Gastrointestional Tract Research Articles

Expression profile and functional role of S100A14 in human cancer.

S100A14 is one of the new members of the multi-functional S100 protein family. Expression of S100A14 is highly heterogeneous among normal human tissues, suggesting that the regulation of S100A14 expression and its function may be tissue- and context-specific. Compared to the normal counterparts, S100A14 mRNA and protein levels have been found to be deregulated in several cancer types, indicating a functional link between S100A14 and malignancies. Accordingly, S100A14 is functionally linked with a number of key signaling molecules such as p53, p21, MMP1, MMP9, MMP13, RAGE, NF-kB, JunB, actin and HER2. Of interest, S100A14 seems to have seemingly opposite functions in malignancies arising from the gastrointestional tract (tissues rich in epithelial components) compared to cancers in the other parts of the body (tissues rich in mesenchymal components). The underlying mechanism for these observations are currently unclear and may be related to the relative abundance and differences in the type of interaction partners (effector protein) in different cancer types and tissues. In addition, several studies indicate that the expression pattern of S100A14 has a potential to be clinically useful as prognostic biomarker in several cancer types. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive summary on the expression pattern and functional roles/related molecular pathways in different cancer types. Additionally, the prognostic potential of S100A14 in the management of human malignancies will be discussed.

Epidemiology and survival of small cell carcinoma of gastrointestional tract: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database review.

518 Background: Small cell carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon histology. Limited literature is available to clinicians about the incidence, distribution and prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract (SCGIT). We reviewed the Survival, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database of National Cancer Institute to understand its epidemiology and prognosis. Methods: SEER database was reviewed for patients with histologically confirmed SCGIT (8041-45) and its variants in the GIT between 2002-2007 (all stages). Variables included were age, gender, race, primary site and disease specific survival. The incidence pattern across race, gender, and site of origin for SCGIT was investigated. Chi square test was used to assess the difference of incidence pattern. 5-yr survival rate across various sites was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the difference in 5-yr survival was tested by log-rank test. If the significant difference is detected, the paired comparison was performed and the p-values were adjusted by Tukey multiple-comparison method. Results: A total of 645 patients were included. The distribution of SCGIT was: colorectal (30.08%), esophagus (22.17%), pancreas (20.16%), hepatobiliary (11.63%), stomach (9.61%) and NOS (6.63%). The incidence pattern of SCGIT in males and female was significantly different (p < 0.0008). Males had a higher incidence of esophagus; stomach and pancreas while females had a higher incidence of hepatobiliary, colorectal and NOS sites. Five-year survival of SCGIT was significantly associated with the primary site of disease (p = 0.03). Paired-comparison results showed that the 5-yr survival rate for patients with pancreas small cell cancer was significantly lower than patients with stomach or NOS(4.80% -pancreas vs 5.22 %-stomach and 12.81% - NOS) (p = 0.04 and p = 0.003 respectively). There was not a significant difference between other sites. Conclusions: Small cell carcinoma of the GI tract has difference in incidence patterns between genders. The 5-yr survival of patients with pancreatic small cell carcinoma is significantly lower as compared to stomach or NOS.

PTH-128 Small Bowel Cancer: A 20-year Single Uk Centre Experience

IntroductionSmall bowel cancer (SBC) is rare and accounts for 5% of all gastrointestional (GI) malignancies despite the small bowel forming 75% of the GI tract. [1] Typical non-specific symptoms lead...

Intraocular collision tumour: case report and literature review

"Collision" tumours consist of different neoplasms coexisting within a single lesion. Whilst quite common in the skin, the gastrointestional tract, and the ovaries, intraocular collision tumours are exceedingly rare. We describe an exceptional case of a combined uveal melanoma and intraocular plasmacytoma. Observational case report. A 61-year-old woman underwent enucleation for rubeotic glaucoma and cells in the anterior chamber after proton-beam radiotherapy of a cilio-choroidal melanoma of the right eye. Examination of the enucleated eye was performed with immunohistochemistry, multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain gene rearrangements. A review of the literature on ocular collision tumours and uveal involvement by plasma cell neoplasms was also performed. Morphological, immunophenotypical, and genotypical examination of the tumour revealed the co-existence of both a melanoma and a plasmacytoma within the choroid and ciliary body. The glaucoma was caused by extensive infiltration of the iris and trabecular meshwork by the plasmacytoma cells. Review of the literature revealed only four collision tumours involving the eyelid and three involving the choroid. All three intraocular collision tumours consisted of uveal melanoma and choroidal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Uveal involvement by plasma cell neoplasms is also extremely rare, with only six reported cases. This is the first documented intraocular collision tumour consisting of a uveal melanoma and isolated plasmacytoma. If a patient presents with 'uveitis' after proton-beam radiotherapy of a cilio-choroidal melanoma, there may be scope for performing biopsies to determine whether the lymphoid infiltrate is reactive or neoplastic.

Gastrointestinal absorption enhancement of insulin by administration of enteric microspheres and SNAC to rats

The preparation and characteristics of insulin enteric microspheres (EMS) were studied and the gastrointestinal absorption enhancement of insulin by co-administering EMS with sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC) was determined. The w/o/w and o1/o2 emulsion solvent evaporation methods were used to prepare insulin-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) EMS. High-performance liquid chormatography determined the drug loading, entrapment efficiency, stability to pepsin, and drug dissolution rate in hydrochloric acid solution (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8). The hypoglycaemic effect was studied by orally administrating the insulin EMS and SNAC to rats. The particle size of EMS (o1/o2) and EMS (w/o/w) was about 500 and 30 µm respectively, and drug loading was 7 and 3% respectively. After being incubated with 18 µg/mL pepsin solution (pH 1) at 37°C, only 20% of insulin in EMS (o1/o2) was digested within 4 h, while 60% of the insulin in EMS (w/o/w) was digested within 1 h. In hydrochloric acid solution (pH 1.2), EMS (o1/o2) had less drug dissolution than EMS (w/o/w). In phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8), the entire drug release time of EMS (o1/o2) and EMS (w/o/w) was 75 and 10 min, respectively. After orally administering with SNAC, EMS (o1/o2) could decrease the blood glucose level of rats remarkably and maintain the hypoglycaemic effect for 4 h, while EMS (w/o/w) had just a weakly hypoglycaemic effect. The results showed that the characteristics-optimized EMS, i.e. EMS (o1/o2) incorporating SNAC, could enhance insulin absorption significantly in the gastrointestional tract by taking advantage of both protection from enzyme degradation and improvement of drug permeability.

Body and intestinal growth of broiler chicks on a commercial starter diet. 2. Development and characteristics of intestinal enzymes

1. Investigations were conducted into the development of intestinal enzyme function in broiler chickens on a commercial starter diet. The differences between intestinal regions and localisation of enzymes on the villus were assessed. 2. The specific activity of maltase, sucrase, aminopeptidase N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) at all intestinal sites decreased with age. There were also variations between intestinal sites although this variation depended on age. The specific activity of maltase was higher than that of the other enzymes examined, regardless of age and intestinal site. The total activities of the enzymes also increased with age at all intestinal sites. 3. Results of the localisation of enzymes on the crypt : villus axis showed that activity was expressed over a large proportion of the villus. There was an increase in the total villus activity of α -glu cosidase (AG), APN and AP with age. Activity per unit villus surface area was similar between ages, except for jejunal AP. At hatch enzyme activity was expressed over 44.1, 55.8 and 63.3% of villus height in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. At 21 d of age, corresponding values were 68.7, 65.6 and 77.2%. The point of peak activity from the crypt : villus junction increased with age. In the jejunum, most enterocytes were capable of secreting active enzymes within 1 h of formation. Cells maintained their secretory capabilities until they were more than 60 h old in the case of AG. 4. Although the specific activities of the enzymes were maximal at hatch, the digestive capacity of older birds may be sustained by an increase in total enzyme activity brought about by increased surface area. The pattern of enzyme activity along the gastrointestional tract (GIT) and crypt : villus axis is similar to that reported for some mammalian species.

Effects of Dietary Inulin on Serum Lipids

Inulin is a carbohydrate belonging to a class of compounds known as fructans. Because inulin is resistant to digestion in the upper gastrointestional tract it reaches the large intestine essentially intact, where it is fermented by indigenous bacteria. Thus, it may be classified as a soluble dietary fiber. Soluble fibers have been shown to modulate serum lipids. A recent study examined the effect of consuming three servings per day of inulin-containing foods, compared with the effect of similar foods without inulin, on serum lipid profiles among hypercholesterolemic men and women. In addition, the practicality of including 18 g/d of inulin in a low fat diet was investigated. The recent study randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with two 6-wk treatment periods, separated by a 6-wk washout. Men and women (n = 21) with baseline LDL increased significantly (7.4 and 12.3%, respectively) during the control phase. There were small, nonsignificant declines in total (1.3%) and LDL-C (2.1%) during the inulin phase. Thus, differences in response between periods (inulin − control) were significant (P < 0.05) for LDL-C (−14.4%) and total cholesterol (−8.7%). Mild gastrointestinal discomfort was more common during the inulin than the control food phase; however, the gastrointestinal side-effect profile of inulin was similar to that of other soluble fibers. Although it was not possible to draw firm conclusions, inulin may have blunted the hypercholesterolemic effects observed during consumption of control foods. Additional research will be required to confirm the possible lipid-modulating properties of dietary inulin in humans.

Fourth international symposium on cell injury and protection in the gastrointestional tract from basic sciences to clinical perspectives Pécs, Hungary, october 8–11, 1995

Fourth international symposium on cell injury and protection in the gastrointestional tract from basic sciences to clinical perspectives Pécs, Hungary, october 8–11, 1995

Thyroid, renal, and splanchnic circulation in horses at rest and during short-term exercise

SUMMARY Using radionuclide-labeled 15-μm-diameter microspheres injected into the left ventricle, we examined blood flow to the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, kidneys, and various gastrointestinal tract tissues in 9 healthy horses while they were standing quietly (rest) and during exercise at 2 work intensities (8 and 13 m/s). Hemodynamic measurements were made during steady-state conditions, as judged by the stability of heart rate as well as aortic, pulmonary, and right atrial pressures. The similarity of blood flow values for the left and the right kidneys during each of the 3 conditions indicated adequate mixing of microspheres with blood. In standing horses, of all tissues examined, the thyroid gland had the highest blood flow (1,655.2 ± 338.5 ml/min/100 g)—being about threefold that in the kidneys. Adrenal blood flow, by contrast, was only 25% of that in the kidneys (589.5 ± 50.4 ml/min/100 g). Among the gastrointestinal tract tissues, glandular stomach and pancreas had the highest blood flows (214.3 ± 21.6 and 197.6 ± 23.4 ml/min/100 g, respectively). Small intestinal perfusion was not different from that in the ventral colon and cecum, but their values exceeded those for the dorsal and small colons. Exercise at 8 and 13 m/s caused significant increase in adrenal blood flow as vascular resistance decreased significantly. In the kidneys, blood flow was only insignificantly affected during exercise at 8 m/s, but at 13 m/s there was a profound reduction in renal blood flow as intense renal vasoconstriction occurred. Vasoconstriction also caused thyroid and pancreatic blood flow to decrease significantly at both levels of exertion. Significant vasoconstriction occurring in all gastrointestional tract tissues at 8 and 13 m/s caused blood flow to be diverted away from these vascular beds. Thus, our data indicated that renal, adrenal, and splanchnic organ/tissue blood flow responses of strenuously exercising horses closely resemble those described for exercising ponies.

Radiologic evaluation before gastric bypass for morbid obesity

During a 4 year period, 69 patients received gastric bypass with stapling and Roux-Y gastrojejunostomy for morbid obesity. The results of 67 preoperative radiologic evaluations of the gastrointestional tract were analyzed. Of these patients, 17.9 percent (12 of 67) had previous cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis; 14.6 percent (10 of 67) had cholelithiasis found on preoperative evaluation. This gave an overall incidence of gallbladder disease of 32.8 percent. The upper gastrointestinal examination revealed four patients with hiatal hernia, three with reflux, and one with evidence of reflux esophagitis. Two patients had one duodenal diverticulum each. Ten small bowel follow-through examinations were performed, six of which revealed no abnormalities and four of which were consistent with previous jejunoileal bypass. Results of air-contrast barium enema showed 1 patient with a cecal mass which was subsequently found to be a fatty iliocecal valve and 16 patients had diverticulosis without evidence of diverticulitis. The remainder of the findings of all studies were unremarkable. When all is considered, including radiation dose, difficulty in performing examinations, and cost, we conclude that because of the low incidence of significant abnormalities, routine preoperative evaluation of these patients should only include radiographic or sonographic evaluation of the gallbladder. Other examinations should be obtained if the patients have current symptoms or previous gastrointestinal disease or gastric surgery.

Systemic candidiasis fromCandida albicans colonizing the gastrointestinal tract of mice

Reproducible induction of systemic Candida infection was achieved by treating mice in which Candida colonization had been established in the gastrointestional tract by aminobenzylpenicillin treatment. Systemic candidiasis was induced in these mice by X-ray irradiation followed by immunosuppressive doses of dexamethasone or X-ray irradiation followed by immunosuppressive doses of trypan blue. Macrophages seem to play an important role in thie systemic infection.

Phase Contrast Microscopy: Cytoarchitecture of Central and Autonomic Nervous Systems in Stained Thick Sections

Fix, J. D. 1970. Phase contrast microscopy: cytoarchitecture of central and autonomic nervous systems in stained thick sections. Trans. American Micros. Soc. 89: 189-196. The study of Cresylechtviolett-stained sections of the brains of twelve primates with the phase contrast microscope provided a means for the selective demonstration of many cellular structures that could not be resolved with the same degree of detail which was possible when bright field microscopy was used, or when phase contrast microscopy was employed to examine unstained material. Included in this study were the brains of the following: Tupaia glis, Galago demidovii, Galago crassicaudatus, Lemur fulvus, Microcebus murinus, Callithrix jacchus, Ateles ater, Cercopithecus ascanius, Papio doguera, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, and Homo sapiens. The detail of phase contrast image was greatly enhanced, so that cytoplasmic and nuclear structures of the perikaryon could be demonstrated to better advantage. Sections of the gastrointestional tract stained with hematoxylin and eosin revealed more detail of the autonomic plexuses. Due to optical path differences between the mesenchymal elements and the surrounding pale staining neuropil the microangioarchitecture can be sharply visualized and studied in great detail, especially in the cortex of the cerebellum. Viral inclusion bodies in certain nerve cells can be demonstrated to a much better degree than with conventional staining methods using bright field microscopy.

Obstructive Lesions in the Gastrointestional Tract of Infants and Children

Obstructive Lesions in the Gastrointestional Tract of Infants and Children

EFFICIENCY OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AFTER RESECTION OF HEAD OF PANCREAS

When resection of the head of the pancreas is carried out, partial gastrectomy, total duodenectomy and some sort of anastomosis between the biliary tract and the stomach or small intestine are integral parts of the operative procedure. Such extensive surgical operations cannot be done without interfering to some degree with the normal functioning of the gastrointestional tract. It was the purpose of this study to assess the degree of impairment of the digestive and absorptive functions of the gastrointestinal tract brought about by this operation and to evaluate ways by which such impairment of function could be reduced. This was done by means of intake-excretion studies with standard test diets. Similar studies of normal persons had previously been carried out with two of the same test diets for control purposes. SUBJECTS STUDIED Ten patients who had undergone resection of the head of the pancreas consented to be studied. Two of

The Effect of Phrenicotomy on Gastrointestinal Mechanisms.

SummarySection of the left phrenic nerve is followed by gastric hypotonia and hypokinesia and the presence of a large gas bubble in the fundus of the stomach. Gastric emptying time is shortened considerably. The barium appears to puddle in a moderately contracted intestine. There were no symptoms observed which could be associated with the so-called gastro-cardiac symptom complex. When phrenicotomy is done simultaneously with vagotomy, the vomiting and the gaseous distention of the gastro-intestional tract associated with bilateral supradiaphragmatic vagotomy only, are not seen.