Caspase-1 inhibition alleviates acute renal injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To assess the effect of inhibition of caspase-1 on acute renal injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: healthy controls (HC, n = 6), SAP rats treated with saline (SAP-S, n = 18), or SAP rats treated with a caspase-1/interleukin (IL)-1β-converting-enzyme (ICE) inhibitor (SAP-I-ICE, n = 18). SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile-pancreatic duct.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in hepatic SREBP-1c activation and lipid accumulation in fructose-fed mice.

A link between fructose drinking and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been demonstrated in human and rodent animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is mediated in the development of fructose-induced NAFLD. Female CD-1 mice were fed with 30% fructose solution for eight weeks.

Melatonin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic SREBP-1c activation and lipid accumulation in mice.

A link between endotoxemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been demonstrated in human and rodent animals. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms of endotoxin-evoked NAFLD remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked hepatic lipid accumulation.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with rib fractures: a case report.

Background: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare multiple gastrointestinal polyposis. Up till now, many complications of CCS have been reported in the literature, but rib fracture is not included.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 58-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with a 6-month history of frequent diarrhea, intermittent hematochezia and a weight loss of 13 kg.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with gastrointestinal bleeding, splenic hemangiomas and left inferior vena cava.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a congenital vascular anomaly characterized by a triad of varicose veins, cutaneous capillary malformation, and hypertrophy of bone and (or) soft tissue. Gastrointestinal vascular malformations in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome may present with gastrointestinal bleeding. The majority of patients with splenic hemangiomatosis and/or left inferior vena cava are asymptomatic.

International and inter-observer differences in macroscopic classification of superficial early colorectal cancer.

Background/aims: The aim of this research is to investigate the international and intra-observer differences in the macroscopic classification of early colorectal cancer between Japan and China.

Methodology: Color pictures of 9 cases of early colorectal cancer were distributed to 6 Japanese and 5 Chinese endoscopists. After reviewing the pictures, the doctors made their classificatory diagnoses independently and indicated their findings on which the diagnoses were based.

Detection of RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in serum from gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic role of serum RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSPCR) was used to examine the promoter methylation status of the serum RASSF1A gene in 47 gastric adenocarcinoma patients, 45 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, 60 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease (30 with benign gastric disease and 30 with benign colorectal disease), and 30 healthy donor controls. A paired study of RASSF1A promoter methylation status in primary tumor, adjacent normal tissue, and postoperative serum were conducted in 25 gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma patients who later were underwent surgical therapy.

Interleukin-18: a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in acute pancreatitis.

A large body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of local and systemic complications of acute pancreatitis. IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in many human diseases, including acute pancreatitis. This review focuses on the present understanding in IL-18 and its potential role in acute pancreatitis.

Therapeutic effects of caspase-1 inhibitors on acute lung injury in experimental severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To assess the therapeutic effect of Caspase-1 inhibitors (ICE-I) on acute lung injury (ALI) in experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Forty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: healthy controls (HC, n = 6); SAP-S group (n = 18); SAP-ICE-I group (n = 18). SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile-pancreatic duct.

Effects of recombinant human canstatin protein in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To examine the effect of canstatin, a newly discovered endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer in vivo.

Methods: The canstatin cDNA fragment was synthesized and amplified from the total RNA extracted from human placenta tissues by RT-PCR. The resulting product was firstly cloned into pUCm-T vector, then into plasmid pET-22b (+) and transformed into E.

Characteristic expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate decarboxylase in rat jejunum and its relation to differentiation of epithelial cells.

Aim: To investigate the expression between gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate decarboxylase and its relation with differentiation and maturation of jejunal epithelial cells in rat jejunum.

Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of GABA and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, including two isoforms, GAD65 and GAD67) was investigated in rat jejunum. Meanwhile, double staining was performed with GAD65 immunohistochemistry, followed by lectin histochemistry of fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin.