Primary hypertrophic tuberculosis of the pyloroduodenal area: report of 2 cases. (41/848)

Tuberculosis of the stomach and duodenum is rare in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Primary involvement is even rarer. Two cases of primary tuberculosis of the localised to the pyloro-duodenal area are presented. The most common symptoms are non-specific leading to a difficulty in establishing a pre-operative diagnosis. A high degree of suspicion is therefore required for its diagnosis and to differentiate it from more frequent causes of gastric outlet obstruction such as chronic peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma. The treatment of gastric tuberculosis is primarily medical with anti-tuberculous drug therapy. The role of surgery lies in the cases with obstruction following hypertrophic tuberculosis. The surgery done is usually a gastroenterostomy. With the relative rate of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis increasing, tuberculosis of the pyloro-duodenal area should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric outlet obstruction.  (+info)

Role of calcium stores and membrane voltage in the generation of slow wave action potentials in guinea-pig gastric pylorus. (42/848)

1. Intracellular recordings made in single bundle strips of a visceral smooth muscle revealed rhythmic spontaneous membrane depolarizations termed slow waves (SWs). These exhibited 'pacemaker' and 'regenerative' components composed of summations of more elementary events termed spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs). 2. STDs and SWs persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin, nifedipine and ryanodine, and upon brief exposure to Ca2+-free Cd2+-containing solutions; they were enhanced by ACh and blocked by BAPTA AM, cyclopiazonic acid and caffeine. 3. SWs were also inhibited in heparin-loaded strips. SWs were observed over a wide range of membrane potentials (e.g. -80 to -45 mV) with increased frequencies at more depolarized potentials. 4. Regular spontaneous SW activity in this preparation began after 1-3 h superfusion of the tissue with physiological saline following the dissection procedure. Membrane depolarization applied before the onset of this activity induced bursts of STD-like events (termed the 'initial' response) which, when larger than threshold levels initiated regenerative responses. The combined initial-regenerative waveform was termed the SW-like action potential. 5. Voltage-induced responses exhibited large variable latencies (typical range 0.3-4 s), refractory periods of approximately 11 s and a pharmacology that was indistinguishable from those of STDs and spontaneous SWs. 6. The data indicate that SWs arise through more elementary inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor-induced Ca2+ release events which rhythmically synchronize to trigger regenerative Ca2+ release and induce inward current across the plasmalemma. The finding that action potentials, which were indistinguishable from SWs, could be evoked by depolarization suggests that membrane potential modulates IP3 production. Voltage feedback on intracellular IP3-sensitive Ca2+ release is likely to have a major influence on the generation and propagation of SWs.  (+info)

p53 abnormalities in adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia and antrum. (43/848)

AIM: To compare the frequency and type of p53 alterations (gene mutation and/or protein overexpression) in a consecutive series of surgically resected adenocarcinomas arising in the gastric cardia and gastric antrum, and to evaluate associations with clinicopathological findings (age, sex, and tumour histology, grade, and stage). METHODS: The series comprised 50 patients with adenocarcinoma of the cardia and 20 patients with adenocarcinoma of the antrum. p53 gene mutations (exons 5-8) were detected by denaturing gradient gel analysis and DNA sequencing. Nuclear p53 overexpression was detected by immunohistochemistry with the DO7 antibody. RESULTS: p53 gene mutations were found in 21 of 50 and five of 20 adenocarcinomas of the cardia and the antrum, respectively. Base transitions occurring at CpG dinucleotides were frequent in both types of tumour. p53 protein overexpression was seen in 32 of 50 and seven of 20 adenocarcinomas of the cardia and of the antrum, respectively. p53 gene mutation and/or protein overexpression were significantly more frequent in adenocarcinomas of the cardia (37 of 50) than in adenocarcinomas of the antrum (seven of 20). There were no differences in the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumours between p53 positive and p53 negative cases in both types of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that p53 alterations are more frequent in adenocarcinoma of the cardia than in adenocarcinoma of the antrum. This feature is consistent with the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these cancers, which suggest that adenocarcinoma arising in the gastric cardia might be related to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and unrelated to adenocarcinomas of the gastric body and antrum.  (+info)

Eradication diminishes enhancing effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on glandular stomach carcinogenesis in Mongolian gerbils. (44/848)

To investigate the nature of the link between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and stomach carcinogenesis, a study of the glandular stomach of Mongolian gerbils (MGs) was performed. MGs were treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), followed by inoculation with Hp (groups 1 and 2) or without Hp (group 3), or infected with Hp (groups 4 and 5) or inoculation without Hp (group 6) followed by MNU administration. At week 21, the animals in groups 2 and 5 underwent an eradication procedure. At week 50, the incidences of adenocarcinomas in group 1 (15 of 23) and group 4 (9 of 26) were significantly higher than in group 3 (1 of 15) and group 6 (1 of 18), respectively. Moreover, those in group 2 (5 of 24) and group 5 (2 of 22) were lower than in groups 1 and 4, respectively. This study shows that Hp eradication may be useful as a prevention approach against stomach cancer.  (+info)

Relative contributions of "pressure pump" and "peristaltic pump" to gastric emptying. (45/848)

The relative contributions to gastric emptying from common cavity antroduodenal pressure difference ("pressure pump") vs. propagating high-pressure waves in the distal antrum ("peristaltic pump") were analyzed in humans by high-resolution manometry concurrently with time-resolved three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging during intraduodenal nutrient infusion at 2 kcal/min. Gastric volume, space-time pressure, and contraction wave histories in the antropyloroduodenal region were measured in seven healthy subjects. The subjects fell into two distinct groups with an order of magnitude difference in levels of antral pressure activity. However, there was no significant difference in average rate of gastric emptying between the two groups. Antral pressure history was separated into "propagating high-pressure events" (HPE), "nonpropagating HPEs," and "quiescent periods." Quiescent periods dominated, and average pressure during quiescent periods remained unchanged with decreasing gastric volume, suggesting that common cavity pressure levels were maintained by increasing wall muscle tone with decreasing volume. When propagating HPEs moved to within 2-3 cm of the pylorus, pyloric resistance was found statistically to increase with decreasing distance between peristaltic waves and the pylorus. We conclude that transpyloric flow tends to be blocked when antral contraction waves are within a "zone of influence" proximal to the pylorus, suggesting physiological coordination between pyloric and antral contractile activity. We further conclude that gastric emptying of nutrient liquids is primarily through the "pressure pump" mechanism controlled by pyloric opening during periods of relative quiescence in antral contractile wave activity.  (+info)

Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide on antro-pyloro-duodenal motility in the interdigestive state and with duodenal lipid perfusion in humans. (46/848)

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide (GLP-1) is a gut hormone released postprandially. Synthetic GLP-1 strongly inhibits gastric emptying in healthy subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus. AIMS: To investigate the effects of GLP-1 on antro-pyloro-duodenal motility in humans. METHODS: Eleven healthy male volunteers were studied on two separate days. On the interdigestive study day, a basal period was followed by a 60 minute period of saline infusion and two further 60 minute periods of intravenous infusion of GLP-1 0.4 and 1.2 pmol/kg/min to achieve postprandial and supraphysiological plasma levels, respectively. On the postprandial study day, the same infusions were coadministered with intraduodenal lipid perfusion at 2.5 ml/min (2.5 kcal/min) followed by another 60 minutes of recording after cessation of GLP-1. Antro-pyloro-duodenal motility was measured by perfusion manometry. RESULTS: GLP-1 significantly inhibited the number and amplitudes of antral and duodenal contractions in the interdigestive state and after administration of duodenal lipid. It abolished interdigestive antral wave propagation. In the interdigestive state, GLP-1 dose dependently increased pyloric tone and significantly stimulated isolated pyloric pressure waves (IPPW). Pyloric tone increased with duodenal lipid, and this was further enhanced by GLP-1. GLP-1 transiently restored the initial IPPW response to duodenal lipid which had declined with lipid perfusion. Plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide were dose dependently diminished by GLP-1 with and without duodenal lipid. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1 inhibited antro-duodenal contractility and stimulated the tonic and phasic motility of the pylorus. These effects probably mediate delayed gastric emptying. Inhibition of efferent vagal activity may be an important mechanism. As postprandial plasma levels of GLP-1 are sufficient to appreciably affect motility, we believe that endogenous GLP-1 is a physiological regulator of motor activity in the antro-pyloro-duodenal region.  (+info)

Properties of gastric smooth muscles obtained from mice which lack inositol trisphosphate receptor. (47/848)

Membrane potential recordings, made from the circular smooth muscle layer of the gastric antrum taken from mutant mice which lacked the inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) type 1 receptor, were compared with those obtained from the stomach of control (wild-type) mice. Immunostaining of gastric muscles indicated that the distribution and form of c-kit positive cells were similar in wild-type and mutant mice. Smooth muscles from wild-type mice generated slow waves that in turn initiated spike potentials, while those from mutant mice were either quiescent or generated irregular bursts of spike potentials. In the presence of nifedipine, slow waves with reduced amplitude were generated in wild-type mice, while all electrical activity was abolished in mutant mice. Acetylcholine depolarized and sodium nitroprusside hyperpolarized the membrane in muscles from both types of mice, being more effective in wild-type mice. Noradrenaline produced similar hyperpolarizations in both types of mice. Transmural nerve stimulation evoked inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) in both wild-type and mutant mice. In wild-type mice, the IJPs were reduced in amplitude by nitroarginine and converted to a cholinergic excitatory junction potential (EJP) by apamin. In mutant mice, the IJPs were unaffected by nitroarginine or atropine but were abolished by apamin. It is concluded that in antral smooth muscle, the expression of InsP3 type 1 receptors may be causally related to the generation of slow waves but not to the generation of action potentials. A lack of InsP3 receptors attenuates cholinergic excitatory and nitrergic inhibitory responses but does not alter the response to noradrenaline.  (+info)

Collagenous gastritis: a case report, morphologic evaluation, and review. (48/848)

Collagenous gastritis is rare; there are only four previous case reports. Histologic features seem to overlap with the other "collagenous enterocolitides"; however, pathologic criteria are not yet established for the diagnosis of collagenous gastritis. We describe an additional case of ostensible collagenous gastritis in a patient who initially presented with celiac sprue and subsequently developed colonic manifestations of mucosal ulcerative colitis. Endoscopic biopsies of the stomach revealed deposition of patchy, very thick bandlike subepithelial collagen in gastric antral mucosa, focal superficial epithelial degeneration, numerous intraepithelial lymphocytes, and a dense lamina propria lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. Image analysis evaluation of gastric antral biopsies demonstrated a mean thickness of subepithelial collagen of 27.07 micron. Morphologic comparison was made with age-matched control groups of 10 patients who had normal gastric mucosal biopsies and 10 patients who had "chronic" gastritis, which revealed mean subepithelial collagen measures of 1.37 micron and 1.19 micron, respectively. We compared these morphologic findings with those of all previous case reports of collagenous gastritis and propose a pathologic definition based on the limited combined data. It seems that subepithelial collagen is dramatically thickened in reported cases of collagenous gastritis, with a cumulative mean measure of 36.9 micron. It is also apparent from this and previous reports that the thickened subepithelial collagen is accompanied by a chronic or chronic active gastritis and sometimes intraepithelial lymphocytes and surface epithelial damage. Recently described associations of lymphocytic gastritis, sprue, and lymphocytic colitis as well as collagenous and lymphocytic colitis suggest a common pathogenesis that empirically may include collagenous gastritis in the same disease spectrum. We propose that collagenous gastritis can be confidently identified by using analogous defined features of collagenous colitis: subepithelial collagen more than 10 micron in a patchy distribution, lamina propria lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, intraepithelial lymphocytes, and surface epithelial damage. Collagenous gastritis also seems to have the same spectrum of associated clinical findings as collagenous colitis, including frequent coexistence of celiac sprue, watery diarrhea syndrome, and female predominance.  (+info)