A biopsy-based quick test in the diagnosis of duodenal hypolactasia in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Background And Study Aims: The usefulness of a new quick test for endoscopic diagnosis of adult-type hypolactasia was tested in duodenal biopsies. In this test, an endoscopic biopsy from the postbulbar duodenum is incubated with lactose on a test plate, and a color reaction develops within 20 min as a result of hydrolyzed lactose (a positive result) in patients with normolactasia, whereas no reaction (a negative result) develops in patients with severe hypolactasia.

Patients And Methods: Two postbulbar duodenal biopsies were taken from 80 prospectively enrolled adult outpatients with dyspepsia.

Low circulating levels of gastrin-17 in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Aim: To examine whether the fasting levels of serum gastrin-17 (G-17) are lower in Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients than in non-Barrett controls.

Methods: Nineteen patients with BE (presenting with a tubular segment > or =2 cm long in lower esophagus and intestinal metaplasia of incomplete type ("pecialized columnar epithelium") in endoscopic biopsies from the tubular segment below the squamocolumnar junction were collected prospectively from outpatients referred to diagnostic gastroscopy. The controls comprised 199 prospectively collected dyspeptic outpatients without BE or any endoscopically visible lesions in the upper GI tract.

Non-endoscopic diagnosis of atrophic gastritis with a blood test. Correlation between gastric histology and serum levels of gastrin-17 and pepsinogen I: a multicentre study.

Background And Aims: Serum levels of gastrin-17 (S-G-17) and pepsinogen I (S-PGI) are biomarkers of gastric antral and corpus mucosa, respectively. In a prospective multicentre investigation, we determined whether these tests, together with the assay of Helicobacter pylori antibodies, are a non-endoscopic tool for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis.

Materials And Methods: The series comprised 404 consecutive adult outpatients undergoing diagnostic upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy for various dyspeptic symptoms in five outpatient clinics.

Serum levels of amidated gastrin-17 and pepsinogen I in atrophic gastritis: an observational case-control study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is often diagnosed with non-endoscopic methods, such as serology or breath or antigen stool tests. These tests provide information on the presence or absence of the H. pylori gastritis only.