• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Crohn disease (CD) is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder that can affect all segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but typically involves the ileum and/or colon. To assess patient prognosis and choose appropriate treatment, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the factors influencing poor outcomes, including disease phenotype. Pediatric CD involving the upper GI (UGI) tract has become increasingly recognized with the introduction of routine upper endoscopy with biopsies for all patients and the increased availability of accurate small bowel evaluations. Most clinical manifestations are mild and nonspecific; however, UGI involvement should not be overlooked since it can cause serious complications. Although controversy persists about the definition of upper GI involvement, aphthoid ulcers, longitudinal ulcers, a bamboo joint-like appearance, stenosis, and fistula are endoscopic findings suggestive of CD. In addition, the primary histological findings, such as focally enhanced gastritis and noncaseating granulomas, are highly suggestive of CD. The association between UGI involvement and poor prognosis of CD remains controversial. However, the unstandardized definition and absence of a validated tool for evaluating disease severity complicate the objective assessment of UGI involvement in CD. Therefore, more prospective studies are needed to provide further insight into the standardized assessment of UGI involvement and long-term prognosis of CD. Our review summarizes the findings to date in the literature as well as UGI involvement in CD and its clinical implications.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

Current scintigraphic tests of gastrointestinal motor function provides relevant pathophysiologic information, but their clinical utility is controversial. Many scintigraphic methods are developed to investigate gastrointestinal motility from oral cavity to colon. These are esophageal transit scintigraphy, oropharyngeal transit study, gastric emptying test, small bowel transit time measurement, colon transit study and gastroesopahgeal reflux scintigraphy. Scintigraphy of gastrointestinal tract is the most physiologic and noninvasive method to evaluate gastrointestinal motility disorders. Stomach emptying test is regarded as a gold standard in motility study. Gastrointestinal transit scintigraphy also has a certain role in assessment of drug effect to GI motility and changes alter therapy of motility disorders. Scintigraphy provides noninvasive and quantitative assessment of physiological transit throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and it is extremely useful for diagnosing gastrointestinal motor dysfunction. This article reviews the current procedures, indications, significance and guidelines for gastrointestinal motility measurements by scintigraphy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.570-577
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• 2013

To research the trends of study about gastrointestinal (GI) disease in Korean medicine, we reviewed and analysed articles published in Korea from 2009 to 2012. From ancient to modern history, traditional plant-based medicines have played an important role in health care, especially GI tract. In spite of the great advances of moderm scientific medicine, traditional medicine is still the primary form of healing methods readily available to the majority of the people in the many countries. In fact many of today's popular drugs have their origins in traditional medicine. Therefore, we suggest that the development and improvement of Korean medicine in GI tract will make good the quality of life in our lifetime.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2006

Effects of cheonggukjang on immunohistochemical reactions in gastrointestinal (GI) tract of rats were investigated. $CD4^+/CD8^+$ immunoreactive cells of cheonggukjang-fed diet groups were more strongly stained in lamina propria of mucosa and submucosa than those of basal diet group. Universal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive density in colon was mildly stained in surface epithelium and mucous secretory gland, and strongly stained in submucosa and myenteric plexus in muscle layers of all cheonggukjang-fed diet groups. Protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ immunoreactive cells in colons of 15 and 25% cheonggukjang-fed diet groups were more strongly stained in mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers than those of basal diet group. These results indicate mucosal immune activity, gastrointestinal motility, blood circulation, and physiological activities of enteroendocrine cells in GI tract could be increased with cheonggukjang intake.