Influence of sumatriptan on gastric accommodation and on antral contraction in healthy subjects assessed by ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Oral sumatriptan administration has been reported to delay gastric emptying after liquid meals. The aim of this study was to determine whether delayed gastric emptying is caused by enhanced gastric accommodation, impaired antral contractions, or both using ultrasonography.

METHODS

Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in this randomized two-way crossover study. After overnight fasting, the subjects received the liquid meal 60 min after ingesting a 50 mg sumatriptan tablet with 50 mL of water or 50 mL of water alone (control). The cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured in a supine position after every 100 mL. The frequency and amplitude of the antral contractions were measured in a slightly backward sitting position. The intragastric distribution of the liquid meal was assessed by calculating the proximal stomach/distal stomach ratio (prox/distal ratio).

KEY RESULTS

The cross-sectional area after drinking 100, 200, and 300 mL of the liquid meal (oral sumatriptan vs control) was 34.49 vs 15.11 cm(2) (P = 0.0051), 48.00 vs 30.61 cm(2) (P = 0.0166), and 58.67 vs 47.19 cm(2) (P = 0.0125), respectively. There was no significant difference in the amplitude of contractions, contraction cycle, motility index, and prox/distal ratio (97.15 vs 97.93%, P = 0.0745; 19.42 vs 19.5 s, P= 0.8590; and 887.58 vs 889.22, P = 0.5751; 9.75 vs 8.41, P = 0.8785; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Oral sumatriptan administration enhanced gastric accommodation after the ingestion of liquid nutrients, but had no significant effect on antral contractions or intragastric distribution in healthy subjects.

Clinical associations and risk factors for bleeding from colonic angiectasia: a case-controlled study

AIM

A case-controlled study was performed to investigate the association of colonic angiectasia with other conditions and to identify risk factors for bleeding.

METHOD

Information was collected from all patients who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital between January 2008 and December 2010. Data on 90 individuals with angiectasia [58 men; median age 69 (26-92) years] were compared with those of 180 individuals without angiectasia, matched for gender and age.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that occult gastrointestinal bleeding [odds ratio (OR) 2.523; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.238-5.142], liver cirrhosis (OR 13.195; 95% CI 3.502-49.711), chronic renal failure (OR 6.796; 95% CI 1.598-28.904) and valvular heart disease (OR 6.425; 95% CI 1.028-40.165) were identified as significant predictors of the presence of colonic angiectasia. Eight patients were diagnosed with bleeding from angiectasia. Cardiovascular disease (OR 22.047; 95% CI 1.063-457.345) and multiple angiectasias (P-value 0.0019) were identified as significant risk factors for active bleeding. Medication and a large size were not associated with an increased risk of bleeding.

CONCLUSION

The presence of colonic angiectasia was associated with valvular heart disease, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure. Valvular heart disease and multiple lesions increased the risk of bleeding.

Functional morphology of the aardvark tail

The musculoskeletal system of the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) tail was morphologically examined in two adult specimens. The tail musculature comprised three muscular groups, viz. a dorsal sacrocaudal system that consisted of the irregularly oriented Musculus sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis and M. sacrocaudalis dorsalis lateralis, a lateral inter-vertebral connecting system, and a ventral sacrocaudal system characterized by the thick M. sacrocaudalis ventralis lateralis and M. sacrocaudalis ventralis medialis. Both the dorsal and ventral systems possessed large tendon groups that strengthened the tail structure. Computed tomography (CT) examination showed the presence of large but homogeneous cartilaginous inter-vertebral discs, whereas V-shaped bones were situated at the ventral aspect of the caudal vertebrae at the level of the inter-vertebral discs. CT visualization of the tendons and V-shaped bones in various tail positions suggested that these structures contribute to the tunnel digging action by bearing the trunk weight and lending force when the aardvark are displacing the soil by means of the forelimbs.

Tuberothalamic artery infarctions following coil embolization of ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysms with posterior communicating artery sacrifice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ischemic complications after coil embolization of the PcomA aneurysms are not thoroughly understood, especially in cases in which the PcomA is sacrificed. Our purpose was to examine the preoperative angiographic features and pattern of postoperative cerebral infarctions exhibited by patients who underwent embolization of ruptured PcomA aneurysms with PcomA sacrifice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review identified 14 patients with ruptured PcomA aneurysms who underwent embolization of the aneurysms in combination with PcomA sacrifice. Preoperative angiographic data, including the Allcock test, postoperative DWI, and neurologic status, were examined.

RESULTS

Elimination of the aneurysm was complete in all cases. Postoperative DWI indicated 7 cases with infarctions (infarction group) and 7 cases without infarctions (noninfarction group). All patients in the infarction group developed infarctions in the vicinity of the tuberothalamic artery. In all 14 cases, a preoperative Allcock test demonstrated a retrograde filling of the PcomA through the P1 segment. The incidence of negative visualizations of the P1 segment on vertebral angiograms was significantly higher in the infarction group (100%) than in the noninfarction group (0%; P = .00058). The mean PcomA diameters, PcomA/P1 ratios, and aneurysm sizes observed in the infarction group were significantly greater than those in the noninfarction group (P < .05, P < .01, and P < .02, respectively). Tuberothalamic artery infarction caused hemiparesis and memory disturbance, which were associated with unfavorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

After the coil occlusion of ruptured PcomA aneurysms with PcomA sacrifice, tuberothalamic artery infarctions tended to occur in cases exhibiting negative visualization of the P1 segment, even when collateral flow was observed with the Allcock test.