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Biomedical subjects

D L Dumitraşcu

Publications and source records attributed to D L Dumitraşcu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Gastric and gall bladder emptying of a mixed meal are not coordinated in liver cirrhosis--a simultaneous sonographic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: An impaired contractility has been suggested as a contributor to the increased incidence of gallstones in liver cirrhosis, but the few studies on gall bladder emptying in cirrhotics offered contradictory results. Ingestion of a meal triggers the physiological pathway of gall bladder emptying; therefore, it was decided to analyse postprandial kinetics by investigating simultaneously the rates of gastric and gall bladder emptying of a mixed meal in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Gastric and gall bladder emptying were measured using ultrasound techniques after a solid-liquid meal (14 g fat, 425 kcal) in 24 patients with liver cirrhosis and in 12 controls. None of the subjects had gall bladder disease. Sequential changes in cross sectional area of the gastric antrum and in gall bladder volume were represented as a monoexponential process after the test meal. Cirrhotic patients were analysed according to the severity of disease (Child classes). The presence of portal gastropathy was assessed by endoscopy. Differences between groups were assessed using the two tailed Student's t test for unpaired observations and the correlations by linear regression (Pearson's coefficient). RESULTS: It was found that gastric emptying after the solid-liquid meal was delayed in cirrhotic patients compared with controls. Gall bladder emptying was significantly diminished in cirrhotic patients: the area under curve was greater in Child A (p = 0.01), Child B (p = 0.04), and Child C (p = 0.014) cirrhotics compared with controls. No correlation was found between the variables of gastric and gall bladder emptying. Gall bladder refilling began earlier in cirrhotics than in controls, before completion of gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the lack of coordination between gastric and gall bladder emptying in liver cirrhosis. They also support the hypothesis that diminished gall bladder contractility might contribute to the increased gallstone formation in liver cirrhosis.

Female↗
PubMed1992

[Beta-blockers in the prevention of the rupture of esophageal varices. A meta-analysis].

The meta-analysis of 5 trials for primary prevention and of 18 trials of secondary prevention emphasizes the effect of beta-blockers in the decrease of variceal bleedings in cirrhosis. Beta-blockers are reducing the bleeding events with 32% in the primary prevention and with 28% in the secondary prevention. The mortality is reduced by 15%, respectively by 23%. This is the first meta-analysis reported in the Romanian gastroenterological literature.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of metoclopramide on antral emptying of a semisolid meal in patients with functional dyspepsia. A randomized placebo controlled sonographic study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metoclopramide on the antral emptying of a semisolid meal. Twenty-five patients with functional dyspepsia received in a prospective randomized trial either metoclopramide 10 mg t.i.d. (n = 14) or placebo (n = 11) for 7 days. The antral emptying was measured by real-time ultrasound with a 3.5 MHz probe from the antral area recordings in the aorto-mesenteric plane. The measurements were carried out in fasting condition and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 min after a standardized semisolid meal. The symptoms quantified in a symptom score were also recorded. Metoclopramide was superior to placebo in improving the symptom score. Antral emptying was accelerated by metoclopramide compared with placebo. Fasting antral emptying was not changed by metoclopramide and the postprandial antral area had a trend to decrease. These data suggest that the effect of metoclopramide is less due to the enhancement of antral motility but rather to the reduction of postprandial fundus relaxation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hostility in patients with chronic constipation.

Personality changes have been reported in chronic constipation. Hostility is an important personality factor involved in psychosomatic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate hostility in patients with chronic constipation. Sixty subjects with chronic constipation (24 males, 36 females, mean age 44.5 years) were investigated with the hostility scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory. The patients were divided in four groups according to their symptoms: functional chronic constipation (Group I, n = 18), irritable bowel syndrome expressed as chronic constipation and abdominal pain (Group II, n = 21), irritable bowel syndrome expressed as chronic constipation, abdominal pain and bloating (Group III, n = 13) and irritable bowel syndrome expressed as chronic constipation alternating with episodes of diarrhoea (Group IV, n = 8). Twenty-five clinically healthy subjects were investigated as controls. Hostility was as follows (mean +/- SD): 68 +/- 9 in group I, 62 +/- 12 in group II, 70 +/- 14 in group III, 56 +/- 12 in group IV and 40 +/- 12 in controls. The scores were significantly higher in all groups of patients with constipation versus controls (p < 0.01; < 0.001; < 0.001; < 0.02, respectively). These data suggest that hostility is increased in patients with chronic constipation. It is rather a feature of the functional bowel disorders than of constipation, as symptom, only.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of low antithrombin III levels in cirrhosis.

Antithrombin III is an anticoagulant synthesized in the liver cells. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum level of antithrombin III in cirrhotics. Investigations were carried out in 32 patients with cirrhosis and in 20 healthy controls. Antithrombin III measured by radial immunodiffusion was found significantly lower (19.2 +/- 6.8 mg%) than in controls (28.0 +/- +/- 5.2 mg%) (p less than 0.01). The level of antithrombin III is positively correlated with pseudo-cholinesterase and, less significantly with blood albumin. Therefore decreased antithrombin III reflects liver cell disfunction in cirrhosis and its decrease may predispose to thrombotic events which occur sporadically in cirrhosis.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The clearance of colloidal particles by Kupffer cells in collagen disease.

The Kupffer cells clearance of colloidal 198Au particles with a diameter of 200-300 A was estimated in 14 subjects with different collagen diseases: 7 without previous treatment and 7 under immunodepressive treatment compared to 10 controls. No difference between the subjects with collagen disease and controls was observed. The group with collagen disease under immunodepressive treatment has lower Kupffer cells clearance for colloidal gold particles than non-treated patients, without statistical significance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphological M-mode and real-time echocardiographic changes in liver cirrhosis.

The morphological echocardiographic parameters were studied in a heterogeneous group of 60 cirrhotics without cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Enlarged left ventricle (20% of cases) associated with enlarged atrium (15% of cases), enlarged right ventricle (23.3% of cases), left ventricular hypertrophy (10% of cases) and signs of pulmonary hypertension (6.7% of cases) were the most common changes encountered. These were assumed to be due to the hemodynamic changes described in cirrhosis and were related to the decompensation of the liver function and not to the etiology of liver disease, hepatitic activity without decompensation, or age.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Liver blood flow (LBF) estimated by Kupffer cells clearance in health and disease.

Liver blood flow (LBF) in normal state and in diseases suspected to impair liver perfusion has been estimated by an indirect method, based on the removal by Kupffer cells of the colloidal particles from the circulation. 150 microCl 198Au have been used and the results have been expressed through percentual decrease from the theoretical value. In chronic liver disease there is a progressive reduction of the Kupffer cells clearance and of the LBF corresponding to the severity of the liver impairment. There is a mild decrease in LBF in heart failure. In liver tumours and collagenoses, the values are like in normals.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors in ulcer disease. A case-control computer processed study.

Risk factors in patients with ulcer disease have been investigated on a random sample of 214 in-patients admitted during 1985 to two clinical departments. For data collecting, an original questionnaire was developed and submitted. Results were obtained by computer processing. The method permitted quantification of the prevalence of risk factors in peptic ulcer in Romania and also of the relations between them.

Adult↗