Wnt blockade with dickkopf reduces intestinal crypt fission and intestinal growth in infant rats.

Objectives: Intestinal crypt fission peaks during infancy. In human and experimental familial polyposis coli, increased crypt fission is due to activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, but the molecular basis of crypt fission during intestinal growth has not been examined. The aim of this project was to investigate whether crypt fission and intestinal growth are affected by experimental blockade of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Fatty acids as potential adjunctive colorectal chemotherapeutic agents.

Fatty acids (FA) are bioactive molecules which have potential as adjunctive chemotherapeutic agents. FA are classified as short-, medium; or long-chain on the basis of the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain and have been reported to induce apoptosis in vitro in a range of cancer cell types, including breast, tongue, cervix and colorectal. However, to date the chain length exerting optimal anti-neoplastic properties remains undefined.

Effects of Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 on intestinal mucositis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU).

Beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and probiotic-derived factors have the potential to ameliorate disorders of the intestine. The aim of this study was to compare live Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 (TH-4), dead TH-4 and TH-4 supernatant in rats treated with 5-Fluorouracil. Rats were randomly allocated to five treatment groups (n=8-10): Saline+Water; 5-FU+Skim Milk; 5-FU+Live TH-4; 5-FU+Supernatant TH-4; and 5-FU+Dead TH-4.

Effects of Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 on intestinal mucositis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU).

Beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and probiotic-derived factors have the potential to ameliorate disorders of the intestine. The aim of this study was to compare live Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 (TH-4), dead TH-4 and TH-4 supernatant in rats treated with 5-Fluorouracil. Rats were randomly allocated to five treatment groups (n = 8–10): Saline + Water; 5-FU + Skim Milk; 5-FU+ Live TH-4; 5-FU + Supernatant TH-4; and 5-FU + Dead TH-4.