• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.55-62
• /
• 2012

There has been a large amount of speculation concerning the differences in the outcomes in patients who have gastric cancer in the Eastern and Western worlds. The differences in biology, surgical and adjuvant treatment have been used to explain such differences. There are clear differences observed in the histology (diffuse vs. intestinal), tumor location (proximal vs. distal), environmental exposures, dietary factors and Helicobacter pylori status. A higher incidence of gastric cancer in the East has led to screening programs, and leading to an earlier stage at presentation. Surgical treatment differs in that the extended lymph node dissection is routinely practiced in the Asian countries. Additionally, different adjuvant therapeutic regimens are used in both regions. The purpose of this review is to describe the differences in both presentation and treatment between the East and the West.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.36-43
• /
• 2022

Mucosal immunity is a well-designed defense system that builds precise and dynamic relationships against pathogens, and the gastrointestinal tract is the most important organ with this system, acting as a guardian at the forefront of its activity. Salmonella spp. cause food poisoning, entering the body orally and mainly invading the Peyer's patches of the small intestine. Although Salmonella strains share similar mechanisms for inducing innate immunity, different serotypes may have different effects on the intestinal mucosa due to host specificities and pathogenicity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Salmonella enteritidis infections in mouse intestine and observed significantly reduced dose-dependent survival rates in a challenge test. Flow cytometry data showed no significant differences in intestinal immune cell populations, although histology indicated increased mucin production and decreased goblet cell counts in the Salmonella-treated groups. Furthermore, Claudin expression was significantly decreased in the samples with Salmonella. To investigate the relationship between S. enteritidis infection and inflammatory response, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was administered after infection and the results indicate lower survival rate after DSS treatment. In conclusion, we were able to identify the optimal concentration of S. enteritidis to modulate the intestinal mucosal immunity of mice and inflammatory response.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.218-227
• /
• 2022

Purpose: To analyze the characteristics of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past three decades in Argentina and determine if there are differences between the first two decades and the past decade. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter analytical study in children with IBD between 0 and 18 years of age diagnosed between 1987 and 2017 in three tertiary health centers in Argentina. The evaluation included clinical characterization, endoscopy, histology, and imaging data together with therapeutic strategies. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1, diagnosed between 1987 and 2007, and Group 2, diagnosed between 2008 and 2017. Results: Of the 756 patients included, 409 (54%) had ulcerative colitis (UC), 250 (33%) had Crohn's disease (CD), and 97 (13%) had IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). The positive family history was 3.8%, which was more frequent among children under two years of age (6.7%). There were no significant differences in clinical presentation and extraintestinal manifestations between periods, with hepatic manifestations being the most frequent. In the last decade, we found an upward trend in CD, a downward trend in UC/IBD-U, even after adjustment for socioeconomic status, and a decrease of 50% in surgical treatments coinciding with the advent of biological therapy. Conclusion: This is the first multicenter cohort study in a Latin American country to describe clinical, endoscopic, and therapeutic data across the past 30-year period. Although CD was responsible for the overall increase in incidence, UC was still prevalent in this region.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.477-484
• /
• 2001

The regional distribution and relative frequency of neurohormonal peptides-producing cells were demonstrated in the gut of the stomachless teleost, the Prussian carp, Carassius auratus Linnaeus, using 10 types of specific antisera raised against mammalian regulatory peptides. The gut of the Prussian carp was divided into five portions from proximal to distal (Segments I~V). Most of immunoreactive cells in the epithelial lining portion, between epithelial cells, were generally spherical or spindle shape having long cytoplasmic process that reached to the lumen (open typed cell) while cells showing round in shape (close typed cell) were found in the basal portions of epithelial lining occasionally. Somatostatin-, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8- and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)- immunoreactive cells were observed in this study. However, no serotonin-, glucagon-, chromogranin A-, secretin-, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-, substance P- and bombesin-immunoreactive cells were found. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were restricted to most proximal segments of the gut (Segment I) with rare frequency and CCK-8-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in the proximal segments of the gut (Segments I and II) with a few to rare frequencies. In addition, pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in the proximal to middle segments (Segments I~III) with moderated to rare frequencies. In conclusion, the distribution and relative frequency of these immunoreactive cells are well corresponded to the previous reports in stomachless teleost but somewhat peculiar patterns are also detected.

• Neonatal Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 2010

Purpose : The aim of this study was to develop a model for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in the neonatal rat using endotoxin and hypoxia, a plausible insult in a neonatal intensive care and to investigate the role of apoptosis as the underlying mechanism. Methods : Newborn rats were given oral endotoxin and intermittent 8% hypoxia$\pm$caspase inhibitor. The intestinal histology was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Apoptosis was analyzed with TUNEL staining and by measuring the caspase 3 activity in the intestinal lysates. IEC-6 cells were assessed for apoptosis and the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and FasL was measured after treatment with endotoxin and hypoxia. Results : Oral endotoxin (5 mg/kg) and exposure to 8% hypoxia of 60-min duration twice induced human NEC-like lesions in the rat intestine. Intestinal tissue revealed increased apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. After caspase inhibitor treatment, the grades of both apoptosis and NEC were significantly reduced. IEC-6 cells exhibited increased apoptosis and caspase 3 activity after endotoxin and hypoxia treatment and significantly increased Bax/Bcl- 2 ratio compared to control cells. Conclusion : This neonatal rat model of NEC which was induced by oral endotoxin and intermittent hypoxia showed increased apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells that was mediated by caspase 3 activation. Our model has a advantage in the study of NEC because the use of much more clinically plausible insults may provide a suitable model for the investigation of its pathophysiology and therapeutic trials.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.22.1-22.8
• /
• 2020

Background: High demand and low supply of fishmeal due to overexploitation of fisheries resources have resulted in a dramatic increase in the price of this ingredient. Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) commercial feed contains approximately 60% fishmeal and limited success has been achieved in identifying sustainable alternative protein sources for this species. Methods: An on-farm feeding trial was conducted to compare a basal diet containing 65% as the control (CONT) with two experimental diets replacing 10% of fishmeal by animal protein (AP₁₀) or 20% of fishmeal by animal and plant protein (APP₂₀). Sub-adult olive flounder averaging 327 ± 9.3 g (mean±SD) were fed one of the three diets in triplicate groups for 16 weeks. Results: Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and survival were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Also, non-specific immune responses (superoxide dismutase and lysozyme activity), serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal villi length were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, based on growth performance, non-specific immune responses, serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal histology, dietary animal and plant protein mixtures could replace up to 20% of fishmeal in the diet of sub-adult olive flounder.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2018

Blastocystis is an enteric Straminopile in tropical, subtropical and developing countries. Metronidazole has been a chemotheraputic for blastocystosis. Failures in its regimens were reported and necessitate new studies searching for alternative therapeutic agents. Aim of current study is to investigate potential effects of Atorvastatin (AVA) compared to the conventional chemotherapeutic MTZ in experimentally Blastocystis-infected mice. Anti-Blastocystis efficacy of AVA was evaluated parasitologically, histopathologically and by transmission electron microscopy using MTZ (10 mg/kg) as a control. Therapeutic efficacy of AVA were apparently dose-dependent. Regimens of AVA (20 and 40 mg/kg) proved effective against Blastocystis infections with highreduction in Blastocystis shedding (93.4-97.9%) compared to MTZ (79.3%). The highest reductions (98.1% and 99.4%)were recorded in groups of combination treatments AVA 20-40 mg/kg and MTZ 10 mg/kg. Blastocystis was nearly eradicated by the 20th day post infection. Genotype analysis revealed that genotype I was most susceptible, genotype III was less. Histopathologic and ultrastructural studies revealed apoptotic changes in Blastocystis and significant improvement of intestinal histopathological changes more remarkable in combinational therapy groups. Thus, the present study offers AVA as a potential candidate for Blastocystis therapy combined with MTZ.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.26-30
• /
• 2001

Gastrointestinal duplications are rare congenital malformation that may require surgical intervention in the neonate, infant, and occasionally the older child. Symptoms produced by duplications vary according to their location, size, type and histology. We report the clinical characteristics and the surgical results of 9 cases of the gastrointestinal duplications treated at at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and 2000. Five patients were boys and four were girls; age of patients ranged from 5 days to 10 years. Eight duplications were cystic and one was tubular. One involved the stomach; five were in the ileum, and two in the cecum. The most common presentation was intestinal obstruction. There was associated anomaly in one patient, pulmonary sequestration and double ureter. Ectopic gastric mucosa was found in two. All patients underwent surgical resection. There was no perioperative mortality or morbidity. Although gastrointestinal duplication is a rare entity. consideration of associated anomalies and being familiar with the anatomy and clinical features are required for adequate management. In cystic form. complete excision is recommended but planned surgery is required for long segment tubular lesion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7755-7758
• /
• 2015

Background: There is increasing evidence that HER2-neu is an important biomarker in gastric carcinomas (GC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate HER2-neu expression and also some clinicopathological features of these neoplasms. Materials and Methods: We selected 211 paraffin-embedded blocks, 193 GC and 18 GEJ. Then 4 micron sections were prepared for staining with hematoxylin and eosin and also for IHC (Her2-neu). The Chi-square test was used for significance between expression of HER2-neu and clinicopathological parameters. Results: In patients with advanced cancer of GC and GEJ, HER2-neu overexpression was more associated with the intestinal cancer subtype. Conclusions: This could be a guide to new complementary therapy for affected patients.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2002

We experienced two cases of Rotor syndrome in brothers who were a 13 year-old boy and an 11 year-old boy, respectively. They presented with icteric scleras for a few months. Their common laboratory characteristics were as follows: Direct bilirubin was more increased than indirect bilirubin, but aminotransferases were normal. Plasma indocyanine green (ICG) test revealed hepatic excretory defect: plasma ICG concentrations 15 minutes after intravenous injection were 80.45% and 78.28%, respectively. 99mTc-DISIDA Hepatobiliary scan showed that severely decreased hepatic extraction with mild cardiac blood pool, markedly delayed biliary excretion in both intra- & extra- hepatic bile ducts, delayed visualization of gall bladder, and markedly delayed intestinal biliary passage. Needle liver biopsy showed normal hepatic histology without pigmentation.