invasion to the stomach as a submucosal tumor is presented. There were unrepresentative findings in a pre-operative examination, and it was difficult to distinguish whether this cystic tumor was malignant or benign. The tumor in the stomach was diagnosed as submucosal prior to operation, but was revealed as an invasive tumor from a bile duct cystadenocarcinoma in a left lobe of the liver during surgery. As it metastasized to the stomach and spread intraductally, a left lobectomy was performed. The operation was noncurative but the patient has been alive for 19 months since