Geometrical properties of turbulent premixed flames and other corrugated interfaces.

This study focuses on the geometrical properties of turbulent flame fronts and other interfaces. Toward that end, we use an original tool based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), which is applied to the interface spatial coordinates. The focus is mainly on the degree of roughness of the flame front, which is quantified through the scale dependence of its coverage arclength.

Interaction of hepatocyte growth factor and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during gastric epithelial wound healing.

Background/aims: Expression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is upregulated at the margins of healing gastric ulcers. We investigated in vitro the interference of HGF, the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 and the nonselective COX inhibitor indomethacin with gastric epithelial wound healing and actin microfilament (actin-MF) formation.

Methods: Standardized gastric epithelial wounds, created in confluent RGM1 rat cell monolayers were treated with: HGF (10 ng/ml), NS-398 (1-100 microM) or indomethacin (0.

Classification of ADRs: a proposal for harmonization and differentiation based on the experience of the Comprehensive Hospital Drug Monitoring Bern/St. Gallen, 1974-1993.

The present paper deals with the classification of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) according to today's largely accepted pathomechanisms. The classification system applied, relies primarily on the proposals of Rawlins and Thomson with type A ('augmented') and B ('bizarre') reactions. In the database of the Comprehensive Hospital Drug Monitoring (CHDM) Bern/St.

Inhibition of human colon cancer cell growth by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted at basic fibroblast growth factor.

Background: Basic fibroblast growth factor has been shown to be mitogenic in colon cancer cell lines. In human malignant melanoma cells, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted against basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA significantly inhibit cell growth. However, the efficacy of such an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide strategy has not been evaluated for colon cancer cells.

Influence of pantoprazole on oesophageal motility, and bile and acid reflux in patients with oesophagitis.

Background: Reflux of duodeno-gastric juice into the oesophagus appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of both reflux oesophagitis and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Although proton pump inhibitors have been shown to decrease acid reflux and heal oesophagitis, their effect on biliary reflux and motility is less clear.

Aim: To investigate whether pantoprazole also reduces bile reflux and whether this is paralleled by a change in oesophageal motility.

Cyclooxygenase 2-implications on maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity and ulcer healing: controversial issues and perspectives.

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme for synthesis of prostaglandins, exists in two isoforms (COX-1 and COX-2). COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in large quantities and has been suggested to maintain mucosal integrity through continuous generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is induced predominantly during inflammation.

HGF triggers activation of the COX-2 gene in rat gastric epithelial cells: action mediated through the ERK2 signaling pathway.

Although it is established that growth factors and prostaglandins function in the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity and in the healing of gastric mucosal injury and ulceration, the regulatory relationship between growth factors and prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa is not well characterized. Therefore, we investigated whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) affects expression of COX-2 (the inducible form of the prostaglandin synthesizing enzyme, cyclooxygenase) in gastric epithelial cells and whether this action is mediated through the MAP (ERK) kinase signaling pathway. In RGM1 cells (an epithelial cell line derived from normal rat gastric mucosa), HGF caused an increase in COX-2 mRNA and protein by 236% and 175%, respectively (both P<0.

Five-year audit of ambulatory 24-hour esophageal pH-manometry in clinical practice.

Background: Esophageal function testing was developed to aid diagnosis in patients with negative endoscopy. Although combined 24-h esophageal pH-manometry is now commercially available, its routine clinical effectiveness has not yet been studied.

Methods: From 1992 to 1996 we evaluated 303 consecutive patients who were first-time referrals to our unit for 24-h esophageal pH-manometry.

Helicobacter pylori and smoking: two additive risk factors for organic dyspepsia.

The hopes to distinguish between organic and functional dyspepsia on the grounds of the patient's symptomatology have not been fulfilled due to the low specificity of the so-called sinister symptoms. There is increasing evidence accumulating that Helicobacter pylori status and other environmental factors such as smoking have a higher discriminant power. Studies performed in our laboratories testing H.

Frequency of advanced neoplasia in the proximal colon without an index polyp in the rectosigmoid.

Purpose: Screening endoscopy has the potential to reduce colorectal cancer mortality. However, the efficacy of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy compared with colonoscopy strongly depends on the frequency of advanced proximal neoplasms without an index polyp in the rectosigmoid. We have therefore determined this frequency in our endoscopy population.

Impact of food intake on the antisecretory effect of low-dose ranitidine and famotidine.

Background: Over-the-counter status has recently been approved for low-dose H2-antagonists in several countries. Insufficient information is currently available on the effect of food in low-dose H2-antagonist therapy.

Aim: Compare the antisecretory efficacy of low-dose ranitidine and famotidine in fasting and non-fasting volunteers.

Effect of repeated injection and continuous infusion of omeprazole and ranitidine on intragastric pH over 72 hours.

Objective: In healthy subjects and patients with bleeding peptic ulcers, ranitidine and omeprazole, given parenterally, achieve high intragastric pH values on the first day of therapy. However, data on the antisecretory effect beyond the first 24 h is scanty. In addition, the superiority of either infusion or injection of omeprazole remains unproven.

Choledocholithiasis at the hepatic confluence mimicking a hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinomas of the bifurcation of the hepatic ducts (Klatskin tumors) are a relatively rare cause of obstructive jaundice. Differential diagnosis includes other neoplastic lesions, sclerosing cholangitis, Mirizzi's syndrome and benign strictures. We present a 46 year-old white female with a 2 month history of epigastric pain and progressive jaundice.

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in a rat gastric epithelial cell line by epiregulin and basic fibroblast growth factor.

Prostaglandins play an important role in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity. Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and -2) are the key enzymes involved in prostaglandin synthesis. COX-2 expression in gastric epithelial cells remains a subject of controversy, and a possible regulation of gastric COX-2 by growth factors has not been explored.

Risk factor assessment of endoscopically removed malignant colorectal polyps.

Background: Malignant colorectal polyps are defined as endoscopically removed polyps with cancerous tissue which has invaded the submucosa. Various histological criteria exist for managing these patients.

Aims: To determine the significance of histological findings of patients with malignant polyps.

[CSE vs. augmented epidural anesthesia for cesarean section. Spinal and epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine 0.5% "isobar" require augmentation].

Unlabelled: Incomplete anaesthesia is a major clinical problem both in single spinal and in single epidural anaesthesia. The clinical efficacy of epidural anaesthesia with augmentation (aEA) and combined epidural and spinal anesthesia (CSE) for cesarean section was investigated in a prospective randomized study on 45 patients.

Methods: Anaesthesia extending up to Th5 was aimed for.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori on gastritis, pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion, and meal-stimulated plasma gastrin release in the absence of peptic ulcer disease.

Objective: There is strong evidence accumulating that chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) interferes with inhibitory pathways of the regulation of acid secretion. The increase in maximum acid output (MAO), and the increase in the sensitivity of the parietal cell to gastrin commonly observed in patients suffering from duodenal ulcer disease (DU), however, remains largely unexplained.

Comparison of the effect of the antacid Rennie versus low-dose H2-receptor antagonists (ranitidine, famotidine) on intragastric acidity.

Background: Symptoms of functional dyspepsia are common and patients often self-medicate with antacids, or with low-dose H2-antagonists which are available as over-the-counter medications. To date, there has been limited information available comparing the effects on intragastric acidity of these two types of over-the-counter medication. Therefore we studied the effect of the antacid Rennie and two H2-antagonists on the intragastric pH of fasting volunteers.

Effects of inhibition of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 in chronic gastro-intestinal ulcer models in rats.

1. In the stomach, prostaglandins protect the gastric mucosa against injuries. One rate-limiting step in prostaglandin synthesis is mediated by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS), the target enzyme of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Detection and prevalence of Helicobacter infection in pet cats.

The presence of spiral bacteria in the feline stomach has been recognized for over a century, but the identities and degrees of prevalence of such organisms in privately owned cats are still poorly documented. The aims of this study were (i) to adapt different diagnostic tools and evaluate their practicality for diagnosing feline gastric Helicobacter colonization, (ii) to determine the prevalence of gastric Helicobacter-like organisms in pet cats, (iii) to identify the feline species, and (iv) to correlate the presence of a Helicobacter infection with gastritis. Biopsy samples were taken gastroscopically from the antra and the corpora of clinically healthy pet cats.

[Collagen colitis and lymphocytic (microscopic) colitis: different or common origin?].

Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis are two chronic inflammatory colonic diseases characterized by chronic watery diarrhea. They can only be diagnosed by histological examination of colonic biopsies. The pathogenesis is unknown, but may be of an inflammatory possibly autoimmune nature.

Epidemiology of dyspepsia: discriminant value of smoking and Helicobacter pylori status as predictors of peptic lesions in primary care.

Male gender and smoking have an established discriminant value of increased risk for duodenal ulcers. The present analysis is focused on whether this could be generally enhanced by considering Helicobacter pylori status in dyspeptic patients consulting their primary physician. Patients were enrolled into our Dyspepsia Study if they met the following criteria: Symptoms for minimum one month, informed consent for drug trial, including upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE), if required.

Roles of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor Met during gastric ulcer healing in rats.

Background & Aims: It is unclear which growth factors are primarily responsible for stimulating gastric ulcer healing. The roles of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Met/HGF receptor during gastric ulcer healing were studied in rats.

Methods: HGF and Met/HGF receptor were located and quantified by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry during experimental gastric ulcer healing.

Study with two prokinetics in functional dyspepsia and GORD: domperidone vs. cisapride.

The HT4-agonist Cisapride (CIS) and the peripheral D2-antagonist Domperidone (DOMP) have distinct prokinetic actions. We compared their clinical efficacy in 127 dyspeptic patients. Patients with upper abdominal complaints of > 1 month duration, who had a normal UGE were allocated to the REFLUX-group (RG), (predominance of heartburn, acid regurgitation or retrosternal pain) or if devoid of this specific symptomatology to the DYSPEPSIA-group (DG) In a double-blind randomised fashion and allocated to 10 mg CIS or 20 mg DOMP qid (RG) or tid (DG) for 1 month and followed-up for further 2 months.

The Omega-Project--a comparison of two diagnostic strategies for risk- and cost-oriented management of dyspepsia.

Objectives: In dyspepsia few data are available from the primary care setting on how selective, risk-factor-oriented endoscopy compares with mandatory endoscopy in the diagnostic outcome and in direct and secondary costs. We studied this in a two-armed multicentre trial (omega-project) with primary care physicians.

Material And Methods: Patients were enrolled and treated by primary care physicians and referred to a gastroenterologist for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE).