Search results for "GASTROINTESTINAL"
showing 10 items of 1016 documents
Gut Microbiota Analysis Results Are Highly Dependent on the 16S rRNA Gene Target Region, Whereas the Impact of DNA Extraction Is Minor
2017
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is currently the method of choice for analyzing gut microbiota composition. As gut microbiota composition is a potential future target for clinical diagnostics, it is of utmost importance to enhance and optimize the NGS analysis procedures. Here, we have analyzed the impact of DNA extraction and selected 16S rDNA primers on the gut microbiota NGS results. Bacterial DNA from frozen stool specimens was extracted with 5 commercially available DNA extraction kits. Special attention was paid to the semiautomated DNA extraction methods that could expedite the analysis procedure, thus being especially suitable for clinical settings. The microbial composition was an…
Meconium microbiota types dominated by lactic acid or enteric bacteria are differentially associated with maternal eczema and respiratory problems in…
2013
Background Culture-dependent methods have shown that meconium, the newborn's first intestinal discharge, is not sterile, but the diversity of bacteria present in this material needs to be further characterized by means of more sensitive molecular techniques. Objective Our aims were to characterize molecularly the meconium microbiota in term infants, to assess whether it contributes to the future microbiota of the infants' gastrointestinal tract, and to evaluate how it relates to lifestyle variables and atopy-related conditions. Methods We applied high-throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to study the meconium microbiota in twenty term newborns from a Spanish birth cohort. For comp…
Diet shapes the gut microbiota of the omnivorous cockroach Blattella germanica
2015
The gut microbiota of insects contributes positively to the physiology of its host mainly by participating in food digestion, protecting against pathogens, or provisioning vitamins or amino acids, but the dynamics of this complex ecosystem is not well understood so far. In this study, we have characterized the gut microbiota of the omnivorous cockroach Blattella germanica by pyrosequencing the hypervariable regions V1-V3 of the 16S rRNA gene of the whole bacterial community. Three diets differing in the protein content (0, 24 and 50%) were tested at two time points in lab-reared individuals. In addition, the gut microbiota of wild adult cockroaches was also analyzed. In contrast to the high…
The impact of intestinal microbiota on bio-medical research: definitions, techniques and physiology of a “new frontier”
2018
In recent years the metagenomics techniques have allowed to study composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. The microbiota is a new frontier of biomedical research to be explored and there is growing evidence of its fundamental health-promoting activity. The present review gives a synthetic overview on the characteristics and the role of the microbiota in the adult with particular reference to physiology, pathophysiology and relationships with the host and the environment. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Prospective multicenter trial of capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea and other signs and symptoms (CEDAP-Plus Study)
2007
Background On the basis of the published data, capsule endoscopy cannot be recommended in patients whose only symptom is chronic abdominal pain. The present study therefore focused on the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain who were also suffering from additional symptoms. Patients and methods A total of 50 patients with chronic abdominal pain, plus other symptoms singly or in combination were enrolled in this prospective multicenter trial. The "plus" symptoms or signs consisted of weight loss (> 10 % of body weight), inflammation shown by laboratory tests, chronic anemia, or suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding. Chronic diarrhea was recorded if …
The appropriateness of colonoscopies at a teaching hospital: magnitude, associated factors, and comparison of EPAGE and EPAGE-II criteria.
2011
Background The growing demand for colonoscopies and inappropriate colonoscopies have become a significant problem for health care. Objectives To assess the appropriateness of colonoscopies and to analyze the association with some clinical and organizational factors. To compare the results of the European Panel of Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) and the EPAGE-II criteria. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Endoscopy unit of a teaching hospital in Spain. Patients Patients referred for colonoscopy, excluding urgent, therapeutic indications, and poor cleansing. Main Outcome Measurements Appropriateness of colonoscopies according to the EPAGE criteria. Results From 749 c…
Effect of loperamide on jejunal electrolyte and water transport, prostaglandin E 2-induced secretion and intestinal transit time in man
1991
Jejunal perfusion was performed in 12 healthy volunteers to evaluate the dose dependent effects of loperamide on intestinal absorption, stimulated secretion and transit. In 6 volunteers intestinal perfusion of the jejunal segment with isotonic NaCl solution was followed by addition of loperamide in increasing doses (2–8 mg·l−1). The volunteers were pretreated with 1 mg·l−1 prostaglandin E2 (PgE2) in the perfusate before addition of 4 mg·l−1 loperamide. Phenolsulphonphtalein (PSP) boluses (2 ml) were given to measure mean transit time (MTT). Loperamide 2 mg·l−1 converted the minor secretion after perfusion with the standard solution (water −1.45 ml·min−1, Na −0.09 and Cl −0.04 mmol·min−1) to…
Quality, functional and sensory evaluation of pasta fortified with extracts from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes
2019
Background The stems of Opuntia ficus-indica, known as cladodes, are a rich source of soluble fibers, which makes them an important candidate for the production of functional foods. Tagliatelle of durum wheat fortified with Opuntia cladode extract (OCE) at different levels of addition (10-30%, v/w) was prepared on a laboratory scale and quality characteristics and sensory acceptability were assessed. Results The main quality parameters (optimal cooking time, swelling index, cooking loss, dry matter) and sensory analysis on a nine-point hedonic scale were comparable with those of the control pasta sample (no added OCE) when durum wheat was supplemented with OCE at up to 20% (v/w). An in vitr…
Influence of Senna, Fibre, and Fibre + Senna on Colonic Transit in Loperamide-induced Constipation
1993
Retarded colonic transit and disturbed defecation are the most prominent pathophysiological mechanisms in constipation. Both may be influenced by bulking agents and by laxatives such as senna. Direct measurements of the influence of such substances on colonic transit are rare mainly because of technical problems. We measured gastric emptying, small and large intestinal transit in 24 healthy volunteers by a newly developed method employing a metal detector. Twelve persons taking a normal diet received loperamide in a dose sufficient to double the individual transit time. All subjects measured gastrointestinal transit time under normal conditions and with Sennatin containing purified sennosid…
Tetramer visualization of gut-homing gluten-specific T cells in the peripheral blood of celiac disease patients
2007
Tetramers of MHC–peptide complexes are used for detection and characterization of antigen-specific T cell responses, but they require knowledge about both antigenic peptide and the MHC restriction element. The successful application of these reagents in human diseases involving CD4 + T cells is limited. Celiac disease, an intestinal inflammation driven by mucosal CD4 + T cells recognizing wheat gluten peptides in the context of disease-associated HLA-DQ molecules, is an ideal model to test the potential clinical use of these reagents. We investigated whether gluten-specific T cells can be detected in the peripheral blood of celiac disease patients using DQ2 tetramers. Nine DQ2 + patients a…