Alterations of Colonic Contractility in an Interleukin-10 Knockout Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease is commonly accompanied by colonic dysmotility and causes changes in intestinal smooth muscle contractility. In this study, colonic smooth muscle contractility in a chronic inflammatory condition was investigated using smooth muscle tissues prepared from interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10(-/-)) mice. METHODS: Prepared smooth muscle sections were placed in an organ bath system. Cholinergic and nitrergic neuronal responses were observed using carbachol and electrical field stimulation with L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The expression of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) networks, muscarinic receptors, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was observed via immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: The spontaneous contractility and expression of ICC networks in the proximal and distal colon was significantly decreased in IL-10(-/-) mice compared to IL-10(+/+) mice. The contractility in response to carbachol was significantly decreased in the proximal colon of IL-10(-/-) mice compared to IL-10(+/+) mice, but no significant difference was found in the distal colon. In addition, the expression of muscarinic receptor type 2 was reduced in the proximal colon of IL-10(-/-) mice. The nictric oxide-mediated relaxation after electrical field stimulation was significantly decreased in the proximal and distal colon of IL-10(-/-) mice. In inflamed colon, the expression of nNOS decreased, whereas the expression of iNOS increased. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that damage to the ICC network and NOS system in the proximal and distal colon, as well as damage to the smooth muscle cholinergic receptor in the proximal colon may play an important role in the dysmotility of the inflamed colon.

Survival Benefits of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radical Surgery versus Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Chemoresistant Cervical Cancer

The aim of this study was to analyze long-term survivals in patients with stage IB to IIA cervical cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting. Between February 1989 and January 1998, 94 women with previously untreated stage IB to IIA carcinoma of the uterine cervix who received cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. All of patients with chemoresponse (complete response, n=15; partial response, n=47) and 16 patients with chemoresistance received radical surgery (RS group). The other 16 patients with chemoresistance received radiotherapy for definite treatment (RT group). In the RS group, the 10 yr survival estimation in patients with bulky tumors (diameter > or =4 cm, n=26) was similar to that with non-bulky tumors (83.3% vs. 89.3%, p=NS). In selected patients with chemoresistance, those treated by radiotherapy (n=16) showed significantly poorer survivals than those treated by radical surgery (n=16) [10 yr survival rates of RT (25%) vs. RS (76.4%), p=0.0111]. Our results support that a possible therapeutic benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery is only in patients with bulky stage IB to IIA cervical cancer. In cases of chemoresistance, radical surgery might be a better definite treatment option.

The Effects of Green Tea Extracts (Polyphenon E, EGCG) in Human Papilloma Virus Positive Cervical Lesion / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: We tried to confirm the effects of green tea extracts (polyphenon E, EGCG) in patients with human papilloma virus (HPV) positive cervical lesion. METHODS: We divided 51 HPV positive cervical lesion patients (chronic cervicitis, mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia and severe dysplasia) into 4 group and 37 patient as placebo control. We applied poly E ointment two times per week (27 patients), poly E ointment plus poly E capsule (8 patients), poly E capsule (6 patients), EGCG capsule (10 patients) 200 mg each for 8 to 12 weeks. RESULTS: Among 27 patients with poly E ointment group, 20 patients responded (74%), such as chronic cervicitis (12/18), mild dysplasia (4/5), moderate dysplasia (2/2) and severe dysplasia (1/2). Among 8 patients with poly E ointment and poly E capsule group, 6 patients responded (75%), 6 patients poly E capsule group responded 3 patients (50%). 10 EGCG capsule patients group responded 6 patients (60%). Overall responsive rate is 69% (35/51) in case of green tea extracted treated group and 10% (4/39) in placebo controlled group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effects of green tea extract in HPV positive cervical lesion were statistically significant (P<0.05). This result suggests that green tea extract has highly potential of new treatment agent for HPV infected cervical lesion.