Objective:To evaluate the effects of single spay of L-menthol (NPO-11) on suppressing gastric peristalsis during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the influencing factor.Methods:This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-parallel controlled study. The eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups by randomized blocks. Patients received local spray of either NPO-11 (160 mg L-menthol) or placebo 20 mL during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The gastric peristalsis was recorded and evaluated before, 2 minutes after and at the end of endoscopy. The complexity of the procedure was evaluated by the researchers. The influencing factors for antiperistaltic effect of NPO-11 were analyzed.Results:A total of 220 patients were enrolled from five research centers. There were 109 cases in the NPO-11 group and 111 cases in the placebo group. The baseline data of the two groups were similar and comparable. The proportion of patients with grade 1 peristalsis at 2 minutes after the treatment and at the end of endoscopy was significantly higher in the NPO-11 group than that in the placebo group [40.37% (44/109) VS 16.22% (18/111), χ2=15.93, P<0.001]. Compared with the placebo group, the proportions of weak peristalsis (grade 1 and 2) were higher in the NPO-11 group at 2 minutes after the treatment [67.89% (74/109) VS 46.85% (52/111)] and at the end of endoscopy [79.82% (87/109) VS 48.65% (54/111)]. Subgroup analysis showed that the inhibitory effect of NPO-11 on gastric peristalsis was more significant in Helicobacter pylori antibody positive group. Conclusion:Local spray of NPO-11 can effectively inhibit gastric peristalsis during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and its effect is more significant in Helicobacter pylori antibody positive group. It could be recommended for no obvious adverse reactions , its safety, and the convenient procedure.

Objective To investigate the relationship between gene polymorphisms of T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-3 (Tim-3) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Han nationality of Zhejiang.Methods A total of 391 UC patients and 573 healthy controls were recruited.Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SPNs) of Tim-3 (rs1036199 and rs10515746) were examined by the improved multiple ligase detection reaction technique.Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was performed to analyze the differences in the distribution of Tim-3 gene polymorphisms and its influence on the location and severity.Haploview 4.2 software was used to analyze linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype.Results The frequencies of genotype CA+AA and mutant allele A of rs10515746 in UC were lower than those in healthy controls (1.79％,7/391 vs 4.19％,24/573;0.90％,7/782 vs 2.18％,25/1 146;x2=4.295 and 4.712,P=0.038 and 0.030).However,there was no significant differences in frequencies of genotype CA+ CC and mutant allele C of gene rs1036199 between UC patients and the healthy controls (1.79％,7/891 vs 8.49％,20/578;0.90％,7/782 vs 1.74％,20/1 146;both P＞0.05).The frequencies of genotype CA+AA and mutant allele A of rs10515746 in mild and moderate UC patients were both higher than those in severe UC patients (2.87 ％,7/244 vs 0;1.43 ％,7/488 vs 0),and the differences were statistically significant (Fisher's exact test,P=0.049 and 0.048).The analysis for LD indicated that rs1036199andrs10515746 were closeLD (D'=0.92,r2=0.72).Furthermore,the frequency of haplotype CA formed by the mutant alleles C and A of these two SNPs was lower in UC patients than that in healthy controls (0.64％,5/782 vs 1.74％,20/1 146),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.441,P=0.035).Conclusions Tim-3 (rs10515746) gene mutation may not only decrease the incidence,but also reduce the severity of UC.Moreover,the haplotype CA formed by the mutant alleles of rs1036199 and rs10515746 may also reduce the incidence of UC.

Objective To observe the effect of Latexin treatment on the chemoresistance in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, and explore the potential mechanism.Methods Gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line SWl990/GZ was induced and established by increasing gemcitabine dosage intermittently.IC50 of gemcitabine in SW1990 cells and SWl990/GZ cells pre and post Latexin treatment at the dosage of 10, 20 and 40 ng/μl for 48 h was evaluated using CCK-8 assay.The mRNA and protein expression of Latexin gene in SW1990 and SW1990/GZ cells were evaluated using qRT-PCR and Western blot, and the expression of Shh and Gli1 in 40 ng/μl Latexin treated SW1990 and SW1990/GZ cells for 48 h.Results A gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line SWl990/GZ was obtained successfully, which can grow stably and passage in the media containing 150 μmol/L gemcitabine.The IC50 values of gemcitabine in SW1990 cells and SWl990/GZ cells were (3.8±0.4)μmol/L and(226.52±13.61)μmol/L, respectively, and the later was greatly higher than the former, which was statistically different (P=0.000).The drug resistance indexes (RI) was 59.6.After treated with different concentrations of Latexin(10,20,40 ng/μl), the IC50 of SW1990 cells was (3.0±0.4)μmol/L, (2.5±0.3)μmol/L and (1.8±0.3)μmol/L, respectively,and the IC50 of SW1990/GZ cells was(113.08±5.01)μmol/L,(70.26±2.31)μmol/L and (42.12±1.31)μmol/L, respectively.Compared with the untreated cells,the IC50 of gemcitabine in 20,40 ng/μl Latexin treated cells was obviously decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Compared with the SW1990 cells,the expression of Latexin in SW1990/GZ cells was obviously decreased.RI were 37.7, 28.1 and 23.1,respectively.mRNA relative expression of Latexin in SW1990 and SW1990/GZ cells were 0.85±0.08 and 0.31±0.07, and protein relative expression were 0.49±0.09 and 0.13±0.05, and Latexin expression in SW1990/GZ was obviously lower than that in SW1990 cells and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).After being treated by 40 ng/μl Latexin, SHH mRNA in SW1990/GZ cells decreased from 0.89±0.09 (control cells) to 0.53±0.06, Gli1 mRNA decreased from 0.58±0.06 to 0.35±0.05, Shh protein decreased from 0.72±0.09 to 0.35±0.06,Gli1 protein level decreased from 0.78±0.08 to 0.28±0.03, and all the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusions Latexin can significantly improve the chemosensitivity in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells, and the potential mechanism may be related to the inhibition of sonic hedgehog pathway activation.

Dysregulated immune response is crucial for the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.Recent studies suggested that imbalance among Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells was closely related to the aberrant intestinal immune response.Aims: To investigate the association of imbalance among Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells and Crohn''s disease (CD).Methods: Thirty-six CD patients admitted from Jan.2013 to Dec.2014 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were enrolled;40 patients undergoing intestinal polypectomy were collected as controls.Inflamed and normal mucosal tissues were obtained from CD patients and the controls, respectively;expressions of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells related transcriptional factors (T-bet, GATA-3 and RORγt) and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17A) were determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry.Results: In comparison with the controls, mRNA expression of T-bet and RORγt, mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-17A, as well as the ratios for T-bet/GATA-3 and RORγt/GATA-3, which represented balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Th2, respectively, were all significantly increased in inflamed mucosal tissue in CD patients (P<0.05).Expression of each of the three transcriptional factors was positively correlated with its corresponding cytokine (P<0.05).IFN-γ+ and IL-17A+ cells mainly located in the intestinal epithelial layer and lamina propria with cytoplasmic immunoreactivities in CD patients.In the stratified analysis, all the above-mentioned parameters were significantly higher in active CD than in inactive CD (P<0.05);furthermore, the ratio for RORγt/T-bet, which represented balance of Th17/Th1, was also increased significantly in active CD (P<0.05).Conclusions: Imbalance among Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells in intestinal mucosal tissue was closely related with CD.Polarization of Th1 and Th17 cells are involved in this process, and Th17 polarization is predominant in active disease.

Objective To study the effects of Lxn on CD133 + PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells.Methods CD133 + PANC-1 cell were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS).The properties of the CD133 + PANC-1 cells and Lxn effects on CD133 + PANC-1 cell proliferation in transplanted tumor in nude mice were determined by floating spheres test and tumor xenograft assays.Cell proliferation was assayed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8).The Bcl-2,Bax protein and mRNA expression of CD133 + PANC-1 cells treated by Lxn were analyzed by Western blot and Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).Results We successfully isolated the CD133 + PANC-1 cells and cultured in serum free medium,CD133 + PANC-1 cells formed sphere,while CD133-PANC-1 cells grew with adherence slowly and then underwent apoptotic process.CD133 + PANC-1 cells showed high tumorigenic in athymic BALB/c mice.Lxn suppressed the growth of transplanted tumor obviously.Compared with control group [(225.52 ± 34.09) mm3],tumor volume decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Significant reduction in cell proliferation was observed in response to Lxn in PANC-1 CD133 + cells by CCK-8 assay with concentration and time dependent manners (P ＜ 0.05).Treated by Lxn,Bcl-2 expression decreased,Bax expression increased.Conclusions Lxn inhibits the proliferation of CD133 + PANC-1 cells probably through a mechanism down-regualting Bcl-2 and up-regulating Bax.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effects of esomeprazole and rebamipide combination therapy on symptomatic improvement in patients with reflux esophagitis. METHODS: A total of 501 patients with reflux esophagitis were randomized into one of the following two treatment regimens: 40 mg esomeprazole plus 300 mg rebamipide daily (combination therapy group) or 40 mg esomeprazole daily (monotherapy group). We used a symptom questionnaire that evaluated heartburn, acid regurgitation, and four upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The primary efficacy end point was the mean decrease in the total symptom score. RESULTS: The mean decreases in the total symptom score at 4 weeks were estimated to be −18.1±13.8 in the combination therapy group and −15.1±11.9 in the monotherapy group (p=0.011). Changes in reflux symptoms from baseline after 4 weeks of treatment were −8.4±6.6 in the combination therapy group and −6.8±5.9 in the monotherapy group (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Over a 4-week treatment course, esomeprazole and rebamipide combination therapy was more effective in decreasing the symptoms of reflux esophagitis than esomeprazole monotherapy.
Esomeprazole* ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Heartburn ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effects of esomeprazole and rebamipide combination therapy on symptomatic improvement in patients with reflux esophagitis. METHODS: A total of 501 patients with reflux esophagitis were randomized into one of the following two treatment regimens: 40 mg esomeprazole plus 300 mg rebamipide daily (combination therapy group) or 40 mg esomeprazole daily (monotherapy group). We used a symptom questionnaire that evaluated heartburn, acid regurgitation, and four upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The primary efficacy end point was the mean decrease in the total symptom score. RESULTS: The mean decreases in the total symptom score at 4 weeks were estimated to be −18.1±13.8 in the combination therapy group and −15.1±11.9 in the monotherapy group (p=0.011). Changes in reflux symptoms from baseline after 4 weeks of treatment were −8.4±6.6 in the combination therapy group and −6.8±5.9 in the monotherapy group (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Over a 4-week treatment course, esomeprazole and rebamipide combination therapy was more effective in decreasing the symptoms of reflux esophagitis than esomeprazole monotherapy.
Esomeprazole* ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Heartburn ; Humans

Objective To explore the effect of Latexin (Lxn) gene transfection on proliferation of CD13;MIAPaca-2 pancreatic cancer stem-like cells.Methods CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells were isolated and sorted by magnetic activated cell sorting from pancreatic cancer MIAPaca-2 celt line.CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells were cultured in serum-free medium and the capacity for proliferation,and tumorigenicity of CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells was determined by the floating spheres test and tumor xenograft assays.The CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells were transfected with Lxn plasmid (1,3,5 μg).After transfection,the protein and mRNA expression of Lxn in CD133+ and CD133+-MIAPaca-2 cells were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR,respectively.Cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8.Results CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells were successfully isolated,and it grew into a ball-suspended way,the tumorigenicity rate in nude mice with subcutaneous injection 1 × 105 cancer cells was 100％.After Lxn plasmid transfection,the expression of Lxn in CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells was increased in a dose dependent manner,the Lxn protein and mRNA expression of tumor cells transfected with 5 μg plasmid was 20.80 ±0.98,16.80± 2.73,which was significantly higher than that in non-transfected cells (1.02 ± 0.01,1.01 ± 0.01),and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).After transfection,cellular proliferation activity also showed a transfection dose and culture time-dependent decrease,the inhibition rate of tumor cells transfected with 0.4 μg plasmid was 36.2％,which was significantly different from that in non-transfected cells (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CD133+ MIAPaca-2 pancreatic cancer cells have some characteristics of cancer stem cells.Lxn gene transfection can inhibit the proliferation of CD133+ MIAPaca-2 cells.

Objective To improve detectable rate of gastric schwannoma by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Method Clinical data and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) imaging features of 4 cases were retrospectively ana-lyzed which diagnosed as gastric schwannoma pathologically and immunohistochemically while diagnosed as gastric stromal tumor by EUS from May 2008 to June 2015 and reviewed the literature. Results 4 cases of gastric schwan-nomas are female and benign, all 4 lesions are solitary, 3 in gastric body, and 1 in fundus by endoscopic. By EUS, all lesions are originated from muscularis propria, hypoechoic change, even echoes and clear board without calcifica-tion or cystic changes. 2 cases have halo artifacts around the lesion. Literature review found that gastric schwannoma tended to occur in female, halo artifacts could be the feature of gastric schwannoma, calcification or cystic changes were rare in gastric schwannoma which were common in gastric stromal tumors. Conclusion It was difficult to distin-guish gastric schwannoma and gastric stromal tumors that originated from muscularis propria by EUS. For female patients with lesions originated from muscularis propria, originated from muscularis propria and occurred in gastric body, it was necessary to observe lesions whether there was being calcification or cystic and halo artifacts. Integrated all these performance, we should be in consideration of gastric stromal tumors, meanwhile, excluding the possibility of gastric schwannoma.

Objective To investigate the application value of Photoshop in grading invasive risk of gastric stromal tumors (GSTs). Methods EUS image of 97 cases of GSTs confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical examination were collected. GSTs were divided into four groups (very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, high risk) by tumor size, mitotic count and rupture of tumor. Mean gray value (intensity of echo) and gray value standard deviation (uniformity of echo) of EUS images of the lesions were determined by Photoshop and then the differences of each group were found by statistical analysis. Results It is difficult to differentiate EUS images of GSTs from each group by visual observation. The mean gray value of EUS image of very low risk group,low risk group, intermediate risk group and high risk group of GSTs respectively were (56.54 ± 6.10), (59.20 ± 7.51), (77.77 ± 10.90) and (83.43 ± 12.47). There was no significant difference between very low risk group and low risk group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between intermediate risk group and high risk group (P > 0.05). In addition, the others all had significantly different from that of each group (P < 0.05). The mean gray value standard deviation of EUS image of very low risk group, low risk group, intermediate risk group and high risk group of GSTs respectively were (8.46 ± 2.59), (12.57 ± 5.89), (12.84 ± 4.15) and (16.69 ± 4.69). There was no significant difference between low risk group and intermediate risk group (P > 0.05). In addition, the others all had significantly different from that of each group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The higher risk of GSTs, the higher of echo intensity and the worse of echo uniformity under EUS. Photoshop combined with EUS is helpful for differentiating different risk of GSTs by analyzing mean gray value and gray value standard deviation of the lesions.