Protective effect of zinc acexamate on experimental gastric ulcers: a histochemical study.

The antiulcerogenic effect of zinc acexamate on gastric ulcers induced by reserpine and changes in the morphology of gastric mucosa were studied in rats by histochemical methods. Histochemistry revealed that zinc acexamate preserved reserpine-depleted neutral and acid glycoproteins. ATPase reaction remained strong in nearly normal periglandular capillaries. The reaction intensity of SDH and NADH2-tetrazolium reductase, and the number and size of the DH-positive parietal cells were decreased, illustrating the decline of energy metabolism involved in acid secretion. The decreased height and weaker staining of the pyroninophile chief cell layer corresponded to the lower amount of RNA, an indirect indicator of pepsinogen synthesis. The significant correlation indices "r" between the severity of gastric lesions and histochemical parameters of the defensive (glycoproteins and microvascular ATPase) and aggressive factors (parietal cell DH and chief cell RNA) confirmed the pathogenic effect of reserpine and the protection provided by zinc acexamate. These findings confirm the multifactorial mechanism of action described for zinc acexamate in several previous works.

Effects of zinc-aspartate and zinc-glycinate in healthy rats and on reserpine-induced gastric lesions.

Experimental studies performed on 227 rats showed that Zn-aspartate and Zn-glycinate administered ip lowered the incidence, number, and severity of the reserpine-induced gastric lesions ensuring significant protection indices. Histochemical methods revealed increased amount of mucosal glycoproteins. The activity of dehydrogenases involved in energy metabolism that modulates acid secretion in the parietal cells was depressed. RNA content in the chief cells, as premises of pepsinogen synthesis, was decreased. ATPase reaction in the periglandular capillaries was uniform and stronger, showing an improvement of gastric mucosal microcirculation. Since these histochemical changes were also noted in healthy rats receiving Zn salts, it might be suggested that they are not the mere expression of an anti-ulcer protective effect of zinc, but rather reflect its mechanism of action, relating to the complex metabolic events induced by the trace element. Our results are in agreement with those previously reported concerning the noxious influence of Zn depletion, the accelerated healing of peptic ulcer patients after Zn treatment, and the protective effect of Zn against ulcerogenesis in several experimental models involving different pathomechanisms.

Helicobacter-like organisms in gastroduodenal diseases.

The incidence of the Helicobacter-like organisms (HLO) was investigated on biopsy specimens of antral gastric mucosa, stained by the Wayson technique, in 509 patients with various gastric and duodenal diseases. The incidence of HLO was: 72.8 percent in gastric ulcer, 69.6 percent in duodenal ulcer, 69.2 percent in bulbitis, 61.0. percent in chronic gastritis, 37.5 percent in the postoperative stomach, 50 percent in gastric cancer, and 34.3 percent on healthy controls. The HLO were present over the whole year, with a peak in March. Sex and age had little influence on the HLO incidence. The Wayson staining technique proved to be a good technique of detection of HLO on gastric mucosa smears.

Effect of cyclophosphamide in active nonviral cirrhosis.

The immunologic effects of cyclophosphamide were studied in 16 patients with active nonviral liver cirrhosis with a view to improving the pathogenetic treatment of these diseases. After months of cyclophosphamide administration first in doses of 100 mg/day (for 14 days) then in doses of 200 mg per week, the hypergammaglobulinemia present at entry was reduced significantly from 2.55 +/- 0.35 g/dl to 1.71 +/- 0.17 g/dl concomitantly with the proportional increase of the active suppressor T lymphocytes, from 29.3 +/- 3.59% to 38.0 +/- 2.1%. The use of smaller doses of cyclophosphamide, i.e., 200 mg/week, allowed the maintenance of its immunosuppressive properties and prevented its side effects.