Topical application of glycyrrhizin preparation ameliorates experimentally induced colitis in rats

AIM:To examine the efficacy of glycyrrhizin preparation(GL-p) in the treatment of a rat model of ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS:Experimental colitis was induced by oral administration of dextran sodium sulfate.Rats with colitis were intrarectally administered GL-p or saline.The extent of colitis was evaluated based on body weight gain,colon wet weight,and macroscopic damage score.The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the inflamed mucosa were measured by cytokine antibody array analysis.The effect of GL-p on myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity in the inflamed mucosa and purified enzyme was assayed.RESULTS:GL-p treatment significantly ameliorated the extent of colitis compared to sham treatment with saline.Cytokine antibody array analysis showed that GL-p treatment significantly decreased the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines,including interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2,and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the inflamed mucosa.Furthermore,GL-p inhibited the oxidative activity of mucosal and purified MPO.CONCLUSION:GL-p enema has a therapeutic effect on experimental colitis in rats and may be useful in the treatment of UC.

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma responds to MK615, a compound extract from the Japanese apricot “Prunus mume ”

MK615, a compound extracted from the Japanese apricot "Prunus mume " has been reported to have in vitro anti-tumor activities against several cancer cell lines,including hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). However, the clinical effects and feasibility of administering MK615for patients with HCC were unknown. We experienced a case with advanced HCC for which MK615 was effective against both lymph node and pulmonary metastases. A 60-year-old female underwent surgical resection of a 9 cm HCC in the right lobe. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated HCC with vascular invasion. The HCC recurred in the liver 8 mo after the surgery. Radiofrequency ablation and transarterial infusion chemotherapy were performed, but the recurrence was not controlled. One year after the intrahepatic recurrence, pulmonary and lymph metastasis appeared.Sorafenib was administered, but was not effective.Then, MK615 was administered as a final alternative therapy after informed consent was obtained from the patient. Three months later, her alpha-fetoprotein level decrease and both the lymph node and pulmonary metastases decreased in size. The patient has survived for more than 17 mo after the MK615 administration, and was in good condition. Although further investigations are necessary to clarify its safety and efficacy in humans, MK615 may be useful for the treatment of HCC,without serious adverse effects.

Analysis of ABC (D) stratification for screening patients with gastric cancer

AIM:To evaluate the value of ABC(D) stratification [combination of serum pepsinogen and Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) antibody]of patients with gastric cancer.METHODS:Ninety-five consecutive patients with gastric cancer were enrolled into the study.The serum pepsinogenⅠ(PGⅠ) /pepsinogenⅡ(PGⅡ) and H.pylori antibody levels were measured.Patients were classified into five groups of ABC(D) stratification according to their serological status.Endoscopic findings of atrophic gastritis and histological differentiation were also analyzed in relation to the ABC(D) stratification.RESULTS:The mean patient age was(67.9±8.9) years.Three patients(3.2%) were classified into group A,7 patients(7.4%) into group A',27 patients(28.4%) into group B,54 patients(56.8%) into group C,and 4patients(4.2%) into group D,respectively.There were only three cases in group A when the patients taking acid proton pump inhibitors and those who had undergone eradication therapy for H.pylori(group A') were excluded.These three cases had mucosal atrophy in the grey zone according to the diagnostic manual of ABC(D) stratification.Histologically,the mean age of the patients with well differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of the patients with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma(P<0.05) .There were no differences in the pattern of atrophy in the endoscopies between the well differentiated and poorly differentiated groups.CONCLUSION:ABC(D) stratification is a good method for screening patients with gastric cancers.Endoscopy is needed for grey zone cases to check the extent of mucosal atrophy.