Effects of selective COX-2 inhibitor and Helicobacter pylori eradication on precancerous gastric lesions.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection and overexpression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) are associated with gastric cancer and its precursors. To evaluate the effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor alone and combined with H pylori eradication on the evolution of precancerous gastric lesions, a randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China.

Methods: A total of 1024 participants aged 35-64 years with H pylori infection and advanced gastric lesions were randomly assigned in a factorial design to two interventions or placebo: anti-H pylori treatment for 7 days, and a COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) for 24 months.

Essential role for macrophage migration inhibitory factor in gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an upstream regulator of immune and inflammatory responses; however, its role in Helicobacter pylori (HP)-associated gastritis remains unknown. We infected MIF knockout (KO) and wild-type mice with SS1 HP and found that 2 weeks after infection, MIF and its receptor CD74 were markedly up-regulated in wild-type mice. This up-regulation preceded the up-regulation of both tumor necrosis factor-alpha and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, as well as the development of moderate gastritis at 8 weeks, as determined by a significant infiltration of neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages.

Quality of life and psychological impact in patients with noncardiac chest pain.

Background: Chest pain is common and data regarding noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) in Asia are lacking.

Aim: To determine the differences in clinical presentations, psychologic impact, and quality of life between patients with NCCP and cardiac chest pain (CCP), and to identify any factors that impacted on these patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain were recruited in Hong Kong and Wuhan, China.

Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX1) functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer.

Aim: Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX1) is a transcription factor of homeobox genes family important in differentiation and development of the pancreas, duodenum and antrum. This study aims to clarify the putative role of PDX1 in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: PDX1 expression was detected in gastric tissues with chronic gastritis and cancer as well as gastric cancer cell lines by immunohistochemistry, western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or quantitative real-time RT-PCR assays.

Effects of aspirin on the development of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation and heterotopic proliferative glands in Mongolian gerbils.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of gastritis and gastric carcinoma. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of aspirin on H.

Cell cycle-related kinase: a novel candidate oncogene in human glioblastoma.

Background: Median survival for patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive glioma, is only 12-15 months, despite multimodal treatment that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Thus, identification of genes that control the progression of glioblastoma multiforme is crucial for devising new therapies. We investigated the involvement of cell cycle-related kinase (CCRK), a novel protein kinase that is homologous to cyclin-dependent kinase 7, in glioblastoma multiforme carcinogenesis.

XAF1 mediates apoptosis through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway in colon cancer.

Background: XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) negatively regulates the function of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a member of the IAP family that exerts antiapoptotic effects. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is thought to increase cell proliferation and to protect cells from apoptosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the ERK1/2 signaling pathway and XAF1 in colon cancer.

Suppression of FHL2 expression induces cell differentiation and inhibits gastric and colon carcinogenesis.

Background And Aims: FHL2 (4-1/2 LIM protein 2) is an adapter and modifier in protein interactions that is expressed mainly in the heart and ovary. It functions in a cell type- or promoter-specific manner. The aims of this study were to examine its expression in gastrointestinal cancers and to determine its role in cell differentiation and tumorigenesis.

Helicobacter pylori eradication for gastric cancer prevention.

Gastric cancer is the second most common fatal malignancy in the world. Its incidence is high in East Asia. Helicobacter pylori infection is an important factor in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.

Effects of proton-pump inhibitors on functional dyspepsia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to assess systematically the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia compared with placebo and to determine if any difference in the response exists between symptom subgroups of functional dyspepsia.

Methods: A literature search was performed through September 2005 in PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases to include randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of PPIs for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Relative risk (RR) and relative risk reduction (RRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated under a random-effects model.

An inverse correlation between Interleukin-6 and select gene promoter methylation in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Both serum IL-6 levels and CpG island methylation have been shown to have prognostic significance in gastric cancer, it was suggested that an important link existed between IL-6 and methylation of cancers.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 serum level and the association between serum IL-6 levels and CpG island methylation at p16, DAPK, MGMT and E-cadherin in patients with gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Methylation status was assessed by MSP in 75 surgical specimens of gastric adenocarcinoma.

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.

Is proton pump inhibitor testing an effective approach to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with noncardiac chest pain?: a meta-analysis.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). Results of studies evaluating the accuracy of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment as a diagnostic test for GERD-related NCCP have varied. We evaluated the overall accuracy of this modality.

Low-dose rabeprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole triple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese patients.

Background: Rabeprazole in combination with amoxicillin and metronidazole (RAM) has been shown to be an effective second-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. The effects were compared of 7-day low-dose and high dose rabeprazole in RAM for the primary treatment of H. pylori infection in Chinese patients.

Helicobacter pylori serology in a birth cohort of New Zealanders from age 11 to 26.

Aim: To determine seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS) at age 26 in order to investigate seroconversion and seroreversion from age 11 to 26 and the association of seropositivity with risk factors for H pylori infection.

Methods: Participants in the DMHDS at age 26 and retrospectively at age 21 were tested for H pylori antibodies using two commercially available ELISA kits. Gender, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, educational attainment and employment at age 26 were tested for association with H pylori seropositivity.

Gene therapy for colon cancer by adeno-associated viral vector-mediated transfer of survivin Cys84Ala mutant.

Background And Aims: Reactivation of survivin expression is involved in carcinogenesis and angiogenesis in colon cancer. Previous in vitro studies showed that mutation of the cysteine residue at position 84 (Cys84Ala) of survivin generates a dominant-negative mutant that triggers mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis. We investigated the therapeutic effect of the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated survivin mutant (Cys84Ala) on colon cancer.

Activation of the caspase-8/Bid and Bax pathways in aspirin-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer.

Aspirin-induced apoptosis is one of the important mechanisms for its antitumour effect against gastric cancer. We aimed at investigating the involvement of bcl-2 family members in the apoptotic pathway in gastric cancer. Gastric cancer cell line AGS and MKN-45 were observed as to cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in response to treatment with aspirin.

Pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux diseases in Chinese--role of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and esophageal motor dysfunction.

Background And Aims: Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) is the major mechanism for gastroesophageal reflux in the Western population. The major reflux mechanism in Chinese patients with GERD has not been studied before.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with GERD and 28 controls underwent stationary baseline manometry and the 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring.

Antisense targeting protein kinase C alpha and beta1 inhibits gastric carcinogenesis.

Protein kinase C (PKC) family, which functions through serine/threonine kinase activity, is involved in signal transduction pathways necessary for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Its critical role in neoplastic transformation and tumor invasion renders PKC a potential target for anticancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the effect of targeting individual PKCs on gastric carcinogenesis.

[Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection induces apoptosis-resistance in gastric epithelial cells].

Objective: To establish a cell model by chronically infecting human gastric epithelial cells with H.pylori, and to determine the effect of chronic H.pylori infection on apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells.

15-Lipoxygenase-1 mediates cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer.

It has been found that expression of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) and its main product, 13-S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-S-HODE), are decreased in human colorectal and esophageal cancers and that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can therapeutically induce 15-LOX-1 expression to trigger apoptosis in those cancer cells. We found that a specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor SC-236 similarly induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. In the present study, we tested whether SC-236 induced apoptosis through up-regulation of 15-LOX-1 in gastric cancer.

Evaluation of two stool antigen tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Chinese population.

Background And Aim: The stool antigen test, the HpSA test, has been validated mainly in Western countries, but not properly in the Chinese population. Recently, another stool antigen test, the Apollo test, was developed, but its accuracy has rarely been validated. The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of these two tests in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Chinese population.

Accuracy of a new near patient test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese.

Background And Aim: The performance of existing near patient tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori remains unsatisfactory. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a new near patient test (Signify H. pylori) for the diagnosis of H.