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The transformation abilities of CD44s and CD44v6 in normal intestinal epithelial cells have not yet been reported. Herein, we established both CD44s and CD44v6 overexpressing stable clones from rat IEC‐6 cells and demonstrated that the CD44v6 clones had higher saturation density and anchorage independence. Additionally, CD44v6 clones were more resistant to oxaliplatin and irinotecan which might be attributed to a significantly increased B‐cell lymphoma 2 level and a reduced DNA damage response in these cells. Moreover, c‐Met and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signalings were involved in modulating the saturation density in CD44v6 clones. Interestingly, higher activation of both AKT and extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) were detected in CD44v6 clones which might account in part for the cell density‐independent nuclear localization of Yes‐associated protein (YAP). To no surprise, increases of both saturation density and anchorage independence in CD44v6 clones were markedly diminished by PI3K, AKT, MEK, and ERK inhibitors as well as YAP knockdown. By contrast, overexpression of a constitutively active YAP robustly increased the aforementioned phenotypes in IEC‐6 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that upregulation of CD44v6, but not CD44s, induces the transformation of normal intestinal epithelial cells possibly via activating the c‐Met/AKT/YAP pathway which might also explain the important role of CD44v6 in the initiation of various carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Purple urine-bag syndrome (PUBS) is a rare phenomenon in which the contents of urine bags turn purple or blue following patient catheterization. The condition often causes care givers tremendous distress. We investigated the prevalence and possible causes of PUBS for a group of elderly patients., Methods: A total of 157 patients featuring urine catheterization, 13 of whom exhibiting PUBS were analyzed with regards to age, functional status, duration of catheterization, number of daily medications, living location, feeding route, bowel habits, and the pattern of use of a urinary catheter. Urine samples were cultured from all the PUBS patients participating., Results: Two men who underwent cystostomy and 11 women who underwent urethral catheterization who exhibited PUBS were observed for this study. The age, duration of catheterization, number of daily medications feeding pattern and functional status between the group exhibiting PUBS and the group of patients without PUBS demonstrated no significant differences. A total of 69.2% of the PUBS-affected patients, as compared to 43.1% of the non-PUBS patients, lived in nursing homes, and 84.6% of the PUBS-affected patients were constipated, as were 66% of the non-PUBD subjects. In total, 72.7% of PUBS patients were reported to be using a laxative suppository, compared with 41% of the non-PUBS group, whereas 92.3% of PUBS patients were catheterized using a plastic (PVC) foley, as compared to 70.8% of the non-PUBS patients. The pH for 12 out of 13 PUBS patients' urine was > or = 7. Escherichia coli, Provendicia var. spp., Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae were the common pathogens isolated from the urine samples provided by our PUBS patients., Conclusion: We found that PUBS was more likely associated with the female gender, alkaline urine, constipation, institutionalization, the use of a plastic (PVC) urinary catheter, and certain bacteria such as Provendicia var. spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.