3-Aminobenzamide Prevents Concanavalin A-Induced Acute Hepatitis by an Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Mechanism.

Background And Aims: Concanavalin A is known to activate T cells and to cause liver injury and hepatitis, mediated in part by secretion of TNFα from macrophages. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors have been shown to prevent tissue damage in various animal models of inflammation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of the PARP-1 inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) in preventing concanavalin A-induced liver damage.

Endoscopic Occlusion of Tracheoesophageal Fistula in Ventilated Patients Using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a challenging, life threatening condition. It most commonly appears in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, who cannot withstand open neck or chest surgery. An endoscopic technique could be better tolerated by these patients.

[Nodular regenerative hyperplasia as a complication of thiopurine treatment in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease].

Immunomodulator therapy with thiopurine analogues azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine is commonly prescribed for the treatment of organ transplantation, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Hepatotoxicity due to thiopurine analogues usually presents as an increase in serum transaminase levels. Toxicity is usually not severe, and a dose reduction is effective in most patients.

Anemia associated with acute infection in children: an animal model.

Background: We constructed an animal model to examine the possibility that erythrophagocytosis may contribute to decreased hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in acute infection in mice.

Methods: BALB/c mice weighing 20 to 25 g were injected (intraperitoneally) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Escherichia coli serotype) of some concentrations. Control mice were injected intraperitoneally with saline (0.

A rapid continuous-real-time 13C-urea breath test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in patients after partial gastrectomy.

Introduction: Before the development of efficient medications for peptic ulcer disease many patients were treated surgically by partial gastrectomy. The pathogenetic role of Helicobacter pylori was also not known yet. Some of these patients may therefore still harbor H.

Applicability of a short/rapid 13C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori: retrospective multicenter chart review study.

Background: Carbon labeled urea breath tests usually entail a two point sampling with a 20 to 30-minute gap. Our aim was to evaluate the duration of time needed for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori by the BreathID® System.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter chart review study.

Early satiety is the only patient-reported symptom associated with delayed gastric emptying, as assessed by breath-test.

Background/aims: To evaluate associations between delayed gastric emptying (GE) assessed by the octanoic acid breath test and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Methods: A historical, prospective study included 111 consecutive symptomatic adults referred for a GE breath test because of upper abdominal symptoms suggestive of delayed GE. Exclusion criteria included underlying organic disease associated with delayed GE.

Evaluation of the 13C-octanoate breath test as a surrogate marker of liver damage in animal models.

Background: Octanoate (also known as sodium octanoate), a medium-chain fatty acid metabolized in the liver, is a potential substrate for non-invasive breath testing of hepatic mitochondrial beta-oxidation.

Methods: We evaluated the 13C-octanoate breath test (OBT) for assessing injury in acute hepatitis and two rat models of liver cirrhosis, first testing octanoate absorption (per os or intraperitoneally (i.p.

Utility of a 13C-methacetin breath test in evaluating hepatic injury in rats.

Background And Aim: Methacetin is thought to be a good substrate for the evaluation of different cytochrome P450 enzymatic systems of liver microsomes because of its rapid metabolism and lack of toxicity in small doses. Recent studies indicate that a methacetin breath test may be a non-invasive alternative for the evaluation of liver function since it correlates well with the severity of liver damage. It may also discriminate between different stages of liver cirrhosis and correlates with the Child-Pugh score.

Thioacetamide-induced hepatic damage in a rat nutritional model of steatohepatitis.

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is most often attributed to the effects of obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and drugs. It is still unknown whether livers with steatohepatitis are more vulnerable to toxic damage.

Aim: To determine the effect of the hepatotoxicant thioacetamide in a rat nutritional model of hepatic steatohepatitis.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27, has no correlation with the malignant potential of GIST.

Background: Tumor size and mitotic activity are characteristically associated with the malignant potential and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). However, since neither small tumor size nor low mitotic activity can rule out malignancy, additional factors that may predict malignant behavior have been suggested.

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDI), p27kip1, expression and the malignant potential of GIST.

Modified endoscopic swallowing test for improved diagnosis and prevention of aspiration.

Laryngopharyngeal sensation is important in the normal process of swallowing, it is often impaired after neurological events and it has been common practice in such an occurrence to order non-oral tube feeding to prevent aspiration. This study assesses a novel approach to the evaluation of the laryngopharyngeal sensation that allows for improved triage of aspiration risk and more lenience towards oral feeding. This is a case series with follow-up period ranging from 6 to 24 months.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori can be accurately confirmed 14 days after termination of triple therapy using a high-dose citric acid-based 13C urea breath test.

Background: Confirmation of Helicobacter pylori eradication by urea breath test (UBT) is currently performed 4-6 weeks after completion of therapy because of unacceptable false-negative results in UBTs performed earlier. Use of a high-dose citric acid test meal appears to enable accurate detection of H. pylori even during short term therapy with proton pump inhibitors.

p27kip1 expression is inversely related to the grade of gastric MALT lymphoma.

Background: Decreased or lost expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 protein has been found to be a poor prognostic factor in many cancers, including gastric cancer.

Aim: To evaluate p27kip1 expression in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and gastric B-cell lymphoma.

Methods: Fifty-two cases of gastric lymphoma, mean age 68.

Thioacetamide-induced hepatic damage in a rat nutritional model of steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND:: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is most often attributed to the effects of obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and drugs. It is still unknown whether livers with steatohepatitis are more vulnerable to toxic damage. AIM:: To determine the effect of the hepatotoxicant thioacetamide in a rat nutritional model of hepatic steatohepatitis.

Validation of a novel real time 13C urea breath test for rapid evaluation of Helicobacter pylori in children and adolescents.

We prospectively evaluated a (13)C urea breath test (UBT) that involves passive continuous sampling for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in 72 children. Results were obtained within 10 minutes in 96% of patients. The test is rapid, user-friendly, and has 100% concordance with conventional diagnostic methods.

Application of Maastricht 2-2000 guidelines for the management of Helicobacter pylori among specialists and primary care physicians in israel: are we missing the malignant potential of Helicobacter pylori?

Background: The Maastricht 2-2000 guidelines on the current management of Helicobacter pylori infection were recently adopted by the Israeli Gastroenterological Association.

Goal: To determine the impact of these clinical guidelines on the current knowledge, attitudes, and management of H. pylori among primary care physicians, hospital internists, and gastroenterologists in Israel.

Influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and epigastric pain in children and adolescents.

Objective: Conflicting reports have noted a possible association linking eradication of Helicobacter pylori with aggravation of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease. We prospectively evaluated the effect of eradication of H pylori on GER symptoms and epigastric pain and the association among these 3 parameters in a pediatric cohort.

Methods: Patients who were referred for gastroscopy were evaluated for frequency, severity, and nocturnal presence of symptoms related to GER as well as epigastric pain.

Melatonin inhibits nuclear factor kappa B activation and oxidative stress and protects against thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats.

Background/aims: Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute liver injury. The aim of our study was to investigate whether melatonin, a potent free radical scavenger could prevent fulminant hepatic failure in rats.

Methods: Liver damage was induced by two consecutive injections of thioacetamide (TAA, 300 mg/kg/i.

Glycine modulates cytokine secretion, inhibits hepatic damage and improves survival in a model of endotoxemia in mice.

Background And Aim: There is substantial experimental evidence that the amino acid glycine may have a role in protecting tissues against insults such as ischemia, hypoxia and reperfusion. Our aim was to investigate the ability of the amino acid glycine to prevent hepatic damage induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide and d-galactosamine (d-Gal), to modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, and to improve survival.

Methods: Mice were challenged with an intraperitoneal injection of d-Gal (16 mg/mouse) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microg/mouse).

Positive serology for Helicobacter pylori and vomiting in the pregnancy.

Introduction: Recently, several investigators have suggested that H. pylori may be a contributory factor in hyperemesis gravidarum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether seropositivity for IgG antibodies to H.

Chronic cholestasis associated with Turner's syndrome: 12 years of clinical and histopathological follow-up.

Clinically significant liver disease is probably a rare condition in Turner's syndrome and only a few cases of severe liver disease have been described. The natural history of patients with Turner's syndrome and elevated cholestatic liver enzymes is unclear. We report a case with a long history of intrahepatic cholestasis and without clinical or histopathological progression in 12 years of follow-up.

Effect of proton pump inhibitors on the continuous real time (13)C-urea breath test.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new, continuous real time (13)C-urea breath test, BreathID, for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in patients taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients, positive for H. pylori by BreathID, were prospectively evaluated.

Fecal incontinence secondary to CAPD.

A 74-year-old patient who has developed fecal incontinence following continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is presented. Incontinence was caused by elevated intra-abdominal pressure during peritoneal dialysis, which correlated with the volume of dialysate and position of the patient. The lowest pressure was found in the recumbent position.