Digestive diseases and sciences
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Pain is common in patients with liver disease, difficult to treat, and poorly understood. ⋯ This large cohort study demonstrates the high prevalence of pain and opioid use in chronic liver disease. While disease variables contribute to pain, psychological symptoms were most strongly associated with pain and opioid use, providing rationale and target for therapeutic interventions.
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We have previously reported that bee venom (BV) has a protective role against acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the effects of apamin, the major compound of BV, on AP have not been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of apamin on cerulein-induced AP. ⋯ These results could suggest that apamin could protect against AP by inhibition of JNK activation.
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Both ulcerative colitis (UC) and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) are associated with alterations in enteric serotonin (5-HT) signaling. ⋯ Overexpression of S100A10 in the rectum may play a role in IBS as it is involved in modulating 5-HT1B receptors. The IL10-819 CC is a candidate genotype for both IBS and UC in Japanese.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Influence of intraluminal acidification on esophageal secondary peristalsis in humans.
Secondary peristalsis contributes to clearance of retained refluxate or material from the esophagus. ⋯ Our data show that acute esophageal acid infusion enhances sensitivity of distension-induced secondary peristalsis and enhances secondary peristaltic activity. The study supports the evidence of the presence of acid-sensitive afferents in the modulation of distension-induced secondary peristalsis in humans.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Improvements in hepatic serological biomarkers are associated with clinical benefit of intravenous N-acetylcysteine in early stage non-acetaminophen acute liver failure.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) improves transplant-free survival in early coma grade (I-II) patients with non-acetaminophen induced acute liver failure (ALF). We determined whether the clinical benefit was associated with improvements in hepatic function. ⋯ The decreased risk of transplantation or death or of transplantation alone with intravenous NAC in early coma grade patients with non-acetaminophen induced ALF was reflected in improvement in parameters related to hepatocyte necrosis and bile excretion including ALT and bilirubin, but not in INR, creatinine, or AST. Hepatic recovery appears hastened by NAC as measured by several important lab values.