Use of peripheral electrography to evaluate synchronism of electrical activity in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract

Use of the technique of peripheral electrography to study electrical activity in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract in dogs after fasting and during digestion is described, and it is shown that a computerized spectral analysis of peripheral electrograms makes it possible to monitor the cycle of fasting periodic gastrointestinal activity. In the process of digestion, the cycle of fasting periodic activity is disrupted and nonadjacent areas of the gastrointestinal tract exhibit synchronous electrical activity. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 1, pp. 9–12, January, 1995 Presented by V. D. Fedorov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of stimulation of cholinergic muscarinic receptors on norepinephrine accumulation in esophageal and gastric mucosa in rats

An hour and half after injection of norepinephrine its concentration in the mucosa of the lesser curvature of the stomach increases and in the greater curvature decreases. Stimulation of muscarinic receptors with pilocarpine leads to a marked rise of norepinephrine concentration in the esophageal mucosa and in the mucosa of the lesser curvature. It is supposed that stimulation of muscarinic receptors of the gastrointestinal tract after injection of exogenous norepinephrine induces accumulation of this transmitter in structures with abundant cholinergic innervation. Selective norepinephrine accumulation in the mucosa of the esophagus and lesser gastric curvature is apparently due to its high permeability for norepinephrine contained in saliva. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 4, pp. 378–379, April, 1998     

Pathogenesis and morphogenesis of alcoholic disease

Experimental, autopsy, and clinical findings call for a new clinical entity, namely, alcoholic disease. The disease has three stages: I) repetitive acute alcohol intoxications; II) drunkenness; and III) alcoholism and alcoholism-Related complications. The organs determining the pathogenesis and outcome of alcoholic disease are the liver, heart, lungs, and brain. In chronic alcohol intoxication, lesions in these organs develop in a cascade manner according to the principle of a vicious circle. Pathological changes in the internal organs arise against the background of progressive microangiopathy that by itself is an imoportant pathogenic component of the disease. The results obtained show that changes developing in the internal organs during the second stage are reversible or well compensated, whereas those occurring at the third stage are irreversible in a vast majority of cases and often fatal. There are reasons to consider the problem out of the context of the fight against alcoholism, which, in principle, is an irreversible pathological condition, but from the viewpoint of the proposed concept of alcoholic disease. Trnaslated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 604–610, December, 1996     

A comparative study of two models of hemosiderosis used for the investigation of iron chelators

Two mouse models of hemosiderosis are compared. Increased deposition of iron in internal organs is confirmed histochemically. The effectiveness of desferal therapy is evaluated by urinary excretion of iron. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 9, pp. 359–360, September, 1996     

Is “primary” subphrenic abscess caused by streptococcus milleri a result of unrecognized gastrointestinal perforation?

Summary An unusual case of subphrenic abscess presenting as empyema of the pleural cavity is described. The abscess developed secondarily to an occult perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, which was, diagnosed indirectly by the discovery of a fishbone within the abscess. Isolation ofStreptococcus milleri from the pus was an important clue for the existence of an underlying gastrointestinal pathology.Abbreviations DM Diabetes mellitus - GIT Gastrointestinal tract - SPA Subphrenic abscess     

Immunomorphology and immunocorrection in calves with experimental enterobacteriosis

Acute dystrophic and inflammatory changes in the gastrointestinal and immune organs and immunodeficiency were detected in calves infected with an association ofEnterobacteriaceae. Correction with immunomodulators (T- and B-activins) and lactobacterin was effective. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 321–323, March, 1999     

A P60 mutant of Listeria monocytogenes is impaired in its ability to cause infection in intragastrically inoculated mice

A spontaneous P60 mutant of Listeria monocytogenes was less able to cause systemic infection in A/J mice, following intragastric inoculation, than the parental wild type strain (SLCC 5764, serotype 1/2a). Significantly fewer CFU were recovered from internal organs (spleen, liver, gall bladder) and from the cecum of mice inoculated intragastrically with the P60 mutant than mice inoculated with wild type L. monocytogenes. The P60 mutant also exhibited a diminished ability to invade and multiply within Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. These findings indicate that P60 is required for maximal virulence of L. monocytogenes in the gastrointestinal tract of mice.     

Histochemical characteristics of the structures of rat lymphoid organs in stress

Luminescence analysis and histochemical methods have shown that stress affects various structures of rat immunocompetent organs and decreases the contents of catecholamines, serotonin and histamine in central and peripheral immune organs. The content of biogenic amines in thymic structures increased 10, 20, and 30 days after the administration of the immunostimulator polystim against the background of stress. The results obtained indicate that polystim displays stress-protective activity and can be used in clinical practice. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 2, pp 171–173, February, 1999     

Effect of platinum-containing cytostatics on rat progeny

Pathological changes in internal organs are seen in some offspring of intact females and males treated with platidiam 1 month before mating. One case of malformation was found in the progeny of cytostatic-treated females. High embryonal mortality is noted in animals treated with cytostatics 3 and 6 months before mating. Delayed ossification is observed in some animals of almost all experiments groups. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 11, pp. 516–519, November, 1997     

Differential findings in post-factum dissections of medieval Korean mummies exhibiting similar preservation patterns on computerized tomography images

In our previous CT and post-factum dissection studies on medieval Korean mummies, well preserved internal organs generally were found to have been displaced to the dorsal side of the body cavity. This movement seems to have been caused by the effect of gravitational force exerted over long burial durations. However, when we recently examined a newly discovered medieval Korean mummy (SN1-2) by CT, most of the mummified organs were found to have remained in their natural positions. Our post-factum dissection of SN1-2 showed that the organs might have undergone expansion by posthumous gas formation, after which they hardened into a stone-like state, which mitigated against their displacement.Similar CT findings were made in the case of a second Korean mummy (KU-1). Since the internal organs within the thoracic cavity were discovered to be in their natural positions, we suspected that they, like those in the case of SN1-2, had also been changed into stony structures. However, the post-factum dissection showed that the internal organs of KU-1 had neither hardened nor been displaced to the back wall of the thoracic cavity, owing possibly to the presence of a pleural adhesion. Overall, our results indicated that CT alone might be inadequate for correct estimation of the preservation status of internal organs in Korean mummies. This calls for further accumulation of dissection data, against which CT diagnoses can be compared and by which they can be improved.     

Pharmacokinetics of new nootropic acylprolyldipeptide and its penetration across the blood-brain barrier after oral administration

Pharmacokinetics of GVS-111, a new acylprolyldipeptide with nootropic properties and its penetration across the blood-brain barrier were studied in rats using HPLC. It was found that the dipeptide is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, enters the circulation, and penetrates through the blood-brain barrier in an umodified state. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 4, pp. 426–429, April, 2000     

Possibility of pharmacological regulation of gastrointestinal motor activity

The results of a pharmacological study of the effect of the gallate of the alkaloid cynoglossophine-heliosupine (cyngal), isolated fromCynoglossum officinale, on motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract are described. The substance was found to have high stimulating activity in both acute and chronic experiments on dogs, using balloon and electrographic recording methods. The stimulating action of cyngal on gastrointestinal motor activity can evidently be explained by the ability of the preparation to liberate serotonin from the bound state.Laboratory of Physiology of Digestion, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Department of Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemical Institute, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 313–316, September, 1977.     

Localization of thein vivoexpression of P and F1 fimbriae in chickens experimentally inoculated with pathogenicEscherichia coli

Escherichia colicausing septicemia in poultry often possess F1 (type 1) and/or P fimbriae which may be involved in bacterial colonization and infection. To investigate the expression of these fimbriaein vivo, two pathogenicE. colistrains with different fimbrial profiles, TK3 (fim⁺/pap⁺) and MT78 (fim⁺/pap⁻), were administered to 2-week-old chickens by either the intratracheal or caudal thoracic air sac inoculation route. Antibodies specific for native F1 fimbriae were detected by ELISA and immunodot in the serum of chickens inoculated with either strain MT78 or strain TK3, irrespective of the route of inoculation. Antibodies specific for P fimbriae of serotype F11 were detected by ELISA and immunoblotting in the serum of chickens inoculated by either route with strain TK3. F1, but not P fimbriae, were expressed by bacteria colonizing the trachea of chickens inoculated by the air sac route with strain MT78 or TK3, as demonstrated by examination of frozen tissue sections using immunofluorescence. F1 fimbriae were also expressed by bacteria colonizing the air sacs and lungs, but not by bacteria in the blood or other internal organs, of chickens inoculated with either strain. P fimbriae were expressed by bacteria colonizing the air sacs, lungs, kidney, blood, and pericardial fluid, but not by bacteria colonizing the trachea, of chickens inoculated with strain TK3. Fimbriae-like structures were observed by electron microscopy on bacteria adhering to the epithelial cells of the air sacs of chickens inoculated with strain TK3. These results demonstrate that both strains MT78 and TK3 undergoin vivophase variation with respect to their fimbrial profiles and site of bacterial colonization in different organs of infected chickens and suggest that F1 fimbriae are important for initial bacterial colonization of the upper respiratory tract whereas P fimbriae are important for later stages of the infection.     

Food allergy. Part 2: Diagnosis and management

Patients with food-induced allergic disorders may be first seen with a variety of symptoms affecting the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and/or cardiovascular system. The skin and respiratory tract are most often affected by IgE-mediated food-induced allergic reactions, whereas isolated gastrointestinal disorders are most often caused by non-IgE-mediated reactions. When evaluating possible food-induced allergic disorders, it is often useful to categorize disorders into IgE- and non-IgE-mediated syndromes. The initial history and physical examination are essentially identical for IgE- and non-IgE-mediated disorders, but the subsequent evaluation differs substantially. Proper diagnoses often require screening tests for evidence of food-specific IgE and proof of reactivity through elimination diets and oral food challenges. Once properly diagnosed, strict avoidance of the implicated food or foods is the only proven form of treatment. Clinical tolerance to food allergens will develop in many patients over time, and therefore follow-up food challenges are often indicated. However, a number of novel immunomodulatory strategies are in the developmental stage and should provide more definitive treatment for some of these food-induced allergic disorders in the next several years.     

Assessment of the gastrointestinal status by cutaneous electrogastrography

The processing of cutaneous electrogastrogram data by spectral analysis showed high-amplitude spectral activity in normal controls and a shorter high-amplitude period in patients with gastroduodenal ulcers and rectal cancer. In normal subjects and patients, the frequency and time analysis showed differences in the electrical reaction of the gastrointestinal tract after meals. These differences may be useful for noninvasive diagnosis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 597–600, November, 1998     

Effects of antitumor drugs on offspring

The offspring of Wistar rats obtained from parents, one of which received platinum-containing drug Platidiam (cisplatin) or anthracycline antibiotics Doxorubicin and Farmorubicin was characterized by low viability (embryonic death increased 4–30-fold compared to control) and congenital malformations. The fetuses displayed pathology in internal organs and low ossification rates. Newborn rats are characterized by low survival rate and retarded physical development. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 4, pp. 437–439, April, 2000     

Adaptive structures of arterial bed in norm and in modeled congenital heart failure

Material from 85 dogs with modeled congenital heart failure and from 20 control dogs was studied. Adaptive structures were revealed in the pulmonary and systemic circulation. These structures are formed by smooth muscle cells, are located at arterial bifurcations, compensate for increased hemodynamic load, and regulate blood flow in the vascular bed of a given internal organ. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 6, pp. 713–716, June, 1998     

Neurotransmitter bioamine supply of thymic and lymph node structures during treatment with somatotropic hormone

The effects of somatotropic hormone on bioamine-containing structures of immunocompetent organs in rats were studied after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days of treatment by fluorescent histochemical methods and microspectrofluorometry. The effect of somatotropic hormone on immune processes can be mediated by changes in the neurotransmitter content in the thymus and lymph nodes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 5, pp. 591–593, May, 2000     

Patterns of tissue transformation after transplantation

Transplantation of fetal tissue in clinical practice in Russia has a solid experimental basis. “Tissue-tissue” relationships that are phylo- and ontogenetically fixed as characteristic of all systems of organs have been described in studies of Zavarzinet al. The method of tissue culture in the organism that was developed by Lazarenko in 1934 makes it possible to study the patterns of growth and transformation of tissues and organs in the living organism. This method has been used in studies of epithelial tissues of ecto-, endo-, and mesodermal origin. Five stages of the transplantation process have been identified: tissue depression, activation, tissue growth and differentiation, the period of functional activity, and atrophy. All tissues, except for endocrine tissue, which can live for a long time without atrophy, go through these stages, but in each tissue this process is genetically determined. This paper is focused on the close “tissue-tissue” relationships and presents characteristics of all epithelial tissues. Special attention is paid to the anterior portion of the gastrointestinal system and to the endocrine glands originating from it: adenohypophysis, thyroid gland, and thymus. The contribution of a normally functioning endocrine system to the successful transplantation of ovarian and mammary tissue is also discussed. After transplantation, epithelial tissues are transformed and assimilated in the recipient's organism. This may provide a basis for a novel approach to the problem of the immunological responsiveness of the organism. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 4, pp. 341–349, April, 1994     

Extrapineal melatonin and its role in the neuroendocrine regulation of homeostasis

The hormone of melatonin is the main regulator of biological rhythms. It was first found in the pineal gland in 1958. Melatonin is involved in the regulation of many vital physiological processes: maturation and development of genitalias, metabolism of pigments and free radicals, immune response, mood and sleep, and cell proliferation and differentiation. The pineal gland is not the only organ synthesizing melatonin. Extrapineal melatonin is widely dis-tributed in humans and animals. Melatonin-producing cells are found in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, pancreas, adrenal and thyroid glands, thymus, cerebellum, urogenital system, placenta, and other organs. Melatonin is intensely synthesized in non-endocrine cells: mast cells, natural killers, eosinophilic leukocytes, platelets, and endotheliocytes. Such a wide distribution of melatonin reflects its key role as an intercellular neuroendocrine regulator and coordinator of many complex and interrelated biological processes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 4, pp. 364–730, April, 1999