Sensory and biomechanical properties of the esophagus in non-erosive reflux disease.

Objectives: To investigate possible differences between patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD) and controls in a) sensitivity of the distal esophagus after mechanical and thermal stimuli and b) the referred pain areas.

Material And Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects (mean age 39+/-19.4 years) and 13 NERD patients (mean age 44.

Ultrasonographic study of mechanosensory properties in human esophagus during mechanical distension.

Aim: To study the esophageal geometry and mechanosensation using endoscopic ultrasonography during volume-controlled ramp distensions in the distal esophagus.

Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers underwent distension of a bag. During distension up to moderate pain the sensory intensity was assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Central sensitization in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: a clinical experimental study.

Objective: Patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NNCP) suffer from unexplained and often intractable pain which can pose a major clinical problem. The aim of this study was to investigate nociceptive processing in NNCP patients and their response to experimentally acid-induced oesophageal hyperalgesia using a multimodal stimulation protocol.

Material And Methods: Ten highly selected patients with NCCP (mean age 43 years, 1 M) were compared with an age- and gender-matched group of 20 healthy subjects.

Pain and mechanical properties of the rectum in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Background: The pain, urgency, and incontinence in ulcerative colitis may be related to changes in viscoelastic properties of the gut wall or to alterations of the sensory pathways. In the present study, we used an advanced rectal probe to study the mechanosensory and smooth muscle properties in patients with active disease.

Methods: Nine patients with ulcerative colitis (mean age 39.

Multi-modal and tissue-differentiated experimental pain assessment: reproducibility of a new concept for assessment of analgesics.

Experimental pain models for assessment of analgesic effect needs to be reproducible, valid and responding in a uniform way to changes in pain level. The pain system differs in various tissue types and analgesics may have different effects in different tissues. This study assessed the reproducibility of an experimental model using mechanical, thermal and electrical stimulations.

Zinc and calcium reduce lead induced perturbations in the aminergic system of developing brain.

Since alterations in monoamines and monoamine oxidase (MAO) have been postulated to play a role in toxic effects of lead (Pb) on the central nervous system, we have examined the protective effects of calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+) supplementation on Pb-induced perturbations in the levels of monoamines and the activity of MAO. Swiss albino mice were lactationally exposed to low (0.2%) and high (1%) levels of Pb-acetate via drinking water of the mother.

Gender differences in pain and biomechanical responses after acid sensitization of the human esophagus.

Our aims were to investigate gender differences to multimodal stimulations of the esophagus after experimentally induced sensitization. Thirty healthy age-matched subjects, 13 males and 17 females, were included. Pain evoked by mechanical and thermal stimuli was assessed before and after perfusion of the lower esophagus with 0.

Sensory-motor responses to mechanical stimulation of the esophagus after sensitization with acid.

Aim: Sensitization most likely plays an important role in chronic pain disorders, and such sensitization can be mimicked by experimental acid perfusion of the esophagus. The current study systematically investigated the sensory and motor responses of the esophagus to controlled mechanical stimuli before and after sensitization.

Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were included.

Statistical modeling of the response characteristics of mechanosensitive stimuli in the human esophagus.

Unlabelled: It is believed that mechanical stimuli of the human gut activate afferents responding to either noxious or normal, physiologic stimuli. They might be able to sensitize without relation to the contractile state of the smooth muscle. The current study aimed to verify the above characteristics by using a statistical model based on correlation analysis.

Differences between male and female responses to painful thermal and mechanical stimulation of the human esophagus.

It is uncertain to what degree sensation and pain relating to the gut are influenced by sex. The aim of the study was to explore sex differences to experimental multimodal stimulation of the esophagus in 22 age-matched males and females. A probe was positioned in the lower part of the esophagus.

Alterations in acetylcholinesterase and electrical activity in the nervous system of cockroach exposed to the neem derivative, azadirachtin.

Botanical insecticides are relatively safe and biodegradable, and are readily available sources of bioinsecticides. In recent years, the neem derivative, azadirachtin, has been examined as an alternative to synthetic insecticides because of its broad-spectrum insecticidal action. Because many of the natural products and synthetic compounds used in the control of insect pests are known to exhibit electrophysiological effects, in this paper we focused our studies on the alterations in the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and electrical activity in the nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, exposed to azadirachtin.

Cold and heat pain assessment of the human oesophagus after experimental sensitisation with acid.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of thermal stimulation of the oesophagus before and after sensitisation with acid. In 17 healthy subjects a stimulation bag was used to re-circulate water at 5 and 60 degrees C for up to 90 s in the lower part of the oesophagus. The area under the temperature curve was used to assess the caloric load.