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Objective: Celiac disease is an important cause of chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, and anemia in children. Mode of presentation of celiac disease has changed in last few years. Study was conducted to determine the mode of clinical presentation of a large group of patients with celiac disease and whether there has been a change in the presentation with the time. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 134 children diagnosed to be having celiac disease in the Pediatric Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, from July 1st 2006 to December 31st 2007. Their detailed clinical profile was recorded on a pretested proforma and all patients underwent hemogram, liver function tests, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase(anti tTG), and upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy. Findings: Major symptoms at presentation were diarrhea (54.5%), failure to thrive (52.2%), abdominal distension (41%), anemia (40%), pain abdomen (19.4%), vomiting (15.7%) and constipation (2.2% of cases). 60.4% of patients had short stature. Anemia was microcytic hypochromic in 79.1% of patients, and dimorphic in 20.9%. Serum transaminases were raised in 38.8 % of cases. The mean serum anti tTG level was 164.24U/ml (Range 0-749 U/ml) and levels correlated with the severity of small intestinal damage on biopsy. 15 patients were negative for the serology but 8 out of them had IgA deficiency and all had histopathology suggestive of celiac disease. Conclusion: Classical presentation of celiac disease is less commonly encountered these days probably related to the more widespread use of serologic testing and early recognition of atypical manifestations of celiac disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caustic ingestion can lead to structural changes in the upper gastro-intestinal tract. However, there is limited data on the effect of caustic ingestion on gastric secretion. This study was planned to determine changes in gastric acid output after sham feeding in patients with caustic induced esophageal stricture and to compare it with healthy controls. It was a prospective study done at tertiary care center in North India. Consecutive patients with caustic induced esophageal stricture were evaluated for the study. Gastric secretory function was estimated in the basal state and after modified sham feeding. These results were compared with age-matched controls. The mean age of the included patients (n = 18) was 30.11 ± 9.19 years and 13 patients were male. 16 (88%) patients had history of acid ingestion. Patients with caustic sequelae had significantly lower basal and stimulated acid secretion compared to controls (n = 10) (5.84 ± 2.44 mmol/hr; p < 0.01 and 17.16 ± 7.53 mmol/hr; p < 0.01; respectively). Patients with lower esophageal stricture (n = 8) had significantly lower increase in acid output compared to patients with stricture elsewhere in esophagus (0.20 ± 0.3 vs. 2.31 ± 1.74 mmol/hr, p < 0.01). Patients with lower esophageal involvement had significantly lower stimulated acid secretion and increase in acid secretion compared to controls (4.74 ± 4.67 vs. 17.16 ± 7.53 mmol/hr; p < 0.01 and 20 ± 0.3 vs. 2.09 ± 0.88 mmol/hr; p < 0.01; respectively)., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Caustic ingestion can lead to structural changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, there are limited data on the effect of caustic ingestion on gastric secretion. This study was planned to determine the changes in gastric acid output in patients with caustic ingestion., Methods: It was a prospective study done at a tertiary care center in northern India. Twenty consecutive patients in chronic phase of caustic ingestion were evaluated for the study. The gastric secretory function was estimated in the basal state and following pentagastrin stimulation. These results were compared with normal values for our laboratory., Results: The mean age of the included patients (n = 20) was 27.35 ± 2.96 years and 14 patients were male. Sixteen (80%) patients had a history of acid ingestion. Patients with caustic ingestion had significantly lower mean gastric acid secretion (0.8 ± 0.4 mEq/h vs. 4 ± 0.4 mEq/h; p < 0.001) compared to controls. After pentagastrin stimulation, the mean gastric juice volume (31.8 ± 6 mL/h vs. 62.3 ± 11.7 mL/h; p < 0.01) and acidity (15.3 ± 5.1 mEq/L vs. 39.6 ± 9.3 mEq/L; p < 0.001) increased in patients with caustic ingestion, but were lower than those in control subjects. Patients with a lower esophageal stricture (n = 6) had decreased maximum acid output (0.62 ± 0.32 mEq/h vs. 6.05 ± 0.55 mEq/h; p < 0.05) compared to patients with stricture in the upper or middle esophagus., Conclusion: Caustic ingestion is associated with reduced gastric juice volume and acid output. Patients with stricture in the lower one third of the esophagus are at a higher risk of hypochlorhydria compared to patients with stricture in either the upper or middle esophagus.

Background and Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in recently diagnosed adult celiac patients and to identify the factors associated with this., Methods: We investigated 54 newly diagnosed adult celiac patients between February 2008 and April 2009. BMD was measured in all patients and its correlation with clinical and biochemical parameters was analyzed., Results: Fifty-four (24 male) newly diagnosed celiac patients with a mean±SD age of 30.6 ± 9.3 years (range 18-50) were included. Thirty-nine (72.2 %) presented with intestinal symptoms, and the rest with extraintestinal symptoms. Low vitamin D levels were seen in 11 (20.3 %) patients and elevated iPTH (secondary hyperparathyroidism) in 12 (22.2 %) patients. Twenty-one (39 %) patients had normal BMD, 23 (43 %) had osteopenia (T-score -1 to -2.5), and 10 (18 %) patients had osteoporosis (T-score <-2.5). A statistically significant association was seen between BMD and age of onset, duration of illness, serum tTGA levels, serum vitamin D levels, and histopathological changes., Conclusions: Low BMD is common in newly diagnosed adult celiac patients with approximately one fifth of them having osteoporosis. BMD should be measured in all newly diagnosed celiac patients and calcium and vitamin D supplementation included in the treatment regimen.

Purpose: Gallbladder and pancreas share common embryological origin, and malignancies of these organs may share common tumor antigens. CA 242 is a tumor marker for pancreatic cancer, but has not been studied in gallbladder cancer (GBC). We measured serum CA 242 levels in patients with GBC and compared it with those in patients with gallstones (GS) and healthy volunteers., Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients with GBC (cases), GS (disease controls), and healthy volunteers (healthy controls). Serum CA 242, CEA, and CA 19-9 levels were measured using ELISA. Receiver operator curve was plotted for all the three markers., Results: We studied 117 patients with GBC, 58 with GS, and 10 healthy volunteers. Among patients with GBC, 81 (69%) also had GB calculi. Patients with GBC more often had elevated CA 242 levels (64%) compared to those with GS (17%; p < 0.001) and healthy controls (0%; p < 0.001). The median levels of CA 242 was higher in the GBC group (59 [199] U/ml) compared to the GS group (10 [13] U/ml; p < 0.001) and the control group (3 [14.5] U/ml; p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values of CA 242 for diagnosis of GBC were 64%, 83%, 88%, and 53%, respectively. At a cutoff of 45 U/ml, the specificity and PPV increased to 100%. CA 242 had higher AOC (0.759) compared to CEA (0.528) and CA 19-9 (0.430)., Conclusions: CA 242 is a promising tumor marker for GBC and performs better than CEA and CA 19-9.

Background: Blood donor screening can help predict prevalence of coeliac disease in population., Methods: Between December 2010 and June 2011, healthy blood donors were screened using anti-tissue glutaminase antibodies. Those positive underwent duodenoscopy. Their age, gender, body mass index and haemoglobin and histological changes were recorded., Results: Of the 1610 blood donors screened, 1581 (98.2%) were males. The mean age of donors was 31.51 ± 9.66 years and the mean body mass index was 22.12 ± 4.24 kg/m(2). Nine (0.56%) men were seropositive. Endoscopic features included reduced fold height (9), scalloping (8), grooving (7) and mosaic mucosal pattern (3). Eight had Marsh IIIa changes whilst one had IIIb change. The prevalence of coeliac disease was 1:179 (0.56%, 95% confidence interval 1/366-1/91, 0.27-1.1%). None of the 9 patients had any symptoms. Their mean haemoglobin and body-mass index was similar to rest of the cohort., Conclusion: The prevalence of coeliac disease amongst apparently healthy blood donors was 1:179 (0.56%)., (Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Various vasoconstrictors are useful in the management of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Terlipressin is the drug of choice; however, it is expensive. In this study, we evaluated safety and efficacy of terlipressin and noradrenaline in the treatment of HRS., Methods: Forty-six patients with HRS type 1 were managed with terlipressin (group A, N=23) or noradrenaline (Group B, N=23) with albumin in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary center., Results: HRS reversal could be achieved in 9 (39.1%) patients in group A and 10 (43.4%) patients in group B (p=0.764). Univariate analysis showed baseline Child Turcotte Pugh score (CTP), model of end stage liver disease (MELD), urine output on day 1(D1), albumin, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were associated with response. However, on multivariate analysis only CTP score was associated with response. Fourteen patients in group A and 12 in group B died at day 15 (p>0.05). Noradrenaline was less expensive than terlipressin (p<0.05). No major adverse effects were seen., Conclusions: The results of this randomized study suggest that noradrenaline is as safe and effective as terlipressin, but less expensive in the treatment of HRS and baseline CTP score is predictive of response., (Copyright © 2012 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is being increasingly recognized in adults though a majority of patients continue to be diagnosed in childhood., Aim: To compare the clinical presentation and profile of newly diagnosed pediatric and adolescent/adult CD patients., Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with CD between year 1997 and 2007 in the pediatric group, and between year 2000 and 2007 in the adolescent/adult group was done for clinical presentation, endoscopic findings and duodenal histology., Results: A total of 434 children and 298 adults were studied. The mean age of diagnosis was 6.5 ± 2.5 years (1-11 years) in children and 29.3 ± 13.3 years (6-73 years) in adolescent/adults. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 3.5 ± 2.5 years in children and 4.9 ± 4.6 years in the latter. Diarrhea as the presenting symptom was seen in 74 % of children and 58.7 % of adolescent/adults. Anemia (on investigations) was seen in 84 % of children and 94 % of adolescent/adults., Conclusions: Pediatric patients of CD present more often with typical features than adults. Atypical presentations are more common in adults and the latent period for diagnosis is also longer in adolescent/adults. There is a need for increasing awareness about CD, both among pediatricians and physicians caring for adult patients.

Background & Aims: Splanchnic arterial vasodilatation plays an important role in cirrhotic ascites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long term administration of midodrine on systemic hemodynamics, renal function, and control of ascites in patients with cirrhosis and refractory or recurrent ascites., Methods: Forty cirrhotic patients with refractory or recurrent ascites were prospectively studied after long term administration of midodrine plus standard medical therapy (n=20) or standard medical therapy alone (n=20) in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary centre., Results: A significant increase in urinary volume, urinary sodium excretion, mean arterial pressure, and decrease in plasma renin activity (p<0.05) was noted after 1 month of midodrine administration. There was also a significant decrease in cardiac output and an increase in systemic vascular resistance after midodrine therapy at 3 months (p<0.05). There was no change in glomerular filtration rate and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Midodrine plus standard medical therapy was significantly superior to standard medical therapy alone in the control of ascites (p=0.013) at 3 months. The mortality rate in the standard medical therapy group was significantly higher than the midodrine group (p<0.046). There was no significant difference in the frequency of various complications at the end of follow-up., Conclusions: The results of this randomized pilot study suggest that midodrine plus standard medical therapy improves the systemic hemodynamics without any renal or hepatic dysfunction in these patients and is superior to standard medical therapy alone for the control of ascites., (Copyright © 2011 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic findings of celiac disease have high specificity and sensitivity. We evaluated records of 137 consecutive patients who had endotherapy for variceal hemorrhage, and who had features of celiac disease at endoscopy; patients who had such markers at endoscopy had undergone duodenal histology and serology. Thirty-one patients had changes of portal hypertensive vasculopathy in the duodenum, 8 had scalloping, and 6 had mosaic pattern; 3 patients also had decreased fold height or sparse folds in the descending duodenum. Six of these 8 patients had positive serology and histology suggestive of celiac disease. Endoscopic evaluation resulted in diagnosis of CD in 4.37% patients of chronic liver disease undergoing endotherapy.

Background and Aim: There is scanty data on the occurrence of celiac disease in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in South Asia. Our aim was to study the prevalence and clinical profile of celiac disease in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care referral centre in north India., Methods: Consecutive patients of type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the Endocrine clinic of our institute between January 2002 and December 2008 were screened using anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGAb), and those positive were subjected to duodenal biopsy. Clinical profile of these patients was recorded., Results: Out of 189 patients of type 1 diabetes mellitus, 21 (11.1%) were diagnosed to have celiac disease on the basis of positive serology (tTGAb) and duodenal histology. The mean age at diagnosis of diabetes was 10.81 ± 7.3 years and that of celiac disease was 13.74 ± 5.71 years, with a difference of 5.18 ± 4.75 years between the two. Only 2/21 patients with celiac disease had been diagnosed before detection of diabetes mellitus. Short stature was the commonest (52.3%) manifestation of celiac disease, followed by anemia (47.3), weight loss (42.8%), diarrhea (28.6%) and abdominal pain (14.2%). After initiating gluten free diet, 14/16 symptomatic patients had reversal of anemia, weight loss and diarrhea. Growth rate velocity improved from 2.3 ± 1.0 cm/year to 5.5 ± 2.4 cm/year in those with short stature., Conclusion: Celiac disease is highly prevalent in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (11.1%) and majority of them (90.5%) were diagnosed on screening. Routine screening is required for early diagnosis and combat associated co-morbidities., (© 2011 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Background and Objective: Serological screening enables us to detect patients of celiac disease (CD) before they develop serious complications. This study was planned to assess the prevalence of CD in the family members of index cases by serological screening., Patients and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 50 children diagnosed to be having CD. Serological screening of the family members of index cases was done and those showing positivity for the screening tests were further subjected to endoscopic duodenal biopsy for histopathological examination., Results: A total of 164 members of 50 celiac families were initially screened for antibodies. Antibody picked up 32.9% by IgG anti-gliadin (AGA), 20.7% by endomysial antibody, 19.5% by tissue transglutaminase and 14.6% IgA AGA as seropositive for CD. Endoscopic findings characteristics for CD were present in only eight family members., Conclusion: Family members of CD cases represent potential cases of CD.

This communication reviews recent literature and summarizes hepatobiliary abnormalities that may complicate the clinical course of celiac disease. A wide spectrum of hepatobiliary diseases has been described, including asymptomatic elevations of liver enzyme levels, nonspecific hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune and cholestatic liver disease. Moreover, in the majority of patients, liver enzyme levels will normalize on a gluten-free diet. In addition, celiac disease may be associated with rare hepatic complications, such as hepatic T-cell lymphoma. Because many celiac patients do not have overt gastrointestinal symptoms, a high index of suspicion is required. Simple methods of detecting celiac disease such as serum antibody tests help in the early identification of the disease, thus preventing serious complications of the disorder. The IgG DGP antibody test and IgA tTG antibody test used in combination are an excellent screening test for suspected cases of celiac disease.

Objective: To compare the etiological profile of short stature at a tertiary care hospital of North India over a decade from 1995-2007., Methods: Children attending the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and also fulfilling the criteria for short stature over the two time periods of 1995-96 and 2005-07 were analyzed retrospectively for causes of short stature. The age group of children ranged from 10 to 15 years. Appropriate screening and definitive tests were performed to establish the etiology of short stature., Results: In the year 1995-1996, 190 children with short stature were diagnosed. The common causes of short stature were primary hypothyroidism in 35(18.4%) followed by pituitary disorders in 29(15.2%) and nutritional disorders in 33(17.4%) while in year 2005-2007, 256 children were diagnosed with short stature. The etiology of short stature in these children were pituitary disorders in 51(19.2%) followed by celiac disease in 35(13.7%) and hypothyroidism in 35(13.7%) cases. In majority of celiac disease patients growth retardation was the presenting manifestation rather than gastrointestinal symptoms., Conclusions: Etiology of short stature significantly changed over a decade probably due to high index of suspicion and wide and better availability of screening tests for celiac disease. We propose all growth retarded children should be screened for celiac disease irrespective of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as periodic review of etiology of short stature.

Background and Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate plasma levels of zinc in children with celiac disease, to correlate plasma zinc levels among the celiacs with short stature and diarrhea and to compare plasma zinc levels in deficient patients on gluten-free diet (GFD) with or without 4 weeks of zinc supplementation., Methods: A total of 134 patients underwent plasma zinc estimation at baseline and after a four week period. Zinc-deficient patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group G (n = 48) received GFD without zinc supplementation, Group G + Z (n = 48) received GFD with zinc supplementation for 4 weeks., Results: The rise in plasma Zinc levels was significant in each group regardless of zinc supplementation but similar when compared in the two groups after 4 weeks. Mean zinc levels at baseline and increase in zinc levels were statistically similar at 4 weeks in patients with diarrhea and short stature., Conclusions: Zinc levels rise with GFD irrespective of zinc supplementation.

Background and Objective: Portal hypertension may affect intestinal functions, brush border enzymes and absorption parameters. Information about these in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) in children is limited and poorly reported. We therefore studied the brush border enzymes and absorptive capacity in EHPVO in children., Methods: The study was conducted on 52 children of EHPVO. The diagnosis of EHPVO was made on the basis of clinical presentation and ultrasound examination. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic tissue biopsies from duodenum were taken on aluminum foils and kept immediately at -20°C for estimation of brush border enzymes. Tissue biopsies were homogenized in sodium maleate buffer, 0.1 M pH 6.0, by a homogenizer and processed for the enzymes: lactase, maltase, and sucrase. Enzyme levels were compared to normal healthy controls (n = 20). d-Xylose test, stool acid steatocrit for fat excretion in stools and stool alpha-1 antitrypsin were done to know about the absorptive parameters., Results: Enzyme levels of lactase (6.21 ± 5.67 IU/mg) and sucrase (37.07 ± 21.06 IU/mg) in EHPVO group were significantly lower as compared to lactase (23.32 ± 10.48 IU/mg) and sucrase (95.96 ± 46.55 IU/mg) in normal healthy controls. Maltase levels were lower, but difference was not statistically significant in EHPVO group (56.90 ± 28.65 IU/mg) as compared to normal controls (63.28 ± 22.88 IU/mg). There was no significant difference of urinary d-xylose and stool fat in patients with normal or short stature EHPVO patients., Conclusion: EHPVO leads to decrease in levels of brush border enzymes in small bowel but their absorption capacity remains normal.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) may cause changes throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Patchy distribution of duodenal mucosal lesions has been described in adults as well as in children. This study aimed to verify the concept and to evaluate the frequency of histologic lesion variability of the duodenal mucosa in Indian children with CD., Methods: We enrolled 67 children prospectively who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of positive tissue transglutaminase antibodies and biopsy as the final evaluation for suspected CD. Four biopsies were taken from the descending duodenum distal to the papilla, and duodenal bulb. The histologic lesions were classified according to the Oberhuber classification with modification proposed by our group., Results: Forty-three CD children (64.2%) had a "mixed" type 3 lesion characterized by a different degree of villous atrophy at different biopsy sites. Eight children (11.9%) showed two different types of histologic lesions in the same patient at different biopsy sites. The overall variability of histologic lesion (variability in the grade of villous atrophy [type 3a, 3b, or 3c], and coexistence of villous atrophy and type 2 lesion) was seen in 51 (76.1%) of the CD patients., Conclusions: Children with CD show a high frequency of variability of histologic lesions. Therefore, multiple endoscopic biopsy specimens should be obtained not only from the distal duodenum but also from the bulb.

Aim: To study the etiological profile of short stature at a tertiary care hospital in north India., Methods: In this prospective study, 176 children with short stature were enrolled from January 2005 to December 2006. Appropriate screening and definitive tests were performed to establish the etiology of short stature., Results: Celiac disease (CD) emerged as the single most common (15.3%) cause of short stature, followed by various endocrine disorders. It was interesting to note that none of the CD patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms., Conclusion: All short children should be screened for CD irrespective of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Background and Aim: In celiac disease (CD), abnormalities of brush border enzyme activities have been detected in the course of the disease activity. There are conflicting results on intestinal mucosal enzyme activities and its correlation to mucosal injury in CD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the brush border enzyme activities (disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase) in the duodenal mucosa of North Indian children with CD and to examine their correlation to duodenal mucosal morphological alterations., Methods: This prospective study included 71 children with CD and 29 controls (patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease) in whom upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and distal duodenal biopsies were taken for histological assessment, and estimation of disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase activities. Each biopsy sample was classified according to the modified Oberhuber classification. Lactase, sucrase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase activities were estimated in duodenal biopsy homogenates from patients with CD and from controls. The association between enzyme activities and duodenal morphology was examined., Results: The mean age of the 71 patients with CD (M:F, 43:28) was 6.0 +/- 0.3 years and mean age of onset of symptoms was 2.7 +/- 0.4 years. Sixty-four of 71 (90.1%) CD patients showed type 3 (destructive) lesion, whereas it was grade 0 in all patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. In CD and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, the mean level (IU/g protein) of lactase was 12.1 +/- 0.9 versus 24.4 +/- 1.0 (P < 0.001), mean level of sucrase was 25.9 +/- 1.9 versus 42.5 +/- 1.9 (P < 0.001), mean level of maltase was 56.6 +/- 3.5 versus 76.1 +/- 13.0 (NS), and mean level of alkaline phosphatase was 602.8 +/- 56.2 versus 1359.3 +/- 51.2 (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase levels were not significantly different in patients with milder lesions (type 2 and type 3a) compared with those of control. However, mean lactase, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in CD patients with moderate (type 3b) and severe (type 3c) lesions compared with control., Conclusions: A generalized decrease of disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase activity was seen in the duodenal mucosa of children with CD. The depressed activities of lactase, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase were well correlated with the histological grade of duodenal mucosal lesions in children with CD.

Background and Aim: Alcohol-related diseases constitute the third largest health problem after heart disease and cancer in the world. The objective was to study the effects of chronic alcohol intake on small bowel cellular functions with focus on brush border enzymes, membrane enzymes, cellular enzymes and their relationship with structural changes in small bowel mucosa of chronic alcoholics., Methods: Duodenal biopsies were obtained by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of chronic alcoholics having alcoholic liver disease (ALD) with and without cirrhosis. The biopsies were then processed for enzymatic assays to analyze the status of cellular functions. Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were done to study the morphological alterations. Control group consisted of nonalcoholic gastroesophageal reflux disease patients reporting for routine endoscopy., Results: The experimental group consisted of ALD patients which showed significant difference (P < 0.01) in cellular functions when compared with controls. The light microscopy showed partial villous atrophy, increase in lamina propria infiltrate, and intraepithelial lymphocytes as main findings in the alcoholic group. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed changes like widened intercellular junction, distorted microvilli, increased rough endoplasmic reticulum, and increased and dilated mitochondria. The enzyme parameters correlated positively with the mucosal morphology parameters indicating a direct relationship., Conclusion: The study brought out the changes in small bowel of chronic alcoholics having ALD at both cellular and subcellular levels which correlated significantly.

Background and Aim: There is paucity of prospective data on association between cervical esophageal webs and celiac disease. It is not clear whether all patients with cervical esophageal web need screening for celiac disease. Hence, the present study was carried out to determine the association of cervical esophageal web with celiac disease., Methods: This prospective study included consecutive patients with symptomatic cervical esophageal web diagnosed over a period of 4.5 years. Tissue transglutaminase antibody was measured in serum of each patient. Patients with elevated tissue transglutaminase antibody titer were subjected to esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies were obtained from the descending duodenum to look for histological changes of celiac disease. Esophageal web was treated with bougie dilatation. Celiac disease was diagnosed on the basis of elevated tissue transglutaminase antibody and suggestive duodenal histology., Results: Twenty one patients were diagnosed to have cervical esophageal web. Eighteen (85.7%) had evidence of iron deficiency. Five (23.8%) patients with cervical esophageal web fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of celiac disease. All five had evidence of iron deficiency. None of these patients gave a history of chronic diarrhea. All patients were treated with bougie dilatation. Patients with celiac disease were advised of a gluten-free diet. All five celiac disease patients are free of dysphagia without recurrence after a mean follow up of 10 months (range: 3 to 16 months)., Conclusions: There is association between cervical esophageal web and celiac disease. All adult patients with cervical esophageal web and iron deficiency need screening for celiac disease even in the absence of chronic diarrhea.

Objectives: Intravenous albumin has been used to prevent paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) in cirrhotics; however, its use is costly and controversial. Splanchnic arterial vasodilatation is primarily responsible for PICD. There are no reports of use of midodrine in the prevention of PICD. In this pilot study, we evaluated midodrine and albumin in the prevention of PICD., Methods: Forty patients with cirrhosis underwent therapeutic paracentesis with midodrine or albumin in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary center. Effective arterial blood volume was assessed by plasma renin activity., Results: Plasma renin activity at baseline and at 6 days after paracentesis did not differ in the two groups (43.18 +/- 10.73 to 45.90 +/- 8.59 ng/mL/h, P= 0.273 in the albumin group and 44.44 +/- 8.44 to 41.39 +/- 10.21 ng/mL/h, P= 0.115 in the midodrine group). Two patients had an increase in plasma renin activity of more than 50% from baseline in the albumin group, and none in the midodrine group. A significant increase in 24-h urine volume and urine sodium excretion was noted in the midodrine group. Midodrine therapy was cheaper than albumin therapy., Conclusions: The study suggests that midodrine may be as effective as albumin in preventing PICD in cirrhotics, but at a fraction of the cost, and can be administered orally. Midodrine also resulted in an increase in 24-h urine volume and sodium excretion.

Aim: Antral nodularity is considered as specific for Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis in children as well as in adults. The aim of this study is to reassess the accuracy of using antral nodularity as a marker for H. pylori-infection in children with various gastroduodenal diseases., Methods: This prospective study included 725 consecutive children in whom upper digestive endoscopy was performed for gastrointestinal symptoms between June 6, 2003 and May 11, 2007 and gastric antral mucosal biopsy was taken. They were divided within three diagnoses groups: Group I, recurrent abdominal pain (N=252); Group II, celiac disease (N=358) and Group III, miscellaneous diagnoses (N=115). One hundred nineteen children were diagnosed as having antral nodularity and were included in the study. H. pylori were recognized in gastric biopsy on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections; a toluidine blue stain was performed in biopsy suspicious for H. pylori. The appropriate statistical method was applied for analysis of data., Results: The prevalence of antral nodularity in children (M:F:65:54) was 16.4% (119/725). The mean age of children with antral nodularity was 9.4 years (SEM, 0.1 years; range, 2-18 years). The prevalence of antral nodularity increased gradually with age. Fifty out of 119 (42%) children with antral nodularity had recurrent abdominal pain, 26/119 (21.9%) had celiac disease and 43/119 (36.1%) had miscellaneous diagnoses. H pylori-infection was identified in 118/725 (16.3%) children. Antral nodularity had a poor accuracy rate to determine H. pylori-infection (sensitivity, 42%; positive predictive value, 42.4%) and was observed in 50 of 118 (42.4%) H. pylori-positive patients and in 69 of 607 (11.4%) H. pylori-negative patients., Conclusion: The antral nodularity is a poor predictor for H pylori-infection in children. During endoscopy, gastric biopsies should always be obtained in children to establish the presence of H pylori-infection.

The bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract plays an essential role in human physiology. Our aim was to study the pattern of change in bacterial microflora in the small intestines of patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Patients of ALD made up the test group and nonalcoholics served as controls. Duodenal (D2) biopsies were obtained by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and processed immediately for microbiological analysis. Marked qualitative and quantitative alterations of small intestinal microflora was documented in chronic alcoholics. There was increased bacterial growth of both gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli in the ALD group.

Objective: Therapeutic paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis is associated with a circulatory dysfunction. Intravenous albumin has been used to prevent the circulatory dysfunction; however, the use of albumin is controversial and costly. Splanchnic vasodilation is mainly responsible for circulatory dysfunction in these patients. There are no reports of use of noradrenaline, a vasoconstrictor, on the prevention of paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, we studied the preventive effect of noradrenaline on paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis after therapeutic paracentesis and compared it with that of intravenous albumin in a randomized pilot study., Methods: Forty patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites underwent therapeutic paracentesis with albumin or noradrenaline in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary centre. Effective arterial blood volume was assessed by measuring plasma renin activity at baseline and at 6 days after treatment., Results: Effective arterial blood volume as indicated by plasma renin activity before and 6 days after paracentesis did not differ in the two groups (20.62 +/- 10.27-22.02 +/- 10.15 ng mL(-1) h(-1); P = 0.11 in the albumin group and 19.66 +/- 8.91-20.78 +/- 9.41 ng mL(-1) h(-1); P = 0.37 in the noradrenaline group). Plasma aldosterone concentration before and 6 days after paracentesis were also similar in both groups (1196.5 +/- 434.2-1217.0 +/- 405.7 pg mL(-1); P = 0.7 in the albumin group and 1206.0 +/- 522.5-1273.5 +/- 444.8 pg mL(-1); P = 0.22 in the noradrenaline group). The cost of noradrenaline treatment was significantly lower when compared with that of albumin (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Noradrenaline is as effective as albumin in preventing paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis after therapeutic paracentesis, but at a fraction of the cost.

Background: Therapeutic paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis induces arterial vasodilatation, causes a decrease in effective arterial blood volume and leads to circulatory dysfunction, which can be prevented by intravenous albumin. However, the use of albumin, being a blood product, is controversial. Recently, terlipressin, a vasoconstrictor, has been successfully used to combat this adverse effect of therapeutic paracentesis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of terlipressin on paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis after therapeutic paracentesis and compared with that of intravenous albumin., Methods: Forty patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites underwent therapeutic paracentesis with albumin or terlipressin in a randomized pilot study at a tertiary center. Effective arterial blood volume was assessed by measuring plasma renin activity at baseline and at 4-6 days after treatment., Results: Effective arterial blood volumes as indicated by plasma renin activity before and 4-6 days after paracentesis did not differ in the two groups (19.15 +/- 12.1 to 20.33 +/- 12.8 ng/mL per h, P = 0.46 in the albumin group; and 20.11 +/- 10.6 to 21.08 +/- 10.52 ng/mL per h, P = 0.44 in the terlipressin group). Plasma aldosterone concentrations before and 4-6 days after paracentesis were also similar in both groups (1334.75 +/- 1058 to 1440.0 +/- 1161 pg/mL, P = 0.06 in the albumin group; and 1473.0 +/- 1168 to 1572.29 +/- 1182 pg/mL, P = 0.24 in the terlipressin group). Both terlipressin and albumin prevented paracentesis-induced renal impairment in these patients., Conclusions: Terlipressin may be as effective as intravenous albumin in preventing paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis after therapeutic paracentesis.

Chronic exposure to L-arginine results in regression of atherosclerotic lesions and reversal of endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether chronic L-arginine supplementation induces regression of atherosclerotic lesions and reversal of endothelial dysfunction in atherogenic rhesus monkeys and the mechanism which leads to these effects. About 12 male rhesus monkeys were fed 1% cholesterol and 18 g butter for 6 months to create an experimental model of hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis (Group I) and 12 monkeys were fed standard stock diet for 6 months (Group II). After, 6 months these two groups were further divided into 2 sub-groups which in addition to their respective diets were fed 2.5% L-arginine in drinking water for additional 6 months (Group III and Group IV). Systemic nitric oxide (NO) formation was assessed as plasma nitrite and cGMP formation every 3 months. Oxygen free radical (OFR) generation and malondialdehyde production as an index of lipid peroxidation were determined. Changes in isometric tension were compared in isolated ring segments of thoracic aorta from normal and hypercholesterolemic animals. Cholesterol feeding progressively reduced plasma nitrite and cGMP generation (p < 0.05). Dietary L-arginine partly restored the levels of plasma nitrite and cGMP (p < 0.05) but did not change plasma cholesterol levels. L-arginine significantly reduced aortic intimal thickening, blocked the production of carotid and coronary intimal plaques and completely preserved endothelium-dependent vasodilator function. Further, L-arginine significantly inhibited generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation. Chronic oral supplementation with L-arginine blocks the progression of plaques via restoration of nitric oxide synthase substrate availability and reduction of vascular oxidative stress.

Tissue diagnosis is essential for the management of patients with malignant biliary obstruction. We prospectively studied brush cytology in 30 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Wire guided brush cytology was obtained from the stricturous segment during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography. The study comprised of 30 patients (16 males, 14 females), with a mean age of 55 years (range 30-75 years). The obstruction was caused by carcinoma gallbladder in 16 cases, carcinoma head of the pancreas in 10 cases, and cholangiocarcinoma in 4 cases. Brush cytology was positive for malignancy in 8 cases (26.7%). Another 3 samples (10.3%), 1 from each group of tumors, were suspicious for malignancy. Cytology was positive in 25% of gallbladder cancers, 50% of pancreatic cancers, and 50% of cholangiocarcinomas. Brush cytology was positive in 6 of 18 (33.3%) proximal and 5 of 12 (41.7%) distal strictures. Brush cytology yielded a sensitivity of 36.7% in the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures. However, a larger study is required to confirm these findings.

Background: In a developing country, many conditions other then celiac disease (CD) can give rise to villous atrophy. We therefore assessed the role of immunoglobulin A (IgA)-antigliadin antibody (AGA) in addition to the ESPGHAN criteria in the diagnosis of CD in 104 Indian children., Methods: Consecutive children with suspected CD were evaluated over 3 years with an intention to diagnose CD. Complete hemogram, d-xylose absorption test, endoscopic duodenal biopsy, and IgA-AGA titers were performed in all. CD was diagnosed on the basis of modified ESPGHAN criteria irrespective of IgA-AGA positivity (>5 U/mL), and those diagnosed were put on gluten-free diet and were monitored regularly. Children with suspected CD who had a normal duodenal biopsy result were taken as controls., Results: The mean age of 50 children with CD was 6.3 +/- 2.6 years, with a male to female ratio of 3:2. The mean duration of symptoms was 3.4 +/- 2.2 years. Predominant symptoms were pallor in 96%, failure to thrive in 92%, and diarrhea in 80%. On follow-up (19.6 +/- 8 months), symptoms subsided within 16 +/- 9.8 days, and patients showed significant weight gain (mean weight at diagnoses and at last follow-up visit were 66% and 86% of expected, respectively; P < 0.001) and height gain (mean height at diagnoses and at last follow-up visit were 88% and 94% of expected, respectively; P = nonsignificant). The control group comprised 47 children with a mean age of 6.9 +/- 3 years. On comparing CD with controls, diarrhea, anemia, low weight, and stunting were significantly (P < 0.001) more frequent in patients with CD. Sensitivity and specificity of AGA at a cutoff value of 5 U/mL were 94% and 91.5% and at 10 U/mL 88% and 100%, respectively. Follow-up AGA test was performed in 42 of 47 positive cases. All showed significant decrease in AGA titer, and 29 (70%) had a negative test result., Conclusions: Indian children with CD are true cases of CD. They present late, diarrhea is absent in 20% of cases, and AGA test results show 88% of children without false-positive results at a cutoff value of 10 U/mL. However, AGA test with 94% sensitivity at a cutoff value of 5 U/mL can be used as screening test to select suspected cases for further workup.