Biomedical subjects

W F Caspary

Publications and source records attributed to W F Caspary.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Alpha-fetoprotein and p53 autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus infection is a common cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene with generation of circulating autoantibodies to p53 protein have been detected in a significant proportion of patients with different malignancies. Using ELISA methods we assessed alpha-fetoprotein and anti-p53 as serological screening parameters for hepatocellular carcinoma in 147 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Liver cirrhosis was histologically diagnosed in 58 patients (39.5%) and a hepatocellular carcinoma confirmed in seven patients (4.8%). Serum alpha-fetoprotein was raised above 20 ng/ml in 26/147 patients and above 100 ng/ml in 5/147 patients. In 6/7 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, alpha-fetoprotein was raised above 20 ng/ml, but only in 3/7 cases above 100 ng/ml, resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 85.7% and 85.7% (alpha-fetoprotein > 20 ng/ml) and 42.9% and 98.6% (alpha-fetoprotein > 100 ng/ml) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. Autoantibodies to p53 were detected in 3/7 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, but in 0/140 patients without malignancy (sensitivity 42.9%, specificity 100%). Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma was improved by combining alpha-fetoprotein measurement (level > 100 ng/ml) with detection for anti-p53 (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 98.6%). In conclusion, the presence of anti-p53 was highly specific for malignancy and independent of alpha-fetoprotein status. Further studies including a larger number of patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma are required to investigate whether serological testing for anti-p53 in combination with alpha-fetoprotein might improve the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk patients with liver cirrhosis.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed1995

Isolation and characterization of apical membrane vesicles of the rat distal colon.

In this study a method for the isolation of apical membrane vesicles of the rat distal colon was developed. It is based on the purification of intact membrane caps followed by separation of the vesiculated apical membranes on a discontinous sucrose gradient. Purification of the apical membrane vesicles revealed an 11-fold enrichment of the marker enzyme alkaline phosphatase compared with the homogenate, while marker enzymes of other subcellular structures showed negligible enrichments and recovery of activity. The membrane fluidity (lipid structural order) of the isolated membranes measured from the fluorescence anisotropy by several fluorophores also coincided with the typical structural order of apical membranes of the rat colon. Transport studies with the fluorescent dye acridine orange implied that a diffusion potential independent, amiloride-sensitive Na+ -H+ exchange mechanism is present in the isolated apical membranes. Furthermore, the results suggest that a possible short chain fatty acid (SCFA) absorption by simple passive diffusion of the undissociated form, preceded by intraluminal protonation of the SCFA anion, is not provided by this Na+ -H+ exchange transport in the luminal membrane of the absorptive cell.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1995

The [13C]acetate breath test accurately reflects gastric emptying of liquids in both liquid and semisolid test meals.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The current standard for gastric emptying studies are radioactive isotope methods. [13C]breath tests have been developed as a nonradioactive alternative. The aim of this study was to validate a [13C]acetate breath test as a measure of gastric emptying of the liquid phase both in liquid and semisolid test meals by simultaneous radioscintigraphy. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with dyspeptic symptoms and 20 healthy volunteers were tested using a semisolid oatmeal or a liquid test meal. Both test meals were labeled by 150 mg sodium [13C]acetate and (in patients) by 45 MBq 99mTc-albumin colloid. Half-time of gastric emptying was calculated after curve fitting of the 13C exhalation to a modified power exponential function. 99mTc-albumin emptying was measured by conventional radioscintigraphy. RESULTS: The half-emptying times for the [13C]acetate breath test closely correlated to those measured by radioscintigraphy both for semisolids (r = 0.87) and liquids (r = 0.95). The time of maximum 13CO2 exhalation was itself a reliable parameter compared with the half-emptying times obtained by scintigraphy (r = 0.85 for semisolids; r = 0.94 for liquids). CONCLUSIONS: The [13C]acetate breath test is a reliable and noninvasive tool for the analysis of gastric emptying rates of liquid phases without radiation exposure.

Acetates↗

PubMed1995

Mercaptopropionate inhibits butyrate uptake in isolated apical membrane vesicles of the rat distal colon.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous observations have shown that mercapto- and bromo- short-chain fatty acids diminish fatty acid use in colonic epithelium. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this effect is attributable to the inhibition of short-chain fatty acid uptake. METHODS: Apical membrane vesicles of rat colonocytes were prepared by a discontinuous sucrose gradient after isolation of membrane caps. [14C]butyrate uptake was measured by rapid filtration technique. RESULTS: Preloading of isolated apical membrane vesicles with bicarbonate or butyrate stimulated [14C]butyrate uptake and resulted in up to fivefold overshoots. Increasing extravesicular butyrate concentrations saturated the bicarbonate-stimulated butyrate uptake with a binding constant of 44.7 +/- 5.9 mmol/L and a maximum velocity of 33.2 +/- 2.7 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1. Intravesicular butyrate uptake was inhibited by addition of 20 mmol/L 3-mercaptopropionate (43.0% +/- 5.6%), whereas 2-bromo-propionate (13.9% +/- 4.1%) and 4-bromobutyrate (22.6% +/- 5.3%) did not significantly alter butyrate uptake. Increasing concentrations of 3-mercaptopropionate had a competitive inhibitory effect on butyrate uptake with a binding constant following inhibition of 6.25 +/- 0.87 mmol/L and a maximum velocity of 5.82 +/- 1.01 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1. CONCLUSIONS: Butyrate uptake in apical membrane vesicles of rat distal colon is mediated by a low-affinity anion transport system, which can be competitively inhibited by 3-mercaptopropionate but not by 2-bromopropionate and 4-bromobutyrate.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗

PubMed1995

Epidermal growth factor inhibits hormone- and fibroblast growth factor-induced activation of phospholipase C in rat pancreatic acini.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits cholecystokinin-octapeptide-stimulated amylase release and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) production in isolated rat pancreatic acini. In the present study, pancreatic acini were used to investigate the effect of EGF on amylase release and 1,4,5-IP3 production induced by secretagogues that activate either phospholipase C-beta (carbachol, bombesin) or phospholipase C-gamma [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)]. The results show that EGF (100 ng/ml) inhibited bombesin (0.1 nM-1 microM)-induced amylase release almost completely. Similarly, the effect of EGF on carbachol-stimulated amylase release was substantial at submaximal (0.1 microM: 44% inhibition), maximal (1 microM: 75% inhibition), and supramaximal (100 microM: 33% inhibition) carbachol concentrations. EGF reduced amylase release at submaximal bFGF concentrations (0.1 nM: 40% inhibition), but not at supramaximal bFGF concentrations (1 and 10 nM). EGF decreased the peak increase of 1,4,5-IP3 in response to bombesin and carbachol (5 s after beginning of the incubation) and bFGF (15 s after beginning of the incubation) by 81 +/- 19%, 65 +/- 15%, and 56 +/- 18%, respectively. Receptor binding characteristics for secretagogues that activate phospholipase C were not influenced by coincubation with EGF excluding heterologous transmembrane receptor modulation. These results suggest that EGF inhibits the action of phospholipase C-beta- and gamma-isoenzyme-activating secretagogues in the exocrine pancreas by a postreceptor mechanism.

Amylases↗

PubMed1995

Pneumatic dilation in achalasia with a low-compliance balloon: results of a 5-year prospective evaluation.

To evaluate long-term efficacy and side effects after pneumatic dilation with low-compliance balloons, 40 patients with achalasia were prospectively studied during a 5-year period. All patients were investigated before, 4-6 weeks after, and at 28 +/- 15 months (final visit) after pneumatic dilation. Additionally, 12 patients underwent 24-hour esophageal pH-metry before and 26 +/- 14 months after dilation. Initial symptomatic success was obtained in 35 of 40 patients (87.5%). The remaining five and another seven patients with recurrent dysphagia underwent a second dilation, and two of these patients finally underwent esophagomyotomy. Effective dilation was reflected by a significant decrease of the symptom scores (p < 0.01) and an increase of the gastric cardia diameter both at 4-6 weeks after dilation and at the final visit (p < 0.01). Dilation reduced the lower esophageal sphincter pressure from 28.3 +/- 0.8 mmHg to 16.4 +/- 6.4 mmHg at the 4-6 weeks exam and to 14.7 +/- 5.5 mmHg at the final visit, respectively (p < 0.01). Neither the diameter of the esophageal body nor the motility of the tubular esophagus was affected by pneumatic. Esophageal pH-metry showed an increase of the number and duration of reflux episodes (pH < 4) after dilation (p < 0.05), whereas only one patient reported heartburn and another asymptomatic patient revealed esophagitis I0 at endoscopy. Therefore, pneumatic dilation with low compliance balloons proved to be safe and long lasting treatment of achalasia. Although prolonged esophageal acid exposure was measurable after dilation, clinically relevant gastroesophageal reflux occurred in only 5% (n = 2).

Catheterization↗

PubMed1995

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in rat pancreatic acinar cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates pancreatic acinar enzyme secretion. The mechanism of action of EGF in pancreatic acinar cells is not clear. In the present study we investigated the role of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) in EGF receptor signal transduction. Pancreatic acini were isolated from rat pancreas by collagenase digestion and permeabilized by digitonin. Activation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C (PLC) was assessed using a radioreceptor assay specific for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [IP3(1,4,5)]. For measurement of amylase secretion isolated pancreatic acini were incubated with secretagogues for 30 min at 37 degrees C. Amylase released into the medium was assessed by monitoring the hydrolysis rate of p-nitrophenyl-alpha,D-maltohepatoside. The weakly hydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[3-O-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) and guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP) were used to activate and inhibit G protein-mediated signal transduction, respectively. EGF (90 nM) stimulated amylase release in isolated pancreatic acini. This effect was enhanced by guanosine 5'-[3-O-thio]triphosphate (0.1 mM), which stimulates G proteins. Guanosine 5'-diphosphate (1 mM), which inhibits the activity of heterotrimeric G proteins, had no effect on basal and EGF-induced amylase release. Lower EGF concentrations (20 nM) inhibited COOH-terminal cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8)-induced IP3(1,4,5) production and amylase release in pancreatic acini). However, in the presence of GDP, EGF had no significant effect on CCK8-stimulated amylase release. Furthermore, coincubation of the acini with CCK8, EGF, and GDP revealed that GDP reduces the inhibitory effect of EGF on CCK8-induced IP3(1,4,5) production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of putrescine transport across the intestinal epithelium: study using isolated brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles of the enterocyte.

Putrescine transport was investigated in isolated brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles prepared from the rabbit enterocyte. Brush border vesicles were oriented right-side-out and basolateral vesicles inside-out, forming a model representing uptake and extrusion across the intestinal epithelium. Putrescine transport across both membranes was initially rapid, and 66% of the equilibrium uptake was achieved within the first minute. According to osmoplots and measurements at 4 degrees C, 20% of total incorporation presented binding to the membrane. In order to estimate actual uptake into the vesicles, Km was calculated from the differences in putrescine incorporation at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C, and was 12.7 mumol L-1 for brush border uptake and 38.2 mumol L-1 for basolateral extrusion. Putrescine uptake into brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles was not enhanced in the presence of an Na+ gradient. When Na+ was substituted with an uncharged solute, mannitol, putrescine incorporation was increased, indicating that putrescine uptake is not Na(+)-dependent and that cations might interfere with the carrier. Paraquat and methylglyoxalbis(guanylhydrazone), known to share the polyamine transport system, inhibited putrescine incorporation in both membrane vesicle preparations. Basolateral carrier showed significantly higher sensitivity to cations. We conclude that putrescine uptake across the apical membrane and extrusion across the basolateral membrane of the enterocyte are mediated by two different and independent carriers which differ in their electrical properties.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Subcellular distribution of small GTP-binding proteins in the intestinal cell line Caco-2.

The present study describes the subcellular distribution of low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in the human carcinoma cell line Caco-2. Highly enriched subcellular fractions of basolateral and brush border membranes were prepared by differential density centrifugation and divalent cation precipitation. Small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins were identified after SDS-PAGE transfer to nitrocellulose using [alpha 32P]-labelled GTP. Smg-proteins with molecular masses of 28, 27, 25 and 24 kDa were detectable in all fractions. Homogenate and brush border membrane fraction showed specific binding of [alpha 32P] GTP to proteins of a molecular mass of 21 kDa, while in the membrane fractions (apical, basolateral) a high enrichment of 24 kDa smg-proteins was detectable. Western blot analysis identified one of the 21 kDa proteins of the brush border membrane as rhoA. The homogenate of 4, 8, 11 and 14 days old Caco-2 cells showed different [alpha 32P]-GTP binding to 21, 27 and 28 kDa proteins. In conclusion, this study is the first showing the presence and asymmetrical distribution of smg-proteins among the various membrane components in the human carcinoma cell line Caco-2.

Caco-2 Cells↗

PubMed1995

[What is collagen colitis and how is it treated?].

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Adult↗

PubMed1995

Does pre-treatment with bile acids enhance efficacy of biliary extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy?

To determine the effect of chenodiol and ursodiol pre-treatment prior to shock wave lithotripsy of gallstones, two groups of 50 gallbladder stones (n = 100), obtained at cholecystectomy, were matched according to their size, shape and weight. All stones were stored in a bile perfused gallbladder model for two weeks. In the first group (A), serving as control, native bile was used, whereas in the other group (B), ursodiol- and chenodiol-enriched bile was perfused, both bile acids at therapeutic concentrations. After two weeks of pre-treatment, electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy (19 kV, 1 Hz) was performed until stones were fragmented to a size smaller 2 mm. Neither stone density, as assessed by computed tomography, nor their cholesterol content were different in group A and B. A trend towards higher fragmentation efficacy was observed for stones < 15 mm and for those with a CT-density < 100 HU. No influence of either stone shape (rounded vs. angular) or cholesterol content was observed with regard to fragmentation efficacy. Comparing the number of shock waves (SW) required for fragmentation (< 2 mm) there was no significant difference between group A (1850 +/- 1300 SW) and group B (1970 +/- 1500 SW, n.s.). These in vitro results do not support a significant role of bile acids as a rationale pre-treatment prior to lithotripsy of gallstones.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1994

Shock wave treatment of salivary duct stones: substantial progress with a minilithotripter.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has recently been introduced as the first non-operative treatment alternative for patients with sialolithiasis. Using conventional multipurpose lithotripters, however, successful treatment was achieved in only 36%-53% of patients. Therefore we developed an miniaturized lithotripter meeting the special requirements for extracorporeal shock wave treatment in the head and neck region. During a 1-year prospective trial clinical efficacy and safety were compared in 40 patients treated with a conventional electromagnetic lithotripter (group A) to 33 patients treated with the newly developed, miniaturized device (group B). The groups did not differ statistically regarding stone size or number or the proportion of stones located in the submandibular or parotid gland. Successful stone targeting, a prerequisite for shock wave treatment, was achieved by means of in-line ultrasonography in 30 of the 40 patients in group A and in 29 of 33 patients of group B. The number of shock wave impulses administered per session and the maximum shock wave intensities did not differ in the two groups. Significantly more frequent treatments with a longer mean duration of each session were required in group A (2.4 +/- 1.0 treatments, 47 +/- 11 min) than in group B (1.9 +/- 0.7 treatments, 28 +/- 9 min; P < 0.05). After a 3 month follow-up significantly more patients were free of stones in group B (22/33) than in group A (16/40; P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the number of patients free of complaints was significantly higher in group B (27/33) than in group A (22/40; P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗

PubMed1994

Simultaneous preparation of rabbit intestinal brush border and basolateral membrane vesicles.

A highly reproducible method is described for simultaneous preparation of the rabbit intestinal BBMV and BLMV. When BLMV were purified on continuous sorbitol gradient the final enrichment was over ten-fold for both Na+, K(+)-ATPase and K(+)-activated phosphatase. BBMV were separated using repeated precipitation with magnesium and EGTA. Marker enzymes of the brush border membrane also showed over ten-fold enrichment. There was no contamination with other cellular organelles. The characteristics of the preparations were checked by SDS gel electrophoresis, which showed distinct protein patterns for both membranes; monoclonal antibodies for villin reacted with the BBMV but not with BLMV, showing the absence of contamination of the BLMV fraction. The quality of the membranes, assessed by D-glucose transport, showed good functional properties for both BBMV and BLMV. Orientation of the vesicles was checked by permeabilizing with SDS buffered with BSA and showed that BLMV are oriented inside out and BBMV right side out. The model simulates normal transepithelial intestinal transport at the level of membrane vesicles and could be applied in transport studies in physiology and pharmacology.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Tyrphostins inhibit secretagogue-induced 1,4,5-IP3 production and amylase release in pancreatic acini.

We examined the role of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrphostins) in secretagogue-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) production and amylase secretion in rat pancreatic acinar cells. The data show that various specific cell-permeant tyrphostins (methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate, tyrphostin 25, and genistein) inhibited the cholecystokinin octapeptide-, carbachol-, and bombesin-induced 1,4,5-IP3 production and amylase release. In digitonin-permeabilized cells, tyrphostins decreased 1,4,5-IP3 accumulation and amylase release generated by directly stimulating G proteins with the weakly hydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate). Tyrphostins had no effect on vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced amylase secretion. In isolated pancreatic acinar membranes, cholecystokinin octapeptide caused a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a synthetic peptide containing the 12-amino acid sequence around a tyrosine phosphorylation site in pp6osrc. These results provide evidence that tyrosine kinases are involved in the activation of phospholipase C by G protein-coupled receptors in pancreatic acinar cells.

Amylases↗

PubMed1994

Effect of a Rab3A effector domain-related peptide, CCK, and EGF in permeabilized pancreatic acini.

We report here that a synthetic peptide of the effector domain of the small-molecular-weight GTP-binding protein Rab3A (EDRab3AL) is a potent stimulator of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] production and amylase secretion in digitonin-permeabilized pancreatic acini. Moreover, the Rab3A effector domain peptide caused phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown, indicating that the observed increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 is due to stimulation of a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC). The dose-response curve for EDRab3AL-induced amylase release was biphasic, showing a maximum at 0.3 nM EDRab3AL and a decline at higher peptide concentrations. By contrast, the dose-response curve for EDRab3AL-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 production was monophasic, showing stimulation with increasing EDRab3AL concentrations. A peptide of the effector domain of Rab1A, EDRab1AL, had no effect, indicating that the response to EDRab3AL is specific. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) and EDRab3AL had additive effects on the acinar Ins(1,4,5)P3 level. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which has recently been shown to inhibit CCK-8-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 production in pancreatic acinar cells, also decreased EDRab3AL-induced Ins(1,4,5)P3 production. These results suggest that EDRab3AL and CCK-8 act on the same EGF-inhibitable PLC by independent mechanisms. CCK-8 increased and EGF decreased amylase release in response to submaximal EDRab3AL concentrations. By contrast, at supramaximal EDRab3AL concentrations EGF increased and CCK-8 decreased EDRab3AL-stimulated amylase release. EDRab3AL had no effect in intact acini, indicating that the site of action of EDRab3AL is intracellular. We conclude that EDRab3AL regulates phosphoinositide-specific PLC activity and thereby amylase secretion in an analogous fashion to CCK-8, but from within the cell.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗

PubMed1994

Epidermal growth factor inhibits amylase secretion and activation of phospholipase C in response to calcium-mobilizing secretagogues in rat pancreatic acini.

We recently showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced activation of phospholipase C and amylase release in isolated rat pancreatic acini. In the present study the effect of EGF on amylase release and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) production in response to other calcium-mobilizing secretagogues, i.e. bombesin and carbachol, was examined in isolated pancreatic acini. EGF (17 nM) inhibited bombesin (100 nM)-stimulated amylase secretion from 10.3 +/- 1.7% to 0.8 +/- 1.6% of total above basal. Different from CCK-8, EGF reduced amylase release at both submaximal (< or = 1 microM) and supramaximal (> 1 microM) carbachol concentrations. Moreover, EGF (17 nM) inhibited bombesin-, carbachol-, and CCK-8-induced 1,4,5-IP3-production at five seconds after beginning of the incubation by 81 +/- 19%, 65 +/- 15%, and 60 +/- 12%, respectively. In conclusion, these results show that EGF inhibits amylase secretion in response to diverse calcium-mobilizing secretagogues in the exocrine pancreas and suggests that this inhibition is mediated by inhibition of phospholipase C.

Amylases↗

PubMed1994

Clinical evaluation of a miniaturized desktop breath hydrogen analyzer.

UNLABELLED: A small desktop electrochemical H2 analyzer (EC-60-Hydrogen monitor) was compared with a stationary electrochemical H2 monitor (GMI-exhaled Hydrogen monitor). RESULTS: The EC-60-H2 monitor shows a high degree of precision for repetitive (n = 10) measurements of standard hydrogen mixtures (CV 1-8%). The response time for completion of measurement is shorter than that of the GMI-exhaled H2 monitor (37 sec. vs 53 sec.; p < 0.0001), while reset times are almost identical (54 sec. vs 51 sec. n.s). In a clinical setting, breath H2-concentrations measured with the EC-60-H2 monitor and the GMI-exhaled H2 monitor were in excellent agreement with a linear correlation (Y = 1.12X + 1.022, r2 = 0.9617, n = 115). With increasing H2-concentrations the EC-60-H2 monitor required larger sample volumes for maintaining sufficient precision, and sample volumes greater than 200 ml were required with H2-concentrations > 30 ppm. CONCLUSION: For routine gastrointestinal function testing, the EC-60-H2 monitor is an satisfactory and reliable, easy to use and inexpensive desktop breath hydrogen analyzer, whereas in patients with difficulty in cooperating (children, people with severe pulmonary insufficiency), special care has to be applied to obtain sufficiently large breath samples.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Clinically feasible stable isotope technique at a reasonable price: analysis of 13CO2/12CO2-abundance in breath samples with a new isotope selective-nondispersive infrared spectrometer.

Up to now, stable isotope analysis of carbon dioxide in breath samples is carried out with sensitive but very expensive and complex isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Aiming at a more widespread application of breath tests in gastroenterological diagnostic routine, we tested a newly developed isotope selective non-dispersive infrared spectrometer (NDIRS) in comparison to IRMS. 13C-urea breath tests were performed in 63 patients as the routine screening method for Helicobacter pylori infection. Breath samples at baseline and (15) 30 min after administration of the test solution containing 13C-urea were analysed both by NDIRS and conventional IRMS. The correlation between the delta values of both devices was linear and in good agreement (r = 0.96; p < 0.0001; Y = 1.01 X -0.94). Comparing the delta over baseline-values, the correlation was Y = 1.11 X -0.36 (r = 0.98; p < 0.0001). Referring to the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection with IRMS we calculated a sensitivity of 95.0% and an unchanged specificity (100%) for NDIR analysis. In conclusion, NDIRS appears a promising, easy to operate, and low cost potential alternative to conventional IRMS thus encouraging further detailed investigation and more widespread application of the noninvasive stable isotope technique in breath tests for gastrointestinal function testing.

Adolescent↗