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Coronaviruslike particles in human gastrointestinal disease. Epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory observations.

Coronaviruslike particles (CVLPs) were visualized by direct electron microscopy (EM) of diarrheal stools in 49 of 126 infants and children between 1 month and 12 years of age during a three-year observation period. The clinical and epidemiologic features of these patients were analyzed and compared with patients with diarrhea who were shedding rotaviruses, or whose stools were negative for enteric viruses by EM. Seasonal and age distributions for CVLP shedding were similar to those for rotaviruses (in most cases less than 1 year of age; peak months were September through January), as were the symptoms and median durations of illness. Prospective studies of three subsequent patients suggest that the duration of shedding in acute illness is five to at least 25 days. Multiple attempts to cultivate the CVLPs were unsuccessful. In addition, partial purification of CVLPs from stool specimens was performed, and immunologic analysis by immunoelectron microscopy and radial immunodiffusion showed no antigenic relatedness to prototype human (OC43 and 229E) or animal (bovine and canine) coronaviruses. These findings suggest that CVLPs may be an important cause of acute gastrointestinal illness in infancy, and may represent a virus antigenically unrelated to known human and animal coronaviruses.

Child↗

Teleconsultation for endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases--concepts and architecture of the service ENDOTEL.

This paper introduces ENDOTEL as a new project in telemedicine, aiming to reduce local disadvantages in medical health care in rural areas. The progressing specialization in medicine results in a concentration of experts in few medical centers and to deficits of expert knowledge in rural areas, which remain as a domain of unspecialized physicians. ENDOTEL expands the conventional synchronous telemedical communication, which usually means videoconference, by an asynchronous multimedia communication and its resulting advantages. ENDOTEL breaks up with the need that participants have to be present simultaneously.

Computer Systems↗

Meeting lipid needs of infants with allergy and gastrointestinal diseases.

Infant formulas containing medium chain triglycerides (MTC) have been used for the nutritional management of infants with fat malabsorption. The optimal proportion of MTC in the formula remains to be determined. Three infant formulas with varying proportion of MTC in the fat blend were studied in children with cystic fibrosis, cholestasis or persistent diarrhea. The formula containing 48% of the total energy from fat and 55% of the fat component as MTC was found to be the most suitable for the needs of those infants. It leads to an adequate essential fatty acid status and to improved recovery in those conditions.

Dietary Fats↗

[Neutral factors in gastrointestinal diseases].

The study of the relationship between gastroenterologic diseases and/or symptoms and mental factors still presents serious problems both to internal medicine and to neuropsychiatry. According to recent findings, the influence of psychological factors is not essential in the etiology and pathogenesis. However, it seems to play an important role on the levels of syndrome formation and of the situational interaction system. Diagnostic and therapeutic consequences are discussed, with special emphasis on the diagnostic problem of patients with endogenous depression who complain mainly of gastroenterologic symptoms.

Animals↗

[Role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori infection].

It is well known that Helicobacter pylori can cause gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers and malignant diseases. The infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is recognized in the lesions of these diseases, and the infiltration disappears by antibiotic therapy. However, it is not yet clarified how Helicobacter pylori induces the formation of lesions including leukocyte infiltration. Recently, we have confirmed that several kinds of cytokines are expressed in the gastric biopsy specimens of gastroduodenal diseases. Especially, it is conjectured that chemokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) which are expressed in the specimens, induce leukocyte infiltration, gastric mucosal inflammation and gastroduodenal ulcers. It is possible that Helicobacter pylori CagA gene is closely related with IL-8 expression because this cytokine is more strongly expressed in the specimens from the patients infected with CagA-positive Helicobacter than those with CagA-negative one.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Probiotics as a treatment strategy for gastrointestinal diseases?

Current interest in probiotics is motivated not only by the clinical data showing efficacy of some probiotic bacteria but also by the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria (particularly in hospitals) and the rise of consumers' demand for natural substitutes of drugs. Only few randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled human trials are available, and some involved only small numbers of patients. They are difficult to compare because of differences in probiotic strains employed, doses and formulation. Among probiotic applications, reduction of diarrhea is probably the best-documented effect confirmed by recent meta-analyses. Literature on Helicobacter pylori indicates that probiotics are unable to eradicate the infection but could be useful in decreasing infection levels and as adjuvants of therapy-associated side effects. Studies performed in inflammatory bowel disease suggest that high doses of probiotics and most likely a combination of different lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are more effective in decreasing inflammatory score and maintaining patients in remission than a single probiotic strain. Probiotic studies evaluating amelioration of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome would require more sustained patient numbers. However, accumulated data is encouraging and suggests that efficacy is strain-dependent. Finally, too few probiotic intervention trials have been reported on colon cancer to allow any firm conclusion.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Comparison of Helicobacter pylori prevalence in symptomatic patients in northeastern Mexico with the rest of the country: its association with gastrointestinal disease.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori varies among different geographic regions. The aim of this study was to assess H. pylori prevalence in symptomatic patients in northeastern Mexico and its possible association of H. pylori with disease. METHODS: We studied 261 symptomatic patients (female/male 1.44, mean age 53 years) who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy at Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Among patients included in this study, 209 (80.1%) had nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD), 30 (11.5%) peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and 22 (8.4%) high-grade dysplasia or gastric cancer. H. pylori status was determined by histology, positive rapid urease test, culture, or IgG whole-cell anti-H. pylori. Specific IgG antibodies for CagA status were determined by ELISA as previously described. Patients were defined as infected with H. pylori by positive results of two or more diagnostic tests used. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of H. pylori was 67.8%. According to clinical presentation, gender (male) was related with gastric cancer (p <0.01) and with PUD (p <0.05). Of 177 patients infected with H. pylori, 90 (50.8%) were seropositive for CagA antigen; in addition, H. pylori CagA+ was more common in patients with PUD (77.8%) than with NUD (43.2%) (p <0.05). However, no association was found between gastric cancer patients and presence of CagA+ H. pylori strains. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori prevalence in symptomatic patients in northeastern Mexico is as high as the prevalence reported for the entire country. We confirmed that patients with gastric cancer and PUD are more likely to be male. CagA+ strains were associated with patients who presented PUD but not gastric cancer.

Adolescent↗

Iron absorption and iron deficiency in infants and children with gastrointestinal diseases.

Iron status, iron absorption, and intestinal blood loss were studied in 199 children undergoing diagnostic evaluation for suspected malabsorption. Evaluation of iron status included hematological indices, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation. Iron absorption was assessed by the increment of serum iron after an oral iron load. Iron deficiency was common among patients affected by malabsorptive states, such as celiac disease (84%), cow's milk intolerance (76%), Crohn's disease (72%), and giardiasis (64%), whereas it was less common among patients with postinfectious enteritis (41%) and chronic nonspecific diarrhea (11%). Intestinal blood loss was seen only in patients with Crohn's disease and cow's milk intolerance, irrespective of iron nutritional status. On the other hand, iron malabsorption was very common, affecting 85-95% of the iron-deficient patients in all diagnostic groups, except in chronic nonspecific diarrhea. Iron malabsorption was less common among patients with adequate iron nutritional status than in those with iron deficiency. Iron malabsorption appears to play a major role in the pathogenesis of iron deficiency in patients with malabsorption. The iron absorption test shows greater sensitivity as a screening test for upper intestinal malabsorption than the D-xylose absorption test.

Adolescent↗

Enteropeptidase levels in duodenal juice of normal subjects and patients with gastrointestinal disease.

Enteropeptidase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin activity in basal and secretin-stimulated duodenal juice of 20 normal adult volunteers and 15 patients with gastrotestinal disease were determined. All enzyme concentrations showed skew distributions, but fluctuations in the secretin-stimulated juices were less pronouced than in the basal secretions. Secretin administration had no influence on the release of enteropeptidase from human duodenal mucosa, but resulted in a very small increase in secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Six out of seven patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis or cancer of the pancreas exhibited highly significant elevations of enteropeptidase in their basal as well as secretin-stimulated duodenal juice. It is suggested that raised luminal enteropeptidase activity may be the result of pancreatic insufficiency or elevated blood glucagon concentrations.

Adult↗

Management of Helicobacter pylori-related gastrointestinal diseases by general practitioners in Italy.

AIMS: To investigate the diagnostic approach to and management of Helicobacter pylori infection at primary care level in Italy 2 years after the Maastricht consensus report. METHODS: A total of 100 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) answered a 12-item multiple-choice questionnaire, personally delivered and collected by non-medical staff. RESULTS: In 25% of cases, GPs preferred a prompt referral of dyspeptic patients to the specialist. The favourite diagnostic test for H. pylori infection was gastroscopy with biopsies (55%), followed by standard and office-based serology (24% and 18%, respectively), and 13C urea breath test (5%). H. pylori-eradication was prescribed in patients with peptic ulcer, reflux oesophagitis and functional dyspepsia by 64%, 43% and 66% of GPs, respectively. Only 7% of GPs adopted a test-and-treat approach. Proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies were used by almost all physicians. In peptic ulcer disease, most of GPs re-tested patients in order to confirm H. pylori eradication (50% by gastroscopy with biopsies and 30% by serology only 2 months after therapy). CONCLUSIONS: Uncertainty seems to persist among Italian GPs concerning the indications for H. pylori treatment, the use of diagnostic tests, and patient follow-up. In contrast, no doubts exist regarding the first choice eradication regimens. This survey suggests that further efforts should be made to spread scientific knowledge and guidelines on H. pylori diagnosis and management in primary care in Italy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Survey of the attitude of medical and nursing libraries to information literature for patients with gastrointestinal diseases.

Senior staff in libraries at 281 medical schools, postgraduate institutions, schools of nursing and postgraduate medical centres were approached. They were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on the availability of patient-orientated information and the nature of access by other health care professionals, patients and the public to their facilities. A total of 252 replies was received (response rate 90%). Medical and nursing schools tended to discriminate against each other's staff. Discrimination against patients was more widespread with less than 30% of libraries open to them. This was reflected in the lack of patient information such as booklets and videos. Less than 10% of libraries provided such information. Libraries in schools of nursing were significantly better in the provision of information about self-help groups. Overall there were limited interest in the provision of any service to patients or the general public.

Attitude↗

Measuring health-related quality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal disease.

Measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is becoming an increasingly important endpoint to researchers and clinicians. In the context of upper gastrointestinal disorders, understanding the impact of the symptoms and their treatments on physical, psychological, and emotional well-being is crucial. The objective of this review is to provide a background for HRQL assessment for patients with upper GI disease. We assess and critique available generic and disease-specific HRQL instruments, and specify the factors that should be considered when evaluating an instrument. If employed correctly, HRQL assessments for patients with upper GI disease could improve quality of care.

Dyspepsia↗

Biosecurity for neonatal gastrointestinal diseases.

Infectious diarrhea is an important cause of neonatal calf morbidity and mortality that results in significant economic losses in the beef and dairy industries. Although numerous risk factors related to the occurrence of neonatal diarrhea have been identified, they can all be categorized into those that are related to the calf, the pathogens involved, or the environment of the calf. The immune status of calves, specifically the level of passively acquired immunity through colostrum, is the major risk factor related to the calf and the occurrence of diarrhea. Although numerous pathogens have been implicated in the occurrence of neonatal diarrhea, only a relatively limited number are commonly involved. Most should be viewed as secondary opportunists rather than primary pathogens, because none are extraordinarily virulent, and with the exception of Salmonella spp., most are present within the gastrointestinal tract of many healthy, mature cattle. Important risk factors related to pathogens involved in neonatal calf diarrhea involve the size of the inoculum and the occurrence of multiple infections. Finally, when considering the environment and housing conditions in which beef and dairy calves may reside, it is clear that tremendous variations exist. Despite these variations, the risk factors associated with the environment of the calf are also those that are the most amenable to the implementation of general environmental control and monitoring strategies as well as specific biosecurity measures.

Animal Husbandry↗

[Significance of pancreatic polypeptide in gastrointestinal diseases].

Release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) into blood by pancreatic PP cells is closely correlated with pancreatic exocrine secretion and is thus stimulated by food intake. PP causes inhibition of exocrine pancreatic secretion and bile acid output. In insufficiently treated diabetics elevated basal and postprandial serum levels of PP are found, which return to normal when adequate treatment is administered. In patients with autonomous diabetic neuropathy insulin induced hypoglycemia leads to subnormal increases of serum PP levels. Low PP secretion is found in chronic pancreatitis only when pronounced pancreatic insufficiency is observed. In patients with duodenal ulcus significantly elevated but also normal serum PP concentrations were found. Endocrine active pancreatic tumors may cause highly increased PP levels together with other hormones and elevated serum PP levels may be used as a diagnostic indication in such rare cases. However the determination of PP serum levels is not suited as a routine diagnostic method.

Blood Glucose↗

Review article: the use of biotherapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disease.

There is presently a lack of well conducted clinical trials demonstrating any significant benefits of probiotics in humans. With the exception of diarrhoea due to rotavirus infection in children there is little evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that bacterial probiotics have a significant beneficial action in preventing diarrhoea of any cause. The yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to be of benefit in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea but not in preventing infection with Clostridium difficile. S. boulardii may also be of benefit in preventing relapse of C. difficile infection. Because of the simplicity of in vitro systems and some animal models, beneficial characteristics of probiotics such as the ability of bacteria to bind to epithelial surfaces are not always transferable to humans. Thus any postulated benefit from consumption of probiotic bacteria should only be accepted as fact after testing in clinical studies. This review outlines our present knowledge of the mode of action of probiotics and presents the data from clinical trials on their use.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Colonoscopy. In investigation, treatment and control of gastrointestinal diseases].

Colonoscopy is the initial examination for patients with manifest or occult rectal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal polyps. In addition to polypectomy, colonoscopy is useful in decompression of adynamic colonileus and laser palliation of intractable tumours. In adenoma patients controls should be limited to high risk patients, i.e. those with large and multiple tubular adenomas, villous adenomas, multiple hyperplastic polyps (> 30), and first degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinomas. Control after radical surgical treatment of colorectal cancer is offered during the first two years after the operation and to persons younger than 40 years. The efficacy of control programmes for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families have to be evaluated in controlled series. Rectosigmoidoscopies could probably replace some total colonoscopies to examine ulcerative colitis patients for cancer, since cancer usually occurs in the distal colon. Complications are rare after diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies, but perforation, bleeding and injury to surrounding organs can be experienced.

Colonoscopy↗

Upper gastrointestinal diseases in Saudi Arabian children.

In contrast to the experience in the adults, there are limited data concerning the efficacy and safety of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in paediatric patients. The information on this procedure is very scanty from non-western countries. We analysed 72 children evaluated in Gizan, Saudi Arabia, an area of high endemic hepatitis B and chronic liver disease. The indications comprised abdominal pain (49%), UGI bleeding (24%) and evaluation of suspected portal hypertension. No abnormality was detected in 33 (46%). Mucosal inflammatory lesions (oesophagitis, gastritis and duodenitis) are the commonest abnormal lesions, occurring in 24 (33%). Duodenal ulcer (4 cases) and gastric ulcer (1 case) were relatively few. No case of malignancy was found. Sclerotherapy for variceal bleeding was effective in 4 patients. Helicobacter pylori was detected in 12 of 23 patients and associated with histologically identified gastritis in the majority of these cases. It is concluded that paediatric UGIE is safe and useful in the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for UGI diseases in children. Our findings provide additional information on the pattern of diseases among Saudi Arabian children.

Adolescent↗

Faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin as a marker of gastrointestinal disease in HIV antibody positive individuals.

Hypoalbuminaemia and diarrhoea are common complications of HIV infection and substantial causes of morbidity, but the specific intestinal pathologies that cause enteric protein loss have not been clearly defined. Two hundred and twenty stool samples from patients with a variety of HIV related conditions were analysed for faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin. Patients with intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma had a significantly raised faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin value and hypoalbuminaemia. A faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin value of greater than 0.3 mg/g wet stool has a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 76% for the diagnosis of intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV positive individuals. Patients with cytomegalovirus and bacterial enteritis had raised faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin values but levels were normal for all other intestinal pathologies compared with pathogen negative stool. The combination of faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin concentration greater than 0.2 mg/g, a negative stool culture for enteric bacteria, and the absence of palatal Kaposi's sarcoma has a sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 88% for the diagnosis of enteric cytomegalovirus infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗