Novel Case Report: A Previously Reported, but Pathophysiologically Unexplained, Association Between Collagenous Colitis and Protein-Losing Enteropathy May Be Explained by an Undetected Link with Collagenous Duodenitis.

Collagenous colitis (CC) is associated with non-bloody, watery diarrhea, which is pathophysiologically reasonable because normal colonic absorption (or excretion) of water and electrolytes can be blocked by the abnormally thick collagen layer in CC. However, CC has also been associated with six previous cases of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), with no pathophysiologic explanation. The colon does not normally absorb (or excrete) amino acids/proteins, which is primarily the function of the small bowel. Collagenous duodenitis (CD) has not been associated with PLE. This work reports a novel case of CD (and CC) associated with PLE; a pathophysiologically reasonable mechanism for CD causing PLE (by the thick collagen layer of CD blocking normal intestinal amino acid absorption); and a novel association of PLE with severe COVID-19 infection (attributed to relative immunosuppression from hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and malnutrition from PLE).

Alterations in the histological features of the intestinal mucosa in malnourished adults of Bangladesh.

There is paucity of knowledge on the histological features of the intestinal mucosa in malnourished adults of Bangladesh. The purpose of the study was to explore the histological features of the intestinal mucosa in malnourished adults of Bangladesh and to compare the findings with their well-nourished counterparts. 64 adults (37 malnourished with body mass index, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 and 27 controls with BMI > 18.5 kg/m2) from the Bangladesh Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (BEED) study, who underwent upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy, were selected for this study. With a view to address the association of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) with malnutrition, upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and mucosal biopsies from the distal duodenum were studied for histopathology. Villous height, crypt depth, and presence of inflammatory infiltrates in lamina propria were investigated. Bivariate analysis was performed to quantify the relation between malnutrition and the histological features. About 95% adults, irrespective of nutritional status, were diagnosed to have chronic non-specific duodenitis on histopathology. Malnourished adults suffered significantly more from chronic active duodenitis compared to their well-nourished counterparts (p = 0.003). Malnourished adults also had significantly higher frequency of subtotal villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and marked cellular infiltration in the lamina propria than the healthy controls (p < 0.05).

Esophageal, Gastric, and Duodenal Histologic Findings in Patients with Feeding Difficulties.

Currently, there are inconsistencies in the recommendations of when to obtain an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in children with feeding difficulties. The aim of our study was to identify EGD findings in patients presenting to a large, outpatient feeding program. Additionally, we investigated the presence of any relationship between abnormal pathology seen on biopsies (inflammation) and symptoms of feeding intolerance such as vomiting, gagging, retching, or abdominal pain. Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records (EMRs) was conducted for all new patients aged 0-17 years presenting to the Multidisciplinary Feeding Clinic. Three hundred and thirty patients (50.2%) had an EGD with complete biopsies. Of these 330 patients, biopsies revealed esophagitis in 40%, gastritis in 33.6%, and duodenitis in 15.2%. Overall, 61.21% had an abnormal pathology in at least one site. We found that children with feeding disorders commonly have esophagitis, gastritis, and/or duodenitis and that symptoms are poor predictors of pathology. This study underscores the importance of gastrointestinal evaluation as part of a multidisciplinary evaluation in patients with feeding difficulties.

Mesenteric vascular dysregulation and intestinal inflammation accompanies experimental spinal cord injury.

Cervical and high thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) drastically impairs autonomic nervous system function. Individuals with SCI at thoracic spinal level 5 (T5) or higher often present cardiovascular disorders that include resting systemic arterial hypotension. Gastrointestinal (GI) tissues are critically dependent upon adequate blood flow and even brief periods of visceral hypoxia triggers GI dysmotility. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that T3-SCI induces visceral hypoperfusion, diminished postprandial vascular reflexes, and concomitant visceral inflammation. We measured in vivo systemic arterial blood pressure and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and duodenal blood flow in anesthetized T3-SCI rats at 3 days and 3 wk postinjury either fasted or following enteral feeding of a liquid mixed-nutrient meal (Ensure). In separate cohorts of fasted T3-SCI rats, markers of intestinal inflammation were assayed by qRT-PCR. Our results show that T3-SCI rats displayed significantly reduced SMA blood flow under all experimental conditions (P < 0.05). Specifically, the anticipated elevation of SMA blood flow in response to duodenal nutrient infusion (postprandial hyperemia) was either delayed or absent after T3-SCI. The dysregulated SMA blood flow in acutely injured T3-SCI rats coincides with abnormal intestinal morphology and elevation of inflammatory markers, all of which resolve after 3 wk. Specifically, Icam1, Ccl2 (MCP-1), and Ccl3 (MIP-1α) were acutely elevated following T3-SCI. Our data suggest that arterial hypotension diminishes mesenteric blood flow necessary to meet mucosal demands at rest and during digestion. The resulting GI ischemia and low-grade inflammation may be an underlying pathology leading to GI dysfunction seen following acute T3-SCI.

The Role of Duodenal Inflammation in Functional Dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is common and significantly impairs quality of life. Symptoms of FD are considered to originate from the gastroduodenal region, classified by the Rome criteria as disorders of brain-gut interaction without structural alteration. However, it is now apparent that FD is a number of syndromes, the epigastric pain syndrome (bothersome epigastric pain or epigastric burning) and the postprandial distress syndrome (with bothersome postprandial fullness or early satiation) and there are wide-ranging symptoms and severity. The origin of these troublesome symptoms is now considered to be a result of disrupted gastroduodenal neuropathophysiology. The complexity of the syndrome indicates that there must be different triggers, supported by the limited efficacy of the many treatments available. Current research based on evidence by association suggests that duodenal contents, including the duodenal microbiome, pathogens, and allergy may be triggers of FD. Recent studies have also shown that systemic responses of increased circulating lymphocytes and elevated proinflammatory cytokines and subtle inflammation in the duodenum may accompany the onset and persistence of symptoms. This inflammatory phenotype is characterized by innate inflammation, an eosinophil infiltrate in the duodenum in FD in those with postprandial distress syndrome. Routine histopathology practice does not quantify these cells so the status of FD is not yet appreciated as an inflammatory condition. Thus functional is becoming inflammatory and this breakthrough in understanding that functional does not necessarily mean no, but subtle pathology, may improve therapeutic options, which are currently aimed at symptom relief rather than targeted at underlying pathology.

[VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AND SOME INDICATORS OF ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION OF PATIENTS HAVING CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE GASTRO DUODENAL ZONE].

The aim of the study was to determine the content of vaskuloendotelian growth factor and nitric oxide in children with chronic inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum. The study involved 63 children with chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastroduodenal zone. Substrate study was serum. The data obtained were compared with a group of healthy children. The highest possible content vaskuloendotelian growth factor noted in the group of children with duodenal ulcer in the acute phase and in the group of chronic gastroduodenita associated with Helicobacter pylori. According to the results of the study established the role of nitric oxide and vaskuloendotelian growth factor in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal diseases.

[THE CORRECTION OF TROPHIC DISORDERS IN CHILDREN OF CHRONIC GASTRODUODENITIS WITH METHOD LOW-FREQUENCY LIGHT-MAGNETOTHERAPY].

The results of a survey of school children with chronic gastroduodenitis when applying at an early period the medical rehabilitation with method low-frequency light-magnetotherapy. During treatment of hospital was evaluated vegetative-trophic status with methods of cardiointervalography and thermovision functional tests. In normalizes clinical parameters was correction in dynamics of the vegetative status in children, it confirms the effectiveness of the therapy. It is proved, that the use of low-frequency light-magnetotherapy has a positive effect on the vegetative--trophic provision an organism and normalizes the vegetative dysfunction.

[CLINICAL FEATURES AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH COMBINATION GASTRODUODENAL PATHOLOGY AND PRIMARY HYPERTENSION].

The paper present dynamic of clinical picture, daily blood pressure monitoring results and subjective assessment of functional status in children with combination of chronic gastroduodenal pathology and primary hypertension when L-carnitine used with the standard treatment regimen.

[THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A 10-DAY DRUG THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC GASTRODUODENAL PATHOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH CAGA-POSITIVE STRAINS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI].

The results of triple Helicobacter-therapy (omeprazole, amoxicillin, nifuratel) in the treatment of chronic gastroduodenal pathology in children depending on the duration of it's use. The effectiveness of drug therapy was evaluated in terms of eradication of Helicobacter pylori and dynamics of pain, dyspeptic syndrome and astenovegetative syndrome.

Pathogenesis of tropical sprue: a pilot study of antroduodenal manometry, duodenocaecal transit time & fat-induced ileal brake.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) due to ileal brake-induced hypomotility may cause tropical sprue (TS). We evaluated effect of infusion of fat or placebo in duodenum randomly in patients with TS and healthy controls on antroduodenal manometry (ADM) and mediators of ileal brake, and duodenocaecal transit time (DCTT). METHODS: ADM and DCTT (lactulose hydrogen breath test, HBT) were evaluated with placebo and fat in eight controls and 13 patients with TS (diagnostic criteria: tests showing malabsorption of two unrelated substances, abnormal duodenal histology, absence of other causes, response to antibiotics and folate). RESULTS: Patients with TS (6 had SIBO by glucose HBT) were similar in age and gender with controls. After fat infusion, proximal gut motility index (MI) was reduced compared to fasting state in TS, and DCTT was longer in TS than controls (200 min, 120-380 vs. 130, 70-160, P=0.001), though comparable after placebo (70 min, 30-140 vs. 60, 40-90). TS patients had higher PYY and neurotensin than controls after fat infusion. DCTT after fat infusion correlated with plasma level of PYY in TS but not in controls. Post-fat PYY and neurotensin levels were higher in TS with lower BMI (<16 kg/m [2] ) than those with higher BMI. Parameters of ileal brake (post-fat DCTT, PYY and neurotensin) were higher in patients with than without SIBO. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Fat infusion reduced proximal gut MI, increased DCTT, PYY, and neurotensin among patients with TS. Malabsorbed fat might cause exaggerated ileal brake reducing gut motility, promoting SIBO and bacterial colonization and malabsorption in TS.

Effects of acute and chronic inflammation on proteins involved in duodenal iron absorption in mice: a time-course study.

In order to understand better the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of anaemia of inflammation, we carried out a time-course study on the effects of turpentine-induced acute and chronic inflammation on duodenal proteins involved in Fe absorption in mice. Expression levels of these proteins and hepatic hepcidin and serum Fe levels were determined in inflamed mice. In acutely inflamed mice, significantly increased expression of ferritin was the earliest change observed, followed by decreased divalent metal transporter 1 expression in the duodenum and increased hepcidin expression in the liver. Ferroportin expression increased subsequently, despite high levels of hepcidin. Hypoferraemia, which developed at early time periods studied, was followed by increased serum Fe levels at later points. The present results thus show that acute inflammation induced several changes in the expression of proteins involved in duodenal Fe absorption, contributing to the development of hypoferraemia. Resolution of inflammation caused attenuation of many of these effects. Effects in chronically inflamed mice were less consistent. The present results also suggest that inflammation-induced increases in ferritin appeared to override the effects of hepcidin on the expression levels of ferroportin in enterocytes.

[Treatment of chronic erosive gastroduodenitis in children with hypercapnic hypoxia].

Investigation of quality of life in pediatric patients--a simple, reliable and efficient way to assess the status of the child, which complements the clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination, which in turn helps to improve treatment outcomes. Given that the gastro-intestinal tract, the prevalence of the 2nd place among all the diseases of childhood, the definition of quality of life and its improvement in such patients is an integral part of treatment.

[Morphological features and esophago-gastroduodenal zone microbiocenose in patients with syndrome postcholecystectomic syndrome].

Endoscopical and histological features of oesophagogastroduodenal zone, parameters of pH-metry and electrogastroenterography, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of microbiocenosis were studied in 80 female persons with postcholecystectomy syndrome more then a year after cholecystectomy. In the presence of duodenogastral reflux the most natural is the combination of distal oesophagitis, antral atrophic gastritis and duodenitis, accompanied with low level of gastric acidity, gastric hypokinesis and duodenal dyskinesis, dysbacteriosis of mucosal microflora with its quantitative increase and appearance of bacteria with expressed pathogenicity non-typical for this biotope. These data should be taken into consideration for determination of pre- and postoperative treatment tactics for patients with gallstones.

[A status of the adaptational region of the autonomic nervous system in children with chronic gastroduodenitis living under ecologically unfavorable conditions]. / Sostoianie adaptatsionnogo otdela vegetativnoi nervnoi sistemy u detei s khronicheskim gastroduodenitom, prozhivaiushchikh v ékologicheski neblagopriiatnykh usloviiakh.

The authors carry out the analysis of adaptation disorders of a link of vegetative of nervous system at children with chronic gastroduodenitis, living under poor ecological conditions. It is shown, that in these patients the power of vagus connections with vegetal nervous system prevails. In loading test, the inadequacy of adaptation comes to light. The accumulation of Mn and Cr in the blood serum is accompanied by high power of sympathetic connections with vegetal nervous system and accumulation of Ph in the blood serum--by high power of parasympathetic connections with vegetal nervous system.

[Dynamics of the morphofunctional status of digestive organs in patients with chronic gastroduodenitis during monotherapy with sulfate sodium-calcium mineral water]. / Dinamika morfofunktsional'nogo sostoianiia organov pishchevareniia u bol'nykh khronicheskim gastroduodenitom pri monoterapii sul'fatnoi natrievo-kal'tsievoi mineral'noi vodoi.

The authors describe morphofunctional changes in gastroduodenal tract in patients with chronic gastroduodenitis. Some of them have previously undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Balneotherapy with mineral water "Uvinskaya" has a good effect in the above disease and therefore is recommended for prevention and treatment of patients with chronic gastroduodenitis as well as for prevention of repeated cholelithiasis after cholecystectomy.

[Characteristics of aggressive and protective factors in erosive lesions of gastroduodenal mucosa]. / Kharakteristika agressivno-protektivnykh faktorov pri érozivnom porazhenii slizistoi obolochki gastroduodenal'noi zony.

AIM: To investigate aggressive-protective factors in patients with erosive lesions of gastroduodenal mucosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intragastric pH-metry, tests for Helicobacter pylori, lysozyme activity, content of bile acid in gastric juice, components of gastric mucous gel were made in 106 patients. RESULTS: It is shown that there are two alternative paths of erosions development in the gastroduodenal zone: infectious and non-infectious. CONCLUSION: In patients infected with Helicobacter pylori, lowering of a protective ability of the mucous gel is caused by prevalence of synthesis of immature mucous components while in non-infected patients this happens as a result of high catabolism of mucous components.