[Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Korean patients in 2003].

Background/aims: Development of antibiotic resistance is a significant clinical problem in the eradication of H. pylori. To select an appropriate regimen, systematic information on antibiotic resistance is mandatory.

Distinct kinases are involved in contraction of cat esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter smooth muscles.

Contraction of smooth muscle depends on the balance of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) activities. Because MLCK activation depends on the activation of calmodulin, which requires a high Ca(2+) concentration, phosphatase inhibition has been invoked to explain contraction at low cytosolic Ca(2+) levels. The link between activation of the Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCepsilon) and MLC phosphorylation observed in the esophagus (ESO) (Sohn UD, Cao W, Tang DC, Stull JT, Haeberle JR, Wang CLA, Harnett KM, Behar J, and Biancani P.

Genes of Helicobacter pylori regulated by attachment to AGS cells.

Reciprocal interactions between Helicobacter pylori and cells of the gastric epithelium to which it adheres may affect colonization. Changes in gene expression of H. pylori induced by adhesion to AGS gastric cancer cells by coculture were compared to changes in gene expression of H.

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori-induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation and interleukin-8 gene expression by ecabet sodium in gastric epithelial cells.

Background: Helicobacter pylori stimulates nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation and chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression in gastric epithelial cells. Ecabet sodium (ecabet), a locally acting antiulcer drug, is known to have anti-H. pylori activity.

[Retreatment of Helicobacter pylori infection with triple therapy after initial treatment failure].

Background/aims: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatments fail at least in 10-20% of patients. However, retreatment strategies after failure of initial treatment have not been established.

Taraxinic acid, a hydrolysate of sesquiterpene lactone glycoside from the Taraxacum coreanum NAKAI, induces the differentiation of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

The present work was performed to elucidate the active moiety of a sesquiterpene lactone, taraxinic acid-1'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1). from Taraxacum coreanum NAKAI on the cytotoxicity of various cancer cells. Based on enzymatic hydrolysis and MTT assay, the active moiety should be attributed to the aglycone taraxinic acid (1a).

Proteins released by Helicobacter pylori in vitro.

Secretion of proteins by Helicobacter pylori may contribute to gastric inflammation and epithelial damage. An in vitro analysis was designed to identify proteins released by mechanisms other than nonspecific lysis. The radioactivity of proteins in the supernatant was compared with that of the intact organism by two-dimensional gel phosphorimaging following a 4-h pulse-chase.

Prevention of browning in potato with a heat-treated onion extract.

The inhibitory effect of an onion extract on browning of potato was investigated. The addition of the heated onion extract to potato exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on potato polyphenol oxidase and the formation of a brown color. The inhibitory effect of the onion extract was dependent upon its heating temperature.