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Biomedical subjects

A Berstad

Publications and source records attributed to A Berstad.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Vagal tone and meal-induced abdominal symptoms in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with functional dyspepsia often have meal-induced dyspeptic symptoms and low vagal tone. We examined whether these variables are related in healthy subjects. METHODOLOGY: In 40 healthy subjects vagal tone and abdominal symptoms were recorded before and after a 500-ml soup meal ingested in 1 and 4 min on separate visits. Vagal tone was indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). RESULTS: Scores for nausea and discomfort were higher when the soup was ingested in 1 min as compared with 4 min (nausea: p = 0.02; discomfort: p = 0.04). There was no difference in fullness or abdominal pain. RSA was unrelated to meal-induced symptom scores. RSA varied with respiration and body position: It was highest while breathing deeply in the sitting position (24.0 beats/min). With normal breathing RSA was highest in the supine position (9.0 beats/min), lower while sitting (7.0 beats/min) and lowest while standing (6.2 beats/min). CONCLUSIONS: Epigastric discomfort in response to rapid ingestion of a test meal in healthy subjects was not related to vagal tone as indexed by RSA. Vagal tone varied with breathing pattern and body position. It is possible that increasing vagal tone by such measures can be beneficial in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

Gastric accommodation studied by ultrasonography in patients with reflux esophagitis.

The aim of this study was to investigate gastric accommodation to a meal in patients with reflux esophagitis using ultrasonography. Twenty consecutive patients with reflux esophagitis of grade I (14) or II (6) and 20 healthy subjects underwent ultrasonographic measurements of the stomach before and after ingestion of a 500 ml soup meal. Reflux esophagitis patients revealed a significantly larger sagittal area of the proximal stomach at 5 min (P = 0.002) and 15 min (P = 0.007) postprandially and experienced more epigastric fullness after the meal (P = 0.0006). Postprandial fullness and sagittal area of the proximal stomach correlated significantly (r = 0.69; P = 0.0007). We conclude that patients with mild or moderate reflux esophagitis have a larger sagittal area of the proximal stomach and more postprandial fullness in response to a soup meal than healthy subjects. Postprandial distension of the proximal stomach may be a pathogenetic factor in reflux esophagitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Endosonography-guided endoscopic band ligation of Dieulafoy's malformation: a case report.

Dieulafoy's vascular malformation may cause serious upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The mucosal lesion is usually small, and precise location of the lesion may therefore be difficult. We report a case of Dieulafoy's lesion successfully treated by endoscopic band ligation (EBL) where endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), including Doppler examination, was applied for accurate diagnosis, guiding EBL and control of treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Stability of gastric secretory inhibition during 6-month treatment with omeprazole in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVE: A trend toward relapse of reflux symptoms and esophagitis during long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors has been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the existence of tachyphylaxia to the effect of proton pump inhibitors on gastric acidity and gastroesophageal reflux over time. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with reflux esophagitis underwent 24-h intragastric and intraesophageal pH-metry after 7, 90, and 180 days of continued dosing with 20 mg of omeprazole once daily before breakfast. RESULTS: The total median percentages of time gastric pH <4 (interquartile range) were 49% (35-70%), 60% (36-76%), and 42% (26-66%) after 7, 90, and 180 days (p = 0.14). Percentages of time gastric pH <3 were 41%, 54%, and 34%, respectively (p = 0.19). The median percentages of total time esophageal pH <4 were 1.1%, 2.5%, and 1.1%, respectively (p = 0.70). Healing of esophagitis was achieved in 84% of the patients after 6 months. Heartburn improved in six, worsened in three, and was unchanged in 10 patients (p = 0.16). There was no statistical significant relationship between change in esophageal acid exposure and change in severity of heartburn. CONCLUSIONS: A dose of 20 mg of omeprazole once daily consistently controlled patients' symptoms and kept gastric acidity at a stable level over a period of 6 months. There is no evidence of diminution in the effects of 20 mg of omeprazole over time that could indicate the development of tolerance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Personality profiles and heart rate variability (vagal tone) in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to explore psychological factors and autonomic activity in children with recurrent abdominal pain and to compare them with those in a control group of healthy children. The Personality Inventory for Children was used for assessment of developmental, emotional and psychosocial factors in 25 children with recurrent abdominal pain (age, 7-15 y). Parasympathetic and sympathetic functions in these children and in 23 healthy control subjects (age, 7-13 y) were also investigated, non-invasively using a computerized polygraph. Vagal tone (parasympathetic function) was indexed by calculation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in beats/min. Skin conductance (sympathetic function) was recorded by the constant current method. On the Personality Inventory for Children, 16 patients had high scores on somatic concern. Several patients had scores in the clinical range for depression, withdrawal and anxiety, but the mean scores for these personality profile scales were well within the normal range of healthy children. Interestingly, there was a spike on the L (Lie)-scale for most of the patients and 15 patients had scores above or close to the clinical cut-off value. As compared with the scores in healthy children, vagal tone and sympathetic tone were normal. CONCLUSION: Many children with recurrent abdominal pain have scores in the clinical range for depression, withdrawal, anxiety and L-scale indicating coping problems, denial and a trend towards somatic concern that may contribute to the evolution of abdominal pain. Autonomic nerve activity was not disturbed in these children.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

Controversies in dyspepsia.

Even in the absence of visible lesions like an ulcer, cancer or oesophagitis, patients with functional dyspepsia may complain of severe dyspeptic symptoms and have a poor quality of life. Characteristically, these patients also often have a low estimate of their own health and have complaints from several organ systems. The cause of the disease is not known. Both central nervous system and gastric disturbances appear to be involved, and their relative importance is controversial. There is no clear beneficial effect of acid suppression or H. pylori eradication although effects of such therapy may be seen in minor subgroups. New findings emphasise the importance of distinguishing between functional dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which exhibit completely different gastric accommodation patterns to a meal and have very different therapeutic potential. The effect of drugs like glyceryl trinitrate, glucagon, sumatriptan and buspirone which all concomitantly improve symptoms and gastric accommodation support the important role of abnormal gastric accommodation to meals in patients with functional dyspepsia. A hypothetical model for the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia is presented. It incorporates four established abnormalities: various psychological abnormalities, low vagal tone, impaired gastric relaxation, and visceral hypersensitivity, in a logical interplay along the brain-gut axis.

Dyspepsia↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of optimal atmospheric conditions for growth of Helicobacter pylori.

The number and diameter of colonies of Helicobacter pylori isolates growing on agar plates were determined to compare five methods that produce a culture atmosphere. No catalyst was applied. No significant difference was found between two hydrogen-based kits that have a different capacity for production of H2. These hydrogen-based methods were significantly better than all others evaluated, including one kit that produces ascorbic acid that binds with oxygen. Growth was significantly improved when the atmosphere outside the plastic incubation jars was enriched with 10% CO2, but carbon dioxide enrichment alone (i.e., no reduction of the oxygen concentration) gave a very poor yield. The colony diameter was a sensitive and reliable measure of atmospheric conditions, as the mean intra- and interobserver difference between repeated readings was < or = 0.1 mm for 82% and < or = 0.2 mm for 95% of the isolates.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed2000

Influence of a 5HT1 receptor agonist on gastric accommodation and initial transpyloric flow in healthy subjects.

Sumatriptan, a 5HT1 receptor agonist, inhibits antral motor activity, delays gastric emptying and relaxes the gastric fundus. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of sumatriptan on transpyloric flow and gastric accommodation during and immediately after ingestion of a liquid meal using duplex sonography. Ten healthy subjects were investigated twice on separate days. In random order either sumatriptan 6 mg (Imigran 0.5 mL) or a placebo were given s.c. 15 min before ingesting 500 mL of a meat soup. The subjects were examined during the 3-min period before ingestion of the liquid meal, the 3-min spent drinking the meal and 10 min postprandially. Sumatriptan caused a significant widening of both the gastric antrum (P=0.02) and the proximal stomach (P=0.01) 10 min postprandially as compared with placebo. It caused no significant differences in time to initial gastric emptying (P=0.2), but significantly delayed commencement of peristaltic-related transpyloric flow (P=0.04). Sumatriptan had no significant effect on mean abdominal symptom scores, but after sumatriptan there was a significant negative correlation between width of postprandial antral area and postprandial nausea and between width of postprandial antral area and postprandial bloating. We therefore conclude that sumatriptan causes a postprandial dilatation of both the distal and the proximal stomach with no change in dyspeptic symptoms nor in length of time to first gastric emptying. Time to commencement of peristaltic-related emptying is delayed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The significance of personality in pain from gallbladder stones.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between personality factors related to coping styles and reported pain due to gallstones. METHODS: Personality trait measures were completed by 28 consecutive gallstone patients to provide estimates of positive coping resources (Life Regard Index, Sense of Coherence Scale, Sense of Humor Questionnaire) and negative coping resources (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire on Neuroticism, Tension, and Effort Stress Inventory). An overall index of gallstone-related complaints (pain) over the past 7 days/6 months was also obtained. Ultrasonography confirmed the gallstone condition. Multiple regression analyses tested the hypothesis that pain would be moderated by positive coping resources and mediated by negative coping resources. RESULTS: Reported pain was less severe with positive coping resources (39% of pain variance explained) and more severe with negative coping resources (45% of pain variance explained). CONCLUSION: The results confirm that mental coping resources have a significant role in pain differences among gallstone patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Relationship between intestinal permeability and calprotectin concentration in gut lavage fluid.

BACKGROUND: Calprotectin is released from neutrophils and monocytes, and increased calprotectin levels in stool may serve as a marker of intestinal inflammation. Intestinal permeability is increased in inflammatory bowel diseases, especially in Crohn disease. We studied the relationship between intestinal permeability and calprotectin concentration in intestinal lavage fluid in patients with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients were examined; 17 had Crohn disease; 3, ulcerative colitis; and 18, irritable bowel syndrome. Intestinal lavage was performed by means of a nasojejunal tube positioned by gastroduodenoscopy. By means of a peristaltic pump 2 l isotonic polyethylene glycol solution (MW, 3350) containing 50 microCi 51Cr-labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were administered through the tube over a period of 40 min. The first clear fluid passed per rectum was collected and analysed for calprotectin levels with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Urine was collected for 5 h and analysed for gamma radioactivity. 51Cr-EDTA excretion in urine was expressed as percentage of dose administered (that is, intestinal permeability). RESULTS: Both intestinal permeability and calprotectin concentration were significantly higher in patients with IBD than in patients with functional conditions. In Crohn disease the values depended on disease activity but not on whether the disease was located in the small or in the large bowel. There was a highly significant correlation between calprotectin concentration in gut lavage fluid and intestinal permeability (r=0.79, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The significant correlation between calprotectin concentration in gut lavage fluid and intestinal permeability supports the view that increased intestinal permeability in IBD might, at least in part, be a consequence of increased transepithelial migration of neutrophils.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Impaired accommodation of the proximal stomach in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

BACKGROUND: A new ultrasonographic method was applied in children with recurrent abdominal pain, to study accommodation of the proximal stomach to a meal. METHODS: After an overnight fast, 20 patients with recurrent abdominal pain (age, 7-14 years) and 23 healthy control subjects (age, 7-13 years), were scanned by a 5-MHz transducer positioned in the epigastrium, to monitor the size of the proximal stomach before and after a test meal of meat soup. RESULTS: Children with recurrent abdominal pain had a significantly smaller sagittal area of the proximal stomach at 10 and 20 minutes after the meal than in healthy control subjects (P = 0.01 for both) and significantly higher emptying fraction of the proximal stomach at 10 minutes after the meal than in healthy control subjects (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in emptying of the distal stomach between the patients and healthy control subjects. Children with recurrent abdominal pain experienced more symptoms (pain, bloating) in response to the test meal than did healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: The results support the view that recurrent abdominal pain in children may be a motility disorder that can be detected in the proximal stomach as an impairment of adaptive relaxation in response to a meal. This new ultrasonographic method may become a valuable diagnostic tool in patients with recurrent abdominal pain.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1999

[Gastrointestinal disease with elevated plasma homocysteine level].

Elevated plasma homocystein (tHcy) is a marker for functional deficiency of folate and/or cobalamin. Malabsorption of these vitamins occurs in various gastroenterologic diseases. A frequent mutation (C677T) in the gene coding for the enzyme methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is often associated with elevated values of tHcy. We have investigated 24 patients with tHcy > 40 mumol/l for gastrointestinal disease that can contribute to such elevation. Of these, 19 were homozygous for mutated MTHFR, four were heterozygous and one was normal. We found two cases of probable celiac disease, one case of Crohn's disease and one case of ulcerative colitis. These four were homozygous for the C667T mutation. Furthermore, we found eight persons who were anacidic; four homozygous, three heterozygous and one normal. All had gastritis histologically, six had serum gastrin > 50 pmol/l, and four were already on treatment with cobalamin injections. Helicobacter pylori-infection was found in nine out of 22 persons. Gastrointestinal disease occurs frequently in patients with tHcy > 40 mumol/l, but with the exception of conditions resulting in serious deficiency of cobalamin, these diseases alone do not seem sufficient to cause such high levels. We suggest that a reasonable approach to patients with homocystein values above 40 mumol/l is to exclude cobalamin deficiency, and that further investigations should be based upon thorough anamnesis and symptoms.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

Heartburn treatment in primary care: randomised, double blind study for 8 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects and tolerability of omeprazole and cisapride with that of placebo for control of heartburn in primary care patients. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. SETTING: 65 primary care practices in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: 483 untreated patients with complaints of heartburn >/=3 days a week, with at most grade 1 reflux oesophagitis. INTERVENTIONS: Omeprazole 20 mg once daily, cisapride 20 mg twice daily, or placebo for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adequate control of heartburn, defined as </=1 day of the past 7 days with no more than mild heartburn, after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: In the all patients treated analysis, adequate control of heartburn was achieved in 71% of patients taking omeprazole, 22% taking cisapride, and 18% taking placebo after 4 weeks of treatment (omeprazole v cisapride and placebo, P<0.0001; cisapride v placebo, non-significant). Results were comparable in patients with or without reflux oesophagitis. In patients treated with omeprazole only, symptom control was achieved significantly more often in patients positive for Helicobacter pylori. Antacid use was 2-3 times greater in patients taking cisapride or placebo than in those taking omeprazole. Relief of non-reflux symptoms did not significantly differ between the three groups. Significantly more patients taking cisapride reported adverse events than those taking omeprazole or placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole 20 mg once daily was highly effective in relieving heartburn whereas cisapride 20 mg twice daily was not significantly more effective than placebo.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗
PubMed1999

Spiramycin is comparable to oxytetracycline in eradicating H. pylori when given with ranitidine bismuth citrate and metronidazole.

BACKGROUND: We have consistently achieved about 90% eradication of H. pylori with liquid bismuth, metronidazole and oxytetracycline. AIM: To test eradication and adverse events of ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) when given with metronidazole and either oxytetracycline or spiramycin. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-three patients were randomized to one of four 10-day regimens: RBC400OM: RBC 400 mg b.d., oxytetracycline 500 mg q.d.s.; RBC400SM: RBC 400 mg b.d., spiramycin 1 g q.d.s.; RBC200OM: RBC 200 mg q.d.s., oxytetracycline 500 mg q.d.s.; RBC200SM: RBC 200 mg q.d.s., spiramycin 1 g q.d.s. Additionally, all patients received metronidazole 400 mg q.d.s. A 14C-urea breath test was performed at 8 weeks. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat eradication rates were 94%, 91%, 94% and 89% with RBC400OM, RBC400SM, RBC200OM and RBC200SM, respectively (P = 0.81). Eradication was significantly higher in ulcer patients (97%) than in those with diagnoses other than ulcer (86%) (P = 0.009). There was a strong tendency to better eradication among those who had never smoked (100%) compared with ex-smokers (93%) and smokers (89%) (P = 0.06). Fifty-three per cent experienced at least one moderate or severe adverse event, and women had more adverse events than men (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: All four regimens had comparable efficacy and adverse events. Eradication was significantly better in ulcer patients but there was a trend to better eradication in those who smoked less, used less alcohol and exercised more. Adverse events were frequent, perhaps because of the large dose of metronidazole used, but few patients stopped treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastro-oesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of oesophagitis has been reported following eradication of Helicobacter pylori. We hypothesized that H. pylori eradication might increase gastro-oesophageal acid reflux in patients with reflux oesophagitis. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients (13 male, 12 female) with H. pylori infection and reflux oesophagitis grade I (22 patients) or II (three patients) were enrolled; mean age 49.9 (range 33-75) years. Twenty-four hour intra-oesophageal pH recording was performed before and 12 weeks after eradication of H. pylori, which was achieved using bismuth subnitrate suspension 150 mg q.d.s., oxytetracycline 500 mg q.d.s. and metronidazole 400 mg t.d.s. for 10 days. Eradication was confirmed by 14C-urea breath test 12 weeks after completion of treatment. The patients did not receive acid-suppressive medication. RESULTS: All patients had abnormal gastro-oesophageal reflux before anti-H. pylori treatment. After treatment, there was no significant change in the percentage of total time oesophageal pH < 4 (P=0.46) in the 23 patients in whom the infection had been cured. Nine of the cured patients had increased acid exposure, whereas 14 had decreased acid exposure. No significant change in reflux symptom scores was found. There was no relationship between change in acid exposure and symptom improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks after H. pylori eradication there was no consistent change in gastro-oesophageal acid reflux in patients with mild or moderate reflux oesophagitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

On demand therapy of reflux oesophagitis--a prospective study of symptoms, patient satisfaction and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: In patients with low-grade reflux oesophagitis adequate symptom control is the aim of treatment. Effervescent tablets alleviate heartburn more rapidly than ordinary tablets. AIM: To investigate symptom control, patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life and disease progress when ranitidine 150 mg effervescent tablets were offered as on demand treatment. We also wanted to investigate whether any biological or psycho-social factor could predict patient satisfaction. METHOD: Consecutive patients with endoscopically verified reflux oesophagitis grade I-II were followed up for 12 months. 24 h pH-metry, disease history, symptoms and several psycho-social factors were registered at baseline and 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included. Mean age was 50.7 years (range 21-82), 63% were men. Mean tablet consumption was 1.21 per day (range 7-1016 tablets/year). At the 1-year follow-up discomfort resulting from reflux symptoms was significantly reduced (P<0.001), and the patients' social and vocational life improved. Eighty-four percentage of the patients were satisfied with the treatment. 24 h pH-metry or number of reflux episodes did not change. We did not find any factors able to predict patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: On demand therapy with ranitidine effervescent tablets was well accepted by the majority of patients with reflux oesophagitis grade I. Even though the number of reflux episodes did not change, the patients experienced less discomfort due to reflux symptoms, and their social and vocational life was better. There was no significant progression of the disorder during the 1-year follow-up. No predictive factor for patient satisfaction was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Hydrosonography of the small intestine: comparison with radiologic barium study.

BACKGROUND: Transabdominal ultrasonography of the small intestine is hampered by luminal gas. We have developed a new sonographic method (hydrosonography) that largely eliminates the gas problem and have compared this method with radiologic barium study. METHODS: Fifty-six patients admitted for X-ray examination of the small bowel because of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss and/or known inflammatory bowel disease were examined. To remove luminal gas before performing transabdominal ultrasonography, 21 of polyethylene glycol solution was inserted through a nasojejunal tube by means of a peristaltic pump. Wall thickness, peristalsis, luminal narrowing, prestenotic dilatation, and extraintestinal complications were recorded. RESULTS: On ultrasonography we were able to visualize the terminal part of the ileum in 98% of the patients. Perfect agreement between hydrosonography and barium studies was seen in 50 of 55 patients. However, 44 patients had normal findings on both examinations. The sensitivity and specificity of hydrosonography were 64% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100%. For X-ray examination sensitivity and specificity were 91% and 100%, respectively. Four patients with minor mucosal abnormalities or pathologic findings in the upper part of the small intestine accounted for the relatively low overall sensitivity found for hydrosonography compared with roentgenography. However, important extraintestinal complications were disclosed by ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrosonography of the small bowel is a new, convenient, and reliable method for examining the lower part of the small intestine. However, it cannot replace barium studies in patients with mucosal abnormalities. especially in the upper part of the small bowel.

Adolescent↗