Syndecan-1 is a transmembrane heparansulfate proteoglycan which regulates cell-to-cell or cell-toextracellular matrix interactions and may influence malignant cell behavior. We investigated the alterations of syndecan-1 expressions in colorectal cancers and analyzed the relationship between histological and clinical characteristics. Syndecan-1 protein expression in colorectal cancer tissues was investigated with immunohistochemical staining of resected specimens. In situ hybridization was performed using syndecan-1 riboprobe to confirm the transcriptional signals. Syndecan-1 mRNA expression in cancer cell lines cultured with or without methylation inhibitor was also analyzed by quantitative PCR. Out of 105 specimens tested, less than 25% of tumor cells were stained with anti-syndecan-1 monoclonal antibody in 36 (34.3%). In situ hybridization showed a similar staining profile to that of immunohistochemistry. Syndecan-1 mRNA expression was increased by the methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′ ′ ′ ′-deoxycytidine, suggesting that the hypermethylation is involved in the suppression of syndecan-1 expression. Clinically, the incidence of metastasis to lymphnode or liver in patients with syndecan-1-negative tumors was significantly high. Among T1 colorectal cancers displaying a primary invasive phase, lymphnode metastasis, undifferentiated characters and 'budding' of cancer cells were more common in syndecan-1-negative tumors. The survival rate in patients with syndecan-1-negative tumors was decreased significantly in a stage-independent manner. These results suggest that the reduction of syndecan-1 expression in colorectal cancer cells, which is supposed to be regulated at the transcription level, is closely related to invasive character. The evaluation of syndecan-1 expression in colorectal cancer may allow prediction of patients' survival after surgery.Key words: Syndecan-1 -Colorectal cancer -Metastatic potential -PrognosisGastrointestinal tract cancers disrupt the muscularis mucosa of the epithelia, with subsequent tumor outgrowth into the submucosal layer. When cancer cells are observed in the submucosal layer, invasion of lymphatic ducts or blood vessels is likely. Therefore, tumor cells in the submucosal layer have been considered to be an important pathological sign for predicting life-threatening metastasis. In order to disseminate into submucosal interstitial tissues, cancer cells must become detached from the tumor mass, 1) and this is closely associated with a reduction of cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion.2) The disruption of cadherindependent cell adhesion has been extensively studied in relation to the progression or metastasis of colorectal cancers, but involvement of other molecules has not been reported.Recently, it has been suggested that syndecan, a family of transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans, also plays an important role in the binding of tumor cells to extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules such as type I, III, V collagens, fibronectin, tenascin, and amphoterin on various cell lineages. Among s...

We have previously reported that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), the augmented expression of the beta isoform of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGRbeta), as a putative dominant negative regulator of glucocorticoid action, is associated with glucocorticoid (GC) unresponsiveness of UC patients. In this study, we quantified the levels and serial changes of hGR transcripts in PBMC of IBD patients by a real-time fluorescence monitoring of PCR. As results, relative hGRbeta mRNA expression was significantly higher in the active stage of UC than in inactive periods of UC or CD patients. Longitudinal analysis revealed that hGRbeta mRNA expression in UC was increased after the relapse of inflammation, suggesting that the overproduction of cytokines during inflammation may be responsible. In in vitro culture experiments of human lymphoid cell (CEM) and human PBMC, IL-7, and IL-18 increased hGRbeta mRNA expression in these cells but GC itself did not. Through these analyses, it is indicated that the inflammatory cytokines altered the splicing condition of the primary transcript of hGR gene in IBD patients.

Using direct sulfation of cellulose, we prepared sulfated cellulose (CS) with various degrees of substitution of sulfate groups (DS), which we used as dopants for PEDOT. PEDOT/CS were prepared via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in an aqueous CS solution. Films of the obtained PEDOT/CS were formed using spin-coating. As a reference, a PEDOT/PSS film was also formed. The electrical conductivity of the PEDOT/CS film with a DS of 1.03 was 0.576 S m À1 . In contrast, the electrical conductivity of the PEDOT/PSS film was 0.0153 S cm À1 . Using Raman spectroscopy, we found that the 1400 and 1500 cm À1 bands correspond to the C a QC b vibrations in the five-member PEDOT ring. Compared with the band of the PEDOT/PSS film, the band of the PEDOT/CS film red-shifted from 1437 to 1433 cm À1 and narrowed. We attributed the increased electrical conductivity of the PEDOT/ CS film to a greater proportion of the quinoid structure than in PEDOT contained in PEDOT/PSS.

Findings on double-contrast barium enema study are highly predictive of depth of invasion of early nonpolypoid colorectal cancer. Radiographic findings of converging folds, semilunar deformity, deep depression, irregular surface of the depression, and tumor size are predictors of Ca-sm tumor.

The use of an "over 1000-nm near-infrared (NIR) in vivo fluorescence bioimaging" system based on lanthanide containing inorganic nanostructures emitting in the visible and NIR range under 980-nm excitation is proposed. It may overcome problems of currently used biomarkers including color fading, phototoxicity and scattering. Gd(2)O(3):Er(3+),Yb(3+) nanoparticles and nanorods showing upconversion and NIR emission are synthesized and their cytotoxic behavior is investigated by incubation with B-cell hybridomas and macrophages. Surface modification with PEG-b-PAAc provides the necessary chemical durability reducing the release of toxic Gd(3+) ions. NIR fluorescence microscopy is used to investigate the suitability of the nanostructures as NIR-NIR biomarkers. The in vitro uptake of bare and modified nanostructures by macrophages is investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In vivo investigations revealed nanostructures in liver, lung, kidneys and spleen a few hours after injection into mice, while most of the nanostructures have been removed from the body after 24 h.