Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Cross-Sectional Study Demonstrating Rising Prevalence in a Chinese Population.

Background And Aims: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is consistently lower in the Chinese than in white populations. Population-based data tracking the time trend of GERD prevalence in Chinese subjects is conflicting. This study examines the population prevalence, risk factors, and time trend associated with GERD in a Chinese population.

H. pylori-encoded CagA disrupts tight junctions and induces invasiveness of AGS gastric carcinoma cells via Cdx2-dependent targeting of Claudin-2.

Helicobacter pylori encoded CagA is presently the only known virulence factor that is injected into gastric epithelial cells where it destroys apical junctional complexes and induces dedifferentiation of gastric epithelial cells, leading to H. pylori-related gastric carcinogensis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which CagA mediates these changes.

Domain organization of XAF1 and the identification and characterization of XIAP(RING) -binding domain of XAF1.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)-associated factor 1 (XAF1) has been implicated as a novel tumor suppressor, which was proposed to exert pro-apoptotic effect by antagonizing the anticaspase activity of XIAP. Here, we delineated the domain architecture of XAF1 by applying limited proteolysis and peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. Our results indicated that XAF1 has a distinct domain organization, with a highly compact N-terminal domain (XAF1(NTD) ) followed by a middle domain (XAF1(MD) ), a 42-residue unstructured linker and a C-terminal domain (XAF1(CTD) ).

Structural analysis of the UBA domain of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein reveals different surfaces for ubiquitin-binding and self-association.

Background: Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) belong to a pivotal antiapoptotic protein family that plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, chemoresistance and poor patient-survival. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a prominent member of IAPs attracting intense research because it has been demonstrated to be a physiological inhibitor of caspases and apoptosis. Recently, an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain was identified in XIAP and a number of RING domain-bearing IAPs.

Epidemiology of uninvestigated and functional dyspepsia in Asia: facts and fiction.

Dyspepsia is a syndrome consisting of epigastric pain, burning, fullness, discomfort, early satiety, nausea, vomiting and belching. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is diagnosed if upper gastrointestinal endoscopy does not show structural abnormality explaining these symptoms. 8%-30% and 8%-23% of Asian people suffer from of uninvestigated dyspepsia and FD, respectively.

Backbone and side-chain 1H, 13C and 15N assignments of the ubiquitin-associated domain of human X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a leading member of the family of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins, is considered as the most potent and versatile inhibitor of caspases and apoptosis. It has been reported that XIAP is frequently overexpressed in cancer and its expression level is implicated in contributing to tumorigenesis, disease progression, chemoresistance and poor patient-survival. Therefore, XIAP is one of the leading targets in drug development for cancer therapy.

Restoration of XAF1 expression induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in gastric cancer.

XAF1 (XIAP-associated factor 1) is a novel XIAP binding protein that can antagonize XIAP and sensitize cells to other cell death triggers. Our previous results have shown that aberrant hypermethylation of the CpG sites in XAF1 promoter is strongly associated with lower expression of XAF1 in gastric cancers. In our study, we investigated the effect of restoration of XAF1 expression on growth of gastric cancers.

Independent risk factors and predictive score for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: To determine whether gender, age, hepatitis B virus genotype, core promoter and precore mutations, HBeAg/ anti-HBe status, HBV DNA, ALT levels and cirrhosis on presentation were independent risk factors and derive a novel risk score for the development of HCC.

Methods: CHB patients (820) were followed up (mean duration 76.8 months) for the occurrence of HCC.

Management and outcome of peptic ulcers or erosions in patients receiving a combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel.

Background: This multicenter retrospective study investigated the management and outcome of patients with peptic ulcer/erosion-related aspirin and clopidogrel (A + C) cotherapy.

Methods: From January 2002 to September 2006, patients with endoscopically proven peptic ulcers/erosions after receiving A + C cotherapy were analyzed.

Results: This group consisted of 106 patients (age, 69.

Long-term lamivudine therapy reduces the risk of long-term complications of chronic hepatitis B infection even in patients without advanced disease.

Background: Long-term effects of lamivudine treatment on chronic hepatitis B patients without advanced disease remain unknown. Our aim was to investigate the effects of long-term lamivudine treatment and lamivudine-resistant virus (YMDD) on the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in asymptomatic patients without advanced disease.

Methods: One hundred and forty-two hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients (median age: 33.

Interaction of cigarette smoking with cyclooxygenase-2 on ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia in mice.

The interactions of cigarette smoking with COX-2 on colitis and colitis-associated adenoma formation were studied. Mice were induced with colitis and exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) and/or SC236 (a COX-2 inhibitor). Results indicated that CS did not alter acute colonic inflammation.

A proteomic approach for the identification of bismuth-binding proteins in Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a major human pathogen that can cause peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis. Bismuth-based triple or quadruple therapies are commonly recommended for the treatment of H. pylori infections.

Significance of viral load, core promoter/precore mutations and specific sequences of polymerase gene in HBV-infected patients on 3-year lamivudine treatment.

Background: Comprehensive study on viral factors predicting treatment responsiveness to lamivudine is lacking.

Aims: To define the significance of various viral factors and changes of viral population with lamivudine treatment.

Patients And Methods: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels at baseline, week 24, 52 and year 3 were measured in 80 patients on continuous lamivudine therapy for 3 years.

Intestinal tuberculosis mimicking fistulizing Crohn's disease.

A patient is reported with intestinal tuberculosis that mimicked fistulizing Crohn's disease endoscopically. He had complete resolution of symptoms after a full course of antituberculosis therapy. Gastroenterologists and general physicians should aware of the possibility of intestinal tuberculosis in areas with a high prevalence of tuberculosis infection.

Esomeprazole with aspirin versus clopidogrel for prevention of recurrent gastrointestinal ulcer complications.

Background And Aims: The role of clopidogrel in patients at risk for gastrointestinal complications is uncertain, although it has been recommended for patients who have gastrointestinal intolerance to aspirin. We tested the hypothesis that clopidogrel is as effective as esomeprazole and aspirin in preventing recurrences of ulcer complications.

Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled study of 170 patients who developed ulcer bleeding after the use of low-dose aspirin between November 2002 and January 2005.

Association of CTLA-4 gene microsatellite polymorphism with ulcerative colitis in Chinese patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation as a result of an exaggerated T cell response. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), expressed mainly in activated T cells, inhibits T cell activation and proliferation by combining B7 through competing CD28 and maintains immune homeostasis. Polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 gene are known to be associated with several autoimmune diseases.

Inhibition of Akt/PKB by a COX-2 inhibitor induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Background/aim: Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 has been proposed to be a potential mechanism for the chemoprevention of gastrointestinal tumors by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study investigates the mechanisms by which the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor SC236 induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cell lines and its downstream signaling pathway.

Methods: Two gastric cancer cell lines, AGS and MKN28, were treated with SC236 and assessed for cell growth and apoptosis.

Effects of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 gene disruption on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation.

Background: Cyclooxygenases (COXs) play important roles in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to determine the effects of COX-1 and COX-2 gene disruption on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation.

Methods: Wild-type (WT), COX-1 and COX-2 heterozygous (COX-1+/- and COX-2+/-), and homozygous COX-deficient (COX-1-/- and COX-2-/-) mice were inoculated with H.

Inhibition of human telomerase reverse transcriptase by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in colon carcinoma.

Background: Telomerase activation, which is observed in most human cancers, plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a subunit of telomerase that is essential for telomerase activity. The aim of the study was to investigate whether nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit telomerase activity and hTERT.

Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by a specific c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP-600125, in gastrointestinal cancers.

The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) is activated in several tumor cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of SP-600125, a specific JNK inhibitor, on the viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution of gastrointestinal cancer cells, and the potential anti-tumor mechanisms. Three gastric cancer cell lines, AGS, BCG-823 and MKN-45, and three colorectal cancer cell lines, SW1116, COLO205 and HT-29, were used.

Celecoxib compared with lansoprazole and naproxen to prevent gastrointestinal ulcer complications.

Purpose: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors cause significantly fewer peptic ulcers than conventional nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients at low risk or high risk for peptic ulcers. On the other hand, proton pump inhibitor co-therapy has also been shown to be effective in preventing relapse of peptic ulcers in high-risk patients using nonselective NSAIDs. We compared the efficacy of a selective COX-2 inhibitor with that of proton pump inhibitor co-therapy in the reduction in the incidence of ulcer relapse in patients with a history of NSAID-related peptic ulcers.

Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Malignancy.

Last year there were a few important clinical data on long-term prognosis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Similarly, there were clinical data to support the role of eradication of H. pylori in the primary prevention of gastric cancer.

Head-to-head comparison of H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors in the treatment of erosive esophagitis: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of H(2)-receptor antagonists (H(2)RAs) and proton pump inhibitors in healing erosive esophagitis (EE).

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases to include randomized controlled head-to-head comparative trials evaluating the efficacy of H(2)RAs or proton pump inhibitors in healing EE.

Early prediction of tumor recurrence after curative resection of gastric carcinoma by measuring soluble E-cadherin.

Background: Currently, to the authors' knowledge, there is no serum marker to predict disease recurrence after patients undergo curative resection for gastric carcinoma. Previous reports have indicated that serum levels of soluble E-cadherin had prognostic value in these patients. The objective of the current study was to determine whether soluble E-cadherin levels could predict disease recurrence in patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent curative surgery.

Do patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia respond differently to Helicobacter pylori eradication treatments from those with peptic ulcer disease? A systematic review.

Aim: It is controversial whether patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) respond differently to Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) eradication treatment than those with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). To review the evidence for any difference in H pylori eradication rates between PUD and NUD patients.

Methods: A literature search for full articles and meeting abstracts to July 2004 was conducted.