Nuclear Factor-κB Increases Intracellular Calcium by Upregulation of Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger 1 in Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: The mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) are still not completely understood. An early, critical feature of AP is aberrant calcium (Ca) signaling, termed Ca overload, within pancreatic acinar cells. This study aimed to develop a model system in rats for AP induction to study the contribution of the Na-Ca exchanger 1 (NCX1) ion channel in AP pathogenesis.

Unexplained abdominal pain due to a fish bone penetrating the gastric antrum and migrating into the neck of the pancreas: A case report.

Background: Ingestion of foreign bodies results in gastrointestinal perforation in approximately 1% of patients, and fish bones are the objects that most commonly lead to bowel perforation. When it does occur, the terminal ileum is the most common site of perforation, followed by the duodenal C-loop. However, involvement of the pancreas is very rare.

VPAC1 couples with TRPV4 channel to promote calcium-dependent gastric cancer progression via a novel autocrine mechanism.

Although VPAC1 and its ligand vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are important in gastrointestinal physiology, their involvements in progression of gastrointestinal tumor have not been explored. Here, we found that higher expression of VIP/VPAC1 was observed in gastric cancer compared to the adjacent normal tissues. The increased expression of VIP/VPAC1 in gastric cancer correlated positively with invasion, tumor stage, lymph node, distant metastases, and poor survival.

Roles of Na/Ca exchanger 1 in digestive system physiology and pathophysiology.

The Na/Ca exchanger (NCX) protein family is a part of the cation/Ca exchanger superfamily and participates in the regulation of cellular Ca homeostasis. NCX1, the most important subtype in the NCX family, is expressed widely in various organs and tissues in mammals and plays an especially important role in the physiological and pathological processes of nerves and the cardiovascular system. In the past few years, the function of NCX1 in the digestive system has received increasing attention; NCX1 not only participates in the healing process of gastric ulcer and gastric mucosal injury but also mediates the development of digestive cancer, acute pancreatitis, and intestinal absorption.

Neurofibromatosis type 1-associated multiple rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is commonly associated with benign or malignant tumors in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, rare cases of NF-1-associated multiple rectal neuroendocrine tumors have been reported. This report describes a case of a 39 year old female with NF-1 and intermittent hematochezia as a primary symptom.

Calcium Promotes Human Gastric Cancer via a Novel Coupling of Calcium-Sensing Receptor and TRPV4 Channel.

Although dietary calcium intake has long been recommended for disease prevention, the influence of calcium in development of cancer in the upper gastrointestinal tract has not been explored. Here, we assess the roles of calcium and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in gastric cancer development. CaSR expression was enhanced in gastric cancer specimens, which positively correlated with serum calcium concentrations, tumor progression, poor survival, and male gender in gastric cancer patients.

Anti-proliferative Effects of Nucleotides on Gastric Cancer via a Novel P2Y6/SOCE/Ca/β-catenin Pathway.

Although purinegic signaling is important in regulating gastric physiological functions, it is currently unknown for its role in gastric cancer (GC). We demonstrate for the first time that the expression of P2Y6 receptors was markedly down-regulated in human GC cells and primary GC tissues compared to normal tissues, while the expression of P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors was up-regulated in GC cells. Moreover, the expression levels of P2Y6 receptors in GC tissues were correlated to tumor size, differentiation, metastasis to lymph nodes, and the survival rate of the patients with GC.