Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging in the differential diagnosis of gastric adenoma and carcinoma and identification of a simple indicator.

Background And Aims: Discrimination of gastric adenomas from adenocarcinomas by conventional endoscopy is difficult. Therefore, we evaluated the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy combined with narrow-band imaging for this differential diagnosis.

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive gastric lesions were diagnosed as adenomas by conventional endoscopy with forceps biopsy and finally resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Prognostic factors for colectomy in refractory ulcerative colitis treated with calcineurin inhibitors.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as cyclosporin A (CSA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are efficacious in patients with steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis (UC). We retrospectively investigated patients with refractory UC treated with CNIs to elucidate the prognostic factors for a colectomy. Data from 59 patients (35 men and 24 women) were analyzed.

Magnified endoscopy combined with narrow band imaging of minimal superficial esophageal neoplasia-indicators to differentiate intraepithelial neoplasias.

Purpose: Clinical application of narrow band imaging facilitates diagnosis of esophageal neoplasia. However, no previous investigation has been conducted on magnifying endoscopy combined with narrow band imaging in detection of minimal superficial esophageal neoplasia, which is defined as neoplasia <10 mm in diameter. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the usefulness of this combined technique in the differential diagnosis of minimal superficial esophageal neoplasia.

The severity of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis can differ between dextran sodium sulfate preparations of the same molecular weight range.

Background: We hypothesized that the severity of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis could differ between DSS preparations of the same molecular weight, and that this difference may be affected by the sulfur content. To test this, we used three DSS preparations of similar molecular weights but with different sulfur contents.

Methods: Three DSS preparations with molecular weights of 40,000 to 50,000 were tested: MP Biomedicals (MP Bio), USB (USB), and The Lab Depot (The Lab).

The DPP-IV inhibitor ER-319711 has a proliferative effect on the colonic epithelium and a minimal effect in the amelioration of colitis.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors are expected to prolong the half-life of Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-2) as well as GLP-1, and may result in the promotion of epithelial cell proliferation and regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a DPP-IV inhibitor can promote epithelial proliferation and attenuate dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Nine-week-old female C57/B6 mice were given a single dose of ER-319711 to assess the changes in plasma GLP-2 concentrations.

Butyrate stimulates IL-32alpha expression in human intestinal epithelial cell lines.

Aim: To investigate the effects of butyrate on interleukin (IL)-32alpha expression in epithelial cell lines.

Methods: The human intestinal epithelial cell lines HT-29, SW480, and T84 were used. Intracellular IL-32alpha was determined by Western blotting analyses.

Interleukin-33 expression is specifically enhanced in inflamed mucosa of ulcerative colitis.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-33 is a cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family. IL-33 has been shown to elicit a Th2-like cytokine response in immune cells. In this study, we investigated IL-33 expression in the inflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and characterized the molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-33 expression in human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs).

The multidrug-resistance protein 4 polymorphism is a new factor accounting for thiopurine sensitivity in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) functions as an efflux pump of nucleoside monophosphate analogs, such as 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN). A single-nucleotide polymorphism in human MRP4 (rs3765534) dramatically reduces MRP4 function and results in the intracellular accumulation of 6-TGN. In this study, we investigated the association between MRP4 G2269A polymorphism and thiopurine sensitivity in Japanese IBD patients.

Cellobiose Prevents the Development of Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Experimental Colitis.

Cellobiose is produced from cellulose using specific bacterial enzymes, and is hydrolyzed into glucose by the enzymes cellobiosidase and cellulase. In this study, we examined the effects of cellobiose on colonic mucosal damage in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model. BALB/c mice were divided into two groups.