ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) fluctuate considerably over time. However, it has not been determined whether these symptoms are affected by the menstrual cycle in female IBD patients. This study analyzed the effects of the menstrual cycle on IBD symptom variation. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 91 study subjects (47 IBD patients and 44 healthy controls) who reported daily symptoms and signs throughout their menstrual cycles. RESULTS: IBD patients had significantly more frequent gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea (30% vs 7%, p=0.006), flatulence (53% vs 22%, p=0.003), and abdominal pain as compared to controls (68% vs 38%, p=0.006). The IBD patients also experienced more frequent systemic premenstrual symptoms than the controls (79% vs 50%, p=0.003). More severe abdominal pain (p=0.002) and lower mean general condition scores (p=0.001) were noted during the menstrual phase as compared to the pre- or post-menstrual phase in both groups. IBD patients experienced more frequent premenstrual gastrointestinal symptoms than controls, but their IBD symptoms did not change significantly during the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the cyclic alterations in gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms may be helpful in determining the true exacerbation of disease in female IBD patients.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Abdominal Pain , Flatulence , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Menstrual Cycle , Nausea , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most frequently involved site of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Stomach is the most common site of involvement among the GI tract. However, MALT lymphoma of the large intestine is rare. A diagnosis is established by pathological examination of the surgical or endoscopic specimens. A 72-year-old man with low abdominal pain was diagnosed as a sigmoid MALT lymphoma, which was noted as an obstructing mass in a colonoscopic examination. A left hemicolectomy was performed, and the patient has had no recurrence postoperatively without any chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Colon, Sigmoid/pathology , Colonoscopy , Diagnosis, Differential , Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/diagnosisABSTRACT
Tumor migration/invasion is the main cause of tumor progression and STAT3 is needed to enhance tumor migration/invasion by up-regulating MMP-9. Thus, agents that inhibit STAT3 activation may be used as an anticancer drug. We present herein that 6-methyl-2-propylimino-6, 7-dihydro-5H-benzo [1, 3]-oxathiol- 4-one (LYR71) , a derivative of trimeric resveratrol, has an anticancer activity through inhibition of STAT3 activation. We found that LYR71 suppressed STAT3 activation and inhibited the expression and activity of MMP-9 in RANTES-stimulated breast cancer cells. In addition, LYR71 reduced RANTES-induced MMP-9 transcripts by blocking STAT3 recruitment, dissociating p300 and deacetylating histone H3 and H4 on the MMP-9 promoter. Furthermore, LYR71 inhibited tumor migration/invasion in RANTES-treated breast cancer cells and consequently blocked tumor progression in tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that LYR71 can be therapeutically useful due to the inhibition effect of STAT3-mediated MMP-9 expression in breast cancer cells.