TCF 4 tumor suppressor: a molecular target in the prognosis of sporadic colorectal cancer in humans.

Background: A huge array of function is played by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in development by balancing gene expression through the modulation of cell-specific DNA binding downstream effectors such as T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF). The β-catenin/TCF-4 complex is a central regulatory switch for differentiation and proliferation of intestinal cells (both normal and malignant). Thus, in the present study we evaluated each of 60 cases of sporadic adenocarcinoma, alongside adjoining and normal mucosa specimens of colorectum in humans, for mutation and expression analysis of the gene coding for TCF-4 protein.

Chemopreventive role of olive oil in colon carcinogenesis by targeting noncoding RNAs and methylation machinery.

Epigenetic therapy induced by dietary components has become a strong interest in the field of cancer prevention. Olive oil, a potent dietary chemopreventive agent, control colon cancer, however, its role in epigenetic therapy remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of olive oil in a preclinical model of colon cancer by targeting genetic and epigenetic mechanisms.

Antioxidant Supplementation: A Linchpin in Radiation-Induced Enteritis.

Radiation enteritis is one of the most feared complications of abdominal and pelvic regions. Thus, radiation to abdominal or pelvic malignancies unavoidably injures the intestine. Because of rapid cell turnover, the intestine is highly sensitive to radiation injury, which is the limiting factor in the permissible dosage of irradiation.

Toxinotyping and Sequencing of Isolates from Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India.

Background: is an important cause of infectious colitis among hospitalized patients across the globe. The pathogenic potential of in producing significant morbidity and mortality is mainly due to production of toxins A and B. The outbreaks of .

Doxycycline Promotes Carcinogenesis & Metastasis via Chronic Inflammatory Pathway: An In Vivo Approach.

Background: Doxycycline (DOX) exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and pro-apoptotic activity and is being tested in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for several cancers, including colon cancer.

Materials & Methods: In the current study, the chemotherapeutic activity of doxycycline was tested in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis, induced by colon specific cancer promoter, 1,2, dimethylhydrazine (DMH) as well as study the effect of DOX-alone on a separate group of rats.

Results: Doxycycline administration in DMH-treated rats (DMH-DOX) unexpectedly increased tumor multiplicity, stimulated progression of colonic tumor growth from adenomas to carcinomas and revealed metastasis in small intestine as determined by macroscopic and histopathological analysis.

Frequent activation of the β-catenin gene in sporadic colorectal carcinomas: A mutational & expression analysis.

β-catenin (CTNNB1), an oncogene/onco-protein and an adhesion molecule is a key effector in colorectal cancer (CRC). Its activation, and subsequent up-regulation of Wnt-signaling, is an important event in the development of certain human cancers including CRC. Mutations in the β-catenin gene in the region of serine-threonine glycogen kinase (GSK)-3β phosphorylation target sites have been identified in colorectal cancer in humans.

Prevalence and molecular types of Clostridium difficile isolates from faecal specimens of patients in a tertiary care centre.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) leads to considerable morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Faecal specimens from 1110 hospitalized patients suspected for CDI were cultured for isolation of C. difficile and characterization of virulence genes.

Lactase genetic polymorphisms and coeliac disease in children: a cohort study.

Background: Lactase activity declines during childhood in the majority of human populations leading to adult-type hypolactasia (AtH). C/T-13910 and G/A-22018 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been suggested to be associated with AtH in different human populations. Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by damage to intestinal cells leading to ultimate deterioration.

Promoter methylation and immunohistochemical expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 in sporadic colorectal cancer: a study from India.

To determine the etiological factors of human colorectal cancer (CRC) we assessed the frequency and prognostic significance of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in conjunction with hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein expression in 30 Indian CRC patients. The protein expression and promoter methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2; Mismatch Repair genes (MMR) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR (MSP), respectively. A loss of hMLH1 expression was recognized in 4(13.

Effect of antioxidant supplementation on digestive enzymes in radiation induced intestinal damage in rats.

Purpose: Intestinal mucosa, a rapidly proliferating tissue, is highly sensitive to radiation and undergoes apoptosis as a consequence of over generation of oxidative free radicals and the lack of the antioxidants. Thus the present study was designed to investigate the intestinal damage induced by radiation and to study if supplementation of the diet with antioxidant vitamins could ameliorate the intestinal damage and its digestive activity, as determined by the expression of various border enzymes.

Materials And Methods: Swiss Albino rats (150-200 g body weight) were divided into six groups.

Alterations in K-ras, APC and p53-multiple genetic pathway in colorectal cancer among Indians.

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing rapidly in Asian countries during the past few decades, but no comprehensive analysis has been done to find out the exact cause of this disease. In this study, we investigated the frequencies of mutations and expression pattern of K-ras, APC (adenomatosis polyposis coli) and p53 in tumor, adjoining and distant normal mucosa and to correlate these alterations with patients clinicopathological parameters as well as with the survival. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction digestion was used to detect mutations in K-ras and PCR-SSCP (Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) followed by DNA sequencing was used to detect mutations in APC and p53 genes.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in Takayasu's arteritis: role of matrix metalloproteinases and adventitial inflammation.

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is an inflammatory fibrosing arteritis affecting predominately the aorta and its main branches. Pathogenesis of this disease remains enigmatic. Despite the numerous studies, the role of adventitia in vascular lesion formation in the setting of TA has been ignored.

Correlation of G/A -22018 single-nucleotide polymorphism with lactase activity and its usefulness in improving the diagnosis of adult-type hypolactasia among North Indian children.

Adult-type hypolactasia (AtH or lactase non-persistence) is the physiological decline in lactase activity that manifests in majority of the world's population after weaning. Recently, various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) upstream of lactase gene (LCT) have been suggested to be associated with AtH or the lactase persistent trait in different human populations. C/T -13910 SNP was found be completely associated with AtH in Finnish population, and G/A -22018 SNP was found to be strongly, but not completely, associated with AtH.

Effect of C/T -13910 cis-acting regulatory variant on expression and activity of lactase in Indian children and its implication for early genetic screening of adult-type hypolactasia.

Background: Absorption of milk sugar (lactose) is regulated by the activity of lactase enzyme in gut wall. Intestinal lactase activity declines during childhood in majority of human populations leading to adult-type hypolactasia (primary lactose malabsorption), limiting the use of fresh milk due to lactose intolerance. Aim of this study was to correlate lactase expression and activity with C/T -13910 variant in Indian children, determine the age of onset of down-regulation of lactase activity and assess the applicability of the C/T -13910 variant as a diagnostic marker for identifying children genetically inclined to develop adult-type hypolactasia.

Aberrant promoter methylation of p16 in colorectal adenocarcinoma in North Indian patients.

Aim: To investigate p16 gene methylation and its expression in 30 patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma in a North Indian population.

Methods: Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction was used to detect p16 gene methylation and immunohistochemistry was used to study the p16 expression in 30 sporadic colorectal tumors as well as adjoining and normal tissue specimens.

Results: Aberrant promoter methylation of p16 gene was detected in 12 (40%) tumor specimens, whereas no promoter methylation was observed in adjoining and normal tissue.

Ethanol-induced changes in lipid peroxidation of enterocytes across the crypt-villus axis in rats.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the turnover of epithelial cells in the rat intestine. The metabolism of ethanol generates ROS, which are implicated in cellular injury, but the levels of lipid peroxidation in intestine in chronic alcoholism are unknown.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ethanol ingestion on lipid peroxidation, and anti- and pro-oxidant enzyme systems in enterocytes across the crypt-villus axis in intestine.

Kinetic characteristics of brush border sucrase activation by Na+ ions in mice intestine.

The kinetics of Na+ activation of brush border sucrase (sucrose D-glucosidase E.C. 3.

Inhibition of brush border sucrase by polyphenols in mouse intestine.

The interactions of gallic acid and tannic acid with purified brush border sucrase (EC 3.2.1.

Effect of Na+ ions on pH-dependent conformational changes in brush border sucrase-isomaltase in mice intestine.

Intestinal brush border sucrase-isomaltase (sucrose D-glucosidase E.C. 3.

Hormone induced changes in lactase glycosylation in developing rat intestine.

Lactase exists in both soluble and membrane-bound forms in suckling rat intestine. The distribution of lactase and its glycosylated isoforms in response to thyroxine or cortisone administration has been studied in suckling rats. 75% of lactase activity was detected, associated with brush borders, compared to 24% in the soluble fraction of 8-day-old rats.

Hormone induced expression of brush border lactase in suckling rat intestine.

The postnatal development of intestine is associated with a decline in brush border lactase activity in rodents. This is similar to adulthood hypolactasia, a phenomenon prevalent in humans worldwide. In the present study, the effect of luminal proteases from adult rat intestine was studied in vitro on intestinal lactase activity in saline control, thyroxine, insulin and cortisone treated rat pups.

Hypolactasia as a molecular basis of lactose intolerance.

Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH), a membrane-bound glycoprotein present in the luminal surface of enterocytes in the intestine is responsible for lactose intolerance, a phenomenon prevalent in humans worldwide. In the rodent intestine, the post-natal development of the LPH follows a specific pattern, such that the enzyme levels are high in the peri-natal period, but declines considerably upon maturation. The observed maturational decline in the LPH activity is very similar to adult-type hypolactasia observed in humans.

Susceptibility of lactase to luminal proteases in developing rat intestine.

Background: Postnatal development of rat intestine is associated with a decline in brush-border lactase activity. This phenomenon is similar to the adulthood hypolactasia in humans. However, the mechanism underlying this process is not understood.