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Biomedical subjects

R J Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to R J Fraser.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Stimulation of small intestinal burst activity in the postprandial state differentially affects lipid and glucose absorption in healthy adult humans.

Small intestinal motor activity is important for the optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients. These motor responses to feeding are frequently abnormal during critical illness, with the persistence of migrating bursts of contractions during enteral feeding. Whether this disturbance influences nutrient absorption is not known. In this study, the effects of small intestinal burst activity on lipid and glucose absorption were evaluated in 10 healthy human adults (6 males, 4 females, 19-47 yr). Upper gastrointestinal manometry was recorded for 6 h during and shortly after a 20-min intravenous infusion of either erythromycin (1 mg/kg), to stimulate burst activity, or saline (0.9%) in a double-blind randomized fashion. Simultaneously with the start of the intravenous infusion, 60 ml liquid feed mixed with 200 microl 13C-triolein and 2 g 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) was infused intraduodenally for 30 min. Absorption of lipid and glucose was assessed using the [13C]triolein breath test and plasma concentrations of 3-OMG, respectively. Infusion of erythromycin was followed by a more rapid onset of burst activity following commencement of the duodenal infusion compared with saline (30 +/- 6.1 vs. 58 +/- 10.7 min; P < 0.05). Erythromycin was associated with a slower recovery of 13CO2 (P < 0.01). A positive correlation existed between the time to onset of burst activity and 13CO2 recovery (P < 0.001). Erythromycin had no effect on 3-OMG absorption. In conclusion, stimulation of small intestinal burst activity reduces the rate of lipid absorption but not glucose absorption in healthy human adults.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Antropyloroduodenal, cholecystokinin and feeding responses to pulsatile and non-pulsatile intraduodenal lipid infusion.

The contribution of the pulsatile nature of gastric emptying to small intestinal feedback mechanisms modulating antropyloroduodenal motility and appetite is unknown. On separate days, eight healthy male volunteers (18-34 years) received randomized, single-blind, intraduodenal (ID) infusions of 10% Intralipid (2 kcal min(-1)), either continuously [CID], or in a pulsatile manner [PID] (5 s on/15 s off) and 0.9% saline (control) administered continuously, each at a rate of 1.8 mL min(-1) for 3 h. During each infusion, subjective ratings of appetite were assessed and antropyloroduodenal pressures recorded with a 16-lumen manometric assembly incorporating a pyloric sleeve sensor. Plasma cholecystokinin was measured from blood collected at regular intervals throughout the infusion. At the end of each infusion the manometric assembly was removed, subjects were offered a buffet meal and the energy and macronutrient content of the meal was measured. Both ID lipid infusions stimulated isolated pyloric pressure waves (IPPWs) (P < 0.001) and basal pyloric pressure (P < 0.01) and suppressed antral (P < 0.05) and duodenal (P < 0.05) pressure waves when compared to controls; there was no difference in the effects of CID and PID lipid on antropyloroduodenal pressures. Infusions of lipid significantly increased plasma CCK concentrations (P < 0.05) compared with saline, but concentrations were not different between the two modes of lipid delivery (P > 0.05, CID vs. PID). Both intraduodenal lipid infusions decreased hunger (P < 0.05), increased fullness (P < 0.05) and reduced energy intake (P < 0.05) when compared with controls; again there was no difference between CID and PID lipid. We conclude that at the infusion rate of similar 2 kcal min(-1), the acute effects of intraduodenal lipid on antropyloroduodenal pressures, plasma CCK concentration and appetite are not modified by a pulsatile mode of lipid delivery into the duodenum.

Adolescent↗

Effect of a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet on fasting small intestinal motility.

BACKGROUND: Changes in diet can alter gastric and small intestinal (SI) motility. The effects of a vegetarian diet on fasting SI motility are unknown. METHODS: Manometric studies were performed in 9 lacto-ovo vegetarians (7 women) and 9 omnivores (7 women) of similar age and body mass index. On each study day, manometry was used to assess SI motility for 5 h, or 3 complete cycles of the interdigestive motor complex (IDMC). Lacto-ovo vegetarians were studied once: omnivores were studied twice, on their usual diet, and after consuming a 14-day lacto-ovo vegetarian diet. Diet diaries were kept for 5 days prior to each manometric study. Data were analysed for dietary composition and for cycle length and duration of each phase (I, II and III) of the IDMC. RESULTS: Dietary intake did not differ between chronic vegetarians and chronic omnivores apart from a trend to higher fibre intake (29 +/- 3 versus 20 +/- 3 g/day; P = 0.058). Omnivores eating a vegetarian diet showed a trend to decreased alcohol consumption (P = 0.068), but did not increase their fibre intake (20 +/- 3 versus 21 +/- 3 g/day). Neither cycle length nor duration of each IDMC phase differed between chronic vegetarians and chronic omnivores. After 14 days of a vegetarian diet, omnivores had a reduction in cycle length (128 +/- 19 versus 86 +/- 12 min; P = 0.02), with a non-significant reduction of Phase II (99 +/- 20 versus 50 +/- 8 min: P = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: A chronic vegetarian diet has no major effect on fasting SI motility; but acute dietary change may alter the cycle length and component phases of the IDMC.

Adolescent↗

Erythromycin improves gastric emptying in critically ill patients intolerant of nasogastric feeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intravenous erythromycin on gastric emptying and the success of enteral feeding in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients with large volume gastric aspirates. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: General intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients intolerant of nasogastric feeding (indicated by a residual gastric volume of > or =250 mL during feed administration at > or =40 mL/hr). INTERVENTIONS: After a gastric aspirate of > or =250 mL, which was discarded, the enteral feeding was continued at the previous rate for 3 hrs. Intravenous erythromycin (200 mg) or placebo was then administered over 20 mins. The residual gastric contents were again aspirated and the volume was recorded 1 hr after the infusion began. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gastric emptying was calculated as volume of feed infused into the stomach over 4 hrs minus the residual volume aspirated. Mean gastric emptying was 139+/-37 (+/-SEM) mL after erythromycin and -2+/-46 mL after placebo (p = .027). Nasogastric feeding was successful in nine of ten patients treated with erythromycin and five of ten who received placebo 1 hr after infusion (chi-square p = .05). CONCLUSION: In critically ill patients who have large volumes of gastric aspirates indicating a failure to tolerate nasogastric feeding, a single small dose of intravenous erythromycin allows continuation of feed in the short term.

APACHE↗

Validation of a novel luminal flow velocimeter with video fluoroscopy and manometry in the human esophagus.

There is currently no ideal method for concurrently assessing intraluminal pressures and flows in humans with high temporal resolution. We have developed and assessed the performance of a novel fiber-optic laser-Doppler velocimeter, mounted in a multichannel manometric assembly. Velocimeter recordings were compared with concurrent fluoroscopy and manometry following 50 barium swallows in healthy subjects. During these swallows, the velocimeter sensor was situated in either the proximal (24 swallows) or the distal (26 swallows) esophagus. It signaled intraluminal flow following 46 of 50 swallows. A greater mean number of deflections were recorded in the distal compared with the proximal esophagus (4. 3 vs. 2.4, P = 0.001). The maximal flow velocity recorded did not differ between the proximal and distal esophagus (76.7 vs. 73.8 mm/s). No velocimeter signals commenced after fluoroscopic lumen occlusion. The velocimeter signals were closely temporally related to fluoroscopic barium flow. Upward catheter movement on swallowing sometimes appeared to cause a velocimeter signal. Manometrically "normal" swallows were no different from "abnormal" swallows in the number and velocity of deflections recorded by the velocimeter. This novel instrument measures intraluminal flow velocity and pressures concurrently, thus enabling direct study of pressure-flow relationships. Flow patterns differed between the proximal and distal esophagus.

Adult↗

Hyperglycemia affects cardiovascular autonomic nerve function in normal subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acute hyperglycemia on autonomic nerve function in normal subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Six healthy volunteers ages 19-32 years underwent paired studies during euglycemia (blood glucose 5.1 +/- 0.04 mmol/l) and hyperglycemia (blood glucose 15.7 +/- 0.48 mmol/l) induced by intravenous infusion of glucose and maintained for 150 min. The order of the two studies was randomized. In each experiment, supine heart rate, heart rate variation with respiration, ratio of the maximum to minimum R-R interval after standing ("30:15" ratio), systolic blood pressure response to standing, and diastolic blood pressure response to sustained handgrip were measured. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The supine heart rate was greater (P = 0.04) and the "30:15" ratio less (P = 0.03) during hyperglycemia than during euglycemia. Hyperglycemia had no significant effect on any of the other cardiovascular reflex tests. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that acute hyperglycemia affects autonomic nerve function in healthy humans.

Adult↗

Gastroparesis: diagnosis and management.

Gastroparesis occurs frequently and may be associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, impaired oral drug absorption and, in diabetic patients, poor blood glucose control. Although current knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for delayed gastric emptying is limited, it is clear that gastroparesis arises from a spectrum of motor dysfunctions. There is a poor correlation between symptoms and delay in gastric emptying, and objective measurement is therefore required for the diagnosis of gastroparesis. Scintigraphic measurement of gastric emptying is at present the only clinically applicable method, although other techniques, particularly radioisotopic breath tests and ultrasound, show considerable promise. Therapy with the prokinetic drugs, cisapride, domperidone, metoclopramide, and erythromycin, forms the mainstay of treatment. Although there have been few formal comparisons, cisapride is considered to be the drug of first choice. Current knowledge of the etiology, pathophysiology, investigation, and treatment of gastroparesis is discussed in this review.

Gastric Emptying↗

Postprandial antropyloroduodenal motility and gastric emptying in gastroparesis--effects of cisapride.

There is little information about the organisation of antroduodenal contractions or pyloric motility in patients with gastroparesis. The mechanisms responsible for the acceleration of gastric emptying by cisapride in patients with gastroparesis are also poorly understood. Simultaneous manometric and scintigraphic recordings were performed in 12 patients with gastroparesis and nine healthy volunteers before and after cisapride administration. Antropyloroduodenal pressures were recorded with a sleeve/side hole manometric assembly and gastric emptying with a scintigraphic method. Thirty minutes after the solid component of the test meal had begun to empty from the stomach all subjects received 5 mg cisapride intravenously over 10 minutes and recordings continued for a further 60 minutes. In the 30 minutes before cisapride there was no significant difference in the number of antral pressure waves (median 20 v 33, NS), basal pyloric pressure, or the number of isolated pyloric pressure waves between patients and volunteers, but the number of antral waves of extent > or = 6 cm (median 1 v 5, p < 0.05) was less in the patients, as was gastric emptying (8% v 20%, p < 0.05). In the patients, there was no change in the number of antral waves after cisapride, but there was an increase in the number of antral waves > or = 6 cm in extent (median 7 v 1, p < 0.05) and in the rate of gastric emptying (26% v 8%, p < 0.01). In the healthy subjects, cisapride increased gastric emptying (31% v 20%, p < 0.05), but reduced the number of antral waves (10 v 33, p < 0.05). Cisapride had no significant effect on the number of antral waves of extent more than or equal to 6 cm (11 v 5, NS). The number of isolated pyloric pressure waves decreased after cisapride (4 v 11, p < 0.05). There was a relationship between gastric emptying and the number of antral pressure waves of extent more than or equal to 6 cm in both the patients (r=0.38, p<0.05) and healthy subjects (r=0.05, p<0.01). There was no significant relationship between gastric emptying and the number of antral waves. It is concluded that disturbance of the relationship between antral, pyloric, and duodenal pressure waves is a major abnormality of postprandial gastric motor function in patients with gastroparesis. The stimulation of antral pressure waves of extent more than or equal to 6 cm may contribute to the acceleration of gastric emptying produced by cisapride in patients with gastroparesis and in normal subjects.

Adult↗

Hyperglycaemia slows gastric emptying in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

In 10 patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus gastric emptying of a digestible solid and liquid meal was measured during euglycaemia (blood glucose concentration 4-8 mmol/l) and during hyperglycaemia (blood glucose concentration 16-20 mmol/l). Gastric emptying was studied with a scintigraphic technique and blood glucose concentrations were stabilised using a modified glucose clamp. Patients were also evaluated for gastrointestinal symptoms, autonomic nerve function and glycaemic control. When compared to euglycaemia, the duration of the lag phase before any of the solid meal emptied from the stomach (p = 0.032), the percentage of the solid meal remaining in the stomach at 100 min (p = 0.032) and the 50% emptying time for the solid meal (p = 0.032) increased during hyperglycaemia. The 50% emptying time for the liquid meal (p = 0.042) was also prolonged during the period of hyperglycaemia. These results demonstrate that the rate of gastric emptying in Type 1 diabetes is affected by the blood glucose concentration.

Adult↗

Prognosis in intracerebral haemorrhage.

A retrospective study of 244 cases of ICH of mixed aetiology was made in respect of clinical course, outcome, and CT findings. Those factors found to be of prognostic significance were: Glasgow coma score on admission, clot volume, degree of midline shift, degree of intraventricular blood, and deterioration in the first postictal 48 hours. Those who required surgical evacuation after 48 hours of onset had a low mortality of 3% compared to 34% in those requiring earlier operation and 27% in the series as a whole. Small haematomas still carried an appreciable mortality and did not bias outcome in the various aetiological groups, although hypertension on admission appeared to be a helpful diagnostic pointer.

Adolescent↗

Value of radioisotope axial tomography in the diagnosis of a cystic malignant glioma.

A case is presented in which the patient had a deep tumour in the posterior aspect of the temporal lobe close to midline. The brain scan including a transverse section view at 8 cm from the vertex was negative and the other neuroradiological examinations inconclusive. One month later a follow up brain scan was performed and the conventional views were negative whereas the transverse section scan done at 10 cm from the vertex showed a lesion in the left temporo-parietal region and near midline. Three months later a repeat brain scan was done, and the lesion was visualized in the conventional views and confirmed by angiogram.

Adult↗