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Objectives: We investigated the gene expression of antral gastrin and somatostatin in Helicobacter pylori-infected subjects. Twelve asymptomatic men with normal endoscopic findings participated in this study, four of whom were infected with H. pylori. Methods: Biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa were obtained after subjects had fasted overnight. Serum gastrin levels, antral gastrin and somatostatin content, and antral G- and D-cell densities also were measured. Results: Fasting serum gastrin levels were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive subjects than in H. pylori-negative subjects. There were no differences between groups in antral gastrin content, G-cell density, or gastrin mRNA levels. Antral somatostatin content, D-cell density, somatostatin mRNA levels, and the somatostatin mRNA:D-cell density ratio were significantly decreased in H. pylori-positive subjects. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in addition to reduced antral D-cell density, a suppression of somatostatin synthesis in D-cells may have contributed to the decrease in antral somatostatin in H. pylori-infected subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound examinations were performed in 36 patients with Crohn's disease 28 with ulcerative colitis and 50 with no bowel disease. The pathological findings were classified into three types and compared with the radiographic and/or colonoscopic findings. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis could be detected by ultrasonography with a sensitivity of 86% and 89%, respectively. The ultrasonographic features correlated with the radiographic/colonoscopic findings and with disease activity, but did not help much in making a differential diagnosis, although the location of the pathologic changes was helpful to some extent. In conclusion, ultrasonography can serve as a useful alternative diagnostic procedure that permits us to obtain information about transmural changes in inflammatory bowel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]