EPISODES OF HEARTBURN AND BLOATING IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of heartburn and nausea in patients with various forms of chronic gastritis in the Georgian population, how often, in terms of character, intensity and interrelationship, taking into account the histomorphological and morphometric changes in the topographic area of ​​the gastric mucosa, as well as taking into account the parameters of gastric juice secretion parameters. For this purpose, we examined 172 patients with chronic gastritis who were admitted to our therapeutic unit due to disease exacerbation. The analysis of the material revealed two main forms of chronic gastritis: the first chronic pangastritis of varying severity (diffuse antral and fundal gastritis) 141–81.9% and the second chronic gastritis with fundic glands hyperplasia (31–18.02%). The analysis showed that episodes of heartburn were detected in cases of different forms of chronic gastritis, with the highest frequency in patients with form II [chronic gastritis (chronic gastritis with fundic glands hyperplasia)] from 31 cases of chronic form I 18-(58.06%), than in chronic gastritis I form (chronic pangastritis 47-(33.33%) of 141 cases). As regards the frequency of bloating in 47-(33.33%) of 141 patients with form of gastritis I, and 14-(45.16%) in 31 cases of the second form of chronic gastritis. Examination of patients' anamnesis revealed that most patients were not adequately treated, because they were not properly diagnosed in time, which is an important contributing factor to disease progression, complications and heartburn episodes, impaired quality of life, and reduced quality of life.

Silicon-containing water intake confers antioxidant effect, gastrointestinal protection, and gut microbiota modulation in the rodents

We explored the effects of silicon-containing water (BT) intake on gastrointestinal function and gut microbiota. BT was obtained by pressuring tap water through silicon minerals (mullite, Al6Si2O13) column. BT decreased H2O2 chemiluminescence counts, indicating its antioxidant activity. Four weeks of BT drinking increased H2O2 scavenging activity and glutathione peroxidase activity of plasma. BT drinking did not affect the body weight but significantly reduced the weight of feces and gastrointestinal motility. BT drinking significantly suppressed pylorus ligation enhanced gastric juice secretion, gastric reactive oxygen species amount, erythrocyte extravasation, IL-1β production by infiltrating leukocyte, and lipid peroxidation within gastric mucosa. Data from 16S rRNA sequencing revealed BT drinking significantly increased beneficial flora including Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Prevotellaceae NK3B31, Weissella paramesenteroides, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus murinus and decreased harmful flora including Mucispirillum, Rodentibacter, and Staphylococcus aureus. This study pioneerly provided scientific evidences for the potential effects of water-soluble forms of silicon intake on antioxidant activity, gastrointestinal function, and gut microbiota modulation.

ML-SA1, a TRPML1 agonist, induces gastric secretion and gastrointestinal tract inflammation in vivo

Background: The effect of ML-SA1, a potent and specific TRPML1 channel agonist, on gastric secretion and subsequent impact to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of mice was investigated. Methods: Twenty mice were divided into two groups, and respectively received either ML-SA1 or DMSO alone (as negative control), and then the intestinal propulsion rate were monitored. The stomach and intestinal tissues were sectioned for periodic acid Schiff (PAS), histopathological or immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. TRPML1 expression level in AGS cells was assayed by western blot, and calcium imaging was performed in AGS cells after the GCaMP5G transfection. Results: Application of 150 μg/Kg ML-SA1 could result in significant decrease in intestinal propulsion rate and structural changes of the parietal cells in stomach and goblet cells in intestine of mice. Moreover, it induced inflammation to the duodenum section of intestine in mice. IHC staining also revealed that ML-SA1 could up-regulate TRPML1 expression in both the parietal cells of stomach pits and in the columnar epithelial cells of duodenum villi. Further study in AGS cells, a type of stomach cell line, demonstrated that ML-SA1 could enhance the expression of TRPML1 and induce the protrusion of micro-vesicles. Conclusions: All together, our results suggested that ML-SA1 was capable of activating TRPML1 in stomach cells and increasing gastric juice secretion. This provided a convincing attempt of applying ML-SA1 in animals and pointed out a new possible research direction that TRPML1 channel could be a potential new therapeutic target on hypochlorhydria or even in the field of gastrointestinal cancer research.

Study on Gastric Juice Secretion by Electroacupuncture at Zusanli Point on Rabbits under Action of Cimetidine

The effect and mechanism on gastric juice secretion by electroacupuncturing at Zusanli points on rabbits with modern apparatuses were studied. Zusanli points were stimulated with electroacupunctures to observe the flux of gastric juice in the study. Before and after Cimetidine being injected by the pathway of points, Zusanli points were respectively stimulated with electroacupunctures to observe the flux of gastric juice secretion. The results showed that the flux of gastric juice slowered (P0.05) when the stopping acupuncture group for 10 minutes compared with the during acupuncturing group, but after Cimetidine being injected, the flux of gastric juice secretion did not increase obviously (P>0.05) during acupuncturing for 10 minutes compared with the no acupuncturing group, and also did not increase (P>0.05) stopping acupuncture for 10 minutes compared with no acupuncture. So the study showed that the flux of gastric juice secretion could be increased by electroacupuncturing at Zusanli points, and the mechanism may be come true by the gastric H2 receptor pathway.

Analgesic and Anti-Gastropathic Effects of Salidroside Isolated from Acer tegmentosum Heartwood

The heartwood of Acer tegmentosum(Acereaceae) has been used as a Korean traditional medicinal drug against alcohol poisoning and hepatitis. To find the biologically active substance in A. tegmentosum heartwood, we investigated the protective effects of the heartwood extract and its constituents on pain and gastropathy in mouse. In these experiments, salidroside, a major compound, significantly reduced gastric lesion and pain in mice. Oral administration of salidroside at the 10 and 20 mg/kg doses greatly reduced the gastric lesion induced by HCl/ethanol (inhibitory effect, 51.5 and 68.8%, respectively) and by indomethacin/bethanechol (inhibitory effect, 31.3 and 38.8%, respectively). Salidroside also stabilized pH of gastric juice and the increase of gastric juice secretion and total acid output. Taken together, these results demonstrated that salidroside is the main ingredient of A. tegmentosum heartwood to prevent gastric lesion and pain that can be caused by drinking alcohol.

The IP3 receptor/Ca2+ channel and its cellular function

The IP3R [IP3 (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) receptor] is responsible for Ca2+ release from the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). We have been working extensively on the P400 protein, which is deficient in Purkinje-neuron-degenerating mutant mice. We have discovered that P400 is an IP3R and we have determined the primary sequence. Purified IP3R, when incorporated into a lipid bilayer, works as a Ca2+ release channel and overexpression of IP3R shows enhanced IP3 binding and channel activity. Addition of an antibody blocks Ca2+ oscillations indicating that IP3R1 works as a Ca2+ oscillator. Studies on the role of IP3R during development show that IP3R is involved in fertilization and is essential for determination of dorso-ventral axis formation. We found that IP3R is involved in neuronal plasticity. A double homozygous mutant of IP3R2 (IP3R type 2) and IP3R3 (IP3R type 3) shows a deficit of saliva secretion and gastric juice secretion suggesting that IP3Rs are essential for exocrine secretion. IP3R has various unique properties: cryo-EM (electron microscopy) studies show that IP3R contains multiple cavities; IP3R allosterically and dynamically changes its form reversibly (square form–windmill form); IP3R is functional even though it is fragmented by proteases into several pieces; the ER forms a meshwork but also forms vesicular ER and moves along microtubules using a kinesin motor; X ray analysis of the crystal structure of the IP3 binding core consists of an N-terminal β-trefoil domain and a C-terminal α-helical domain. We have discovered ERp44 as a redox sensor in the ER which binds to the luminal part of IP3R1 and regulates its activity. We have also found the role of IP3 is not only to release Ca2+ but also to release IRBIT which binds to the IP3 binding core of IP3R.

Comparison of Roxatidine and Famotidine on Nocturnal Gastric Juice Secretion

Adult patients with symptoms of gastric disease were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (roxatidine group, n = 115; famotidine group, n = 113) or untreated control group (placebo, n = 111). The treatment groups randomly received 75 mg of roxatidine or 20 mg of famotidine at 9 pm, and 12 – 13 h later gastric juice secretion was measured with gastric X-ray films in both groups. Mean gastric juice secretion was significantly lower in the treated groups (roxatidine, 16.1 ml/12 h; famotidine, 19.9 ml/12 h) than in the untreated controls (placebo, 49.5 ml/12 h). Gastric juice suppression by roxatidine and by famotidine, respectively, was 82% and 37% in patients with gastric ulcer; 71% and 39% in patients with duodenal ulcer; 70% and 64% in patients with gastritis; and 68% and 86% in patients with no evidence of disease. It is concluded that roxatidine was more effective than famotidine for gastric juice suppression in patients with peptic ulcer. In patients with no evidence of gastric disease, however, famotidine was more effective than roxatidine.

Stimulation of abomasal flow in sheep with buffer infusions per abomasum and effects of same on certain aspects of intestinal function

Infusion into the abomasum of sheep of a mixture of volatile fatty acids partially neutralized with sodium hydroxide (VFA salts) markedly increased the rates of flow of liquor and chloride from the abomasum to the small intestine; buffered mineral salts comprising sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate and either disodium or dipotassium orthophosphate consistently produced a similar but smaller response. Thcre was little or no effect of the infusions on rumen or omasal outflow. By contrast, infusion of VFA in acid form had no effect on abomasal liquor and chloride flow and the infusion of sodium chloride did not effect liquor flow. The pH of abomasal digesta either decreased slightly or was unchanged when VFA salts wcre infused, but increased with infusion of mineral buffer salts. It is concluded that gastric secretion is markedly affected by the buffering capacity of the digesta entering the abomasum. The VFA entering the abomasum in digesta were estimated to be responsible for the secretion of as much as 60% of the chloride secreted into the organ. High rates of abomasal secretion, induced by intra-abomasal infusion of VFA salts, increased both (i) the amount of digesta in the abomasum and small intestine, (ii) the extent of absorption of calcium and magnesium distal to the omasum, and (iii) absorption from the small intestine of water, chloride and VFA, while decreasing (i) the pH of digesta in some sections of the small intestine and (ii) marker residence time in the proximal half of the small intestine. The rates of flow of both liquor and chloride from the abomasum, together with pH of abomasal digesta, progressively increased with age in animals aged 6, 10 and 30 months; they were still larger in other animals aged 54 months. By contrast, no consistent trends with age were observed with VFA and chloride concentrations in rumen liquor or the flow of metabolites from the rumen. The flow changes are suggested to be the result of changes in gastric juice secretion with age, stimulated at least in part by a corresponding decrease in the rate of absorption of buffering substances in the omasum and/or abomasum.