Search results for "Gastrointestinal tract"

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract in adult-to-adult living related liver transplant patients: a single centre experience

2008

Tumori gastrointestinali stromali: Aspetti con tomografia computerizzata multidetettore (40-strati)

2006

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe the findings and evaluate the role of multidetector (40-slice) computed tomography (MDCT) in the preoperative assessment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). Materials and methods. Thirteen patients with histologically proven GIST (size: 4-30 cm; mean: 9 cm) underwent 40-slice MDCT after the ingestion of 1,000 ml of water. Images were obtained before and 70 s after intravenous injection of 120 ml of iodinated contrast agent. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the CT findings to evaluate lesion site, size, margins, attenuation, growth pattern, enhancement pattern, ascites, lymphadenopathy, direct invasion to adjacent organs and di…

Active and secreted IgA-coated bacterial fractions from the human gut reveal an under-represented microbiota core

2013

AbstractHost-associated microbiota varies in distribution depending on the body area inhabited. Gut microbes are known to interact with the human immune system, maintaining gut homoeostasis. Thus, we studied whether secreted-IgA (S-IgA) coat specific microbial taxa without inducing strong immune responses. To do so, we fractionated gut microbiota by flow cytometry. We found that active and S-IgA-coated bacterial fractions were characterized by a higher diversity than those observed in raw faecal suspensions. A long-tail effect was observed in family distribution, revealing that rare bacteria represent up to 20% of total diversity. While Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, the majority …

Acute parathyroid hormone increase by oral peptones administration after roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in obese subjects: Role of phosphate in the…

2010

It is generally considered that changes in serum phosphate levels do not alter parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in the absence of concomitant changes in ionized serum calcium level in humans. An acute rise in PTH was shown after phosphate administration by intraduodenal gavage in rats. We aimed to study gastrin, phosphate, PTH, ionized calcium (iCa), and blood pH responses to oral peptones in morbidly obese patients before and after roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery.These parameters were evaluated in response to an oral peptone load in 24 (18 male and 6 female) obese subjects before and 6 months after RYGB surgery. In 12 gastric bypass patients, we also evaluated PTH and phosphate …

How to predict a high rate of inappropriateness for upper endoscopy in an endoscopic centre?

2010

Abstract BACKGROUND: Inappropriateness of upper endoscopy (EGD) indication causes decreased diagnostic yield. Our aim of was to identify predictors of appropriateness rate for EGD among endoscopic centres. METHODS: A post-hoc analysis of two multicentre cross-sectional studies, including 6270 and 8252 patients consecutively referred to EGD in 44 (group A) and 55 (group B) endoscopic Italian centres in 2003 and 2007, respectively, was performed. A multiple forward stepwise regression was applied to group A, and independently validated in group B. A <70% threshold was adopted to define inadequate appropriateness rate clustered by centre. RESULTS: discrete variability of clustered appropriaten…

Women With and Without Metabolic Disorder Differ in Their Gut Microbiota Composition

2012

The aim of this study was to investigate whether overweight/obese women in metabolic disorder group (MDG, n = 27) differ in their gut microbiota composition from overweight/obese women in non-metabolic disorder group (NMDG, n = 47) and normal weight women group (NWG, n = 11). Gut microbiota was profiled from fecal samples by 16S rRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry in 85 premenopausal women. Body composition was measured by bioimpedance, and dietary intakes were collected via food diaries. Standard procedures were used to assess plasma glucose, serum insulin, lipids, and inflammatory status. We found that the proportion of bacteria belonging to Eubacterium rectale-Clos…

GLP-2: What do we know? What are we going to discover?

2014

Glucagon-like peptide 2 [GLP-2] is a 33-amino acid peptide released from the mucosal enteroendocrine L-cells of the intestine. The actions of GLP-2 are transduced by the GLP-2 receptor [GLP-2R], which is localized in the neurons of the enteric nervous system but not in the intestinal epithelium, indicating an indirect mechanism of action. GLP-2 is well known for its trophic role within the intestine and interest in GLP-2 is now reviving based on the approval of the GLP-2R agonist for treatment of short bowel syndrome [SBS]. Recently it also seems to be involved in glucose homeostasis. The aim of this review is to outline the importance of neuroendocrine peptides, specifically of GLP-2 in th…

Shared midgut binding sites for Cry1A.105, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry1Fa proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis in two important corn pests, Ostrin…

2013

First generation of insect-protected transgenic corn (Bt-corn) was based on the expression of Cry1Ab or Cry1Fa proteins. Currently, the trend is the combination of two or more genes expressing proteins that bind to different targets. In addition to broadening the spectrum of action, this strategy helps to delay the evolution of resistance in exposed insect populations. One of such examples is the combination of Cry1A.105 with Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab to control O. nubilalis and S. frugiperda. Cry1A.105 is a chimeric protein with domains I and II and the C-terminal half of the protein from Cry1Ac, and domain III almost identical to Cry1Fa. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the c…

The Active Human Gut Microbiota Differs from the Total Microbiota

2011

The human gut microbiota is considered one of the most fascinating reservoirs of microbial diversity hosting between 400 to 1000 bacterial species distributed among nine phyla with Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria representing around of the diversity. One of the most intriguing issues relates to understanding which microbial groups are active players in the maintenance of the microbiota homeostasis. Here, we describe the diversity of active microbial fractions compared with the whole community from raw human fecal samples. We studied four healthy volunteers by 16S rDNA gene pyrosequencing. The fractions were obtained by cell sorting based on bacterial RNA concentration. Bacteria…

Angiotensin II positively modulates the spontaneous contractile activity of mouse and human colon via activation of AT1 receptors.

2012

Objective: Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent smooth muscle contractile neurohumoral agonist but has not been much investigated with regard to gastrointestinal motor activity. Ang II effects are mediated by specific receptors, the Ang II type 1 (AT1) and the Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptors, which are well expressed in the gut. In this study we evaluated the effects of Ang II on the contractile activity of longitudinal muscle from mouse and human colon and we analysed the subtype(s) of receptors involved in the observed effects. Methods: Mechanical responses to Ang II, in the absence or in the presence of different drugs, were assessed in vitro in colonic longitudinal muscle from mice and hum…