Oncogenic features of PHF8 histone demethylase in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It has been reported that histone demethylases are involved in the carcinogenesis of certain types of tumors. Here, we studied the role of one of the histone lysine demethylases, plant homeodomain finger protein 8 (PHF8), in the carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Using short hairpin RNA via lentiviral infection, we established stable ESCC cell lines with constitutive downregulation of PHF8 expression. Knockdown of PHF8 in ESCC cells resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and an increase of apoptosis. Moreover, there were reductions of both anchorage-dependent and -independent colony formation. In vitro migration and invasion assays showed that knockdown of PHF8 led to a reduction in the number of migratory and invasive cells. Furthermore, downregulation of PHF8 attenuated the tumorigenicity of ESCC cells in vivo. Taken together, our study revealed the oncogenic features of PHF8 in ESCC, suggesting that PHF8 may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for ESCC.

Ethyl pyruvate supplemented in drinking water ameliorates experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Inflammation and oxidative stress play a significant role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is a novel anti-inflammatory agent and a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Therefore, EP supplemented in drinking water may alleviate experimental NASH in this study (even though 0.3% of EP cannot attenuate the simple non-aggressive fatty liver). The methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet was given to the C57BL/6 male mice for 3 weeks to induce NASH. The NASH animals were randomized into 3 treatment groups: animals in the MCD alone group were treated with normal drinking water alone; animals in the delayed EP group were given 3% (v/v) of EP supplemented in normal drinking water, the treatment started 10 days after MCD diet feeding; animals in the early EP therapy group were treated the same as the delayed EP group except that EP treatment started the same day when MCD diet was given; the control mice were fed with normal chow and treated with normal drinking water (n = 10 for each group). Compared to MCD group with normal drinking water, early EP treatment significantly decreased serum ALT and improved NASH histopathology; delayed EP therapy only attenuated NASH in 50% (5/10) of the animals. The beneficial effects were associated with decreased hepatic TNF-a and IL-6 mRNA expression on early 5 days, inhibited NF-kB activation, reduced liver tissue malondialdehyde levels, and decreased intestinal bacterial translocation (BT). In conclusion: EP supplemented in drinking water attenuates experimental NASH.

Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Management of Digestive System Disease: Proceedings of 2013 Asian Pacific Digestive Week Meeting

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was one of the important topics in 2013 Asian Pacific Digestive Week Meeting and some new progresses were highlighted. The global burdens of pancreatic diseases and biliary diseases are increasing. EUS is becoming a fundamental tool for this cohort of patients, because of not only its ability to provide superior visualization of the lesions, but also its ever-improving interventional capacity. Meanwhile, EUS may also help to diagnose and treat the gastrointestinal tract diseases

Bile is a promising gut nutrient that inhibits intestinal bacterial translocation and promotes gut motility via an interleukin-6-related pathway in an animal model of endotoxemia

OBJECTIVES

People who are critically ill have high rates of endotoxemia that can significantly decrease bile flow and increase bile cytokines, the latter of which might worsen their condition. Bile acids are nutrient-signaling hormones that have a significant impact on gut barrier function and motility, and the gut is considered the origin of systemic inflammation. Therefore, healthy exogenous bile could be a promising gut nutrient for critical illness, so the biomedical role of bile in endotoxemia was investigated in this study.

METHODS

Twelve rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and randomized into a group with sham operation) and a group with bile external drainage (n = 6 for each group); six rats with sham operation served as the control group. In addition, interleukin-6 (IL-6) knockout mice and macrophages were treated with LPS.

RESULTS

Compared to the control animals, the group with LPS injection and sham operation had significantly increased levels of gut permeability, gut bacterial translocation, gut mucosal tumor necrosis factor α, IL-6 transcripts, and serum tumor necrosis factor α and IL-6. Compared to group with sham operation and LPS injection, bile external drainage (in LPS-challenged rats) increased gut bacterial translocation by 10 times, and this detrimental effect was associated with prolonged intestinal transit time, increased serum IL-6 concentration, and up-regulated gut mucosal IL-6 transcripts. Moreover, bile selectively inhibited LPS-stimulated macrophages in IL-6 release, which can activate gastrointestinal submucosal neurons to promote motility. Knocking out IL-6 significantly reduced gut bacterial translocation in endotoxemic mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Bile is a promising gut nutrient that inhibits gut bacterial translocation and promotes gut motility via an IL-6-related pathway in experimental endotoxemia.

Effect of 3-Dimensional Imaging Device on Polyp and Adenoma Detection During Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the effect of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging device on polyp and adenoma detection during colonoscopy.

METHODS

In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants aged 18-70 years who underwent diagnostic or screening colonoscopy were consecutively enrolled between August 2019 and May 2022. Each participant was randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either 2-dimensional (2D-3D) colonoscopy or 3D-2D colonoscopy through computer-generated random numbers. Primary outcome included polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR), defined as the proportion of individuals with at least 1 polyp or adenoma detected during colonoscopy. The primary analysis was intention-to-treat.

RESULTS

Of 1,196 participants recruited, 571 in 2D-3D group and 583 in 3D-2D group were finally included after excluding those who met the exclusion criteria. The PDR between 2D and 3D groups was separately 39.6% and 40.5% during phase 1 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76-1.22, P = 0.801), whereas PDR was significantly higher in 3D group (27.7%) than that of 2D group (19.9%) during phase 2, with a 1.54-fold increase (1.17-2.02, P = 0.002). Similarly, the ADR during phase 1 between 2D (24.7%) and 3D (23.8%) groups was not significant (OR = 1.05, 0.80-1.37, P = 0.788), while ADR was significantly higher in 3D group (13.8%) than that of 2D group (9.9%) during phase 2, with a 1.45-fold increase (1.01-2.08, P = 0.041). Further subgroup analysis confirmed significantly higher PDR and ADR of 3D group during phase 2, particularly in midlevel and junior endoscopists.

DISCUSSION

The 3D imaging device could improve overall PDR and ADR during colonoscopy, particularly in midlevel and junior endoscopists. Trial number: ChiCTR1900025000.