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Biomedical subjects

R Stave

Publications and source records attributed to R Stave.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Epithelium related deposition of activated complement in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is unknown whether Helicobacter pylori infection activates complement in vivo. Mucosal deposition of various activation products of the complement system may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and was therefore studied by immunohistochemistry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ethanol fixed antrum or body gastric tissue sections from 24 patients infected with H pylori (determined by bacterial immunohistochemistry) and 22 uninfected patients were examined by immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to activation neoepitopes in C3b and in the terminal complex (TCC). As a control group, biopsy samples from the gastric stump of 23 Billroth II operated patients were studied. RESULTS: Patchy, bright staining for TCC occurred below the surface epithelium and around the glands in H pylori positive and negative gastritis as well as in stump gastritis but seldom in normal mucosa. Activated C3 was present at the apical face of the surface epithelium, significantly more often in the antrum and body from patients with than without H pylori infection (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03 respectively), and particularly in samples with granulocyte infiltration (p = 0.04). Many bacteria were coated with activated C3 towards the pit openings but seldom within the foveolae. CONCLUSIONS: Local complement activation was shown to take place in simple chronic gastritis, associated as well as unassociated with H pylori infection, and also in stump gastritis. The fact that activated C3 was seldom seen on H pylori within the foveolae, suggested that the bacterium evades complement attack in this location.

Adult

Liver cell necrosis and regeneration following injections of carbon tetrachloride. Effects of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone and somatostatin.

Mice were given 10 micrograms somatostatin or 25 micrograms TRH intraperitoneally 10 min before s.c. injection of 2 or 20 mg CCl4. The extent of liver cell necrosis and nuclear size were measured by the electronic Mini Mop method and the extent of necrosis and nuclear pleomorphism were estimated by a visual linear analogue scale of 100 mm, and compared to plasma concentrations of ASAT and ALAT. Pre-treatment with TRH or somatostatin resulted in significant reduction in the extent of necrosis 24 h after CCl4-injections (25%), with a lowering of ASAT from 13209 +/- 2955 U/l to 5144 +/- 924 after TRH and to 6186 +/- 966 after somatostatin, and of ALAT from 14343 +/- 3209 to 7718 +/- 1727 and 6494 +/- 1253 U/l, respectively. After 3 days the necroses were reduced from 16.5 +/- 1.7% by the Minimop method to 1.4 +/- 0.5% (90%) in mice given CCl4 alone, and from 12.3 +/- 1.7% to 3.8 +/- 1.2% in mice pretreated with TRH, and from 12.3 +/- 1.8% to 3.8 +/- 1.7% (70%) in mice pretreated with somatostatin. The plasma concentrations of ASAT and ALAT were reduced correspondingly. After 5 days no necroses were seen, and the plasma ASAT and ALAT were normal. After 6 months of weekly injections of TRH or somatostatin before 20 mg CCl4 the liver cell nuclear size (10.5 and 9.7 0.3 mu 2) was similar to that after CCl4 alone (9.7 0.3 mu 2), and twice that of controls (4.6-5.4 0.1 mu 2). Liver cell necrosis was not seen. The plasma concentrations of ASAT (131 8.6-162 11.3) and ALAT (98 8-104 9 Iu/l) were similarly 2-3 times those in controls. TRH and somatostatin thus reduced liver cell injury and delayed regeneration after single injections of CCl4. After 6 months of weekly injections no effects were observed.

Animals

Local immune defence in relation to gastritis in Billroth-II-resected stomachs.

Biopsy specimens from Billroth-II-resected stomachs obtained endoscopically 28-32 years after the operation were subjected to an immunohistochemical study by two-colour immunofluorescence staining. The epithelial distribution of immunoglobulin A (IgA), secretory component (SC), lysozyme (Ly), and lactoferrin (Lf) was evaluated, and IgA-, IgM-, and IgG-producing cells were quantified in the lamina propria. Gastric body mucosa excised from resected stomachs obtained from patients with duodenal ulcer was used as control and showed considerably less extensive gastritis than the stump mucosa. Both specimen categories showed enhanced expression of epithelial IgA, SC, Ly, and Lf associated with severe gastritis, except for areas with intestinal metaplasia, which lacked Ly and Lf. The number of IgA-, IgM-, and IgG-producing cells was significantly increased with increasing degree of gastritis, particularly so for IgG cells on a relative basis. After partial gastrectomy, therefore, the stump mucosa generally responds with activation of local immune mechanisms; this response is principally similar to that seen in simple gastritis of comparable severity.

Adult

Local immunoglobulin production is different in gastritis associated with dermatitis herpetiformis and simple gastritis.

The degree of inflammation and atrophy in gastric body mucosal specimens (n = 38) from 28 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) was graded histologically. Immunoglobulin (Ig) producing cells were enumerated by paired immunofluorescence staining in a 500 microns wide section area from the muscularis mucosae to the lumen (mucosal 'tissue unit'). The number of immunocytes of the three main classes (IgA, IgM, and IgG) was significantly raised with increasing degree of gastritis. All three classes were increased in specimens showing atrophy compared with those without atrophy. IgA cells predominated as in simple gastritis, but a striking difference was a marked increase of IgM cells in specimens with the most pronounced DH-associated gastritis. Relative class distribution of immunocytes within different mucosal zones showed that the percentage of IgA cells was significantly higher in the luminal than in the basal zone, whereas the contrary was true for IgG cells. IgM cells did not show any zonal preference. No relation was seen between small bowel and gastric lesions. The disproportionate increase of gastric IgM producing cells in DH might nevertheless reflect seeding of precursor cells of the secretory immune system generated in the proximal small intestine where the local IgM response is relatively pronounced.

Adolescent

Quantitative distribution of immunoglobulin-producing cells in gastric mucosa: relation to chronic gastritis and glandular atrophy.

Immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing immunocytes were quantified by paired immunofluorescence staining in specimens of gastric antral (n = 52) and body (n = 117) mucosa obtained from 45 patients with various gastrointestinal disorders. Enumerations were carried out in a 500 micron wide zone from the muscularis mucosae to the lumen ('tissue unit'). The specimens were divided into three categories according to the degree of inflammation, and each specimen received a grade for atrophy (0-2). The total number of IgA-, IgM- and IgG-producing cells per tissue unit increased strikingly with increasing degree of inflammation, both in antral and body mucosa. IgA immunocytes predominated (61-91%) in all specimens, but the IgG isotype showed the largest relative increase (four to 17-fold), particularly in the basal part of the mucosa. In this layer of the gastric body the proportion of IgG cells was also significantly raised in association with atrophy, irrespective of degree of inflammation. Locally produced IgG may be of protective significance in terms of internal (or 'second line') defence but may at the same time maintain immunopathological mechanisms contributing to the chronicity of gastritis.

Adolescent

Prevention of recurrent ulcer bleeding, a multicentre study of the effect of ranitidine and trimipramine over one year.

Short term studies of the prevention of bleedings from peptic ulcers and erosions have been reported by a number of authors following treatment with antacids (1), H2-receptor blockers, cimetidine (2-15), a combination of cimetidine and tranexamic acid (16), cimetidine and somatostatin (17), cimetidine and sucralfate or secretion (18, 19, 20), cimetidine compared to antacid (21), and cimetidine compared to antacid and pirenzepine (22). The H2-blocker rantitidine has been compared to placebo (24, 25, 26). An uncontrolled study has been performed using proglumide (27), a controlled study with vasopressin (28) and with secretin versus somatostatin (28). In the studies with H2-receptor antagonists conflicting results have been obtained. No report has been published concerning the effect over more than a few days or weeks.

Dibenzazepines

Endoscopic gallstone extraction following hydrostatic balloon dilatation of stricture in the common bile duct.

A patient with long-standing biliary complaints and a previous cholecystojejunostomy, reputed to be suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis was, on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), found to have several large gallstones proximal to a stenosis in the common bile duct. After endoscopic papillotomy (EPT), and endoscopic hydrostatic dilatation of the stricture, the gallstones were successfully removed by means of an endoscopic stone extractor. After 15 months the patient remains well, with no complaints, and with completely normal liver function tests.

Aged

The antisecretory effects of RP 40 749 in patients with previous duodenal ulcer.

Thirteen male patients with a history of duodenal ulcer were given 150 mg RP 40 749 or placebo tablets at bedtime in a double-blind crossover study. The medication was given for two periods of 10 days with an 11-day wash-out period between. pH and pepsin concentrations were determined each hour in aspirates of gastric juice for 24 h on day 1, 10, 22, 31, and a 2-h collection of gastric juice was examined in the middle of the treatment and wash-out periods. At defined hours blood samples were examined for gastrin, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) by radioimmunological methods, and concentrations of RP 40 749 were determined in blood and gastric juice. Meals were served at fixed hours on days 1, 10, 22, and 31. After treatment with RP 40 749 a highly significant elevation of pH was found after the 1st day compared with placebo, most pronounced during night hours. The pepsin activity was slightly elevated. The serum concentrations of gastrin were increased and those of somatostatin and PP decreased during the first 3-4 h after medication, with a subsequent normalization. No side effects were observed.

Adult

Symptoms in patients with peptic ulcer and hematemesis and/or melena related to the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.

One hundred and seven consecutive patients with hematemesis and/or melena and a diagnosis of duodenal, gastric, or esophageal ulcers were interviewed immediately before or after endoscopy about the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and symptoms before the hemorrhage. If the patients admitted no symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or heartburn, they were classified as having no ulcer symptoms before the hemorrhage. Patients who had not taken NSAIDs during the last 48 h before the hemorrhage were classified as not having taken NSAIDs. Significantly fewer patients had ulcer symptoms in the group that had used NSAIDs than in the other group (p less than 0.01). This may be interpreted as a possible masking effect by NSAIDs on ulcer symptoms. Physicians and patients should be aware of this possible effect of NSAIDs.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal

Overdosage of piroxicam.

A 54-year-old woman took an overdose of 1 800 mg piroxicam. She complained of nausea and abdominal pain. Endoscopy revealed multiple superficial ulcerations in the pyloric antrum and the first part of duodenum. There were no symptoms or signs from other organ system and recovery was uneventful. The highest serum concentration was 241.6 mg/l, which is about 30 times the usual therapeutic level of 5-10 mg/l.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Specific and nonspecific humoral defense factors in the epithelium of normal and inflamed gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemical localization of immunoglobulins, secretory component, lysozyme, and lactoferrin.

Epithelial distributions of immunoglobulin A, secretory component, lysozyme, and lactoferrin were studied by paired immunofluorescence staining in ethanol-fixed biopsy specimens from gastric antral and body mucosa. Fluorescence scores were assigned semiquantitatively for the epithelium in three mucosal zones (foveolar, isthmus, and glandular). In each case, degree of inflammation was graded blindly after conventional histologic staining of serial sections. The results showed that the overall epithelial expression of local defense factors was significantly enhanced in association with gastritis, both with regard to nonspecific antimicrobial substances (lysozyme and lactoferrin) and the external transfer of immunoglobulin A (mediated by secretory component) as a potential carrier of protective antibodies. The antral isthmus and glandular zones were most active in both respects. Despite the expression of relatively large amounts of epithelial immunoglobulin A and secretory component in metaplastic glands, these elements lacked the nonspecific defense factors (except for lysozyme in Paneth cells)--even when they occurred in the antral mucosa--and may, therefore, represent particularly vulnerable areas.

Adult

Quantitation of immunoglobulin- and peptide hormone-producing cells in gastrointestinal mucosa. Comparison of direct immunofluorescence and the unlabelled antibody peroxidase--antiperoxidase method.

Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and the unlabelled antibody peroxidase--antiperoxidase (PAP) methods were compared on a quantitative basis with regard to visualization of IgA immunocytes and gastrin cells in human gastric mucosa, and secretin cells in canine duodenal mucosa. With both DIF and PAP, two serial sections from 13 biopsy specimens were evaluated for each cell type--thus keeping tissue preparation the same with both staining methods. The three cell types were well visualized regardless of method, and there was no significant difference between cell numbers recorded with the DIF or PAP. When blind duplicate counts were obtained with an interval of three weeks, comparisons of weighted differences and the Kendall's rank correlation test indicated good precision; the reproducibility of duplicate enumerations with each method was comparable to that between the two methods. It was concluded that DIF and PAP are equally applicable for studies of these three cell types under the conditions used in this investigation.

Cell Count