Shape of Barrett's epithelium is associated with prevalence of erosive esophagitis

AIM:To test the hypothesis that the shape and length of Barrett's epithelium are associated with prevalence of erosive esophagitis.METHODS:A total study population comprised 869 patients who underwent endoscopy during a health checkup at our hospital.The presence and extent of Barrett's epithelium were diagnosed based on the Prague C & M Criteria.We originally classified cases of Barrett's epithelium into two types based on its shape,namely,flamelike and lotus-like Barrett's epithelium,and into two groups based on its length,its C extent < 2 cm,and ≥ 2 cm.Correlation of shape and length of Barrett's epithelium with erosive esophagitis was examined.RESULTS:Barrett's epithelium was diagnosed in 374 cases(43%).Most of these were diagnosed as shortsegment Barrett's epithelium.The prevalence of erosive esophagitis was significantly higher in subjects with flame-like than lotus-like Barrett's epithelium,and in those with a C extent of ≥ 2 cm than < 2 cm.CONCLUSION:Flame-like rather than lotus-like Barrett's epithelium,and Barrett's epithelium with a longer segment were more strongly associated with erosive esophagitis.

IL-6 Plays Crucial Roles in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer through the Cytokine Networks including CXCL7

IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine and involved in variety of carcinogenesis. However, the association between IL-6 and sporadic colorectal cancer has not been fully explained. Here, we investigated the role of IL-6 signaling and the cytokine network in sporadic colorectal cancer. We investigated the serum IL-6 levels in patients with sporadic colorectal adenoma, cancer patients, and normal controls. In addition, the expressions of IL-6, gp130, and the IL-6 receptor subunit were investigated in biopsy specimens collected from these subjects. Furthermore, the expressions of CXCL7 and CXCR2, a chemokine and its receptor involved in IL-6 production, were also investigated. We observed an elevated level of serum IL-6 in colorectal cancer patients and an increased expression of IL-6 in colorectal cancer tissues, compared with the levels in a control group and in patients with adenoma. The phosphorylation of gp130 was also increased in the colorectal cancer tissues, compared with that in control and adenoma tissues. The expressions of CXCL7 and CXCR2 in the colorectal cancer tissues were also higher than those in control and adenoma tissues. IL-6 signaling is involved in sporadic colorectal cancer. In addition, the increased expressions of CXCL7 and CXCR2 might, in turn, increase the expression of IL-6 in colorectal cancer. Further studies are required to elucidate the function of the IL-6 signaling and the cytokine network in sporadic colorectal cancer.

characteristics of intestinal pseudo-obstruction in patients with mitochondrial diseases

AIM: To reveal the frequency, characteristics and prognosis of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) in mitochondrial disease patients. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 31 patients (13 males and 18 females) were di-agnosed with mitochondrial diseases at our hospital. We conducted a retrospective review of the patients' sex, subclass of mitochondrial disease, age at onset of mitochondrial disease, frequency of CIP and the age at its onset, and the duration of survival. The age at onset or at the first diagnosis of the disorder that led to the clinical suspicion of mitochondrial disease was also examined. RESULTS: Twenty patients were sub-classified with mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), 8 with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), and 3 with myoclonus epilepsy associated with ragged-red fibers (MERRF). Nine patients were diagnosed with CIP, 8 of the 20 (40.0%) patients with MELAS, 0 of the 8 (0.0%) patients with CPEO, and 1 of the 3 (33.3%) patients with MERRF. The median age (range) at the diagnosis and the median age at onset of mitochondrial disease were 40 (17-69) and 25 (12-63) years in patients with CIP, and 49 (17-81) and 40 (11-71) years in patients without CIP. During the survey period, 5 patients (4 patients with MELAS and 1 with CPEO) died. The cause of death was cardiomyopathy in 2 patients with MELAS, cerebral infarction in 1 patient with MELAS, epilepsy and aspiration pneumonia in 1 patient with MELAS, and multiple metastases from gastric cancer and aspiration pneumonia in 1 patient with CPEO. CONCLUSION: Patients with CIP tend to have disorders that are suspected to be related to mitochondrial diseases at younger ages than are patients without CIP.

Increased tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 expression in human colorectal adenomas

AIM: To determine the expression statuses of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, its receptors (TNF-R) and downstream effector molecules in human colorectal adenomas. METHODS: We measured the serum concentrations of TNF-α and its receptors in 62 colorectal adenoma patients and 34 healthy controls. The protein expression of TNF-α, TNF-R1, TNF-R2 and downstream signals of the TNF receptors, such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), nuclear factor-κ B and caspase-3, were also investigated in human colorectal adenomas and in normal colorectal mucosal tissues by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy was used to investigate the consistency of expression of TNF-R1 and phospho-JNK (p-JNK). RESULTS: The serum levels of soluble TNF-R1 (sTNF-R1) in adenoma patients were significantly higher than in the control group (3.67 ± 0.86 ng/mL vs 1.57 ± 0.72 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed the high diagnostic sensitivity of TNF-R1 measurements (AUC was 0.928) for the diagnosis of adenoma, and the best cut-off level of TNF-R1 was 2.08 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 93.4% and a specificity of 82.4%. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of TNF-α or sTNF-R2 between the two groups. Immunohistochemistry showed high levels of TNF-R1 and p-JNK expression in the epithelial cells of adenomas. Furthermore, a high incidence of co-localization of TNF-R1 and p-JNK was identified in adenoma tissue. CONCLUSION: TNF-R1 may be a promising biomarker of colorectal adenoma, and it may also play an important role in the very early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Relationship of human rectal aberrant crypt foci and formation of colorectal polyp:One-year following up after polypectomy

AIM:To clarify the relationship of human rectal aberrant crypt foci and formation of colorectal polyp.METHODS:Eighty-nine subjects were recruited from the population of Japanese individuals who underwent polypectomy at Yokohama City University Hospital.All patients had baseline adenomas removed at year 0 colonoscopy.Aberrant crypt foci(ACF) were defined as lesions in which the crypts were more darkly stained with methylene blue than normal crypts and had larger diameters,often with oval or slit-like lumens and a thicker epithelial lining.RESULTS:A total of 366 ACFs were identified in 89 patients;all had baseline adenomas removed at the first examination(year 0) colonoscopy and returned for the second(year 1).ACF in the lower rectum were assessed at year 0 and study group were divided into two groups depend on ACF numbers,0-3 or over 3.All participants were examined in the number and maximum size of adenoma.There was no statistical difference in number and maximum size of ACF at year 0,however,maximum size of adenoma was larger in over 3 group than 0-3 group at year 1.CONCLUSION:The number of ACF may be a predictive factor of relatively large adenoma incidence in the pilot phase study.

Early effects of oral administration of omeprazole and roxatidine on intragastric pH

Objective： The ideal medication for the treatment of acid-related diseases, e.g., peptic ulcers, stress- related gastric bleeding, functional dyspepsia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, should have a rapid onset of action to promote hemostasis and relieve the symptoms. The aim of our study was to investigate the inhibitory effects on gastric acid secretion of a single oral administration of a proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole 20 mg, and an H2-receptor antagonist, roxatidine 75 mg. Methods： Ten Heficobacterpylori-negative male subjects participated in this randomized, two-way crossover study. Intragastric pH was monitored continuously for 6 h after single oral admini- stration of omeprazole 20 mg and roxatidine 75 mg. Each administration was separated by a 7-d washout period. Results： During the 6-h study period, the average pH after administration of roxatidine was higher than that after administration of omeprazole （median： 4.45 vs. 2.65; P=0.0367）. Also during the 6-h study period, a longer duration of maintenance at pH above 2, 5, and 6 was observed after administration of roxatidine 75 mg than after administration of omeprazole 20 mg （median： 90.6% vs. 55.2%, P=-0.0284; 43.7% vs. 10.6%, P=0.0125; 40.3% vs. 3.3%, P=0.0125; respectively）. Conclusions： In Helicobacter pylori-negative healthy male subjects, oral administration of roxatidine 75 mg increased the intragastric pH more rapidly than that of omeprazole 20 mg.