Dietary PlsEtn Ameliorates Colon Mucosa Inflammatory Stress and ACF in DMH-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis Mice: Protective Role of Vinyl Ether Linkage

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn), a sub-class of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpl), is a universal phospholipid in mammalian membranes. Several researchers are interested in the relationship between colon carcinogenesis and colon PlsEtn levels. Here, we evaluated the functional role of dietary purified EtnGpl from the ascidian muscle (87.3 mol% PlsEtn in EtnGpl) and porcine liver (7.2 mol% PlsEtn in EtnGpl) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in vivo, and elucidated the possible underlying mechanisms behind it. Dietary EtnGpl-suppressed DMH-induced aberrant crypt with one foci (AC1) and total ACF formation (P < 0.05). ACF suppression by dietary ascidian muscle EtnGpl was higher compared with dietary porcine liver EtnGpl. Additionally, dietary EtnGpl decreased DMH-induced oxidative damage, overproduction of TNF-α, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the colon mucosa. The effect of dietary ascidian muscle EtnGpl showed superiority compared with dietary porcine liver EtnGpl. Our results demonstrate the mechanisms by which dietary PlsEtn suppress ACF formation and apoptosis. Dietary PlsEtn attained this suppression by reducing colon inflammation and oxidative stress hence a reduction in DMH-induced intestinal impairment. These findings provide new insights about the functional role of dietary PlsEtn during colon carcinogenesis.     

Microfluidic device fabricated by three‐dimensional lithography for observation of cancer cell invasion process

This paper describes a microfluidic device for observation of cancer cell invasion induced by chemotaxis. The developed device has two main channels, the channel filled with cell suspension and the channel filled with solution containing chemotactic factor. These channels are connected via tapered orifice structures to capture multiple cancer cells in it to form cell clusters. Observation of cell invasions affected by cell adhesions is possible with this device. The devices were fabricated by using three‐dimensional lithography and PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) molding. Invasion cells leaving the cell clusters and moving to the channel containing chemotactic factors through the orifices were successfully observed on the device.     

Effect of Raw and Heat‐Moisture Treated High‐Amylose Corn Starch on Fermentation by the Rat Cecal Bacteria

Resistant starch content of high‐amylose corn starch (HAS) was doubled by heat‐moisture treatment. Resistant starch content of HAS and heat‐moisture treated high‐amylose corn starch (HMT‐HAS) were 31.8 and 67.3%, respectively, as determined by enzymatic‐gravimetric method. Effects of the two types of high‐amylose corn starches, HAS and HMT‐HAS, on starch fermentation, microflora, pH, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) content and β‐glucuronidase activity in the cecal content have been investigated. Rats were given ordinary corn starch (OCS; control), HAS or HMT‐HAS at 10% level for 10 13 days. The cecal and colorectal content s weights were larger in HAS and HMT‐HAS groups than in the OCS group. The cecal content s weight did not differ between HAS and HMT‐HAS groups, while the colorectal content s weight was higher in the HMT‐HAS group than in the HAS group. The upper and lower small intestinal and cecal starch contents were significantly higher in the HAS and HMT‐HAS groups than in the OCS group, whereas there were no differences between colorectal starch content in group OCS and HAS. Starch excretion in feces was significantly higher in groups HAS and HMT‐HAS than in group OCS, the increase in the HMT‐HAS group was especially remarkable. The composition of the cecal microflora was not effected by the diet. β‐Glucuronidase activities in rats fed HAS or HMT‐HAS decreased. SCFA concentration was higher in groups HAS and HMT‐HAS than in group OCS, and the cecal pH was lower in groups HAS and HMT‐HAS than in group OCS.