Objective To investigate the responses of astrocytes and neurons in rat lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata induced by chronic colonic inflammation,and the relationship between activated astrocytes and neurons.Methods Thirty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups.In treated group(n=17),colonic inflammation was induced by intraluminal administration of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS) in rats;In non-treated group(n=16),saline was intraluminally administered.The lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata were removed 3,7,14 and 28 days after intraluminal administration and processed for anti-GFAP,Fos and GFAP/Fos immunohistochemistry. Results Most activated GFAP positive astrocytes were distributed in the superficial laminae(Ⅰ-Ⅱ),intermediolateral nucleus(lamina Ⅴ),posterior commissural nucleus(laminae Ⅹ) and anterolateral nucleus(laminae Ⅸ) in lumbosacral spinal cord.Fos positive neurons were mainly expressed in the deeper laminae of the spinal cord(Ⅲ-Ⅳ,Ⅴ-Ⅵ).In the medulla oblongata,both GFAP-IR astrocytes and Fos-IR neurons were mainly distributed in medullary visceral zone(MVZ),which is composed of the nucleus of solitary tract(NTS),ventrolateral medulla(VLM) and intermediat reticular(IRt).The density of GFAP positive astrocytes in the spinal cord in treated rats 3,7 and 14 days after TNBS administration was significantly higher than that in non-treated rats(P0.05).Conclusions The astrocytes in lumbosacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata can be activated by colonic inflammation.The response of astrocytes decreased with the recovery of the colonic inflammation.Activated astrocytes are closely related to activated neurons in MVZ.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate Fos expression in rat lumbarsacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata induced by chronic colonic inflammation. Methods Twenty six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group 1, colonic inflammation was induced in sixteen rats by intraluminal instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS); group 2, saline was instilled intraluminally in eight rats; group 3, no stimulation was given in 2 rats. After 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of instillation, lumbarsacral spinal cord and medulla oblongata were removed and processed for Fos immunohistochemical staining. Results Fos neurons induced by TNBS instillation were mainly distributed in deep laminae (laminae Ⅲ Ⅳ,Ⅴ Ⅵ) in spinal dorsal horn and in medullary visceral zone in medulla oblongata. The number of Fos cells in the spinal cord and medullary visceral zone was significantly higher in rats after 7 and 14 day of TNBS instillation compared with that of controls. After 28 days of TNBS instillation, the number of Fos neurons in the medullary visceral zone decreased and became comparable to that of control group. However, the number of Fos cells (54.1?16.3) in the spinal cord in some rats was still significantly higher than that of controls (12.2 ?2.6, P

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) is a common disease of intestinal disorder.It is characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort along with altered bowel function.The underlying mechanisms of IBS remain unclear.Several studies showed that the attack of IBS might be related to the gastrointestinal motility,visceral hypersensitivity,infection of the bowel and several other factors.Existing animal models can be divided into 2 broad categories based on their primary pathogenetic mechanisms: those initiated by a central nervous system-directed(psychosocial) stressor and those stems from a gut-directed stressor(gut inflammation,infection).This article reviews the current research of IBS animal model.

0.05), yet it correlated with RE incidence (P2.6 ,high risk ),obesity( OR=1.7～ 2.5,moderate risk ),over ingestion and intake of coffee and sweets ( OR=1.2～ 1.6,low risk ). Conclusion RE is frequently seen in adult population around Xi’ an area with a variety of risk factors.

0.05), but the frequency and intensity of macroscopic esophagitis of BE were significantly milder than those of RE (P0.05) except that a higher intragastric pressure was recorded in patients with BE. Conclusion The esophageal motor dysfunction is unlikely the main factor in the genesis of BE .

Objective To improve the capability identifying the causes of dyspepsia. Methods Standardized questionnaires were used to investigate the 2623 dyspeptic outpatients among four hospitals in Guan-zhong area, Shaanxi Province. All of the patients were followed up for 4-24 weeks, and finally diagnosed according to consistent criteria. Results The frequency rate of functional dyspepsia (FD) was 50.5%, benign organic causes were present in 39.3% and malignant diseases accounted for the remaining 10.2%. In the patients who had marked alarm symptoms, the proportion of benign organic causes and malignant diseases rose to 48.3% and 29.8% respectively, significantly higher than that without alarm symptoms (33.9% and 2.7% respectively)(P

In order to assess colonic motility of chronic constipation, colonic transit test was carried out in 34 patients with chronic constipation and in 20 healthy subjects. 20 radiopaque markers are ingested at 8 am before the day test, and plain abdominal films were obtained at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The normal value of colonic transit test was 16(80%), or more markers passed after 72 h. By means of transit time study, 34 constipated patients were classified into 2 groups: 12 normal transit patients and 22 slow transit patients. There was no difference in colonic transit time between normal transit patients and controls (P＞0.05). Patients with slow transit had more markers left in right colon, left colon and rectosigmoid colon at 48 h (P＜0.01, respectively) and 72 h (P＜0.01, respectively). According to the transit index, 22 slow transit patients were divided into 3 types: 10 cases colonic stasis, 8 cases outlet obstruction and 4 cases colorectal stasis. The study suggests that chronic constipated patients have abnormalbilities of colonic transit.

Oblective To observe the effect of bile reflux on the intragastric pH. Methods We used ambulatory intragastric pH monitoring along with simultaneous Bilitec 2000 to measure the pH and absorbance of the mixed gastric juice diluted with bile with increasing bilirubin concentration in vitro and the yellow and clear gastric juice aspirated under endoscopy. In vivo,we studied 20 functional dispepsia patients for 24 h with simultaneous intragastric pH and bilirubin monitoring. Results In vitro dilutions,the absorbance value reached to 0. 900 while the concentration was only 20% ,but when the pH of the solution was more than 4,it′s concentration was already up to 60％. The mean absorbance of the yellow gastric juice(0. 348± 0. 131) was significantly higher than that of the clear juice (0. 008 ± 0. 003)(P＜0.05). The pH of 80％ yellow gastric juice was less than 4, the percentage was not significantly different from the clear samples (81％) (P＞0. 05). The pH showed no correlation with the absorbance in the yellow and clear groungs. Eight of the 12 patients with the spontaneous nocturnal episcodes of alkalinization had simultaneous increase of absorbance,4 of the 8 subjects with no aikalinization had increase of absorbance. Gonclusion In some concentration,bile reflux affect little on the intragastric pH.