Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate could reduce inflammatory injury in a rat model of ulcerative colitis. This may occur via suppression of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 in colonic mucosa.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with disease progression in vivo. High levels of OPN have been demonstrated to predict low survival rates in CRC. Autophagy is a process of self-digestion, which is thought to play a significant role in carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms of OPN's effects on CRC cell autophagy have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate possible mechanisms of OPN's effects on CRC autophagy. Methods: HCT116 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion ability were identified by cell counting k¡t-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and transwell chamber invasion assay, respectively. The ratios of proteins LC3-II/LC3-I, P62, and Atg7 were analyzed by Western-blot. Expressions of Beclin-1, Atg4b, Bnip3, and Vps34, both in transcriptional and translational levels, were analyzed and compared by RT-PCR and Western blot. Immunofluorescence and co-focusing experiments were used to investigate the formation of autophagosomes. Results: The results showed that OPN can promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as inhibit cell apoptosis. It was also demonstrated that OPN could inhibit cell autophagy. Further experiments revealed that the inhibitory effect of OPN on autophagy could be reversed by blocking the p38 MAPK pathway in HCT116 cells. Conclusion: OPN is involved in HCT116 cell progression and is capable of inhibiting cell autophagy possibly by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, implying that OPN could be a potential novel molecular therapeutic biomarker in patients with CRC.

Purpose Nicotinamide n‐methyltransferase (NNMT) has good biochemical activity and epigenetic regulation, and has been reported as a major metabolic regulator of cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate the significance of stromal NNMT expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods Stromal expression of NNMT in primary CRC, metastasis CRC, and their non‐cancerous tissues from 1088 CRC patients was examined by immunohistochemistry. The associations between stromal NNMT expression and survival outcomes in 967 patients with stage I‐III CRC were further evaluated with Kaplan‐Meier curve and Cox model analyses. Results NNMT expression was mainly sourced from stromal compartments and also elevated in CRC. Patients with high stromal NNMT (IHC‐score ≥ 106) have a worse survival than those patients with low stromal NNMT. In multiple Cox analyses, high expression of stromal NNMT remained as an independent risk factor in CRC for disease‐free survival with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.415 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.015‐1.972) and disease‐specific survival with a HR of 5.004 (95% CI, 2.301‐10.883). In addition, high stromal NNMT expression in CRC also indicates the poor survival outcomes in patients with early stage CRC (stage I and II) and in patients who undergo chemotherapy. Conclusion NNMT is mainly located in CRC stromal compartment. High stromal NNMT expression predicts an unfavorable postoperative prognosis.

Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk factors and to serotype the strains in Wuwei, located in north‐western China, which has a high incidence of gastric cancer. Methods Helicobacter pylori infection was analysed in 21 291 adults by 14C‐urea breath test, and H. pylori antibody were detected in 9183 serum samples by latex immunoturbidimetric method. The correlation of H. pylori infection with demographic–economic, lifestyle factors and medical history among the participants was determined by questionnaire. The antibodies against H. pylori urease, VacA and CagA in serum were determined by dot immunobinding assay. Results The infection rate of H. pylori was 53.0%, and 90.1% of strains were type I strains. The H. pylori infection rate was higher among farmers (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19–1.50) and individuals who had a junior high school or higher education level (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.15), and was lower in older individuals (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83–0.90), individuals with high income (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90–0.95), individuals with a habit of eating quickly (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87–0.99) and individuals who consumed more fruit and vegetables (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85–0.95). Individuals with history of cholecystitis/cholecystolithiasis, hypertension and asthma were negatively correlated with H. pylori infection (P < 0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of H. pylori infection is high in Wuwei. The major prevalent strain is type I strain. Age, education, occupation, household income, consumption of fruit and vegetables, and habit of eating quickly are independent risk factors for H. pylori infection, which is also associated with individuals with a history of extragastric diseases.