Gastric emptying in children. IV. Studies on kwashiorkor and on marasmic kwashiorkor

Gastric emptying of 20 ml/kg body weight of 5% glucose was assessed by the double-sample test meal in 22 malnourished hospitalized children divided into two groups according to the form of malnutrition presented: kwashiorkor (n = 11) or marasmic kwashiorkor (n = 11). Gastric emptying tests were carried out within 72 hours of admission and 30 days later when nutritional status was in net recovery. The control group consisted of seven healthy children who were submitted to a single test. The volumes remaining in the stomach of the children in the kwashiorkor group after the initial test did not differ significantly from those obtained after the second test, when recovery of nutritional status had started. In marasmic kwashiorkor children, intragastric liquid volumes 30 minutes after the test meal were significantly higher in newly-admitted children than in controls, but the differences disappeared after recovery had started. We conclude that kwashiorkor children have no detectable abnormalities of the gastric emptying of a liquid meal, whereas marasmic kwashiorkor malnourished children have delayed gastric emptying but the abnormality is reversible after recovery of nutritional status.     

Effects of Growth Hormone Deficiency and Recombinant Growth Hormone Therapy on Postprandial Gallbladder Motility and Cholecystokinin Release

In addition to cholecystokinin, other hormones have been suggested to be involved in regulation of postprandial gallbladder contraction. We aimed to evaluate effects of growth hormone (GH) on gallbladder contractility and cholecystokinin release. Gallbladder and gastric emptying (by ultrasound) and cholecystokinin release were determined before and after 6 months of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy in 12 patients with GH deficiency, after either a mixed (n = 5) or a liquid (n = 7) meal. Basal postprandial gallbladder contraction was severely impaired (19 +/- 2 and 26 +/- 3% of fasting volume after mixed and liquid meal, respectively). Histology and cholecystokinin sulfation patterns in duodenal biopsies from two patients were normal. After 6 months of rhGH therapy, fasting gallbladder volumes increased (from 20.8 +/- 0.9 to 25.9 +/- 1.1 mL, P < 0.05) and postprandial gallbladder emptying was restored (70 +/- 6 and 70 +/- 7% of fasting volume after mixed and liquid meal, respectively), without change of gastric emptying. Cholecystokinin secretion after a mixed meal and gallbladder sensitivity to cholecystokinin were significantly enhanced during rhGH replacement compared to the basal state. Postprandial cholecystokinin release, gallbladder responsiveness to cholecystokinin, and gallbladder emptying are severely impaired in the absence of GH. Reversibility during GH suppletion suggests its involvement in regulation of gallbladder contractility.     

Effect of cisapride on delayed gastric emptying in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Some patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease have delayed gastric emptying. This study investigates the effect of cisapride on gastric emptying in 34 patients with proved reflux and delayed gastric emptying of solids. They were enrolled in a double blind controlled crossover study. Placebo or cisapride (10 mg) tablets were given three times a day for three days followed by further assessment of gastric emptying. The protocol was repeated with the crossover tablet. Gastric emptying was assessed by a dual radionuclide technique. The percentage of a solid meal remaining in the stomach at 100 minutes (% R100 minutes) and the time taken for 50% of the liquid to empty (T50 minutes) were calculated and analysed by the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test and expressed as medians (ranges). For gastric emptying of solids the initial % R100 minutes (70 (60-100)%) was not significantly different from placebo (71 (35-100)%). After cisapride treatment a significant acceleration (p less than 0.001) in gastric emptying occurred (% R100 minutes, 50.5 (28-93)%). Similarly with gastric emptying of liquids, the initial T50 minute value was 26.5 (12-82) minutes, after placebo the value was 28 (11-81) minutes, but this was significantly accelerated with cisapride (p less than 0.03) to 22.5 (6-61) minutes. The acceleration in gastric emptying occurred in the proximal portion of the stomach for gastric emptying of both solids and liquids suggesting that this is the principal site of action of cisapride. We conclude that cisapride significantly accelerates gastric emptying of both solids and liquids in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and delayed gastric emptying.     

Gastric emptying of realistic meals with and without gluten in patients with coeliac disease. Effect of jejunal mucosal recovery

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on disturbed gastric emptying in patients with coeliac disease. The aims of the study were to investigate (a) the presence of delayed gastric emptying: (b) the acute effect on gastric emptying of gliadin; and (c) the effect of jejunal recovery on gastric emptying of meals with or without gluten in such patients. METHODS: We measured gastric emptying of two meals in 16 patients with coeliac disease; one meal contained gliadin. Results were compared with those obtained in 24 controls. In 12 patients, both measurements were repeated after mucosal recovery. Statistical analysis was performed using the analysis of variance for repeated measurements and Student's t test. Mean +/- 1 s(mean) (standard error of the mean) are shown. RESULTS: No difference was found in fasting and in maximal antral sections after the two meals. On entry, gastric emptying was significantly (P < 0.001) delayed compared to controls both after the meal containing gluten (326.9 +/- 12.4 min versus controls 213.5 +/- 11.5) and after the gluten-free meal (315.3 +/- 16.7 min). After jejunal recovery, emptying of the meal containing gluten remained unchanged (337 +/- 18.9 min), whereas emptying of the gluten-free meal was significantly shortened (280.6 +/- 10.5 min; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In coeliac disease there is an impairment of gastric emptying which is at least partially reversible. This suggests either an immunological disorder or that unabsorbed meal constituents are responsible for an ileal-brake effect.     

急性逆行胃电刺激对肥胖患者胃容受性、胃排空和胃肠激素释放的影响

目的 观察急性逆行胃电刺激(RGES)对肥胖患者胃容受性、胃排空和胃肠激素释放的影响.方法 选取肥胖患者16例.第1天经胃镜放置胃黏膜电极,第2天进行液体餐负荷试验、标准固体餐胃排空试验,每次试验开始前30min及试验过程中给予RGES.标准固体餐胃排空试验前后检测血清瘦素、生长激素释放肽、抵抗素和肽YY.第3天给予假性刺激,通过自身对照比较急性RGES对相关指标的影响.结果 16例患者体重指数为(32.90±2.99)kg/m2.急性RGES明显减少患者达到饱感所进液体餐量[分别为(460±148)ml和(630±219)ml,t=-7.200,P＜0.01]和最大耐受程度进餐量[分别为(699±215)ml和(926±295)ml,t=-5.390,P＜0.01],对标准固体餐胃半排空时间、1h及2h标准固体餐存留率的影响分别为(109±26)min和(103±31)min,t=1.009,P=0.329;(63.37±9.75)%和(59.73±12.87)%,t=1.834,P=0.087;(42.22±13.97)%和(38.33±16.87)%,t=1.780,P=0.095.急性RGES后胃肠激素水平/刺激前水平和假性胃电刺激后水平/刺激前水平分别为瘦素(1.03±0.34和1.08±0.38,t=-0.386,P=0.705)、生长激素释放肽(0.99±0.11和0.98±0.12,t=0.413,P=0.685)、抵抗素(1.11±0.25和0.99±0.24,t=1.753,P=0.100)、肽YY(1.56±0.71和1.33±0.61,t=1.402,P=0.181).结论 急性RGES通过降低胃容受性显著减少肥胖患者的进食液体餐量,一定程度上减缓胃排空,但对相关胃肠激素释放无显著影响.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the effect of acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation (RGES) on gastric accommodation,emptying and gastrointestinal hormones releasing in obese patients. Methods Sixteen obese patients were examined. On the first day,a pair of mucosal gastric electrodes was placed under endoscope. The liquid meal load test and the standard solid meal gastric emptying test were carried out on the second day. RGES was performed starting at 30 minutes before each test and through the whole testing process. The serum leptin,ghrelin,resistin and peptide YY were examined before and after the standard solid meal gastric emptying test. On the third day,sham stimulation was given. The effect of acute RGES on related index was compared by self-control.Results BMI of the 16 patients was (32. 90±2. 99) kg/m2. Acute RGES significantly reduced the liquid meal volume of fullness [(460±148) ml and (630±219) ml,t=-7. 200,P＜0. 01] and the maximal tolerable meal volume [(699±215) ml and (926±295) ml,t=- 5. 390,P＜0. 01]. The effects of RGES and sham RGES on half-emptying time of standard solid meal was (109±26) min and (103±31) min (t=1. 009,P= 0. 329);on the retention rate of standard solid meal at one hour and two hour was (63. 37±9. 75)% and (59. 73±12.87)% (t=1. 834,P= 0. 087),(42.22±13.97)%and (38. 33±16. 87)% (t= 1.780,P= 0. 095),respectively. The ratio of gastrointestinal hormones after and before the stimulation also of the sham stimulation,leptin was 1. 03±0. 34 and 1. 08±0. 38(t=-0.386,P=0. 705),ghrelin was 0. 99±0. 11 and 0. 98±0. 12 (t= 0. 413,P=0.685),resistin was 1. 11±0. 25 and 0. 99±0. 24 (t= 1. 753,P= 0. 100),and peptide YY was 1. 56±0. 71 and 1. 33±0. 61 (t=1. 402,P= 0. 181). Conclusions In obese patients,acute RGES significantly reduce the liquid meal volume by lower gastric accommodation,to certain extent which will delay gastric emptying. There is no significant influence on gastrointestinal hormones releasing.     

Isotope gastric emptying tests in clinical practice: expectation, outcome, and utility.

Tests of gastric emptying with modern scintigraphic methods are recommended in the clinical management of gastric disorders. An audit of 472 gastric emptying tests carried out over a 10 year period was performed to discover the reasons for requests from consultant clinicians, their anticipation of the results of tests, and the influence of the results upon the subsequent management of their patients. Excluding control (n = 47) and research (n = 50) studies, there were 375 clinical referrals that could be grouped under the headings: non-ulcer dyspepsia (n = 72), suspected diabetic gastroparesis (n = 18), peptic ulcer (n = 15), suspected delayed gastric emptying after surgery (n = 154), dumping and diarrhoea (= 107), and other indications (n = 9). Although the results were abnormal for 55 (48%) of the 'medical' patients, they did not seem to influence clinical management. Delayed gastric emptying after surgery was confirmed in only 20% of patients referred with this clinical diagnosis. Conversely, most (79%) o the patients referred with dumping and diarrhoea exhibited abnormally rapid emptying. Isotope gastric emptying studies may be useful in clinical practice. The results are often at variance with the clinical diagnosis. Clinicians must take into account the nature of the test meal used when results are correlated with clinical features.     

Gastric emptying of liquids in rats with acute renal insufficiency.

The gastric emptying of watery meals was studied in 112 male Wistar rats. The meals utilized were saline and glucose-saline solutions whose emptying was assessed 10 and 30 minutes after administration. A liquid 5% glucose meal and a 0.25 M sodium bicarbonate meal were assessed after 30 minutes and a commercial meal was assessed after 60 minutes. For each study time eight control animals and eight animals bilaterally nephrectomized 48 hours before the gastric emptying tests were used. The meals were labeled with red phenol and the gastric residue was determined by standard methodology. A blood sample to determine serum creatine and blood gases analysis was obtained from 22 animals of the control group and the same number of nephrectomized animals. At the time of the gastric emptying tests, the nephrectomized animals had significantly higher levels of creatinine and moderate metabolic acidosis. Results for the saline meal showed that at 10 minutes there was a significant delay in emptying in animals with renal insufficiency. Results for the glucose-saline meal were similar to the saline alone group, except that they did not differ significantly between the control group and the nephrectomized groups. There was a significant delay in the emptying of all the other meals in the animals with renal insufficiency. These data suggest that uremia does not lead to serious disturbances in gastric motility, but that it does interfere with the mechanisms controlling gastric emptying.     

Induced-hyperglycemia attenuates erythromycin-induced acceleration of hypertonic liquid-phase gastric emptying in type-I diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Erythromycin has been found to be a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent of hypertonic liquids, while acute hyperglycemia has been associated with delayed gastric emptying in diabetic patients. AIM: To investigate whether hyperglycemia, per se, reduces gastric motility during erythromycin-induced acceleration on gastric emptying of hypertonic liquids in diabetic patients. METHODS: In 12 type-I diabetic patients following a hypertonic radiolabeled liquid meal, gastric emptying was measured scintigraphically during normoglycemia (5-8.9 mmol/l glucose) or hyperglycemia induced by intravenous (16-19 mmol/l) glucose infusion. The tests were performed on 4 separate days in random order after administering either placebo or 200 mg i.v. erythromycin. RESULTS: In the hyperglycemic state compared to normoglycemia, the gastric emptying of the hypertonic liquid was reduced after placebo or erythromycin administration. The lag-phase duration (17.8+/-5.5 and 7.8+/-4.5 vs. 10.8+/-3.4 and 3.7+/-2.5 min, respectively, p<0.001), the overall gastric emptying time of the half meal (52.8+/-13 and 24.9+/-5.5 vs. 42.5+/-10.5 min and 16.6+/-6 min, respectively, p<0.001) and the retained percentage of liquid meal in the stomach at 60 and 100 min postprandially (p<0.001) were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: The erythromycin-induced acceleration on gastric emptying of hypertonic liquids in diabetic patients is related to the plasma glucose level. The induced hyperglycemia reduces the erythromycin-induced acceleration of liquid-phase gastric emptying, decreasing the overall gastric emptying rate. In spite of the inhibitory effect of induced hyperglycemia on the gastric emptying of hypertonic liquids, erythromycin is still able to accelerate the emptying rate and could prove to be a useful prokinetic agent under hyperglycemic conditions.     

Rapid distal small bowel transit associated with sympathetic denervation in type I diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The pattern of progression of a meal from the stomach to the caecum in diabetes mellitus is controversial and the differential roles of transit through the jejunum and the ileum have not been investigated in diabetes. AIMS: To determine gastric emptying and transit rates through proximal and distal regions of the small bowel in type I diabetic patients. SUBJECTS: The study included six diabetic patients with evidence of autonomic neuropathy (DM-AN group), 11 diabetics without autonomic dysfunction (DM group), and 15 control volunteers. METHODS: Gastric emptying and small bowel transit of a liquid meal were evaluated scintigraphically in these subjects. Transit through regions of interest corresponding to the proximal and distal small intestine up to the caecum was determined and correlated with gastric emptying rates, cardiovascular measurements of autonomic function, and the occurrence of diarrhoea. RESULTS: Gastric emptying and transit through the proximal small bowel were similar in the three groups. The meal arrived to the caecum significantly earlier in DM-AN patients (median; range: 55 min; 22-->180 min) than in the DM group (100 min; 44-->180 min, p < 0.05) or in controls (120 min; 80-->180 min, p < 0.02). Accumulation of chyme in the distal small bowel was decreased in DM-AN patients, who showed values for peak activity (30%; 10-55%) significantly lower than in the DM group (49%; 25-77%, p = 0.02) and controls (50%; 30-81%, p = 0.02). In DM patients (n = 17), the time of meal arrival to the caecum was significantly correlated with both orthostatic hypotension (coefficient of contingency, C = 0.53, p < 0.01) and diarrhoea (C = 0.47, p < 0.05), but not with gastric emptying rates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type I diabetes mellitus and sympathetic denervation have abnormally rapid transit of a liquid meal through the distal small bowel, which may play a part in diarrhoea production.     

Abnormal Intragastric Distribution of a Liquid Nutrient Meal in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Disordered gastric motility and emptying arewell known complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), butthe pattern of intragastric distribution of food has notbeen extensively studied in diabetics. We examined the partition of a liquid nutrient meal betweenthe proximal and distal stomach and the relationshipsbetween intragastric distribution of food and gastricemptying (GE) and the symptoms in DM patients with and without autonomic neuropathy (AN).Fourteen healthy volunteers and 20 DM patients (13 withAN; 9 with dyspepsia symptoms) ingested a liquidnutrient meal (250 ml; 437 kcal) labeled with[^99mTc]phytate. Anterior and posterior serial images of thestomach were taken for 90 min with a gamma camera.Regions of interest for the proximal and the distalhalves of the stomach and for the total gastric areawere defined. Counts from each region along timeallowed estimation of GE and the proportion of activityretained in the proximal stomach after meal ingestion(initial) and throughout GE (mean). GE half-times in controls (median; range: 66 min; 29-90 min)were not significantly different from diabetics (76 min;5->150 min, P > 0.10), but abnormal GE was foundin 11 DM patients (seven delayed and four rapid). In DM patients, initial retention inthe proximal stomach (42%; 16-79% ) was significantlylower (P < 0.02) than in controls (55%; 44-71%). Meanretention in the proximal stomach throughout emptying also was significantly lower (P <0.05) in DM patients (43%; 18-58%) than in controls(51%; 32-69%). There were no differences betweensubgroups of patients with normal, delayed, or rapid gastric emptying regarding mean meal retentionin the proximal stomach. Patients with evidence of AN orwith dyspepsia symptoms had significantly decreasedretention of food in the proximal stomach throughout gastric emptying. We concluded that patientswith diabetes mellitus have abnormally decreasedretention of gastric contents in the proximal stomachafter a liquid meal, which seems to be related to the occurrence of autonomic neuropathy anddyspepsia symptoms, but not to disordered gastricemptying.     

Gastric emptying of liquids in rats submitted to acute myocardial infarction

Gastric Emptying (GE) is food transition from the stomach to the upper small intestine. Haemodynamics changes modify gastric emptying and the gastroduodenal motor activity. Myocardial Infarction is a pathological condition in which there are haemodynamics changes. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of acute myocardial infarction on rat gastric emptying of an isosmotic and inert liquid meal. We conducted a study involving male Wistar rats (varying in body weight from 220 g to 250 g), that were allowed to habituate in a laboratory environment and then divided into 3 groups: group INF, rats in which the myocardial infarction was produced by left anterior coronary artery ligation; group SH, rats in which the myocardial infarction was simulated without ligating the anterior coronary artery; and group NA, rats which were not given any anesthesia or surgical procedures. After group constitution, animals were fasted with access to water ad libitum. 24 hours later, the Gastric Retention (GR) of 1.5 ml/100 g animal weight of a test meal of 0.9% NaCl plus the marker phenol red was evaluated. GE was indirectly evaluated in conscious animals, through determining the percentage of gastric retention (% GR) of a test meal, measured 10 minutes after orogastric infusion. Results of the present study showed that animals from the INF group presented GR (median=48.0%), significantly higher than the NA group (30.6%) and SH group (36.6%). No statistical difference in GR was observed between the SH and NA groups. Infarcted area, expressed in percentages, in animals of the INF group was 51.3+/-4.7% (mean SEM, N=17) which not presented correlation with results of GR of the same group (r=-0.05). From a caloric viewpoint, the results suggested that acute myocardial infarct in rats induce delay of the gastric emptying of an isosmotic and inert liquid meal.     

Gastric emptying in children. VI. Evaluation of the cumulative effect of the water low temperature

A study was carried out on 12 male and female nursing infants suffering from different pathologies but showing no disorders of the gastrointestinal tract during the study. Each patient was submitted to three gastric emptying tests carried out at 24 hours intervals and denoted A, B and C. The test meal, administered through a nasogastric tube, consisted of distilled water containing phenolsulfonphthalein is label. In test A, the water was at room temperature (+/- 27 degrees C) both at the beginning of the test and 5 minutes later. In test B, the water was first at room temperature, and was followed 5 minutes later by cold water (+/- 4 degrees C). In test C, cold water was administered both at the beginning of the test and 5 minutes later. The results showed that cold water following a meal of water at room temperature (test B) caused a significant delay in gastric emptying. However, when administered after a previous meal of cold water (test C), cold water only caused a tendency towards inhibition of gastric emptying. The data permit us to conclude that administration of water at low temperature inhibits the process of gastric fluid emptying, but repeated administration of cold water does not cause a cumulative inhibitory effect, at least at the time interval studied here. We discuss the possible mechanisms involved in the effect of temperature on the gastric emptying process, as well as the implications of the results obtained.     

Gastric Emptying in Childhood Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Nutritional and Pathologic Correlates

To determine the incidence of gastric emptying abnormalities in children with inflammatory bowel disease, we performed dual liquid/solid-emptying studies on 25 children with ulcerative colitis (UC) and on 45 with Crohn's disease (CD) over a 6-yr period. Nutritional parameters were evaluated initially and at the time of repeat study in those with abnormal emptying after a period of nutritional rehabilitation. All UC patients and 30 of 45 with CD (67%) had normal emptying of both liquid and solid components of the meal. Fifteen children with CD had delayed emptying of the solid liquid. Fourteen of these had preceding weight loss and one had no weight gain for 3 months prior to the study. Twelve complained of upper gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, early satiety, postprandial epigastric pain, and anorexia), and five had evidence of growth retardation. The group averaged 4.8 abnormal nutritional parameters, compared with an average of 2.2 in those with CD and normal gastric emptying. Twelve of the 15 with abnormal emptying had abnormal gastric and/or duodenal biopsies: 10 were treated with sulfasalazine and prednisone, whereas five were taking only sulfasalazine. Studies repeated 6-15 months later after establishment of weight gain by caloric supplementation showed significant improvements in gastric emptying, nutritional status, and disease activity for the group, despite persistence of upper gastrointestinal disease documented in eight patients who underwent reexamination.     

Influence of erythromycin on gastric emptying and meal related symptoms in functional dyspepsia with delayed gastric emptying

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although delayed gastric emptying is considered a major pathophysiological mechanism in functional dyspepsia, the efficacy of prokinetic drugs has not been established. Recent studies using macrolide prokinetics were negative but receptor desensitisation may have played a role. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence on meal induced symptoms of acutely administered erythromycin in patients with gastroparesis. METHODS: In 20 patients with functional dyspepsia, gastric emptying was studied twice using the (14)C octanoic acid and (13)C glycin breath test to establish the reproducibility of the test. Breath samples were taken before the meal and at 15 minute intervals for a period of 240 minutes postprandially. At each breath sampling, the patient was asked to grade the intensity (0-3) of six dyspeptic symptoms. Twenty four patients (three men, mean age 43.5 (3) years) with dyspeptic symptoms and delayed gastric emptying were studied twice after pretreatment with saline or erythromycin intravenously. RESULTS: Meal related symptom severity scores were reproducible. Treatment with erythromycin significantly enhanced solid and liquid gastric emptying (t(1/2) 146 (27) v 72 (7) minutes, respectively (p<0.01), and 87 (6) v 63 (5) minutes (p<0.001)). Only the severity of bloating was significantly improved by erythromycin (23 (3.9) v 14.5 (2.7); p<0.01); all other symptoms and the cumulative meal related symptom score were not altered by erythromycin. CONCLUSIONS: In a setting where desensitisation played no role, erythromycin enhanced gastric emptying was not associated with a beneficial effect on meal related symptom severity.     

Cisapride in children with chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction. An acute, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial

To assess the effect of cisapride on gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying in children with chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction, 20 children (mean age, 4.9 years; 14 female and 6 male) who required special means of alimentation or who had severe symptoms confirmed by diary during 2 weeks before the study were studied. A motility catheter with recording sites in the antrum and duodenum was placed on the first day of the study and remained in place until the end of the 5-day study. Cisapride (0.3 mg/kg PO t.i.d.) or placebo was given in double-blind randomized crossover fashion, with a 2-day "washout" interval. Antroduodenal motility was recorded on days 2 and 5. Recording consisted of 4 hours of fasting and 2 hours after a complex liquid meal labeled with 99mTc. Gastric emptying was assessed for 1 hour after the meal. Based on manometry, 16 patients had neuropathic and 4 patients had myopathic disorders. Cisapride had no effect on the discrete, qualitative abnormalities found in individual records. Cisapride increased the postprandial duodenal motility index from 1180 +/- 256 mm Hg/30 min after placebo to 2385 +/- 430 mm Hg/30 min (P less than 0.05) but had no significant effect on the antral motility index. Cisapride did not alter the profound delay in gastric emptying; time to reach 50% of initial activity (T1/2) was 105 +/- 20 vs. 93 +/- 19 minutes and percentage of retention after 60 minutes (R60) 56% +/- 4% vs. 58% +/- 4% in control vs. cisapride, respectively. In summary, in children with chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction, cisapride increased postprandial duodenal motility but did not improve gastric emptying.     

Scintigraphic study of gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of a solid meal: gender differences

Gender-related differences in gastric emptying are still controversial. The aims of this study were: to confirm the sex-related difference in gastric emptying of a solid meal and to investigate its association with different patterns of meal distribution between the proximal and distal gastric compartments. Eighteen healthy volunteers (nine males, mean age 35 +/- 9 years; nine females, mean age: 41 +/- 11 years) were studied in the morning, after ingestion of the solid test-meal (an omelette labeled with 185MBq of 99mTc-sulfur colloid). Simultaneous anterior and posterior images of the stomach were acquired immediately after ingestion of the meal and every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Time versus activity curves were obtained for the whole, proximal and distal stomach. Gastric T1/2 was longer in women (96.1 +/- 17.2 min) than in men (79.9 +/- 17.8 min; P = 0.02). The analysis of the meal distribution inside the stomach showed no differences between males and females in proximal gastric emptying, but the meal retention in the distal compartment was significantly increased among women (P = 0.04). In conclusion, gastric emptying of a solid meal is slower in pre-menopausal women than in age-matched men, probably due to an increased retention of the meal in the distal compartment. This should be taken into consideration to avoid misleading diagnosis of gastroparesis for female patients.     

Delayed postprandial gastric emptying and impaired gallbladder contraction together with elevated cholecystokinin and peptide YY serum levels sustain satiety and inhibit hunger in healthy elderly persons

BACKGROUND: Altered gastric and cholecystic motility are risk factors for malnutrition in elderly persons, mainly through impaired satiety-appetite rhythm. Contrasting data have been published about this topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in healthy elderly participant, postprandial gastric and cholecystic emptying in relation to serum CCK (cholecystokinin) and PYY (peptide YY), as well as satiety and hunger sensations. METHODS: We studied 10 community-dwelling elderly persons, (77 +/- 3 years old) and 9 younger adult persons (32 +/- 8 years old). Using ultrasonography, we measured gastric antrum area and cholecystic volume in fasting condition and after an 800-kcal mixed meal. Time for gastric and cholecystic emptying, and percentage of cholecystic emptying were calculated. Satiety and hunger were evaluated every 30 minutes using visual analogue scales. CCK and PYY serum levels were assayed 30 minutes before and at times 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after the meal. RESULTS: Elderly participants showed a longer gastric emptying time compared to younger participants (448 +/- 104 vs 306 +/- 57 minutes, p <.002). Postprandial cholecystic emptying was significantly reduced in the older group (maximum contraction, 69% vs 84%; p <.05). After the meal, CCK and PYY levels showed higher, persistent elevation in elderly participants. In this group, postprandial satiety lasted significantly longer than in younger participants, and hunger was suppressed throughout the postprandial period. Antral area directly correlated with satiety and inversely with hunger. Gallbladder volume inversely correlated to satiety. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed, in a group of healthy elderly people, delayed gastric emptying associated to reduced cholecystic contractility together with higher CCK and PYY serum levels. These modifications facilitated long-lasting satiety and hunger suppression after a meal. This condition may lead to caloric restriction and finally to malnutrition at older ages.     

Gastric emptying in children. V. Effect of the replacement of glucose by sucrose in a solution for oral rehydration

A study was carried out on 18 children of both sexes aged 3 to 32 months (median 8 months) and weighing 3440 to 9520 grams (median 5120 grams). Each child was submitted to three consecutive gastric emptying tests at 24 hour intervals, using three solutions of different composition. The children were divided into two groups: Group I: twelve children submitted to the gastric emptying test 10 minutes after the administration of the test meal; Group II: six children submitted to the gastric emptying test 30 minutes after the administration of the test meal. The hydrating solutions used in the study consisted of the basic electrolyte composition recommended by the World Health Organization, and only differed in terms of the amount of sugar added. Solution A contained 20 grams of glucose per liter, solution B, 20 grams of sucrose per liter, and solution C, 40 grams of sucrose per liter. Gastric retention, expressed as a percentage of the volume of the test meal, was similar for solutions A and C and significantly higher than for solution B in Group I. In Group II, gastric retention of solution B also tended to be lower than for solutions A and C, although no statistically significant differences were observed between the three solutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of cisapride on gastric emptying of oil and aqueous meal components, hunger, and fullness.

To evaluate the effects of cisapride on gastric emptying of extracellular fat and hunger and fullness 10 volunteers consumed a meal consisting of 60 ml technectium-99m (99mTc)-V-thiocyanate labelled olive oil and 290 ml indium-113m (113mIn) labelled soup after taking cisapride (10 mg four times daily orally) and placebo, each for four days, in randomised, double blind fashion. Gastric emptying was quantified scintigraphically. Hunger and fullness before and after the meal were evaluated using visual analogue scales. Cisapride accelerated gastric emptying of oil and aqueous components by reducing the lag phase mean (SEM) (20.3 (7.0) min v 40.7 (4.1) min (p < 0.05) for oil and 4.1 (2.5) min v 10.0 (3.1) min (p < 0.05) for aqueous). Cisapride had no effect on the post-lag emptying rate of oil. Treatment with cisapride was associated with reduced retention of oil in the proximal stomach (p < 0.05). Subjects were more hungry before ingestion of the meal while receiving cisapride (6.7 (0.9) v 3.9 (0.7), p < 0.001). The scores for hunger at 120 and 180 minutes were inversely related to gastric emptying of oil on both cisapride (r > -0.62, p < 0.05) and placebo (r > -0.86, p < 0.001). Fullness increased after the meal while receiving placebo (p < 0.01), but not cisapride and postprandial fullness was less with cisapride at (30 min; 0.4 (0.3) v 3.3 (1.0), p < 0.05). With placebo, but not cisapride, the score for fullness at 15 minutes was inversely related to emptying of the aqueous phase (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). These results show that in normal volunteers after ingestion of an oil/aqueous meal: (a) postprandial hunger is inversely related to gastric emptying of oil, while fullness is inversely related to gastric emptying of the aqueous phase, (b) cisapride affects the intragastric distribution and accelerates gastric emptying of both oil and aqueous meal components, and (c) cisapride increases preprandial hunger and reduces postprandial fullness.     

Stress-induced changes in gastric emptying, postprandial motility, and plasma gut hormone levels in dogs

The influence of acoustic stress on postprandial gastrointestinal motility, gastric emptying, and plasma gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, motilin, and somatostatin was evaluated in conscious dogs. Six dogs were equipped with strain-gauge transducers and were exposed from 1-3 h after the meal to prerecorded music (80-90 dB broad frequency noise), which produced a significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) lengthening of the gastric (31.2%) and jejunal (37.0%) postprandial pattern. In 4 other dogs with gastric cannula, a 2-h session of acoustic stress beginning just after eating a radiolabeled standard meal induced a slowing of gastric emptying of both liquid (45.7%) and solid (47.1%) phases of the test meal when measured 0.5 h after feeding. In contrast, when measured 2 h after feeding, similar values of gastric emptying of liquids and solids were observed in stressed and control animals. Compared with controls, the postprandial increases of plasma gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide levels were significantly enhanced in stressed animals and occurred early (15 min after the meal). Although postprandial decrease in plasma motilin was unchanged by acoustic stress, the rise in plasma somatostatin level was significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) prolonged in stressed dogs. These results indicate that acoustic stress affects gastric and intestinal postprandial motility in dogs, delaying the recovery of the migrating motor complex pattern, inducing a transient slowing of gastric emptying, and enhancing the feeding-induced release of gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin. Such hormonal changes might be due to a direct effect of stress rather than being the consequence of acoustic stress-induced slowing of gastric emptying.