Although it is difficult to define the term "aging" consensually, in medical fields, usually it means the progressive accumulation of irreversible degenerative changes leading to loss of homeostasis. It is supposable that there is also modest decline in the structure and function of several digestive organs. However, data about this subject are not enough. Main problem in studying aging digestive organ is that discrimination of primary senile change of the organ with secondary one from other senile diseases is not easy. That is, the prevalence of many non-digestive disorders which can badly affect the digestive functions is increasing by aging; for example, diabetes, malignancy, etc. To prove that some phenomenon is as result of pure senile change, it is necessary to exclude secondary one, but, the process is very complicated and difficult. In spite of this limitation, here, I will discuss the senile change of several digestive organs by aging, especially at the view of the gastrointestinal functions, with review of literatures.
*Aging ; Digestive System Diseases/*physiopathology ; Esophageal Diseases/physiopathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/metabolism/physiopathology ; Stomach Diseases/metabolism/microbiology/physiopathology

Benign anorectal diseases are common. Hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal fistula are the top three of colorectal surgery for benign anrorectal clinical practice. Postoperative fecal incontinence or stool seepage has not yet got enough attention by specialists. This article elaborates on the clinical status, evaluation process, functional protection and treatment strategies etc. Following the continence protection principle requires specialists to focus on not only the disease itself but the patient-centered quality of life.
Anus Diseases ; physiopathology ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Quality of Life

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common and major complication after surgery. The syndrome covers a wide spectrum of clinical signs, ranges from mild feeling to severe discomfort and varies from person to person. The mild patients need no care, but severe ones may have long hospital stay, and even suffer from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, severely affecting postoperative rehabilitation. However, the etiology of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction has not been fully elucidated. Much research demonstrates that many factors, such as operative procedures, surgical operation, homeostasis disturbance, anesthesia and analgesia, blood perfusion, inflammation, and neuroendocrine factors, are responsible for the development and progression of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction. This study therefore reviewed the causes of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in the published literatures.
Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Constipation ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Digestive System ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Hormones ; physiology ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; physiology ; Humans

A newly-developed gastrointestinal (GI) monitoring system based on a smart capsule is presented in the paper. The unprecedented 130-200 hours battery life and smaller size (10 mm x 20 mm) allows the physician to get total pan-colonic measurements of high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs). To test the in vivo performance of the monitoring system, 15 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with slow transportation constipation (STC) participate in this study. The average of HAPCs occurred in patients is significantly lower than in volunteers (12.4 +/- 3.3 vs. 18.5 +/- 3.7 p = 0.013). The system provides a useful tool for STC diagnosis and treatments of patients.
Adult ; Colon ; physiology ; Constipation ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Manometry ; instrumentation ; Middle Aged

Type 2 diabetes can be treated by gastrointestinal surgery, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms which include weight loss, gastrointestinal hormones, foregut hypothesis, hindgut hypothesis, adipocytokines, and inflammatory factors.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastrointestinal Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BD) and its components in the rats with electrogastric dysrhythmia, explore the mechanism of BD' s "relieving distension and fullness, and dissolving lumps" and study BD' s compatibility regularity.

METHODSRat model of electrogastric dysrhythmia was established, the effects of BD and its components on the coefficient of variability of the model' s slow wave electrogastric rhythm were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, BD and all the components groups had better effects on all the aspects (P <0. 05 ), Among which the group containing herbs with pungent and bitter flavour (Rhizoma Pinelliae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Berberidis julianae) was the best.

CONCLUSIONBD and all the components have the effects of rectifying electrogastric dysrhythmias in various degrees, and the herbs with pungent and bitter flavour are best. This study provides the experimental foundations for further understanding the mechanism of BD' s treating principle-using bitter drugs for purgation and pungent drugs for dispersion, normalizing the functional activities of qi.

Animals ; Digestive System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Electrodiagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Stomach Diseases ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate anorectal dynamics, function and efficacy of ultralow rectal carcinoma patients undergone intersphincteric resection(ISR).

METHODSFrom January 2004 to August 2007, 30 patients with ultralow rectal carcinoma(2.5-4.0 cm distance from anal edge) underwent ISR. All the patients received anorectal manometry before and after operation. The postoperative anal function was evaluated by Williams continence standard and the treatment outcome was followed up.

RESULTSAfter ISR operation, anal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure and maximum tolerance volume of the rectum decreased significantly (all P<0.01) and restored gradually, but not to normal. The rectal anal inhibitory reflex disappeared in 27 patients(90.0%) and was not improved. According to Williams continence standard, 86.7%, 93.3% and 96.7% of patients obtained acceptable anal function in 3, 6, and 12 months after operation respectively. During follow-up of 12 to 44 months, all the patients were still alive and no patient developed pelvis or local recurrence, distant metastasis and anastomotic leakage. Fecal eczema of anus occurred in 10 patients, colonic mucosa prolapse in 2 patients and stenosis of anal canal in one patient.

CONCLUSIONISR for ultralow rectal carcinoma can not only attain radical treatment outcome, but also preserve anal sphincter.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo find out the regular pattern of pain reaction by pressing along the Governor Vessel at the levels of T3 to L4 on the back in patients with digestive system disease, so as to provide references for diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSThirty patients diagnosed with digestive system disease by gastroscopy and colonoscopy as well as 16 patients with digestive symptoms without accurate diagnosis by endoscopy checks were observed. Pressing was applied from Zhiyang (GV 9) to Yaoyangguan (GV 3), including non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel. Positive reaction was recognized since pain, soreness or distension sensation appeared in the space between the spinous process.

RESULTSThe positive ratios of 30 patients with endoscopy checks and 16 without the check accounted for 100.0%. The tender spots, usually 5 to 9 in number, were mainly focused on the relative acupoints and non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel from T6 to T10.

CONCLUSIONThe pain reaction from Lingtai (GV 10) to Zhongshu (GV 7), which are at the level of T6 to T10, along the Governor Vessel is closely related with digestive system disease. And it can be regarded as function criterion of the digestive system and important reference of auxiliary diagnosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Back ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Digestive System Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; Pain Measurement ; Sensation

Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Digestive System Diseases ; complications ; physiopathology ; Europe ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Nutritional Support ; Pediatrics