Progress on factors affecting gastrointestinal function and drug protection in high altitude hypoxia environment / 药学实践杂志

Due to factors such as low pressure, low oxygen and cold in the plateau environment, people who enter the plateau rapidly are susceptible to digestive system diseases, such as upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and other gastrointestinal dysfunction, which seriously affect the health and work ability of people who enter the plateau rapidly. The gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by the rapid advance to the plateau is mainly reflected in three aspects: gastrointestinal motility dysfunction, impaired mucosal barrier function, and intestinal flora imbalance. At present, the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal dysfunction is still not very clear, and there are fewer drugs for targeted prevention and treatment. Gastrointestinal hormones, oxygen free radicals, inflammatory factors, intestinal flora and other factors, as well as the protective effects of related drugs were reviewed in this paper to provide treatment options and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of the gastrointestinal emergency response caused by entering the plateau.

Consensus of Clinical Experts on Gastrointestinal Mucosal Protection (2021, Fuzhou) / 胃肠病学

The gastrointestinal mucosa covers the entire gastrointestinal tract. With important physiological functions, the injuries of mucosal barrier are the common pathogenic mechanism of gastrointestinal diseases. However, there still lacks in-depth and systematic understanding in the clinical diagnosis, etiological diagnosis, treatment strategies of mucosal barrier injuries, and the standardized use of mucosal protective agents. Based on medicine-based evidence, this consensus has reached an agreement on the concept of gastric mucosal barrier and protection, physiological functions of mucosal barrier, gastrointestinal mucosal injuries and related diseases, and the classification and application of mucosal protective agents. The consensus provides a significant reference for gastrointestinal mucosal protection in clinical practice.

Chronic Oral Administration of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Extract Induced Gastrointestinal Necrosis in Treated Albino Rats

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effect on of Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract on the histology of the gastrointestinal tract in rats. Study Design: Adult rats of both sexes were used for the work. The study was carried out at the Departments of Physiology and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria between September 2014 and January, 2015. Methodology: Fifty adult albino rats and 35 Mice were used for the study. The mice were used for acute toxicity study while the rats were divided into five groups of 10 rats each and were used for the histological study. Groups 2-5 were assigned different dose levels of OGLE in the order 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively while group 1 was given only feed and water. Treatment was given by the oral route and lasted for 28 days. Results: Phytochemical compounds identified in the extract include protein and carbohydrate which occurred in high amounts, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in moderate quantities, saponins, steroids and phenolic compounds in low amounts while tannins and alkaloids were absent. An LD50 and ED50 values of 2075 mg/kg and 850 mg/kg body weight respectively were obtained for the extract with a Therapeutic Index value of 2.44. Chronic oral administration of the extract also caused various degrees of histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract in all treated animals with significant erosions of the mucosa and submucosa. The gastrointesinal necrosis produced by Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract after long term treatment was dose dependent with 100 mg/kg inducing only mild necrosis of the villi, 200 mg/kg, a higher necrosis of the villi, while 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg induced severe necrosis of both the villi and the intestinal mucosa. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study therefore suggest that Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract is rich in bioactive compounds and may be well tolerated at low to moderate doses during short term treatment but may cause gastrointestinal erosions when used continuously over a long period.

Damage of dual antiplatelet drug to gastrointestinal mucosa and endoscopic diagnosis and treatment / 中国实用内科杂志

Antiplatelet drugs are widely used in primary and secondary prevention of vascular embolism diseases, which can reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events. However, while inhibiting platelet aggregation, dual antiplatelet drugs can also affect the repair of gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to gastric ulcer formation and bleeding. More severely, patients may die from hemorrhage. The risk of severe hemorrhage increases significantly following a combination antiplatelet drug regimen. Endoscopic hemostasis should be the first choice for patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by dual antiplatelet therapy. Benefits and risks should be balanced. In order to prevent gastrointestinal mucosal injury caused by dual antiplatelet therapy, standardized process should be adopted to assess and screen the risk of patients, and the indications of antiplatelet therapy should also be standardized. Meanwhile,high-risk population of gastrointestinal injury should be identified in advance. In order to minimize the occurrence of gastrointestinal injury and bleeding, appropriate protective measures should be taken.

Does Hepatocyte Paraffin 1 expression stand a role in determining the site origin of an adenocarcinoma from unknown gastrointestinal primary.

Background: Hepatocyte Paraffin 1 (Hep Par 1) was being extensively used to recognize the hepatocellular carcinomas, until recognition of its expression in tumors without hepatocellular differentiation. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze if Hep Par 1 stain can serve as a specific marker of the small intestinal (SI) adenocarcinomas, versus other gastrointestinal tract (GIT) primary tumors. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross‑sectional study, normal GIT mucosa (n ‑ 60), corresponding adenocarcinomas (n ‑ 60) and nodal metastatic foci (n ‑ 60) from the same patients, including 10 cases each from the esophagus, stomach, SI periampullary region, colon, rectum, and gall bladder were included. H‑score was calculated by multiplying the stain distribution and intensity scores. The H‑scores were compared with other clinical and histological parameters. Results: While normal SI mucosa showed diffuse strong Hep Par 1 staining, normal esophageal and gastric epitheliums were negative and normal colon, rectal, and biliary epithelium showed weak focal positivity. Adenocarcinomas from all these sites, however, showed Hep Par 1 expression, irrespective of the tumor type, site or origin, and tumor stage. The corresponding metastatic sites also showed variable Hep Par 1 positivity, without any site specificity. Conclusion: Hep Par 1 stain cannot help to determine the exact site of origin of primary GIT tumors. Its expression in adenocarcinomas across the GIT and their metastatic foci proves that it cannot be regarded as a marker of SI differentiation, especially in malignancy.

High resolution micro-endoscopy for digestive tract normal mucosa / 中国内镜杂志

Objective To summarize the picture features of high resolution micro-endoscopy (HRME) for normal gastrointestinal mucosa. Methods We select 10 cases' normal esophageal mucosa, gastric and duodenal mucosa, in-testinal mucosa and colonic mucosal biopsies for this study, use HRME to observe the specimens and describe the features of different parts of the digestive tract normal mucosa according to the collected HRME pictures. Results After HRME imaging, all specimens were sent to pathological examination. We obtained 1 284 HRME pictures for 50 cases of biopsy specimens, 400 pictures were selected for results analysis after screening. HRME image charac-teristics of different parts of the digestive tract normal mucosa are as follows. Esophageal mucosa: cell arrangement rules, round and bright nucleus, the same size, nuclear spacing normal, the number of cells per field in basically are the same. Fundic mucosa: numerous closely arranged glands as well as oval or elongated branched openings of the gastric pits and linear peripheral cracks were visible; the nuclei were arranged regularly. Antral mucosa: irregular or tubular openings of the gastric pits and cracked glandular cavities were visible, with the cells surrounding the gastric pits regularly arranged and the nuclei small and densely distributed. Duodenal mucosa:visible villi was large fingers,on both sides of lint jagged depression, stereoscopic obviously, a cluster-like arrangement and the gap was crack-like. Intestinal mucosa:villous structures wider gap is wider, less than the number of the duodenum. Colonic mucosa:the nucleus of the same size, shape rules, round or oval and daisy-like glandular structures. All specimens were confirmed normal mucosa by pathology. Conclusion HRME can accurately identify the different parts of the diges-tive tract normal mucosa and it has a high consistency compared with pathological results.

The Role of Cellular Senescence in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa

Cellular senescence is a biologically irreversible state of cell-growth arrest that occurs following either a replicative or an oncogenic stimulus. This phenomenon occurs as a response to the presence of premalignant cells and appears to be an important anticancer mechanism that keeps these transformed cells at bay. Many exogenous and endogenous triggers for senescence have been recognized to act via genomic or epigenomic pathways. The most common stimulus for senescence is progressive loss of telomeric DNA, which results in the loss of chromosomal stability and eventual unregulated growth and malignancy. Senescence is activated through an interaction between the p16 and p53 tumor-suppressor genes. Senescent cells can be identified in vitro because they express senescence-associated beta-galactosidase, a marker of increased lysosomal activity. Cellular senescence plays an integral role in the prevention and development of both benign and malignant gastrointestinal diseases. The senescence cascade and the cell-cycle checkpoints that dictate the progression and maintenance of senescence are important in all types of gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic, liver, gastric, colon, and esophageal cancers. Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms involved in cellular senescence is important for the development of agents targeted toward the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

The expressions of aquaporins in chronic stress depression model rat hippocampus and gastrointestinal mucosa / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To study the mechanisms of depression by exploring expressional differences of AQPs in the tissues of chronic stress depression rats.Methods Depression model was replicated by unpredicted chronic stress.20 rats were randomly separated into normal control group and model control group,AQP4 and AQP3,AQP8 expressions on hippocampus and gastrointestinal mucosa of rat model with depression were detected by immunochemical staining method.Results Means of optical density of AQP4 of normal group and model group hippocampus were 0.28 ± 0.02,0.22 ± 0.06 respectively,and the difference between two groups was significant statistically(t value was 2.756,P＜0.05).The expression of AQP3 on gastric mucosa and colonic mucosa between two groups had no significant statistically(t value were 1.814,1.812,P＞0.05).Two groups'means of optical density of AQP3 on small intestinal mucosa were 0.15 ± 0.02,0.17 ± 0.02,and the difference was significant statistically (t value was 2.769,P＜0.05).Two groups'means of AQP8 optical density in gastric mucosa were 0.15± 0.01,0.19 ± 0.04 ;0.16 ± 0.01 and 0.21 ± 0.04 in small intestinal mucosa;0.16 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.04 in colonic mucosa,and the differences were significant statistically(t values were 3.139,5.113,4.534,P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.01).Conclusion The expression of AQP4 on depression model rat hippocampus are lower than those of the normal group ; and the expression of AQP3 on gastric mucosa and colonic mucosa are no change obviously,but it(')s up-regulation on small intestinal mucosa.The expressions of AQP8 on gastric mucosa and small intestinal mucosa and colonic mucosa are up-regulating.

Establishment and Evaluation of Animal Models of Spleen-stomach Damp-heat Syndrome / 广州中医药大学学报

[Objective] To establish the animal model of spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome (SDS). [Methods] Fifty SD male rats were randomized into 5 groups. Group A was fed with routine methods; group B was fed under the damp-heat environment; group C was fed with high fat and sugar diet and alternative feeding of fat and wine; group D was fed with a combined method of under damp-heat environment and giving high fat and sugar diet and wine; group E was fed by the method similar to group D and with Qingre Huashi Prescription at the same time. Fifteen days later, the symptoms and signs, and gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) levels in the serum, plasma and gastrointestinal mucosa were observed to evaluate the models. [ Results] The symptoms and signs and pathological changes in Group D were similar to those of SDS. [Conclusion] The combined method of feeding under damp-heat environment and with high fat, sugar diet and wine supply a new data for the research of SDS.