Electrogastrography (EGG) is a method of measuring action potentials on the abdomen. It is noninvasive, inexpensive and easy to measure. However, the EGG signal has a very low frequency (0.05 Hz) and an extremely low amplitude (10-100 microV). Consequently, its measured waveform is difficult to analyze and it is not yet completely understood. In this study, a four-channel EGG measurement system was built to measure the action potential of the stomach. This system was compared with the commercially available one-channel Digitrapper EGG. The 3 cpm percentages were compared between the best channel of the four-channel system and channel 1, whose electrode position was similar to the commercially available one-channel system for normal subjects. The average 3 cpm percentage of the best channel and channel 1 for preprandial measurement was 89.5% and 83.2%, respectively, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Also the average 3 cpm percentage of the best channel and channel 1 for postprandial measurement was 90.4% and 76.5%, respectively, and this was statistically significant (p = 0.003). From these results, it can be concluded that a multi-channel EGG system is required for better EGG measurement.
Action Potentials* ; Adult ; Human ; Stomach/physiology*

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of the area postrema (AP) of the medulla oblongata on gastrointestinal interdigestive migrating motor complex (MMC) and the plasma motilin level.

METHODSInterdigestive MMC activities of the antrum and duodenum were recorded by strain gauge implanted on the serosa of 8 conscious dogs. A cannula was intubated in femoral vein for motilin injection. The plasma motilin concentration was measured by RIA. We observed: (1) normal interdigestive MMC activity and fluctuations in plasma motilin concentration; (2) the effects of electrically damaging the AP on MMC activity and plasma motilin level; (3) whether intravenous injection of motilin could induce phase III contractions after the AP was destroyed.

RESULTS(1) Typical interdigestive MMC with phase I, II, III, and IV was recorded in normal dogs. Phase III was concurrent with the peak of plasma motilin level. (2) In damaged AP dogs, antroduodenal interdigestive MMC contractions were suppressed; cyclic, phasic and migratory pattern of MMC was disrupted. Plasma motilin concentration was decreased. Intravenous injection of motilin could not induce phase III contractions.

CONCLUSIONSThe area postrema might play an important role, which is mediated by motilin, on the regulation of interdigestive MMC.

Animals ; Dogs ; Fourth Ventricle ; physiology ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Motilin ; blood ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; physiology ; Stomach ; physiology

We have occasionally experienced eosinophilic abscess of the liver in patients with gastric carcinoma, suggesting that some eosinophil mobilizing (chemotactic and proliferative) factors might be produced by carcinoma cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not gastric carcinoma expresses the well-known eosinophil chemotactic factors (ECFs) and whether or not the expression is related to the histologic subtypes. Seventeen consecutive surgically removed tumor-bearing stomachs were collected: 7 signet ring cell type, 7 poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and 3 moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections were re-evaluated for eosinophil and mast cell infiltration. The expression of IL-2, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were examined by immunocytochemical stain. There was no available frozen tissue for IL-2 and IL-5 in one case. Gastric carcinoma expressed IL-2 in all 16 cases, IL-5 in 12 of 16 cases and GM-CSF in 10 of 17 cases. Of particular interest, 7 of 10 GM-CSF-expressing carcinomas were signet ring cell type. Even in the remaining 3 cases, most GM-CSF-positive cells were signet ring cells scattered within tubular adenocarcinoma. No correlation of ECF expression between either eosinophil/mast cell infiltration or peripheral blood eosinophilia was identified. In conclusion, most gastric carcinomas express the well-known ECFs and the expression of GM-CSF is specific for signet ring carcinoma cells.
Cell Movement/physiology ; Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil/metabolism* ; Eosinophils/physiology ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mast Cells/physiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism*

Adolescent ; Child ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of different pressures of CO2 pneumoperitioneum on pathomorphism and function of intestines following laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG).

METHODSForty-eight gastric cancer patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. Among them, 36 patients scheduled for elective LG were randomly assigned to low pressure group (LP), middle pressure (MP), and high pressure group (HP) with 12 cases in each group. The CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressure was maintained at 8-10 mmhg in LP, 11-13 mmhg in MP, and 14-16 mmhg in HP. The control group was open gastrectomy group (OG) in 12 cases. The intestinal pathomorphism and level of plasma D-lactic acid before, during and after operation, and postoperative intestinal function of four groups were examined and compared.

RESULTSThere were no statistical differences in preoperative data among the four groups(all P>0.05). LG group was associated with a lower rate of surgical complications than OG (8.3% vs. 41.7%, P<0.05). No obvious damage of intestinal mucosa was found in OG group. Damage degree of intestinal mucosa after operation in LP, MP and HP groups was 0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 respectively. There was significant change in intestinal pathomorphism after operation in both HP and MP groups. The levels of D-lactic acid before operation were not significantly different among all the four groups, but increased significantly in each group after operation (all P<0.05). HP group had the highest level of plasma D-lactic acid and presented with delayed bowel sound return (4.5 d), time to first flatus (5.4 d), and intake (6.0 d) as compared to the other 3 groups (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic radical gastrectomy is safe and minimally invasive. Higher pneumoperitoneal pressure is harmful to the recovery of intestinal mucosa and function. Therefore the pneumoperitioneum pressure should be maintained as low as possible under clear visualization during operation.

Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intestines ; physiology ; Laparoscopy ; Pressure ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Electrogastrography (EGG) is the cutaneous recording of the myoelectrical activity of the stomach using surface electrodes and it is more and more attractive due to its noninvasiveness. It has been used in medical research and clinical diagnosis. It is evident that with the use of this noninvasive measurements of gastric electrical activity(GEA) that we can diagnose gastric dysfunction. In this article, record, analysis, application and trend of EGG are reviewed.
Electrodiagnosis ; methods ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Stomach ; physiology ; Stomach Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the electrogastrogram (EGG) characteristics of healthy neonates.

METHODSTwenty healthy neonates born at 37-39 weeks of gestation (11 males and 9 females, Apagar's score 9.3 +/- 0.4) were enrolled in this study. EGG recordings were performed for half an hour pre- and postprandially at an interval of a week from birth until age 4 weeks. The EEG variables measured included the percentage of normal gastric rhythm, the percentage of tachygastria and bradygastria, the fed-to-fasting ratio of the EEG dominant power, as well as the EEG dominant frequency and its instability coefficient. The paired sample t test (95% CI) was used to compare the recordings.

RESULTSBetween birth and age 28 days, the percentage of normal gastric rhythm ranged from 38.2 +/- 4.9% to 39.7 +/- 3.5% of recorded time, tachygastria was observed in the range of 23.7 +/- 5.4% to 23.5 +/- 4.3% of recorded time, and bradygastria was shown to be in the range of 38.1 +/- 5.5% to 36.8 +/- 3.9% of recorded time in the 20 neonates before meal. Statistically significant differences were not seen in neonates with different ages as well as during pre- and postprandial periods. The EEG dominant frequency of neonates before meal was 2.38 +/- 0.5, 2.43 +/- 0.2, 2.54 +/- 0.3, 2.57 +/- 0.2 and 2.59 +/- 0.1 cpm at birth and at postnatal age of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days respectively. There were no significant differences in the dominant frequency and the coefficient of instability of the dominant frequency during pre- and postprandial periods. The EEG dominant frequency at postnatal age of 14, 21 and 28 days during pre- and postprandial periods was significantly higher than that at birth and at postnatal age of 7 days (P < 0.05). The coefficient of instability of the dominant frequency at postnatal age of 21 and 28 days was significantly lower than that at birth and at postnatal age of 7 and 14 days (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the fed-to-fasting ratio of EGG dominant power in neonates with different ages.

CONCLUSIONSThe pattern of electrical activity in the normal neonatal stomach appears to be different from that demonstrated in adults and children. The percentage of normal gastric rhythm is lower, and tachygastria and bradygastria are more frequently seen. The EEG dominant frequency increases with postnatal age in neonates.

Age Factors ; Electrodiagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; physiology ; Male ; Postprandial Period ; Stomach ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore different regulatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the same acupoint on the heart and the stomach.

METHODSEighty male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups equally, i.e., the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, the Xinshu (BL15) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group, 10 in each group. The regulatory effects of EA (2/15 Hz, 3 mA, 2 min) at different acupoints on the gastric motility (intragastric pressure) and the cardiac function (the left ventricular pressure) were observed. The mean values of effect of two-min pre-EA and after-EA were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the pre-EA in the same group, the left ventricular pressure decreased in the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group (P <0.05). The intragastric pressure increased in the Quchi (LI11) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group, while it decreased in the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group (P <0.05). The difference of the left ventricular pressure was sequenced from high to low as Xinshu (BL15) >Danzhong (RN17) >Neiguan (PC6) >Sanyinjiao (SP6) >Quchi (LI11). The difference of the intragastric pressure was sequenced from high to low as Tianshu (ST25) >Weishu (BL21) > Xinshu (BL15) > Danzhong (RN17) > Zusanli (ST36) > Sanyinjiao (SP6) > Quchi (LI11).

CONCLUSIONSEA at the same acupoint (2/15 Hz, 3 mA) showed different regulatory effects on the heart and stomach. There existed some difference in the direction and size due to the acupoint location, meridians, dominant nerve segment or relating organs. A fixed effect direction to the specific target was also shown.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Heart ; physiology ; Male ; Meridians ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach ; physiology

BACKGROUNDHepatic artery variations are frequent clinical occurrences. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic course of variant hepatic arteries originating from the superior mesenteric artery for the purpose of providing instructions for abdominal tumor surgery.

METHODSThe course of variant hepatic arteries originating from the superior mesenteric artery was studied in 400 patients with liver cancer confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (MSCTA), and 86 patients with gastric cancer confirmed by preoperative MSCTA between June 2008 and June 2010 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.

RESULTSHepatic artery variations originating from the superior mesenteric artery were noticed in 49 liver cancer patients and 14 gastric cancer patients (total 63 cases), with a variation rate of 12.96%, including two cases (3.17%) where the hepatic arteries ran along the anterior pancreas, and 61 cases (96.83%) where the hepatic arteries ran along the posterior pancreas.

CONCLUSIONSHepatic artery variations originating from the superior mesenteric artery present as two types: the pre-pancreas type and the post-pancreas type with the latter predominating. This finding is of clinical significance in abdominal tumor surgeries where clearance of portal lymph nodes is needed.

Hepatic Artery ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

To explore the effect of high fat diet on proteome in mice stomachs, we constructed a model in which the mice were fed with high fat diet as the high fat diet (HFD) group or normal diet as the control (CTRL) group for 110 days. The stomachs were collected and divided into three regions (forestomach (F), corpus (C) and antrum (A)) for protein extraction and mass spectrometry analysis. Of all 9 307 identified proteins in two groups, 4 066 proteins (HFD: 3 832, CTRL: 3 654) were strictly identified by at least one unique peptide and identified twice in three replicates. Using gene ontology (GO) and interaction network analysis we analyzed differentially expressed proteins (fold change≥2) in two groups or between regions. In the whole stomach tissues, proteins up-regulated in HFD group mainly were associated with protein stabilization and protein transport. Differentially expressed proteins between regions showed that forestomach was related to the biological process of keratinization and actin assembly, while corpus and antrum mainly performed digestive function. Compared with forestomach, the corpus and antrum were more affected by the diet. Though there was no significant effect on the basic digestive function of the stomach, proteins that were involved in protein transport and lipid metabolism-related biological processes were significantly highly expressed in HFD group.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protein Transport ; Proteome ; physiology ; Stomach ; physiology