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PubMed1977

Development of gastrointestinal function and selected dysfunctions.

This brief review of gastrointestinal function was designed to update the reader on our current state of knowledge about development in general as well as certain specific gastrointestinal functions necessary for effective enteric feedings as the primary source of neonatal nutrition. Many more studies in humans during the perinatal period are needed. However, these studies must await before their use can be condoned in man. The development of LES and gastric emptying was discussed in the context of regurgitation, a common problem in premature infants. Factors contributing to the maturation of the intestinal surface were reviewed as a basis for considering colostral stimulation of intestinal maturation in the external environment. Finally the development of intestinal motility and anal rectal tone were considered and suggestions as to further studies needed made.

Colostrum↗
PubMed1997

Misoprostol-associated platelet aggregation dysfunction and increased gastrointestinal blood loss.

We report a case where an acquired deficit in platelet aggregation was associated with the use of misoprostol and contributed to increased gastrointestinal blood loss. A 70-year-old man presented with chronic gastrointestinal blood loss secondary to widespread telangiectases. Investigations showed prolonged bleeding time and severely impaired platelet aggregation in vitro. Withdrawal of misoprostol resulted in resolution of the prolonged bleeding time and improvement in the platelet dysfunction. We conclude that misoprostol can lead to impaired platelet function and may exacerbate blood loss.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Gastrointestinal involvement in insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus.

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in diabetes mellitus has never been evaluated systematically in all parts of the digestive system in a group of diabetics. Therefore, we have evaluated the frequency, extent, and clinical significance of GI complications in 75 consecutive, male, insulin-requiring diabetics (46 with neuropathy). Nineteen percent of the 75 patients and 30% of those with neuropathy had one or more GI symptoms. Esophageal, gastric, gallbladder, and small intestinal functions were studied in 30 patients using radionuclide esophageal and gastric emptying, postprandial gallbladder emptying, and intestinal transit of lactulose. We divided them into three groups: (1) 10 without neuropathy, (2) 10 with peripheral neuropathy, and (3) 10 with autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-five patients (83%) had abnormalities of at least one GI organ, and 57% had abnormalities of two. Nineteen of the 25 patients (76%) with GI involvement and 8 of 9 (89%) symptomatic diabetics had delayed esophageal emptying. Symptomatic diabetics had more diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction than asymptomatic diabetics and also had more widespread and more severe gastrointestinal involvement than asymptomatic diabetics. Therefore, our results indicate that in diabetics, (1) gastrointestinal motor abnormalities are common even though they are usually asymptomatic and (2) gastrointestinal dysfunction, especially in symptomatic diabetics, is often widespread and usually includes the esophagus.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed2004

Role of gastrointestinal permeability in exertional heatstroke.

Reduced splanchnic blood flow and hyperthermia during exercise-heat stress can produce gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction and increased gastrointestinal permeability. This may allow endotoxin to enter the internal environment, causing local and systemic immune responses. These responses may be involved in the cause and outcome of exertional heatstroke. Countermeasures may reduce gastrointestinal permeability and possibly exertional heatstroke occurrence and outcome.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation and treatment of autonomic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Despite the extensive impact of autonomic function on the gastrointestinal system, there is little understanding of the mechanisms by which specific autonomic abnormalities translate into particular gastrointestinal complaints. Three logical alternatives include: (1) the underlying disorder affects the autonomic and gastrointestinal systems independently; (2) autonomic dysfunction alters gastrointestinal processing directly; (3) gastrointestinal manifestations arise as a delayed, indirect consequence of autonomic dysfunction. The major gastrointestinal manifestations of dysautonomia include esophageal dysmotility such as achalasia, gastroparesis, and small bowel bacterial overgrowth in the upper tract. Lower tract disorders include diarrhea, fecal incontinence, and constipation. Sorting through the varied causes of these disorders requires a careful history and examination in each patient. Supportive diagnostic studies may include radionuclide imaging, motility examination, and electrogastrography. Autonomic studies can (1) distinguish a purely enteric from a more generalized dysautonomia; (2) provide surrogate information about motility; (3) differentiate primary (e.g., multiple system atrophy) from secondary (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome) dysautonomias as the etiology of gastrointestinal symptoms. Several new strategies are available for the treatment of gastroparesis, constipation, irritable bowel, and sphincteric incontinence.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency in mice exacerbates gastrointestinal candidiasis.

Dysfunction of neutrophils in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus is at least partly responsible for secondary microbial diseases in these individuals, including invasive gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis. Immunoregulatory disturbances associated with the development of AIDS in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients exacerbates Candida albicans infection of the upper GI tract and frequently leads to oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. In this article, we present the first report of a murine model of invasive GI candidiasis associated with an AIDS-related murine immunodeficiency syndrome that results from infection of C57BL/6 mice with a previously described retrovirus complex (LP-BM5). Mice of the inbred strain were infected with C. albicans by oral-intragastric inoculation as infants and with the retrovirus by the intraperitoneal route 30 days later. Control mice of the same strain were infected with C. albicans as above and subsequently infected with the avirulent, ecotropic helper virus (MBI-5). Animals were killed 90 days after retroviral challenge. Total and differential blood cell counts, CD4+ T-cell counts in the spleen, and the histopathology of the gastric mucosa of experimental and control animals were determined. The virulent LP-BM5-infected animals developed murine AIDS and showed eruptive and suppurative lesions, with associated C. albicans mainly in regions of the cardial-atrium fold of the stomach. Well-defined abscesses with entrapped C. albicans hyphae were observed in the region of the cardial-atrium fold of control mice. A significant increase in the number of C. albicans CFU in homogenized and plated segments of the GI tract was recognized in mice with murine AIDS versus the control animals. The murine model of GI candidiasis reported here permits examination of the nature of C. albicans interaction with the gastric mucosa both in the immunocompetent host under conditions in which the yeast exists predominantly as a commensal organism and in the immunosuppressed host during progressive stages of AIDS induced by a retroviral infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Chronic gastrointestinal problems and bowel dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury.

Amongst complications arising from spinal cord injury (SCI), chronic gastrointestinal (G-I) problems and bowel dysfunction have not received as much research attention as many other medical and rehabilitation problems, even although their incidence is not negligible. We therefore investigated chronic G-I problems and bowel dysfunction in SCI patients where the degree of these was such that activities of daily living (ADL) were significantly affected and/or long-term medical management was required. Detailed semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 72 traumatic SCI patients. The history of SCI was longer than 6 months, bowel habits had settled, and neurological recovery was completed. The incidence of chronic G-I problems was very high (62.5%), most were associated with defecation difficulties such as severe constipation, difficult with evacuation, pain associated with defecation, or urgency with incontinence. These problems had an extensive impact on ADL, and in particular, restricted diet (80%), restricted outdoor ambulation (64%) and caused unhappiness with bowel care (62%). Bowel care was performed once per 2.85 +/- 1.96 days and occupied an average of 42.1 +/- 28.7 min. To improve bowel habits, 43% of the patients took oral medication, and 36.1% controlled their diet. The usual methods of bowel care were anal massage (34.7%), unaided self-defecation with or without oral medication and abdominal massage (29.2%), finger enema (18.1%), rectal suppository (15.2%) and in two patients a colostomy tube had been inserted because of rectal cancer and traumatic colorectal injury. These chronic G-I symptoms were vague and very subjective, but significant enough to affect the quality of life. Bowel dysfunction was not related to age, duration of, or the neurological level of injury, ASIA score of ADL level, and bowel habits had generally settled within 6 months of SCI. With regard to frequency, time, and method of defection, bowel care habits varied considerably amongst individuals, and in relation to the extent to which practical results matched the level of expectation generated by physicians' recommended care program. Individual satisfaction was also very subjective. We therefore suggest that during the early stage of rehabilitation, an appropriate bowel program should be properly designed and adequate training provided.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of dopexamine on gastrointestinal function and organ dysfunction in the critically ill.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an infusion of dopexamine for up to 7 days has an effect on gastrointestinal (GIT) absorption and permeability, renal function or organ dysfunction in the critically ill. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, randomised controlled clinical trial in two general adult intensive care units. PATIENTS: 102 critically ill adult patients predicted to require organ support for at least 4 days. INTERVENTIONS: After resuscitation patients were randomly assigned to receive an infusion of up to 2 mcg/kg/min [corrected] per minute of dopexamine or control. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: GIT absorption and permeability were measured using the ratio of absorbed rhamnose to 3- O-methyl- D-glucose and the ratio of lactulose to rhamnose on days 1, 4 and 7. Creatinine clearance was measured concurrently. Daily Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were calculated. Fifty-two patients received dopexamine. No significant difference between the two groups emerged on any of the measured parameters during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: No benefit was seen from a prolonged infusion of dopexamine in this group of critically ill patients in terms of GIT absorption and permeability, creatinine clearance or organ dysfunction.

Creatinine↗
PubMed2006

Upper and lower gastrointestinal motor and sensory dysfunction after human spinal cord injury.

This chapter describes the results of investigations of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract in subjects with complete and incomplete spinal cord injury. In one study, gastric emptying was investigated and found delayed. The delay was tentatively attributed to a colo-gastric inhibitory reflex triggered by inappropriate colonic emptying. In another study, anorectal motor and sensory functions were measured. Decreased tone of the internal anal sphincter, exaggerated recto-anal reflexes following rectal distension and spontaneous high-amplitude rectal contractions at low distension volumes were among the findings of the study. Some of the subjects, classified as having a complete injury according to usual clinical criteria (American Spinal Injury Association, ASIA), reported sensation of distension of the rectum. This raises the issue of the need for better methods for the clinical assessment of sensory transmission in the spinal cord. Promising results obtained with functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain during rectal stimulation in a small group of paraplegics, with complete injuries by ASIA criteria, showed evidence of activation of several brain regions.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Complex diagnosis of congenital cranial dysostosis in children].

Ten patients (aged 3-15 years) with congenital cranial dysostosis were examined by a pediatrician, geneticist, gastroenterologist, neuropathologist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist, and orthopaedist. In addition to the clinical signs characteristic of hereditary multiple developmental defects, the study revealed changes in the jaws and temporomandibular joint and local factors promoting the progress of deformations of the jaws. Manifest and inapparent pathological changes and dysfunctions in gastrointestinal organs were paralleled by dysfunctions of the central and autonomic nervous systems, risk of maxillofacial and general deformations, and signs of congenital disorders in calcium, lactic acid, and pyridoxine metabolism. The results necessitate analyses of the blood and urine and development of new methods for the diagnosis of congenital cranial dysostosis and improvement of methods for the correction of this condition.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

[Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract: catalyst of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

The abnormal colonization of gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the loss of the intestinal barrier function, the bacterial translocation (BT) are signs of intestinal insufficiency which are supposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of MODS. This worsens the condition or leads to lethal outcome in patients after major abdominal surgery in ICU. The goal of this investigation was to consider the scientific and clinical evidence for the BT role in the pathogenesis of MODS and to present evidence about the advantages and the efficiency of antibiotic combination Amikacin plus Clindamycin as a new therapeutic strategy for the improvement of the outcome in patients with MODS and sepsis. To that purpose patients with diffuse peritonitis of different origin were analyzed. After surgery some patients were left with laparostomy. This gave the possibility for revisions and lavages of the abdominal cavity and for taking material for microbiological analyses. The patients were grouped into two subgroups according to antibiotic treatment: 1st group--combination of usually used antibiotics; 2nd group--Amikacin plus Clindamycin. The second group patients showed good tolerance to this antibiotic combination and good therapeutic effect.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

Dendritic cell biology, dysfunction and immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancers.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers make up a significant proportion of newly diagnosed malignant disease. The five-year survival for these GI cancers is poor. Anti-cancer host defences are thought to play a role in these cancers, albeit they are suboptimal. Novel immunotherapies are being introduced to treat such patients. This review describes basic cell biology of dendritic cells, as they are thoughtto play a key role in generating effective anti-tumour responses. Dendritic cell dysfunction in patients with various cancers is documented and immunotherapy using dendritic cells in a range of GI cancers is described and discussed

Dendritic Cells↗
PubMed2006

Gastrointestinal symptoms related to autonomic dysfunction following spinal cord injury.

The impact of spinal cord injury on an individual's gastrointestinal tract function is often poorly understood by the general public and also by those involved with persons with spinal cord injury. This chapter reviews the anatomy, physiology and function of the gastrointestinal tract, with particular emphasis on neurological control mechanisms. In turn, it relates the effect that spinal cord injury has on the neurological control of the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms that are encountered by patients in the acute phase following injury, and by individuals in the months/years after injury, with particular reference to the effect of altered autonomic nervous system control of the gastrointestinal tract, are discussed. Together with a following summary of current bowel management regimens and techniques, this chapter aims to provide an overall view of the effect that autonomic dysfunction due to spinal cord injury has on gastrointestinal function.

Autonomic Dysreflexia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastrointestinal symptoms and masticatory dysfunction.

One hundred and forty-two female patients consulting a prosthodontic clinic for masticatory disturbances and suffering from mandibular ridge atrophy were systematically interrogated for the presence of digestive symptoms. Eight-five subjects (60% of the studied population) reported current digestive complaints; 32 had abdominal pain (burning sensation, bloating or cramps), 12 presented stool transit alteration (constipation or diarrhoea) and 41 reported both abdominal pain and stool transit abnormalities. A prospective evaluation of the digestive symptoms was obtained following surgical reconstruction of the atrophic mandibular ridge and insertion of functional dental prostheses to correct masticatory dysfunction. One year after jaw surgery, 62 of 73 patients (85%) initially complaining of abdominal pain reported symptomatic improvement of their condition, while a marked amelioration in stool habits was noted in 34 of 53 patients (64%) initially suffering intestinal transit alteration. The high incidence of digestive complaints in our patients with dental deficits and the improvement of these symptoms after jaw reconstruction support a case for masticatory failure in the development of digestive symptoms.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2004

[Study on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines in promoting gastrointestinal peristalsis].

Traditional Chinese medicine has accumulated rich experience in treating dysfunction of gastrointestinal peristalsis. In recent years, a large number of studies have been made on the mechanism and effects of traditional Chinese medicines on the gastrointestinal peristalsis, and the concept of "gastrointestinal promoting Chinese medicine" has been advocated. These traditional Chinese medicines can be divided into three types: promoting the gastrointestinal peristalsis, inhibiting the gastrointestinal peristalsis, and bi-directional modulating. The in vivo and/or in vitro experiments showed that some of the traditional Chinese medicines for activating blood or regulating qi could promote the stomach peristalsis, and the traditional Chinese medicines for moistening intestines to relieve constipation or invigorating spleen to promote digestion could accelerate the intestinal peristalsis. The mechanism lies in the neuroregulation and gut-peptide regulation. Further research on multi-regulation and of multi-target should be done, for the mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicines in regulating the gastrointestinal peristalsis is far more complicated.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗