Oxidative Stress Activates Membrane Ion Channels in Human Biliary Epithelial Cancer Cells (Mz-Cha-1).

Oxidative stress is known to contribute to cell damage. In several cell types, one of the earliest effects of oxidative stress is a rapid and substantial decrease in cell volume, which in turn regulates a broad range of cell functions, including development of apoptosis. Since volume regulation is closely coupled to membrane ion permeability, activation of ion channels may play an important role in oxidative stress-related cell injury.

Sequential chemotherapies for advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective analysis of 111 patients.

Background: The role of second-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer is not yet fully established.

Patients And Methods: We analysed 111 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated at the University Hospital Heidelberg (51) and the private oncology practice Bottrop/Dorsten (60) between 2001 and 2011, comparing the outcome of patients with first-line chemotherapy and those who received second-line chemotherapy.

Results: Thirty-six patients were treated with one chemotherapy regimen, 75 patients received at least two different chemotherapies.

Extracellular ATP induces cytoplasmic and nuclear Ca2+ transients via P2Y2 receptor in human biliary epithelial cancer cells (Mz-Cha-1).

Extracellular nucleotides such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) play a role in biliary epithelial cell function. Since nucleotide receptors are potential targets for various diseases related to epithelial cell dysfunction and cancer, the purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and to functionally characterize the nucleotide receptor subtypes in biliary epithelial cancer cells (Mz-Cha-1). Extracellular ATP dose-dependently resulted in an intracellular Ca(2+) increase (mean effective concentration (EC(50)) 40 μM).

Value of lipopolysaccharide binding protein, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein as biomarkers of severity in acute diverticulitis: a prospective study.

Background: New biomarkers have the capability to predict severity and outcome of infectious diseases. Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were determined as new markers in patients with acute diverticulitis and were compared with standard markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC).

Methods: CRP, IL-6, WBC and LBP were measured in 38 patients at hospital admission and every second day and after colonoscopy.

Adipocyte-specific inactivation of Acyl-CoA synthetase fatty acid transport protein 4 (Fatp4) in mice causes adipose hypertrophy and alterations in metabolism of complex lipids under high fat diet.

Fatp4 exhibits acyl-CoA synthetase activity and is thereby able to catalyze the activation of fatty acids for further metabolism. However, its actual function in most tissues remains unresolved, and its role in cellular fatty acid uptake is still controversial. To characterize Fatp4 functions in adipocytes in vivo, we generated a mouse line with adipocyte-specific inactivation of the Fatp4 gene (Fatp4(A-/-)).

Oxidative stress reduces Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) activity in a biliary epithelial cancer cell line (Mz-Cha-1).

In cholangiocarcinogenesis, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role. The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) forms a potential link between control of intra- and pericellular pH and tumor development. Therefore, the effects of oxidant stress were determined by the use of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) on Na(+)/H(+) exchange in a biliary epithelial cancer cell line (Mz-Cha-1).

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid versus clomethiazole for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a medical intensive care unit: an open, single-center randomized study.

Background: Clomethiazole (CLO) has been shown to be effective in treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has also been introduced in the treatment of alcoholic patients and is effective in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients in preventing and treating AWS. There are no comparative studies between CLO and GHB in a medical ICU setting.

Risk factors for colonic diverticular bleeding: a Westernized community based hospital study.

Aim: To evaluate the risk factors-other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-for colonic diverticular bleeding in a westernized population.

Methods: One hundred and forty patients, treated for symptomatic diverticular disease in a community based hospital, were included. Thirty (21%) had signs of diverticular bleeding.

Alcohol binging causes peliosis hepatis during azathioprine therapy in Crohn's disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have normal life expectancy and, due to modern immunosuppressive therapies, also a normal quality of life. Since mostly young people are affected, their social behaviour suits this environment. Alcohol binging is an increasingly disturbing factor among young people.

Serum levels of soluble Fas, nitric oxide and cytokines in acute decompensated cirrhotic patients.

Aim: To evaluate plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOx), soluble Fas (sFas) antigen, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with compensated and acute decompensated cirrhosis and to evaluate mediators causing acute decompensation in liver cirrhosis.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the medical intensive care unit of an academic tertiary center. Fifty-five patients with acute decompensation (gastrointestinal hemorrhage, encephalopathy, hydropic decompensation) and twenty-five patients with compensated liver cirrhosis were included.

Ulcerative jejunoileitis and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.

Ulcerative jejunoileitis and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma are rare conditions described in patients with refractory coeliac disease. Ulcerations affect the small bowel and are unrelated to drugs, ischaemia, infections or other known causes. We describe a female patient with an unclassified enteropathy who experienced several episodes of jejunoileal ulcerations.