Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I T Beck

Publications and source records attributed to I T Beck.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Atheromatous embolization to the stomach: an unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.

This is a case report of an 80-year-old female with persistent blood loss from what was initially considered to be "hemorrhagic gastritis." Distal gastrectomy showed extensive atheromatous embolism and resultant ischemic lesions of the stomach--the apparent cause of the chronic bleeding. The patient has remained well without further blood loss during a 15-month follow-up period. While a small number of cases of gastric hemorrhage associated with atheromatous embolism have been reported, they all have been diagnosed at autopsy. This case is unusual in that the lesion was successfully delt with by surgical resection of the involved area.

Aged↗

Diagnosis of chronic pancreatic disease.

The diagnosis of pancreatic disease is difficult. The first step is clinical suspicion, based on the symptoms and signs. If pancreatic disease is suspected, investigation is necessary to prove this diagnosis. Investigation aims to answer two questions: a) is there pancreatic disease and b) if so, what type? The first question may be answered by demonstrating abnormal pancreatic function, using pancreatic function tests, whereas the second is answered by using techniques to demonstrate structural (anatomical) abnormalities of the pancreas. a) The methods to establish abnormal pancreatic function consist of 1. tests to demonstrate abnormal digestive capability, 2. tests to study pancreatic exocrine secretion, and 3. tests to study endocrine secretion. The tests of group 1 are: chemical fat balance study before and during enzyme replacement therapy, faecal nitrogen balance study, and the demonstration of either the malabsorption of vitamins A, D and K or the sequelae of their malabsorption (low serum calcium, high alkaline phosphatase, prolonged prothrombin time, etc.). Abnormal vitamin B12 absorption also may be present. 2. The tests designed to study pancreatic exocrine secretion are determination of the presence or absence of proteolytic enzymes in the stool, the secretion test, the pancreozymin stimulation test and the Lundh test. The serum amylase and lipase values are of little help in assessment of pancreatic function. 3. The tests to study endocrine function are the glucose tolerances test (which frequently gives abnormal results in pancreatic disease), and radioimmunoassays for insulin and gastrointestinal hormones (which may be increased in patients with functioning tumours of the islet cells). b) The techniques used to establish structural abnormalities of the pancreas are: duodenal cytology (during secretin tests), radiological techniques (abdominal survey films, barium meal, hypotonic duodenography, roentgenography of the biliary tract, barium enema, and angiography,) gastroscopy, duodensocopy, endoscopy and retrograde pancreatography, echography, scan and laparotomy. The relative value of these tests is discussed.

Amylases↗

Isoosmotic transport of fluid across the hamster small intestine in the presence of phlorizin-induced inhibition of sugar transport.

Experiments were performed to investigate whether the fluid transported across the small intestine is isoosmotic with the mucosal solution when the active transport of glucose is partially inhibited. Everted hamster mid small intestine was incubated in one of the following four mucosal solutions: (1) Isotonic control, Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution containing 10 mM glucose (KRBSG), (2) Isotonic with phlorizin, KRBSG + 5X10-5 M phlorizin, (3) Hypertonic control, KRBSG + 50 mM mannitol, (4) Hypertonic with phlorizin, KRBSG + 50 MM mannitol + 5x10-5 M phlorizin. The serosal surface of the intestine was not bathed. Results indicate that the transported fluid was always isoosmotic with any of the mucosal solutions used. When the mucosal solution was made hypertonic with mannitol, the concentration of glucose and electrolytes in the absorbate increased, and as a result, the absorbate became hypertonic and isoosmotic with the mucosal solution. The presence of phlorizin either in the isotonic or in the hypertonic mucosal solution decreased the glucose concentration of the absorbate, but the transported fluid became isoosmotic with the mucosal solution due to a higher concentration of Na, K, and their associated anions. Phlorizin caused a decrease in the transmural potential difference. In spite of this, the presence of this glucoside in the mucosal solution increased the transport of sodium in relation to glucose transport. It is suggested that, at the concentrations used, phlorizin inhibits sodium movement through the electrogenic pathway, but increases the transport of this ion through the non-electrogenic route. This increase in neutral sodium transport seems to compensate for the low concentration of glucose in the absorbate, so that the absorbate becomes isoosmotic with the mucosal solution whether the latter is isotonic or hypertonic. It is suggested further that isoosmotic transport of fluid is an inherent property of the small intestine and that there may be an osmoregulatory mechanism in the gut which controls this process.

Animals↗

Correlation of structural changes at different levels of the jejunal villus with positive net water transport in vivo and in vitro.

Experiments were done for indentification and localization of certain structural changes at different levels of jejunal villus of the hamster during positive and negative water transport across the intestine in vivo and in vitro. Positive transport occurred when the mucosal surface of the intestine was bathed (in vitro experiments) or perfused (in vivo experiments) with isotonic Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution containing 10 mM glucose, and negative water transport was achieved by rendering this solution hypertonic with 150 mM mannitol. Results indicate that during positive net water transport the intestine in vivo transported more fluid and exhibited a more conspicuous dilatation of the lateral intercellular spaces (L.I.S.) than did the in vitro preparation. Dilatation of the L.I.S. in both preparations was present only in the apical part of the villus, suggesting that this is the principal site of water absorption. When the mucosal solution was made hypertonic with mannitol, the L.I.S. in the in vivo intestine totally collapsed, whereas in the in vitro intestine these spaces remained open very slightly. These morphological changes correspond well with our finding that in the presence of the hypertonic mucosal solution there was a greater net negative water transport in vivo than in vitro. Incubation of the intestine in the isotonic mucosal solution produced subnuclear swelling of the mid-villus epithelial cells, and this morphological change was associated with an increase in the water content of the tissue. Perfusion of the in vivo intestine with the isotonic solution produced neither the swellings nor the increase in water content of the tissue. In the presence of hypertonic mucosal solution there was a water loss from the tissue both in vivo and in vitro, and these swellings were not observed. These results are discussed in relation to intestinal sugar transport and to the maturity of the epithelial cells, and it is concluded that transport studies on in vitro preparations may provide valid information on a qualitative basis, if not on a strictly quantitative basis.

Animals↗

Effect of ethanol on sodium-dependent glucose transport in the small intestine of the hamster.

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which ethanol inhibits intestinal absorption of sugars. In vitro experiments on hamster jejunum have shown that the presence of ethanol in the mucosal solution caused an inhibition of the net transport of water and glucose. There was also a decrease in the intracellular water content and an increase in the intracellular sodium and potassium concentration of the gut tissue. In contrast, the intracellular glucose concentration decreased in the presence of ethanol. These ethanol-induced changes were directly related to the ethanol concentration of the mucosal solution. In the presence of 450 mM (2%) ethanol in the mucosal solution, there was also a significant inhibition of transmural potential difference, estimated glucose metabolism, and both unidirectional fluxes of sodium. The net flux of sodium to the serosal side however did not decrease significantly. These effects of ethanol cannot be fully explained by its osmotic action, and it is suggested that the ethanol-induced reduction in glucose transport could be mainly the result of an interference with the carrier-mediated coupled entrance of glucose and sodium across the brush border. A depression of cellular metabolism could also have played a role in this process.

Animals↗

A cost accounting of routine sigmoidoscopic examinations.

Proctosigmoidoscopic examinations were performed on 363 patients who had gastrointestinal but no colonic symptoms. Thirty-four, all over the age of 40, were found to have polypoid lesions, 24 of which were adenomatous. Air-contrast barium enemas were utilized to rule out higher lesions in the patients with one or more adenomatous polyps. One early carcinoma of the ascending colon was so discovered. The cost of finding an adenomatous polyp in a patient without colonic symptoms was calculated to be $523.75 and of a carcinoma $12,570.

Accounting↗

Duodenoscopy in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal disease.

Duodenoscopy was undertaken in 143 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. There were no complications of the procedure. The duodenum was successfully entered in 98% of attempts, and in 90% of patients the examination was judged to be technically successful. When compared with radiological assessment, the findings at duodenoscopy significantly altered diagnosis and management in 21% of patients. The endoscopic appearance of the non-ulcerated duodenal mucosa could not be consistently correlated with changes found in biopsy tissue obtained under direct vision. Duodenoscopy is a valuable adjunct in the clinical assessment of upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms suspected to be due to pathological changes in the duodenum.

Biopsy↗