bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased urinary endothelin excretion in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: KITANO MASAYUKI , UEMASU JIRO , KAWASAKI HIRONAKA 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe urinary endothelin level in patients with chronic liver disease was determined in order to explore its possible involvement in renal function. The plasma endothelin level was significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) than in those with chronic hepatitis (CH) or in control patients (C). Similarly, urinary endothelin excretion in LC was significantly increased, compared with CH and C. Urinary endothelin demonstrated a significant positive correlation with creatinine clearance. The ratio of endothelin clearance/creatinine clearance did not differ statistically among the three groups. Urinary sodium excretion in LC was positively correlated with plasma endothelin, but not with urinary endothelin. Urinary endothelin excretion demonstrated a significant negative correlation with urinary kallikrein in LC. The present data suggest that increased urinary endothelin excretion in cirrhotic patients primarily depends upon elevated plasma levels of endothelin, but not renal production. Also, a possible link between endothelin and the kallikrein‐kinin system in liver cirrhosis is indicated.
Gastric mucosal energy metabolism and intracellular mucin content changes in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: KAWANO SUNAO , TANIMURA HIROHISA , TSUJI SHINGO , TAKEI YOSHIYUKI , NAGANO KOUICHI , KASHIWAGI TORU , FUSAMOTO HIDEYUKI , KAMADA TAKENOBU 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBiopsy samples from patients with liver cirrhosis were investigated for changes in gastric mucosal energy metabolism and intracellular mucin content using high performance liquid chromatography and an image analysing system. The test group consisted of eight non‐cirrhotic patients with endoscopically normal mucosa (controls) and eight cirrhotic patients with oesophageal varices. The amount of ATP, energy charge level and intracellular mucin content were all significantly decreased in cirrhotic patients when compared with those of the controls. The decrease in energy charge also correlated well with the decrease in intracellular mucin content in the gastric mucosa. The results indicate that gastric mucosal energy metabolism is impaired in cirrhotic patients concomitantly with a decrease in the intracellular mucin content in the gastric mucosa. These changes may weaken defensive mechanisms against acid and NSAID, resulting in gastric mucosal injury in cirrhotic patients.
Effect of verapamil on renal haemodynamics in a portal hypertensive rat model
Authors: LAY CHII‐SHYAN , YANG MAY CHUEN‐MAY , WU SUE‐LIN , TSAI YANG‐TE , WU KUO‐LIANG , CHIEN SHU 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn order to investigate the effects of verapamil on renal haemodynamics in rats with portal hypertension, verapamil was given at either a low (0.2 mg/kg) or high (2 mg/kg) dose to rats after portal vein ligation. An approximate 12% decrease in mean arterial pressure followed administration of low dose verapamil, with a significant decrease in cardiac output and renal blood flow, as well as reduced portal pressure, observed; these signs were all indicative of a rise in renal vascular resistance. In contrast, the marked fall in both mean arterial pressure and cardiac output with high dose verapamil, accompanied by a significant decrease in portal pressure and no change in renal blood flow, suggests a reduction in renal vascular resistance. This study shows that the acute effects of verapamil on renal haemodynamics may vary with the dose used. Also, acute verapamil administration tends to decrease renal blood flow to alter the autoregulation of the kidney; thus, caution should be taken in the clinical use of verapamil in the treatment of cirrhosis with portal hypertension.
Idiopathic adulthood ductopenia
Authors: NAKANO ISAO , FUKUDA YOSHIHIDE , KOYAMA YASUO , URANO FUMIHIRO , YAMADA MASAHIKO , KATANO YOSHIAKI , MARUI AKIKO , IMADA KAZUMI , HAYAKAWA TETSUO , ITO MASAFUMI , YAMASHITA YORIKO , IMOTO MASAMI , NAKANUMA YASUNI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn 1981, a 26 year old man occasionally demonstrated elevated serum transaminase concentrations. He had no history of medication, or a personal or family history of jaundice, except for prolonged physiological jaundice as a neonate. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody and anti‐mitochondrial antibody were absent. A wedge biopsy specimen revealed ductular proliferation, mild inflammation of the portal area and disappearance of bile ducts from 80% of the portal tracts. Serial sections demonstrated a vanishing bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde choledo‐chopancreatography, portography and arteriography demonstrated no abnormalities. In 1994, the patient died of hepatic failure following a 12 year observation period. He was subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic adulthood ductopenia on the basis of the criteria proposed by Ludwig.
Effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia in patients with and without histological gastritis: A double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: YEOH KG , KANG JY , TAY HH , GWEE KA , TAN CC , WEE A , TEH M , CHOO HF , CHINTANA‐WILDE W 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIn the present double‐blind placebo‐controlled study the effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia was evaluated in patients with and without histological gastritis. Patients with functional dyspepsia and whose symptoms persisted after a 2 week run‐in period with antacid treatment were randomized to receive cisapride (10 mg) or matching placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, belching, early satiety and heartburn were graded on a four‐point scale based on patients’ feedback and diary card recording. A global response was also formulated by the investigators. One hundred and four patients entered the study and 76 completed the trial, comprising 36 patients with histological gastritis and 40 patients without gastritis. Symptom scores in both gastritis and non‐gastritis groups were significantly improved by both cisapride and placebo; however, the improvement was not statistically different between the two treatment groups. Cisapride produced a good or better global response in 58% of subjects with histological gastritis and in 53% of subjects without gastritis compared with 47% and 52%, respectively, of patients on placebo; this difference was not statistically significant. Gastric histology did not influence the effect of cisapride on the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
Tungstic acid reduction of cold‐resistant stress‐induced ulceration in rats
Authors: QIU BS , PFEIFFER CJ , WU W , CHO CH 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTSprague‐Dawley rats were restrained at 4°C for 2 h (stress). Tungstic acid in a single dose of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 or 300 mg/kg (dissolved in distilled water) was administered intragastrically to animals 30 min prior to stress. Stress induced significant gastric mucosal damage, whereas tungstic acid pretreatment dose‐dependently reduced lesion formation. Doses of tungstic acid of 1 mg/kg and higher significantly (P < 0.05–0.001) decreased ulcers. The mucosal mast cell counts in rats pretreated with tungstic acid were significantly higher than those of control rats. In motility experiments using oral administration of amberlite pellets, pretreatment with tungstic acid dose‐dependently reduced the gastric emptying rate during a 1 h period of stress. Gastric mucosal xanthine oxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, after pretreatment with a single dose of tungstic acid, were not altered in stressed animals. It is suggested that tungstic acid effectively antagonizes stress‐induced gastric ulcers, possibly by decreasing motility and mass cell degranulation. Xanthine oxidase and SOD activities and mucous content were not changed in the gastric mucosa by the present method of tungstic acid administration.
A controlled trial comparing the efficacy of rice‐based and hypotonic glucose oral rehydration solutions in infants and young children with gastroenteritis
Authors: WALL CR , SWANSON CE , CLEGHORN GJ 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of a rice‐based oral rehydration solution (ORS) with glucose ORS in infants and children under 5 years of age with acute diarrhoea and mild to moderate dehydration (< 10%). One hundred children presenting to a large metropolitan teaching hospital were eligible for entry to the study and were randomized to receive rice ORS or glucose ORS. Outcome measures were stool output (SO), duration of illness (DD) and recovery time to introduction of other fluids (RTF) and diet (RTD). Significant differences were found for all outcome measures in favour of the rice ORS group. Mean SO was lower (160 vs 213 mL; P < 0.02), mean DD was reduced (17.3 vs 24.3 h; P = 0.03) and median RTF was decreased (12.7 vs 18.1 h; P < 0.001) in the rice ORS group compared with the glucose ORS group. The median time to introduction of diet and mean length of hospital stay showed similar significant reductions. Our study has shown rice ORS to be an acceptable alternative to glucose ORS in young children and have shown that it is significantly more effective in reducing the course of diarrhoeal illness and the time taken to return to normal drinking and eating habits.
Effect of quinolone antibiotics on hepatic growth and protein synthesis following partial hepatectomy in rats
Authors: MINUK GY , ASSY N , DING LX , GAUTHIER T , PASHNIAK DD 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTQuinolone antibiotics inhibit eukaryotic as well as prokaryotic cell growth and protein synthesis. To determine whether these properties adversely affect hepatic growth and recovery following surgical resection, five groups of healthy, adult male rats (n = 7–8/group) were treated for 10 days with equal volumes of either ofloxacin (50 mg/kg), fleroxacin (25mg/kg), ciprofloxacin (25 mg/kg), norfloxacin (15mg/kg) or sterile saline (controls) prior to 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) and daily thereafter until death. Restituted liver mass, DNA and protein synthesis rates were determined at 24, 48 and 72 h PH. The results of the study revealed that all parameters of hepatic regeneration were similar in the five study groups at each time interval. To ensure that an effect on hepatic regeneration was not dose‐dependent, additional experiments were performed where 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg ciprofloxacin was administered and DNA synthesis was measured 24 h post‐PH. Once again, the results were similar to sterile saline‐treated controls. These findings suggest that the quinolone antibiotics are unlikely to have an adverse effect on hepatic recovery following surgical resection of the liver and are safe to use in that setting.
Antibodies to hepatitis C virus and elevated transaminase levels in a town of hyperendemicity in Iwate, Japan
Authors: KOYAMA TOMIKO , TSUDA FUMIO , ISHIKAWA KAZUYOSHI , OISHI HIROSHI , TAZAWA MINORU , YOSHIZAWA HIROSHI , SATO SHUNICHI , OKAMOTO HIROAKI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIn an annual survey for liver function tests in persons aged > xs35 years in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, a town was identified where high levels of alanine aminotransferase abounded. Of 5152 inhabitants aged > 35 years in this town, antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with HCV core peptides were detected in 798 (15.5%) people, hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 47 (0.9%) people and antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen and/or hepatitis B core antigen unaccompanied by surface antigenaemia were detected in 1748 (33.9%) people. Antibodies to HCV core peptides correlated closely with the antibodies detected by passive haem‐agglutination with recombinant HCV proteins of the second generation. Antibodies to HCV core peptides were particularly common in one of the nine districts of the town (district 8), where 276 (45.3%) of 609 inhabitants tested positive; there were no differences in the frequency of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HEV) infection among residents in the nine districts. Of the 798 individuals with antibodies to HCV core peptides, 257 (32.2%) were found to have elevated transaminase levels. A history of transfusion was associated with a high frequency of antibodies to HCV core peptides, except in district 8 where such antibodies were equally frequent in residents irrespective of transfusions. These results indicate an epidemiology of HCV distinct from that of HBV in this town and a very local spread of HCV, as well as a high frequency of hepatic injuries in individuals with antibodies to HCV.
Infra‐red (ATR/FT) spectroscopic study on the conformational structure of the isolated human gastric mucus pretreated with ethanol
Authors: LIN SHAN‐YANG , WU CHEW‐WUN , LI MAY‐JANE , LIANG RUN‐CHU 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the conformational structure of isolated human gastric mucus gel pretreated with or without ethanol, gel samples were determined by attenuated total reflection/Fourier transform‐infra‐red (ATR/FT‐IR) microspectroscopy. The result indicates that the secondary structure‐dependent amide I band and the glycoprotein region were significantly different in the gastric mucus gels pretreated with and without 40% ethanol. The structural composition of β‐sheet structure (1640‐1600 cm−1) increased from 38.48 to 55.08% (+16.6%) after 6‐hour pretreatment with 40% ethanol, but the β‐turn structure, (1660‐1700 cm−1) decreased from 41.38 to 24.29% (‐17.05%). The peak area ranging from 1180 to 1000 cm−1, assigned to the glycoprotein region, was also different after pretreatment with ethanol for 6 h. The higher peak area of the carbohydrate band was obtained in the frequency region between 1000 and 1040 cm−1 and 1100 and 1180 cm−1 for mucus gel pretreated with 40% ethanol. However, the peak area ranging from 1100 to 1040 cm−1 mainly due to the symmetric phosphate stretching mode of proteins was somewhat lower for the ethanol‐pretreated mucus gel than the native mucus gel. This result strongly reveals that ethanol significantly modified the conformational structure of proteins and carbohydrates of gastric mucus gel. We propose that the dehydration and interference of hydrophobic interactions in the isolated mucus gel after pretreatment with ethanol might be responsible for this conformational change.
A quantitative assessment of serum chylomicron by light scattering intensity: Application to the intestinal fat absorption test
Authors: TAZUMA SUSUMU , MIURA HIROYUKI , HIRANO NAOMICHI , HATTORI YOSHIHIRO , KAJIHARA TSUYOSHI , TSUCHIMOTO DENYA , MIYAKE HIROAKI , NISHIOKA TOMOJI , HYOGO HIDEYUKI , NAKAO SEIJI , YAMASHITA GUNJI , KAJIYAMA GORO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA novel fat absorption test to clarify the malabsorption syndrome was developed using a micronephelometric technique and compared with the classic conventional technique using 131I‐triolein. An integrity of time‐sequential light scattered from chylomicron‐related turbidity in serum was determined between 0 and 300 min after butter fat load, being expressed in terms of the light scattering intensity (LSI). A good correlation was obtained between LSI and the serum level of chylomicron‐triglyceride determined by an ultracentrifugation technique (r=0.819, P < 0.001). The maximal LSI was consistently observed at 180 min after administration of a test meal in the normal group (n= 39), whereas the malabsorption syndrome group (n= 35) was distinctly different and could be further classified according to four patterns of LSI changes. In addition, an inverse correlation was found between this fat absorption test and the 131I‐triolein absorption test. It was concluded that the micronephelometric technique which does not use a radionuclide is advantageous in its simple and safe evaluation of fat malabsorption syndrome.
GB virus‐C infection among chronic haemodialysis patients: Clinical implications
Authors: OKUDA KUNIO , KANDA TATSUO , YOKOSUKA OSAMU , HAYASHI HARUYUKI , YOKOZEKI KAZUO , OHTAKE YOSHIO , IRIE YASUBUMI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIt is known that patients on chronic haemodialysis are frequently infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). It has recently been found that GB virus‐C (GBV‐C) and hepatitis G virus frequently coinfect patients with HCV. This study aimed at elucidating the clinical implications of GBV‐C infection among haemodialysis patients who have and do not have HCV infection. GBV‐C RNA was detected in sera of randomly selected 98 anti‐HCV‐positive and 85 ‐negative patients on dialysis by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction using two sets of amplification primers made from the reported sequences of the non‐structural protein 3 and 5’ untranslated regions. In these patients, liver function tests were carried out at regular intervals. There were six patients who were coinfected with HCV and GBV‐C and three who had only GBV‐C RNA. All had a history of past blood transfusion. The onset of mild hepatitis was identified in three HCV‐negative patients; elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) following blood transfusion was very mild but recognizable, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was higher than ALT. In two of six coinfected patients, the onset of liver disease was recognized with a peak ALT of 72 and 90 IU/L, respectively. Two of these six were Amplicore (HCV‐RNA) negative and asymptomatic, two had low‐grade HCV viraemia and two moderate‐grade HCV viraemia. Of the 98 anti‐HCV‐positive cases, 41 were thought to have had nosocomial infection of HCV or non‐A, non‐B virus; none of them had GBV‐C. GBV‐C RNA was negative in nine patients who had chronic non‐A‐E hepatitis. GBV‐C infection was detected in 6.1% of anti‐HCV‐positive and in 3.5% of‐negative dialysis patients. All had blood transfusion in the past, and there was no evidence of patient‐to‐patient spread of GBV‐C in hospital. The liver disease was very mild and self‐limited in GBV‐C infection alone. The natural history of coinfected patients may be similar to that of those with chronic HCV infection, but the liver disease appears to be milder.
An unusual choledochal cyst
Authors: GUPTA ROHIT , PRUTHI HARJEET SINGH , BAIJAL SANJAY SARAN , SARASWAT VIVEK ANAND 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTWe report a case of Caroli's disease associated with diverticulae and choledochocele of the common bile duct, a wide pancreaticobiliary angle and non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension. This patient presented with recurrent episodes of cholangitis. To our knowledge, such a range of findings in the same patient has not been previously reported in the English language literature.
Does Helicobacter pylori infection affect gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia?
Authors: GOH KL , PARAMSOTHY M , AZIAN M , PARASAKTHI N , PEH SC , BUX S , LO YL , ONG KK 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe objectives of the study were first, to determine if gastric emptying was altered in patients with functional dyspepsia with and without Helicobacter pylori infection compared with normal healthy volunteers; and second, to determine if there were further alterations in gastric emptying when the infection was eradicated. Gastric emptying was measured using a 99mtechnetium radiolabelled solid meal and gastric emptying time was measured as t1/2, viz. time taken for half the radiolabelled meal to be emptied from the stomach. The mean gastric emptying time for H. pylori‐positive patients (n= 20) was 56.4±24.8 min; H. pylori‐negative patients (n= 19) 67.8±31.8 min; and normal controls (n= 20) 58.8 ± 18.8 min. No significant difference was obtained between the groups (ANOVA; P= 0.348). Thirteen of 18 H. pylori‐positive patients successfully eradicated the infection following treatment with omeprazole 40 mg o.m. and amoxycillin 500 mg t.d.s. for 2 weeks. The mean difference in the gastric emptying time before and H. pylori eradication was 23.9 + 13.2 min (P= 0.556). There was no significant difference in the frequency of specific dyspeptic symptoms as well as the overall mean symptom score between the H. pylori‐positive and ‐negative patients. Gastric emptying was not different between patients with functional dyspepsia and normal controls. Helicobacter pylori infection does not appear to affect gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia.
Mesenteric and portal venous obstruction associated with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
Authors: LEE HEON JU , PARK JONG WON , CHANG JAE CHUN 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA 58‐year‐old Korean man who had a past history of appendicitis, superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and intestinal obstruction presented 7 years later suffering from colicky right upper quadrant pain, epigastric discomfort after fatty meals, nausea and vomiting. He was found to have thrombosis of the superior mesenteric and portal veins, portal hypertension with oesophageal varices, cholangitis, and a biliary stone. The serum anti‐cardiolipin antibody (aCL) titres were 103 immunoglobulin (Ig)G antiphospholipid units (GPL) and 50 IgM antiphospholipid units (MPL) and the aCL‐IgG titre was still high at 106 2 years after the initial diagnosis. No evidence of disease states known to be associated with antiphospholipid antibodies was found. We report a patient with mesenteric and portal venous obstruction associated with the primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
REVIEW: Present and future directions in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: NICOLL AMANDA , LOCARNINI STEPHEN 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe last decade has witnessed substantial progress in the development of chemotherapeutic agents for chronic hepatitis B. However, the only currently licensed treatment in Australia, interferonalpha, has low initial response rates and the adverse effects are often unacceptable. Of the newer agents in the class of nucleoside analogues, famciclovir and lamivudine are in phase III clinical trials with encouraging preliminary results, while other agents, such as bis‐POM PMEA (Adefovir), are at phase I/II development. Future approaches to therapy will be governed by an understanding of the effects of nucleoside analogues on the natural history of the disease as well as on the hepatitis B virus‐hepatocyte interaction. Combination antiviral therapy should theoretically offer improved response rates, decrease the development of viral resistance, and provide the greatest reduction in viral load, but it has not yet been widely examined in the clinical setting. In this article, we review the currently available strategies, discuss potential problem areas, and speculate on promising approaches with combination chemotherapy and the features of agents soon to be trialed.