Soy protein containing isoflavones does not decrease colorectal epithelial cell proliferation in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Soy isoflavones have numerous biological properties that suggest that they may protect against colorectal cancer. Colorectal epithelial cell proliferation has been used extensively as an intermediate endpoint biomarker for colorectal neoplasia.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that supplementation with soy protein containing isoflavones decreases colorectal epithelial cell proliferation.

Evaluation of a test for abnormal rectal mucus for early detection of colon cancer.

This report describes the evaluation of a chemical test for T-antigen in rectal mucus as a screening test for colon cancer. The test, called the Mucus Strip Test, detects the disaccharide residue sialic acid-free beta-D-Gal(1-->3)-D-GalNAc or T-antigen, which accumulates in mucus from malignant cells and colonic mucosa adjacent to cancer but not in normal mucosa. Participants were an unselected case series of 660 persons undergoing colonoscopy, excluding those with ulcerative colitis, polyposis, Crohn's disease, or nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease.

Long-term follow-up study of cimetidine.

In a 5-year follow-up study of 8553 recipients of cimetidine at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, we examined the frequency of uncommon serious illness requiring hospitalization that may have been drug induced. With the possible exception of one patient with probable drug-induced liver disease, we did not find any instances of serious illness requiring hospitalization that could be attributed with reasonable certainty to cimetidine. This large study provides reassurance that cimetidine is a relatively safe medication.