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Gastric formation of N-nitrosotrimethylurea (NTMU) was quantified by repeated sampling of the gastric contents of full-sized fistulated pigs after the addition of 250 mumol trimethylurea (TMU) and 25-125 mumol nitrite. Maximum gastric nitrite concentration was 100-500 microM based on the gastric volume and amount of added nitrite, which is within the range reported in human gastric contents. The total amount of NTMU formed over time was quantified by estimating both the NTMU concentration and gastric volume using multiple additions of polyethylene glycol. Administration of 25 mumol of nitrite resulted in the formation of 320 nmol of NTMU. The total amount of NTMU formed was linearly related to nitrite dose. Conversion of nitrite to NTMU was of the order of 1-3%. Potassium thiocyanate (200-2000 mumol) had no effect on NTMU formation when given immediately preceding 75 mumol nitrite. Ascorbic acid at 225 and 341 mumol (0.66 and 1.0 of the recommended dietary allowance) inhibited nitrosation of TMU by an average of 54 and 84%. A pig with an average gastric pH of 1.9 formed 4.5-fold more NTMU than did a second pig at pH 4.8. These results suggest that low micromolar amounts of N-nitrosoureas can be formed in the normal stomach when nitrite is consumed in amounts to which humans are commonly exposed.

beta-Casomorphins (beta-CMs) derived from milk beta-casein may exert various opiate activities in milk-fed infants. To assess the physiological significance of beta-CMs as a source of circulating opioids in infants, we measured absorption rates of several beta-CMs under near-physiological conditions using in situ autoperfused lamb intestine. The naturally occurring beta-CMs, beta-CM-7 and beta-CM-4-amide, were absorbed readily into blood with no transfer into lymph. Uptake peaked within several minutes of the luminal infusion of peptide but then declined sharply and stopped within a further 10-15 min. The recovery in blood, intestinal contents, and tissue at the end of the 30-min experiment was less than 1% of the infused dose. The low recovery was due to rapid proteolysis based on in vitro studies that demonstrated half-lives of less than 5 min in lamb blood, luminal contents, and lymph. The synthetic dipeptidyl peptidase IV-resistant analogue beta-[D-Ala2]CM- 4-amide was stable during incubation in blood, lymph, or luminal contents and was absorbed into blood at rates that were maximal within several minutes and remained steady for the 30-min period. We conclude that although natural beta-CMs are transferred across the lamb small intestine, rapid degradation within the intestinal lumen, gut epithelium, and blood would prevent entry into the circulation under normal conditions. Val-beta-CM-7, a putative stable precursor, had similar stability and kinetics of absorption to beta-CM-7, results that exclude Val-beta-CM-7 as a stable precursor for delivery of beta-CMs to the circulation. Essentially identical results to those in lambs were obtained in 7-day-old piglets.

This prospective, randomized, single-blind study of 121 healthy children aged 2 to 12 yr investigated the effect of clear fluids on gastric contents. Gastric fluid volume and pH were measured immediately following the induction of general anaesthesia and were not significantly affected by the ingestion of unlimited clear fluids up to three hours preoperatively. After a prolonged fast (mean fast 14 hr), gastric fluid volume was 0.39 +/- 0.37 ml.kg-1 and gastric pH was 1.7 +/- 0.4; after unlimited clear fluids (203 +/- 109 ml) up to three hours before surgery gastric fluid volume was 0.34 +/- 0.28 ml.kg-1 and gastric pH was 1.8 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SD). Gastric fluid volume (ml.kg-1) increased in both the control and study groups as age increased, P less than 0.005. It is concluded that drinking clear fluid up to three hours before scheduled surgery does not have a measurable effect on gastric volume and pH of healthy children of ages 2 to 12 yr.

In an attempt to explain the discrepancy between the high number of patients said to be at risk of aspiration pneumonitis and the low reported incidence of this anaesthetic complication, 100 ASA physical status I-II elective surgical patients were studied. The volume of fluid present in the stomach at the time of induction of anaesthesia was correlated with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) detected by visual inspection of the pharynx and by continuous measurement of upper oesophageal pH. Mean gastric volume was 30 +/- 28 ml (range 0-210 ml). Gastric fluid volume greater than or equal to 0.4 ml.kg-1 at pH less than or equal to 2.5 was present in 46 patients. No GER was detected during induction of anaesthesia in our sample of 100 patients. Furthermore, patient age, duration of preoperative fasting, body mass index, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, preoperative anxiety, and a history of preoperative GER were not correlated with significant modifications of gastric volume or pH. We conclude that the low incidence of aspiration pneumonitis in elective surgical patients may be explained in part by the very low risk of GER, despite gastric fluid volumes of more than 0.4 ml.kg-1 in a high proportion of this patient population.

Three 10-d collection periods (April 4 to 14, early April, EApr; April 23 to May 3, late April, LApr; May 10 to 20, 1984, mid-May, MMay) were conducted to evaluate effects of no supplement (C), .5 kg-head-1.d-1 (as-fed basis) supplemental grain (steam-flaked milo, G) or G plus 170 mg monensin.head-1.d-1 (M) on forage intake and digestion by 12 ruminally cannulated beef steers (four/treatment; avg initially BW = 393 kg) grazing irrigated winter wheat pasture. Ruminal pH was greater (P less than .01) for M than for C or G during EApr but was not altered by treatments in LApr or MMay. Compared with C, ruminal NH3 was decreased (P less than .10) by G and M (5 h after supplementation) in EApr, decreased (P less than .05) by G (2h) and increased (P less than .05) by M (8 h) in LApr and decreased (P less than .10) by G (-1h) in MMay. Treatments had little influence on total VFA concentrations or on molar proportions of acetate and propionate. Butyrate molar proportion was decreased (P less than .10) by M during EApr and LApr, but not during MMay. Monensin increased (P less than .05) fluid passage rate compared with C and G in EApr but not in other periods, Particulate passage measurements did not differ (P greater than .10) among treatments within periods. Forage DM intake was not influenced (P greater than .10) by supplementation during any period. Extent of in situ forage DM disappearance was greater (P less than .10) for M than for C or G during EApr (12 and 30 h of incubation) but was not different (P greater than .10) in LApr or MMay. Incidence of frothy bloat was decreased (P less than .05) by M during EApr; this reduction may have been related to effects of M on ruminal pH, forage digestion and fluid passage.

Infusion of fat into the ileum slows small bowel transit and increases absorption of a carbohydrate meal. Paired studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of adding fat to the diet on gastrointestinal transit and absorption in eight people with terminal ileostomies. Each subject ate a daily diet that contained either low or high levels of fat but equivalent amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fibre. Solid and liquid markers were added to the food to measure transit times. The ileostomy outputs after the meals were analysed for protein, fat, carbohydrate, polyethylene glycol, and the delivery of solid markers. All subjects produced more ileal effluent while taking the high fat diet compared with the low fat diet. Fat and protein outputs were significantly higher on the high fat days, but a greater proportion of the fat was absorbed during the high fat diet compared with the low fat diet. The output of carbohydrate on the two diets was not significantly different. The incorporation of fat in the diet produced no significant differences in the transit times of the first marker, but a slight prolongation of the transit time of the second marker. Increasing the fat content of the diet did not slow small bowel transit or increase nutrient absorption. The increase in protein and water output could be explained by an increased secretion of pancreatic enzymes.

The preoperative fast is often an unpleasant preoperative experience that might be alleviated by allowing children to drink clear liquids. The authors compared gastric fluid volume and pH in two groups of children, one of whom was permitted clear liquids until 2 h before surgery (study group) and the other followed routine preoperative fasting orders (control group). The study group was not limited in the quantity of clear liquid allowed with the exception that the last intake prior to surgery was limited to 8 ounces. The study group (n = 53) averaged 5.9 +/- 5 yr and weighed 23.6 +/- 17 kg, while the control group averaged 7.3 +/- 4.6 yr and weighed 29 +/- 17.7 kg (P = NS). Gastric contents were aspirated following induction of anesthesia. Gastric fluid volume averaged 0.44 +/- 0.51 ml/kg for study group and 0.57 +/- 0.51 ml/kg in the control group (P = 0.12). Of the study patients, 48% had a measured gastric fluid volume greater than or equal to 0.4 ml/kg compared with 58% of the control patients (P = 0.77). Eighty three patients had sufficient gastric fluid for pH determination; of these 34/35 (97%) in the study group and 44/48 (92%) in the control group had a gastric fluid pH less than or equal to 2.5. Using a linear analog scale parents rated the children in the study group to be less irritable (P less than 0.001) and to have had a better overall preoperative experience (P less than 0.01) compared with the control patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DNA content of gastric aspirates was studied before and after intragastric infusions of three doses of ginger (2, 4, 6 g) and four doses of garlic (0.3, 0.75, 1.5, 3 g) on different days in volunteers. Only one dose was administered on any day. The mean changes of DNA-p/min in gastric aspirates after intragastric infusions of 2 and 4 g ginger were -1.37 +/- 2.3 and 6.74 +/- 3.06 respectively, which were not significant statistically. However, 6 g ginger given intragastrically showed a mean significant increase in DNA-p/min of 3.23 +/- 1.02 (P less than 0.05). Intragastric infusion of 0.3 g uncooked garlic showed a non-significant increase in DNA-p/min of 0.307 +/- 0.59. On the other hand, infusion of 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g of uncooked garlic each caused significant increase in DNA-p/min of 5.47 +/- 1.63 (P less than 0.01), 10.42 +/- 3.46 (P less than 0.01) and 29.26 +/- 4.55 (P less than 0.001) respectively. Infusion of 3 g of cooked garlic also showed significant increase in DNA-p/min of 21.43 +/- 4.62 (P less than 0.001). There was no significant difference between the effect of cooked and uncooked (3 g) garlic. Ginger in quantities of 6 g or more and garlic in quantities of 0.75 g or more cause a significant increase in exfoliation of gastric surface epithelial cells in human subjects.

By means of consecutive pancreatic stimulation, we have investigated the presence of changes of pancreatic function in alcoholic patients, with and without alcoholic liver disease, in order to detect functional alterations and possible association of hepatic and pancreatic disease. The patients were 49 chronic alcoholics (8 patients without liver disease, 11 hepatic steatosis, 9 alcoholic hepatitis and 21 alcoholic cirrhosis) and 15 non alcoholic subjects (8 normal controls and 7 cases of non alcoholic cirrhosis). In all the cases two consecutive stimulations were carried out: first with secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) and second with CCK alone. The total volume and concentration as well as the output of bicarbonate, trypsin, amylase and total proteins were measured in the duodenal juice. Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had larger volumes of duodenal juice and lower concentrations of bicarbonate, enzymes and proteins. There was also a tendency to larger volume and lower bicarbonate concentration as the hepatic lesion was more severe. Bicarbonate output was significatively higher in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis but for the remaining parameters the outputs were similar in all the groups. In conclusion, the alterations in pancreatic function parallel the severity of the liver disease. None of the patients had changes consistent with chronic pancreatitis.

A 38-year-old man was found in his car suffering from a heart attack. Serum analysis by capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of dextromoramide (Palfium), methadone, and lidocaine. The serum concentrations at admission to the hospital were: 1.9 micrograms/mL of dextromoramide, 0.4 micrograms/mL of methadone, and 0.4 micrograms/mL of lidocaine. A serum alcohol analysis performed using headspace gas chromatography was negative.

When tablet residues are found in the gastrointestinal tract during autopsy, this does not only indicate the possible presence of intoxication, but may also provide indications with the regard to the kind of intoxication (e.g. suicide) if the amount of tablets is considered. If tablets have already dissolved and thus large portions can no longer be detected with the naked eye, a definitive appraisal with regard to the presence of tablet residues is often difficult or even impossible on the autopsy table. A polarization microscopic screening method is described which enables identification of characteristic tablet auxiliary substances (maize starch, sodium carboxymethyl starch, microcristalline cellulose or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) to be identified immediately and simply in the gastrointestinal contents. It also enables a rapid orientative screening for tablet residues in glasses found or the fluid these contained as well as in aspirated material and vomit. If the active agent of the tablet can be detected by chemical toxicology, the polarization microscopic diagnosis of abundant tablet auxiliary substances is compatible with intake of large amounts of drugs, which makes self-administration highly probable.

K+ concentrations were measured in vitro with K+ sensitive microelectrodes in the microclimate at the luminal cell surface of the colon of guinea pigs. The serosal K+ concentration was mostly 5.4 mmol/1, the mucosal K+ concentrations were changed (0, 5, 50, or 70 mmol/l). Under control conditions K+ concentrations in the microclimate of the proximal colon were also low (6-9 mmol/l) and rather independent from K+ concentrations in the bulk luminal solution. In the distal colon K+ concentrations in the microclimate increased from 3.7 mmol/l when no K+ was in the luminal solution, up to 22 mmol/l when the mucosal K+ concentrations was 70 mmol/l. Attempts to decrease K+ conductance of the apical membrane with Ba++, to impair K+ transport with ouabain and to increase the paracellular shunt with deoxycholic acid did not affect K+ concentrations in the microclimate of the proximal colon but decreased K+ concentrations in the distal colon. When valinomycin or triaminopyrimidine were added to the mucosal solution at high K+ concentrations in the luminal solutions the K+ concentration in the microclimate was raised. At low luminal K+ concentrations valinomycin had no effect, triaminopyrimidine significantly diminished K+ concentrations at the cell surface. Regional differences in paracellular shunt conductance and in the preepithelial diffusion barrier are thought to be responsible for the observed differences between the proximal and the distal colon. Obviously, however, further unknown mechanisms have to be involved.

Fenbendazole (FBZ) was administered intravenously (1 mg/kg) and orally (5 mg/kg) to catheterized, confined channel catfish. Blood samples were collected for 72 h, and resulting FBZ plasma concentrations were pharmacokinetically modelled. Following intravenous administration t 1/2 alpha was 0.51 h, t 1/2 beta was 16.8 h, body clearance (C1B) was 0.0598 L/kg/h, and Vd (area) was 1.45 L/kg. After oral administration the t 1/2 (abs) was 1.47 h, the t 1/2 beta was 20.1 h, and the tlag was 0.1 h. Following oral administration of 5 mg FBZ/kg body weight, the following tissues and body fluids were sampled for concentrations of FBZ, oxfendazole (FBZ-SO), sulphone metabolite (FBZ-SO2) and hydroxy metabolite (FBZ-OH): liver, posterior kidney, fat, muscle, bowel contents and urine. Fenbendazole was detected in the highest concentrations in abdominal fat, whereas oxfendazole was found primarily in the kidney, liver and abdominal fat. The sulphone metabolite was detected only in urine and bowel contents, while the hydroxy metabolite was found most often in the liver and abdominal fat samples.

Postweaning growth lag in baby pigs weaned at 28 d was studied by using three weaning stress treatments. Treatments consisted of a control in which pigs continued to nurse the dam, had access to a dry feed at 14 d of age and were not weaned until after the study. Pigs were adjusted to liquid and dry feeds at 14 d of age in Treatments 2 and 3, but sows were removed from the pens at 28 d of age in Treatment 2, whereas sows were removed and room temperature lowered to 13 degrees C in Treatment 3. In Treatment 4, sows were removed but pigs were fed the dry diet only from 28 d of age. Blood and tissue were collected and evaluated every 12 h for 48 h on slaughtered pigs and blood was sampled every 12 h for 132 h from pigs catheterized in the vena cava. Pigs weaned with a dry diet in Treatment 4 were the only pigs to lose weight (P less than .01) and have typical symptoms of postweaning growth lag. These pigs had the lowest (P less than .01) mean plasma glucose, highest (P less than .01) free fatty acids and the highest (P less than .05) cortisol concentrations. Their mean duodenal pH also was higher (P less than .01), whereas pigs given both milk and dry diets and stressed by weaning in a warm or cool room (Treatments 2 and 3) had lower (P less than .01) duodenal pH values than pigs continuing to nurse the sow. In this study, pigs having access to milk and dry diets prior to weaning had no adverse symptoms when the sow was removed regardless of whether or not they were exposed to cold after weaning. However, pigs that were abruptly weaned with a dry diet had slow growth, low plasma glucose, high free fatty acids and low liver glycogen.

Ponies were fed hay (n = 21) or mixed feed (n = 27; 128 g crude protein, 175 g crude fibre/kg dry matter) for at least 14 days (treatment against parasites with ivermectin before the experimental period). The feeding level was 18 g dry mater/kg body weight/day. After the feeding period (the experiments were conducted to investigate the water and electrolyte content of the alimentary tract in dependence on feed, feeding time and physical exercise) the ponies were slaughtered and the stomachs were visually controlled for the occurrence of ulcers. In the hay group no gastric ulcers were observed, but from the 27 ponies given mixed feed 10 (chi 2 = 7.71) animals showed ulcers on the cutaneous mucosa of the pars oesophagea localized along the margo plicatus. At 3.5 hours postprandial the percentage of dry matter in gastric contents of concentrate fed ponies was higher than in those which consumed hay; 12 hours after feeding the opposite took place. The gastric fill was rather similar, while the amount of chlorine and the pH-value respectively were 37 (+/- 16) mg/kg BW and 3.83 (+/- 0.83; n = 8) respectively in hay fed animals compared to 45 (+/- 17) mg/kg BW and 4.84 (+/- 0.55; n = 11) respectively in ponies, which consumed the mixed feed.

1. A study was made of the influence of duodenal infusion of some of the components of the digesta on gastrointestinal motility, abomasal outflow and small intestinal transit time in seven sheep fed 1500 g grass pellets/day. Gastrointestinal motility was recorded by electromyography. Abomasal outflow was estimated according to the rate of dilution of CrEDTA injected and sampled via an abomasal catheter. Small intestinal transit time was measured by the passage of Phenol Red from the duodenum to the terminal ileum. 2. Abomasal outflow was inhibited during 3 h infusions (5 ml/min) of 100 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids, of 50 mM-HCl, of 0.56 M-glucose, and of 2 and 4% protein hydrolysate. Abomasal motility was inhibited by these infusions and by infusion of 234 mM-oleic acid (0.75 ml/min), of a fat emulsion (Intralipid 20% 0.3 ml/min) and of 50 mM-L-tryptophan (7.5 ml/min). 3. Abomasal motility and, where tested, abomasal outflow, were not affected by duodenal infusion of 150 mM-NaHCO3 (5-10 ml/min), 0.28 M-NaC1 (5-7.5 ml/min), distilled water (5-7.5 ml/min), 25 mM-L-tyrosine (5 ml/min), and of 50 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids (5 ml/min). 4. At concentrations or rates of infusion above the threshold dose needed to inhibit abomasal motility, small intestinal motility was altered and the frequency and amplitude of the reticulo-ruminal contractions were inhibited. 5. The transit time through the small intestine was increased during infusion of 100 mM-acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic acids and decreased during infusion of 0.56 M-glucose and Intralipid. 6. Inhibition of abomasal motility and outflow in sheep receiving 1500 g/day grass pellets was calculated to require increases in the duodenal concentration of volatile fatty acids of about 150% and K+ of about 38%, and to require an increase in the rate of delivery to the duodenum of H+ of about 90%, nitrogen of about 22% glucose of about 2000% and fat of about 84%. 7. These findings are discussed in relation to the composition of abomasal and duodenal digesta in sheep fed different diets. 8. It seems likely that components of duodenal chyme, such as H+, volatile fatty acids, glucose and fat only affect abomasal outflow in sheep fed high-grain diets (glucose, volatile fatty acids), or diets highly supplemented with fat (fat), for short periods after meal feeding (volatile fatty acids) or under abnormal conditions (H+).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Results of trichrome staining of fecal samples and intestinal contents preserved in polyvinyl alcohol fixative, fecal flotation utilizing unpreserved feces, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum specimens were compared for the diagnosis of Giardia duodenalis infections in dogs. Trichrome staining of preserved fecal samples resulted in the identification of 44 (92%) of the 48 infected dogs from a group of 200 dogs. Trichrome staining of preserved intestinal contents resulted in the identification of 26 (54%) of the infected dogs, and fecal flotation resulted in the identification of 23 (48%) of the infected dogs. Giardia duodenalis antibodies were not detected consistently in the sera of infected dogs.

Titration of rumen fluid reveals the prevailing buffer system: VFA salts and sometimes bicarbonates in the normal state, ammonium salts or lactate in pathological conditions. Titrimetry appears to be a convenient method to study digestion in the rumen.

The concentration and secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline with different portions of the bile seem to significantly reflect the function of the vegetative innervation apparatus of the biliary tract. A correlation was established between the pattern of motor and tonic disorders and the pattern of catecholamine secretion during multi-stage duodenal exploration. The data obtained make it possible to outline approaches to adequate therapy.

Emergency qualitative tests for drugs are commonly ordered during evaluation of cases of suspected drug overdose. We prospectively compared the utilization and yield of drug screens based on urine and of identical tests of gastric contents under actual clinical conditions in a busy metropolitan emergency department. During the 4.5-month study period, physicians ordered drug screening in 405 of 582 (70%) study cases. Screens of both types of body fluid were ordered in only 95 cases (16%), suggesting study physicians regarded these tests to be functionally equivalent. Drug screens of gastric fluid were favored in cases involving acute ingestion and in medically complicated cases requiring gastric lavage. Urine drug screens were favored in clinically stable cases with primarily thought or behavior disorders. In the 95 cases for which both drug screens were ordered, gastric screens in 18 cases detected 20 drugs not detected by urine drug screening. Urine screening, on the other hand, identified 74 drugs not found on gastric screening in 48 cases. Gastric drug screening also performed poorly in comparison to quantitative serum drug levels. Seventeen false-positive urine or gastric screens were noted as well. Despite significant technical limitations, physicians frequently order drug screens in our emergency department. Qualitative drug screening of gastric fluid may prove useful in cases involving acute ingestion, but samples of urine and serum must also be submitted for analysis if optimal test performance is to be achieved.

An assay technique for the chemiluminescent estimation of total nitrogen in biological samples have been used for two hundred urines and gastric fluids, and results compared with those given by the traditional Kjeldahl method. Chemiluminescence is accurate, reproducible, and appear to be well correlated with Kjeldahl assay technique. Without doubt, it is advantageous to the point of samples manipulation, that need no dangerous compounds, and by the way of her swiftness and her possible automation. Lastly, according with preliminary studies, this method seem as well practicable for solid samples as for liquid samples. This assay technique is therefore usefull in current practice to investigate nitrogen balance in every patient.

In the series of experiments with labelled urea three colostomized laying hybrids were butchered after a six-day application of 1% urea with 96.06 atom-% 15N excess (15N') in the ration and another 2 days with a supplement of 1% unlabelled urea. Out of the individual samples from crop, gizzard, small intestine, caecum and rectum, the content of the small intestine and the caecum showed the highest labelling with greater than 1 atom-% 15N'. The TCA soluble fraction of the content of the gizzard was more highly and that of the intestines less labelled than the total nitrogen. The tissue of the gizzard is distinctly less labelled than the "omasum system" and the small intestine. The atom-% 15N' of the oesophagus with crop and glandular stomach largely showed agreement in the individual hens with that of intestinal tissue and ranged between 0.71 and 0.89 atom-%. 2% of the 15N' supplemented with the urea could be recovered in the content and the tissue of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Brood parasitism, where a brood of the parasitic species is fostered by the parents of another species, is well known among birds. In most cases, such offspring show a complete reliance upon their host parents for food, protection and warmth until their independence. In other vertebrate groups, however, such total dependence upon a host species is unknown. I report here the first example of true brood parasitic behaviour discovered among fishes. In Lake Tanganyika, an endemic mochokid catfish, Synodontis multipunctatus Boulenger, is a brood parasite of mouthbrooding fishes of the family Cichlidae. The eggs of the catfish are incubated in the mouths of any of several host species together with the host's eggs, but hatch earlier. Following absorption of their yolk sacs, the catfish fry feed upon the fry of the host while still in its mouth. Thus the early stages of development of this catfish not only depend upon their hosts for food and protection, but exploit almost their entire parental investment.

In order for the role of parotid amylase in starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal tracts of diabetic rats to be clarified, this study investigated the effect of parotid-duct ligation on both amylase secretion from the parotid glands and pancreas into the gastro-intestinal tract and on starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal contents during feedings. In both diabetic rats and control rats, parotid-duct ligation reduced amylase activity in both the parotid glands during fasting and in the gastric contents after feeding. The amylase activity in the intestinal contents after feeding was reduced by parotid-duct ligation in the diabetic rats. Starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract after feeding was reduced by parotid-duct ligation in the diabetic rats. The results suggest that most of the amylase activity in the gastric contents and a large part of the amylase activity in the intestinal contents are derived from the parotid glands, and that parotid amylase plays an important role in starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal tracts of diabetic rats.

Various medications have been reported to decrease gastric content volume and thus risk for pulmonary aspiration. The majority of studies have used blind gastric tube aspiration of stomach contents as the method of measuring the volume of gastric contents. This study evaluated the accuracy of this method by first measuring gastric content volume using blind gastric aspiration and then aspirating residual content in the stomach, using a visually guided flexible fiberoptic gastroscope. Ten obese patients undergoing elective surgery were studied. Gastric contents were collected using a multi-orificed gastric tube and blind aspiration. Immediately after this was completed, residual gastric volume was collected using a visually guided gastroscope. The sum of these two aspirate volumes (true total gastric volume) was statistically compared with the blind aspirate volume. The blind aspirate volume underestimated true total gastric volume by an average of 14.7 ml and was significantly different from true total gastric volume (p less than 0.05). Blind gastric aspiration was thus demonstrated only to approximate true gastric volume. Its use to measure precisely gastric volume cannot, therefore, be recommended.

Aspirin administration results in gastric mucosal damage. Although the pathogenesis of these lesions remains unclear, in animals it appears that increased vascular permeability precedes development of grossly visible lesions. We examined the effect of aspirin administration on gastric vascular permeability in eight healthy subjects. We used gastric accumulation of Evan's blue dye (which is bound to albumin) as a marker of vascular integrity and assessed gastric accumulation of Evan's blue, blood, and DNA during serial 10-min washes. Both bleeding and Evan's blue in the gastric washings increased with time after administration of aspirin in an acid solution (P less than 0.01). Evan's blue increased from a median value of 8 micrograms/10 min to 24.5 micrograms/10 min period after 60 min of aspirin administration. By 20 min after aspirin administration, the accumulation of Evan's blue in the gastric wash was significantly greater than the initial aspirin period (P less than 0.05). Blood loss increased from 147 to 650 micrograms Hgb/10-min period. The increase in bleeding rate did not become significant until 40 min after the first aspirin dose. Our study showed that aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage can be detected by assessing accumulation of Evan's blue in the gastric contents after aspirin administration. Studies in which various doses of aspirin or other agents are administered will be required to confirm whether the increased vascular permeability actually precedes bleeding in man. Measurement of Evan's blue dye in the gastric contents appears to provide a qualitative (and possibly quantitative) and sensitive early index of gastric mucosal injury.

Eight digestion trials were conducted with pigs fitted with ileal T-cannulas to determine the apparent digestibilities of N and amino acids in common protein feedstuffs. Trial-to-trial variation was minimal as determined by the variation in digestibilities for soybean meal, which was evaluated in each trial. Apparent digestibilities varied widely; ileal N digestibility ranged from 88 to 63%, and ileal lysine digestibility ranged from 93 to 40%. In general, ring-dried blood meal, corn gluten meal, Menhaden fish meal, poultry-by-product meal and extruded whole soybeans were the most digestible, followed by canola meal, sunflower meal, peanut meal and meat and bone meal. Cottonseed meal and feather meal were the least digestible. Mean values for each feedstuff agree well with published data. Variation in digestibilities among samples of the same feedstuff was greater for the meat and bone meals. Regression of ileal essential amino acid digestibilities on ileal and fecal N digestibility indicated that amino acid digestibilities can be predicted more precisely from ileal N digestibility than from fecal N digestibility. However, neither ileal nor fecal N digestibility could be used with a high degree of certainty to predict ileal amino acid digestibilities.

Intraluminal release of serotonin (5-HT) was evaluated in relation to the interdigestive migrating complex (IMC) in the canine small intestine. Thirty-Vella loops (TVL) were constructed in the proximal jejunum of eight dogs. After recovery, the loops were continuously perfused with normal saline at 37 degrees C and changes in intraluminal pressure recorded. For each 10-min period, a motility index (MI) was calculated using computer-assisted planimetry and expressed in mm2/10 min. Serotonin contents in the effluent perfusates were measured by radioimmunoassay. A characteristic phasic motor activity was recognized in the TVL with periods of rest or minimal activity (MI = 406 +/- 45 mm2/10 min, Phase I) alternating with periods of vigorous activity (MI = 2082 +/- 134 mm2/10 min, Phases II and III). Serotonin was constantly found in the effluent perfusates in relatively high concentrations, but 5-HT levels did not vary significantly with intestinal activity; levels averaged 120 +/- 19 ng/ml during Phase I and 110 +/- 13 ng/ml during phases II and III. We conclude that intraluminal 5-HT plays no major role in the physiologic local regulation of the canine IMC in the small intestine.

A viscous, gel-like phase was found in ultracentrifuged human upper intestinal contents collected during rapid fat lipolysis. This "gel" phase was layered in the ultracentrifuge tube between the micellar and oil phase. The gel contained lipids typical of the micellar and not the oil phase. The concentration of these lipids was higher and the ratio of total bile salts to lipids was lower in the gel than in the micellar phase. The gel, unlike the micellar phase, was birefringent between crossed polarizers. These data demonstrate that lipids in this gel phase can form liquid crystals in the gut during fat digestion.

In adult male rats fed a non-purified diet supplemented with 5% sodium propionate, plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly depressed. Although liver cholesterol was increased by feeding propionate, rates of hepatic cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis were unchanged. Tissue concentrations and rates of synthesis of cholesterol were also unaffected by dietary propionate in stomach, small intestine and caecum. Concentrations of propionate in hepatic portal venous plasma were raised by feeding the supplemented diet but the increase was low in comparison to the dietary intake. Examination of the gut contents revealed concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) of 19 mumol/ml in the stomach contents of control rats and 148 mumol/ml (of which propionate contributed 116 mumol/ml) in those fed the supplemented diet. Duodenal and ileal concentrations of VFA were very low and were only slightly raised in the propionate-fed rats while caecal VFA were the same in both groups with a combined mean of 159 mumol/ml. These data indicate that in the rat, the absorption of dietary propionate appears to occur in the stomach. In pigs fed a standard ration hepatic portal venous VFA remained low for the first 4 h after feeding but then rose with the onset of large bowel fermentation. Feeding the diet supplemented with propionate caused hepatic portal venous plasma concentrations to rise by approximately 0.4 mumol/ml. This increase was apparent 30 min after feeding and was sustained for 3 h but subsequently there was no difference to controls. As in the rat, the absorption of dietary propionate appeared to occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The transport of propionate via the porcine hepatic portal vein also appeared insufficient to account for the dietary intake and suggests metabolism of the acid by the upper gastrointestinal tract. Further studies with perfused livers from fed rats indicated that propionate at a concentration of 1 mumol/ml did not alter cholesterol synthesis but that inhibition occurred at 18 mumol of propionate/ml. It appears that a redistribution of cholesterol from the plasma to the liver, rather than inhibition of hepatic and intestinal cholesterol synthesis, is responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic effects of dietary propionate. Because the absorption and transport of dietary propionate appears to follow a time course which differs considerably to that of the acid produced by the large bowel microflora, we conclude also that VFA produced by such fermentation would not seem to be responsible for the hypocholesterolaemic effects of certain water-soluble plant fibres.

Eight Holstein male calves, each fitted with an ileal reentrant cannula at 7 to 10 d of age, were fed a milk replacer based on low heat skim milk powder with or without an oxalate-NaOH buffer known to prevent curd formation in the abomasum. The calves were used to study the effects of milk clotting on digesta flow at the ileum and apparent digestibility measured by fecal and ileal collection. Patterns of ileal flow of total digesta, DM, N, and fat were similar for the clotting and the nonclotting milk replacers. The apparent digestibility of DM and N was higher when measured by fecal than ileal collection for both milk replacers. Digestibility of DM was higher for the clotting than for the nonclotting milk replacer when measured by ileal collection. Clotting did not affect N digestibility measured by either fecal or ileal collection. The concentration of amino acids differed generally in the ileal digesta compared with concentration in feces. In the ileal digesta, some amino acids showed lower concentrations in the clotting milk replacer fed calves compared with those fed the nonclotting milk replacer. The coefficients of digestibility of each amino acid were similar when measured by either fecal or ileal collection. Clotting had no effect on amino acid digestibility measured by both fecal and ileal collection. The data suggest that fecal collection might indicate higher digestibility as compared with ileal collection and that the absence of milk replacer clotting does not affect ileal flow and digestibility of milk replacer N and fat.

The measurement of the pH and Na+, K+, Ca++ and Cl- concentrations of the stomach or the abomasal contents allow the functioning statement of these organs to be determined. In the present work, these parameters were measured, at 2 day intervals, in six lambs fitted with permanent abomasal cannulae and experimentally infected with 150 000 O. circumcincta infective larvae. Infection was followed by a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in pH and Na+ and Ca++ concentrations, and a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in K+ and Cl- concentrations of the abomasal contents. The disorders start when the 4th stage larvae begin to emerge from the mucosae (from the 4th to the 12th day infection) and become more marked between the 16th and the 32nd day; this means when the egg output starts and becomes marked. The disturbances noted in the present work suggest: 1) a defective working of HCl production mechanism; 2) an intraluminal diffusion of the interstitial liquid; 3) a stimulation of pepsin production. These disorders would have consequences on the functioning of the other parts of the digestive tract.

A variety of model experiments were conducted in an attempt to obtain reference data for estimating the time of death from the stomach contents. The evidence derived from experiments with artificial gastric juices comparing the rates of digestion of various items of food showed that fish is more quickly digested than meat, with relatively small fish being disintegrated and becoming unrecognizable within a short time. The lower the pH of the gastric juice, the faster the rate of digestion. Experiments with dogs to study the rate of digestion of various food products indicated that, while the residual stomach contents decreased with time, there was still 190 g (approx. 36%) left in the stomach after 8 h. This suggested that, depending on the conditions, food can remain in the stomach for a considerable length of time. The residual contents in a dog's stomach and the changes in the shape of the food ingested may not necessarily concur, as the observations suggested that, after a lapse of eight hours, the stomach contained food that had been half digested as well as that which had virtually retained its original shape. Lumps of meat with a large surface area are digested more quickly than those with a small surface area, indicating the importance of mastication. Experiments on human stomach contents after ingestion of food mixed with a contrast medium showed that these had been discharged almost completely after 5 h. A somewhat larger amount of food had been retained in the stomach following alcohol intake as compared with no alcohol consumption. Experiments performed on dogs to determine their stomach contents after death indicated that, in high-temperature conditions, for example, the ingested chunks of meat are reduced to a mushy-sloppy consistency after three days, suggesting that digestion will proceed to some extent after death as putrefaction continues.

Gastric aspirate L/S ratio and cord blood protein concentration were measured in 150 newborn infants, 33 of whom developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). 46.6% of the infants with low gastric aspirate L/S value (less than or equal to 3) and 33.3% of the infants with serum protein of less than or equal to 46 g/l developed RDS. The sensitivity of both parameters was 81.8%. Combination of these two methods yielded a higher predictive value (62.2%) but decreased the sensitivity (69.7%). The patterns of phospholipids reflect lung maturity, but also serum protein levels indicating overall maturity and the osmotic powers of microcirculation may be of diagnostic value in featuring developing RDS.

A 31-year-old male died from a suicidal overdose of nortriptyline. An unusually high heart blood concentration of 86.4 mg/L is reported, along with femoral blood and tissue concentrations.

Free glucose was assayed in the caecal contents of rats. Whereas control animals had less than 60 nmol glucose per g of caecal contents, 230 nmol glucose/g caecal contents were determined 3 hours after the administration of 300 mg Palatinit by gastric intubation. In contrast to an earlier report (8), caecal fluid thus contained less than 3% of the glucose concentration of 11 mumol/ml claimed to occur after Palatinit administration by these authors (8). Since the anaerobic fermentation capacity for glucose by the caecal contents of rats amounted to at least 630 nmol glucose/min X g fresh weight at 37 degrees C, only the low glucose concentrations reported above are plausible.

Omeprazole was administered to rabbits as a single dose or daily for 1 wk. H+-K+-ATPase and isolated gastric glands were prepared from the oxyntic corpus mucosa and used for functional and quantitative morphological studies. Both 10 and 100 mumol omeprazole/kg increased the pH of the gastric content when measured at death. The stimulated oxygen uptake and the rate of aminopyrine (AP) uptake were both inhibited in the isolated gastric gland preparations. Morphometric studies of biopsy specimens taken from the corpus mucosa and isolated gastric glands showed that omeprazole treatment increased the volume density of the acid compartments. This expansion provides an increased accumulation space for AP. Therefore, an increased AP uptake might be seen in glands isolated from omeprazole-treated animals. Blockade of the H2-receptor by ranitidine transformed the morphology of the cell into a more resting type and, furthermore, reduced the omeprazole-induced increase in the volume density of the acid compartments in the parietal cell. The H+-K+-ATPase activity measured in membrane fractions from the omeprazole-treated animals was decreased dose dependently and inhibited by 95% after 100 mumol omeprazole/kg. However, the concentration of the enzyme in these fractions did not change. These results indicate a specific inhibitory action of omeprazole on the H+-K+-ATPase.

The damage caused by aspiration depends on the volume, nature and pH of the aspirate and the type of pathogen involved. Aspirate with a pH below 2.5 is much more likely to be toxic than less acidic material. Anaerobic organisms are common pathogens, but aerobic bacteria frequently appear in the hospital setting. Steroids may be useful if administered within minutes of the aspiration. Lavage with large amounts of alkaline fluid has not proved helpful.

A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of cephradine, one of the commonly used antibiotics, in biological materials. Mimic samples for stomach contents, miso soup, were applied to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after centrifugation and purification by Sep-Pak C18 cartridge treatment. Serum samples deproteinized or urine samples diluted were directly injected into the HPLC. The recoveries of cephradine from these materials were 95-97% and the detection limit was 0.01 microgram/injection. This method was applied to the analysis of cephradine in stomach contents obtained by autopsy. After purification by the cartridge treatment, cephradine in the sample was identified and determined by HPLC and further confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and mass spectrometry (MS).

Hyperosmolal feedings have been implicated as a cause of potential disruption to the physiology of the neonatal intestinal tract. To evaluate this we studied eight awake lambs (11 +/- 2 days old) with chronically implanted catheters in the portal sinus, descending aorta, and left and right ventricles. Blood flow (Q) was calculated with the radionuclide-labeled microsphere technique and O2 delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) by the Fick principle using blood O2 contents. Lambs were studied initially after a 4-h fast and sequentially at 2, 3, and 4 h after eating a hyperosmolal (590 mOsmol) formula. Cardiac output (mean +/- SEM, 332 +/- 22 ml.min-1.kg-1) and whole animal VO2 (16.5 +/- 2.5 ml O2.min-1.kg-1) remained stable. Total gastrointestinal (GI) blood flow increased 28% by 3 h. Small intestine Q increased 21% 3 h after feeding and then returned to baseline. Similarly, large intestinal Q increased 77% after feeding and remained elevated. There was no effect on stomach Q. Total GI vascular resistance fell 28% 3 h after feeding then returned to baseline. DO2 to the GI tract increased at 3 h and returned to baseline. There was no change, though, in GI VO2 (3.9 +/- 0.4 ml O2.min-1.100 g-1) or in the extraction (VO2/DO2) of oxygen (21.2 +/- 1.8%) during the study. Furthermore, there was no evidence for GI tract acidosis at any time. Systemic organ blood flow (except hepatic arterial blood flow) remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Male adult mice were fasted for 8-10 hr, given a 1% phenol red marker solution, and exercised on a treadmill. Mice exercised at 0.50 mph had significantly faster gastric emptying rates after 15 min of exercise than non-exercised mice; however differences were not significant for longer periods of time. Mice exercised at 0.25 mph did not have significantly different gastric emptying rates at any time interval studied. Larger volumes empty faster than smaller volumes from stomachs of exercised mice.

This study reports quantitative and qualitative differences in intestinal bile acids and cholesterol in miniature pigs following dietary casein or soy protein isolate. The total amount of bile acids in the small intestine was significantly higher when soy protein isolate was fed in comparison to casein. The values were (mean +/- SEM) 4.51 +/- 0.39 mmol and 2.43 +/- 0.08 mmol, respectively, when the proteins were given as the sole component of the diet. When the proteins were given as part of a semi-purified diet, these values were 6.44 +/- 1.04 mmol and 3.95 +/- 0.39 mmol, respectively. Hyocholic acid amounted to 39.6%, hyodeoxycholic acid to 31%, and chenodeoxycholic acid to 27.6% of total bile acids in the small intestine when casein was fed. The soy-fed animals tended to have more secondary bile acids. The total small bowel chymus content, on a wet weight basis, was 63% higher in the soy group. In all experimental conditions studied, there was a close correlation between small bowel chyme content and bile acid content. The distribution of bile acids in the small intestine showed that the soy fed animals tended to have more bile acids in the distal parts of the jejunum. The intestinal cholesterol contents were not significantly different between dietary groups.

To assess the effect of duodenal ulcer surgery on Campylobacter pyloridis gastric biopsies were done and fasting bile acid concentrations in gastric aspirates were measured in 35 patients with active duodenal ulceration and 54 who had undergone surgery at some time. Biopsy specimens were assessed blind for the presence of C pyloridis and scored for severity of reflux gastritis by the use of a histological grading system. Among patients who had undergone highly selective vagotomy the proportion who were C pyloridis-positive was similar to that in the unoperated group, but among those who had undergone Billroth I partial gastrectomy, Billroth II partial gastrectomy, or truncal vagotomy and gastroenterostomy it was significantly lower (p less than 0.001). The absence of C pyloridis correlated strongly (p less than 0.001) with high reflux scores and increased bile acid concentrations in the stomach. Reflux scores and bile acid concentrations were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) after Billroth I and Billroth II partial gastrectomies and truncal vagotomy and gastroenterostomy than in the active duodenal ulcer or highly selective vagotomy groups. There was a highly significant correlation (p less than 0.001) between reflux scores and bile acid concentrations. These results suggest that reflux may disrupt mucus and thus cause the death of campylobacters that live beneath it. They also suggest that reflux may produce a reflux-specific gastritis. Highly selective vagotomy may protect against these changes in the gastric mucosa.