BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been considered a definitive carcinogen in gastric cancer. Telomerase is activated in gastric cancer and some premalignant gastric lesions, including intestinal metaplasia (IM). In this study, we evaluated the relationships of both H. pylori infection and telomerase activity with endoscopic and histologic features in IM. The effects of H. pylori eradication on endoscopic, histologic and biochemical changes were evaluated. METHODS: Endoscopic biopsies were obtained from 43 patients with IM for rapid urease, histologic and telomerase tests. The endoscopic and histologic features, H. pylori infection and telomerase were assessed. After H. pylori eradication, 15 patients were re-evaluated and compared after 4 months. RESULTS: Thirty-four (79.1%) patients were infected with H. pylori. The incidence of H. pylori infection was borderline correlated to the severity of IM (p=0.076). Telomerase was elevated in eight (18.6%) patients. Telomerase tends to be high in subtype III and endoscopic grade III of IM. After H. pylori eradication, endoscopic extent (p=0.039) and histologic severity (p=0.074) showed improvements, and telomerase decreased significantly (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that telomerase is associated with the severity and extent of IM and that H. pylori eradication improves the endoscopic and histologic features in IM, and decreases telomerase activity. H. pylori eradication can be considered one of the methods to prevent gastric cancer in patients with H. pylori-infected IM. Further long-term and large-scaled study will be needed.
Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*enzymology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Human ; Intestinal Mucosa/enzymology/microbiology/*pathology ; Male ; Metaplasia/enzymology/microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions/enzymology/microbiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*enzymology/microbiology ; Telomerase/*metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic colitis is a vascular condition of inadequate blood flow in the colon which leads to colonic inflammation and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is an early initiating event in ischemia and reperfusion injury. Heme oxygenase (HO) is considered to be an antioxidant enzyme that catabolizes heme to carbon monoxide, free iron and biliverdin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression patterns of HO-1, inducible form of HO, in ischemic colitis. METHODS: We analyzed the twelve cases of clinically and pathologically diagnosed ischemic colitis without surgical intervention compared with normal colon (n=10) and psedomembranous colitis (n=5). Immunohistochemical stainings for HO-1 were performed in paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 56 to 84 years (mean: 67 years) in ischemic colitis. Eight patients (66.7%) were female. The most common presenting symptom was bloody stool (66.7%) and rectosigmoid area (91.7%) of the large intestine was the most common ischemic site. Expression of HO-1 in ischemic colitis was high in contrast to normal colonic mucosa or psedomembranous colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic colitis usually involves the rectosigmoid area in elderly female patients with a history of bloody stool. High expression of HO-1 in ischemic colitis may be responsible for a protective mechanism to ischemia or heme injury.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis, Ischemic/*enzymology ; Colon/*enzymology ; Female ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa/*enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEIn this study, a growing rat model of zinc deficiency was established to investigate the effect of zinc deficiency on intestinal mucosal morphology and digestive enzyme activity as well as to provide a scientific basis for zinc supplementation therapy in patients with diarrhea.

METHODThree-week-old weaned Sprague-Dawley male rats (n = 30) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 in each: rats in the control group (ZA) were fed with a normal diet containing 30 µg/g zinc; rats in the zinc deficient group (ZD) were fed with a zinc-deficient diet containing 0.4 µg/g zinc (refer to AIN-76 formula); and rats in the paired fed group (PF) were fed with a normal diet, but the food intake was limited to intake of rats in ZD group in the previous day. All rats were provided with deionized water for drinking. Their body weight was measured and the food intake during the previous day was recorded early in the morning of the following day. Symptoms of zinc deficiency, such as anorexia, diarrhea, dermatitis, and growth retardation, were observed. Two weeks later, the rats were sacrificed and serum zinc concentration was measured. Jejunal mucosa was taken for biopsy and was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The height ratio of the jejunal mucosal villi and crypts was measured. In addition, the activity of lactase in the jejunal mucosal brush border, γ-glutamyl peptidase (GGT), and aminopeptidase N (APN) were measured.

RESULTThe average weight of the rats in the ZA, ZD, and PF groups at the beginning of the experiment was (67.4 ± 5.3) g, (64.7 ± 4.8) g, and (66.5 ± 4.1) g, respectively, and the average daily food intake was (11.2 ± 1.0) g, (11.6 ± 1.6) g, and (11.2 ± 1.4) g, respectively. The intergroup differences were not significant. On the 7(th) day of experiment, no significant differences in average food intake were observed between the ZD group and the ZA and PF groups, but the average body weight in the ZD group was significantly lower than that in the ZA and PF groups (P < 0.01). At the end of the experiment (2 weeks), the average weight in the ZD group (112.0 ± 11.5) g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (164.0 ± 15.9) g and PF groups (137.5 ± 16.2) g. The average food intake in the ZD group (13.4 ± 5.1) g was significantly lower than that in the ZA group (18.2 ± 2.4) g (P < 0.01). Serum zinc level in the ZD group (733 ± 231) µg/L was significantly lower than that in the ZA (1553 ± 159) µg/L and PF groups (1457 ± 216) µg/L (P < 0.01). The height ratio of jejunal mucosa villus and crypt in the ZA, ZD, and PF groups was 2.98 ± 0.5, 2.77 ± 0.5, and 2.81 ± 0.7, respectively, and lactase activity was (26.1 ± 15.0) U/mg, (27.4 ± 12.8) U/mg, and (40.8 ± 18.5) U/mg, respectively, without significant intergroup differences. The GGT activity in the jejunal mucosa in the ZD group (12.7 ± 6.5) U/g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (19.1 ± 10.4) U/g and PF groups (18.5 ± 7.7) U/g, but the difference was not significant. The activity of APN in the jejunal mucosa in the ZD group (25.5 ± 7.5) U/g was significantly lower than that in the ZA (48.7 ± 16.8) U/g and PF groups (43.9 ± 14.5) U/g (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZinc deficiency can cause loss of appetite, weight loss, and decreased activity of peptidase in the jejunal mucosal brush border. Zinc deficiency has little effect on the height ratio of the villus and crypt and lactase activity, thereby indicating that zinc deficiency may first affect protein digestion and absorption.

Animals ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lactase ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Zinc ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of up- or down-regulation of haemoxygenase 1 (HO-1) gene expression on intestinal mucosa injury induced by intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH).

METHODS(1) Reproduction of rat model of up- or down-regulation of HO-1 gene expression. Twenty-four healthy adult Wistar rats were divided into Co-PP (HO-1 specific revulsive) 2.5 mg, Co-PP 5.0 mg, Sn-PP (HO-1 specific inhibitor) 2.5 mg, and control groups according to the random number table, with six rats in each group. Rats in groups Co-PP 2.5 mg and Sn-PP 2.5 mg were respectively given Co-PP 2.5 mg/kg and Sn-PP 2.5 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, once every 12 hours for 3 days. The rats in group Co-PP 5.0 mg were intraperitoneally injected with Co-PP 5.0 mg/kg, once a day for 3 days. The rats in control group were treated with equal volume of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. All rats were sacrificed on post injection day (PID) 4, and intestinal mucosa tissues were collected for determination of HO-1 mRNA expression. Optimal dose of Co-PP was chosen for the following experiment. (2) The influence of up- or down-regulation of HO-1 gene expression on intestinal mucosa injury under IAH condition. Another 24 healthy adult Wistar rats were divided into control, IAH, Co-PP+IAH, and Sn-PP+IAH groups according to the random number table, with six rats in each group. The rats in groups Co-PP+IAH and Sn-PP+IAH were intraperitoneally injected with 2.5 mg/kg Co-PP and 2.5 mg/kg Sn-PP, once every 12 hours for 3 days. Equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected into the rats in control group, once every 12 hours for 3 days. Then, nitrogen gas pneumoperitoneum was used to establish the model of IAH in rats of the latter three groups on PID 4, with IAP at 20 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) , and it was maintained for 2 hours. Puncture and intubation were performed in rats of control group without inflating nitrogen gas. Jejunal segment in the length of 10-15 cm was harvested for collecting intestinal mucosa tissues to determine the HO-1 mRNA expression and diamine oxidase (DAO) content. Serum obtained from portal vein blood was collected to determine the D-lactate, TNF-α, and IL-6 contents. Another jejunal segment in the length of 1-2 cm was harvested for histopathological examination. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test.

RESULTS(1) The HO-1 mRNA expression in group Co-PP 2.5 mg was significantly higher than that in control and Co-PP 5.0 mg groups (with t values respectively 4.756, 3.175, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The HO-1 mRNA expression in group Sn-PP 2.5 mg was significantly lower than that in control group (t = 4.880, P < 0.01). The optimal dose of Co-PP for the following experiment was 2.5 mg/kg. (2) HO-1 mRNA expression in group Co-PP+IAH was 60 ± 5, and it was obviously higher than that of group IAH (49 ± 5, t = 3.811, P < 0.01) and control group (39 ± 4, t = 8.034, P < .001) . HO-1 mRNA expression was higher in group IAH than in control group (t = 3.826, P < 0.01). HO-1 mRNA expression in group Sn-PP+IAH was 29 ± 4, which was obviously lower than that of control group (t = 4.330, P < 0.01). The contents of DAO and D-lactate in group Co-PP+IAH were (0.52 ± 0.05) U/mL and (1.9 ± 0.6) mg/L, which were significantly lower than those in group IAH [(0.88 ± 0.06) U/mL and (4.3 ± 0.7) mg/L, with t values respectively 11.291, 6.376, P values all below 0.01], but still higher than those in control group [(0.34 ± 0.04) U/mL, (1.2 ± 0.5) mg/L, with t values respectively 6.886, 2.295, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. The contents of TNF-α and IL-6 were much lower in group Co-PP+IAH than in group IAH, but still higher than in control group (with t values from 3.781 to 18.557, P values all below 0.01). The contents of DAO, D-lactate, TNF-α, and IL-6 in group Sn-PP+IAH were all higher than those in the other 3 groups (with t values from 4.181 to 32.938, P values all below 0.01). Structure of epithelial cells from intestinal mucosa was intact and regularly arranged in rats of control group. Intestinal mucosal tissue was edematous, and the top of villi was anabrotic and necrotic in rats of group IAH. Compared with that of group IAH, the degree of intestinal mucosa injury was alleviated in rats of group Co-PP+IAH, while the pathology was aggravated in rats of group Sn-PP+IAH.

CONCLUSIONSUp-regulation of HO-1 gene expression can ameliorate intestinal mucosa injury caused by IAH, thus protecting intestinal mucosa tissues.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; pathology ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the detrimental effects of hemorrhagic shock on the structure and function of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) encoding cytochrome oxidase genes in intestinal epithelial cells.

METHODSWistar rats were used and divided into two groups: hemorrhagic shock group and control group. Hemorrhagic shock model of rats was utilized in this experiment. The mtDNA was extracted from the intestinal epithelial cells and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with different primers of cytochrome oxidase (COX I, COX II and COX III). The products of PCR were directly sequenced.

RESULTSHemorrhagic shock could result in the point mutagenesis in mitochondrial genome encoding cytochrome oxidase (COX I and COX II). There were 4, 4, 22, 16, 35 point mutations in COX I from 5545 to 6838 bp in 5 shocked rats. There were five point mutations in COX II from 7191 to 7542 bp at the site of t7191c, t7212c, a7386g, a7483g, c7542g in 1 shocked rat. There was no mutation found in COX III.

CONCLUSIONSHemorrhagic shock could significantly induce the damage of the gene of cytochrome oxidase encoded by mtDNA.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo examine the efficacy of Muscovite on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats, and to research the mechanisms of intestinal mucosal protection.

METHODUlcerative colitis was induced in rats by intracolonic injection of 2 mL of 7% acetic acid. Rats were treated with three different doses of the Muscovite and SASP at random by intracolonic injecion, the normal saline was considered as control group. The rats were sacrificed and the colons were excised and opened longitudinally. Under a dissecting microscope, gross findings were observed and scored. MPO activity was assayed by spectrophotometry in colonic mucosa.

RESULTGross finding showed that multiple ulcer with diameter more than 1 cm, surrounded with erosion, erythematous and edema in the proximal colon in ulcerative coltis. The colon from Muscovite treatment group were histopatholgically normal, with slight erosion, erythematous and edema. The colon in SASP group had small ulceration and severe erosion and edema. The score of gloss change were significant lower in Muscovite groups than that in normal saline group (P < 0.01). There were necrosis and exfoliation of mucosa, multiple cystic dilation of mucosa gland, and large number of and inflammation attenuated in Muscovite groups. There nerutrophils and vessel infiltration in ulcerative colitis. The ulceration disappeared were erosion in mucosa and inflammatory cell infiltrating into submucosa in SASP group. Compared with normal saline group, the pathological scale were significant decreased in Muscovite and SASP groups (P < 0.05). The MPO activity was significant increased in colitis tissue compared with normal group (P < 0.001). After administrating with Muscovite or SASP, the level of MPO were significant decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMuscovite has the effect of mucosal protection by attenuating the inflammation of colonic mucosa and decreasing the activity of MPO.

Acetic Acid ; Aluminum Silicates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Colon ; enzymology ; pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIM: The most important side effect of methotrexate (MTX) is mucositis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of turmeric extract on intestinal damage and oxidative stress in rats receiving methotrexate. METHODS: Experiments were performed on male Wistar albino rats divided into six groups. First group received normal saline orally, the second group received turmeric extract (100 mg·kg(-1)) orally for 30 days, the third group received turmeric extract (200 mg·kg(-1)) orally for 30 days, the fourth group received a single dose of methotrexate (20 mg·kg(-1)) i.p. at day 30, the fifth group received turmeric extract (100 mg·kg(-1)) orally for 30 days and a single dose of methotrexate (20 mg·kg(-1)) i.p. at day 30, and the sixth group received turmeric extract (200 mg·kg(-1)) orally for 30 days and single dose of methotrexate (20 mg·kg(-1)) i.p. at day 30. Four days after methotrexate injection, animals were anesthetized, blood samples were taken to determine total antioxidant status (TAS) and jejunum samples were taken for glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aldehyde malondialdehyde (MDA), and histopathological assessment. RESULTS: Microscopic evaluation from intestinal tissues of the MTX treated group, showed severe villus shortening and blunting, inflammatory cell infiltration and hemorrhage in lamina propria, along with epithlial cell necrosis. Levels of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT decreased in the MTX received group, but increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the turmeric + MTX groups. MTX increased lipid peroxidation, however, turmeric decreased peroxidation significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that turmeric extract may protect the small intestine of rats from methotrexate-induced damage. Turmeric effects could result from its antioxidant properties.
Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The death caused of anaphylactic shock is common in clinical medicine and medicolegal expertise, but it is a nodus to diagnose sudden death from allergy. In recent years, to provide objective and precise morphological evidence and index of diagnosis for sudden death from allergy, scholars of internal and overseas studied the content of IgE, HT, mast cell tryptase and SP in the serum of the death died of anaphylactic shock, and their immune express in lung and stomach intestine. In this text we reviewed the present study and existing problems of the forensic medicine diagnosis of the sudden erethistic death.
Anaphylaxis/pathology* ; Death, Sudden ; Forensic Pathology ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism* ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Mast Cells/enzymology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Substance P/metabolism* ; Trypsin/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the mRNA expression and the intestinal mucosal cyclooxygenase (COXs) activity in scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree scalding were employed as the model. The changes of COX-1, COX-2 activities were determined by substrate fluorescence analysis and the mRNA expressions of COX-1 and COX-2 by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA expressions and the activities of COX-2 in rat intestinal mucosa increased obviously after injury. But those of COX-1 exhibited lower range of change.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological mechanism of rat intestinal mucosa injury after scalding might be closely related to the COXs participation by different styles between the two enzymes.

Animals ; Burns ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) is downregulated during the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of 15-PGDH in normal-appearing colorectal mucosa as a biomarker for predicting colorectal neoplasms. We obtained paired tumor and normal tissues from the surgical specimens of 32 sporadic colorectal cancer patients. mRNA expression of 15-PGDH was measured using a quantitative real-time PCR assay. We evaluated the association between 15-PGDH mRNA expression in normal-appearing mucosa, the presence of synchronous adenoma, and the cumulative incidence of metachronous adenoma. The relative 15-PGDH expression of normal-appearing mucosa in patients with synchronous adenoma was significantly lower than in patients without synchronous adenoma (0.71 vs 1.00, P = 0.044). The patients in the lowest tertile of 15-PGDH expression in normal-appearing mucosa were most likely to have synchronous adenoma (OR: 10.5, P = 0.024). Patients with low 15-PGDH expression in normal-appearing mucosa also demonstrated more advanced stage colorectal cancer (P = 0.045). However, there was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of metachronous adenoma according to 15-PGDH mRNA expression in normal-appearing mucosa (P = 0.333). Hence, 15-PGDH in normal-appearing colorectal mucosa can be a useful biomarker of field effect for the prediction of sporadic synchronous neoplasms.
Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/enzymology/pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases/genetics/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/*enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/enzymology/pathology ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/enzymology/pathology ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*metabolism