Elevated deoxycholic acid (DCA) and mutations in the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene have been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Chronic inflammation has also been associated with increased risk of CRC. It is unclear if DCA mediates inflammation in the normal or transformed colonic mucosa. The status of APC was manipulated in human CRC cell lines to study the role of DCA mediated inflammation. The chemotactic cytokine, CXCL8, was used as a marker of inflammation. Addition of DCA to the HT29-parental cell line with mutant-APC increased the steady state mRNA and protein levels of CXCL8. Conversely, addition of DCA to the HT29-APC cell line with wild type-APC was protective for increased steady state RNA and protein levels of CXCL8. DCA activated transcription factors which had binding regions in the CXCL8 5’-promoter. To elucidate the mechanism of induction, the 5’-promoter of CXCL8 was investigated. DCA increased promoter-reporter activity of the CXCL8 gene in HT29-parental cell line but wild type-APC blocked this effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed that DCA activated transcription factors, AP-1 and NF-κB were bound to the 5’-promoter of CXCL8. The transcription factor, β-catenin, was also bound to the 5’-promoter of CXCL8. Phenotypic effects were measured. Increased CXCL8 lead to matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) production and increased invasion by HT29-parental cells on laminin coated filters. The DCA-mediated invasion was blocked by antibody directed against CXCL8 and wild type- APC. Therefore DCA-mediated inflammation occurs in transformed colonic epithelium and increases the invasive phenotype of CRC cells by CXCL8.

Background: In 2010, immigrants comprised 20% of the Canadian population. Canada has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world. This study seeks to explore factors that are associated with CRC screening and to determine whether immigrants are less likely to be screened for CRC compared to non-immigrants. Methods: Data were obtained from Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey, 2008. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used as a theoretical framework. Chi-square statistics and multiple logistic regression models were employed. Results: Recent immigrants were less likely to be screened by endoscopy within 5 years (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29 – 0.77), endoscopy within 10 years (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24 - 0.60) and be up-to-date with screening (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.91) compared to non-immigrants. Conclusions: A formal screening program and patient navigators may address disparities among recent and non-immigrants.

Background: In 2010, immigrants comprised 20% of the Canadian population. Canada has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world. This study seeks to explore factors that are associated with CRC screening and to determine whether immigrants are less likely to be screened for CRC compared to non-immigrants. Methods: Data were obtained from Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey, 2008. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used as a theoretical framework. Chi-square statistics and multiple logistic regression models were employed. Results: Recent immigrants were less likely to be screened by endoscopy within 5 years (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29 – 0.77), endoscopy within 10 years (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24 - 0.60) and be up-to-date with screening (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.91) compared to non-immigrants. Conclusions: A formal screening program and patient navigators may address disparities among recent and non-immigrants.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Understanding the cancer pathology and develop effective treatment strategies play significant roles in improving cancer survival rates. In this thesis, evaluations of mathematical modeling and simulation were studied and presented. Colorectal system was investigated from gene and cell levels. The Hardware Descriptive Language (HDL) package and codes were developed to simulate the cancer models. Representative codes and figures were illustrated. Results suggest that the HDL is an effective method to conduct the modeling and simulation of cancers. It is essential to develop advanced technology such as HDL modeling and simulation to improve our understandings to fight cancer and save lives.

Cartas al editor

Colorectal cancer occurs mainly after the age of 50. The liver is the most frequent site of metastases, although isolated metastases to the porta hepatis are rarely reported in the literature. From 1924 to 1993, only 16 cases of periportal lymph nodes metastases were reported. We report a case of jaundice secondary to porta hepatis metastases from primary colorectal cancer. The appearance of symptoms was concurrent with the elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen in our case. This emphasizes the importance of polymerase chain reaction to detect the small amount of carcinoembryonic antigen transcript in blood or in peritoneal fluid before the appearance of symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction allows the prediction of high risk of recurrence and the presence of micrometastases. More trials are needed to assess the outcome after treatment by adjuvant chemotherapy for micrometastases.

by Cheung Yuk Lung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-111). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; questionnaires in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i-ii / 摘要 --- p.iii-iv / Abstract --- p.v-vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii-viii / List of Tables --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Literature Review / Anxiety --- p.3 / Quality of Life --- p.8 / Quality of Life for Stoma Patients --- p.19 / Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Reducing Anxiety and Promoting Quality of Life --- p.24 / The Rationale of Using PMRT in Reducing Anxiety and Promoting Quality of Life --- p.35 / Summary of Literature Review --- p.38 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Methods / Research Design --- p.40 / Aim and Objectives --- p.41 / Hypotheses --- p.42 / Operational Definitions --- p.43 / Ethical Consideration --- p.44 / Sample --- p.45 / Intervention --- p.47 / Instruments --- p.49 / Data Collection and Randomization --- p.54 / Pilot Study --- p.56 / Method of Data Analysis --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Results / Internal Consistency of the Instruments --- p.59 / Subjects' Characteristics --- p.60 / "Baseline Assessment of State-Anxiety, Trait-Anxiety, QoL-Colostomy and WHO-QoL Scores " --- p.64 / Effect of PMRT on the State-Anxiety and Quality of Life --- p.65 / The Frequency of Practicing PMRT --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Discussion and Conclusion / Discussion --- p.75 / Limitations --- p.84 / Recommendations and Implications for Future Studies --- p.88 / Conclusion --- p.93 / References --- p.95 / Appendixes / Chapter 1 . --- Letters of Ethical Approval / Chapter 2. --- Letter of Request for Access Aapproval / Chapter 3. --- Informed Consent / Chapter 4. --- Questionnaires / Chapter 5. --- Content Validity Index of Chinese Version of QoL-Colostomy

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2008. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.