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Biomedical subjects

A M Connell

Publications and source records attributed to A M Connell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Nutritional status in alcoholics with and without liver disease.

Nutritional status, dietary calories, dietary protein, quantity of ethanol (ET), and severity of liver disease were tested in 62 alcoholics with liver disease (ALC LD). Twenty alcoholics without liver disease (ALC) and 20 abstinents (ABS) were also examined. Despite adequate protein intake ALC LD and ALC had significantly lower body weights, triceps skinfolds, and arm muscle circumferences than ABS. Poorer nutritional status in abusers is probably related to toxic effect of ET. ALC LD compared with ALC had no difference in ET (2.05 +/- 0.15 and 1.80 +/- 0.22 g/kg/day, respectively), in weight, triceps skinfold and the arm muscle circumference. ALC LD consumed fewer dietary calories, less protein (covering more of total calories with ET) and had a lower serum albumin. Decreased serum albumin in ALC LD was related to liver disease rather than to malnutrition: it inversely correlated with bilirubin but not with dietary protein. In ALC LD there was no correlation between ET, calories, or protein in the diet and severity of liver disease. The concept that ALC Ld is related to ET dose and/or malnutrition thus could not be confirmed. Other predisposing factors may be instrumental in the pathogenesis of ALC LD.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1980

Clinical Experiences in 14C-tripalmitin breath test for fat malabsorption.

The 14C-tripalmitin breath test has been used routinely in our institution for the diagnosis of fat malabsorption as well as for the differential diagnosis of malabsorption due to pancreatic insufficiency. The test was performed in 124 patients over a period of about three years. The sensitivity and specificity of the test for fat malabsorption were better than 85.7 and 87.0%, respectively, with the efficiency better than 86.4%. When used in conjunction with Viokase administration, the test is useful as a means of separating pancreatic malabsorption patients from patients with other forms of malabsorption.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1978

The effects of dietary fiber on gastrointestinal motor function.

For normal individuals and probably for persons with diverticular disease, dietary fiber affects stool bulk and decreases transit time. The unproven rationale for the use of fiber in irritable colon and diverticular disease assumes that these diseases are the result of increased intraluminal pressure caused by excessive segmentation over a period of years. In short-term experiments, certain fibrous materials do decrease intraluminal pressures, usually in response to a stimulus such as food but sometimes under resting conditions as well. It seems likely that the physical and probably chemical characteristics of fiber influence the motor responses of the alimentary tract. Anecdotal testimonials to the merits of fiber abound, but firm evidence that even wheat bran, the most commonly studied fiber, is effective is difficult to obtain. Controlled clinical trials have been attempted and to date have given conflicting results. Careful studies using a number of well-defined fibrous materials are urgently required to determine the physiological mechanisms of action of different fibers on gastrointestinal motor activity.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1977

Wheat bran as an etiologic factor in certain diseases. Some second thoughts.

The author questions "the bran hypothesis" that a deficiency of natural fiber--wheat bran in particular--is responsible for a number of prevalent diseases in Western societies, namely diverticular disease, cancer of the colon, gallstones, and myocardial disease. In re-examining the hypothesis, he cites reports which fail to support the theory. For instance, the incidence of diverticular disease in women has increased since 1925, yet there is no evidence that their diets have changed or are different from those of men. Also, it is a mistake to equate wheat bran with fiber in general, and it cannot be shown that dietary fiber in general has declined. In addition, clinical studies have failed to show beneficial results in treating diverticular disease and irritable colon by adding bran to the diet. Similar problems arise in testing the hypothesis that natural fiber can prevent cancer of the colon and lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Recent interest in dietary fiber is welcome, for it has been grossly neglected, but much research is still needed to place it in proper perspective.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1977

"Nonalcoholic" chronic hepatitis in the alcoholic.

Ten alcoholic patients with biopsy proved chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis were observed. In each patient, the responsible etiological agent appeared to be ethanol. Laboratory abnormalities could be distinguished statistically from those in a group of 121 patients with alcoholic hepatitis by their higher SGPT (262 +/- 139 versus 62 +/- 7 U per ml, P is less than 0.01), lower ratio of SGOT:SGPT (1.96 +/- 0.34 versus 4.71 +/- 0.40, P is less than 0.01), and lower white blood cell count 5,833 +/- 763 versus 10,370 +/- 742, P is less than 0.01). However, the overlap between the groups was sufficiently large that without histological confirmation the correct diagnosis was in doubt for any given patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Dietary fiber and diverticular disease.

Can the regular consumption of bran and other fibrous foods help in preventing diseases of the colon? Indirect evidence supports the idea, although much remains to be learned. It seems probable that bulkier feces could increase the diameter of the colon and prevent sudden sharp rises in pressure that are believed to be responsible for the formation of diverticula. For most people, fiber is probably harmless and it may do some good.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1976

Natural fiber and bowel dysfunction.

This paper reviews the current status of knowledge with relation to the effects of natural fiber on intestinal physiology. The one clear feature that emerges from literature is that most types of natural fiber increase the bulk of the stool. It is probable also that transit time is affected. Transit time appears to be decreased in persons with initially a slow time when they use certain forms of natural fiber and it may be that persons with rapid transit have a decrease in the rate of passage as fiber is added to the diet. Data on colonic intraluminal pressures are scanty, but those that exist seem to indicate that the addition of bran to the diet results in a decrease in overall colonic pressures. Much has been written and speculated about the role of natural fiber in the prevention or therapy of irritable colon and diverticular disease. Clinical studies, while enthusiastic, are preliminary and there are no hard data to indicate that the use of these materials are, in fact, helpful. Such clinical trials that have been published are, in general, small, poorly controlled and overall equivocal in their conclusions. A great deal of further work requires to be done to justify the claims that have been made on the role of fiber in altering normal or abnormal bowel habit.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1976

Emotion-related gastritis.

The relationship of emotional stress to abnormalities of the gastric mucosa was considered in a review of 788 consecutive upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Fifty-three precent of patients with gastritis not related to any generally accepted predisposing or precipitating cause had significant emotional problems documented on their clinical records, while only 10% of the comparable group of duodenal ulcer patients and 25% of a similar group of medical in-patients had significant emotional problems documented. Since this difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively), the data suggest that emotional stress may play a contributing role in the production of gastric mucosal abnormaltieis.

Duodenal Ulcer↗
PubMed1975

Absence of effect of bran on blood-lipids.

Healthy medical students were divided into two groups. One group was given double the normal fibre intake of their diet as a high-fibre-containing breakfast cereal; the other group (control) was given a breakfast cereal containing negligible amounts of dietary fibre. Otherwise the nutrient intake of the two groups was maintained constant. No differences in the serum-cholesterol, serum-triglyceride, serum-calcium levels were found between the two groups during or at the end of the study. The addition of a tolerable amount of dietary fibre to the diet does not affect serum-lipids.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗