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PubMed2006

Binding and the effect of the red kidney bean lectin, phytohaemagglutinin, in the gastrointestinal tract of suckling rats.

Enteral exposure of suckling rats to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) has been shown to induce growth and precocious functional maturation of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanism of this action. Suckling rats, 14 d old, were fed a single dose of PHA (0.05 mg/g body weight) or saline. The binding of PHA to the gut epithelium and its effect on the morphology and functional properties of the gut and pancreas were studied up to 3 d after treatment. Initially, at 1-24 h, the PHA bound along the gut mucosal lining, resulting in disturbed gut morphology with villi shortening and rapid decreases in disaccharidase activities and macromolecular absorption capacity. During a later phase, between 1 and 3 d, the PHA binding had declined, and an uptake by enterocytes was observed. An increase in crypt cell proliferation and gut growth became evident during this period, together with a functional maturation, as indicated by increases in disaccharidase (maltase and sucrase) activities and the low macromolecular absorption capacity. Pancreas growth also increased, as did its content of digestive enzymes. We conclude that enteral exposure to PHA in suckling rats temporarily causes mucosal disarrangement and functional impediment of the gut, which may be explained by binding to and disruption of the gut mucosa and a two-fold increase in the plasma corticosterone concentration. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the role of diet in gastrointestinal maturation and may constitute a basis for the treatment of mammals having an immature gut.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The hedgehog signalling pathway in the gastrointestinal tract: implications for development, homeostasis, and disease.

The hedgehog signalling pathway is critical to normal mammalian gastrointestinal development. Through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, hedgehog signalling ensures appropriate axial patterning of the embryonic gut. Congenital abnormalities, including malrotations, anorectal malformations, and tracheoesophageal fistula are associated with germ-line mutations/deletion of genes encoding hedgehog signalling components in man and present in genetically engineered animal models. In adults, there is evidence that the pathway plays a role in maintaining stem cell populations in the stomach and directing epithelial cell differentiation in the intestine. Recent data implicate hedgehog signalling in the formation and maintenance of a number of malignancies, including those of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract and pancreas, in which abrogation of the pathway offers a novel therapeutic approach in animal models. Most recently, evidence in vitro indicates that there is a recapitulation of embryonic hedgehog signalling in acute epithelial injury and chronic inflammation, a finding with key implications for inflammatory disorders of the intestine, such as inflammatory bowel diseases. This pathway may provide an important link between chronic inflammation and cancer. We summarize the available evidence demonstrating that this developmental pathway has continuing roles in adult homeostasis and is dysregulated in malignancy and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The nutritional management of gastrointestinal tract disorders in companion animals.

Dietary protein, carbohydrates, fats and fibre have marked influences on gastrointestinal tract function and dysfunction. This article reviews the nutritional management of common gastrointestinal disorders in companion animals and introduces some of the current areas of research including probiotics, prebiotics, protein-hydrolysate diets, immunonutrition and dietary fibre. Nutritional management of oesophageal disease revolves around varying the consistency of the diet and feeding the animal from an elevated container. Provision of bowel rest remains the mainstay of the management of acute gastroenteritis but food-based oral rehydration solutions are a useful adjunct. The recommended diet for chronic small bowel diarrhoea is a highly digestible, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, low-lactose and low-fat diet with modest amounts of fermentable fibre. The use of probiotics in the management of diarrhoea in companion animals has not yet been shown to be beneficial. It is likely that prebiotics will prove more effective than probiotics in the prevention of enteropathogenic infections. Approximately 50% of cats in New Zealand that suffer from chronic idiopathic vomiting or diarrhoea will respond to a novel-protein-elimination diet and approximately 30% meet the diagnostic criteria for food sensitivity. Growing evidence supports the use of protein-hydrolysate diets in the management of inflammatory bowel disease and further advances in immunonutrition are expected. The dietary management of colitis should include a hypoallergenic diet with a fermentable fibre source. Manipulation of the diet provides clinicians a powerful therapeutic strategy to be used alone or concurrently with drug therapy in the management of gastrointestinal disorders.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Distribution and characterization of the opioid octapeptide met5-enkephalin-arg6-gly7-leu8 in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.

The distribution and characterization of the opioid octapeptide met5-enkephalin-arg6-gly7-leu8 (met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8) within the gastrointestinal tract of the rat has been determined by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay by use of a newly developed antibody to met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8. With both techniques, met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8-immunoreactivity (met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8-IR) was detected in all regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract except the esophagus. The highest concentration of immunoreactive met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8 was observed in the colon, while intermediate concentrations were found in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Immunostained somata were observed chiefly in the myenteric plexus; immunostained processes were present primarily in the myenteric plexus and the circular muscle layer. This distribution pattern is similar to that previously observed with antiserum to met5-enkephalin-arg6-phe7 (met5-enk-arg6-phe7). Chromatographic analysis of met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8-immunoreactive peptides extracted from the GI tract revealed the presence of an immunoreactive peptide of high molecular weight which accounted for approximately three-quarters of met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8-IR in both stomach and colon. These findings suggest a role for peptides related to the octapeptide met5-enk-arg6-gly7-leu8 in the regulation of GI function.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal tract.

A case report of a patient suffering from diffuse leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal tract is presented. The endoscopic features of the lesions localized in the stomach, the small bowel and the colon are compared with the radiological data. A description of the pathology of these polypoid lesions is given. The origin of this widespread leiomyosarcomatosis of the gastrointestinal system is discussed.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Moderate alcohol consumption and the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: A high alcohol intake is significantly associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, but less is known about the effects of moderate consumption, specifically moderate average volume of alcohol consumption. METHODS: A systematic computer-assisted literature review was completed in order to review current scientific knowledge surrounding this topic. RESULTS: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a number of gastrointestinal health risks, including liver diseases, oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer and pancreatitis but may play a positive role in gastritis and cholelithiasis. CONCLUSION: Moderate alcohol consumption may play a positive or negative role in disease etiology, but the overall conclusion is that moderate alcohol intake is not a high risk factor for many of the gastrointestinal diseases associated with high levels of consumption. The etiology of alcohol diseases is also linked to patterns of drinking, so this is an important area for future research in this area.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Contribution of electron microscopy to understanding cellular differentiation in mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: a study of 82 tumors.

Eighty-two mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were examined by electron microscopy for the purposes of subtyping for diagnostic precision and of understanding cellular differentiation. Tumors were subclassified into leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma, tumors of the interstitial cell of Cajal (equivalent to traditionally defined GISTs [Miettinen et al. Hum Pathol. 1999; 30:1213-1220; Mod Pathol. 2000; 13:1134-1142]), gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors (GANTs), and fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors, using criteria from the literature. Leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma were diagnosed by myofilaments, attachment plaques, plasmalemmal caveolae, and lamina; GIST by processes or cell bodies full of intermediate filaments, solitary focal densities amid intermediate filaments, attachment plaques with incomplete lamina, scarce myofilaments, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum; GANTs by neuroendocrine granules, cell bodies/processes full of intermediate filaments (more rarely microtubules), and smooth endoplasmic reticulum; fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, myofilaments, and fibronexuses. Seventy-three tumors (89%) were successfully subclassified, as 5 leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma (6%), 36 GISTs (44%), 22 GANTs (27%), 10 fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors (12%). Results indicated overlap between poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma and GIST, and between GIST and GANT. GANT is emphasized as a neuronal tumor identifiable by electron microscopy, and thereby distinguishable from GIST.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Catenary cultures of embryonic gastrointestinal tract support organ morphogenesis, motility, neural crest cell migration, and cell differentiation.

The embryonic gastrointestinal tract develops from a simple tube into a coiled, flexed, and regionalized structure. The changes in gut morphology coincide with the differentiation of multiple cell types in concentric layers, and include colonization by migratory neuron precursors, and the development of gastrointestinal motility. We describe a reliable method for growing embryonic mouse intestine in vitro by the attachment of segments of intestinal tract by their cut ends, with the intervening region suspended in the culture medium. These are termed "catenary cultures." E11-E11.5 mouse midgut, hindgut, or mid- plus hindgut segments were grown in catenary culture for up to 10 days and their growth, morphology, cell differentiation, ability to support neural precursor migration, and contractile activity were assessed. The increase in size of the cultured explants was not large, but morphogenesis proceeded, best exemplified by elongation of the caecum. Cell differentiation also proceeded. In the mucosa, goblet cells differentiated. Muscle layers, characterized by desmin expression, and kit-positive interstitial cells of Cajal differentiated in the correct positions. Where segments initially included neural precursors in a small sub-region, these migrated and proliferated to form uniform neuronal networks throughout the entire explant, and the cells expressed the neuron markers nitric oxide synthase and neuron specific enolase. Gut motility was attained 5-6 days into the culture period, and both contractile- and mixing-type movements were observed. Thus, cell types representative of all three germ layer contributions developed, and in addition, the gut, being mainly free, was able to elongate and bend (unlike on solid support cultures), while retaining its rostrocaudal identity.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The digestion of fibre by pigs. 3. Effects of the amount and type of fibre on physical characteristics of segments of the gastrointestinal tract.

The aim of the study was to determine the relative effects of feeding growing pigs with graded amounts of neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) from various sources on the empty wet weight of segments of the pig gastrointestinal tract, on the weight and moisture content of their digesta, and on the pattern of digesta movement in them. Increased NDF intakes were associated with significantly higher wet weights of all gastrointestinal segments and increased lengths of the caecum. The lengths of both the small and the large intestines were unaffected by the ingestion by the pigs of different amounts of NDF from various sources. However, the caecum responded to these increased intakes of NDF by significant increases in length. The source of NDF in the diet was a factor that markedly influenced both the length and the weight of the distal colon. The nature of these increases in weight and length morphologically and their biological significance have not been determined. Despite some significant differences, neither the type nor the level of dietary NDF had any appreciable effect on the dry weight and on the proportion of dry matter (DM) of the contents in the contents in the stomach. As the level of NDF intake was increased, more undigested dietary material was found in all segments of the digestive tract of the pigs. The proportion of DM in the residues decreased progressively from the caecal contents to the contents of the distal colon. In most cases the degree to which the level of NDF intake affected the weight of the contents and the proportion of DM in them was highly dependent on the source of NDF in the diet. The distribution of the feed consumed in the morning and in the evening, as measured with stained feed particles and polyethylene beads, was extremely variable. It is concluded that prolonged intakes by pigs of diets containing high levels of fibre may lead to a hypertrophy and hence increased weight of segments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Current views of vascular endothelium in health and at a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract].

The article presents current data on the structure, function and biological role of vascular endothelium as well as its role in the genesis of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Characteristics of endothelial vasoconstrictors and vasodilators are given. When we take into account the literature data and authors' studies, it becomes expedient to conduct further studies of the role of endothelial dysfunction in the development of diseases of the digestive tract in view of little knowledge of it at this pathology as well as availability of mostly experimental data.

Endothelium, Vascular↗
PubMed1993

Primary T-cell lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. An analysis using in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND: During a population-based local cancer registry, a peculiar type of T-cell lymphoma restricted to the gastrointestinal tract was found in patients living in southwestern Japan. METHODS: Five cases of gastrointestinal (GI) tract T-cell lymphoma were analyzed with immunohistologic examination, ultrastructural analysis, in situ hybridization (ISH), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: All cases satisfied the criteria of primary GI tract lymphoma at presentation or operation. Four showed a close relationship to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Those four had positive results for anti-HTLV-I antibody and positive surface markers for CD4, positive hybridization signals by ISH, and HTLV-I gene products by PCR, but they had no lymphoma cells in peripheral blood or bone marrow. The fifth case showed negative signals by ISH and PCR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some of the putative adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) types can be further classified as GI-tract-type lymphoma. The prognosis for the GI tract type is as poor as it is for conventional ATLL.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Melanoma metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract.

Melanoma is increasing in incidence. An often-unsuspected complication is metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to bowel obstruction or intussusception. The most common symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal metastasis are vomiting, abdominal pain and abdominal distention. Metastatic disease should be suspected in any patient with gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of cutaneous melanoma.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ear acupuncture has a hypotonic effect on the gastrointestinal tract].

The effect of auricular acupuncture (AAP) on the motility and tone of gastrointestinal tract was investigated in 60 patients, by comparison of the width of corpus and antrum of the stomach, as well as duodenum before and after the application of AAP. The obtained results showed that the effects of AAP and usual drugs were equal. The fact that AAP was applied without any side effects and contraindications pointed to the possibility of its wider application in clinical practice.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1980

Immunoproliferative disease of the gastrointestinal tract: a report of five cases.

Five patients with immunoproliferative disease of the gastrointestinal tract are presented. The main pathological feature was dense diffuse lymphoplasmacytic and immunoblastic infiltration of the mucosa and submucosa, of the proximal small bowel in 3 cases and the stomach in 2. Four of the five patients had concomitant immunoblastic sarcoma. The clinical presentation and pathological findings are compared and contrasted with those of "Mediterranean abdominal lymphoma" and alpha chain disease, and the possible role of ethnogeographical and environmental factors in the pathogenesis are discussed.

Adult↗