• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.250-257
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• 2007

Functional gastrointestinal disorders affect millions of people of all age regardless of race and sex. There are, however, rare diagnostic methods for the functional gastrointestinal disorders because functional disorders show no evidence of organic and physical causes. Our research group identified recently that the gastrointestinal tract well in the patients with the functional gastrointestinal disorders becomes more rigid than healthy people when palpating the abdominal regions overlaying the gastrointestinal tract. The aim is, therefore, to develop a diagnostic method for the functional gastrointestinal disorders based on quantitative measurement of the rigidity of the gastrointestinal tract well using ultrasound technique. For this purpose, a preliminary ultrasound diagnostic system was developed and verified through phantom tests. The system consisted of transmitter, ultrasonic transducer, receiver, TGC, and CPLD, and verified via a phantom test. For the phantom test, ten soft-tissue specimens were harvested from porcine. Five of them were then treated chemically to mimic a rigid condition of gastrointestinal tract well, which was induced by functional gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, the specimens were tested mechanically to identify if the mimic was reasonable. The customized ultrasound system was finally verified through application to human subjects with/without functional gastrointestinal disorders(Normal and Patient Groups). It was identified from the mechanical test that the chemically treated specimens were more rigid than normalspecimen. This finding was favorably compared with the result obtained from the phantom test. The phantom test also showed that ultrasound system well described the specimen geometric characteristics and detected an alteration in the specimens. The maximum amplitude of the ultrasonic reflective signal in the rigid specimens $(0.2{\pm}0.1Vp-p)$ at the interface between the fat and muscle layers was explicitly higher than that in the normal specimens $(0.1{\pm}0.0Vp-p)$ (p<0.05). Clinical tests using our customized ultrasound system for human subject showed that the maximum amplitudes of the ultrasonic reflective signals nea. to the gastrointestinal tract well for the patient group$(2.6{\pm}0.3Vp-p)$ were generally higher than those in normal group$(0.1{\pm}0.2Vp-p)$ (p<0.05). These results suggest that newly designed diagnostic system based on ultrasound technique may diagnose enough the functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.321-331
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• 1992

The regional distribution and relative frequency of gastrointestinal endocrine cells were studied immunohistochemically in the gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas of the fresh water turtle. Ten kinds of endocrine cells were identified in the gastrointestinal tract. Cholecystokinin-8-, bovine pancreatic polypetide-and glucagon-immunoreactive cells were seen throughout the gastrointestinal tract, also among them cholecystokinin-8-immunoreactive cells were most predominant in segment III. Although gastrin- and gastrin/cholecystokinin-immunoreactive cells were found from segment III to VI and X, respectively, they were numerous in segment III. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were observed from segment I to VII. 5-hydroxytryptamine- immunoreactive cells were detected in segment I, III, VIII, IX and X. Human pancreatic polypeptide-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in segment V, VI, VIII, IX and X. Insulin-immunoreactive cells were found from segment III to X except for segment VIII, but rare in segment VII. Neurotensin-immunoreactive cells were found to be restricted to segment VIII, IX and X. No porcine chromogranin-, substance P- and bombesin-immunoreactive cells were detected throughout the gastrointestinal tract of the fresh water turtle. Although typical mammalian pancreatic islets encapsulated by connective tissue were not present in this species, five kinds of endocrine cells-glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide and 5-hydroxytryptamine-were found in forming small or large groups and scattered in the exocrine gland region. However porcine chromogranin- and motilin-immunoreactive cells could not be demonstrated in the pancreas.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.261-270
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• 1990

The gastrointestinal endocrine cells of the Korean native goat were studied immunohistochemically, and 5-HT-, somatostatin-, Gas/CCK-, glucagon-, chromogranin- and PP- immunoreactive cells were revealed. The characteristic findings of the regional distribution and relative frequency of these immunoreactive cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the Korean native goat were as follows. 5-HT-immunoreactive cells were more numerous in the small and large intestine than in the abdomen stomach. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cell were more numerous in the abdomen stomach than in the small and large intestine. Gas/CCK-immunoreactive cells were concentrated very numerously in the pyloric region with a few in the other regions. Moderate numbers of glucagon-immunoreactive cells were found in the small and large intestine, but a few of them were found in the abdomen stomach. Very numerous chromogranin-immunoreactive cells were detected throughout the gastrointestinal tract. PP-immunoreactive cells were observed moderate numbers in the large intestine with few in the ileum. No insulin-immunoreactive cell was found in the gastrointestinal tract.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.55-69
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the latest discussions on the mechanism of Itching. Methods : Articles that reviewed the mechanism of itching were searched from Pubmed (January 2016 to June 2021). In addition, review articles discussing the gastrointestinal tract and the mechanisms of pruritus were searched seperately. Results : The articles are classified into three categories. These categories are the classification according to the passage of time (acute, chronic), the immune factors involved (inflammatory, non-inflammatory), and the neurophysiological mechanism (pruritoceptive itching, neuropathic itching, neurogenic itching, psychogenic itching). In each category, the articles over the past five years are summarized and reviewed. Also, how the status of the gastrointestinal tract is reflected in itching was discussed in terms of leaky gut syndrome, neuro/gastrointestinal peptides, and gut microbiota. Conclusions : This review introduces the recently discussed mechanism of itching, and in particular, examines how the gastrointestinal tract is related to skin itching. Based on these considerations, it is expected that more diverse therapeutic approaches can be explored in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.315-318
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• 1993

We experienced 7 cases of patients who were performed $^{99m}Tc$-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy for the evaluation of diseases they had. Their bone scintigrams showed incidental radionuclide uptake in the gastrointestinal tracts and they had no special symptom or sign attributable to the findings. Case 1 showed radionuclide uptake in the stomach and both lung and the patient had suffered from hypercalcemia and azotemia. Case 3 and case 6 showed diffuse radionuclide uptake in the stomach and intestinal tract. Others showed diffuse or regional radionuclide uptake in the intestinal tracts. Radionuclide uptake in the gastrointestinal tract by $^{99m}Tc$-methylene diphosphonate is caused by a certain pathologic lesion but also can be seen in the normal gastrointestinal tract. So, one who reads bone scintigrams should be alert for the pathologic lesion in the gastrointestinal tract although one must interpretate with the concept of this normal variations.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Reports
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.61-64
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• 2020

Ablative therapy has drawn attention for cancer treatment as minimally invasive therapy. Recently, irreversible electroporation which has a different concept from the existing ablation method has emerged. Although gastrointestinal tract cancer is commonly managed by ablation such as liver, pancreas cancer, hollow viscus cancer is extremely challenging for applying ablative therapy because of its high perforation risk. Therefore, several studies about hollow viscus irreversible electroporation will be introduced in this review regarding its pre-clinical relevance.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1136-1139
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• 2008

The genitourinary tract and gastrointestinal system are interdependent but share the same embryological origin, pelvic region, and sacral innervation. Although children with voiding disturbances often present with bowel dysfunction, this coexistence was considered coincidental until recently. However, it is now accepted that dysfunction in emptying of both systems is interrelated. Afferent impulses carrying sensory information are transmitted through the spinal cord and brainstem toward several cortical and subcortical areas, resulting in conscious control of the bladder and bowel. Alteration in these afferent pathways can result in dysfunction, including urinary and fecal incontinence. Distal gastrointestinal tract problems such as constipation might induce an inhibitory rectovesical reflex that interferes with normal voiding. Therefore, lower urinary tract function seems to be closely associated with distal gastrointestinal tract function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.24-33
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• 1999

The gastrointestinal tract of three Percida, Lateolabrax japonicus, Epinephelus septemfasciatus and Mugil cephalus, was investigated immunocytochemically for the occurrence of somatostatin-. seotonin-, gastrin-, pancreatic polypeptide(PP)-, cholecystokinin-8(CCK-8)- and glucagon-immunoreactive cells. In Lateolabrax japonicus and Epinephelus septemfasciatus, five endorcrine cell types, such as somatostatin-, serotonin-, gastrin-, PP- and CCk-8-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated. In Mugil cephalus, however, six endocrine cell types, such as somatostatin-, serotnin-gastrin-, PP-, CCK-8- and glucagon-immunoreactive cells were detected. Somatostatin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells were detected in the gastric mucosa of all species. Glucagon-immunoreactive cells were found only in the gastric mucoas of Mugil cephalus. In the pyloric caeca, PP-and CCK-8-immnuoreactive cells fo all species. gastrin-immunoreactive cells of Epinephelus septemfasciatus and Mugil cephalus, and serotonin-immunoreactive cells of Epinephelus septemfasciatus were demonstrated. In the intestinal mucosa of all species, gastrin-, PP- and CCK-8-immunoreactive cells were detected, and in the intestinal mucosa of Epinephelus septemfasciatus serotonin-immunoreactive cells were also detected. The frequency of these immunoreactive cells differs from each portion of the gastrointestinal tract of all species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.841-847
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• 2005

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the development of gastrointestinal tract and activities of pancreatic enzymes in White Roman geese. Thirty developing embryos at the 22th, 24th and 26th day of incubation and at hatching, and sixteen or eight goslings, half males and half females, at the 1, 3, 7 or 11, 14, 21 and 28 days of age were sampled, respectively. The weights of the yolk, gastrointestinal tract and intestinal length, and the activities of pancreatic enzymes were measured. Residual yolk weight decreased rapidly during late incubation and was nearly depleted at 3 days of age. The protein and energy contents in the residual yolk of goslings at 3 days of age were significantly (p<0.05) less than those at the late incubation. From 6 days before hatching to 28 days of age, the absolute weights of gizzard, proventriculus, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine in goslings increased by 48, 457, 94, 2334, 89 and 76 times, respectively. The relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine reached peaks at 3, 3, 14, 14, 11 and 11 days of age, respectively, and then decreased gradually. However, the relative lengths of small intestine and large intestine reached peaks at 3 days of age and at hatching, respectively. The activities of pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin increased sharply from hatching to 14 day of age, and then decreased gradually until 21 days of age. The activity and specific activity of pancreatic amylase were increased following by age and peaked at 7 to 11 and 21 days of age, respectively. The activity and specific activity of pancreatic lipase reached a plateau from 11 to 28 days of age. These results indicate that the gastrointestinal tract and activities of pancreatic enzymes developed more rapidly than body weight through the early growing period of goslings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7737-7742
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• 2015

Background: Cancer is one of the common causes of disability and mortality in the world. The present study aimed to define the spatiotemporal distribution of gastrointestinal tract cancers using a geographic information system (GIS) over the time period of 2007-2012 in Kermanshah-Iran. Materials and Methods: The method of studying was descriptive-analytical as well as comparative with gastrointestinal tract cancer patients based in the City of Kermanshah over the time period covered. For data analysis, the GIS and SPSS 16.0 were applied. Results: According to the pathological reports within the space of 5 years, 283 cases of gastrointestinal tract cancer (157 in males, 156 in females) were reported. The performed tests in terms of spatial distribution in the environment of GIS indicated that the disease demonstrated a clustered pattern in the City of Kermanshah. More to the point, some loci of this disease have emerged in the City of Kermanshah that in the first level, 6 neighborhoods with 29-59 cases of this disease per square kilometer and in the second level, 15-29 cases. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal tract cancer demonstrated an ascending trend within the space of 5 years of research and the spatiotemporal distribution of cancer featured a concentrated and clustered pattern in the City of Kermanshah.