Regulation of the intestinal immune system by flavonoids and its utility in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Flavonoids are phytochemicals which can regulate the activity of the intestinal immune system. In patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) there is an overexpression and imbalance of the components of the inflammatory immune reactions which are chronically activated. Suppression of inflammation can be achieved by anti-inflammatory drugs which are used in clinical medicine but these can cause serious side effects.

Disparities of conjugating protective enzyme activities in the colon of patients with adenomas and carcinomas.

Aim: To investigate the metabolic enzymatic capacity of the colon mucosa to detoxify noxious carcinogenic compounds.

Methods: We investigated the activity of 2 conjugating enzymes-the microsomal uridine glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and the cytosomal glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the uninvolved mucosa of the colon transversum and sigmoideum in patients with adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer. Biopsies were taken from the mucosa during colonoscopies which were done for clinical (diagnostic) reasons.

[Anti-inflammatory effects of tea-flavonoids].

Tea flavonoids belong to the large group of polyphenols and display antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic activities. These phytochemicals are xenobiotics and are synthesized by tea plants such as Camellia sinensis and Camomilla recucita. These botanicals exhibit in vivo activities similar to that of biologicals which are widely used for chronic inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease).

Emerging role of bioflavonoids in gastroenterology: Especially their effects on intestinal neoplasia.

Flavonoids, secondary plant products which could be essential for normal physiology in humans and animals, may be the vitamins of the next century. Flavonoids belong to the polyphenols and possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Among the various flavonoid species, tea flavonoids such as apigenin (from camomile) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG from green tea) can be used for the prevention of intestinal neoplasia, especially for adenoma and cancer prevention in the gastrointestinal tract.

[Colorectal cancer prevention by flavonoids].

Background: Valid, sustained and safe clinical means of colorectal cancer prevention are still lacking, but they are urgently needed to lower the incidence of colorectal cancer. Dietary factors and phytochemicals such as flavonoids play an important role for prevention.

Methods: A selective search of the literature using PubMed was performed with the following key words: flavonoids, cancer, therapy, colorectal cancer focused on clinical queries.

Prospective cohort comparison of flavonoid treatment in patients with resected colorectal cancer to prevent recurrence.

Aim: To investigate biological prevention with flavonoids the recurrence risk of neoplasia was studied in patients with resected colorectal cancer and after adenoma polypectomy.

Methods: Eighty-seven patients, 36 patients with resected colon cancer and 51 patients after polypectomy, were divided into 2 groups: one group was treated with a flavonoid mixture (daily standard dose 20 mg apigenin and 20 mg epigallocathechin-gallat, n = 31) and compared with a matched control group (n = 56). Both groups were observed for 3-4 years by surveillance colonoscopy and by questionnaire.

Expression of the glutathione enzyme system of human colon mucosa by localisation, gender and age.

Background: The glutathione S-transferases (GST) can metabolise endogenous and exogenous toxins and carcinogens by catalysing the conjugation of diverse electrophiles with reduced glutathione (GSH). Variations of GST enzyme activity could influence the susceptibility of developing cancers in certain areas of the gastrointestinal tract.

Aims: The expression of the components of the glutathione system in the colon was investigated with respect to age, gender and localisation.

Potential role of flavonoids in the prevention of intestinal neoplasia: a review of their mode of action and their clinical perspectives.

Intestinal neoplasia (adenomas and carcinomas) can possibly be prevented by a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, treatment with aspirin and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and early colonoscopic removal of adenomas. Ballast, fiber, and secondary plant products could play a major role in colon cancer prevention. Recently there has been much experimental work in vitro and in vivo about flavonoids as inducers of bioprevention.

Homocysteine, cysteine, and glutathione in human colonic mucosa: elevated levels of homocysteine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The present study was performed to evaluate the levels of the amino thiols cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione in the colonic mucosa of patients with various intestinal diseases, especially chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Colonic biopsies of macroscopically normal mucosa out of a proximal and distal segment were collected from 187 patients with various intestinal diseases. Protein was assayed in duplicate by the method of Lowry et al (1951), using bovine serum albumin as standard.

Influence of clinical factors, diet, and drugs on the human upper gastrointestinal glutathione system.

Background: Glutathione (GSH) and the cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) protect the gastrointestinal mucosa against the toxic effects of a wide variety of compounds, such as reactive oxygen species and electrophiles.

Aims: We wished to investigate the distribution along the upper gastrointestinal mucosa and the influence of clinical variables on components of the GSH system to learn more about factors which control its cytoprotective properties.

Methods: Antral and duodenal biopsies of normal appearing mucosa were collected from 202 patients (104 males, 98 females; mean age 62 years) undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Pharmacokinetics of encainide in patients with cirrhosis.

The pharmacokinetics of encainide were investigated in 10 patients with cirrhosis and 10 matched controls following single intravenous (IV, 25 mg), single oral (so, 25 mg), and multiple oral (mo, 25 mg thrice daily over 5 days) dosing. The hepatic oxidative drug-metabolizing enzyme capacity and its inducibility were assessed by antipyrine elimination and 6-beta-hydroxycortisol excretion. Eight controls and nine patients were of the extensive metabolizer phenotype (EM), as assessed by the sparteine metabolic ratio.

Antipyrine elimination and hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in patients with liver disease.

Induction of hepatic monooxygenases reflected by 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase has been proposed to be associated with the initiation of liver damage. This study investigated a possible correlation between 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate cytochrome c reductase and benzypyrene hydroxylase activity in liver biopsy specimens of 31 patients with liver disease and antipyrine elimination, an in vivo parameter of hepatic monooxygenase activity. No correlation was found between the enzyme activities and antipyrine clearance or half-life.

Glutathione and its related enzymes in the small intestinal mucosa of rats: effects of starvation and diet.

Starvation for 24 h causes a striking fall in glutathione content from 3.19 +/- 0.27 to 1.

[Benign symmetrical lipomatosis with polyneuropathy and mental performance deficits].

Lipomatosis symmetrica benigna is a rare condition, usually found in association with the complications of chronic alcoholism. A case is reported which showed the typical clinical picture, and diagnosis and therapy will are discussed.

Positive correlation between decreased cellular uptake, NADPH-glutathione reductase activity and adriamycin resistance in Ehrlich ascites tumor lines.

From a wild type strain of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EATWT) sublines resistant to daunorubicin (EATDNM), etoposide (EATETO), and cisplatinum (EATCIS) have been developed in vivo. Increase in survival and cure rate caused by adriamycin (doxorubicin) have been determined in female NMRI mice which were inoculated i.p.

Inducing efficacy of ethanol on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in patients.

In liver biopsy material of eighty-nine patients with suspected liver disease the drug-metabolizing function was investigated. The capacity of the liver to oxidatively metabolize drugs was assessed by determination of cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase activity in vitro. The biotransformational function of these microsomal enzymes was tested with compounds representing the activity of oxidative drug metabolism (7-ethoxycoumarin, p-nitroanisol and cytochrome c).

[Differential diagnosis in fever of unknown origin: significance of concomitant clinical symptoms].

Between 1978 and 1984, 169 patients were admitted to the hospital for fever of unknown origin which was repeatedly above 38.3 degrees C. After a retrospective analysis of their records the patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the following new criteria.

Effect of chlormethiazole on the hepatic monooxygenase enzyme system.

Ethanol abuse has been shown to induce hepatic monooxygenase activity. In order to study the effect of chlormethiazole on the hepatic monooxygenase enzyme system, the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin was studied. Chlormethiazole was found to inhibit ethanol-induced monooxygenase activity.

Cyclophosphamide-induced remission in Weber-Christian panniculitis.

A patient with Weber-Christian panniculitis is described in this report in which treatment with prednisone and hydroxychloroquine caused no improvement of the disease, and even led to a worsening of the symptoms. In contrast, administration of oral cyclophosphamide led to a rapid remission of the disease. As Weber-Christian disease has no known aetiology and no specific treatment has been established, the successful therapy with the cytostatic drug cyclophosphamide may shed light on the pathogenesis of Weber-Christian panniculitis.

Effect of rifampicin treatment on hepatic drug metabolism and serum bile acids in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Six patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) were treated with a daily oral dose of 600 mg rifampicin for 2 weeks to induce the hepatic metabolism of drugs and bile acids. On rifampicin 5 of 6 patients experienced a pronounced decrease of their pruritus. In all patients the oxidative cytochrome P-450 dependent drug metabolism was induced as shown by an increase of antipyrine-clearance from 36.