Barrett's Esophagus: A Molecular Overview.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is an asymptomatic condition of the distal esophagus that can progress to aggressive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Although BE is not malignant, the amount of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage is comparable to some malignancies such as melanoma and breast carcinoma. The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate the anomalies that underlie the transformation of the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus into metaplastic columnar epithelium with a potential of progressing into esophageal adenocarcinoma based on an appraisal and scrutiny of the literature published since 2000.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Cardiovascular Correlates.

Cardiovascular disease is cited as the underlying cause of death in one out of every three deaths within the United States; this burden on the health care system percolates down to affect patients on an individual level. In part, the problem arises from the low regenerative capacity of cardiovascular system cells, for example, cardiac myocytes, and from oxidative stressors to the human body. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a type of stem cell, and various clinical conditions including hypertension and renal failure underlie their dysfunction.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Depression: A Shared Pathogenesis.

It is common knowledge that dysfunction of the immune and neuroendocrine systems, in addition to neuroplasticity, is among the pathways that underlie irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and depression. From as early as the 1950s, the association of IBS with psychiatric disease was postulated; however, the exact mechanism remains elusive. There has been considerable research into the association of IBS and depression over the last years; research into the gut-brain axis and alterations in gut microbes have gained momentum to spell out the relationship between depression and IBS.