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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

POU-domain gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract.

The process of self-renewal which occurs in the gastrointestinal epithelium is greatly amplified and accelerated during the intestinal adaptation which occurs in the residual ileum after massive small bowel resection (MSBR). As with growth and development, these processes must involve the coordinated regulation of many genes. Several families of nuclear proteins are known to be involved in the control of gene expression during development including the POU-domain genes; their expression has not been characterized in the gastrointestinal tract during normal cellular renewal or adaptation, and POU-domain encoding cDNAs were cloned from ileal RNA. Three known genes were cloned: Oct-1, Brn-1 and Tst-1 but no novel members of this gene family were identified. The encoded sequence for rat Oct-1 differs from that previously reported. Oct-1 is relatively ubiquitously expressed with increased expression during both development and adaptation. Minimal expression of Tst-1 was observed. Brn-1 exhibits limited expression in the adult gastrointestinal tract but may play a role in the fetal gastrointestinal tract.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2006

Metastatic breast cancer to the gastrointestinal tract: a case series and review of the literature.

Metastatic breast cancer involving the hepatobiliary tract or ascites secondary to peritoneal carcinomatosis has been well described. Luminal gastrointestinal tract involvement is less common and recognition of the range of possible presentations is important for early and accurate diagnosis and treatment. We report 6 patients with a variety of presentations of metastatic breast cancer of the luminal gastrointestinal tract. These include oropharyngeal and esophageal involvement presenting as dysphagia with one case of pseudoachalasia, a linitis plastica-like picture with gastric narrowing and thickened folds, small bowel obstruction and multiple strictures mimicking Crohn's disease, and a colonic neoplasm presenting with obstruction. Lobular carcinoma, representing only 10% of breast cancers is more likely to metastasize to the gastrointestinal tract. These patients presented with gastrointestinal manifestations after an average of 9.5 years and as long as 20 years from initial diagnosis of breast cancer. Given the increased survival of breast cancer patients with current therapeutic regimes, more unusual presentations of metastatic disease, including involvement of the gastrointestinal tract can be anticipated.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2002

[Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the gastrointestinal tract].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) belong to the most commonly used drugs worldwide. NSAIDs can cause serious side effects to the gastrointestinal tract. During NSAIDs treatment 10-12% patients suffer from dyspepsia. Up to 1% patients develop severe gastrointestinal complications (ulcer, bleeding, perforation). Any part of gastrointestinal tract could be affected. In oesophagus, NSAIDs can cause oesophagitis of fibrous stricture. NSAID gastropathy can be detected in 40% patients chronically treated with NSAIDs. NSAIDs toxic injury to small and large bowel is frequent but only seldom properly recognised. Serious hepatic lesions are rare. There is no fully reliable and sure prophylaxis or treatment of NSAIDs impairment of to the gastrointestinal tract. Rate of side effects can be reduced by reasonable prescriptions and by primary and secondary prophylaxis. Low rate of side effects is associated with the use of pro-drugs (compound is metabolised to an active substance after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract). New promising drugs were developed with dual action (5-lipoxygenase- and COX-inhibition) and NSAID releasing NO (nitronaproxen, nitrophenac). Specific COX-2 inhibitors (coxibes) provide comparable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect but the risk of serious side effects to the gastrointestinal tract is significantly lower (when compared with non-specific NSAIDs). Beside harmful effects, NSAIDs are powerful tool in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1978

Gastrointestinal tract metastasis in patients with germ-cell tumor of the testis.

A study of the incidence and clinical course of testicular germ-cell tumor metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract is presented. Gastrointestinal tract metastasis occurred in 25 cases, 5% of all patients evaluated with germ-cell tumor of the testis. Although embryonal carcinoma was the dominant component in all cases, element of choriocarcinoma were found in 20 cases and HCG was positive in 22 cases. Metastasis occurred most commonly by direct invasion from adjacent tumor. The most frequent site of gastrointestinal involvment was the proximal small intestine. Ivolvement of the duodenum was noted in seven cases. The most common gastrointestinal tract manifestations were intestinal obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding. Although a variety of therapeutic modalities were tried, the average length of survival from the time of diagnosis of gastrointestinal metastasis to death was six months.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Neuroendocrine tumours of the upper gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.

Neuroendocrine tumours of upper gastrointestinal tract fall into two main categories. First carcinoid tumours of the stomach and duodenum and secondly endocrine pancreatic tumours. The endocrine tumours of the gastric mucosa include two main types, so called ECL-oma of the corpus and fundic region and gastrin producing carcinoids or hyperplasia of the antrum and duodenum. The endocrine tumours of pancreas include entopically secreting insulinomas, glucagonomas, somatostatinomas, PP-omas, and ectopically secreting tumours, such as gastrinomas and tumours producing ACTH, GHRH, and calcitonin. The diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumour of the upper gastrointestinal tract is based on the recognition of certain clinical syndromes and the determination of certain humoral products. A broad battery of radioimmunological assays for determination of different peptides is mandatory for the diagnosis and follow up of these patients. The diagnosis is also based on histological and immunocytochemical investigation of tissue specimens obtained at operation or by biopsy. Ultrasound investigation is the best non-invasive technique to detect metastases from neuroendocrine gut and pancreatic tumours, but angiography might unveil metastases down to a size of less than 5 mm. Surgery is still the primary treatment procedure but other treatments are needed because many patients have metastases already at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy with streptozocin combined with 5-fluorouracil or adriamycin and human leucocyte interferon has demonstrated objective response rate of about 70%. The new somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 is an important adjunct in controlling clinical symptoms in patients with neuroendocrine gut and pancreatic tumours. A combination of different treatment procedures is needed for long-term management of these patients.

Carcinoid Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of primary extranodal lymphoma involving gastrointestinal tract by histological type at Ilorin.

We report 21 cases of primary extranodal lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract over a period of 10 years (1986-1995) at the Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. This represents 6% of the total gastrointestinal tract malignancies diagnosed during same period. All were Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The ages ranged from 4 to 60 years, while the mean age was 23 years. Male to female ratio was 4:3. The anatomic sites involved were stomach 4, (19%), small intestine 13, (62%), and large intestine 4, (19%). There was no single case of rectal lymphoma. The histological types were Burkitt's lymphoma 9 (42.8%), diffuse mixed (small and large) cells 4 (19.1%), diffuse large cells 4 (9.1%), small lymphocytic cells, 2 (9.5%) and large immunoblastic cells 2 (9.5%). All the cases of Burkitt's lymphoma occurred under 20 years of age. Distribution into prognostic groups (grades) according to working formulation for clinical usage was low grade, 2 (9.5%), intermediate grade, 8 (38.1%) and High grade, 22 (52.4%). We conclude that extranodal malignant lymphoma involving the gastrointestinal tract is not rare and should be considered for differential diagnosis in gastrointestinal tract malignancies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The gastrointestinal tract as a barrier in sepsis.

The gastrointestinal tract is an organ of digestion and absorption which is metabolically active and has specific nutrient requirements. In health, it has an additional function as a major barrier, protecting the body from harmful intraluminal pathogens and large antigenic molecules. In disease states, such as sepsis when the mucosal barrier is compromised, micro-organisms and their toxic products gain access to the portal and systemic circulations producing deleterious effects. Under these circumstances, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) develop leading to deterioration and death of the patient in the intensive care unit. Therapeutic strategies for such patients in the intensive care unit aim to support general immune function and maintain the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract. For these therapies to be successful, the underlying septic or necrotic focus must be ablated using appropriate surgical or other invasive techniques.

Digestive System↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract of faecal occult blood-positive, colonoscopy-negative patients.

BACKGROUND: Detection of faecal occult blood is recommended for colorectal cancer screening in average risk populations. However, many subjects do not have any cause found in the colon to account for the occult blood loss. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal tract disease in faecal occult blood-positive, colonoscopy-negative patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective audit of 99 patients (56 females; mean age 60 years, range 18-83) who underwent same-day colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Fifty-two of the 99 patients had a normal colonoscopy, 16 had diverticulosis and 2 had hyperplastic polyps; these 70 patients comprised the colonoscopy-negative group. Significant upper gastrointestinal tract disease was noted in 25 (36%) of the colonoscopy-negative group compared with 10 (34%) of the 29 colonoscopy-positive group (p=ns). Most of the upper gastrointestinal tract lesions identified were benign. Within the colonoscopy-negative group, patients with anaemia or upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms had a higher prevalence of positive findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract, but this association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract in faecal occult blood-positive individuals reveals mostly benign disease, with an equal prevalence in colonoscopy-negative and colonoscopy-positive patients. Routine performance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in faecal occult blood-positive individuals is not indicated and should be undertaken only for appropriate symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract: a study of 117 cases presenting with gastrointestinal disease.

A study was made of 117 patients who presented with gastrointestinal lymphoma. The occurrence was 48 in the stomach, 37 in the small intestine, 13 in the ileocecal region, two in the appendix and 11 in the large intestine. In six cases, multiple sites in the gastrointestinal tract were involved, but in five cases this appeared to be secondary to massive mesenteric or retroperitoneal lymph node disease. Using Rappaport's classification, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma was the most frequent histologic type and constituted 60% of the cases. Nodular lymphomas comprised 10% of the total, nodular poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma forming the majority of this group. Ten of the lymphomas were undifferentiated, 5 of Burkitt's type and 5 non-Burkitt's type. Five were Mediterranean-type lymphomas associated with plasma cell infiltration of the adjacent mucosa, and only two cases of primary Hodgkin's disease were encountered. Two lymphomas could not be classified. Eight percent of the cases showed plasmacytoid changes and were classified as a distinct subgroup of the parent lymphoma rather than as examples of extramedullary plasmacytoma. Gastrointestinally lymphomas occurred most frequently during the fourth to seventh decades. However, nine lymphomas occurred in children younger than 16 years of age. In comparison to adults, the childhood lymphomas showed a number of notable differences with respect to sex distribution, site of involvement and histologic type. Information concerning the extent of the disease at the time of diagnosis was available in 75 cases. Of these, 49% of the lymphomas were confined to the affected viscus and 33% had associated regional lymph node involvement; the remaining 18% had mode widespread disease. In 44 patients information on the spread of disease was available and in 48% there was extra abdominal spread. Prognosis appeared to correlate best with the stage of the disease rather than the histologic type.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Targeting of drugs and delivery systems to specific sites in the gastrointestinal tract.

Particle uptake and translocation occur at specific sites in the gastrointestinal tract. Several drugs are also absorbed from solution only through narrow "windows' in the small intestine. In these circumstances, optimum therapeutic benefit would be obtained if the active agent was targeted to the appropriate site in the gastrointestinal tract. Targeting relies on exploiting a unique feature of the intended site and protecting the active agent until it reaches that site. This minireview highlights the problems in achieving site specificity in the gastrointestinal tract and examines possible solutions to the problem for 2 regions, the stomach and the colon.

Absorption↗
PubMed1988

Campylobacter pylori: prospective analysis of clinical and histological factors associated with colonization of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The association of Campylobacter pylori (C.p.) colonization of the upper gastrointestinal tract with five predefined anamnestic variables, seven symptoms of dyspepsia, and various blindly evaluated histological criteria, was prospectively investigated in a consecutive series of 149 patients submitted to upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy. Colonization was determined by biopsy urease tests and histological searches. Significant differences (P less than 0.05) between C.p.-positive and C.p.-negative patients were found for smoker status and the frequency of therapy with ulcer-healing drugs (positive association with C.p.) and antibiotics (negative association), but not for any other of the anamnestic data or symptoms. These data were further submitted to stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses. Concerning histological findings, C.p. colonization was significantly associated with the degree of antrum and body gastritis (P less than 0.01), and also with lymphocellular infiltration in antrum and body biopsies and neutrophil cellular grading in gastric antra. We conclude that C.p. colonization of the upper gastrointestinal tract is associated with gastritic change of the antrum and, albeit to a lesser extent, of the body mucosa. However, a specific pattern of symptoms to predict C.p. colonization could not be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Water-binding capacity and viscosity of Australian sweet lupin kernel fibre under in vitro conditions simulating the human upper gastrointestinal tract.

There is currently little understanding of the physicochemical properties in the human gastrointestinal tract of Australian sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) kernel fibre (LKF), a novel food ingredient with potential for the fibre enrichment of foods such as baked goods. Since physicochemical properties of dietary fibres have been related to beneficial physiological effects in vivo, this study compared water-binding capacity and viscosity of LKF with that of other fibres currently used for fibre-enrichment of baked goods, under in vitro conditions simulating the human upper gastrointestinal tract. At between 8.47 and 11.07 g water/g dry solids, LKF exhibited water-binding capacities that were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than soy fibre, pea hull fibre, cellulose and wheat fibre at all of the simulated gastrointestinal stages examined. Similarly, viscosity of LKF was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the other fibres at all simulated gastrointestinal stages. The relatively high water-binding capacity and viscosity of LKF identified in this study suggests that this novel fibre ingredient may elicit different and possibly more beneficial physiological effects in the upper human gastrointestinal tract than the conventional fibre ingredients currently used in fibre-enriched baked goods manufacture. We are now performing human studies to investigate the effect of LKF in the diet on health-related gastrointestinal events.

Absorption↗
PubMed1986

Processing of hormones and hormone-like substances from milk in the gastrointestinal tract of suckling rats.

Colostrum and milk contain insulin, epidermal growth factor and prostaglandins. Experiments performed in our laboratory have demonstrated that these three substances can be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of suckling rats in biologically active form in considerable amounts. Prostaglandins are metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract during postnatal development. There are quantitative and qualitative differences in the metabolism of orally administered prostaglandins between suckling and weanling rats. Nevertheless, a significant amount of intact prostaglandin appears in the liver of suckling rats after oral administration. Gastric administered insulin can result in hypoglycemia. In suckling rats, there is a considerable decrease in blood glucose levels, while no effect is seen in 30-day-old rats. Epidermal growth factor is processed in the gastrointestinal tract as shown by size exclusion and affinity columns and surface receptor binding. Oral administration of epidermal growth factor has several effects on gastrointestinal functions. Analysis of epidermal growth factor processing by the gastrointestinal tract demonstrated postnatal developmental differences (either during normal development, or one accelerated by steroid treatment). These studies show that the gastrointestinal tract can be influenced by orally administered hormones known to be present in milk, and that these substances can be delivered to peripheral organs of suckling animals intact.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Insulin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat fetus: quantitative autoradiographic studies.

Purified carrier-free 125I-insulin was injected into the vitelline vein of rat fetuses in utero after 17, 19 or 21 days of a 22-day gestation. Three minutes later, the weight and radioactivity of various organs and the remaining carcass were measured. A radioactivity concentration index was calculated by dividing the specific activity of each organ by that of the whole feto-placental unit. In each of the three age groups studied, the gastrointestinal tract radioactivity concentration indices were 1.7, 2 and 1.9 respectively, indicating that the gastrointestinal tract concentrated the labelled hormone. Three, 9 and 15 min after 125I-insulin injection, the gastrointestinal tract was removed, homogenized and chromatographed on a G-50 fine Sephadex column. At 3 min, 91.4% of gastrointestinal tract radioactivity co-eluted with a standard of 125I-insulin. At the later time intervals studied, the percentage of 125I-insulin decreased while that of low molecular weight degradation products increased. Quantitative autoradiographic study of the fetal gastrointestinal tract indicated that epithelial cells bound 125I-insulin and that this binding was inhibited by co-injection of large amounts of unlabelled insulin. 125I-insulin binding was highest in the proximal small bowel and lowest in the colon. Insulin binding did not appear to depend upon degree of cell maturation or cell type. These results indicate that the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract is characterized by the presence of numerous insulin receptors and is a potentially important insulin target.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of gonadectomy on epidermal growth factor values in the gastrointestinal tract of male and female CD-1 mice.

The effects of gonadectomy on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract of CD-1 mice were studied. The EGF concentrations in the gastrointestinal tissues were always higher in males than in females. Gonadectomy led to a decrease in the EGF concentration in males, and an increase in females. Gonadectomy with sialoadenectomy led to a decrease in the EGF concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract of both sexes; the most significant effect being observed in the stomach. Orchidectomy led to a decrease in total body weight, and to a significant decrease in the weight and the protein concentration (ng.g-1 wet weight of tissue) of the submandibular gland, but had no significant effect on the other tissues of the gastrointestinal tract of male mice. Body, tissue weights, and protein concentrations did not change with oophorectomy. This study shows that male and female gonads have a profound effect on the EGF content of the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and suggests that the submandibular gland also influences the EGF concentration in gastrointestinal tissues in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Endoscopic and bioptic study of the upper gastrointestinal tract in Crohn's disease patients.

In the present study, virtually all of 225 patients suffering from Crohn's disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract (small and/or large bowel) were subjected to endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum); while histologic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in a portion of the patients (54 initial esophageal, 221 initial gastric and 210 initial duodenal examinations). Statistical evaluation of the findings from the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed that: Endoscopic lesions were observed in the esophagus of 15%, the stomach of 49%, and the duodenum of 34% of the 225 Crohn's disease patients. Of the 54 patients from which esophageal biopsies were taken, 31 (57%) revealed histopathologic alterations. Of the 221 patients from which gastric biopsies were obtained, 60% revealed histopathologic alterations; the rate was 53% in the 210 patients from which duodenal biopsies were taken. Calculated from the present data, noncaseating granulomas, i.e., Crohn's disease, were present only in the stomach of 29.4% of the patients, only in the duodenum in 3.4% of patients, and in both the stomach and duodenum in 4.9% of patients. Gastric granulomas were confined to the region of the stomach body and fundus in 3.4% of the patients from which gastric biopsies were obtained and to the antrum in 15.6% of the respective patients. Both gastric regions were involved in 8.3% of the respective patients. The incidence of gastric granulomas was significantly increased in young patients, patients with enterocolic manifestations of Crohn's disease, and those with brief duration of disease. Patient sex or previous drug therapy had no effect on the incidence of granulomas. The most frequent endoscopic findings in the stomach of patients with Crohn's disease were mucosal edema, mucosal redness, and acute or chronic erosions. Only chronic erosions were of significant predictive value for the presence of granulomas, i.e., diagnosis of Crohn's disease. The most frequent endoscopic lesion in the duodenum was mucosal redness, followed by mucosal edema and aphthous lesions. Ulcers, stenosis, and mucosal redness had significant predictive values for the presence of granulomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of the effects of the opioid agonist morphine on gastrointestinal tract function in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of morphine administration for 6 days on gastrointestinal tract function in healthy adult horses. ANIMALS: 5 horses. PROCEDURES: Horses were randomly allocated into 2 groups in a crossover study. Horses in the treatment group received morphine sulfate at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg, IV, every 12 hours for 6 days. Horses in the control group received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution at a dosage of 10 mL, IV, every 12 hours for 6 days. Variables assessed included defecation frequency, weight of feces produced, intestinal transit time (evaluated by use of barium-filled spheres and radiographic detection in feces), fecal moisture content, borborygmus score, and signs of CNS excitement and colic. RESULTS: Administration of morphine resulted in gastrointestinal tract dysfunction for 6 hours after each injection. During those 6 hours, mean +/- SD defecation frequency decreased from 3.1 +/- 1 bowel movements in control horses to 0.9 +/- 0.5 bowel movements in treated horses, weight of feces decreased from 4.1 +/- 0.7 kg to 1.1 +/- 0.7 kg, fecal moisture content decreased from 76 +/- 2.7% to 73.5 +/- 2.9%, and borborygmus score decreased from 13.2 +/- 2.9 to 6.3 +/- 3.9. Mean gastrointestinal transit time was also increased, compared with transit times in control horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Morphine administered at 0.5 mg/kg twice daily decreased propulsive motility and moisture content in the gastrointestinal tract lumen. These effects may predispose treated horses to development of ileus and constipation.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1992

Effect of bombesin on the development of the neonatal rabbit gastrointestinal tract.

The effect of bombesin on the postnatal development of the gastrointestinal tract was examined in New Zealand white rabbits. Bombesin (1.25, 12.5, 30 micrograms/kg body weight) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally to suckling rabbits for 13 days starting on day 4 of life. The animals were killed at day 17. There was no significant effect of bombesin at doses of 1.25 or 12.5 micrograms/kg in any region of the gut studied. Bombesin administered at 30 micrograms/kg induced a widespread trophic effect in the gastrointestinal tract characterized by significant increases in the wet weight of the stomach, liver and whole small intestine, as well as in 10-cm segments of the proximal, middle, and distal small intestine. There was also a significant increase in the mucosal weight of 10-cm segments of the proximal, middle and distal small intestine, and the colon in the bombesin-treated group. Bombesin significantly increased the protein and DNA contents of the liver, the fundus of stomach, all segments of the small intestine and the distal colon. Maximal stimulation was seen in DNA content, suggesting that bombesin has a primarily hyperplastic effect. Bombesin increased the activities of small intestinal sucrase and maltase but not lactase. Bombesin did not alter hepatic glucokinase activity. These findings suggest that bombesin can promote the growth of the neonatal rabbit gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Animals↗