PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Castedal

Publications and source records attributed to M Castedal.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

MELD [corrected] score in patients accepted for liver transplantation 1994 to 2004.

There has been a need to be able to grade the "degree of sickness" in patients with acute and chronic hepatic failure. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was developed as a tool to give a more objective estimate of the degree of sickness in patients with chronic liver disease. In this study the MELD score was compared retrospectively in adult patients accepted for liver transplantation (OLT) at our institution in 1994, 1999, and 2004. Gender, age, and MELD score associated with different indications for OLT were analyzed for the same period. The MELD scores were unchanged between the examined years, and there was no difference between male and female patients accepted for OLT. Comparing MELD score between male and female patients, there was a potential risk for discrimination of female patients due to their reduced muscle mass, resulting in a lower serum creatinine and a lower MELD score. There was no difference in MELD score comparing 1994, 1999, and 2004 for patients with cirrhosis. Patients with acute hepatic failure had the highest MELD scores while patients undergoing OLT because of malignancy had the lowest MELD score. MELD score seemed to be a useful tool for retrospective analyzes of potential OLT recipients.

Adult↗

Preemptive therapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin after liver transplantation for hepatitis C cirrhosis.

UNLABELLED: We present our results of preemptive treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin after liver transplantation for hepatitis C cirrhosis. PATIENTS: Between September 2001 and August 2002, four patients were started on combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha-2b (1microg/kg weekly) and ribavirin (400-1000 mg/d) 3 to 4 weeks' posttransplant. Treatment was continued for 6 (genotype 3a, 2 patients) or 12 (genotype 1b, 2 patients) months. Virologic and biochemical responses as well as side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Two patients (genotype 3a) became HCV (hepatitis C virus)-RNA negative after 3 months of therapy and are persistently negative 20 and 14 months after end of therapy. One patient (genotype 1b) became HCV-RNA negative 6 months after start of treatment, but therapy had to be withdrawn after 9 months owing to fatigue and suspicion of angina pectoris. One patient who was later retransplanted because of hepatic artery thrombosis discontinued therapy after 2.5 months owing to anemia, leukopenia, and no signs of HCV-RNA reduction. Interestingly, two of the responders were nonresponders prior to liver transplant. Median ALT levels at start of therapy were 98 U/L (r = 60-126) and 12 months later 40 U/L (r = 24-58) (n = 4). No rejection episode was detected. CONCLUSION: In patients liver-transplanted due to HCV-cirrhosis, combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin can be effective and safe in the early posttransplant period, thus preventing recurrent hepatitis C.

Antiviral Agents↗

High-resolution analysis of the duodenal interdigestive phase III in humans.

To study the spatial organization of the propagating pressure waves of duodenal phase III, we performed fasting antroduodenal high-resolution manometry with a 16-channel catheter in 12 healthy subjects. The phase III pressure waves diverged in an anterograde and retrograde direction from the start site of each pressure wave. The pressure waves maintained this configuration as the activity front moved distally in the duodenum. The start site of the pressure waves moved gradually to a point approximately 12 cm (median) distal to the pylorus and remained at this point for about 40% of the phase III time before moving further distally. The length of retrograde pressure wave propagation increased to 6 cm (median) as the pressure wave origin moved aborally to a point 10-14 cm distal to the pylorus, and then decreased when the origin of pressure waves reached the distal end of the duodenum. Bidirectional pressure waves dominated in both retrograde and anterograde activity fronts. Three pressure-wave mechanisms behind the duodenal phase IV were observed. Isolated pyloric pressure waves were absent during late duodenal phase III retroperistalsis. Thus, a number of new features of the duodenal phase III-related motility were observed using high-temporospatial resolution recordings.

Adult↗

Abnormal propagation pattern of duodenal pressure waves in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) [correction of (IBD)].

The propagation pattern of individual pressure waves in the gastroduodenal area in IBS is unexplored. We performed antroduodenojejunal manometry on 26 patients with IBS--13 with diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D) and 13 with constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C)--and 32 healthy controls. Neuropathic-like motor abnormalities were found in 38% of the patients with conventional manometric evaluation. With high-resolution analysis additional abnormalities were observed in the majority of the patients, with increased frequency of retrograde pressure waves postprandially in both IBS subgroups and in phase II in IBS-D. A correlation between subjective gastrointestinal symptoms and the frequency of retrograde pressure waves in phase II in IBS-D was demonstrated. Motility indices and the number of long clusters were also higher in patients compared to controls. To conclude, an abnormal propagation pattern of individual duodenal pressure waves in IBS patients was demonstrated and found to be related to symptom severity in diarrhea-predominant IBS. High-resolution analysis adds information to standard manometry.

Adult↗

Effects of midazolam on small bowel motility in humans.

BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepines are used as sedatives for some intestinal procedures and as hypnotics, and this is the reason for studying their effects on duodenojejunal motility. METHODS: Antroduodenojejunal manometry was performed in 13 healthy volunteers on two different occasions, when placebo or midazolam were given intravenously (randomized, double-blind). A bolus dose of midazolam 0.03 mg/kg was followed by 0.015 mg/kg after 1.5, 3 and 4.5 h. After 5 h observation of interdigestive motility, the volunteers were given a test meal and recording continued for another hour. Twenty-eight motility variables were compared. RESULTS: With midazolam the median motility index of phase III in the proximal duodenum was increased by 37% (P < 0.05), which was a consequence of both a longer duration (P < 0.01) and higher pressure amplitudes (P < 0.05), compared with placebo. A longer duration (9%) of phase III was also seen in the distal duodenum (P < 0.05). With midazolam the duration of the migrating motor complex was shortened by 27% (P < 0. 05). No statistically significant difference was found for the number of episodes of phase III registered (P=0.09), or for the other 22 motility variables compared including the duodenal retroperistalsis in late phase III. CONCLUSION: Midazolam does affect some aspects of duodenal motility, especially in the proximal part, but phase III-related retroperistalsis is not affected.

Adult↗

Scintigraphic assessment of interdigestive duodenogastric reflux in humans: distinguishing between duodenal and biliary reflux material.

BACKGROUND: Late duodenal phase III is characterized by retroperistalsis. The physiologic function of this phenomenon is unknown. Our aim was to study the relationship between duodenal motility and the transport of duodenal contents from the biliary tract and the duodenum by using a double-isotope technique. METHODS: Manometric analysis of the direction of interdigestive duodenal pressure waves was performed in 12 volunteers. Duodenal marker was infused directly into the proximal duodenum, and bile marker was infused intravenously for 2 h. Radionuclide activity was examined for regions corresponding to the stomach, gallbladder, and duodenum. RESULTS: In phase II, antegrade pressure waves dominated with propulsion of both markers to the jejunum. Retroperistalsis occurred in 90% of the activity fronts and was always (100%) followed by retropulsion of duodenal marker to the stomach. A clear-cut reflux of bile marker was seen in only 17% of the activity fronts. The incidence rate of duodenogastric reflux was highest in phase III (P=0.008) compared with phase II with an infrequent (P=0.002) admixture of bile. Bile marker contents increased abruptly in the gallbladder during phase III. CONCLUSIONS: Late phase III acts as a retroperistaltic pump, retropelling duodenal contents to the stomach. In this physiologic duodenogastric reflux. bile is avoided by deviation to the gallbladder, probably by a phase lll-associated occlusion of the sphincter Oddi.

Adult↗

Identification of Helicobacter pylori and other Helicobacter species by PCR, hybridization, and partial DNA sequencing in human liver samples from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis or primary biliary cirrhosis.

Helicobacter pylori was identified in human liver tissue by PCR, hybridization, and partial DNA sequencing. Liver biopsies were obtained from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 12), primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 12), and noncholestatic liver cirrhosis (n = 13) and (as controls) normal livers (n = 10). PCR analyses were carried out using primers for the Helicobacter genus, Helicobacter pylori (the gene encoding a species-specific 26-kDa protein and the 16S rRNA), Helicobacter bilis, Helicobacter pullorum, and Helicobacter hepaticus. Samples from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (11 and 9 samples, respectively) were positive by PCR with Helicobacter genus-specific primers. Of these 20 samples, 8 were positive with the 16S rRNA primer and 9 were positive with the 26-kDa protein primer of H. pylori. These nine latter samples were also positive by Southern blot hybridization for the amplified 26-kDa fragment, and four of those were verified to be H. pylori by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. None of the samples reacted with primers for H. bilis, H. pullorum, or H. hepaticus. None of the normal livers had positive results in the Helicobacter genus PCR assay, and only one patient in the noncholestatic liver cirrhosis group, a young boy who at reexamination showed histological features suggesting primary sclerosing cholangitis, had a positive result in the same assay. Helicobacter positivity was thus significantly more common in patients with cholestatic diseases (20 of 24) than in patients with noncholestatic diseases and normal controls (1 of 23) (P = <0.00001). Patients positive for Helicobacter genus had significantly higher values of alkaline phosphatases and prothrombin complex than Helicobacter-negative patients (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). Among primary sclerosing cholangitis patients, Helicobacter genus PCR positivity was weakly associated with ulcerative colitis (P = 0.05). Significant differences related to blood group or HLA status were not found.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Detection of Helicobacter in the liver of patients with chronic cholestatic liver diseases.

Helicobacter species were identified in human liver tissues by PCR. Biopsies were obtained from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and noncholestatic liver cirrhosis. One set of Helicobacter genus-specific primers and two different primer sets for Helicobacter pylori were used in the PCR-assays. Using Helicobacter genus-specific primers 80% (8/10) of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and 90% (9/10) of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were positive. Seven of these 17 samples were positive using two different primers for H. pylori and Southern blot hybridization. Among the non-cholestatic liver cirrhosis controls, only one sample was positive in the Helicobacter genus-specific PCR-assay. Significantly higher values of alkaline phosphatases and prothrombin complex was found for the patients positive for Helicobacter genus. In conclusion, gene sequences of Helicobacter species and H. pylori were detected in human liver tissue using PCR and DNA hybridization in patients with a cholestatic liver disease, but rarely in noncholestatic liver cirrhosis.

Blotting, Southern↗

Postprandial peristalsis in the human duodenum.

MMC-related retroperistalsis is a cyclical phenomenon in the duodenum linked to phase III. The aim of this study was to elucidate the direction of propagation of juxtapyloric duodenal pressure waves in the postprandial state in healthy humans and to compare with the contractions in the interdigestive phase II. Antroduodenal manometry was performed in 11 healthy subjects. Individual pressure waves propagating along a 6-cm duodenal segment were analysed with respect to the proportions of antegrade and retrograde propagation in the four duodenal subsegments (D1-D2) to (D4-D5), each subsegment being 15 mm. A test meal was given 30 min after a phase III had passed and motility recording continued for 60 min after the meal. During both the first and the second 30-min period of postprandial recording the proportion of retrograde pressure waves was larger just distal to the pylorus, (D1-D2), 40% (23-68) and 50% (23-68), respectively, compared to the distal part, (D4-D5), of the duodenal segment, 29% (12-30) and 10% (10-24), respectively (P < 0.05 and 0.01). In contrast, during late phase II of the interdigestive state antegrade pressure waves predominated in all four duodenal subsegments. We conclude that in the postprandial state a high proportion of the duodenal pressure waves (40-50%) is retrograde in the immediate juxtapyloric area while antegrade contractions predominate at a distance 5-6 cm distal to the pylorus. These manometric data together with recent observations of postprandial transpyloric liquid flow, indicate that retrograde duodenogastric propelling of contents may be an important determinant for the gastric emptying rate.

Adult↗

Fulminant hepatic failure associated with dicoumarol therapy.

Coumarins have been associated with non-predictable hepatic injury. In the case of dicoumarol, there is no hard evidence in the literature of a causal connection with liver damage. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who developed a fatal liver disease of a mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic type after 3 months of treatment with dicoumarol. A thorough diagnostic work-up did not reveal any other possible cause of the liver disease.

Adult↗

Duodenal juxtapyloric retroperistalsis in the interdigestive state in humans.

BACKGROUND: The last part of phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC) is characterized by retroperistalsis in the descending duodenum. This study focused on MMC-related juxtapyloric peristalsis. METHODS: Antroduodenal manometry was performed in 10 healthy subjects. Pressure was recorded in the distal antrum and in four consecutive subsegments (DS1-DS4), 15 mm each, in the juxtapyloric duodenum. RESULTS: In the period with ongoing antral phase-III activity (early duodenal phase III) the antral pressure waves were antegrade, but in the juxtapyloric duodenum (DS1) retrograde waves predominated (median, 66%; interquartile range (IQR), 33-83%); that is, most duodenal pressure waves were directed against the antral ones. More distally, in DS3 and DS4, only 17% and 25% (IQR, 0-17, 0-33%, respectively) of the pressure waves were retrograde in this period. After the end of antral phase III--that is, in late duodenal phase III--the proportion of retrograde pressure waves increased successively to 91.5% (IQR, 66-100%) in DS2, 74.5% (IQR, 50-100%) in DS3, and 66% (IQR, 8.2-95.8%) in DS4, respectively, before the onset of duodenal motor quiescence. In phase II antegrade pressure waves predominated (63-76%, medians) in all four duodenal subsegments examined. CONCLUSIONS: During the interdigestive phase III the antral perstalsis is antegrade, but most juxtapyloric duodenal pressure waves are retrograde; that is, antral and duodenal contractions are on a collision course. In the proximal part of the descending duodenum the end of duodenal phase III shows retroperistalsis after the onset of phase I in the gastric antrum. These motor patterns may be important for regulation of the chemical milieu in the juxtapyloric area.

Adult↗