24-hour heart rate variability in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The GERD pathogenesis may be associated with disturbances of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which can be revealed using heart rate variability studies (HRV). The aim of presented study was to estimate the circadian ANS activity in 24-hour HRV recordings in GERD patients, both in non-erosive form (NERD), and with erosive, inflammatory changes in the esophagus (ERD patients). Our results demonstrated disturbances in the parasympathetic ANS part, but they also delivered the proofs for possible sympathetic disorder.

Serum trypsin inhibitory activity and alpha-1-antitrypsin level in liver diseases.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin level and serum trypsin inhibitory activity were measured in patients with viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. The most pronounced discrepancy between these two parameters were observed in patients with liver cirrhosis: the increase of alpha-1-At level was not accompanied by adequate increase of trypsin inhibitory activity. Some mechanisms potentially responsible for this discrepancy are discussed.

Phenazone metabolism during perfusion of isolated guinea pig liver.

After 3 hr of perfusion of isolated guinea pig liver with a medium containing 407 ng/ml of phenazone, the drug concentration in the bile was 1.5 times higher than the initial concentration in the perfusion fluid. This indicates that in addition to phenazone metabolism, liver eliminates the drug by active releasing it to the bile.

Effect of secretin on antipyrine elimination during extracorporeal perfusion of the isolated guinea pig liver.

The aim of these investigations was to elucidate in which part of the bile system (canaliculi or ductules) antipyrine is secreted actively into bile during extracorporeal perfusion of isolated guinea pig liver. Twelve perfusions were performed including 6 control and 6 with secretin. After 1, 2 and 3 hours from the onset of perfusion the perfusion fluid and bile samples were taken for determination of antipyrine concentration.