The etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown, while an exacerbating factor of this disease is associated with infectious agents. Recently, Fusobacterium varium has been found in the mucosa of a significant number of patients with UC. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of F. varium infection based on serology, evaluate the relationship between F. varium seropositivity and UC, and determine the clinical characteristics of infected UC individuals. Seropositive patients were determined by immunoblotting with F. varium ATCC 8501 antigen. We also identified cross-reactive protein spots by peptide mass mapping analysis. These protein spots showed putative caseinolytic protease protein, putative translation elongation factor G, and putative enolase. Immunoblotting with F. varium antigen revealed signals with sera from 45 (40.2%) of the 112 UC patients and 20 (15.6%) of the 128 healthy controls, respectively (P o 0.01). In terms of disease activity, seropositive UC patients were more likely to have clinically severe disease than seronegative UC patients. Disease location in seropositive patients was more extensive than the seronegative patients. In conclusion, F. varium is a predominant infection in the UC population and is a potential pathogen of UC.

Meckel syndrome, which is diagnosed by 2 of 3 main congenital malformations such as an occipital encephalocele, polycystic kidneys, and polydactyly, is an autosomally inherited recessive disease. We have experienced a case of Meckel syndrome and performed necropsy. Necropsy findings revealed multiple congenital malformations with occipital meningo‐encephalocele and agenesis of the cerebellum, 6 digits on the hands and feet, polycystic kidneys. The criteria of Meckel syndrome is still unclear. We propose that the diagnosis of this syndrome may be accompanied by the presence of all triad of main malformations. Ninety four cases satisfying this criteria have been reported in the world literature. Several discussion were made from a review of the literature.

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