胃癌患者血清透明质酸的变化

目的：研究胃癌患者血清透明质酸的变化。方法：采用ＲＩＡ法测定胃癌患者４８例，胃良性病变患者４０例和健康人４０例，血清透明质酸水平。结果：胃癌患者血清ＨＡ水平（１３５．４±９２．６μｇ／Ｌ）明显高于胃良性病变患者和健康人（８０．７±２８．４，μｇ／Ｌ，７９．６±２１．３μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论：透明质酸可反应胃癌的生物学特征，并用于胃癌的诊断     

内皮素与一氧化氮在肝硬变血流动力学紊乱中的作用

目的研究内皮素、一氧化氮在肝硬变血流动力学紊乱中的作用及关系．方法应用放免法和高效液相色谱法分别检测肝硬变患者４４例，（男３２例，女１２例；年龄５０４岁±１１０岁），其中腹水患者２７例及健康对照２５例（男１８例，女７例；年龄４６８岁±１２４岁）血浆内皮素（ＥＴ）、一氧化氮（ＮＯ）及部分血管活性物质水平．结果肝硬变组血浆ＥＴ及ＮＯ水平（５７０ｎｇ／Ｌ±２５４ｎｇ／Ｌ，３８７２μｇ／Ｌ±１０６４μｇ／Ｌ）明显高于对照组（３３０ｎｇ／Ｌ±１０９ｎｇ／Ｌ，２９２３μｇ／Ｌ±５４５μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）．腹水患者血浆ＥＴ及ＮＯ水平（６７５ｎｇ／Ｌ±２４７ｎｇ／Ｌ，４１４７μｇ／Ｌ±１０７１μｇ／Ｌ），显著高于无腹水患者（４５９ｎｇ／Ｌ±１８３ｎｇ／Ｌ，３２７２μｇ／Ｌ±７０２μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）．ＮＯ与ＥＴ呈直线正相关（ｒ＝０７７２，Ｐ＜００１）．结论肝硬变患者ＥＴ与ＮＯ水平升高，且腹水患者较无腹水者更升高；两者呈直线正相关     

血清层粘蛋白和Ⅳ型胶原鉴别良恶性肝肿瘤的价值

目的研究血清层粘蛋白（ＬＮ）和Ⅳ型胶原（ＣⅣ）在良恶性肝肿瘤鉴别中的价值．方法肝恶性肿瘤患者４６例，良性肝占位患者３１例，其他恶性肿瘤患者３８例和健康献血员４０例．采用放射免疫法分别测定空腹血清ＬＮ和ＣⅣ．用ＳＮ６９５型智能放射测量仪进行测量．结果肝恶性肿瘤组血清ＬＮ水平（２４７μｇ／Ｌ±９２μｇ／Ｌ）显著高于正常对照组（９５μｇ／Ｌ±２１μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）与良性肝肿瘤组（１０６μｇ／Ｌ±５１μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）；肝恶性肿瘤组血清ＣⅣ水平（４１２μｇ／Ｌ±６４μｇ／Ｌ）显著高于良性肝占位组（９０μｇ／Ｌ±２０μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）、其他恶性肿瘤组（９９μｇ／Ｌ±３７μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）和正常对照组（８４μｇ／Ｌ±１７μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）．血清ＬＮ和ＣⅣ对良恶性肝肿瘤鉴别诊断的准确率分别为８１８％和８９６％．对肝癌的敏感性分别为８６９％和９１３％．结论血清ＬＮ和ＣⅣ对良恶性肝肿瘤的鉴别诊断具有一定价值     

肝癌患者血清sTNFRⅠ的生物学意义

目的为评估可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体（ｓＴＮＦＲ）在肝癌中的生物学意义，我们观察了８３例肝癌患者和６１例健康人的血清ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ水平变化。方法ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ血清水平测定采用夹心免疫酶联反应法。结果肝癌患者的血清ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ的平均水平明显高于健康对照组（２６９±０７９μｇ／Ｌ对０７９±０４３μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ值＜００１）。升高值与疾病分期明显相关，即Ⅲ—Ⅳ期患者的水平＞Ⅰ—Ⅱ期患者（２７９±０４３μｇ／Ｌ对１７４±０４１μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１）。同时我们发现，ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ升高值与血清碱性磷酸酶（ｒ＝０５９）、白细胞计数（ｒ＝０４３）、血清球蛋白（ｒ＝０３２）成正相关而与血清白蛋白（ｒ＝０７１）成负相关。在肝癌患者中，血清ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ升高率（８９１６％）大大超过血清ＡＦＰ（５４２２％）。而在２５例化疗患者治疗前后中，ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ升高者显示缺乏临床效应（３３９±０４３μｇ／Ｌ对２６７±０３４μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ值＜００１）。结论这些结果显示肿瘤患者血清ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ水平与疾病的分期和对化疗的反应有关，它的测定对肿瘤的检测、随访和预后的评估有诊断帮助。结果表明，ｓＴＮＦＲⅠ可作为宿主对肿瘤的生物     

褐藻胶对大鼠实验性肝纤维化的防治作用

目的研究褐藻胶对大鼠实验性肝纤维化的防治作用．方法用４０％四氯化碳（ＣＣｌ４）制备大鼠肝纤维化模型，实验分组为正常对照组（ｎ＝８），ＣＣｌ４组（ｎ＝８），秋水仙硷（ＣＯＬ）组（ｎ＝６）和褐藻胶组（ｎ＝６）（２００ｍｇ／ｋｇ，ｉｇ，３次／周×４）．观察肝脏组织学和血清Ⅲ型前胶原（ＰＣⅢ）及透明质酸（ＨＡ）水平的变化．结果褐藻胶组ＰＣⅢ（１４２８μｇ／Ｌ±７６１μｇ／Ｌ）和ＨＡ水平（２６５５μｇ／Ｌ±９３１μｇ／Ｌ）显著低于ＣＣｌ４组（２９３５μｇ／Ｌ±７８３μｇ／Ｌ，５１９８μｇ／Ｌ±１１８３μｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１），而褐藻胶组与ＣＯＬ组间无显著差异．病理学观察显示，ＣＣｌ４组肝纤维化程度重于褐藻胶组和ＣＯＬ组．结论褐藻胶对实验性肝纤维化有防治作用．     

胃癌患者血清表皮生长因子的变化

目的探讨人血清表皮生长因子（ｈＥＧＦ）水平与胃癌的关系．方法胃癌患者３３例，男３０例，女３例，年龄３５岁～８１岁，平均６４９岁；慢性胃炎患者３８例，男２５例，女１３例，年龄１８岁～７５岁，平均４３２岁；正常人２０例，男１０例，女１０例．应用ＲＩＡ法检测血清中的ｈＥＧＦ．结果胃癌组血清ｈＥＧＦ（μｇ／Ｌ）为１３５±０６７，正常对照组为０９０±０３３，统计学差异非常显著（ｔ＝２８２５，Ｐ＜００１），慢性胃炎组血清ｈＥＧＦ为０８６±０３３，与正常对照组比较差异无显著性（ｔ＝０４１，Ｐ＞００５）．结论胃癌患者血清ｈＥＧＦ水平升高可能与胃癌发生密切相关．     

大肠癌患者促胃液素检测的临床意义

目的研究大肠癌患者血清及癌细胞内促胃液素（Ｇａｓ）水平及临床意义．方法采用ＲＩＡ法检测３５例大肠癌患者血清和癌细胞及癌旁粘膜细胞内Ｇａｓ水平．结果大肠癌患者术前、术后血清Ｇａｓ水平与对照组无显著差异（Ｐ＞００５），根治术后明显低于术前（２９ｎｇ／Ｌ±５ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ３５ｎｇ／Ｌ±１２ｎｇ／Ｌ，ｔ＝２７７２，Ｐ＜００１），在高分化（３６ｎｇ／Ｌ±１６ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ２８ｎｇ／Ｌ±５ｎｇ／Ｌ）和中分化腺癌组中（３８ｎｇ／Ｌ±７ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ２７ｎｇ／Ｌ±３ｎｇ／Ｌ）差异显著（ｔ＝２１５２和２３５６，Ｐ＜００５）．大肠癌细胞内Ｇａｓ水平明显高于癌旁３ｃｍ和６ｃｍ粘膜（２１３ａｇ／细胞±７２ａｇ／细胞ｖｓ１４７ａｇ／细胞±３６ａｇ／细胞，１３９ａｇ／细胞±３２ａｇ／细胞；ｔ＝４８９１和５６１３，Ｐ＜００１）和正常粘膜（１３６ａｇ／细胞±４６ａｇ／细胞；ｔ＝２５３４，Ｐ＜００５），高分化腺癌明显高于低分化和粘液腺癌（２４１ａｇ／细胞±７８ａｇ／细胞ｖｓ１６１ａｇ／细胞±４６ａｇ／细胞，ｔ＝２５０５，Ｐ＜００５）．结论大肠癌细胞可通过自分泌方式分泌Ｇａｓ，Ｇａｓ升高是大肠癌分化良好的标志     

肝硬变血浆内毒素与一氧化氮水平的改变及关系的研究

目的研究肝硬变患者血浆内毒素与一氧化氮水平改变及关系．方法应用鲎试剂定量法和高效液相色谱分析法分别检测肝硬变患者４４例（男３２例，女１２例；年龄２５岁～７３岁，平均５０４岁±１１０岁）；ＣｈｉｌｄＰｕｇｈＡ级９例，Ｂ级２０例，Ｃ级１５例；其中有腹水者２７例及健康对照２５例（男１８例，女７例，年龄２４岁～６３岁，平均４６８岁±１２４岁）血浆内毒素和一氧化氮水平．结果肝硬变血浆内毒素及一氧化氮水平（２３７１ＥＵ／Ｌ±８２３ＥＵ／Ｌ，３８７１７ｎｇ／ｍｌ±１０６４１ｎｇ／ｍｌ）明显高于对照组（１５６７ＥＵ／Ｌ±２４６ＥＵ／Ｌ，２９２３０ｎｇ／ｍｌ±５４４９ｎｇ／ｍｌ，Ｐ＜００１）．腹水患者内毒素与一氧化氮水平（２３６９ＥＵ／Ｌ±５３６ＥＵ／Ｌ，４１４６７ｎｇ／ｍｌ±１０７０５ｎｇ／ｍｌ）明显高于无腹水者（１９６９ＥＵ／Ｌ±４５２ＥＵ／Ｌ，３２７１７ｎｇ／ｍｌ±７０２０ｎｇ／ｍｌ，Ｐ＜００５，Ｐ＜００１）．一氧化氮与内毒素呈直线正相关（Ｐ＜００１，ｒ＝０７８２）．结论肝硬变患者血浆内毒素及一氧化氮水平皆升高，且两者呈直线正相关．     

胆汁刀豆球蛋白A（ConA）结合蛋白在胆固醇性结石早期形成阶段的作用：胆汁ConA结合蛋白量与质分析

为了解胆固醇结石患者胆汁ＣｏｎＡ结合蛋白（ＣＰｓ）量与质的异常，应用亲和层析等方法对胆固醇结石、色素性结石及胆囊胆固醇息肉等患者的胆汁Ｃｐｓ进行了定量，并对不同个体的Ｃｐｓ与模拟胆汁泡相结合量及成核影响进行了比较。结果：色素结石（ｎ＝７）及非胆石患者（ｎ＝１０）胆汁ＣＰｓ浓度分别为０．２６±０．１２ｇ／Ｌ和０．２７±０．０９ｇ／Ｌ明显低于胆固醇结石患者（ｎ＝３６）的０．３９±０．１１ｇ／Ｌ（Ｐ＜０．０１）和胆固醇息肉患者（ｎ＝９）的０．４０±０．０９ｇ／Ｌ（Ｐ＜０．０１）；色素结石（ｎ＝５）及非胆石患者（ｎ＝２５）的成核活性（成核时间比）分别为０．７１±０．１９和０．７３±０．１１，也明显弱于胆固醇结石患者（ｎ＝２５）的０．５７±０．２１（Ｐ＜０．０１）和胆囊胆固醇息肉患者（ｎ＝５）的０．４４±０．２３（Ｐ＜０．０１）；胆固醇结石患者（ｎ＝２６）的ＣＰｓ与泡相结合量显著高于色素性结石患者（ｎ＝６）（２．４±０．９％比０．９±０．５％，Ｐ＜０．０１）。总结认为：胆汁ＣＰｓ量的升高及促成核活性增强，尤其是亲泡相ＣＰｓ的增加是胆固醇结石形成的重要原因。     

门脉高压大鼠门静脉及周围血NO水平观察

目的了解门脉高压鼠血清一氧化氮（ＮＯ）含量变化及意义．方法以部分门静脉结扎大鼠为模型（ｎ＝１２），在部分门静脉结扎及假手术组大鼠（ｎ＝８）术后２周取门静脉血和周围静脉血，采用荧光分析法测量ＮＯ－２含量反应ＮＯ水平．结果门脉高压组门静脉血ＮＯ－２为０７６６μｍｏｌ／Ｌ±００９７μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，周围静脉血为０６８７μｍｏｌ／Ｌ±００９２μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，两者比较相差显著（Ｐ＜００１）；对照组门脉血ＮＯ－２为０６１３μｍｏｌ／Ｌ±００８４μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，周围血为０５９１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ±００４５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，二者无明显区别（Ｐ＞００５）．门脉高压组与对照组比较，门脉血和外周血中ＮＯ－２含量均显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜００１）．结论门脉高压大鼠血清ＮＯ－２浓度升高，尤以门静脉血含量升高显著，表明门脉高压大鼠血中ＮＯ生成增多，可能在门脉高压症发病中具有一定作用．     

Serum hyaluronic acid and laminin as potential tumor markers for upper gastrointestinal cancers

Background

Early diagnosis of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer is important because many cases are diagnosed in advanced stages and have poor prognosis. Several studies have reported increased serum levels of hyaluronic acid and laminin in various cancers and the correlation of the levels with poor prognosis. However, little data on the use of serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels for early detection of esophageal and gastric cancers are available.

Methods

We assessed serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 gastric cardia cancer, 23 gastric noncardia cancer and 20 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma incident cases and 25 controls in the Golestan Province, northern Iran, a high risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers.

Results

Mean serum hyaluronic acid and laminin concentrations in cancer cases were higher than in controls in crude analyses. Significant correlations were observed between hyaluronic acid levels and gastric noncardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.390; P = 0.01) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Beta-coefficient = 0.332; P = 0.05) and between laminin levels and gastric cardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.454; P = 0.003) in multivariate models. For esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cardia cancer, and gastric noncardia cancer, area under ROC curve (AUC) of hyaluronic acid was 0.708, 0.694, and 0.770, and of laminin was 0.706, 0.828, and 0.671.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that hyaluronic acid and laminin may be used to identify potentially high-risk groups of upper gastrointestinal cancers for further diagnostic work-ups, particularly in high incidence areas. Nevertheless, further studies with larger sample size and tumor staging information are warranted to clarify the clinical significance of hyaluronic acid and laminin in those cancers.     

The gastric secretion and serum gastrin level in chicken

AIM To report a new method designed to collect gastric juice from chicken, and determine the basal levelof gastric acid and serum gastrin, and the effect of pentagastrin on gastric acid output.METHODS White Leghorn chickens, weighing 1.3 kg- 1.7 kg, deprived of food 24 h prior to experiment,were anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (60μg/kg, im). A reverse double lumen perfusion cannulawas introduced into the distal portion of the proventriculus through the crop incision. The perfusate drainedout from the cannular outlet was collected to determine the gastric acid. Gastric acid volume was determinedby titration with 0.01N NaOH. Serum gastrin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay using gastrin assaykit.RESULTS Acid output in the basal state was 0.041±0.006 mmol/L/10min, or 0.246±0.031mmol/L/h. The serum gastrin concentration was 78.27±19.19 pg/mL (n = 22). Three groups wereinjected pentagastrin at three dose level, 20μg/kg, 60μg/kg, 120μg/kg, respectively. The maximumoutput in three groups was 275%, 181% and 167% of their control acid output. Isoproterenol at a dose of0.3 mg/kg produced obvious inhibition of pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion. The effect ofisoproterenol on gastric secretion was completely abolished by propranolol, a β-receptor antagonist, but wasnot done by practolol, another 31-receptor antagonist.CONCLUSION The basal gastric acid output of chicken was high. Pentagastrin remarkably stimulatedgastric acid secretion, which could be inhibited by isoproterenol.     

A clinical evaluation of serum concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with gastric cancer

Ａｃｌｉｎｉｃａｌｅｖａｌｕａｔｉｏｎｏｆｓｅｒｕｍｃｏｎｃｅｎｔｒａｔｉｏｎｓｏｆｉｎｔｅｒｃｅｌｕｌａｒａｄｈｅｓｉｏｎｍｏｌｅｃｕｌｅ１ｉｎｐａｔｉｅｎｔｓｗｉｔｈｇａｓｔｒｉｃｃａｎｃｅｒＬＩＵＹｏｎｇＺｈｏｎｇ,ＣＨＥＮＢｉｎａｎｄＳＨ...     

Dual role of serum soluble E-cadherin as a biological marker of metastatic development in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Soluble E-cadherin serum levels as a potential biological marker for gastric cancer were analysed with special consideration to clinical and pathological features. METHODS: Seventy-one healthy control subjects and 166 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled. Gastric cancer patients were classified into intestinal-type (51%) and diffuse-type (49%), according to Laurén. Soluble E-cadherin serum levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean logarithmic concentrations of soluble E-cadherin in gastric cancer patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects, with an average of 4.03 (+/- 0.32) versus 3.86 (+/- 0.24), respectively (P < 0.0001). The concentration of soluble E-cadherin was significantly higher in the intestinal-type group than in the diffuse-type group, with an average of 4.07 +/- 0.3 versus 3.98 +/- 0.34, respectively (P = 0.0494). In the intestinal-type group, concentrations of soluble E-cadherin were significantly higher in more advanced stages (stages III-IV) than in earlier stages (stages I-II), with an average of 4.13 +/- 0.29 versus 3.96 +/- 0.31, respectively (P = 0.0234). In the diffuse-type group, concentrations of soluble E-cadherin were significantly higher in localized than in metastatic gastric cancer, with an average soluble E-cadherin concentation of 4.15 +/- 0.3 versus 3.95 +/- 0.32, respectively (P = 0.0139). CONCLUSION: Serum soluble E-cadherin concentrations exhibit a completely different pattern in intestinal-type and diffuse-typegastric cancer. Serum levels are increased in intestinal-type gastric cancer, especially in advanced stages, whereas in diffuse-type gastric cancer E-cadherin levels are decreased in advanced, metastasized cancer.We conclude that soluble E-cadherin concentrations should be interpreted along with Laurén classification and thus might serve as a biological marker in intestinal-type gastric cancer.     

胃蛋白酶原和胃泌素筛查胃癌及萎缩性胃炎

目的探讨血清胃蛋白酶原(PG)和胃泌素-17(G-17)与胃癌及萎缩性胃炎的关系,并分析幽门螺杆菌感染、服用抑酸药、年龄及性别等多种因素对血清PG和G-17的影响,建立本地区胃癌及萎缩性胃炎的血清学筛查方法。方法选择2013年2月至2013年8月在我院消化内镜中心行胃镜检查符合入选研究标准的100例患者,根据组织病理学诊断将结果分为3组:对照组28例,萎缩性胃炎组52例,胃癌组20例,以免疫放射测定法和放射免疫法检测血清PGⅠ、PGⅡ和G-17水平。结果与正常对照组比较,萎缩性胃炎组、胃癌组的PGⅠ和PGⅠ/PGⅡ比值(PGR)水平均降低(P0.05),萎缩性胃炎组的G-17水平显著降低(P0.01),胃癌组的G-17水平显著增高(P0.01)。采用Bayes判别法分析多种因素、PG和G-17并建立Bayes判别函数作为筛查胃癌及萎缩性胃炎的血清学方法。结论检测血清PG和G-17可以作为一种无创性的筛查胃癌及萎缩性胃炎的方法,适合大规模人群普查。     

血清胃泌素诊断结直肠肿瘤的价值

目的研究结直肠肿瘤患者血清胃泌素水平与病情的相关性．方法经纤维结肠镜下活组织病理检查和／或术后病理确诊的结直肠腺瘤２８例和结直肠癌患者４６例，在排除有可能影响血清胃泌素水平的其它情况后，用ＲＩＡ法检测空腹血清胃泌素及ＣＥＡ含量．结果以胃泌素≥１００ｎｇ／Ｌ作为结直肠腺瘤的诊断指标，其敏感性、特异性和诊断效率分别为７５％，８１％和７８９％，以胃泌素≥１３０ｎｇ／Ｌ作为结直肠癌的诊断指标，其敏感性、特异性和诊断效率分别为７００％，９１９％和７９３％；而ＣＥＡ≥１５μｇ／Ｌ，则分别为３２０％，９４４％和４８５％．以胃泌素≥１３０ｎｇ／Ｌ作为癌肿与腺瘤的鉴别诊断指标，其敏感性、特异性和诊断效率都是７００％；而ＣＥＡ≥１５μｇ／Ｌ，则分别为３００％，９００％和４８６％．在早期结直肠癌患者，胃泌素≥１００ｎｇ／Ｌ者占７７８％，明显高于便血率（４５５％）．结论血清胃泌素对结直肠肿瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断优于ＣＥＡ，可作为结直肠癌的普查手段．     

Dual Role of Serum Soluble E-cadherin as a Biological Marker of Metastatic Development in Gastric Cancer

Background: Soluble E-cadherin serum levels as a potential biological marker for gastric cancer were analysed with special consideration to clinical and pathological features. Methods: Seventy-one healthy control subjects and 166 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled. Gastric cancer patients were classified into intestinal-type (51%) and diffuse-type (49%), according to Laurén. Soluble E-cadherin serum levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean logarithmic concentrations of soluble E-cadherin in gastric cancer patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects, with an average of 4.03 ( ± 0.32) versus 3.86 ( ± 0.24), respectively ( P &#114 < &#114 0.0001). The concentration of soluble E-cadherin was significantly higher in the intestinal-type group than in the diffuse-type group, with an average of 4.07 ± 0.3 versus 3.98 ± 0.34, respectively ( P &#114 = &#114 0.0494). In the intestinal-type group, concentrations of soluble E-cadherin were significantly higher in more advanced stages (stages III-IV) than in earlier stages (stages I-II), with an average of 4.13 ± 0.29 versus 3.96 ± 0.31, respectively ( P &#114 = &#114 0.0234). In the diffuse-type group, concentrations of soluble E-cadherin were significantly higher in localized than in metastatic gastric cancer, with an average soluble E-cadherin concentration of 4.15 ± 0.3 versus 3.95 ± 0.32, respectively ( P &#114 = &#114 0.0139). Conclusions: Serum soluble E-cadherin concentrations exhibit a completely different pattern in intestinal-type and diffuse-type gastric cancer. Serum levels are increased in intestinal-type gastric cancer, especially in advanced stages, whereas in diffuse-type gastric cancer E-cadherin levels are decreased in advanced, metastasized cancer. We conclude that soluble E-cadherin concentrations should be interpreted along with Laurén classification and thus might serve as a biological marker in intestinal-type gastric cancer.     

Significance of Elevated Levels of Collagen Type IV and Hyaluronic Acid in Gastric Juice and Serum in Gastric Cancer and Precancerous Lesion

Background and Aims  

Collagen type IV and hyaluronic acid (HA) are the major components of basement membrane and extracellular matrix, respectively. Cathepsin D is an aspartyl lysosomal protease involved in the degradation of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical significance of collagen type IV and hyaluronic acid in gastric juice and serum in diagnosis of gastric cancer and the degrading effect of cathepsin D on collagen type IV and HA.     

Gastric parietal, chief, and G-cell densities in chronic renal failure

We calculated morphometrically the amount of antral gastrin-producing (G) cells and body parietal and chief cells in gastric biopsy specimens from 30 undialysed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and from sex- and age-matched controls. The CRF patients had raised fasting serum gastrin levels, whereas these were normal in the controls (mean, 290 +/- 283 (+/- SD) ng/l (n = 27) versus 33 +/- 36 (n = 30)). Serum gastrin values of the patients and controls correlated positively with G-cell density (r = 0.501, n = 36, p = 0.002), as did the maximal acid output of the CRF patients with parietal cell density (r = 0.617, n = 14, p = 0.019). In CRF patients the densities of G, parietal, and chief cells were higher than those in the controls (G cells, 351 +/- 151 (+/- SD) cells/mm2, n = 21 versus 211 +/- 90, n = 16, p = 0.002; parietal cells, 299 +/- 94, n = 15 versus 224 +/- 72, n = 14, p = 0.025; chief cells, 886 +/- 346, n = 15 versus 743 +/- 182, n = 14, p = 0.181). The results agree with previous findings indicating that hyposecretion of gastric acid in CRF does not derive from decreased capacity for acid secretion but rather from the inhibition of acid output. Increased parietal cell density in CRF patients gives cause to suspect that the maximum acid output might even in raised, possibly depending on the permanent hypergastrinaemic state with its trophic influence on the gastric body mucosa.     

Gastric juice ascorbic acid is related to Helicobacter pylori infection but not ethnicity

BACKGROUND: Maori and Pacific Island ethnic groups in New Zealand have a high risk for gastric cancer. Low levels of gastric juice ascorbic acid (vitamin C) have been suggested to be a risk factor for gastric cancer. Previous studies have shown that gastric juice ascorbic acid may be independently associated with both ethnicity and Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to examine the interrelationship between H. pylori and ethnicity in New Zealand. METHODS: Gastric juice was collected into 70% perchloric acid preservative and stored at -80 degrees C. Ascorbic acid was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography using ion-pair chromatography and electrochemical detection. Inflammation and atrophy was graded from biopsies from multiple sites in the antrum and body. Gastric juice was collected from 89 patients during routine endoscopy. RESULTS: There was a wide range of measured gastric juice ascorbic acid from 0.001 to 410 microg/mL. The median concentration of ascorbic acid for H. pylori-negative patients was 1.78 microg/mL (n = 57) and 0.12 microg/mL (n = 32) for H. pylori-positive patients (P = 0.001). Gastric juice ascorbic acid concentration was not associated with age, endoscopic diagnosis or intestinal metaplasia, but was significantly associated with the degree of acute inflammation (P = 0.01) and the presence of atrophy (P = 0.04).The median ascorbic acid concentration for European patients was 0.92 microg/mL (n = 44) and 0.09 microg/mL (n = 38) for Maori and Pacific Island ethnic groups combined (P = 0.1). Multiple step-wise regression analysis showed that only H. pylori infection was a significant factor for predicting ascorbic acid concentrations (r2 = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed that gastric juice ascorbic acid concentration is lower in the presence of H. pylori infection.