Microscopic colitis

Article Abstract:

Colitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the mucosa (inner lining) of the colon, the most distal (farthest) segment of the large intestine. Its symptoms include the passage of watery and offensive stools, abdominal pain, and cramps. Diagnosis is often made by endoscopy of the colon, colonic biopsy, or radiological means. There is a small but growing number of cases reported in which chronic inflammation of the colon is seen in patients with endoscopically and radiologically normal colonic mucosa; in most of these cases biopsy confirms the diagnosis of microscopic colitis. Older women are most often afflicted, and medical treatment is sought because of watery diarrhea of long duration. In most cases of microscopic colitis, other tests do not reveal the presence of any readily identifiable causal agent; evidence is seldom found for bacterial or viral infection, dietary factors, altered gastrointestinal blood flow, or hormonal factors. In addition, pancreatic and immune functions seem to be normal, and the stools do not contain blood. In a number of cases, small intestinal function also seems to be compromised, but unlike celiac disease (a related disorder of the small intestine), dietary therapy does not seem to be effective. One active area of debate is whether microscopic colitis and collagenous colitis (the more commonly reported form) represent variations of the same inflammatory bowel disease. Most experts now feel that this is probably so. Treatment for microscopic colitis is not well standardized; in a recent study, a high percentage of patients responded positively to oral sulfasalazine or corticosteroids; some responded to nonspecific care or no treatment. Microscopic colitis appears to be more responsive to treatment than does collagenous colitis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Colorectal diseases, Intestinal diseases

---

Modulation of fluid absorption and the secretory response of rat jejunum to cholera toxin by dietary fat

Article Abstract:

The role of dietary fat in the regulation of gastrointestinal function, particularly intestinal absorption and secretion, is continuing to grow in importance. Evidence is accumulating that dietary fat may have a protective effect against gastrointestinal illnesses, especially diarrhea. This relationship is particularly well documented in the case of milk fat, but other types of fat may serve a similar function. Studies were carried out in 3-week-old rats to determine the effects of feeding high-fat diets, which provided 40 percent of the total calories as fat, on intestinal function. Rats were given nutritionally balanced high-fat diets in which the fat calories were provided by butter (saturated fat), olive oil (monounsaturated fat), corn oil (polyunsaturated fat), or a standard laboratory diet with 10 percent fat. Intestinal absorption was measured by determining the amount of radioactivity absorbed when the intestine was flushed with a radioactive solution. Intestinal secretion was measured by determining the secretory response to cholera toxin, which is an experimental model of secretory diarrhea. Feeding the diet high in corn oil improved intestinal absorption, and both olive oil and corn oil reduced intestinal secretion due to cholera toxin. The effects of the two different types of fats may be mediated by distinct mechanisms. The relevance of these findings to human gastrointestinal disorders is not known, but it is suggested that continued ingestion of different types of fats may explain in part the varying severity of diarrhea and related symptoms in different populations of children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Fat, Fats

---

Evaluation of the efficacy of oral rehydration solutions using human whole gut perfusion

Article Abstract:

Dehydration is a complication resulting from a number of disease states, especially those in which large volumes of fluid are lost, such as diarrhea. In these conditions, the body's ability to maintain suitable blood concentrations of salts is compromised (electrolyte imbalance). A variety of solutions have been used to rehydrate patients suffering from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The relative concentration of nutrients, electrolytes, and water in these solutions has not been optimized. Animal experiments aimed at elucidating the most effective combination of constituents are difficult to interpret because of profound differences between animal and human intestinal transport of substances. To determine the effect of different concentrations of electrolytes and sugars (glucose) on the efficacy of rehydrating solutions, experiments were performed on 30 healthy subjects. Five different solutions were used: one recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), a commercially available solution, and three different experimental solutions. The solution that caused maximal water absorption was a hypotonic (less concentrated than ordinary physiological fluids such as blood) bicarbonate-free mixture containing 80 millimoles per liter glucose (slightly less than normal blood levels). The commercially available solution was significantly poorer than the others in promoting water absorption, and the WHO-recommended solution was rated about average compared with the other solutions. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Research, Evaluation, Water-electrolyte balance (Physiology), Fluid-electrolyte balance, Dehydration (Physiology), Oral rehydration therapy

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Evaluation of a taurine containing amino acid solution in parenteral nutrition. Early parenteral feeding of amino acids
• Abstracts: Evaluation and management of menstrual dysfunction in athletes. A 21-year-old woman with menstrual irregularity
• Abstracts: Maturation of the secretion of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone in the fetus. Immunoendocrine interactions and autoimmunity
• Abstracts: A comparison of 5-fluorouracil metabolism in human colorectal cancer and colon mucosa. Repair processes in the treatment and induction of cancer with radiation
• Abstracts: Hypothermia and acidosis worsen coagulopathy in the patient requiring massive transfusion. Autotransfusion of unwashed mediastinal shed blood fails to decrease banked blood requirements in patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.