An update on adding docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) to baby formula.

Human milk is the ideal food providing optimal nutrition for healthy term infants. Its complex lipid composition is critical for infant growth and serves as a golden standard for baby formula development. Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n- 3, DHA) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 n- 6, AA) are the two major long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in human milk.

Effects of adrenaline in human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells.

Aims: Stress has been implicated in the development of cancers. Adrenaline levels are increased in response to stress. The effects of adrenaline on colon cancer are largely unknown.

Effects of cigarette smoking and restraint stress on human colon tumor growth in mice.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for colon cancer. Studies suggest that stress increases the incidence and promotes the development of cancers. Cigarette smoking and stress are closely associated, as people often smoke under stressful conditions and both of them can activate the adrenergic nervous system.

E series of prostaglandin receptor 2-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/activator protein-1 signaling is required for the mitogenic action of prostaglandin E2 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a lower risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, in which overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is frequently reported. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a COX-2-derived eicosanoid, is implicated in the promotion of cancer growth. However, the precise role of PGE(2) in the disease development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains elusive.

Cathelicidin stimulates colonic mucus synthesis by up-regulating MUC1 and MUC2 expression through a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Mucus forms the physical barrier along the gastrointestinal tract. It plays an important role to prevent mucosal damage and inflammation. Our animal study showed that antibacterial peptide 'cathelicidin' increased mucus thickness and prevented inflammation in the colon.

A new role for cathelicidin in ulcerative colitis in mice.

Cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune system, modulates microbial growth, wound healing, and inflammation. However, its association with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) is unknown. Our objective was to determine whether cathelicidin would exert a modulatory effect on the progression of IBD and, if so, investigate the mechanism of action through which this effect occurred.

Enhancement of gastric mucosal integrity by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

The gastric mucosa is frequently exposed to different exogenous and endogenous ulcerative agents. Alcoholism is one of the risk factors for the development of mucosal damage in the stomach. This study aimed to assess if a probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is capable of protecting the gastric mucosa from acute damage induced by intragastric administration of ethanol.

Nicotine promotes cell proliferation via alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes-mediated pathway in human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells.

Cigarette smoking has been implicated in colon cancer. Nicotine is a major alkaloid in cigarette smoke. In the present study, we showed that nicotine stimulated HT-29 cell proliferation and adrenaline production in a dose-dependent manner.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG enhances gastric ulcer healing in rats.

Probiotics are widely used as functional foods which have been advocated for the maintenance of gastrointestinal microflora equilibrium and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. However, studying the role of probiotics in peptic ulcer disease is limited. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on gastric ulcer and to elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Nicotine promotes colon tumor growth and angiogenesis through beta-adrenergic activation.

Cigarette smoking is a putative environmental risk factor for colon cancer. Nicotine, an active alkaloid in tobacco, has been implicated in carcinogenesis. In the present study, we demonstrated that oral nicotine administration (50 or 200 microg/ml) for 25 days stimulated growth of human colon cancer xenograft in nude mice.

Shift of homeostasis from parenchymal regeneration to fibroblast proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages in gastric mucosal healing in vitro.

Wound healing in the gastrointestinal tract is an orderly process involving orchestrated responses of various cell types. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, which are known to impair gastric ulcer healing in animals. The influence of LPS on intercellular communication in wound healing, however, is unknown.

Functional role of beta-adrenergic receptors in the mitogenic action of nicotine on gastric cancer cells.

We previously reported that nicotine promoted gastric cancer cell growth via upregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). In the present study, we further investigated whether beta-adrenoceptors, protein kinase C (PKC), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) were involved in the modulation of COX-2 expression and cell proliferation by nicotine in AGS, a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line. Results showed that nicotine dose dependently increased the phosphorylation of EKR1/2 and the expression of AP-1 subunits c-fos and c-jun.

The cationic host defense peptide rCRAMP promotes gastric ulcer healing in rats.

Cathelicidin, a cationic host defense peptide, has been shown to promote cutaneous wound repair and reaches high levels in the gastric mucosa during infection and inflammation. Therefore, we investigated whether this peptide contributes to gastric ulcer healing in rats. Ulcer induction increased the expression of rat cathelicidin rCRAMP in the gastric mucosa.

Involvement of Kv1.1 and Nav1.5 in proliferation of gastric epithelial cells.

In the present study, patch clamp experiments demonstrated the expression of multiple ionic currents, including a Ba2+-sensitive inward rectifier K+ current (IKir), a 4-aminopyridine- (4-AP) sensitive delayed rectifier K+ current (IKDR), and a nifedipine-sensitive, tetrodotoxin-resistant inward Na+ current (INa.TTXR) in the non-transformed rat gastric epithelial cell line RGM-1. RT-PCR revealed molecular identities of mRNAs for the functional ionic currents, including Kir1.

Nicotine induces cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in association with tumor-associated invasion and angiogenesis in gastric cancer.

Blockade of angiogenesis is a promising strategy to suppress tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which binds to tyrosine kinase receptors [VEGF receptors (VEGFR) 1 and 2], is the mediator of angiogenesis and mitogen for endothelial cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in the promoting action of nicotine on gastric cancer growth.