Digestion

doi: 10.1159/000199292pmid: N/A

Caredda, Francesco; de Bartolo, Giovanni; Zampini, Luisa; Barcellini, Wilma; Zavaglia, Claudio; Carella, Graziella; Meroni, Pier Luigi

doi: 10.1159/000199293pmid: 2420668

Sera from 162 patients with acute or chronic hepatitis and from patients with autoimmune diseases have been investigated for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on human and animal tissues. A small proportion (14.2%) of young patients with chronic δ hepatitis has been found positive for cytoplasmic staining which was maximal in hepatocytes and renal proximal tubules. This autoantibody has been found to react with microsomal antigenic determinant different from the classic liver-kidney microsomal LKM antigen as demonstrated by fluorescence absorption experiments with purified subcellular organelles and by fluorescence-blocking tests. The microsomal autoantibody displayed also organ and species-specificity different from those shown by the LKM-positive sera. The positive patients showed persistence of the microsomal autoantibody during the follow-up without other serological markers of autoimmunity. There was no evidence of a particular course of chronic δ hepatitis in patients positive for the microsomal autoantibody.

Balzer, K.; Goebell, H.; Breuer, N.; Rüping, K.W.; Leder, L.D.

doi: 10.1159/000199294pmid: 3514337

The prevalence of gallstones was studied in 11,840 consecutive autopsies from 1940 to 1975 in the University hospitals of Essen. The total prevalence was 20.7%: 13.1 % for men and 33.7% for women. The male to female sex ratio is 1 : 2.6. The crude prevalence for three 12-year periods showed a significant increase from 8.2 to 15% in men and from 25.7 to 36.3% in women ( p < 0.001). A detailed analysis showed that this increase occurred only in the age groups over 60 and was the consequence of the fact that a greater proportion of women over 60 came to autopsy. The age- and sex-specific morbidity ratio was calculated to standardize the data. This demonstrated considerable fluctuations in 3-year periods since 1940. It can be concluded that no real increase in the prevalence of gallstones occurred in the last 30 years.

Koop, H.; Schwarting, H.; Trautmann, M.; Börger, H.W.; Lankisch, P.G.; Arnold, R.; Creutzfeldt, W.

doi: 10.1159/000199295pmid: 3514338

The trophic effect of truncal vagotomy was studied in rats. Three months after vagotomy and pyloroplasty pancreatic weight was significantly increased by 40% (p < 0.001). Gastric stasis and consecutive distension of the stomach was observed in the majority of vagotomized animals despite pyloroplasty; the trophic effect of vagotomy on the pancreas was most pronounced in animals with severe stomach distension. Basal gastrin levels were increased after truncal vagotomy but did not correlate to gastric stasis and to the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreas. Basal pancreatic polypeptide hexapeptide levels were not altered after vagotomy. Morphometric studies on the endocrine pancreatic tissue showed that the relative volume density decreased due to the increase in exocrine tissue. However, the total islet cell mass remained constant. It is concluded that chronic truncal vagotomy has a trophic effect on the exocrine but not on the endocrine pancreas; additional factors besides gastrin seem to be responsible for this.

Terano, Akira; Hiraishi, Hideyuki; Ota, Shin’ichi; Sugimoto, Tsuneaki

doi: 10.1159/000199296pmid: 3514339

Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) on mucus synthesis and secretion in rat gastric cultured cells, and their relationship to prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. Rate of mucus synthesis was estimated by incorporation of ³H-glucosamine into the cultured cells. Release of ³H-glucosamine from the cells, which were preincubated in the medium containing the radioactive isotope, into the culture media was measured for the evaluation of mucus secretion. PG production by the cultured cells was measured by radioimmunoassay. GGA increased glycoprotein synthesis in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). Secretion of mucus from cultured cells was also significantly enhanced by GGA. GGA did not significantly increase PG (E₂ and I₂production. These results indicate that GGA has the ability to stimulate mucus production by the gastric epithelial cells, and this action may play an important role in protective effect of GGA. It is, however, unlikely that this effect of GGA is mediated by endogenous PGs.

Keim, V.; Rohr, G.; Stöcket, H.G.

doi: 10.1159/000199297pmid: 2420669

The secretion of newly synthesized pancreatic proteins was studied in conscious rats with cannulated pancreatic ducts. Labeled amino acids (³H-leucine and ¹⁴C-amino acid mixture) were injected intravenously. The proteins of the pancreatic juice were separated by gel electrophoresis, and the radioactivity in each band was determined. An early secretion of labeled trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen was found, whereas amylase and lipase were secreted after a certain lag period. In vitro pulse chase experiments showed that amylase was synthesized in the acinar cell but did not move with the same efficacy to the zymogen granules and into the pancreatic juice as proteases.

Reynolds, J.R.; Walt, R.P.; Hardcastle, J.D.; Clark, A.G.; Smart, H.L.; Langman, M.J.S.

doi: 10.1159/000199298pmid: 3956889

Hourly gastric aspiration has commonly been used to assess the efficacy of antisecretory compounds. We have compared continuous ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring using a radiotelemetry capsule with standard nasogastric aspiration. Eight studies were performed on four male duodenal ulcer patients in remission receiving either placebo or an antisecretory agent. A significant correlation was found between capsule and aspirate pH measurements (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). Radiotelemetry capsule measurements clearly showed the onset of action of an antisecretory drug, and the buffering effect of food. Radiotelemetric pH monitoring is shown to be as good as gastric sampling in the measurement of 24-hour intragastric acidity, allows continuous measurement of pH during normal activity and can accurately assess the effect of drugs on gastric acidity.

Kunimoto, D.; Thomson, A.B.R.

doi: 10.1159/000199299pmid: 3956890

We describe a patient with relapses of Clostridium difficile cytotoxin-positive pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) after treatment with vancomycin, a course of metronidazole and a trial of bacitracin. She remains free of disease after a prolonged course of cholestyramine. We suggest there may be a role for anion-exchange resins in patients with PMC relapsing after vancomycin therapy.

Papasteriades, C.; Spiliadis, C.; Emmanouilidis, A.; Papadimitriou, C.; Economidou, J.; Manousos, O.

doi: 10.1159/000199300pmid: 3456944

Histocompatibility antigens (HLA-A, B) have been studied in 70 patients with ulcerative colitis of Greek origin. An increased frequency of HLA-A 11, B7 and B13 (RR 2.1, 2.0 and 4.5, respectively) and a decreased frequency of HLA-B14 (RR 0.2) were found. Severe course of the disease was associated mainly with HLA-B13 (RR 5.5) whereas extensive spread of the colitis was associated with HLA-A 11 and B7 (RR 2.6 and 3.2). Late onset of the disease ( > 30 years) was characterized by increased frequency of HLA-A 11, B7 and B13.

doi: 10.1159/000199301pmid: N/A