gastrins and Intestinal-Obstruction

In the high altitude environment the oxygen and air density are decreased, the temperature and humidity are low, there es an increase in radioactivity. These environmental factors influence on the human body; it has been known for many years that people born and living at high altitude have different morphological and physiological characteristic than those at low altitude. The digestive mechanism for adaptation or acclimation to high altitude has interested physiologist and clinicians for many years. The objective of this article is to present a brief overview of the digestive physiology and pathology in the high altitude.

Topics: Altitude; Bolivia; Cholelithiasis; Colonic Neoplasms; Diverticulum, Colon; Dyspepsia; Endopeptidases; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Gastrointestinal Transit; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Intestines; Peptic Ulcer; Peru

The plasma gastrin levels in fasted horses (21.1 +/- 15.6 pg/ml), in horses with spasmodic colic (7.3 +/- 5.4 pg/ml) and in horses with impaction of the left ventral large colon and/or pelvic flexure (11.4 +/- 3.1 pg/ml) were not significantly different. The plasma gastrin concentrations of horses with strangulation obstruction of the small intestine, large colon displacement or adynamic ileus, and which had no gastric reflux, were 12.9 +/- 8.7 pg/ml and did not differ from fasted gastrin levels. Horses which had 5-10 litres of stomach content reflux had a higher mean gastrin level (32.2 +/- 22.6 pg/ml) (range 8.7-83.0) than the fasted horses. The mean plasma gastrin level (69.0 +/- 32.2 pg/ml) (range 27.0-122.0 pg/ml) in horses which had gastric reflux and 11-20 litres of stomach content outflow through the nasogastric tube were significantly higher (P less than 0.0004) than in fasted horses or in horses with spasmodic colic, impaction of the left ventral large colon or in horses from which no gastric reflux could be obtained.

Topics: Animals; Colic; Fasting; Gastrins; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Horse Diseases; Horses; Intestinal Obstruction; Radioimmunoassay

During the last years interest has focused on the trophic effect of gastrin in colorectal carcinomas. Some reports indicated an increased serum level of gastrin in patients with colorectal adenomas or carcinomas. In a prospective study in 261 patients submitted to colonoscopy fasting serum gastrin concentrations were determined. 91 patients served as control, 89 patients had one or more adenomas, 55 patients suffered from a colorectal carcinoma, 17 had a benign, postoperative stenosis of the colon, and 9 had a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: No regular drug intake, no previous gastric or small bowel operation, no known ulcer disease, no abnormalities in serum calcium, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood urea. Mean gastrin level was 86.63 +/- 23.8 pg/ml in the control, 84.57 +/- 25.1 pg/ml in the adenoma group and 84.6 +/- 24.4 pg/ml in the carcinoma group. No difference of serum gastrin levels were observed regarding sex, age, tumor stage and localisation.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Colonic Diseases; Colonic Polyps; Colorectal Neoplasms; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Obstruction; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications

We report a 45-year-old woman with chronic peptic ulcer disease and multiple episodes of bowel obstruction, who was admitted with gastric outlet obstruction. Because of gastric hypersecretion, a diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was suspected and an initial serum gastrin of 1,251 pg/ml supported this diagnosis. Subsequent evaluation failed to reveal a gastrinoma. A repeat serum gastrin level after 14 days of continuous nasogastric decompression was 43 pg/ml, suggesting that the initial hypergastrinemia was due to antral distention. It is important to consider the possibility of gastric outlet obstruction as a stimulus for serum gastrins in the range previously considered diagnostic for the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gastric Dilatation; Gastrins; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; Middle Aged; Peptic Ulcer; Pyloric Antrum; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

We hypothesized that bioactive peptides might be released into the portal circulation and mediate pathophysiologic alterations accompanying small bowel obstruction. We studied this question in a subacute canine small bowel obstruction model using 50 percent diameter occlusion. Control animals underwent sham laparotomy. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide YY, and gastrin were measured in portal and systemic plasma by specific radioimmunoassays at 24-hour intervals as the obstruction progressed to completion over 5 days. All peptides in both groups demonstrated portal and peripheral gradients. In control dogs, peptide concentrations did not change postoperatively but VIP increased markedly in obstructed dogs, demonstrating a median portal level of 95 pmol/liter at 96 hours compared with 31.5 pmol/liter in control animals. These portal VIP levels are known to cause hypersecretion and splanchnic vasodilation in experimental models. The release of vasoactive compounds such as VIP may mediate local pathophysiology in human small bowel obstruction. A similar explanation of the systemic effects is consistent with the known cardiopulmonary bioactivity of VIP.

Topics: Animals; Dogs; Gastrins; Intestinal Obstruction; Intestine, Small; Peptide YY; Peptides; Rats; Time Factors; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

In a mechanical ileus model in 70 rabbits, the effects of PGF2alpha-infusions, PGE1- and PGA1-injections on jejunal pressure and serum gastrin levels were studied. PGF2alpha increases, whereas PGE1 inhibits jejunal motility. PGA1 produces no significant response. A modulation of neurotransmission is discussed. The serum gastrin levels can be decreased by PGE1-injections, whereas PGA1 effects only small decreases. The importance of the vagal mechanism for the release of gastrin is emphasized.

Topics: Animals; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Motility; Intestinal Obstruction; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins A; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rabbits; Time Factors

In 29 rabbits the action of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 was compared with prostigmine in a mechanical ileus model. PGE2 produces no therapeutical effect. PGF2 alpha delivered a significant increase of intraluminal intestinal pressure and of the amplitudes of peristalsis, lasting for about 5 minutes, whereas prostigmine made a long lasting significant enlargment of the amplitudes of peristalsis without any modification of intraluminal pressure. Serum gastrin levels increased after application of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and remained constant after prostigmine. A possible way of action of PG's in the gastrointestinal tract is discussed, based on experiments concerning PG-application after different periods of time.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Motility; Intestinal Obstruction; Manometry; Prostaglandins; Rabbits

Topics: Adult; Aged; Circadian Rhythm; Cross Reactions; Duodenal Ulcer; Female; Gastrectomy; Gastric Acidity Determination; Gastric Juice; Gastrins; Humans; Immune Sera; Intestinal Obstruction; Iodine Isotopes; Male; Middle Aged; Peptic Ulcer; Peptides; Radioimmunoassay; Stomach; Stomach Ulcer; Time Factors