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

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

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

Liver dysfunction by various reasons can cause metabolic disorders of a variety of nutrients and malnutrition, while malnutrition affects the recovery of liver function. Clinically patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are often accompanied with malnutrition, and these patients with liver dysfunction are easy to develop nutrient metabolic disorders. Therefore, improving the nutritional status of patients with liver dysfunction can improve the success rate of surgery and postoperative recovery. This article reviews the nutritional support in patients with liver dysfunction undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Care

Androgen receptor (AR) gene has been extensively studied in diverse clinical conditions. In addition to the point mutations, trinucleotide repeat (CAG and GGN) length polymorphisms have been an additional subject of interest and controversy among geneticists. The polymorphic variations in triplet repeats have been associated with a number of disorders, but at the same time contradictory findings have also been reported. Further, studies on the same disorder in different populations have generated different results. Therefore, combined analysis or review of the published studies has been of much value to extract information on the significance of variations in the gene in various clinical conditions. AR genetics has been reviewed extensively but until now review articles have focused on individual clinical categories such as androgen insensitivity, male infertility, prostate cancer, and so on. We have made the first effort to review most the aspects of AR genetics. The impact of androgens in various disorders and polymorphic variations in the AR gene is the main focus of this review. Additionally, the correlations observed in various studies have been discussed in the light of in vitro evidences available for the effect of AR gene variations on the action of androgens.
Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Cognition Disorders ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Digestive System Diseases ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pre-Eclampsia ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; physiology ; Schizophrenia ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Testosterone ; deficiency ; Trinucleotide Repeats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of enteral nutrition(EN) on liver function and inflammatory response after abdominal operation in patients with liver dysfunction.

METHODSA prospective multicenter study was conducted. Patients requiring EN for at least 5 days after abdominal surgery with at least 1 abnormal liver function index were included. After operations, EN suspensions(TPF-FOS) were administered for 5 days after the return of bowel function with targeted content of 125.52 kJ(30 kcal)·kg(-1)·d(-1) maintained for a minimum of 3 days. Levels of serum pre-albumin, C-reaction protein(CRP), and liver function index were measured and the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS) was recorded before operation and 6 days after EN. Occurrence of gastrointestinal discomfort was monitored during the treatment.

RESULTSNo statistically significant difference was found in pre-albumin between preoperative level and post-EN level[(175.94±71.79) mg/L vs.(192.22±91.26) mg/L, P=0.162]. Patients with abnormal level of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were less after EN compared to the preoperative period(30 vs. 40, P=0.041), as was total bilirubin (3 vs. 9, P=0.034). No significant differences in other indices of liver function were found. Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin decreased after EN support(P=0.000 and P=0.015, respectively). CRP was notably reduced after EN support [(48.74±65.16) mg/L vs.(25.79±23.63) mg/L, P=0.009] and the incidence of SIRS largely declined after EN support(19.0% vs. 10.3%, P=0.059). The incidence of gastrointestinal discomfort was 22.4% on postoperative day 1 and declined to 19.0% on postoperative day 5.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with liver dysfunction, enteral nutrition support with TPF-FOS after abdominal operation can reduce inflammatory response, improve liver function, and maintain serum protein level.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of partial resection of puborectalis combined with mutilation of internal anal sphincter(IAS) in the treatment of puborectalis syndrome with high anal pressure.

METHODSTwenty-five cases of puborectalis syndrome with high anal resting pressure in the preoperative examination received the operation of partial resection of puborectalis combined with mutilation of IAS in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2013 and May 2015. The position of puborectalis was confirmed by touching with the exposure under the transfixion device, and a transverse incision was made by electrotome between 3 and 5 o'clock direction of puborectalis, then partial puborectalis was lifted by vessel clamp at 5 o'clock direction, and about 0.5 cm of muscular tissue was resected. Between 8 to 10 o'clock direction of anal tube, about 1 cm length of transverse incision was made by electrotome, then partial IAS was lifted by vessel clamp and cut off. Preoperative and postoperative 3-month anorectal manometry and defecography were carried out. Wexner constipation score and Cleveland Clinic incontinence score were implemented before surgery and 3, 6, 12 months after operation. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR-ORB-16007695).

RESULTSOf the 25 cases, 18 were male and 7 were female, the average age was 55 years old and the average course of disease was 9 years. Compared with pre-operation, the postoperative 3-month anal resting pressure and maximal squeeze pressure were significantly decreased [(53.56±9.05) mmHg vs. (92.44±7.06) mmHg, (142.80±20.35) mmHg vs. (210.88±20.56) mmHg, respectively, both P=0.000]; anorectal angulation at resting state and forced defecation state increased significantly [(102.32±4.96)degree vs. (95.88±4.01)degree, (117.88±5.95)degree vs. (89.52±3.25)degree, respectively, both P=0.000]. Wexner constipation score of postoperative 3-month, 6-month, 12-month (8.28±3.91, 7.40±3.64 and 8.04±4.74) was significantly lower than the preoperative score (16.00±3.69, all P<0.05), while the score was not significantly different among 3 time points after operation (P>0.05). Cleveland Clinic incontinence score was 0 at postoperative 6 and 12 months, and revealed 20 cases were effective among all the surgical patients(80%).

CONCLUSIONPartial resection of puborectalis combined with mutilation of internal anal sphincter can effectively reduce anal pressure and improve symptoms of outlet obstruction, which is an effective method in the treatment of puborectalis syndrome with high anal pressure.

Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Constipation ; surgery ; Defecation ; Defecography ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Hypertonia ; surgery ; Pelvic Floor ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Pressure ; Treatment Outcome