[Update on current care guidelines. Safe use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs].

Pain medication should be based on patient's needs and risk profile. Age > 65 years, prior ulcer, co-morbidities, large daily dose, Helicobacter pylori infection, concurrent use of glucocorticoids, serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or warfarin increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeds. As a preventive strategy the use of concurrent proton pump inhibitors with non-selective NSAIDs is recommended.

Taurocholate potentiates ethanol-induced NF-kappaB activation and inhibits caspase-3 activity in cultured rat gastric mucosal cells.

We have previously shown that ethanol (EtOH) induces protective NF-kappaB activation in gastric surface epithelial cells. This study investigates the defense systems in rat gastric mucosal cells (RGM-1) exposed simultaneously to EtOH and taurocholate (TC) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Simultaneous exposure to ASA and EtOH increased EtOH-induced caspase-3 activity and decreased cell viability, indicating synergetic damaging action.

Taurocholate-induced nitric oxide signaling and the ensuing production of reactive oxygen species lead to an increase in epithelial permeability in cultivated mouse gastric epithelium.

We have here elucidated whether ulcerogenic agents affect the production of NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ulcerogenic agents dose dependently induced NO and ROS production in mouse gastric epithelial cells. Taurocholate (TC, 5 mM) exposure did not affect cell viability, but it increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, NO production, ROS production, and epithelial permeability.

The effect of nitric oxide, growth factors, and estrogen on gastric cell migration.

Background: To study gastric epithelial cell migration during nitric oxide (NO) and growth factor treatment, simulating inflammation and infection. Also, the effects of estrogen on migration of different malignant and nonmalignant gastric epithelial cell lines were explored.

Material And Methods: Isolated primary cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells, rat gastric mucosal cells, human gastric adenocarcinoma cells, and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (WiDr) were cultured to confluency in appropriate media (5% CO2, 37 degrees C).

Impact of preoperative chemoradiotherapy on survival in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To explore whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy improves survival of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing resectional surgery.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with a malignant pancreatic tumor localized in the head or uncinate process of the pancreas underwent radical pancreatico-duodenectomy. Twenty-two received chemoradiation therapy (gemcitabine and radiation dose 50.

Clinical outcome after D1 vs D2-3 gastrectomy for treatment of gastric cancer.

Background: Clinical benefit from extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer remains controversial as a considerable variation exists between results of different studies.

Methods: 562 patients were treated at HUCH between 1987-2003, whereof 223 underwent gastrectomy with curative intent. Of these, 114 patients underwent subtotal/total gastrectomy with D1 (standard) lymphadenectomy and 109 patients had D2-3 (extended) lymph node dissection.

Ethanol induced NF-{kappa}B activation protects against cell injury in cultured rat gastric mucosal epithelium.

Ethanol is a well-established irritant inducing inflammation in gastric mucosa, but the effects at the cellular level remain unclear. This study investigates NF-kappaB activation in gastric mucosal cells by ethanol and assesses the effects of heat shock pretreatment in this ulcerogenic situation. Rat gastric mucosal epithelia were exposed to ethanol for different time periods.

Epidermal growth factor enhances intracellular pH regulation via calcium signaling in acid-exposed primary cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells.

We have elucidated the role of different ion transporters and epidermal growth factor(EGF) during luminal acid exposure in primary cultured rabbit surface epithelial cells by measuring intracellular calcium and pH. Amiloride, DIDS, or sodium or bicarbonate substitutions were used to inhibit ion transport. During luminal acid exposure the dominant intracellular pH regulator is the Na+/H+ antiport, and bicarbonate transport has only a secondary role, which is uncovered as the Na+/H+ function fails.

Cell volume regulation during hyperosmotic shrinkage is mediated by Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter in Necturus gastrics surface epithelial cells.

Cell volume regulation was investigated in gastric surface epithelial cells during hypertonic conditions. Isolated Necturus antral mucosa was perfused on the serosal side with Ringer's solution (pH 7.25, 95%O2/5%CO2) and on the mucosal side successively with 150-500 mM NaCl.

Effect of the ulcerogenic agents ethanol, acetylsalicylic acid and taurocholate on actin cytoskeleton and cell motility in cultured rat gastric mucosal cells.

Aim: To assess the effects of ulcerogenic agents on actin cytoskeleton and cell motility and the contribution of oxidative stress.

Methods: Rat gastric mucosal cell monolayers were cultured on coverslips. The cells were exposed, with or without allopurinol (2 mmol/L), for 15 min to ethanol (10-150 mL/L), ASA (1-20 mmol/L) or taurocholate (1-20 mmol/L), then the cells were processed for actin and vinculin staining.

CD2AP contributes to cell migration and adhesion in cultured gastric epithelium.

The potential association of CD2AP with the adherens junction protein E-cadherin, co-localization with the actin cytoskeleton, and involvement in cell migration was investigated in cultured rat gastric mucosal cells. In stationary cells, CD2AP was localized perinuclearly while E-cadherin was expressed along cell-cell contacts and F-actin formed a branched network and adhesion belts. In migrating cells, CD2AP appeared as thread-like accumulations in the leading edges, colocalizing with F-actin and occasionally with E-cadherin.

Calcium signaling is involved in ethanol-induced volume decrease and gap junction closure in cultured rat gastric mucosal cells.

Ethanol is a well-established "barrier breaker" in gastric mucosa, but its detailed effects at the cellular level remain unclear. We have previously shown that the intracellular free calcium concentration is increased, gap junctions are closed, and cell volume is decreased after exposure to 5% (v/v) ethanol in primarily cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells. Rat gastric mucosal (RGM) cells were grown to confluence on a coverslip or on a filter membrane.

Calcium Signaling Is Involved in EthanolInduced Volume Decrease and Gap Junction Closure in Cultured Rat Gastric Mucosal Cells.

Ethanol is a well-established "barrier breaker" in gastric mucosa, but its detailed effects at the cellular level remain unclear. We have previously shown that the intracellular free calcium concentration is increased, gap junctions are closed, and cell volume is decreased after exposure to 5% (v/v) ethanol in primarily cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells. Rat gastric mucosal (RGM) cells were grown to confluence on a coverslip or on a filter membrane.

Surgery for peptic ulcer today. A study on the incidence, methods and mortality in surgery for peptic ulcer in Finland between 1987 and 1999.

Background: During the past 20 years medical therapy of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has dramatically improved. Simultaneously there has been a significant improvement in living and dietary habits. Quite presumably, all these significant events are reflected in the incidence and results of surgery for peptic ulcerations.

Ethanol induces volume changes and gap junction closure via intracellular Ca2+ signalling pathway in cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells.

Background: Ethanol is a well-established 'barrier breaker' in gastric mucosa, but its effects at cellular level remain to be detailed.

Methods: Gastric epithelial cells were isolated from rabbits and cultured to monolayers. Intracellular calcium was measured spectrofluorometrically with fura-2.

Effect of luminal ethanol on epithelial resistances and cell volume in isolated Necturus gastric mucosa.

Ethanol is a well-established "barrier breaker" in gastric mucosa, but its effects at the cellular level remain to be elucidated. Isolated Necturus antral mucosa was exposed luminally to 5-15% (v/v) ethanol at pH 3.0.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori improves the healing rate and reduces the relapse rate of nonbleeding ulcers in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Objective: A causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and peptic ulcer complications remains obscure. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of H.

Gastrostomy tube insertion into intestinal-cutaneous tract fistulas is a new technique to improve fistula control.

Background: The management of gastrointestinal-cutaneous fistulas may be complicated by the difficulty in obtaining adequate control of the fistula tract. This study describes a new method to obtain better fistula control utilizing a semi-rigid stent in the form of a gastrostomy tube.

Methods: Consecutive patients with intestinal-cutaneous fistulas of at least 3 weeks duration and treated by the new technique were analyzed.

Suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine release by selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in mucosal explants from patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: In ulcerative colitis (UC), inflammatory damage is associated with increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide through the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway. In an animal model of acute experimental colitis we have previously shown amelioration of inflammation with the highly selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of selective iNOS inhibition on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the colon mucosa in UC.

Roles of cytoskeleton and tyrosine receptor mediated signal transduction in the restitution of isolated guinea pig gastric mucosa.

Background: The immediate response of the GI-epithelium to a superficial injury is primarily directed to restore the disturbed epithelial continuity in a process called restitution. The involvement of both structural (cytoskeleton) and humoral (growth factors and cytokines) signal transduction systems in the process has been documented. Previously, in experimental circumstances the role of the two systems has been examined as two distinct units.

Migration of primary cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells requires intact protein kinase C and Ca2+/calmodulin activity.

Superficial gastric mucosal injury is rapidly repaired by epithelial cell migration. This study aims to characterize the intracellular signal transduction pathways underlying the repair process. Primary monolayer cultures of rabbit gastric epithelial cells were wounded.

Current features of peptic ulcer disease in Finland: incidence of surgery, hospital admissions and mortality for the disease during the past twenty-five years.

Background: Medical therapy of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has improved dramatically during the past 20 years with the introduction of modern antisecretory drugs as well as eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori. During the 1990s, there has been a 3-fold increase in the consumption of histamine-2-receptor antagonists and proton-pump inhibitors, but also an 8-fold increase in the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Finland.

Methods: The incidence of surgery, hospital admissions and mortality for PUD was analysed between 1972 and 1999; the data were collected from the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health and from the National Centre for Statistics.

Nitric oxide donors retard wound healing in cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cell monolayers.

Effects of nitric oxide (NO) on gastric wound healing were investigated in primary rabbit gastric epithelial cell cultures. We analyzed the speed of cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis after creating a round wound on the cell cultures. The monolayers were incubated with or without the NO donor sodium nitroprusside, oxatriazolimine 1,2,3,4-oxatriazolium, 5amino-3-(3,4-dichlorophenylchloride), or the peroxynitrite generator 3-morpholinosydnomine-N-ethylcarbamide.

HCl causes less intracellular acidification in Necturus gastric mucosa surface epithelial cells than other acids.

Luminal acid causes intracellular acidification in the gastric epithelium, but the mechanism by which H(+) enters surface cells remains obscure. This study addressed the problem by assessing how different acids affect intracellular pH in gastric surface cells. Isolated Necturus maculosus antral mucosa was exposed to HCl, HNO(3), H(2)SO(4), and H(3)PO(4) at pH 2.