Effects of acupressure on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans

Objective. Acupressure at Neiguan point (P6) has been used as an antiemetic in Eastern countries and many studies have reported its effectiveness on gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of acupressure on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans. Material and methods. Fifteen healthy volunteers (9 M, 6 F) served as subjects. Acupressure at P6 was applied for 1 min followed by 1 min of rest, and this alternating sequence was continued for a total of 30 min. Electrogastrogram (EGG) was recorded for 30 min before (“baseline”), during (“acupressure”) and after (“recovery”) the application of acupressure. Heart rate variability (HRV) was also recorded to analyze autonomic nervous activities. Results. The percentage of normal 3 cycles per minute slow wave (%NSW) was changed significantly by the application of acupressure (86.5±2.4, 92.3±1.2, 92.8±1.9% in the baseline, acupressure and recovery periods, respectively, p=0.0424). The %NSW was significantly larger in the acupressure and the recovery periods than in the baseline period (p<0.03). The changes in %NSW from the baseline to the acupressure (r=?0.8598, p<0.001) and to the recovery (r=?0.6422, p<0.01) periods were negatively correlated with the baseline %NSW. There was no change in HRV. Conclusions. Acupressure at P6 increased %NSW of gastric myoelectrical activity. The negative correlation between the baseline value and the change in %NSW may extrapolate a possible normalizing effect of acupressure on impaired gastric myoelectrical activity in symptomatic patients.     

儿童厌食症胃电图临床研究

[目的]探讨儿童厌食症胃动力与胃电图变化的关系. [方法]2007年5月～2008年2月本院门诊就诊,年龄1～7岁的50例厌食症儿童及50例健康儿童,分别接受胃肠电图仪检测,分析胃电描记数据,使用SPSS11.0统计软件处理数据. [结果]厌食症儿童胃电参数f、F、Vpp、Ra显示餐后比餐前降低,餐后胃窦导联f、F、Vpp、Ra比胃体导联降低,差异有显著性(P<0.05).健康儿童组餐后胃电参数f、F明显比餐前增高,而Vpp、Ra餐前餐后无明显变化,餐后胃窦导联f、F比胃体导联增高(P<0.05). [结论]厌食症儿童胃电异常,胃电基本节律减慢,提示胃动力异常,胃排空过缓.胃电图对评价厌食儿童胃动力异常极有帮助作用.     

噪声对接触工人消化系统的影响

目的 研究噪声对接触工人消化系统的影响。方法 调查55名噪声接触工人和50名对照工人的消化道症状和疾病检出率率,并检测尿胃蛋白酶浓度,用胃酸浓度滴定法分别测定两组各12名工人空腹基础胃酸排出量,并用胃电图仪描记空腹胃电图。结果 接触噪声工人的某些消化道症状、胃症检出率、尿胃蛋白酶浓度和空腹基础胃酸排出量显著高于对照组。胃电图改变表现为接触噪声组工人胃窦部电活动的频率和波幅及不规则波形均较对照组工人有明显增高和增多。24例工人中发现尿胃蛋白酶浓度与空腹基础胃酸排出量呈正相关。结论 本调查中发现噪声对消化系统的功能和疾病有一定的影响。     

Electrogastrographic characteristics in patients of stomach cancer

Using a homemade electrogastrography (EGG) system, we studied the characteristics of myoelectrical rhythm in gastric cancer (GC) patients. Based on a short-term Fourier transform, recorded slow waves could be automatically analyzed to obtain the following parameters: dominant frequency/power, percent of normal rhythm (2.4–3.7 cpm), power ratio, etc. Fifty histologically confirmed GC patients (34 men, 16 women) were enrolled before surgical intervention to measure their fasting and postprandial EGG parameters for 30 min. The cancerous parameters of GC patients were then obtained postoperatively. In addition, 46 healthy subjects were enrolled for comparison. When compared to controls, GC patients had the following characteristics: absence of postprandial increase in dominant frequency (GC: 3.04 ± 0.47 vs 3.07 ± 0.44 cpm, NS; controls: 3.02 ± 0.31 vs 3.21 ± 0.25 cpm, P < 0.001), marked power response after meal (P < 0.05), and obvious power ratio (4.58 ± 7.38 vs 2.27 ± 2.05, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that advanced GC was the factor responsible for the obvious dominant power enhancement after meal (P < 0.05). Other demographic, clinical, and cancerous factors did not influence EGG parameters. We conclude that apparent arrhythmia is not encountered in GC patients, although they mainly exhibit obvious postprandial power response. Advanced GC is likely responsible for this power enhancement on EGG recording.     

Mediation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization induced gastric slow-wave dysrhythmia by endogenous prostaglandin

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In recent years, gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) have been observed. Enhanced endogenous prostaglandin may be a possible mechanism for the myoelectrical changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by TACE may be mediated by ketoprofen, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted for TACE were enrolled. A follow-up TACE was scheduled to take place 2 months later. During the next admission for TACE, 50 mg of ketoprofen was given intramuscularly 12 h for 3 days, beginning 48 h before TACE, as premedication. Cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) was performed before and within 24 h after TACE. RESULTS: The results showed that the change in the fasting EGG parameters after TACE without premedication was not statistically significant. However, the postprandial EGG parameters, including the dominant frequency (DF); the percentages of DF in the normal, bradygastric and tachygastric range; along with the dominant frequency instability coefficient, deteriorated significantly after the procedure (P < 0.01). After the follow-up TACE with ketoprofen premedication, neither the fasting nor postprandial EGG parameters in the control group changed significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by TACE may be mediated by ketoprofen, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, in HCC patients. However, the improvement in the gastric myoelectrical activity does not eliminate the degree of nausea/vomiting after TACE.     

Gastric electrical activity in patients with cholelithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective controlled study

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of gallstone disease (GD) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric electrical activity of slow waves, which was recorded via transcutaneous electrogastrography (EGG). METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients (M/F: 12/9, 52.7 +/- 15 years old) with GD and no previous history of abdominal operations or known disease affecting gastrointestinal motility were studied. The EGG was performed for 30 min prior to and 90 min after a standard meal, during a 4-6 month period prior to and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The percentile proportion of the three spectra of gastric slow waves frequency was studied, defined as follows: bradygastria, 1-2.1 cycles per min (c.p.m.); normogastria, 2.2-3.9 c.p.m.; and tachygastria, 4-9 c.p.m. The findings were compared to those of nine healthy subjects (M/F: 5/4, 49.5 +/- 14.8 years old). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in percentile distribution of bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria, pre- or post-prandially, neither before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, nor between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GD do not exhibit differences in gastric electrical activity of slow waves in comparison to normal subjects and laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not alter gastric electrical activity. These findings suggest that cholelithiasis does not seem to cause dyspeptic symptoms due to gastric dysrythmias.     

Gastric electrical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in relation to autonomic nervous function, hormonal responses, and health-related lifestyles in young men

Background Electrogastrography (EGG) is the noninvasive recording of gastric myoelectrical activity. The purpose of the present study was to assess associations of EGG with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), autonomic nervous function, hormonal responses, and health-related lifestyles. Methods EGG was measured in 435 Japanese men, aged 24–39 years, who worked at the same company. In addition to anthropometric measurements and blood examinations, power spectral analysis of heart rate variability in low-frequency (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz) bands was conducted. LF/HF and HF were used as the indicators of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity, respectively. Serum cortisol and catecholamine levels were measured as well. Results In univariate analyses, the EGG frequency was associated positively with the serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and cholesterol level (both-P < 0.0001) and negatively with age, body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride level, fasting blood sugar, and diastolic blood pressure (all P < 0.05). The EGG frequency tended to increase with increases in the HF band (P = 0.10) and was not significantly associated with the LF/HF ratio (P = 0.45). Neither hormonal responses nor health-related lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol were significant (all P > 0.05). A multivariate analysis indicated that both the HDL cholesterol level and BMI were independent predictors of EGG frequency (both P < 0.05), after adjusting for the significant effects of age, HF, and other CVD factors. Conclusions Slowed EGG frequency appeared to be linked with various CVD risk factors, including obesity and low HDL cholesterol levels, in young men.     

The role of electrogastrography and gastrointestinal hormones in chemotherapy-related dyspeptic symptoms

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among motility disorders, dyspeptic symptoms, and plasma levels of gastrointestinal hormones in cancer patients who were well controlled for post-chemotherapy emesis. Methods Twenty-five cancer patients treated with standard dosages of antiemetics and chemotherapies completed the study. Gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated by detailed questionnaire and visual analog score. Motility was investigated by cutaneous electrogastrography, and by blood levels of gastrin, serotonin, vasopressin, and substance P, before and 7 days after chemotherapy. Results Before chemotherapy, no patient complained of dyspeptic symptoms, and no differences in electrogastrography (EGG) or in circulating peptide levels were found between patients who developed dyspepsia and those who did not. After chemotherapy, 13 patients suffered from dysmotility-like symptoms (total symptom score, 11.5 [2.5–37.9]; median value and 5th–95th percentiles), with susceptibility to nausea, early satiety, and postprandial fullness being the major complaints. As regards EGG parameters, a significant reduction (P = 0.04; Mann-Whitney test) in the normal slow-wave percentage and significantly increased tachygastria percentage were found in dyspeptic patients compared with symptom-free patients. The tachygastria percentage was significantly associated with susceptibility to nausea score, in a non-linear fashion (R² = 0.37). Dyspeptic patients showed lower levels of substance P and gastrin than patients who were not dyspeptic, but this difference had no clinical significance for dyspepsia. Conclusions Chemotherapy may induce upper gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of motility disorders. These dyspeptic symptoms were associated with EGG alterations, but not with variations in circulating peptides. Other hormones or pathophysiological factors, not considered in the present work, could be actively involved in these dyspeptic symptoms.