Use of electrogastrography in preclinical studies of cholinergic and anticholinergic agents in experimental pigs.

Electrogastrography (EGG) is a non-invasive method for the assessment of gastric myoelectrical activity. Porcine EGG is comparable with human one. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of atropine and neostigmine on the EGG in experimental pigs. Adult female pigs were administrated atropine (1.5 mg i.m., n=6) and neostigmine (0.5 mg i.m., n=6) after the baseline EGG, followed by a 90-min trial recording (MMS, Enschede, the Netherlands). Running spectral analysis was used for the evaluation. The results were expressed as dominant frequency of slow waves and EGG power (areas of amplitudes). Neostigmine increased continuously the dominant frequency and decreased significantly the EGG power. Atropine did not change the dominant frequency significantly. However, atropine increased significantly the EGG power (areas of amplitudes) from basal values to the maximum at the 10-20-min interval. After that period, the areas of amplitudes decreased significantly to the lowest values at the 60-90-min interval. In conclusion, cholinergic and anticholinergic agents affect differently EGG in experimental pigs.

The importance of upper gastrointestinal lesions detected with capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure digestive bleeding.

STUDY AIMS: Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is the first line procedure for detecting small bowel lesions in patients with an obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Missed upper gastrointestinal (UGI) lesions at the initial endoscopy may account for the so-called OGIB. This retrospective study was designed to assess the role of SBCE in detecting missed UGI lesions. METHODS: All consecutive SBCE that were performed in the last year for patients with OGIB were included in our study. We evaluated the visibility of the gastric mucosa, the anatomic landmarks, the presence of UGI lesions as well as their clinical importance. The SBCE findings were compared with the reports of previous UGI endoscopies. RESULTS: 118 patients (45 males, 73 females, mean age 61 +/- 19 years) were included in the analysis. The indication for SBCE was obscure overt and occult OGIB in 60 and in 58 patients, respectively. SBCE identified lesions in the small bowel in 42% of the patients. An excellent visibility of gastric mucosa was observed in 83/118 cases (703%). SBCE identified gastric lesions with potential clinical significance (high bleed potential) in 25/118 (21.2%) patients. In 12/118 (10.2%) patients the UGI lesions detected by SBCE were considered as the only potential source of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with OGIB, SBCE detected not only small bowel lesions but also significant UGI lesions that were missed or underestimated at the initial endoscopy in 21% of cases. It is therefore necessary to carefully read the gastric images when performing an SBCE.

[Inflammatory bowel disease--familial and sporadic form]. / Idiopatické strevní zánety--familiární a sporadická forma.

THE AIM: The aim of this thesis was to elucidate more differences between a familial and sporadic inflammatory bowel disease by comparing certain clinical data. METHODS: We assessed 248 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) observed in 1994-2004 in the Academic Department of Gastroenterology at the Medical Faculty in Hradec Králové. To get information about the defined characters we obtained from the questionary and the hospital data. RESULTS: We did not identify any relationship between the onset of the disease and a certain age group, yet males seem to be more prone to familial Crohn's disease. The more frequent familial form of Crohn's disease was the fibro-stenotic one. There were no differences in the onset of the disease. We did not prove the differences in extraintestinal signs, alergy and comorbidities. We did not find any differences in therapy response in relation to the type of nutrition (enteral, parenteral) and the administration of immunosupresive drugs. The biological therapy in sporadic and familial Crohn's disease did not differ either. Surgical intervention was more frequent in Crohn's patients compared to the patients with ulcerative colitis; yet no difference was identified between familial and sporadic cases. Appendectomy carried out before the onset of the disease was later diagnosed as Crohn's disease in more instances than ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION: We did not prove significant differences comparing certain clinical data in familial and sporadic form of inflammatory bowel disease, yet males seem to be more prone to familial Crohn's disease. Small bowel was involved more often in familial form of Crohn's disease than in sporadic form.

Hiatal hernia and Barrett's oesophagus impact on symptoms occurrence and complications.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of sliding hiatal hernia over the Barrett's oesophagus, including symptoms rate and complications. METHODS: A total of 520 (4.6%) cases of Barrett's oesophagus were found out of 18.276 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, performed in 11.276 patients at a single tertiary centre in a period from 1994 to 2004. RESULTS: Sliding hiatal hernia was found in 58% of patients with Barrett's oesophagus, more frequently in men (60%). The association between hernia and some complications of Barrett's oesophagus was significant (94% of Barrett's ulcer, 77% of low-grade dysplasia with p < 0.01). However, there was no significant association with adenocarcinoma (54%; p > 0.05). The other complications of Barrett's oesophagus (i.e. bleeding, stenosis, high-grade dysplasia) were identified in small number (less than 10), so they were not evaluated statistically. Association between the presence of hiatal hernia and occurrence of symptoms (reflux symptoms, dysphagia, odynophagia, dyspeptic and other symptoms) was significant with p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that sliding hiatal hernia may play a significant role as a pathophysiologic factor in Barrett's oesophagus. Complications rate of Barrett's oesophagus were not equally frequent in particular cases with hiatal hernia. The occurrence of symptoms is getting more pronounced in those with sliding hiatal hernia.

Antilaminaribioside and antichitobioside antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease.

Testing antilaminaribioside (ALCA) and antichitobioside (ACCA) antibodies in 89 Crohn's disease (CD), 31 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 50 controls, mean values were 38.6 and 53.0 ELISA units for CD, 34.0 and 32.6 for UC, 34.5 and 36.4 for controls, respectively. There was no significant difference of ALCA values between CD and UC (p = 0.401), CD and control subjects (p = 0.698) or UC and controls (p = 0.898). ACCA were significantly higher in CD compared with UC (p = 0.011) but not with the controls (p = 0.095). No significant difference of ACCA values between UC and controls (p = 0.107) was found. ALCA and ACCA values significantly correlated in CD (r = 0.548, p < 10(-4)) and UC (r = 0.885, p < 10(-4)) but not in controls (r = 0.153, p = 0.287). The positive predictive value for CD was only 20 (ALCA) and 8 % (ACCA), the negative ones (to exclude CD) 25 (ALCA) and 86 % (ACCA). Small and/or large bowel involvement or disease type (i.e. stenosing, perforating or inflammatory) of CD did not differ in the two values. The idea that ALCA and ACCA may be useful either to differentiate between CD, UC and healthy subjects or to stratify CD was not confirmed.

[The influence of inflammatory bowel disease on the period of conceiving]. / Vliv idiopatického strevního zánetu na interval potrebný pro pocetí pacientek.

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) influence women fertility in many ways. OBJECTIVE: We tried to determine the influence of the inflammatory bowel disease on conceiving. The date of the diagnosis, localisation, form and activity at time of conception were involved. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: We assessed data from 81 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 56 patients were diagnosed before conceiving (41 with CD, 15 with UC), 25 patients were diagnosed after pregnancy (14 with CD, 11 with UC). We assessed the period of conceiving (in months) depends on previous abdominal operation, localisation, form and activity of the disease at time of conception. The data were obtained from the questionnaire and hospital cards. RESULTS: The previous abdominal operation, the diagnosis, localisation, and the form of the disease did not influence the period necessary to conceive in patient with inflammatory bowel disease. The anoperineal localisation and activity of Crohn's disease at the time of conception extended the period necessary to conceive. CONCLUSION: Fertility of the patients with Crohn's disease depends on the activity of the disease at time of conception and anoperineal involvement. Previous abdominal operation does not influence the fertility.

[Significance of serum antibodies ANCA, ASCA, ABBA in diagnostics of idiopathic intestinal inflammations]. / Význam sérových protilátek ANCA, ASCA, ABBA u idiopatických strevních zánetu.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis still remain a heterogeneous group of diseases with an unclear aetiology. Serologic methods play important role in their diagnosing though there is still not an ideal marker. We tried to determine the importance of serological testing of ASCA IgA, IgG, ANCA, ABBA antibodies in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: ASCA IgG, ASCA IgA; ANCA, ABBA antibodies and C-reactive protein were detected by indirect fluorescence assay. ASCA IgA, ASCA IgG, ABBA, ANCA were examined in 40 patients (28 Crohn's disease, 12 ulcerative colitis, 32 health controls). Specificity of ASCA IgA, IgG in CD patients was high (both 96.2%), specificity ANCA in UC 100%. ABBA antibodies had low sensitivity and specificity in both diseases. Combination of ASCA, ANCA, ABBA makes the specificity higher. CONCLUSIONS: We showed the importance of combination ASCA, ANCA with ABBA antibodies to improve the serological diagnosing of IBD.

[Mean platelet volume (MPV) in Crohn's disease patients]. / Strední objem trombocytu u nemocných s Crohnovou chorobou.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. Thrombocyte count and platelet volume are considered as a useful activity marker of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the study was to compare the yield of mean platelet volume with clinical and other laboratory markers of activity in Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 56 patients with CD were investigated at time of evident clinical relapse and remission (29 males and 27 females, aged 19-68 years, mean 34.5, median 31.5 years). Complete blood count, C- reactive proteins were measured. Disease activity was assed by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Patients were checked at least twice (120 analyses were carried out in total). Thrombocytosis (above 350xl09/L) was found in 32/61 (52 %) patients with clinical relapse and in 7/59 (12 %) patients with clinical remission (mean 400.7x10(9)/1; 95%CI: 361.1-440.3x10(9)/1; or as the case may be mean 278.6xl0(9)/1; 95% CI: 256.8-300.4x10(9)/1). The mean platelet volume decreased (under 7.8 fL) in 19/61 (31 %) patients with clinical relapse and in 8/59 (13.5 %) with clinical remission (mean 8.333 fl; 95% CI: 7.935-8.731 fl; or as the case may be mean 9.200 fl; 95% CI: 8.824-9.576 fl). Total platelet count, CDAI and C- reactive protein were significantly increased (p<0.0001) and mean platelet volume was statistically significantly reduced (p=0.003) during clinical relapse compared with clinical remission. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased mean platelet corpuscular volume is an independent laboratory marker of clinical disease activity. However, on the basis of our study, its predictive value is inferior compared to the total platelet count, serum concentration of C- reactive protein and Crohn's disease activity index.

[Examination of gastric emptying rate by means of 13C-octanoic acid breath test. Methods of the test for adults and results of the investigation of healthy volunteers]. / Stanovení rychlosti evakuace zaludku pomoci dechového testu s 13C-oktanovou kyselinou. Metodika testu pro dospelé a výsledky vysetrení zdravých dobrovolníku.

BACKGROUND: 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OABT) is a simple, safe and non-invasive technique for measuring gastric emptying. However, the method has not been standardized yet. Aim of the study was to work up, introduce and evaluate our own method of the 13C-OABT for adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten healthy volunteers entered the study (5 men, 5 women, mean age 32 years, 50 % Helicobacter pylori positive). Standard test meals (with 100 mg 13C-sodium octanoate) were used three times within 3 weeks. The same solid meal (1,178 kJ) for Tests 1 and 2 contained scrambled egg (+ 3 g oil), white bread (40 g), butter (10 g) and distilled water (200 ml). Semi-solid meal (1,020 kJ) for Test 3 contained milk pudding (200 g) and distilled water (200 ml). Duplicate breath samples were obtained before and every 15 minutes after eating the test meal during 255 minutes. Altogether 1,080 breath samples were analysed twice (isotope ratio mass spectrometry, AP2003 Analytical Precision, UK). To assess the half-life of elimination (t1/2 E), we modelled the process of elimination with the incomplete gamma-function, which has a convenient form for the empiric plotting of breath test data. Mean t1/2E was 136+/-10 minutes (Test 1), 134+/-14 (Test 2) and 123+/-16 minutes (Test 3). Clinical reproducibility of 13C-OABT in particular persons was 98.2% (18 breath samples series), 90.8 % (15 samples) and 87.1% (9 breath samples series). There was a significant correlation between Test 1 and Test 2 results (r=0.887, p<0.0001). Mean difference of duplicate breath sample analysis was 1.460 % (in 540 pairs), mean baseline one-day analysis difference was 0.0982 (99.9274% accuracy). In healthy volunteers, normal range of t1/2E is 110-160 minutes for solids and 91-155 minutes for semisolid test meal. Using our own computed mean time of intermediate metabolism of 13C-octanoic acid (76.5+/-7.5 minutes), gastric emptying half-time is 33.5-83.5 minutes for solids and 14.5-78.5 minutes for semisolid test meal in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: The 13C-OABT is accurate non-invasive method for gastric emptying measurement.

Comparison of different protocols for 13C-urea breath test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: The (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) is the most accurate non-invasive method for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, several methodological issues have not been resolved yet. The aim of this study was to test different protocols of (13)C-UBT to find the optimal test drink and sampling interval. MATERIAL AND METHODS: (13)C-UBT was performed at 3-day intervals in 27 healthy volunteers using citric acid (test A), orange juice (B) and still water (C) as test drinks. Breath samples were collected from time 5 to 60 min. A total number of 2106 breath samples were analysed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (cut-off value 3.5). RESULTS: Differences in delta values were greater than would be expected by chance (A versus B and A versus C at times 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 min, p<0.05, Dunnett's method). There were no grey zone- or false-negative results among H. pylori-positive persons in test A at any time, but some were found in tests B and C. Optimal intervals for breath sampling are at times 20 or 25 min after (13)C-urea ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Citric acid solution as a test drink and 20- or 25-min breath sampling intervals are optimal for the (13)C-UBT in healthy volunteers.