• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2002

PURPOSE : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the value of the transabdominal sonography of the upper GI tract together with the abdominal examination in screening test. MATERIALS & METHODS : The transabdominal sonography of the upper GI tract togeth

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.614-627
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• 2018

Background/Aims Although functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are common in children, the accurate pathogenesis of FAPDs is not known yet. Micro-inflammation, particularly tissue eosinophilia of gastrointestinal (GI) tract, has been suggested as the pathophysiology observed in several GI disorders. We aimed to evaluate eosinophilic infiltration throughout the entire GI tract in children with FAPDs, compared to those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and to normal reference values. Methods We included 56 children with FAPDs, 52 children with Crohn's disease, and 23 children with ulcerative colitis. All subjects underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopic and colonoscopic examination with biopsies. Tissue eosinophil counts were assessed in 10 regions throughout the GI tract. Results Eosinophil counts of the gastric antrum, duodenum, terminal ileum, cecum, and ascending colon were significantly higher in children with FAPDs compared to normal reference values. Eosinophil counts of the stomach and the entire colon were observed to be significantly higher in children with IBD than in those with FAPDs. Even after selecting macroscopically uninvolved GI segments on endoscopy in children with IBD, eosinophil counts of the gastric body, cecum, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and the rectum were also significantly higher in children with IBD than those with FAPDs. Conclusions Significantly high eosinophil counts of the stomach and colon were observed in the order of IBD, followed by FAPDs, and normal controls, regardless of endoscopically detected macroscopic IBD lesions in children. This suggests some contribution of GI tract eosinophils in the intrinsic pathogenesis of FAPDs in children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2014

We present a case of a 13-year-old boy with Gorham's disease involving the thoracic and lumbar spine, femur, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which was complicated by recurrent chylothorax and GI bleeding. The presenting symptoms were intermittent abdominal pain, back pain, and melena. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy showed no abnormal lesions, but duodenal biopsy showed marked dilation of the lymphatics in the mucosa and submucosa, which revealed positive staining with a D2-40 immunohistochemical marker. In cases of GI bleeding with osteolysis, the expression of a D2-40 marker in the lymphatic endothelium of the GI tract may help to diagnose GI involvement in Gorham's disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report to pathologically demonstrate intestinal lymphatic malformation as a cause of GI bleeding in Gorham's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.353-364
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• 2021

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a series of hollow organs that is responsible for the digestion and absorption of ingested foods and the excretion of waste. Any changes in the GI tract can lead to GI disorders. GI disorders are highly prevalent in the population and account for substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. GI disorders can be functional, or organic with structural changes. Functional GI disorders include functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Organic GI disorders include inflammation of the GI tract due to chronic infection, drugs, trauma, and other causes. Recent studies have highlighted a new explanatory mechanism for GI disorders. It has been suggested that autophagy, an intracellular homeostatic mechanism, also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of GI disorders. Autophagy has three primary forms: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy. It may affect intestinal homeostasis, host defense against intestinal pathogens, regulation of the gut microbiota, and innate and adaptive immunity. Drugs targeting autophagy could, therefore, have therapeutic potential for treating GI disorders. In this review, we provide an overview of current understanding regarding the evidence for autophagy in GI diseases and updates on potential treatments, including drugs and complementary and alternative medicines.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2004

The regional distributions and frequencies of argentaffin endocrine cells in gastrointestinal (GI) tract of osteoporotic Sprague-Dawley rat induced by ovariectomy were studied by Masson-Hamperl silver stain. The experimental animals were divided into two groups, one is non-ovariectomized group (Sham) and the other is ovariectomized group (OVX). Samples were collected from each part of GI tract (fundus, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum) at 10th week after ovariectomy or sham operation. Argentaffin cells were detected throughout the entire GI tract with various frequencies regardless of ovariectomy except for the rectum of OVX in which no cells were detected. Most of these argentaffin cells in the mucosa of GI tract were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open type cell) while cells showing round in shape (close type cell) were rarely found in gland regions. Significant decrease of argentaffin cells was detected in OVX compared to that of Sham except for the fundus and jejunum. However, in the fundus and jejunum, argentaffin cells in OVX showed similar frequency compared to that of Sham. In conclusion, the endocrine cells are the anatomical units responsible for the production of gut hormones that regulate gut motility and digestion including absorption, and a change in their density would reflect the change in the capacity of producing these hormones and regulating gut motility and digestion. Ovariectomy induced severe quantitative changes of GI argentaffin endocrine cell density, and the abnormality in density of GI endocrine cells may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in osteoporosis such as impairments of calcium and some lipids, frequently encountered in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2009

The oral delivery of heparin is the preferred therapy in the treatment of patients with a high risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. New conjugates of heparin and sodium deoxycholate were synthesized in order to enhance the heparin absorption in the GI tract. After oral administration of DOC-heparin, the concentration in anti-FXa assay was increased with increasing amount of coupled DOC. The maximum concentration of DOC-heparin VIII conjugate was $3.3{\pm}0.5\;IU/mL$ at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg, which was 3-fold higher than the baseline level. Finally, DOC coupled to heparin greatly enhanced the absorption of heparin in the GI tract, and this enhancing effect was not induced by changing the tissue structure of the GI wall.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.333-339
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• 1992

The regional distribution and relative frequency of occurrence of endocrine cells in nine segments of the gastrointestinal(GI) tract of snakehead(Ophicephalus argus) were investigated by immunohistochemical methods using specific antisera against 5- hydroxyptrytamine(5-HT), somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin(GAS/CCK), glucagon, bovine chromogranin, porcine chromogranin and insulin. Four types of immunoreactive cells for 5-HT, somatostatin, GAS/CCK and glucagon were observed in the GI tract. These cells were generally appeared in the mucosal epithelia or located at the interface of the mucosal epithelial layer and intestinal glandular region. 5-HT-immunoreactive(IR) cells were found in segment II, III, IV, V and VI, and the most numerous in segment IV. Somatostatin-IR cells were found in segment II, III, IV and V, and the most numerous in segment III. GAS/CCK-IR cells in segment VI, VII and glucagon-IR cells in segment III, IV, V were detected but a few in these segments. No bovine chromogranin-, porcine chromogranin- and insulin-IR cells were detected throughout the GI tract of the snakehead.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.369-379
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• 1993

The regional distribution and the relative frequencies of endocrine cells were studied in nine portions of the blue fox GI tract, and the distribution pattern and cell types of the pancreatic endocrine cells were also studied in the pancreas by immunohistochemical method. Six kinds of immunoreactive cells were identified in the GI tract, and four kinds of immunoreactive cells were also identified in the pancreas. Although numerous 5-HT- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were seen throughtout the GI tract, somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were a few in the intestine. Very numerous Gas/CCK-immunoreactive cells were restricted generally in the pyloric region and duodenum. Numerous glucagon-immunoreactive cells were found in the stomach except the pyloric region, and generally a few in the intestine. Moderate number of BPP-immunoreactive cells were found in the stomach except the pyloric region, and a few in the large intestine. Numerous porcine CG-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the cardiac and fundic region. In the pancreas, four types of pancreatic endocrine cells-somatostatin-, glucagon-, BPP- and insuline-immunoreactive-were identified in the pancreatic islet and exocrine portion. These results suggest that the regional distribution, the relative frequencies and cell types of the GEP endocrine cells in the GI tract and pancreas varies considerably among the species.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.579-589
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• 1993

The regional distribution and the relative frequencies of endocrine cells were studied in nine portions of the blue fox GI tract, and the distribution pattern and cell types of the pancreativc endocrine cells were also studied in the pancreas by immunohistochemical method. Six kinds of immunoreactive cells were identified in the GI tract, and four kinds of immunoreactive cells were also identified in the pancreas. Although numerous 5-HT- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were seen throughout the GI tract, somatostatin- immunoreactive cells were a few in the intestine. Very numerous Gas/CCK-immunoreactive cells were restricted generally in the pyloric region and duodenum. Numerous glucagon-immunoreactive cells were found in the stomach except the pyloric region, and generally a few in the intestine. Moderate number of BPP-immunoreactive cells were found in the stomach except the pyloric region, and a few in the large intestine. Numerous porcine CG-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the cardiac and fundic region. In the pancreas, four types of pancreatic endocrine cells- somatostatin-, glucagon-, BPP- and insulin-immunoreactive- were identified in the pancreatic islet and exocrine portion. These results suggest that the regional distribution, the relative frequencies and cell types of the GEP endocrine cells in the GI tract and pancreas varies considerably among the species.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2_spc
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• pp.364-373
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• 2023

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of ruminants contains diverse microbes that ferment various feeds ingested by animals to produce various fermentation products, such as volatile fatty acids. Fermentation products can affect animal performance, health, and well-being. Within the GI microbes, the ruminal microbes are highly diverse, greatly contribute to fermentation, and are the most important in ruminant nutrition. Although traditional cultivation methods provided knowledge of the metabolism of GI microbes, most of the GI microbes could not be cultured on standard culture media. By contrast, amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes can be used to detect unculturable microbes. Using this approach, ruminant nutritionists and microbiologists have conducted a plethora of nutritional studies, many including dietary interventions, to improve fermentation efficiency and nutrient utilization, which has greatly expanded knowledge of the GI microbiota. This review addresses the GI content sampling method, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis and then discusses recent studies on the various factors, such as diet, breed, gender, animal performance, and heat stress, that influence the GI microbiota and thereby ruminant nutrition.