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Introduction: Inflammation is a critical hallmark in obesity and colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate effective microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions on inflammatory networks involved in obesity and CRC., Methods: The literature searches were applied to identify genes expression reported on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and/or blood of CRC subjects and to find inflammatory miRNA  in blood samples. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis was utilized to find inflammatory miRNA:mRNA interactions of the genes. Finally, a case-control study was set to investigate the expression of LAMC1 and GNB3 genes besides miR-10b, miR-506-3p, miR-150-5p, and miR-124-3p in CRC and control subjects., Results: The expression of LAMC1 gene in healthy control groups was associated with body mass index (BMI) (p < .05). The level of miR-10b (p < .001), miR-506 (p < .001), and miR-124 (p <. 001) were significantly increased in PBMCs of CRC patients, while they were not associated with BMI. The level of miR-150 was associated with BMI in healthy subjects (p < .05)., Conclusions: The changes in the level of miR-506 and miR-124 in CRC patients may be associated with the regulatory role of these miRNAs on LAMC1 expression. The LAMC1 may be related to BMI, however, more observational studies on other populations are needed., (© 2022 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common obesity-associated cancers. Inflammation is also considered the most important factor between obesity and CRC. This study aimed to examine miRNAs binding sites variants on inflammatory genes identified using bioinformatics and systematic approach on clinical samples that were collected from CRC patients and controls., Methods: The candidate variants related to CRC inflammatory genes were obtained from genome-wide association studies and their population-specific haplotypes. The variants were analyzed according to their genomic position on the miRNA targetome. Targetome variants in inflammation-related genes were selected for genetic association study by TaqMan genotyping assay., Results: The GG genotype of rs7473 decreased the risk of obesity (p < 0.05). Heterozygous genotype (GA) of rs1547715 decreased the risk of CRC (p < 0.05). In the rs7473/rs1547715 genotype and haplotype, the frequencies of AA/GA and GG/AA lessened in CRC and obesity, respectively (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The variants of rs7473 and rs1547715 were associated with obesity and CRC, respectively. The above-mentioned associations could be made based on the interactions of these variants with miRNAs., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Since there is no disease-specific instrument for measuring quality-of-life (QOL) in Ostomy patients in Persian language., Aim: This study was designed to translate and evaluate the validity and reliability of City of Hope-quality of life-Ostomy questionnaire (COH-QOL-Ostomy questionnaire)., Subjects and Methods: This study was designed as cross-sectional study. Reliability of the subscales and the summary scores were demonstrated by intra-class correlation coefficients. Pearson's correlations of an item with its own scale and other scales were calculated to evaluated convergent and discriminant validity. Clinical validity was also evaluated by known-group comparisons., Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all subscales was about 0.70 or higher. Results of interscale correlation were satisfactory and each subscale only measured a single and specified trait. All subscales met the standards of convergent and discriminant validity. Known group comparison analysis showed significant differences in social and spiritual well-being., Conclusion: The findings confirmed the reliability and validity of Persian version of COH-QOL-Ostomy questionnaire. The instrument was also well received by the Iranian patients. It can be considered as a valuable instrument to assess the different aspects of health related quality-of-life in Ostomy patients and used in clinical research in the future.

Objective: Anti-tumor immunity and cytokine profiles have important roles in the development of cancer. Norepinephrine (NE) release due to sympathetic activation leads to a Th2 deviation via the beta-2 adrenergic receptor Beta-2 adrenergic receptor (β-2AR) and could increase cancer progression. This study intends to determine the effects of isoproterenol (ISO; beta-agonist) and propranolol (PRO; beta-antagonist) on the production of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17. Cytokine levels have been examined in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The β-2AR expression on lymphocyte subsets was also assessed., Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, TILs were isolated from fresh CRC tissue and patient PBMCs were obtained just prior to surgery. The cells were cultured in medium for 72 hours. Concomitantly, cells were stimulated with 10 µg/ml phytohemagglutinin (PHA) alone or in the presence of either 1 µmol/L of PRO or 1 µmol/L ISO. The concentration of cytokines in the supernatants was measured by ELISA. Three-color flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of β-2AR on the lymphocyte subsets. Statistical analyses were performed via paired or independent t-test., Results: Levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 were elevated after PHA-stimulation of PBMCs and TILs. However, the elevation of IFN-γ and IL-17 production by TILs in response to PHA was significantly lower than PBMCs. In the presence of ISO, the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio reduced in all groups, but this reduction was very low in TILs. Interestingly, the effects of PRO on cytokine production were, at least partially, comparable to those of ISO. Depressed levels of β-2AR expression were demonstrated on CD4+IFN-γ+ and CD4+IL-17+ lymphocytes in patients' PBMCs and TILs., Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the effects of ISO and PRO on cytokine production by TILs and determined β-2AR expression on these cells. ISO failed to induce a shift toward the expected Th2 cytokine profile in CRC patients' TILs, which might be due to the downregulation of β-2AR expression on TILs. Additionally, in this study, PRO induced a shift to a Th2 profile in PBMCs.

Aim: The aim of this was to investigate some clinical profiles and lifestyle changes in stoma patients., Background: Stoma patients experienced multiple complications due to their ostomy formation., Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study performed on 102 random samples of stoma patients. Any patient with adequate physical and mental capability to participate and having had an ostomy in place for at least 3 months was eligible to enter the study. Participants asked to answer study questions concerning age, sex, type of stoma, having permanent or temporary ostomy, underlying cause of stoma formation, type of cancers cause of stoma. Patient also questioned about some lifestyle changes because of stoma including: changing diet, sexual satisfaction (if sexually active after stoma formation), sense of depression, changing job, change clothing style., Results: Colostomy was the most common type of stoma followed by ileostomy and urostomy. In 80.4% of patients under study the stoma was permanent. Most patients had a stoma because of cancer (77.5%), with colon cancer (41.2%) being the most common malignant diagnosis. The mean age of cancer patients (56.1±10.9) with stoma was significantly higher than non-cancer patients (44.7±12.9) (p < 0.05). A significant differences were found regarding to sexual satisfaction after stoma formation between the two groups (p < 0.05) and the cancer group was less sexually satisfied post-ostomy., Conclusion: In conclusion, stoma formation can caused multiple problems for both cancer and non-cancer patients. Counseling of patient is an important component of care that could help stoma patients to adjust with new situations.

Background: Despite efforts to maintain the intestinal tissue and treat gastrointestinal disease, a large number of patients undergo ostomy surgery each year. Using stoma reduces the patient's quality of life (QOL) greatly. Although there are approximately 3000 patients in Iran; there is little information about the impact of stoma on their QOL., Aims: The study aims to evaluate QOL of stoma patients using a special measurement tool., Settings and Design: This survey was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 102 random samples of stoma patients., Materials and Methods: The City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire was used for collecting demographic and clinical information and evaluating QOL., Statistical Analysis Used: Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of QOL., Results: The mean score for the overall QOL for stoma patients was 7.48 ± 0.9. 70% of patients were dissatisfied with sexual activities. More than half of them reported feelings of depression following stoma surgery. Univariate analysis indicated that factors such as the type of ostomy (temporary/permanent), the underlying disease that had led to the stoma, depression, problem with location of ostomy, and change in clothing style had significant effects on overall QOL and its subscales (P < 0.05). The results of the regression analyses showed that only depression and problem with the location of ostomy were statistically significant in predicting patients' QOL and its subscales (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that living with stoma influences the overall aspect of QOL. Education for the patients and their families is important for improving the stoma patients' QOL. Sexual and psychological consultation may also improve patients' QOL.

Background and Aims: Ulcerative colitis is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer but dysplasia reports are much more frequent than invasive neoplasm diagnosis. The effective activation of T lymphocytes that provide antitumor surveillance requires the presence of costimulation molecules such as CD80 and CD86 on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. The aim of our study was to verify the presence of an in vivo immunosurveillance mechanism in the early stages of colon tumorigenesis., Patients and Methods: Expression of CD80, CD86, and IFN-gamma in the colonic mucosa of 21 consecutive ulcerative colitis (UC) patients was quantified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. After a 7-year follow-up period, we reviewed the histology of all surveillance colonoscopy specimens for colonic dysplasia. Correlation, frequency, and survival analyses were performed., Results: CD80 was detectable in seven patients while expression of CD86 and IFN-gamma was evident in all patients. Histology confirmed the presence of dysplasia in eight patients. Patients who had dysplasia showed higher CD80 levels compared to those without dysplasia (p=0.02). Survival analysis demonstrated that cumulative dysplasia rates of CD80-positive patients were significantly higher than those of CD80-negative patients (p=0.04)., Conclusion: Even if partially limited by a relatively small sample size, our study seems to show an association between CD80 expression and colonic dysplasia in UC patients that may suggest a role for CD80 in the immunosurveillance against colorectal cancer in this early stage of tumorigenesis. On the contrary, CD86 seems to be involved in the inflammatory pathogenesis of UC.

Several studies showed that costimulatory signals on antigen presenting cells are up-regulated in inflammatory bowel disease. We quantified the expression of CD80, CD86, and IFNgamma in colonic mucosa of patients affected by ulcerative colitis and correlated it with clinical and biochemical parameters to identify the context of this up regulation. We enrolled 21 patients affected by ulcerative colitis and 6 healthy subjects. We evaluated for each patient gender, age, duration of disease, clinical, endoscopic and histologic disease activity index, medical therapy, ESR, serum CRP, WBC, and serum al-acid glycoprotein. CD80, CD86, and IFNgamma expression in the colonic mucosa was quantified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation test. Significance was set at P < 0.05. CD80 was detectable in seven patients, while CD86 and IFNgamma expression was evident in all UC patients. CD80 and CD86 were not detectable in control specimens. Colonic CD80 expression was correlated to the age of the patients. CD86 expression showed an inverse correlation with duration of disease and a direct correlation with serum CRP levels and histologic grade of disease activity. IFNgamma was not correlated with any of the examined parameter. Our study confirms a major role in ulcerative colitis pathogenesis for CD86 which correlates with histologic grade of disease and with serum CRP levels, and its upregulation seems to be higher at the beginning of the disease. In "in vivo" conditions IFNgamma may not be the only factor responsible for CD86 up-regulation in the ulcerative colitis colonic mucosa.

Aim: In this study we evaluated the possibility of performing a cross small bowel transplantation (CrSBTx) in which, at the same time, 2 pigs were both donors and later recipients of intestinal grafts. The hemodynamic and metabolic impact of this original transplantation model on the animals was determined., Methods: Ten large White adult female pigs underwent a 2 stage procedure. The principal intraoperative hemodynamic and metabolic parameters were measured at different times during the operation. In the 3 days that followed the operation, renal function, liver and pancreatic damage were investigated., Results: Our surgical model permits us to keep excellent hemodynamic and metabolic stability with low mortality., Conclusion: The need of half of animals with respect to conventional models represents an ethical and economic advantage of CrSBTx and we propose it for intestinal transplant studies in large animals.

We have tested the effect of donor bone marrow cell (DBMC) infusion on the survival of pancreatic islet allografts in the rat, without the use of cytoablative recipient conditioning. Lewis and diabetic Brown Norway rats were used as donors and recipients, respectively. Donor islets were placed beneath the left renal capsule. Infusion of DBMC and temporary immunosuppression followed by delayed islet transplantation resulted in indefinite survival of all islet grafts (MST > 180 days). Control animals demonstrated recurrent hyperglycemia (islet allografts rejection). Donor bone marrow derived cells were detected in the spleen and cervical lymph nodes of BN recipients of LEW bone marrow but not in the recipients of islet transplants alone. Second set full thickness skin grafts were performed in normal BN and in recipients of a previously successful ITX. Donor specific skin grafts were accepted in the animals that had received DBMC 40 days before the islet allograft, while animals receiving DBMC at the time of the islet allograft rejected the donor specific skin graft similarly to the controls. However, these animals did not reject a second set donor-specific islet transplant. The results indicate that radiation conditioning of the recipients was not necessary to induce microchimerism and graft acceptance in this rodent model of islet allotransplantation.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease whose onset is believed to be triggered by unknown environmental factors acting on a predisposing genetic background. Islet-infiltrating T (IIT) cells from two IDDM patients, who had died at the onset of the disease from brain swelling as a complication of ketoacidosis, were analysed. The results provided evidence for the involvement of a pancreatic islet cell membrane-bound superantigen as a diabetes aetiopathogenetic factor. There was a selective expansion of a T-cell receptor (TCR) variable segment of the beta-chain (V beta 7) in these IIT cells in association with unselected V alpha-chain segments; extensive junctional diversity of the TCR V beta 7 chains; and evidence of positive selection, after exposure to diabetic islet cell membrane preparations, of V beta 7+ T-cell clones among peripheral blood lymphocytes from non-diabetic individuals.

The effects of the cholecystokinin (CCK)-analogue, caerulein, and CCK-receptor antagonist lorglumide (CR-1409) on pancreatic carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) were studied. One hundred thirty rats were divided into the following 10 treatment groups: group 1, DMBA (2-3 mg); group 2, DMBA + caerulein (5 micrograms/kg); group 3, DMBA + caerulein + CR-1409 (12 mg/kg); group 4, caerulein + DMBA; group 5, caerulein + CR-1409 + DMBA; group 6, DMBA + CR-1409; group 7, CR-1409 + DMBA; group 8, caerulein; group 9, CR-1409; and group 10, sham operation + saline. DMBA was surgically implanted into the pancreas. Caerulein and/or CR-1409 was administered twice daily for 15 days after (in groups 2, 3, and 6) or before (in groups 4, 5, and 7) DMBA implantation. Six months after carcinogen administration, all rats were sacrificed and autopsied. The incidence of pancreatic cancer appeared significantly (P < 0.001) increased when caerulein was administered following DMBA implantation. CR-1409 significantly inhibited (P < 0.02) caerulein effects and reduced tumor growth when injected after carcinogen exposure.

Serial serum CA 19-9 assays were performed in 30 consecutive patients who underwent resection for pancreatic cancer. Patients with preoperative CA 19-9 levels < 200 U/ml had significantly better prognosis than those with CA 19-9 > 200 U/ml (P < 0.001). Serum tumor marker normalized in 14 patients after tumor resection, and survival in this group was significantly higher than that of patients with persistently elevated CA 19-9 (P < 0.0001). Prognosis was also influenced by absence of lymph node metastases (P < 0.02) and radicality of resection (P < 0.005). Elevation of serum CA 19-9 levels after operation well predicted tumor recurrence from 1-10 months before clinical and radiological evidence. CA 19-9 determination is useful as a prognostic index after resection for pancreatic carcinoma and as a surveillance test in monitoring the efficacy of treatment.