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Notes: Background  We observed nishikinezumi, cinnamon-coloured (NC)/Fujita (F) mice aged between 5 and 28 weeks. These NC mice have skin eruptions that resemble human atopic dermatitis (AD) under conventional circumstances.Object  We investigated the skin of eruptive and non-eruptive lesions in NC/F mice by using haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining, toluidine blue staining and immunohistopathological study with immunoglobulin (Ig)EɛRI, CD23, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, interferon (INF)-γ and Ia antigen.Results  Histological examination of the eruptive lesions revealed the perivascular infiltration of many lymphocytes and mast cells into the upper dermis. Intracellular oedema of the epidermis, lymphocyte infiltration into the epidermis and liquefaction degeneration of the basal layer were also observed. The numbers of IL-4 and IL-5 positive cells in the eruptive lesions were larger than those of the non-eruptive lesions. IL-4 and IL-5 positive cells in the eruptive lesions increased weekly. Some IFN-γ positive cells were observed in the eruptive lesions after 21 weeks. IFN-γ positive cells were scarce in the skin of both the non-eruptive and eruptive lesions before 21 weeks. Serum IgE increased from 7 weeks to 21 weeks.Discussion  We confirmed that these findings indicated that T helper (Th)2-dominant immunological activation transformed to a Th1-dominant situation. Many IgEɛRI positive cells were recognized in the dermis of the eruptive lesions by the time IgE had decreased. We assumed that the dermatitis before 21 weeks was an IgE-mediated allergy. We have previously reported that older NC/F mice had positive patch-test reactions to mites. Because serum IgE decreased after 21 weeks, dermatitis after 21 weeks might be associated more with cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity than with IgE-mediated immediate allergy.

Notes: Background : A decrease in pepsinogen and gastrin levels 1–3 months after Helicobacter pylori eradication is well known. However, few data are available on the long-term progression of these decreases beyond 1 year after eradication, and there has been no investigation into whether pepsinogen and gastrin levels return to normal levels as defined by data from H. pylori-negative patients with dyspepsia.Aim : We studied the effect of H. pylori eradication on pepsinogen and gastrin levels for more than 1 year, and compared levels to those in H. pylori-negative patients with dyspepsia. We also investigated the effect of H. pylori eradication on the course of atrophic corpus gastritis as reflected by histology, and on PGI levels and PG I/II ratio.Methods : We enrolled 172 H. pylori-positive patients with dyspepsia who had undergone successful eradication therapy of more than 1 year's duration and 101 non-treated H. pylori-negative patients with dyspepsia. H. pylori status was assessed at entry and at each endoscopy after eradication by culture, histological results, the rapid urease test and the urea breath test. In both groups, patients were evaluated for fasting serum pepsinogen I and II and gastrin using a radioimmunoassay technique, and underwent detailed histological assessment according to the updated Sydney System.Results : In the H. pylori-negative patients, mean serum pepsinogen I and II, I/II ratio and gastrin levels were 52.6 ± 20.8 ng/mL, 9.2 ± 4.2 ng/mL, 6.0 ± 1.7 and 53.5 ± 29.2 pg/mL, respectively. In H. pylori-positive patients with long-term eradication, pepsinogen I and II, I/II ratio and gastrin levels were 81.3 ± 46.6 ng/mL, 25.9 ± 17.1 ng/mL, 3.4 ± 1.3 and 131.9 ± 130.8 pg/mL, respectively, before treatment. At 1–3 months after eradication, serum pepsinogen I and II levels in the H. pylori-positive patients decreased to levels similar to those in the negative patients, whereas pepsinogen I/II ratio and gastrin levels remained lower and higher, respectively, than in the negative patients. Serum pepsinogen I/II ratio and gastrin levels then became similar between the groups at 12–15 months after eradication. In histological findings, inflammation and neutrophil activity decreased by 1–3 months, and atrophy in the corpus and metaplasia in the antrum decreased by 12–15 months.Conclusion : The results suggest that atrophic corpus gastritis and superficial gastritis are reversible, as indicated by both histological and serological findings in a long-term follow-up study.