Incidence of and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal complications in patients taking low-dose aspirin in Japan.

Background/aims: Low-dose aspirin is widely used for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, administration of low-dose aspirin is associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal complications, such as upper gastrointestinal erosions, ulcers and bleeding. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence and various clinical factors of upper gastrointestinal complications associated with low-dose aspirin treatment.

Management of acute lower intestinal bleeding: what bowel preparation should be required for urgent colonoscopy?

Background/aims: The management of acute intestinal bleeding is not standardized. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable method of bowel preparation for urgent colonoscopy.

Methodology: One hundred and forty patients admitted with acute lower intestinal bleeding (ALIB) to our Hospital (April 1998 to March 2004) were studied.

Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma promotes tumorigenesis through activation of the beta-catenin / T cell factor (TCF) pathway in the mouse intestine.

Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is strongly expressed in the intestinal epithelium, the role of PPARgamma in intestinal tumorigenesis has not yet been elucidated. To address this issue, we investigated the effect of PPARgamma inhibition and its mechanism on intestinal tumorigenesis using a selective antagonist, T0070907. We treated Apc(Min/+) mice and carcinogen-induced colon cancer model C57BL/6 mice with T0070907 and counted the number of spontaneous polyps and aberrant crypt foci and observed cell proliferation and beta-catenin protein in the colon epithelium.

Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity suppresses pancreatic cancer cell motility.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that has been implicated in the carcinogenesis and progression of various solid tumors, including pancreatic carcinomas. We aimed to clarify the role of this receptor in pancreatic cell motility in vitro and in metastasis in vivo. Cell motility was examined by assaying transwell migration and wound filling in Capan-1 and Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells, with or without the PPARgamma-specific inhibitor T0070907.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM).

We report a rare case of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) in which parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) was identified as the causative factor of hypercalcemia. A 72-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our institution complaining of fever and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a large tumor in the body of the pancreas, with multiple liver metastases.

Metformin suppresses intestinal polyp growth in ApcMin/+ mice.

Metformin is a biguanide derivative that is widely used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. One of the pharmacological targets of metformin is adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). We investigated the effect of metformin on the suppression of intestinal polyp formation in Apc(Min/+) mice.

Expression of adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, in normal colon epithelium and colon cancer tissue.

Adiponectin is secreted by adipocytes and is a key hormone responsible for insulin sensitization. Recent studies have shown that plasma adiponectin is decreased in patients with breast, endometrial and gastric cancer. However, the effect of adiponectin on colorectal carcinogenesis is controversial.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) suppresses colonic epithelial cell turnover and colon carcinogenesis through inhibition of the beta-catenin/T cell factor (TCF) pathway.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a nuclear receptor superfamily member, plays a major role in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. We investigated the role of PPARgamma in colonic epithelial cell turnover and carcinogenesis in colon because PPARgamma is strongly expressed in colonic epithelium. Administration of PPARgamma agonists suppressed epithelial cell turnover in mice.

5-aminosalicylic acid given in the remission stage of colitis suppresses colitis-associated cancer in a mouse colitis model.

Purpose: The risk of colorectal cancer is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, especially those with ulcerative colitis (UC). Although 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is widely used in the treatment of UC to suppress the colitic inflammation, no studies have been conducted to examine the chemopreventive effect of 5-ASA, given in the remission phase of colitis, against colitis-associated cancer using animal models. We therefore investigated the possible inhibition by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) ligands and 5-ASA of colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in a mouse model.

Life style-related diseases of the digestive system: colorectal cancer as a life style-related disease: from carcinogenesis to medical treatment.

Life style-related diseases are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, an association has been demonstrated between obesity and CRC. CRC has been associated with markers of insulin or glucose control, and insulin resistance might be the unifying mechanism by which several risk factors affect colorectal carcinogenesis.

Life style-related diseases of the digestive system: gene expression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients and treatment strategies.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subset of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sometimes progresses to cirrhosis and liver failure. We analyzed the expression profiles of approximately 50,000 genes and biological pathways in NASH patients in comparison with simple steatosis patients by using the analytical technique of GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) by DNA microarrays. Although expressions of various genes were altered, GSEA showed clearly lower expression of nuclear receptors, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) pathway.

Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity in esophageal carcinoma cells results in a drastic decrease of invasive properties.

Esophageal cancer is difficult to treat because of its rapid progression, and more effective therapeutic approaches are needed. The PPARgamma is a nuclear receptor superfamily member that is expressed in many cancers. PPARgamma expression is a feature of esophageal cancer cell lines, and in the present investigation, the PPARgamma antagonists T0070907 and GW9662 could induce loss of invasion but could not induce growth reduction or apoptosis at low concentrations (< 10 mM).