Telomerase activation without shortening of telomeric 3'-overhang is a poor prognostic factor in human colorectal cancer.

Our previous report demonstrated a good correlation between high telomerase activity of cancer tissues and a poor prognosis of patients with colorectal cancers, except for several cases. To elucidate the additional factors that contribute to patient prognosis, the correlation among the expression levels of telomere binding proteins (TBP), the lengths of telomeres, the lengths of telomere 3'-overhang (3'-OH) and telomerase activity in 106 paired colorectal cancer and corresponding noncancerous mucosa (NCM) specimens were examined. The expression levels of eight TBP genes (TRF1, TRF2, TIN2, TANK1, TANK2, POT1, RAP1 and TPP1) were analyzed.

Effects in the control of edema of the papilla of Vater by epinephrine saline irrigation after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in an endoscopy center in Japan, 2003 to 2007: exploratory retrospective analysis to evaluate the characteristics of eligible patients with a focus on serum amylase levels.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of localized irrigation with epinephrine saline after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Patients And Methods: One hundred and fourteen patients who underwent ERCP in our institute were treated with or without irrigation using epinephrine diluted in saline after ERCP to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. The serum amylase levels, white blood cell counts, and urine amylase levels were measured at 24 and 48 hours after ERCP.

Telomerase activity in giant cell tumors of bone.

Background: A giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a histologically benign neoplasma that has an unpredictable pattern of biological aggressiveness. In the present study, we investigated whether there was a correlation between telomere length or the levels of telomerase activity and other clinical features of GCTs, for the possible use of these factors as parameters of aggressiveness or prognosis.

Methods: In 16 surgically resected GCTs specimens, telomere length was assessed by terminal restriction fragments by Southern blot analysis.

HPA-axis responses during experimental colitis in the rat.

We investigated the responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during experimental colitis induced by intracolonic administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in the rat. On days 3 and 7 after induction of colitis, the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA level in the parvocellular paraventricular nucleus (pPVN) of the hypothalamus was reduced, the plasma ACTH level remained at the basal level, and the plasma corticosterone (Cort) level was high. Induction of colitis on day 3 after adrenalectomy with Cort pellet replacement (ADX + Cort) resulted in a marked increase in CRH mRNA on day 7 after induction of colitis compared with noncolitic ADX + Cort animals.