Gastroparesis in the intensive care unit.

Gastroparesis is a common problem in the intensive care unit. Impaired gastric motility in critically ill patients is associated with an increased risk of enteral feeding intolerance, gastric bacterial colonization, pulmonary aspiration and progressive malnutrition leading to adverse outcomes. It is estimated that at least 60% of intensive care patients are affected by some form of gastrointestinal tract failure and that in 30% of critically ill patients in whom enteral feeding is attempted the feeding route needs to be modified because of feeding intolerance.

The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The exact pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still not completely understood. It is hypothesized that a genetic predisposition leads to an exaggerated immune response to an environmental trigger, leading to uncontrolled inflammation. As there is no known causative treatment, current management strategies for inflammatory bowel disease focus on correcting the excessive immune response to environmental (including microbial) triggers.

High levels of reactive oxygen species in pancreatic necrotic fluid of patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis.

Introduction: Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is a life-threatening, late complication of acute pancreatitis, in which a fluid collection containing necrotic material is formed. Infection of the fluid collection significantly increases the mortality of patients with WOPN.

Aim: To examine the levels of oxidative stress markers in the pancreatic necrotic fluid (PNF) and serum of patients with sterile and infected WOPN.

The role of chemerin in human disease.

Adipose tissue is not merely a storage depot of triacylglycerols but also a major endocrine organ. Its cells, including adipocytes, synthesize and secrete a range of biologically active molecules termed adipokines. Adipokines that display the properties of cytokines are often called adipocytokines.

Decreased serum platelet derived growth factor BB levels in acute and increased in chronic pancreatitis.

Aim: To examine circulating growth factor concentrations in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN).

Methods: Forty patients with mild AP, 40 patients with alcoholic CP, 33 patients with WOPN and 40 healthy subjects were examined. Serum concentrations of platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1), chemerin and high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMBG1) were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Coordinated increase in serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-β1 in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Background: In vitro studies suggest that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) play an important role in pancreatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 concentrations in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: Forty male patients with a history of alcoholic CP and 35 age-matched healthy subjects were examined.

Increased serum chemerin concentration in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Chemerin is a potent chemoattractant for chemokine-like receptor 1 expressing cells and is involved in inflammatory and immune processes that play an important role in chronic pancreatitis.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that serum chemerin concentration may be affected in chronic pancreatitis patients and that chemerin can influence the course of chronic pancreatitis by increasing profibrotic cytokine production.

Methods: Serum concentrations of chemerin and the major cytokines involved in pancreatic fibrosis such as platelet-derived growth factor BB and transforming growth factor β-1 were determined by ELISA in samples from 40 nondiabetic and 28 diabetic male patients with chronic pancreatitis of alcoholic origin and 40 age-matched healthy controls.

Decreased serum essential and aromatic amino acids in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate the influence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) on serum concentrations of amino acids.

Methods: Thirty-five male patients with alcoholic CP and 21 healthy male subjects were examined. Serum concentrations of amino acids were assayed by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with mass detection.

Up-regulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and elongase 6 genes expression in rat lipogenic tissues by chronic food restriction and chronic food restriction/refeeding.

Successful treatment of obesity and related diseases by chronic food restriction requires the understanding of the effect of such nutritional therapy on the expression of genes which have been implicated to be involved in some diseases associated with obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of chronic food restriction and chronic food restriction/refeeding on lipogenic enzymes, especially the expression of genes encoding the stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) and elongase6 (Elovl6) in rat liver and adipose tissue. We found that both chronic food restriction and chronic food restriction/refeeding caused increased expression of the Scd1 and Elovl6 genes in both the liver and adipose tissue.