Identification of Sliding Hiatus Hernia by High-Resolution Manometry and Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Patients with Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to compare high-resolution manometry (HRM) and upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy as diagnostic utilities in detecting a sliding hiatus hernia in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms.

Material And Methods: For both diagnostic modalities, the data obtained from 31 patients (20 females; mean age 48.2) who qualified for Nissen fundoplication were analysed using oesophageal pressure topography in line with the Chicago Classification.

Sweet, Salty, and Umami Taste Sensitivity and the Hedonic Perception of Taste Sensations in Adolescent Females with Anorexia Nervosa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform analysis of sensitivity to sweet, salty, and umami tastes based on three measurement methods and of the hedonic perception of taste sensations in adolescent females with anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of the research was to confirm the results of other authors in terms of the perception of sweet and salty taste in patients with AN, and then develop knowledge about the perception of umami taste, which is still insufficiently studied.

Method: A total of 110 females with an age ranging from 13 to 19 years, including 50 newly diagnosed patients with a restrictive subtype of AN and 60 healthy controls participated in gustatory research involving analyses of taste perception (recognition thresholds, ability to identify the taste correctly, taste intensity, and hedonic response) applying the sip and spit method.

High-resolution Manometry in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Before and After Fundoplication.

Background/aims: The study aimed to determine pre- and post-fundoplication esophagogastric junction (EGJ) pressure and esophageal peristalsis by high-resolution manometry (HRM) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: Pre-operative and post-operative HRM data from 25 patients with GERD were analyzed using ManoView version 2.0.

Alterations in taste perception as a result of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The present study evaluates the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on taste sensitivity, hedonic perception of taste, and food preferences. The studied groups included 197 people in total (79 in the study group; 118 in the control group). All patients from the study group were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy due to chronic non-healing wounds.

Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection of HEK-293 cell line alters expression of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W) sequences.

The risk of infections of human recipients after xenotransplantations is now mainly represented by porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) as these particles are part of the porcine genome. As in all vertebrates, human genome harbours its own numerous genetic sequences of retroviral origin; it is estimated that they comprise about 8 % of the human genome. Because some of them play an important role in human physiology, it is valuable to estimate whether the presence of PERVs in human cells influences homeostasis of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) expression pattern.

[Salt taste perception in people above the age of 50].

Introduction: Doctors claim that salt intake should be reduced, which, taking into consideration the popularity of salt-rich food, can be a real challenge. So far it has not been determined what makes the reduction of salt intake so difficult, especially in elderly people.

Materials And Methods: The subject of the study was a group of 239 persons (107 women, 132 men), aged 18-34, and a group of 100 persons (54 women and 46 men), aged 51-73.

Taste and appetite disorders of chronic hepatitis C patients.

Objective: Decreased appetite is one of the main factors that influences quality of life of patients with chronic liver diseases. The reason for appetite disorders remains unclear but taste perturbations are one of the postulated causes. The potential role of taste alterations and, connected to these, appetite disorders in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients are poorly investigated.

[Changes in food preferences in pregnant women].

Introduction: Pregnant women frequently show significant changes in their eating habits. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pleasure derived from the consumption of selected food groups in women during the first and second trimester of pregnancy.

Material And Methods: The studied group included 64 healthy women, aged 23-38.

[Influence of a high-carbohydrate meal on taste perception].

Introduction: Taste sensitivity varies greatly in individuals and depends on many external and metabolic conditions.

Material And Methods: The studied group consisted of healthy, non-smoking 41 women and 40 men, aged 19-29. The volunteers were examined in fasting state and after a high-carbohydrate meal.

Assessment of serum visfatin levels in girls with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: Visfatin (VISF) is a recently described peptide regulating the process of adipocyte differentiation. Only one pilot study of VISF expression in the fat tissue and its circulating concentrations in a small group of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been published, yet.

Design And Patients: Cross-sectional assessment of VISF serum concentrations in 195 girls aged 11-18·9 years with AN (n = 87), eating disorders not otherwise specified (NOS; n = 17), simple obesity (OB; n = 30), and healthy controls (H; n = 61).

Expression, localization and systemic concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Vascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by activating the specific receptors KDR and Flt-1. We investigate the expression of genes encoding VEGF and its receptors KDR and Flt- 1 by RT-QPCR reaction using Quanti Tect SYBR Green RT-PCR in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and control subjects. The localization and level of VEGF protein and its receptors protein in intestinal tissue were estimated by immunohistochemistry.

Assessment of serum apelin levels in girls with anorexia nervosa.

Context: Pilot studies in rats have suggested that apelin (APE) is involved in the control of appetite and food intake. APE is secreted in the organs involved in the control of hunger and satiety: the stomach, hypothalamus, and fat tissue. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that represents a good biological model of chronic fat tissue atrophy in humans.

Taste disturbances during therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Introduction: The effectiveness of current standard therapy of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin is unsatisfactory and associated with a variety of side effects. In addition to common side effects, appetite disorders and weight loss are universal problems that lead to decreased quality of life. The causes of appetite disorders are not known.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 and its receptors in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) by activating its specific receptors (T beta RI-T beta RIII). We investigated the expression of genes encoding for TGF-beta1 and T beta RI-III using RT-QPCR in patients with active and inactive UC and non-IBD controls. The localization and level of TGF-beta1 protein in intestinal tissue was estimated by immunohistochemistry, and serum TGF-beta1 concentrations were determined using ELISA.

[Methods of taste sensitivity examination].

Taste is the main sensory system that keeps a check on ingested food. Human beings are able to recognize five basic tastes: salty, sour, sweet, bitter and umami. Gustometry, including both gustometry with application of taste substances and electrogustometry, is the method of taste examination.

[Gustometry usefulness for the evaluation of taste sense efficiency. Part I. The range of taste substances concentrations and the result of gustometry examination].

Unlabelled: There are various methods of taste substances application in gustometry examination. The Polish Committee of Standards (Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny--PKN) recommends the performance of sensitivity taste examinations with the use of method based on rinsing out the mouth with water solutions of taste substances (sip-and-spit method) at their growing concentrations. The aim of the present research was to assess the usefulness of taste substances dilutions, whose concentrations were consistent with guidelines of the PKN for the evaluation of the results of examination of sweet, salty and sour taste sensitivity.

[Taste sensitivity to natrium chloride and saccharose in women and men of different age].

Unlabelled: The gender and age influence on saccharose taste and sodium chloride taste sensitivity was tested in this work.

Material And Methods: 275 volunteers, i.e.

[Relationship between sweetness liking, taste sensitivity and sweetening habits in adults].

The present work analyses the relationship between the sweetness liking and the age, gender, sweet taste sensitivity, hedonic response to low concentrations of the saccharose and the habit of sweetening in adults. 161 women and 114 men, aged 18-55, were the subject of this study. All individuals were healthy and non-smoking.