Previous studies on the frequency of intestinal mast cells and eosinophils in patients with inflammatory bowel disease yielded conflicting results. In the present morphometric study, we quantified mast cells and eosinophils in the lamina propria by histological and immunohistochemical methods in 64 patients suffering from Crohn's disease (33 cases) or ulcerative colitis (31 cases), and in 29 controls. Histological data from 206 biopsies were related to the presence of mucosal inflammation and clinical parameters. The number of eosinophils was increased in patients with inflammatory bowel conditions (mean +/- SE: 331 +/- 44/mm2) as compared to controls (258 +/- 27/mm2), and was dependent on disease activity and drug treatment. Mean mast cell numbers did not differ between patients and controls. However, a reduced mast cell number was found in toluidine blue-stained sections of actively inflamed tissue areas (143 +/- 16/mm2, versus 206 +/- 18/mm2 in non-inflamed tissue). Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against the granule proteins tryptase and chymase suggest that this decrease in mast cell numbers is due to mast cell degranulation. The present data show that the number of intestinal mast cells and eosinophils is altered in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, suggesting that both cell types are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Renal disease in patients with Type II diabetes is the leading cause of terminal renal failure and a major healthcare problem. Hence early identification of patients prone to develop this complication is important. Diabetic renal damage should be reflected by a change in urinary polypeptide excretion at a very early stage. To analyse these changes, we used an online combination of CE/MS (capillary electrophoresis coupled with MS), allowing fast and accurate evaluation of up to 2000 polypeptides in urine. Employing this technology, we have examined urine samples from 39 healthy individuals and from 112 patients with Type II diabetes mellitus and different degrees of albumin excretion rate. We established a 'normal' polypeptide pattern in the urine of healthy subjects. In patients with Type II diabetes and normal albumin excretion rate, the polypeptide pattern in urine differed significantly from normal, indicating a specific 'diabetic' pattern of polypeptide excretion. In patients with higher grade albuminuria, we were able to detect a polypeptide pattern indicative of 'diabetic renal damage'. We also found this pattern in 35% of those patients who had low-grade albuminuria and in 4% of patients with normal albumin excretion. Moreover, we could identify several of the indicative polypeptides using MS/MS sequencing. We conclude that proteomic analysis with CE/MS permits fast and accurate identification and differentiation of polypeptide patterns in urine. Longitudinal studies should explore the potential of this powerful diagnostic tool for early detection of diabetic renal damage.

No abstract

No abstract

The role of allergic reactions in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome has been disputed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of adverse reactions to food in patients with gastrointestinal disease. A total of 375 adult patients of a gastroenterologic outpatient clinic were examined by history, skin tests, measurements of laboratory parameters, and intestinal provocation with food allergens by colonoscopy. Some 32% complained of adverse reactions to food as a cause of their abdominal symptoms. In 14.4%, the diagnosis of intestinal food allergy could be suspected according to several criteria such as elevated total IgE, specific IgE against food antigens, eosinophilia, responsiveness to cromoglycate, and clinical signs of atopic disease. In 3.2%, the diagnosis could be confirmed by endoscopic allergen provocation and/or elimination diet and rechallenge. In conclusion, the data suggest that allergic reactions to food antigens may be a causative factor in a subgroup of patients with inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal disease.