Biomedical subjects

M Duvnjak

Publications and source records attributed to M Duvnjak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Hepatocyte growth factor levels in Croatian healthy and alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a most potent hepatocyte mitogen, and plays a mayor role in liver regeneration during injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate HGF values in Croatian healthy and alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients (AC). The HGF and standard laboratory tests of liver damage were measured in 33 AC patients, and 41 healthy subjects. HGF was measured by using an ELISA method. The HGF levels were higher in cirrhotic patients than in healthy subjects (median value is 0.78 vs. 0.19 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Japanese study showed similar values of HGF for healthy subjects and AC subjects. The HGF values in patients depend on grade of illness. There was found significant correlation between HGF and almost all standard liver damage tests. The ROC analysis showed that measuring of HGF had convincingly best accuracy than other parameters, and seems to be useful in classifying grade of illness.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Perforation--a rare complication of a small-bowel carcinoid.

Carcinoids are rare compared to other tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, but present a significant portion of tumours of the small intestine. The case of a 50-year-old man who suffered perforation of a small-bowel carcinoid after failed diagnostic trials is reported here. Since intestinal perforation is rarely the first sign of the presence of a carcinoid, it is useful to bear this in mind when dealing with unclear pathological changes of the small intestine.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed1999

Use of octreotide-acetate in preventing pancreatitis-like changes following therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterectomy (EST). In addition, serum pancreatic enzymes increase without clinical symptoms in up to 75% of patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of octreotide in the prevention of these possible complications in patients undergoing therapeutic ERCP. The study was carried out in 209 subjects who were randomly allocated to two groups (A and B). Group A received 0.5 mg of octreotide-acetate subcutaneously one hour prior to ERCP; group B was given placebo. Serum amylase and lipase values were measured before premedication and 1.5, 2, 6 and 24 hours following endoscopy. Following ERCP, the increase in both amylase and lipase values was significantly greater in the control (placebo) group, but this significance disappeared 24 hours following the procedure. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis developed in 4 (3.85%) patients who were given octreotide-acetate, compared to 10 (9.52%) patients in the control group. The results obtained in our study seem to indicate that octreotide could prevent the increase in serum pancreatic enzymes, but no significant difference was observed in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1998

[An approach to dyspepsia in primary health care].

Dyspepsia is a common problem in primary health care and involves a great deal of physician's time, if we assume that the prevalence in general population is 25-50%. Since the definition of dyspepsia has been elusive, which has resulted in confusion about diagnosis and therapy, the need for management guidelines that would produce satisfactory results has been manifested. The International Gastro Primary Care Group has developed practical framework, which identifies the predominant symptom of dyspepsia as a guide in the selection of the most appropriate treatment, and is also used as a tool in dealing with common therapeutical dilemmas until new evidence become available.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Tuberculous peritonitis--a case report.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major health problem worldwide and, due to its systemic nature, its clinical presentation may be highly variable. The diagnosis may, therefore, be unduly delayed. A 67-year old male refugee was admitted to our Department with a diagnosis of intra-abdominal carcinomatosis. During hospitalization, tuberculous peritonitis was found to be the cause of his symptoms. Antituberculosis therapy was administered and the patient responded adequately, achieving total clinical remission. The importance of considering this polymorphous disease is emphasized.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMed1998

Whipple's disease: a case study with unexpected prognosis.

Due to the systemic nature of Whipple's disease, its clinical presentation may be highly variable. The diagnosis may, therefore, be unduly delayed. Untreated, Whipple's disease is still potentially lethal. Although it traditionally presents with signs and symptoms of small intestine involvement, such as diarrhea and malabsorption, Whipple's disease can involve many other organs. Typically, the diagnosis is established by biopsy of the small intestine. The authors describe a case of Whipple's disease in order to stress the importance of bearing this polymorphic disease in mind, with special emphasis on its possible lethal outcome in spite of therapy.

Humans↗

PubMed1997

The protective effect of zinc sulphate pretreatment against duodenal ulcers in the rat.

Exogenously administered zinc compounds have been shown to possess antiulcer activity in the development of gastric lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc sulphate pretreatment of rats on cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers and to correlate them with changes in zinc serum and tissue levels. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to determine zinc serum and tissue concentrations in all animal groups. Cysteamine produced marked duodenal ulceration in control animals 24 h after application, with an increase in endogenous zinc tissue concentrations and a marked decrease in serum concentrations. Zinc sulphate (20, 40 or 80 mg kg-1) applied per os one hour prior to cysteamine application inhibited the development of duodenal lesions in a dose-related manner. The application of zinc sulphate in a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) application (80 mg kg-1) did not, however, prevent the formation of duodenal lesions. In order to assess zinc absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, one group of rats received a single oral dose of zinc sulphate (80 mg kg-1) without cysteamine application. The observations of this study seem to indicate that zinc plays an important cytoprotective role in duodenal ulcer disease.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1996

Endogenous zinc concentrations in cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers in the rat.

Exogenously administered zinc compounds have been shown to possess anti-ulcer activity against a wide variety of ulcerogenic agents, both in laboratory animal models and in human peptic ulcer disease. However, a strong possibility exists that endogenous zinc may also play an important role during noxious events by various mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to focus on the changes of endogenous zinc serum and tissue concentrations in cysteamine-induced duodenal lesions. We used atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the tissue and serum concentrations of zinc in normal (control) rats and those with cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers. The results obtained in this study indicated that the onset, development and spontaneous healing of ulcer lesions were associated with certain shifts in zinc serum and tissue concentrations. Prior to ulcer formation, a significant increase was noted in serum zinc values. With the onset of duodenal lesions, zinc serum concentrations significantly decreased, while there was a significant increase in duodenal tissue concentrations when compared to healthy control animals. Zinc tissue concentrations decreased and returned to starting values by the end of the first week of spontaneous healing. This decrease in zinc tissue concentration corresponded to the healing rate of the duodenal ulcers. Serum zinc concentrations also returned to starting values within the first week period. These observations indicate and confirm that zinc could play an important role in duodenal ulcer disease and represent a natural defense system in the body.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The dynamics of endogenous zinc in different animal models of gastroduodenal ulceration.

The body possesses many various endogenous substances that enable it to protect itself from various noxious events. One of the nonspecific reactions is the increase of endogenous zinc concentrations in various tissues. The aim of this study was to focus on the changes of zinc serum and tissue concentrations in well-established models of gastric (24 h restraint stress and 5 min ethanol) and duodenal ulceration (24 h cysteamine). Ten female Wistar rats, weighing 180-250 g were used in each of the experimental groups. Upon sacrificing, the ulcer index was recorded. Zinc serum and tissue concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Ten unstressed animals served as a healthy control group. The results of our study clearly indicated certain changes in serum zinc in all these ulcer models. Changes in tissue concentrations, varying from model to model, were also observed. In conclusion, all this data confirm the fact that endogenous zinc represents a natural line of the body's defense system when exposed to stress.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Giant peptic ulcers in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of hemodialyzed uremic patients with upper gastrointestinal lesions. A total of 20 (7.2%) out of 276 patients on hemodialysis program underwent endoscopy and rentgenography of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of peptic ulcer disease in the patients with end-stage renal disease was 4.3%. Six (30%) out of 20 uremic hemodialyzed patients with gastrointestinal complications had giant peptic ulcers of duodenum or prepyloric area. In three (50%) out of six subjects, giant peptic ulcers were located in the second portion of the duodenum. Gastrointestinal hemorrhagic complications occurred in 12 (60%) patients. The most frequent sources of bleeding were duodenal ulcers alone (8 patients) or in combination with gastric and/or duodenal flat erosions (6 patients), angiodysplasia of the duodenum (3 patients) and duodenal erosions (one patient). Two patients with bleeding from giant ulcers died from perforation and hemorrhagic shock. The uremic hemodialyzed patients with giant ulcers were older than 65, had higher basal gastrin concentration (305.3 +/- 183.8 pmol/l), and lower basal (1.6 +/- 0.16 mmol/h) and stimulated gastric acid secretion (14.4 +/- 8.63 mmol/h).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

The beneficial effect of BPC 157, a 15 amino acid peptide BPC fragment, on gastric and duodenal lesions induced by restraint stress, cysteamine and 96% ethanol in rats. A comparative study with H2 receptor antagonists, dopamine promotors and gut peptides.

The protection of stomach and duodenum in conjecture with anti-inflammatory effect was demonstrated for a novel 15 amino acid peptide, coded BPC 157, a fragment of the recently discovered gastric juice peptide BPC. BPC 157 (i.p./i.g.) was investigated in rats in comparison with several reference standards in three experimental ulcer models (48 h-restraint stress, subcutaneous cysteamine, intragastrical 96% ethanol ulcer tests) (pre-/co-/post-treatment). Only BPC 157 regimens were consistently effective in all of the tested models. On the other hand, bromocriptine, amantadine, famotidine, cimetidine and somatostatin were ineffective (restraint stress). A dose-dependent protection (cysteamine) and/or partial positive effect (related to treatment conditions) (ethanol), was obtained with glucagon, NPY and secretin whereas CCK/26-30/was not effective. Based on Monastral blue studies BPC 157 beneficial effect appears to be related to a strong endothelial protection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Preoperative evaluation of rectal carcinoma by transrectal ultrasonography.

The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in detecting the depth of tumor infiltration as well as the involvement of lymph nodes in patients with rectal carcinoma diagnosed after rectoscopy and proven by examination of the biopsy specimen. TRUS was performed on thirty-three patients with rectal carcinoma prior to surgery, the first assessment of tumor growth, and extension by pathological examination of the operative specimen. TRUS correctly assessed perirectal growth in 18 out of 22 cases proven by pathology (two understaged, accuracy 86 percent), while in 12 cases with no perirectal growth proven by pathology this method was correct in 9 cases (three overstaged, accuracy 75 percent). The results of this study indicate that TRUS, combined with endoscopy and biopsy, is a useful procedure in the preoperative staging of malignant rectal lesions and provides valuable data for the therapeutic planning of patients with rectal carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Hepatoprotective effect of BPC 157, a 15-amino acid peptide, on liver lesions induced by either restraint stress or bile duct and hepatic artery ligation or CCl4 administration. A comparative study with dopamine agonists and somatostatin.

The hepatoprotective effects of a newly synthesized 15 amino acid fragment code named BPC 157 was evaluated in comparison with the reference standards (bromocriptine, amantadine and somatostatin) in various experimental models of liver injury in rats: 24 h-bile duct+hepatic artery ligation 48 h-restraint stress and CCl4 administration. BPC 157 administered either intragastrically or intraperitoneally, significantly prevented the development of liver necrosis or fatty changes in rats subjected to 24 h bile duct + hepatic artery ligation, 48 h-restraint stress, CCl4 treatment (1 ml/kg i.p., sacrifice 48 h thereafter). The other reference drugs had either little or no protective actions in these models. Noteworthy, the laboratory test results for bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT fully correlated with the macro/microscopical findings. Thus, on the basis of consistent protective effect of BPC 157, possible clinical application in liver diseases is now warranted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

A new gastric juice peptide, BPC. An overview of the stomach-stress-organoprotection hypothesis and beneficial effects of BPC.

The possibility that the stomach, affected by general stress, might initiate a counter-response has not until recently been considered in theories of stress. We suggest that the stomach, as the most sensitive part of the gastrointestinal tract and the largest neuroendocrine organ in the body, is crucial for the initiation of a full stress response against all noxious stress pathology. The end result would be a strong protection of all organs invaded by 'stress'. Consistent with this assumption, this coping response is best explained in terms of 'organoprotection'. Endogenous organoprotectors (eg prostaglandins, somatostatin, dopamine) are proposed as mediators. Such an endogenous counteraction could even be afforded by their suitable application. A new gastric juice peptide, M(r) 40,000, named BPC, was recently isolated. Herein, a 15 amino acid fragment (BPC 157), thought to be essential for its activity, has been fully characterized and investigated. As has been demonstrated for many organoprotective agents using different models of various tissue lesions, despite the poorly understood final mechanism, practically all organ systems appear to benefit from BPC activity. These effects have been achieved in many species using very low dosages (mostly microgram and ng/kg range) after ip, ig, and intramucosal (local) application. The effect was apparent already after one application. Long lasting activity was also demonstrated. BPC was highly effective when applied simultaneously with noxious agents or in already pathological, as well as chronical, conditions. Therefore, it seems that BPC treatment does not share any of the so far known limitations for 'conventional organoprotectors'. No influence on different basal parameters and no toxicity were observed. These findings provide a breakthrough in stress theory. BPC, as a possible endogenous free radical scavenger and organoprotection mediator, could be a useful prototype of a new class of drugs, organoprotective agents.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1993

Effect of methylprednisolone on small bowel, spleen and liver changes in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) on inflammatory lesions in the small bowel, liver (pericholangitis) and spleen (lymphofollicular proliferation), in a model of inflammatory bowel disease induced by 2.4-dinitrofluorobenzene in previously sensitized BALB-c mice. As a parameter of corticosteroid anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive action, we simultaneously investigated its effects on mononuclear cell accumulation within the ileal lamina propria and submucosa during the observed time period (1-30 days). We noted a significant decrease in accumulation of mononuclear cells within the lamina propria (P < 0.001). An effect on mononuclear cell infiltration within the ileal submucosa was also noted but was not statistically significant. In addition, pericholangitis in the liver and lymphofollicular proliferation in the spleen were not observed in the experimental group during treatment with methylprednisolone. The results of this study indicate that the previously described model of intestinal inflammation could be used in further research of present and new therapeutic modalities for inflammatory bowel disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Inhibition and stimulation of prolactin release. Delayed response in duodenal ulcer patients.

Prolactin inhibitory tests (bromocriptine in a single dose 2.5 mg orally) as well as stimulatory tests (metoclopramide in a single dose of 10 mg intravenously) were performed in 33 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer and in 32 healthy volunteers. Delayed response in inhibition of prolactin release as well as in stimulation of prolactin release was observed in duodenal ulcer patients compared to healthy volunteers (P < 0.01). The results implicate the role of the dopamine-prolactin axis in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

A model of inflammatory bowel disease induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene in previously sensitized BALB-c mice.

The aim of this study was to develop a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induced by colonic application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene in previously sensitized BALB-c mice. During the follow-up period of 30 days we observed ulcerations, haemorrhage, necrosis, and mononuclear infiltration in the colonic mucosa of previously sensitized (experimental) and, to a lesser extent, nonsensitized (control) animals. In addition, the animals in the experimental group developed adhesions, thickening of colonic segments, stenosis, and dilatation of the colon, and some animals also developed megacolon. Oedema, mononuclear infiltration, and superficial ulcerations were observed in the ileum of experimental animals and, to a lesser extent, in the control group. In addition, the animals in the experimental group developed extraintestinal changes in the liver and spleen (that is, pericholangitis and lymphofollicular proliferation). We suggest that this model of IBD may have some value for the study of early pathogenetic mechanisms of IBD and for developing new therapeutic modalities for this condition.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

The significance of the gastroprotective effect of body protection compound (BPC): modulation by different procedures.

To elucidate any mechanism of a body protecting effect the observed events should be investigated also by the way of their modulations induced by ablation of particular organs. For Body Protection Compound (BPC), a newly partially characterized gastric juice peptide, the gastroprotection has largely been studied in basal and modified conditions of 48 h-restraint stress. Ablations or sham operations have been performed before restraint as follows: 60 min vagotomy, 24 h ovaria, testes, spleen, 48 h medulla of adrenal glands, 40 days thyroid + parathyroid glands. BPC (10 micrograms/kg) or saline (5 ml/kg) have been regularly applied (after surgery, 1 h before restraint) intraperitoneally. The group subjected to thyroparathyroidectomy received also once-daily BPC/saline treatment. A very strong gastroprotective effect in basal conditions has been modulated by ovariectomy and demedullation (abolishment), thyroparathyroidectomy (decrease), and no change occurred in case of vagotomy, splenectomy or orchidectomy. Sham operated rats did not differ from corresponding controls. Thus, seeing from point of view a wide range of organoprotective effects of BPC (intestinum, kidney, liver, pancreas, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, delayed type of hypersensitivity), the gastroprotection has been supposed a) to be of crucial pattern in the general concept of organo-protection and b) to be responsible for the mediation of the suggested "stomach stress organoprotective response". Therefore, the obtained modulations suggest a complex and specifical, sex-related action of the overall beneficial effects of BPC.

Adrenalectomy↗