The therapeutic efficacy of low dose administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) (low dose FP) has been reported in patients with advanced and recurrent gastric carcinoma. Mechanism(s) by which low dose FP exerts antitumor effect is not entirely clear. We investigated mechanism(s) of the therapeutic efficacy in combination with ...

Visual symptoms of the onset of senescence in Sandersonia aurantiaca flowers begin with fading of flower colour and wilting of the tissue. When fully senescent, the flowers form a papery shell that remains attached to the plant. The cell walls of these flowers have been examined to determine whether there ...

Helicobacter pylori establishes persistent infection of gastric mucosa with diverse clinical outcomes. The innate immune molecule surfactant protein D (SP-D) binds selectively to microorganisms, inducing aggregation and phagocytosis. In this study, we demonstrated the expression of SP-D in gastric mucosa by reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. SP-D is present at ...

The development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is dependent on Helicobacter pylori infection. Bacterial colonisation of the gastric mucosa triggers lymphoid infiltration and the formation of acquired MALT. The bacterial infection induces and sustains an actively proliferating B-cell population through direct (autoantigen) and indirect (intratumoral T cells specific ...

Although microbial transformations via cometabolism have been widely observed, the few available kinetic models of cometabolism have not adequately addressed the case of inhibition from both the growth and nongrowth substrates. The present study investigated the degradation kinetics of self-inhibitory growth (phenol) and nongrowth (4-chlorophenol, 4-CP) substrates, present individually and ...

Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) is the key enzyme for gastric histamine synthesis, and enhanced HDC expression is critically involved in the pathogenesis of gastric disorders, including gastroduodenal ulcer disease. We characterized the pathogenicity mechanism underlying activation of the HDC promoter in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells and performed a detailed analysis ...

Gastric inflammation is a significant contributor to the disease process associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. It appears that both bacterial genes and differential host responses make interrelated contributions to gastritis and disease outcome after H. pylori infection. While the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) continues to be a focus for much ...

The Côte D'Azure provided a stunning backdrop for a recent conference* on the role of microfilament function and regulation in cell polarity. Although sadly missing several North American participants in the wake of events in Washington and New York, the largely European audience was nevertheless treated to fascinating insights into ...

Prostaglandins have cytoprotective effects on gastric mucosa via the influence of various mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of prostaglandins on maturation-dependent spontaneous apoptosis in gastric mucosal cells in vitro, which mimics the apoptosis of gastric mucosal cells related with a rapid cell turnover rate ...

Successful prophylactic administration of Helicobacter pylori whole cell sonicate (WCS) plus complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or aluminum hydroxide (ALM) against subsequent H. pylori infection was reported recently. Here we tested the effect of WCS plus TiterMax Gold (TMX) or ALM in mice with chronic H. pylori infection. Mice with chronic ...

Five years after publication of the complete genome sequence of Helicobacter pylori, research interest is shifting from the descriptive association of virulence factors with clinical outcome in infected patients to the molecular mechanisms of virulence factor action. This is particularly noticeable for VacA and CagA, for both of which detailed ...

Helicobacter pylori is known to be the cause of most gastric diseases, including both peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. In the absence of eradication, infection tends to be lifelong and the immune response ineffective in clearing the bacteria. A number of groups have investigated whether the immune clearance of ...

Although gastric adenocarcinoma is associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach, only a small fraction of colonized individuals develop this common malignancy. H. pylori strain and host genotypes probably influence the risk of carcinogenesis by differentially affecting host inflammatory responses and epithelial-cell physiology. Understanding the host-microbial interactions ...

Helicobacter pylori colonization induces inflammation in essentially all hosts, a persistent process that increases the risk of developing distal gastric adenocarcinoma. However, only a small percentage of persons carrying H. pylori develop neoplasia; enhanced risk may be related to differences in expression of specific bacterial products, differences in the host ...

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection induces T helper-1 immune responses in inflamed mucosa. However, the role of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the induction of epithelial apoptosis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the Fas/Fas ligand (Fas/Fas-L) system in the H. pylori-infected gastric corpus. ...

Targeting and functional effects of N-RAP domains were studied by expression as GFP-tagged fusion proteins in cultured embryonic chick cardiomyocytes. GFP-tagged N-RAP was targeted to myofibril precursors, myofibril ends and cell contacts, expression patterns that are similar to endogenous N-RAP. The GFP-tagged N-RAP LIM domain (GFP-N-RAP-LIM) was targeted to the ...

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric epithelial surface and induces epithelial cells to increase production of the neutrophil attractant IL-8. Little is known about the role of the gastric epithelium in regulating mucosal T cell trafficking. We therefore characterized constitutive and regulated epithelial expression of the CXC chemokines IP-10, I-TAC and ...

The antimicrobial effect of nitric oxide (NO) is an essential part of innate immunity. The vigorous host response to the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori fails to eradicate the organism, despite up-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in the gastric mucosa. Here we report that wild-type strains of H. pylori ...

OBJECTIVE: To predict the chance of total fertilization failure (TFF) before the day of ovum pickup with known semen and female variables. DESIGN: A statistical model was constructed to predict TFF by retrospective analysis (2,366 couples) and subsequently tested on a new IVF population (917 couples). SETTING: Academic tertiary referral ...

Since the increased use of extended-wear contact lenses, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has emerged as a primary etiological agent of ulcerative keratitis. Clinical isolates have been classified into two types: cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic. This study revealed significant immune and neuro-enzymatic changes elicited by the two types of P. aeruginosa in the lacrimal ...

Helicobacter pylori represents a highly successful human microbial pathogen that has infected approximately half of the world's population. This gram-negative microorganism colonizes the human epithelial layer in the stomach and induces a state of chronic inflammation that does not resolve the underlying infection and often leads to gastric or duodenal ...

BACKGROUND: Imbalance between apoptosis and proliferation may be one of the mechanisms underlying H. pylori associated gastric carcinogenesis. AIM: To examine the cell kinetics of gastric intestinal metaplasia and the effect of H. pylori eradication. METHODS: Endoscopic gastric biopsies were obtained from 100 H. pylori-infected patients. Apoptosis was determined by ...

Lsc (the murine homolog of human p115 Rho GEF) is a member of the Dbl-homology family of GTP exchange factors and is a specific activator of Rho. Lsc is activated by the G alpha(13) subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins and contains a regulator of G protein signaling domain that downmodulates ...

The secreted protein encoded by the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene is localized to the posterior margin of vertebrate limb buds and is thought to be a key signal in establishing anterior-posterior limb polarity. In the Shh(-/-) mutant mouse, the development of many embryonic structures, including the limb, is severely compromised. ...

Helicobacter pylori induces cell death by apoptosis. However, the apoptosis-inducing factor is still unknown. The virulence factor vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is a potential candidate, and thus its role in apoptosis induction was investigated in the human gastric epithelial cell line AGS. The supernatant from the vacA wild-type strain P12 ...

Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are two well-known important causative factors of gastric damage. While H. pylori increases apoptosis and the proliferation of gastric epithelial cells and is an important factor in peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, NSAIDs induce cell apoptosis and have antineoplastic effects. We investigated the ...

Approximately 50% of humanity is infected with Helicobacter pylori. This lifelong infection elicits a marked host response, including a robust gastric IgA response. However, natural infection fails to yield protective immunity. Rather than providing protection, the chronic inflammatory response associated with natural infection can contribute to tissue damage and the ...

The cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) genes are a major determinant of virulence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from the cag PAI-positive (type I) strains induced apoptosis of primary cultures of guinea pig gastric mucosal cells. Lipid A catalyzed this apoptosis. These cells expressed the Toll-like receptor 4 ...

The majority of humans infected with Helicobacter pylori maintain a lifelong infection with strains bearing the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). H. pylori inhibits T cell responses and evades immunity so the mechanism by which infection impairs responsiveness was investigated. H. pylori caused apoptotic T cell death, whereas Campylobacter jejuni did ...

Infection of humans with Helicobacter pylori results in the development of chronic gastritis and plays an important role in gastric ulcer pathogenesis. Despite the infiltration of the mucosa with specific immunocompetent cells and production of specific antibodies, the infection usually persists for life. This study was performed to investigate if ...

Helicobacter pylori colonization leads to epithelial cell hyperproliferation within inflamed mucosa, but levels of apoptosis vary, suggesting that imbalances between rates of cell production and loss may contribute to differences in gastric cancer risk among infected populations. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) regulates inflammatory and growth responses of intestinal epithelial ...

The role of Helicobacter pylori and the accompanying mucosal inflammatory response in functional dyspepsia is still undefined. Human and animal studies have clearly demonstrated a link between intestinal mucosal inflammation and changes in sensory-motor function. Growing clinical and basic evidence supports the concept that a similar paradigm may occur in ...

Mechanisms underlying migraine precipitation are largely unknown. A role of the immune system in migraine precipitation is a matter of debate because of the association of atopic disorders and migraine. Recently, it was demonstrated that migraineurs benefit from eradication of a Helicobacter pylori infection, which substantiates a possible role for ...

The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological, kinetic and molecular characteristics of low-grade (LGD) and high-grade dysplasias (HDG) in comparison with intestinal metaplasia type III (IM III) and normal mucosa (NM) as well as with early gastric cancer of the intestinal type (EGC). Based on this it ...

Island arc lavas have radium-226 excesses that extend to higher values than those observed in mid-ocean ridge or ocean island basalts. The initial ratio of radium-226 to thorium-230 is largest in the most primitive lavas, which also have the highest barium/thorium ratios, and decreases with increasing magmatic differentiation. Therefore, the ...

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms by which Helicobacter pylori damages host tissues are complex and unclear. AIMS: To determine the effect interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the production of proinflammatory cytokines by the gastric mononuclear cells of H. pylori infected patients was determined. METHODS: The effect of IL-4 and IFN-gamma on ...

Protection in the murine model of Helicobacter pylori infection may be mediated by CD4+ T cells, but the mechanism remains unclear. To better understand how protection occurs in this model, we generated and characterized H. pylori urease-specific CD4+ T cells from BALB/c mice immunized with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing ...

To date a number of virulence factors have been identified and characterised from the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. The vacuolating toxin (VacA) is a major determinant of H. pylori-associated gastric disease. In non-polarised cells, VacA alters the endocytic pathway, resulting in the release of acid hydrolases and the reduction of ...

Gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for noncardia gastric cancer. The association between H. pylori and cancer may be attributable to increased epithelial cell turnover, possibly related to antigastric antibodies. Two previous studies reported a disproportionate increase in proliferation relative to apoptosis in patients with H. pylori ...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The proton pump H(+),K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (H(+),K(+)-ATPase) of parietal cells is the major humoral autoantigen in both human and experimental autoimmune gastritis (AIG) characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate in the gastric mucosa and loss of parietal cells. The aim of this study was to detect H(+),K(+)-ATPase-specific T cells ...

In this theoretical article, the hypothesis is proposed that immunization against gastric helicobacter infection is mediated by CD4+ T-cell induced changes in mucus production. Vaccine development for the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori has encountered several problems. Resolving these problems is impeded by our lack of understanding of the mechanisms by ...

The mechanism by which Helicobacter pylori induces apoptosis remains unclear. In a previous study using biopsy samples, we found a significant correlation between the urease activity of an H. pylori strain and the apoptosis level induced by this strain. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether urease and/or the ammonia ...

Variation among vascular plants in the initiation and patterning of leaves results in a diverse array of leaf shape, including the strap-like leaf of many grasses and the broad lamina of most eudicots. Recent findings highlight the importance of interactions between the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and developing leaf primordia ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We determined the role of gastrin in the regulation of cholangiocarcinoma growth. METHODS: We evaluated for the functional presence of cholecystokinin (CCK)-B/gastrin receptors in the cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, Mz-ChA-1, HuH-28 and TFK-1. We determined the effect of gastrin on the growth of Mz-ChA-1, HuH-28 and TFK-1 cells. We evaluated ...

Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 play a critical role in the regulation of the immune response. Yet both of the receptors for these cytokines have been found on nonhematopoietic cells, including human gastric carcinoma cell lines and tissue specimens. IL-4 causes G1 phase cell cycle arrest of gastric carcinoma; the effect ...

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori is an identified carcinogen for gastric cancer, however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be defined. In this review, we sought to elucidate the role of apoptosis in gastric carcinogenesis, to determine the influence of H. pylori infection on apoptosis, and finally to provide insights into the mechanisms ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A group of the proinflammatory and chemotactic cytokines (chemokines) has been considered as an important factor in the pathomechanism of different bacterial diseases, among them the common Helicobacter pylori infection. Experimental results obtained with gastric biopsy samples of H. pylori positive patients, and with H. pylori infected ...

Two main pathogenic factors have been described in Helicobacter pylori strains: the cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) and the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA. The cag PAI is comprised of approximately 40 open reading frames probably originating from another species. It encodes a type IV secretion system, i.e., an apparatus derived from ...

Helicobacter pylori (HP)-associated gastritis is characterized by an increased number of acute and chronic inflammatory cells secreting cytokines that contribute to maintain and expand the local inflammation. Locally induced IL-8 is believed to play a major role in the HP-associated acute inflammatory response. Factors/mechanisms that regulate IL-8 induction are, however, ...

The gastric inflammatory and immune response in Helicobacter pylori infection may be due to the effect of different H. pylori products on innate immune mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine whether bacterial components could modulate cytokine production in vitro and thus contribute to Th1 polarization of the ...