Modulation of growth gene expression by selective alteration of polyamines in human colon carcinoma cells.

The biosynthesis of the polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, is temporally linked with expression of many growth related genes. Our previous studies have shown that generalized polyamine depletion of the human colon cancer cell line COLO 320 by 2-difluoromethylornithine is associated with decreased transcription of the c-myc, c-fos, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) genes. In the current study, the role of individual polyamines was further defined by the use of a specific inhibitor of spermidine synthase, S-adenosyl-1,8, diamino-3-thio-octane (AdoDATO), and a spermine analogue, N1,N12 bis(ethyl)spermine.

Lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis. Clinicopathologic study of 18 patients and comparison to collagenous colitis.

Lymphocytic colitis, formerly called microscopic colitis, is a clinicopathologic syndrome with chronic watery diarrhea and diffuse mucosal inflammatory changes with prominent intraepithelial lymphocytes. The 18 lymphocytic colitis patients studied presented with chronic watery diarrhea at a mean age of 53.8 +/- 17 years (+/- 1 SD).

Collagenous colitis, enteropathic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases: results of a patient survey.

We surveyed all patients with collagenous colitis seen at Johns Hopkins over a 4-year period, using a standardized, previously validated telephone questionnaire. Of 29 patients, 2(7%), including the index case, had monoarticular reactive arthritis. Five additional patients (17%) had a coexisting autoimmune illness.

Lymphocytic enterocolitis in patients with 'refractory sprue'.

We describe a patient with refractory sprue with malabsorption, a flat small-bowel biopsy specimen unresponsive to a gluten-free diet, and colonic biopsy specimens consistent with lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis. To investigate further the relation between celiac disease and lymphocytic or collagenous colitis (a similar and possibly related entity), we examined colorectal and small-bowel biopsy specimens in patients indexed histologically as having celiac disease who have been seen at The Johns Hopkins Hospital since 1958. Of 135 indexed patients, 21 had colorectal biopsies.

Lymphocytic ("microscopic") colitis: a comparative histopathologic study with particular reference to collagenous colitis.

Lymphocytic colitis, previously termed "microscopic colitis", is a clinicopathologic syndrome of watery diarrhea, grossly normal colonoscopy, and mucosal inflammatory changes. Since lymphocytic colitis is a new, incompletely characterized entity, a histopathologic study was performed to compare lymphocytic colitis (n = 16), collagenous colitis (n = 17), idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (n = 16), acute colitis (n = 16), and histologically normal colon (n = 12). The study was a blinded semiquantitative analysis of histologic features in the surface epithelium, lamina propria, and crypts.

Pigmented ocular fundus lesions in the inherited gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes and in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

The authors studied pigmented ocular fundus lesions in three different forms of hereditary gastrointestinal polyposis and in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) was present in at least one member of 23 families with Gardner's syndrome. By contrast, CHRPE was not found in three families with familial polyposis coli, four families with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, and three families with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Intracytoplasmic plasma proteins in distended esophageal squamous cells (balloon cells).

Esophageal mucosal biopsy specimens frequently show numerous distended squamous cells with pale cytoplasm, which we term "balloon cells." These cells often occur in clusters, have a patchy distribution, and predominate in the prickle-cell layer in biopsies from patients with gastroesophageal reflux. We studied the immunohistochemical characteristics of balloon cells and their associated clinical findings.

Effect of polyamine depletion on c-myc expression in human colon carcinoma cells.

Polyamine depletion generally results in an inhibition of cell growth. However, the precise role of polyamines in the regulation of cell proliferation is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that polyamine depletion induced by 2-difluoromethylornithine in COLO 320 human colon carcinoma cells results in a greater than 90% decrease in expression of a key gene in the maintenance of cell growth, the c-myc protooncogene.

Occult radiopaque jaw lesions in familial adenomatous polyposis coli and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

The purposes of this study were to determine the association, in 10 pedigrees, between adenomatous polyposis coli, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, and occult radiopaque jaw lesions, and to assess whether these radiodensities are predictors for adenomatous polyposis. In seven kindreds with adenomatous polyposis, all patients with polyps had jaw lesions; in one kindred, no jaw lesions were found. In one of two kindreds with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, no affected individuals had jaw lesions.

Chronic colitis with thickening of the subepithelial collagen layer (collagenous colitis): histopathologic findings in 15 patients.

The histopathologic features of collagenous colitis were studied in 14 women and one man. All but one patient presented with chronic watery diarrhea: 10 had a history of thyroid disease or unspecified arthritis. All 15 patients showed characteristic thickening of the subepithelial collagen layer (SCL) in colorectal biopsy specimens, but in the distal colorectum the thickening was sometimes absent or borderline.

Increased risk of cancer in the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized by hamartomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tract and by mucocutaneous melanin deposits. The frequency of cancer in this syndrome has not been studied extensively. Therefore, we investigated 31 patients with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome who were followed from 1973 to 1985.

Prevalence and importance of pigmented ocular fundus lesions in Gardner's syndrome.

We examined 134 members of 16 families with Gardner's syndrome for pigmented ocular fundus lesions. Of 41 patients with documented Gardner's syndrome, 37 (90.2 percent) had such lesions.

Partial gastrectomy: a risk factor for carcinoma of the pancreas?

Recent reports suggest an increased risk of cancer of the pancreas after partial gastrectomy. We investigated this putative relationship by performing a case-control study on autopsy subjects. Our findings suggest a three-fold risk of pancreatic carcinoma in postgastrectomy patients.

Collagenous colitis: physiologic and histopathologic studies in seven patients.

Collagenous colitis is a clinicopathologic syndrome with chronic watery diarrhea, diffuse colitis with surface epithelial injury, and a distinctive collagen band beneath the surface epithelium especially in the proximal colon. The cases of seven patients (including six middle-aged women) with chronic, watery, noninfectious diarrhea were studied. Roentgenographic and endoscopic findings were not diagnostic.

Biochemical markers in patients with familial colonic neoplasia.

Many potential markers, including biochemical markers, have been studied in an attempt to identify the presence of early colorectal neoplasia or risk of neoplasia, particularly in those families with hereditary colonic neoplasia syndromes. Unfortunately, most of these markers are useless in screening or diagnosis. Nevertheless, such markers as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 may have a role in pretherapeutic and posttherapeutic monitoring of disease or recurrence.