Leserbrief Zum Beitrag von W. Harth und R. Linse: “Botulinophilie” Der Hautarzt (2001) 52:312–316

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Oleamide activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in vitro

Background

Lipid metabolism is altered in subjects with liver steatosis. FAS is a key enzyme in de novo lipogenesis and both FAS gene expression and enzymatic activity are primarily regulated by metabolic signals in the liver. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the rate-limiting enzyme for the hydrolysis of core triglycerides, plays a pivotal role in lipid metabolism. This study aims to investigate if circulating levels of FAS and LPL could be clinically associated with liver steatosis.

Methods

In this work, we present data obtained from a subsample of 94 subjects with liver steatosis enrolled by NUTRIEPA study, a nutritional trial in subjects with liver steatosis. Serum levels of FAS protein and LPL activity were evaluated by ELISA test and by a fluorescent method, respectively. The diagnosis and the degree of liver steatosis were based on laboratory and ecographic measurements. Statistical methods included Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, where appropriate. The ?? ² test has been performed to analyse categorical variables.

Results

The subjects with severe steatosis had significantly higher serum levels of FAS protein and LPL activity compared to subjects with mild and moderate liver steatosis. Moreover, a positive trend in serum levels of FAS expression from lower to higher degree of steatosis was also detected.

Conclusions

We describe a relationship between human liver steatosis and elevated levels of circulating lipogenic enzymes. Increased serum levels of FAS expression and LPL activity could be considered a marker of severe liver steatosis.     

Molecular analysis of major histocompatibility complex allelic associations with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan

Objective. To investigate the association of HLA class II alleles/haplotypes, type I C2 deficiency gene, and tumor necrosis factor α gene promoter allele (TNF2) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the Chinese population in Taiwan. Methods. The HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles were studied in 105 SLE patients and 115 controls by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe method, the subtyping of DRB1*15/16 and DRB5 by PCR with sequence-specific primers, type I C2 deficiency gene by PCR, and TNF2 by PCR-Nco I restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. The frequencies of the HLA class II alleles DRB1*02, DRB1*1502, DRB5*0102, DQB1*0501, and DQB1*0602 and DR2-associated haplotypes DRB1* 1501,DRB5*0101,DQB1*0602 and DRB1*1502,DRB5* 0102,DQB1*0501 were higher among SLE patients than among controls; however, only DQB1*0501 was statistically significantly associated with SLE. No specific allele/haplotype was significantly associated with lupus nephritis. No subject had type I C2 deficiency. SLE patients had a marginally higher percentage of TNF2, which was in linkage disequilibrium with DR3. Since DR3 was not associated with SLE in this Taiwanese Chinese population, TNF2 might play a role in the immunopathogenesis of SLE. Conclusion. Although no HLA-DRB1 allele was found to be significantly associated with SLE, the associations with DQB1*0501 and TNF2 suggest that DQB1 and tumor necrosis factor α may be important genetic factors in SLE susceptibility in the Chinese population in Taiwan.     

Moderate Ingestion of Alcohol Is Associated With Acute Ethanol‐Induced Suppression of Circulating CTX in a PTH‐Independent Fashion

The “J shape” curve linking the risk of poor bone health to alcohol intake is now well recognized from epidemiological studies. Ethanol and nonethanol components of alcoholic beverages could influence bone remodeling. However, in the absence of a solid underlying mechanism, the positive association between moderate alcoholic intake and BMD remains questionable because of confounding associated social factors. The objective of this work was to characterize the short‐term effects of moderate alcohol consumption on circulating bone markers, especially those involved in bone resorption. Two sequential blood‐sampling studies were undertaken in fasted healthy volunteers (age, 20–47 yr) over a 6‐h period using beer of different alcohol levels (<0.05–4.6%), solutions of ethanol or orthosilicic acid (two major components of beer), and water ± calcium chloride (positive and negative controls, respectively). Study 1 (24 subjects) assessed the effects of the different solutions, whereas study 2 (26 subjects) focused on ethanol/beer dose. Using all data in a “mixed effect model,” we identified the contributions of the individual components of beer, namely ethanol, energy, low‐dose calcium, and high‐dose orthosilicic acid, on acute bone resorption. Markers of bone formation were unchanged throughout the study for all solutions investigated. In contrast, the bone resorption marker, serum carboxy terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), was significantly reduced after ingestion of a 0.6 liters of ethanol solution (>2% ethanol; p ≤ 0.01, RM‐ANOVA), 0.6 liters of beer (<0.05–4.6% ethanol; p < 0.02), or a solution of calcium (180 mg calcium; p < 0.001), but only after calcium ingestion was the reduction in CTX preceded by a significant fall in serum PTH (p < 0.001). Orthosilicic acid had no acute effect. Similar reductions in CTX, from baseline, were measured in urine after ingestion of the test solutions; however, the biological variability in urine CTX was greater compared with serum CTX. Modeling indicated that the major, acute suppressive effects of moderate beer ingestion (0.6 liters) on CTX were caused by energy intake in the early phase (～0–3 h) and a “nonenergy” ethanol component in the later phase (～3 to >6 h). The early effect on bone resorption is well described after the intake of energy, mediated by glucagon‐like peptide‐2, but the late effect of moderate alcohol ingestion is novel, seems to be ethanol specific, and is mediated in a non–calcitonin‐ and a non–PTH‐dependent fashion, thus providing a mechanism for the positive association between moderate alcohol ingestion and BMD.     

METHYLATION STATUS OF BCL6 DISTINGUISHES DNA SAMPLES FROM BENIGN AND MALIGNANT LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

INTRODUCTION: Core biopsy of the breast has become the method of choice for tissue diagnosis of screen detected microcalcifications and some mass lesions in many breast assessment centres. Biopsy results are not available until the following day. Imprint cytology of fresh breast core samples allows same-day reporting and patient counselling.
AIM: To determine the accuracy of core imprint cytology when compared with core biopsy diagnosis when used in a breast assessment centre setting.
METHODS: Core imprints (CI) were prepared and reported on all fresh core biopsies (CB) performed at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Breast Centre from May to December 2000. Fresh core samples were placed on a glass microscope slide. Core radiographs were taken for microcalcification lesions (MC). A laboratory technician gently and quickly rolled the cores on the slide with fine forceps. The cores were fixed in formalin, processed and reported next day. The imprint slide was air dried and stained with DiffQuik. CI were reported using four categories: Insufficient, Benign, Indeterminate and Malignant. Counselling and planning for management were possible on the same day in women with malignant diagnoses. Clinicians were advised not to discuss negative or indeterminate CI results with women and to defer to the final CB report.
RESULTS: Cores were performed on 381 lesions. There were 83 carcinomas (38 in MC and 45 in masses) and 56 were called malignant on CI (absolute sensitivity 67.5%; 78.9% for MC and 57.8% for masses). 3 malignancies on CB were negative on CI giving a false negative rate of 3.6%. There were no false positive diagnoses. The predictive value of a benign diagnosis was 95.3%. There were no adverse effects in the histology of CB.
CONCLUSION: CI was an accurate method of providing an immediate diagnosis of malignancy in two thirds of malignancies confirmed on CB.     

Metallic Surface Treatment Using Electrochemical Polishing Decreases Thrombogenicity and Neointimal Hyperplasia of Coronary Stents

An abundant healing response resulting in a more pronounced neointimal hyperplasia compared to conventional balloon angioplasty remains the most important clinical problem after coronary stent implantation. In the present study the potential beneficial effect of metal surface treatment using electrochemical polishing on stent thrombogenicity and neointimal hyperplasia was evaluated in a rat A‐ V model and a porcine coronary model. An electrochemical polishing system was developed to improve surface characteristics of stainless steel stents. Topographic scanning of the stent surface using a profilometer type Taylor Holson Form Taylsurf 120L showed a significant effect on R, (arithmetic mean of the roughness height) (0.14 vs 0.04 μm: P < 0.001) and R_t (maximum rouhgness height between a peak and a valley for the sampling length) (1.44 vs 0.43 μm: P < 0.001). Thrombogenicity of polished stents (n = 6) was compared to nonpolished stents (n = 5) in a rat A ‐ V shunt model using ¹²⁵I fibrinogen and ⁵¹Cr‐labeled platelets. Total clot weight after 30 minutes was significantly lower in the polished stents (32.1 + 2.8 vs 18.1 + 4.4: P < 0.001). Also ¹²⁵I fibrinogen deposition was significantly lower in the polished stents (1.30 + 0.07 vs 0.66 + 0.04: P < 0.001). Platelet deposition, however, was not significantly reduced (12.7 + 3.4 vs 9.87 + 1.9, NS). Subsequently, the effect of electrochemical polishing on neointimal hyperplasia was evaluated in a porcine coronary model. Polished (n =10) and nonpolished stents (n =10) were randomly implanted in the right coronary artery of healthy pigs. Neointimal hyperplasia was significantly decreased in the polished stents (0.6 + 0.28 vs 0.9 + 0.34 mm²: P <0.01). Electrochemical polishing oj coronary stents results in decreased thrombogenicity and neointimal hyperplasia after stent implantation in different animal models.