Search

Background: The usefulness of the typical direct methods involving duodenal intubation, such as the secretin and secretin-cholecystokinin tests, in the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction is widely accepted. However, these diagnostic tests tend to be avoided because of their technical complexity and the burden on patients. Recently, a simple breath test was developed for assessment of exocrine pancreatic function employing 13C-dipeptide [i.e., benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-[1-13C] alanine (Bz-Tyr-Ala)]. Although alcohol abuse causes pancreatic damage in humans, this has been unclear in rats. Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of ethanol exposure beginning at an early age on extra-pancreatic secretory function in rats. Materials and Methods: Twelve female rats of the F344 strain aged 12 months were used. Seven rats were fed on a commercial mash food with 16% ethanol solution (Japanese Sake) as drinking-fluid since at 29 days of age (ethanol group). The remaining five rats were fed on a nutrient-matched isocaloric diet with water as drinking-fluid (control group). After 24-hr fasting, rats are orally administrated 1cc of water containing sodium 13C-dipeptide (5 mg/kg) and housed in an animal chamber. The expired air in the chamber is collected in a breath-sampling bag using a tube and aspiration pump. The 13CO2 concentration is measured using an infrared spectrometer at 10-min interval for 120 min and expressed as delta per mil. Results: The breath 13CO2 level increased and peaked at 20 min in both two groups. In general, 13CO2 excretion peaked rapidly and also decreased sooner in ethanol rats than in control rats. The mean value of the maximal 13CO2 excretion is 34.7 per mil in ethanol rats, greater than in control rats (31.4 per mil), but the difference did not reach the statistically significance. Conclusion: Chronic ethanol feeding beginning at an early age does not affect extra-pancreatic secretory function in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia is related to the fact that it increases the risk of gastric cancer development. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum pepsinogens in predicting the topography of intestinal metaplasia. Both dye endoscopy and 13C-urea breath test were carried out in 878 subjects. Serum pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, and IgG antibody to Helicobacter pylori were measured. The overall prevalence of intestinal metaplasia was higher in subjects with lower PG I/II ratios and lower PG I values. Based on ROC curves, a cutoff value for pepsinogen I/II ratio of less than 3.0 would have identified intestinal metaplasia with a sensitivity of 71.7% and a specificity of 66.7% in Helicobacter pylori-positive subjects. It is possible that serum pepsinogens could be used as a screening test for high-risk subjects with intestinal metaplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several modifications of the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection have been published. A new modification of UBT is described with the aim of avoiding the influence of urease activities from the commensal organisms other than H. pylori upon 13CO2 excretion in the breath. Methods: The new modified UBT was performed in 295 consecutive patients undergoing esophagogastroscopy. After the collection of a baseline breath sample, an endoscopy was carried out. A baseline gastric gas sample was collected through a biopsy channel, and 20 mL of sterile water containing 100 mg of 13C-urea was sprayed onto the gastric mucosa. The scope was drawn after spraying the 13C-urea solution and collecting a gastric gas sample. Breath samples were collected 5, 10, 20 and 30 min after the spraying of 13C-urea. Results: The mean ± SD value of gastric gas samples for excess δ13CO2 in H. pylori-positive patients was 1036.7 ± 1309.0‰, and 6.0 ± 23.3‰ in H. pylori-negative patients. The cut-off point as determined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for the gastric gas samples was 10‰. The sensitivity and specificity for this new method were 95.4% and 92.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The method of endoscopically collecting 13CO2 gas in the stomach, which is not affected by the metabolism or by the absorption of 13C, provides an accurate and sensitive means for the detection of H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Influence of the Content of Liquid Test Meals on Gastric Emptying," by Yoshihisa Urita, Yoshinori Kikuchi, Kazuo Hike, Naotaka Torii, Eiko Kanda, Masahiko Sasajima and Kazumasa Miki is presented.