bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of chilli and its pungent ingredient capsaicin on gastrointestinal transit in the rat
Authors: KANG J. Y. , ALEXANDER B. , MATH M. V. , WILLIAMSON R. C. N. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe effect of chilli powder and its pungent ingredient capsaicin on gastrointestinal transit in the rat was studied. Fasted unanaesthetized male Sprague‐Dawley rats (n= 144) received by gavage a test meal containing charcoal and cellulose in water or capsaicin solvent plus 51Cr as a radioactive marker. Either 100 or 200 mg of chilli powder (containing 0.13 and 0.26 mg of capsaicin, respectively) or 0.5 or 1 mg of capsaicin were added, the final volume of each meal being 1.5 mL. At 10 and 20 min, animals were killed and the amount of isotope that had left the stomach was measured, together with the distance the charcoal column had travelled along the small intestine. Compared to controls, animals given chilli powder emptied less of their gastric content at 10 and 20 min, an effect partly reproduced by capsaicin. However overall gastric‐small intestinal transit was unaffected by chilli powder or capsaicin. Another 12 male Sprague‐Dawley rats received, under light ether anaesthesia, on six occasions at 1–2 week intervals, the same six test meals as used in the previous experiment except that charcoal was not used. Total gut transit as measured by the amount of radioactive marker excreted in the stools at 18 and 24 h was unaffected by the use of chilli or capsaicin.
Model‐derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion: A quantitative measure of liver function in cirrhosis
Authors: BIANCHI G. P. , MARCHESINI G. , BOLZANI R. , FABBRI A. , SARTI E. , PISI E. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA three compartment mathematical model was used to analyse the urea response to an alanine infusion in six control subjects, and in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and variable degree of hepatocellular failure. Model‐derived coefficients were used to calculate two parameters (Ymax and Tmax), able to describe the theoretical response of the conversion of amino acid derived nitrogen into urea, in response to a unit impulse in alanine concentration. They correspond to the maximum rate of conversion of nitrogen from an intermediary pool into urea and to the time delay between the impulse and Ymax, respectively. In cirrhosis, the apparent volume of distribution of infused alanine was smaller than in controls, while the conversion of alanine nitrogen into an intermediary pool of nitrogen and finally into urea nitrogen were both reduced. Also Ymax was reduced by 50% in cirrhosis, whereas Tmax was increased by 50%, and both significantly correlated with galactose elimination capacity (GEC; R2= 0.706 and R2= 0.505, respectively) and with antipyrine clearance (Ap Cl; R2= 0.823 and R2= 0.576, respectively). Model‐derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion is able to quantify the functional liver cell mass, and may prove useful for the study of nitrogen metabolism in cirrhosis, mainly in relation to encephalopathy.
Evaluation of the maximal excretion rate of indocyanin green as a prognostic indicator in patients undergoing biliary decompression for obstructive jaundice
Authors: IZAWA K. , SASAKI M. , TOMIOKA T. , OKA S. , SEGAWA T. , YAMAGUCHI T. , TSUNODA T. , KANEMATSU T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTo assess the postoperative outcome of jaundiced patients and to select the optimal timing for surgical intervention, indocyanin green (ICG) concentrations in the bile were measured after biliary decompression in patients with obstructive jaundice. The maximal excretion rate of ICG in the bile was calculated as a function of time (ICG Bmax).Among 59 patients with positive ICG Bmax values, morbidity was 15.2% and postoperative hospital mortality was 3.3%. However, the morbidity and mortality in nine patients with values between ‐ 0.5 and 0 were 88.8 and 44.4%, respectively. The 13 patients with in ICG Bmax below ‐ 0.5 had a 76.9% morbidity and a 61.5% mortality. The patients with ICG Bmax values below 0 showed a significantly higher morbidity and mortality than positive ICG Bmax patients. In patients showing ICG Bmax values below ‐ 0.5, surgery is contraindicated despite intensive postoperative care. The ICG Bmax value improved according to the increasing effect of biliary decompression. The index is useful not only as a prognostic index in the early phase of biliary decompression but also as an index of bile secretory capacity at a given time. By means of time course measurement of this index, the suitable time for operation can be determined. The ICG Bmax is a useful and reliable indicator in the assessment of hepatobiliary functional reserve in jaundiced patients after biliary decompression and prior to further surgical intervention.
Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody: A prognostic indicator in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: POKORNY CHRISTOPHER S. , NORTON IAN D. , McCAUGHAN GEOFFREY W. , SELBY WARWICK S. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Considerable variability has been reported in the frequency and specificity of anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody with a perinuclear staining pattern (pANCA) in patients with chronic liver disease, especially in primary sclerosing cholagitis (PSC), and in inflammatory bowel disease. This study examines the presence of pANCA in patients with these disorders, in particular those with PSC complicated by other biliary disease, and also patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation. An indirect immunofluorescent technique was used to measure pANCA with serum diluted 1 : 20.Ten of 39 (26%) patients with PSC had detectable pANCA, as did two of nine (22%) with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (AICAH) but none of the 51 patients with other forms of chronic liver disease. The presence of pANCA was significantly more frequent in patients who had PSC with biliary tract complications, in particular calculi (seven of 16 with vs three of 23 without; P= 0.03). Eight of the 12 pANCA‐positive patients with PSC or AICAH had undergone hepatic transplantation. This was more likely than in patients with PSC or AICAH who were pANCA negative (10 of 36; P= 0.02). To date, pANCA has been detected after transplantation in four patients with PSC and one with AICAH. In patients with PSC or AICAH, pANCA should be sought as a marker of prognosis.
Effect of ammonium ion on the hydrophobic and barrier properties of the gastric mucus gel layer: Implications on the role of ammonium in H. pylori‐induced gastritis
Authors: LICHTENBERGER L. M. , ROMERO J. J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is associated with both the development of gastritis and an attenuation in the hydrophobic properties of the stomach. In order to better understand the effect of ammonium, one of the major products of H. pylori urease on these properties, a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments was performed. In the in vivo studies rats were intragastrically administered NH4Cl alone and in combination with the mucolytic agent, Muco‐Mist, in various dosing strategies and concentrations. It was determined that the intragastric administration of four consecutive doses of a NH4Cl/Muco‐Mist mixture (20 mmol/L/5%) was capable of converting the stomach from a hydrophobic to hydrophilic state as determined by contact angle analysis. Further, the treated rats became more susceptible to the injurious effect of luminal acid as determined by measuring the haemoglobin concentration of a collected gastric perfusate. In the in vitro studies it was determined that exposure of the hydrophobic surface of a synthetic mucus gel layer to increasing concentrations of NH4Cl (0–20 mmol/L) resulted in a rapid transition to a hydrophilic state and an associated increase in the flux of H+ across its surface. Helicobacter pylori may induce an attenuation in both mucosal hydrophobicity and barrier properties by producing high concentrations of NH+4 in the mucus gel layer. The molecular mechanism of this action may be related to the chemical similarities of NH+4 and choline‐based phospholipids which contribute to the stomach's hydophobic surface.
The gastroduodenal mucus barrier and its role in protection against luminal pepsins: The effect of 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2, carbopol‐polyacrylate, sucralfate and bismuth subsalicylate
Authors: COPEMAN M. , MATUZ J. , LEONARD A. J. , PEARSON J. P. , DETTMAR P. W. , ALLEN A. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Mucus and bicarbonate secretions have been widely implicated as an important pre‐epithelial protective barrier against autodigestion of the gastric mucosa by acid and pepsin. Evidence from several independent studies shows there is a continuous layer of resilient viscoelastic mucus gel adherent to the surface of the gastroduodenal mucosa. The median thickness of the adherent gastric mucus layer in humans is 180 μm, range 50–450 μm. The epithelial bicarbonate secretion permeates the unstirred matrix of mucus gel neutralizing luminal acid and establishing a pH gradient within the gel. In the duodenum, evidence supports the mucus bicarbonate barrier as a major protective mechanism aganist acid aggression.The adherent mucus gel, by acting as an effective ‘permeability’ barrier to pepsin, protects the underlying sensitive mucosa from digestion. However, pepsin slowly digests mucus gel at its luminal surface to produce soluble degraded mucin. In a rat gastric damage model in vivo, pepsin in excess digests the gastric mucus barrier sufficiently rapidly to outweigh new mucus secretion and lead to breaching of the mucus barrier with the formation of small punctate ulcers in the epithelium accompanied by mucosal haemorrhage. The mucus secretagogue 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 and the muco‐adhesive carbopol‐polyacrylate both fully protected the mucosa against pepsin damage by enhancing the protective properties of the mucus barrier. Sucralfate and bismuth subsalicylate were partially effective in protection against pepsin damage but this protection was mainly mediated at the level of the mucosa. In peptic ulcer disease, there is increased mucolytic (mucus degrading) activity in gastric juice and this is associated with an impaired mucin polymeric structure and a weaker mucus barrier. This enhanced mucolysis can be explained by increased levels of pepsin 1 secretion in peptic ulcer disease.Evidence from these studies supports (i) the adherent mucus layer as a major protective barrier against pepsin aggression in the stomach; (ii) that pepsin is a mucosal damaging agent per se under conditions where acid alone is ineffective; and (iii) decreased resistance of the mucus barrier to pepsin aggression could be a factor in the aetiology of peptic ulcer disease.
Rise and fall of the Plummer‐Vinson syndrome
Authors: CHEN THOMAS S. N. , CHEN PETER S. Y. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThree hypotheses have been proposed for the decreased incidence of Plummer‐Vinson disease: non‐existence, identity with inlet gastric mucosa of the oesophagus and disappearance of the predisposing condition(s). We examined these possibilities by reviewing our understanding of the syndrome. The early framers disagreed on the cause, but many thought it was a precursor for upper oesophageal carcinoma. Four explanations arose to account for the pathogenesis: iron deficiency; nutritional deficits; autoimmunity; and gastric lesion. We believe the decline in recognition paralleled the improve of dietary status and the treatment of sideropenic anaemia with inorganic iron salts.
A study of primary‐ and re‐infection with hepatitis C virus in blood transfusion recipients
Authors: MENG ZONG‐DA , XU DONG‐GANG , SUN DE‐GUI , LU HO‐YING , COPLAND JOY , LIU CAI‐YUN , MA XIAN‐KAI , CHEN SHU‐FEN , NIU JIAN‐ZHANG , SUN YON‐DE , GOWANS ERIC J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA nested polymerase chain reaction was used to assess viraemia in blood transfusion recipients with no serological evidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (naive recipients) and in recipients with prior or existing HCV infection (infected recipients), who were transfused with HCV‐positive blood. In 10 hepatitis cases in naive recipients, defined as primary infection, nine showed clinical hepatitis, and one was sub‐clinical; the time between transfusion and elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was 15–60 days (37.9 ± 13.9). All 10 naive recipients showed abnormal ALT, and 10/10 and 7/10 were persistently positive for anti‐HCV and HCV‐RNA, respectively, for more than 1 year. Similarly, in five cases in previously infected recipients, defined as re‐infection, 4/5 showed clinical hepatitis, the time to elevation of ALT was 30–46 days (34.8 ± 6.4), and 5/5 and 3/5 were persistently positive for anti‐HCV and HCV‐RNA, respectively, for more than 1 year. All five infected recipients showed abnormal ALT. In conclusion, there was no significant difference (P= 0.05) in the frequency of the markers of infection resulting from primary or re‐infection with HCV, suggesting that primary infection fails to induce a protective immune response.
Decreased variation of electrocardiographic R–R interval in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: ISOBE HIDEHIKO , SAKAI HIRONORI , SAKAMOTO SHIGERU , NAWATA HAJIME 
Published: March 2008

AbstractElectrocardiographic R–R interval variations were assessed to determine the functional integrity of the cardiac vagal nervous system in 20 normal controls and 71 cirrhotic patients. The ratio of the coefficient of variation to standard prediction value was used as an index. The cirrhotic patients showed significant reductions in the ratio of the coefficient compared with controls (0.71 ± 0.27 vs 0.91 ± 0.14; P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between decreased R–R interval variation and the liver function tests. The ratio of the coefficient increased with improvement in encephalopathy, and decreased with the development of encephalopathy.These results show that there is dysfunction of the cardiac vagal nervous system in patients with liver cirrhosis, and that this abnormality is partially reversible and might be related to liver dysfunction.
Endoscopic palliation of oesophageal carcinoma with Atkinson prosthesis
Authors: HO KHEK Y. , SAMARASINGHE DEV A. , NICHOLSON GORDON I. , LANE MARK R. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract To assess the degree of palliation, the associated morbidity and mortality and to compare our results with other published series, we reviewed our use of the Atkinson prosthesis in 100 consecutive patients for the palliation of unresectable oesophageal carcinoma. The group had a mean age of 71.2 ± 2.3 years. All prostheses were placed by the pulsion method. Intubation was successful in 91%. Improvement in swallowing was seen in 82.1%. Major early procedure‐related morbidity was high at 23% with 11 perforations (11%). Procedure‐related mortality was 12%. Those aged 70 years or more had a 34.5% risk of morbidity and 15.5% risk of dying from the procedure. Late procedure‐related complications requiring further endoscopic procedures occurred in 27%. Our 7 day mortality was 14.7% (14 patients) and 31 patients (32.6%) had died within 30 days, usually from the disease itself. Those surviving the procedure (> 7 days) had a mean survival of 105 (range 9–735) days.We obtained acceptable palliation but with a significant morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic intubation remains a useful palliative treatment for patients with unresectable carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia.
A long‐term survivor of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection
Authors: SHIRABE KEN , KITAMURA MASAYUKI , TSUTSUI SHINICHI , MAEDA TAKASHI , MATSUMATA TAKASHI , SUGIMACHI KEIZO 
Published: March 2008

Abstract We treated a patient who had previously undergone a hepatic resection for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but developed a solitary peritoneal recurrence at the site of the incision 8 years and 9 months later. Since no other recurrence was evident, we resected the tumour. The primary tumour was 2.5 cm in size and histological examination revealed HCC without any histological risk factors for intrahepatic recurrence. The peritoneal tumour consisted of less differentiated cancer cells than those found in the primary tumour. The positive rates of Ki‐67 were 10% in the primary tumour and 23.3% in the peritoneal recurrence. The DNA indexes in both tumours were considered to be identical.The comparison between the primary and peritoneal tumours suggested that the histological differentiation and proliferation activity can change after recurrence, in spite of consistent DNA ploidy contents. Clinically, a patient who undergoes a hepatic resection for ruptured HCC can survive for a long time, such as 10 years, if they have good liver function and small HCC without any histological risk factors for intrahepatic recurrence. However, since late recurrence is possible, a follow up for as long as 10 years is recommended.
Anti‐peptide monoclonal antibodies to intestinal mucin 3
Authors: APOSTOLOPOULOS VASSO , XING PEI‐XIANG , MCKENZIE IAN F C 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSecond generation anti‐peptide monoclonal antibodies were produced using synthetic peptide SIB35 (C‐HSTPSFTSSITTTETTSHSTPSFTSSITTTETTS) as an antigen which contains two of the MUC3 tandem repeats. Three monoclonal antibodies were produced (M3.1, M3.2 and M3.3) which reacted with the immunizing peptide, but also reacted strongly with colon tissues. Using the immunoperoxidase staining technique, two of the monoclonal antibodies, M3.1 and M3.2, reacted with both colon carcinoma and normal colon tissue whereas the antibody M3.3 reacted with normal colon tissues but very weakly, if not at all, with colon carcinoma. MUC3 was found to be distributed in colon and rectum, and was also present to a lesser extent in breast, lung and salivary gland tissues. Analysis of mucin molecules by Western blotting, revealed the antigen detected by the antibodies (M3.1 and M3.2) to be of a high relative molecular mass. M3.1 and M3.3 reacted with epitopes SITTTE and PSFTSS, respectively. M3.2 did not react with any of the 6‐mer peptides, even though it reacted with the full length VNTR (2 repeat peptide—SIB35). Anti‐MUC3 peptide antibodies appear to react with colon, rectum, breast, salivary gland and lung tissues, and represent a new method of producing antitumour antibodies.
Helicobacter pylori in Melbourne Chinese immigrants: Evidence for oral‐oral transmission via chopsticks
Authors: CHOW TONY K‐F , LAMBERT JOHN R , WAHLQVIST MARK L , HSU‐HAGE BRIDGET H‐H 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in a representative population of 328 Melbourne Chinese immigrants (162 men and 166 women) aged 25 years and older were studied. The population consisted of Chinese people born in China/Hong Kong (n= 110, 33.5%), Vietnam (n= 79, 24.1%), Malaysia/Singapore (n= 102, 31.1%), and elsewhere (n= 37, 11.3%). The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori was 59.5%; 60.5% in men and 58.4% in women. Gender specific analysis showed associations between higher seroprevalence and several socio‐demographic factors; in men, age (P< 0.0001), lower education level (P< 0.002), cigarette smoking (P< 0.042), the use of antibiotics (P< 0.015) and chopsticks (P< 0.047), and in women, lower socioeconomical status [education level (P< 0.030), gross household income (P< 0.0001) and occupational status (P< 0.0001)] and use of chopsticks (P< 0.002). Seroprevalence differed between immigrants of various birthplaces (P< 0.001); those born in Malaysia/Singapore (43.1%) were lower than those born in China/Hong Kong (68.2%), Vietnam (68.4%), and elsewhere (59.5%). Immigrants of various birthplaces also differed in their pattern of socio‐demographics.Multivariate analyses showed that risk factors for H. pylori infection within the Melbourne Chinese immigrants were, in men, age (B = 1.081) and birthplace (B = 1.769) and, in women, household income (B = 0.541) and use of chopsticks (B = 1.654). This study suggests person‐to‐person transmission of H. pylori via the oral‐oral route with ethno‐specific food practices an important risk factor.
Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerates gastric mucosal restoration in vitro by promoting mesenchymal cell migration and proliferation
Authors: WATANABE SUMIO , WANG XIAN‐EN , HIROSE MIYOKO , OIDE HIROSUMI , KITAMURA TSUNEO , MIYAZAKI AKIHISA , SATO NOBUHIRO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIt has been generally accepted that basic fibroblast growth factor is a potent stimulator of duodenal ulcer healing. However, the detailed mechanism and mode of action of growth factor on gastric ulcer healing is still controversial. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on gastric mucosal repair were studied using an in vitro cultured cell system. Artificial wounds were made in confluent monolayer rabbit gastric fibroblast and epithelial cell sheets by mechanical denudation. Changes in the size of the cell‐free area were analysed quantitatively. Cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU staining. For both cell types, mucosal restoration involved cell migration and proliferation. Although the speed of restoration of epithelial cells was not affected by the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor, it was much faster for epithelial cells than for fibroblasts. Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerated wound repair of fibroblasts but not epithelial cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerated wound repair by stimulating both cell migration and proliferation. Therefore, the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor in peptic ulcer diseases may be mainly due to the stimulation of mesenchymal cells.
Cystic lymphangioma of the gall‐bladder: A case report
Authors: OHBA K. , SUGAUCHI F. , ORITO E. , SUZUKI K. , OHNO T. , MIZOGUCHI N. , KOIDE T. , TERASHIMA H. , NAKANO T. , MIZOKAMI M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIntra‐abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are rare lesions that can be difficult to diagnose. We present a report of a patient with a giant multilocular cystic lesion in the abdomen. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scans of the abdomen revealed that the cyst had originated in the gallbladder fossa. There was some calcification and thickening of the cyst wall. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated a medially deviated common bile duct, an elongated cystic duct and an inferior compressed gallbladder. There was no apparent communication between the cyst and the biliary tract; however, an abdominal angiogram revealed that the lesion was supplied by a branch of the cystic artery. Histological findings obtained intra‐operatively were consistent with a cystic lymphangioma. Its characteristic histology was observed in the subserous layer of the gall‐bladder. This case is a rare instance of a cystic lymphangioma originating in the gall‐bladder.