Early onset colorectal cancer in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Background: The overall incidence of colorectal cancer is decreasing in much of the world, yet the incidence in those under 50 years of age is increasing (early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)). The reasons for this are unclear. This study was undertaken to describe the clinical, pathological and familial characteristics of patients with EOCRC and their oncological outcomes and compare this with previously published data on late onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC).

Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms in colorectal cancer in New Zealand: an association study.

Aim: Polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the VDR gene with CRC in age and gender matched patients and controls of European origin in New Zealand.

Method: CRC (N=200) and healthy control (N=200) samples were genotyped for the Fok1 (rs2228570), Taq1 (rs731236) and Cdx2 (rs11568820) polymorphisms using Taqman® SNP genotyping assays.

NOD2 and ATG16L1 polymorphisms affect monocyte responses in Crohn's disease.

Aim: To assess whether polymorphisms in NOD2 and ATG16L1 affect cytokine responses and mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) survival in monocytes from Crohn's disease (CD) patients.

Methods: Monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of CD patients of known genotype for common single nucleotide polymorphisms of NOD2 and ATG16L1. Monocytes were challenged with MAP and bacterial persistence assessed at subsequent time-points.

Incidence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in a population-based cohort of patients with Crohn's disease and control subjects.

Objective: To define the incidence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and in control subjects.

Methods: Blood samples from 361 CD patients from a previously described population-based inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort and 200 blood donor controls, of known NOD2 genotype, were screened by PCR for MAP-specific IS900 DNA. These results were correlated with NOD2 genotype.

Adriamycin disruption of the Shh-Gli pathway is associated with abnormalities of foregut development.

Background: The hedgehog signalling pathway appears to have a crucial role in the embryogenesis of the foregut in vertebrates. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein and gene are involved in the differentiation of many organ systems such as notochord, floor plate, and limbs; development of the left-right axis in vertebrates; and differentiation of trachea and esophagus from the primitive foregut.

Methods: The prenatal exposure of Sprague-Dawley fetal rats to Adriamycin between days 6 and 9 of gestation was used to induce esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

Differences in the levels of Sonic hedgehog protein during early foregut development caused by exposure to Adriamycin give clues to the role of the Shh gene in oesophageal atresia.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein is a signalling molecule that is important for defining patterning in the development of vertebrates. Shh has been shown to be involved in the morphogenesis of many organ systems such as notochord, floor plate and limbs and in the development of the left-right axis in vertebrates. In this study we show that high levels of protein occur during the initial period of foregut differentiation into trachea and oesophagus, and that low levels of Shh protein are seen during early development of the foregut where oesophageal atresia and/or tracheo-oesophageal fistula ensue.