Refeeding after starvation in the rat: comparative effects of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates on jejunal and ileal mucosal adaptation.

To compare the tropic effect of different dietary nutrients on mucosal adaptation in the jejunum and ileum, adult rats were submitted to a 96-h period of starvation and refed isocaloric liquid diets (1.5 kcal ml-1) containing either protein (casein), carbohydrate (starch) or lipids. In the jejunum, 4 days of starvation caused mucosal hypoplasia, villus and crypt shortening and a decrease in the total activity of disaccharidases with the exception of lactase which was markedly enhanced.

Double-blind controlled study on the efficacy of sodium alginate (Gaviscon) in reducing gastroesophageal reflux assessed by 24 h continuous pH monitoring in infants and children.

We studied the effects of an alginate compound (Gaviscon) on the frequency and the duration of gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) episodes in children. Twenty infants and children with characteristic symptoms of GOR were divided at random into two groups which were given either Gaviscon (ten patients, mean age: 21 months) or a placebo (ten patients, mean age: 35 months). A continuous pH probe monitoring of the lower oesophageal third was performed in all the patients before and after 8 days of treatment.

Prevalence and treatment of silent gastro-oesophageal reflux in children with recurrent respiratory disorders.

Thirty-six infants and children presenting with recurrent respiratory disorders (RRD) as the sole clinical symptom including bronchial asthma (6), recurrent obstructive bronchitis with or without wheezing (18), chronic nocturnal cough (3), recurrent episodes of pneumonia (3), recurrent pharyngitis (3) and recurrent laryngitis (3) were investigated for associated gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) by oesophagram, endoscopy and continuous 24 h pH monitoring of the distal oesophagus. The pH monitoring criteria were selected on the basis of a preliminary study comparing statistically measurements of 32 variables recorded in 15 patients who all had clinical, radiological and endoscopic evidence of GER and in 8 asymptomatic controls. Although patients with symptomatic GER differed significantly from the asymptomatic ones for 27 variables examined, 6 variables emerged as having the highest value for discrimination (overlap score 0-1).