Ursodeoxycholic acid does not interfere with in vivo Helicobacter pylori colonization

A low frequency of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa of patients with alkaline gastritis has been reported. At the same time, it can be noted that the growth of bacteria can be inhibited by bile acids. We studied 40 patients with chronic gastritis related to Helicobacter pylori in order to determine the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on this infection. Diagnoses of the infection and the inflammatory process were obtained by histologic study of gastric biopsies collected during endoscopy. Two groups were studied: group I received ursodeoxycholic acid - 300 mg/day, and group II received the placebo, twice a day, both for 28 days. The colonization by Helicobacter pylori and the intensity of the mononuclear and polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate were determined before (time 1) and after (time 2) treatment. Ursodeoxycholic acid had no effect on the Helicobacter pylori infection. A significant reduction in the intensity of the mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate of the gastric antrum mucosa was observed in patients from group I, when we compared not only times 1 and 2 but also groups I and II. However, this was not the case with the body mucosa. We concluded that ursodeoxycholic acid had no action on the colonization by Helicobacter pylori or on the polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate, but it caused a significant reduction in the intensity of the mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate of the gastric antrum

Mydriatics slow gastric emptying in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants are more likely to have episodes of abdominal distention, emesis, and gastric residuals 24 hours after their first screening examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) than on the day preceding the examination. Because these feeding problems reflect abnormalities in motor function, the purpose of this study was to compare antral and duodenal motor activity and gastric emptying in preterm infants before and after the instillation of mydriatics. STUDY DESIGN: Using a low compliance continuous perfusion manometric system, we recorded antral and duodenal fasting motor activity in 11 preterm infants before and after the instillation of mydriatics for their first screening examination for ROP. Gastric emptying was compared before and after the eye examination. RESULTS: Although the number of antral motor contractions remained relatively constant throughout the study, duodenal motor contractions decreased nearly fourfold after the instillation of mydriatics versus that seen before (P <.01). Gastric emptying was significantly delayed after the completion of the eye examination compared with that seen before the examination (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Current doses of mydriatics inhibit duodenal motor activity and delay gastric emptying, and these gastrointestinal effects of mydriatics may underlie the feeding difficulties seen in preterm infants on the day of screening examinations for ROP.

Ursodeoxycholic acid does not interfere with in vivo Helicobacter pylori colonization.

A low frequency of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa of patients with alkaline gastritis has been reported. At the same time, it can be noted that the growth of bacteria can be inhibited by bile acids. We studied 40 patients with chronic gastritis related to Helicobacter pylori in order to determine the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on this infection. Diagnoses of the infection and the inflammatory process were obtained by histologic study of gastric biopsies collected during endoscopy. Two groups were studied: group I received ursodeoxycholic acid - 300 mg/day, and group II received the placebo, twice a day, both for 28 days. The colonization by Helicobacter pylori and the intensity of the mononuclear and polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate were determined before (time 1) and after (time 2) treatment. Ursodeoxycholic acid had no effect on the Helicobacter pylori infection. A significant reduction in the intensity of the mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate of the gastric antrum mucosa was observed in patients from group I, when we compared not only times 1 and 2 but also groups I and II. However, this was not the case with the body mucosa. We concluded that ursodeoxycholic acid had no action on the colonization by Helicobacter pylori or on the polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate, but it caused a significant reduction in the intensity of the mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate of the gastric antrum.

A novel biomagnetic method to study gastric antral contractions.

A novel non-invasive method to study the motion associated with gastric antral contractions is discussed. The method is based on magnetic flux changes detected by an a.c. biosusceptometer, produced by a magnetic test meal within the stomach. Measurements are made at the surface of the torso and are easy to perform. Simultaneous measurements were made with electrogastrography and scintigraphy showing remarkable coincidence. The effect of a drug on the amplitude of antral contractions was also assayed with the new method.

[Gastrointestinal damage in osteoarthritis patients]. / Lesão gastroduodenal assintomática em portadores de osteoartrose.

Seventy-seven patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee, with clinical indication for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were studied. However, no patient was submitted to any anti-inflammatory medication seven days, prior the beginning of the study and did not complain of any gastrointestinal disease. Shortly before starting the anti-inflammatory drug therapy all patients were submitted to gastroduodenal endoscopy. This diagnostic procedure revealed that 54.6% of the patients presented at least one gastroduodenal damage, 22.1%, hyperemia, 3.9%, petechias, 23.4%, erosions and 5.2%, peptic ulcers. There results permitted to conclude that to identify and/or exclude damage of the gastrointestinal tract, data obtained in the anamnese are not sufficient. For these patients the endoscopic examination is a need. Anti-inflammatory therapy must be careful associated with dietetic orientation and the prescription of drugs to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Protection by acidified Maalox against indomethacin-induced gastric antral ulceration in hamsters.

The protective capability of Maalox against indomethacin-induced gastric damage was evaluated in hamsters. The effect of acidification on the gastroprotection provided by Maalox against such damage was also determined. Maalox was ineffective against indomethacin-induced gastric antral ulceration in hamsters. Acidification of this antacid to pHs of 1.5-3.5 resulted in significant (80-90%) gastroprotection against indomethacin. Macroscopic and histologic evidence of binding by acidified Maalox to the hamster antral mucosa was clearly evident. In summary, no correlation exists between acid neutralization and the gastroprotective capability of Maalox against indomethacin in hamsters. The gastroprotection by acidified Maalox against antral ulceration in this species corresponds well with the reported presence of its hexaaquoaluminum cation moiety at a pH below 4. Such gastroprotection may involve binding of this cation to the hamster pyloric antrum thereby protecting the antral mucosa against indomethacin-induced ulceration.