Total Pepsin Research Articles

Airway pepsinogen A4 identifies lung transplant recipients with microaspiration and predicts chronic lung allograft dysfunction

BackgroundAspiration is a known risk-factor for adverse outcomes post-lung transplantation. Airway bile acids are the gold-standard biomarker of aspiration – however they are released into the duodenum and likely reflect concurrent gastrointestinal dysmotility. Previous studies investigating total airway pepsin have found conflicting results on its relationship with adverse outcomes post-lung transplantation. These studies measured total pepsin and pepsinogen in the airways. Certain pepsinogens are constitutively expressed in the lungs while others, like pepsinogen A4 (PGA4), are not. We sought to evaluate the utility of measuring airway PGA4 as a biomarker of aspiration and predictor of adverse outcomes in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) early post-transplant. MethodsExpression of PGA4 was compared to other pepsinogens in lung tissue. Total pepsin and PGA4 were measured in large airway bronchial washings and compared to pre-existing markers of aspiration. Two independent cohorts of LTRs were used to assess the relationship between airway PGA4 and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Changes to airway PGA4 after anti-reflux surgery was assessed in a third cohort of LTRs. ResultsPGA4 was expressed in healthy human stomach but not lung. Airway PGA4, but not total pepsin, was associated with aspiration. Airway PGA4 was associated with an increased risk of CLAD in two independent cohorts of LTRs. Anti-reflux surgery was associated with reduced airway PGA4. ConclusionsAirway PGA4 is a marker of aspiration that predicts CLAD in LTRs. Measuring PGA4 at surveillance bronchoscopies can help triage high-risk LTRs for anti-reflux surgery.

Portable and Rapid Fluorescence Turn-On Detection of Total Pepsin in Saliva Based on Strong Electrostatic Interactions.

Salivary pepsin has been proposed as a promising diagnostic marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the activity of human pepsin is strongly influenced by pH, and the acidic condition (pH ∼ 2) is optimal, which is a contradiction for the pepsin detection kit based on its catalytic activity. Thus, its accurate quantification in saliva (neutral pH) by readily rapid tools with simplicity and low cost is still challenging. Herein, a convenient fluorescence assay has been developed for the rapid detection of pepsin at neutral pH based on its electrostatic interaction with SYBR Green (SG) rather than the bioactivity. At neutral pH, the positively charged SG fluorophore can be effectively adsorbed by the negatively charged pepsin due to the low isoelectric point (pI) and large molecular size of pepsin. Thus, the molecular rotation of SG is limited, and its fluorescence intensity is significantly increased. The strategy was further confirmed to have the same fluorescence response as that of normally active and inactivated pepsin. Due to the unique pI of pepsin, the fluorescence strategy is highly selective for pepsin compared to other proteins. On the basis of this strategy, a smartphone-based fluorescence capture device integrated with a programmed Python program was fabricated for both color recognition and the accurate detection of pepsin within 3 min. Under the optimal conditions, this turn-on sensor allowed for the on-site analysis of pepsin with a detection limit of 0.2 μg/mL. Moreover, this strategy was successfully used to assess salivary pepsin to aid in the noninvasive diagnosis of GERD.

Oral Care Associated With Less Microaspiration in Ventilated Cardiac Patients.

Twelve pediatric patients between age 2 weeks to 14 years who underwent intubation for cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study. Six of the 12 patients were consented before their surgery with initial specimen collected at the time of intubation and last one shortly before extubation (intubation duration < 24 hours). The remaining 6 patients were consented after cardiac surgery. All specimens were collected per routine care per respiratory therapy protocol and shortly before extubation (intubation duration > 24 hours). Tracheal fluid aspirates were collected every 4 to 12 hours in the ventilated patients. Enzymatic assay for gastric pepsin A and protein determination were performed. The time of oral care and throat suctioning within 4 hours prior was recorded prospectively. A total of 342 TA specimens were obtained from the 12 intubated pediatric patients during their course of hospitalization; 287 (83.9%) showed detectable total pepsin (pepsin A and C) enzyme activity (> 6 ng/mL) and 176 (51.5%) samples had detectable pepsin A enzyme levels (>6 ng/mL of pepsin A). Only 29 samples of 76 samples (38.2%) had evidence of microaspiration after receiving oral care, while 147 of 266 (55.3%) samples were pepsin A positive when no oral care was provided. Odds ratio is 0.50 (Cl 0.30-0.84), and the number needed to treat is 5.8 (Confidence interval 3.4-22.3). Testing air filters for pepsin was not beneficial. Oral care is a highly effective measure to prevent microaspiration of gastric fluid in ventilated pediatric patients. The number needed to treat (5.8) suggests this is a very effective prevention strategy. Our study suggests that pepsin A is a useful and sensitive biomarker that allows identification of gastric aspiration.

Pepsin and bile acids detection in saliva for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Objective: To identify the value of the detection of pepsin and bile acids in saliva for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, 104 GERD patients and 43 healthy people in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were recruited. The 104 patients of GERD group were divided into four sub-groups, including esophageal symptoms GERD group, extraesophageal symptoms GERD group, anxiety or depression group, non-anxiety and non-depression group. Saliva was collected on waking in morning and 2 h after finishing lunch. The concentration of the total pepsin(TPP) and total bile acids(TBA) from saliva was detected by ELISA method. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the saliva pepsin and bile acids detection. Results: The concentration of TPP in morning waking samples and postprandial samples in the GERD group was 27.1(9.7,50.3) μg/L and 32.4(14.0,58.7) μg/L, the concentration of TBA in postprandial samples was (18.4±2.3)μmol/L, and these levels were significantly higher than that of the control group [7.0(5.1, 9.1) μg/L, 7.4(5.2, 9.4) μg/L, (12.6±5.0)μmol/L](P<0.01). The concentration of TBA in morning waking samples had no significant difference between these two groups(P>0.05). The concentration of TPP and TBA had no significant difference among the four GERD sub-groups(P>0.05).Pepsin in postprandial saliva samples had moderate diagnostic value for GERD, when the saliva pepsin concentration in postprandial samples was higher than 41.33 μg/L, it had a sensitivity of 82.8% and a specificity of 73.3%. The bile acids in saliva had no significant diagnostic value for GERD. Conclusions: Pepsin detection in saliva has a high level of sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing GERD. However, bile acids in saliva has no significant diagnostic value for GERD.

Antiulcer Study of &lt;I&gt;Capparis zeylanica&lt;/I&gt; Extract on Gastric Secretions and Phenylbutazone Induced Chronic Ulceration in Experimental Animals

Purpose : The objective of the study was to investigate the possible effects of 50% ethanolic extract of Capparis zeylanica (CZE) on gastric secretion and Phenylbutazone ulcer in rats. Approach : Twenty four adult male rats were used in this study (four groups) and several parameters were determined to assess any degree of protection. The ulceration was induced by Phenylbutazone at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. Findings : Phenylbutazone toxicity induced + CZE treated rats showed a significant decrease (p > 0.001) in volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration and acid output with a significant increase (p > 0.001) in pH compared to Phenylbutazone toxicity induced rats. Phenylbutazone caused a significant decrease (p > 0.001) in TC:P with a concomitant increase (p > 0.001) in protein and DNA. After treatment of CZE in rats, a significant increase (p > 0.001) in the carbohydrate concentration in terms of TC:P ratio and significantly lowered (p > 0.001) protein concentration in gastric juice was observed. CZE tended to increase mucin activity in Phenylbutazone + CZE group. Conclusion : It can be concluded that CZE imparted a protective action against phenylbutazone induced chronic ulcer in rats.

Activities of digestive enzymes and histology of digestive system during larval development of devil stinger (Inimicus japonicus)

Devil stinger is a valuable demersal scorpaenid fish while the rearing of stinger larvae still relies on live prey. This study was conducted to illustrate the development of the main digestive enzymes and digestive system during larval development of this species to provide evidence for the application of artificial feeds. Enzymatic and histological assays were conducted from 1 day post hatching (dph) to 36 dph in larvae. The result showed that the selected digestive enzyme activities increased significantly after 15 dph. Specifically, the total trypsin activities increased significantly from 18 dph to 33 dph. The total pepsin and amylase activities increased significantly first and thereafter decreased significantly. The lipase activities followed the similar pattern with trypsin. With regard to the histological study, the stinger larvae open their mouth to first feeding at 3 dph and turned into totally exogenous nutritional stage at 6 dph. In addition, mucous membrane, rich in goblet cells, was widely distributed in oesophagus epithelium at 18 dph. The height and amounts of gastric gland in cardia and main body of the stomach increased gradually with the development of stinger larvae after 15 dph. The intestine length of stinger larvae was short, and goblet cell was abundant in anterior intestine after 12 dph, not the posterior intestine. The ontogeny of liver and pancreas started from newly hatched stage, and the differentiation of liver was prior to pancreas. The above findings would provide evidence for the use of artificial feeds from the larval stage of stinger larvae (at least from 21 dph).

Optimal timing of saliva collection to detect pepsin in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

To determine salivary pepsin levels as a function of collection time. A prospective, case-control study. We selected 57 patients with clinical symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux who underwent 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (24h MII-pH) monitoring tests, and 12 control subjects without clinical symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux. All subjects were instructed to collect saliva samples upon waking, 1 hour after each meal (3 times per day), and upon any occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms. The pepsin levels in saliva were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Reflux Symptom Index survey was also administered. A total of 50 patients in whom LPR was diagnosed based on results of 24h MII-pH monitoring test were enrolled in the study. The average pepsin level upon waking was 17.2 ng/mL, which was significantly higher than that measured in samples collected at any other time (P < .005). Pepsin levels were higher in patients with LPR than those in controls. The Reflux Symptom Index scores were statistically different between these groups of subjects. The levels of total pepsin in saliva collected upon waking were significantly higher in the group of patients presenting with LPR symptoms and who demonstrated at least one episode of proximal esophageal reflux during 24h MII-pH monitoring. Furthermore, the average pepsin level upon waking was higher than that measured at any other time. Measuring pepsin levels in the saliva upon waking may be a useful method in the diagnosis of LPR. 3b Laryngoscope, 126:2770-2773, 2016.

Evaluation of antacid capacity and antiulcer activity of Calendula officinalis L. in experimental rats

Calendula officinalis has been traditionally used in India for treating wounds, ulcers, herpes, scars, skin damage, frostbite and blood purification. Present study was aimed to evaluate antacid capacity in-vitro and antiulcer activity of extract from Calendula officinalis L. (family: Asteraceae) in experimental rats. Evaluation of ethanol extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, orally) from Calendula officinalis (ECO) as antisecretory and in-vivo antacid capacity were carried out by pyloric ligation induced ulcer model. The gastroprotective effect was carried out by absolute ethanol induced ulcer and indomethacin induced ulcer model. Integrity of gastric mucosa was evaluated by the estimation of glutathione (GSH) and gastric mucus level. The in-vitro antacid capacity was evaluated by titration method. ECO produced significant inhibition of ulcer index in all models of ulcers and comparable to standard. The in- vitro antacid capacity was found as 20.58 ± 0.08 mEq/g of ECO. The total protein and pepsin level were found as 92.45 ± 1.89 μg/ml and 34.67 ± 1.25 μmole/ml, respectively in pylorus ligation model at 200 mg/kg of ECO. GSH level were significant elevated by 200 mg/kg of ECO (P < 0.01) in indomethacin induced ulcers and shows superiority over standard drug (P < 0.05). Gastric wall mucus level was increased in all three models of ulcers and comparable to the ranitidine. We believe that the antiulcer activity of Calendula officinalis was due to its antisecretory and gastroprotective effect on experimental rats. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of Calendula officinalis in the treatment ulcers.

Pepsin and bile acids in saliva in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux – a prospective comparative study

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and biliary duodenogastric reflux can cause damage to the laryngeal mucosa and voice disorders. The aim of this study was to find out whether levels of pepsin and bile acids in the saliva can serve as diagnostic markers of LPR. A prospective comparative study. Twenty-eight patients with LPR proven via high-resolution manometry and combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and 24-h pH monitoring and 48 healthy controls without symptoms of LPR were included in the study. In the patients with LPR symptoms, oesophagogastroscopy with oesophageal biopsy was performed. The levels of total pepsin, active pepsin, bile acids and the pH of the saliva were determined in all participants and compared between the groups. Reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) were also obtained and compared. The groups differed significantly in RSI (P = 0.00), RFS (P = 0.00), the levels of bile acids (P = 0.005) and total pepsin in saliva (P = 0.023). The levels of total pepsin and bile acids were about three times higher in the patients with LPR than in the healthy controls. There was a significant correlation between the RSI and RFS score and the level of total pepsin and bile acids in the saliva. Histopathological examination of the oesophageal biopsy taken 5 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter confirmed reflux in almost 93% of patients with symptoms. The study results show that the levels of total pepsin and bile acids in saliva are significantly higher in patients with LPR than in the controls, thus suggesting this as a useful tool in the diagnosis of LPR and particularly biliary LPR.

Pharmacodynamic interaction of Boerhaavia diffusa with omeprazole in experimentally induced ulcers inrats

The study evaluates the possible gastro protective of combination therapy of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa using three different gastric ulcer models. Gastric Ulcers in SD rats were induced by Indomethacin (25mg/kg), Pyrolus ligation model and stress-induced Ulcer. Various parameters like free acidity and total acidity, ulcer index, ulcer score, pepsin and mucin content, anti oxidant parameters like super oxide dismtase and catalase were evaluated. Omeprazole (2mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. Boerhaavia diffusa was administered at two dose levels, 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s Multiple Comparision test. P less than 0.05 was considerable statistically significant.Oral administration of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaevia diffusa at 200 and 400 mg/kg produced significant (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001) decrease in acidity, ulcer index and severity of ulceration in the pylorus ligation model as well as protection against stress and Indomethacin induced ulcerations compared to control. It also shows significant (p less than 0.001) decrease pepsin content and significant (p less than 0.001) increase in mucin content compared to control pylorus ligation model. In Indomethacin induced model combination therapy at high level shows significant increase (p less than 0.001) in antioxidant parameters like SOD and catalase compared to control. The anti ulcer effects of combination of Omeprazole and Boerhaavia diffusa at both the dose levels were significantly higher than that of omeprazole alone. Combination therapy was found to be an effective anti ulcerogenic agent, minimizing any possible side effects. The result of the study suggests that combination therapy causes an inhibitory effect on release of gastric hydro chloric acid and protects gastric mucosal damage

Higher levels of total pepsin and bile acids in the saliva as a possible risk factor for early laryngeal cancer.

BackgroundGastroesophageal reflux is suspected to be an etiological factor in laryngeal and pharyngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to establish, using a non-invasive method, whether laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) appears more often in patients with early laryngeal cancer than in a control group.Patients and methodsWe compared the pH, the level of bile acids, the total pepsin and the pepsin enzymatic activity in saliva in a group of 30 patients with T1 laryngeal carcinoma and a group of 34 healthy volunteers.ResultsThe groups differed significantly in terms of levels of total pepsin and bile acids in the saliva sample. Higher levels of total pepsin and bile acids were detected in the group of cancer patients. No significant impact of other known factors influencing laryngeal mucosa (e.g. smoking, alcohol consumption, and the presence of irritating substances in the workplace) on the results of saliva analysis was found.ConclusionsA higher level of typical components of LPR in the saliva of patients with early laryngeal cancer than in the controls suggests the possibility that LPR, especially biliary reflux, has a role in the development of laryngeal carcinoma.

Effect of feeding frequency on the daily rhythms of acidic digestion in a teleost fish (gilthead seabream)

Gilthead seabream is a fish species of great importance in Mediterranean aquaculture, attracting many studies on nutrition and chronobiology, although nothing is known about the effect of feeding frequency on the daily rhythms of the gastric digestion process. In this article, we investigated daily rhythms in stomach fullness, gastric and intestine pH, as well as pepsin activity and expression of pepsinogen and proton pump in juvenile fish under three different feeding protocols: (A) one daily meal at 9:00, (B) two daily meals at 9:00 and 17:00 and (C) continuous feeding during the daytime. The results revealed that feeding protocol affected significantly the rhythm of gastric pH and the pepsin activity pattern. The gastric pH exhibited significant daily rhythms in the three cases with the acrophase located at night in the regimes A and B and during daytime, in the regime C. In the regimes A and B, the pepsin activity peaked few hours after the meals, although the afternoon meal in B produced a higher peak. In the regime C, the peak occurred in the middle of the feeding period. Lowest total pepsin activity was observed in regime A, and the highest activity with the regime C. In contrast, the pepsinogen gene expression remained low along the daily cycle, with an expression peak just before or after the morning meal in regimes A and C, respectively. The proton pump gene expression was also practically constant with a peak right after the morning meal in the regime C. On the other hand, intestinal pH showed a postprandial increase after the first morning meal in all the three treatments, recovering the resting values in the dark period. Two meals and continuous feeding allowed a better and prolonged gastric digestion and consequently the juveniles exhibited better growth with the same daily ration of food. In short, while the gastric digestion pattern is mainly driven by pH changes induced by the time of food ingestion, the regulation of the intestinal digestion seems to be more independent of the feeding protocol.

Airway Pepsin Levels in Otherwise Healthy Surgical Patients Receiving General Anesthesia With Endotracheal Intubation

Airway pepsin has been increasingly used as a potentially sensitive and quantifiable biomarker for gastric-to-pulmonary aspiration, despite lack of validation in normal control subjects. This study attempts to define normal levels of airway pepsin in adults and distinguish between pepsin A (exclusive to stomach) and pepsin C (which can be expressed by pneumocytes). We performed a prospective study of 51 otherwise healthy adult patients undergoing elective extremity orthopedic surgery at a single tertiary-care academic medical center. Lower airway samples were obtained immediately following endotracheal intubation and just prior to extubation. Total pepsin and pepsin A concentrations were directly measured by an enzymatic activity assay, and pepsin C was subsequently derived. Pepsinogen/pepsin C was confirmed by Western blot analyses. Baseline characteristics were secondarily compared. In all, 11 (22%; 95% CI = 9.9%-33%) had detectable airway pepsin concentrations. All 11 positive specimens had pepsin C, without any detectable pepsin A. Pepsinogen/pepsin C was confirmed by Western blot analyses. In a multivariate logistic regression, men were more likely to have airway pepsin (OR, 12.71, P = .029). Enzymatically active pepsin C, but not the gastric-specific pepsin A, is frequently detected in the lower airways of patients who otherwise have no risk for aspiration. This suggests that nonspecific pepsin assays should be used and interpreted with caution as a biomarker of gastropulmonary aspiration, as pepsinogen C potentially expressed from pneumocytes may be detected in airway samples.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze samples of oral and tracheal secretions to assess for pepsin and salivary amylase. Hypothesis: Intubated patients will have pepsin and salivary amylase in the sputum, indicating possible microaspiration. Salivary amylase will be higher in oral secretions. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the critical care units. Ten adult subjects, on mechanical ventilation (MV) via an oral endotracheal tube (ETT) were enrolled following informed consent from the legal proxy. Secretions were suctioned from the trachea using a closed suction device and collected in a sputum trap; 5 mL sterile saline without preservative was used to rinse secretions into the trap. A sample of oral secretions was collected at the same time using a soft, 9” suction catheter; no saline was added to the specimen. The procedure was repeated in 1 to 4 hours when ETT suction was indicated. Specimens were frozen at -20°C until analysis. Assays of total pepsin and salivary amylase were run. Results: The majority of subjects were men (n=8), with a subglottic suction ETT (n=7), on tube feedings (n=9) via small-bore tube (n=5) in the stomach (n=7). Median values: age, 59 years; duration of MV, 6.3 days; ETT cuff pressure 24 cm H2O; head of bed, 30°; oral secretion volume, 5.5 mL. Gagging was not observed during oral suction. Pepsin (mean ng/mL) was found in oral secretions of 7 subjects (35.7) and in sputum of 6 (14.1). Salivary amylase (mean mmol/min/mL) was present in oral secretions (354.7) of all subjects, and in the sputum of 8 subjects (2.4). No differences were found in the proportion of subjects with positive pepsin or amylase in the sputum, and feeding tube location or intubation with a subglottic suction ETT. Conclusions: This pilot study identified a high percentage of intubated patients who had pepsin and/or salivary amylase present in their sputum, likely indicating microaspiration of secretions around the ETT cuff. As expected, salivary amylase was highest in the oral secretions. Ongoing efforts to prevent microaspiration (maintaining ETT cuff pressure, elevating head of bed, and suctioning oral secretions) are important. Additional research related to salivary amylase is needed.

Effect of Three Probiotics Administered Through Live Feed on Digestive Enzyme Activity in California Halibut, Paralichthys californicus, Larvae

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics as digestive system maturation promoters in larvae of the California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, during ontogeny. Three commercial probiotics: Levucell®, Bactocell®, and live yeast, were supplied at a concentration of 50 mg/L, using enriched rotifers and Artemia nauplii as vectors. Total and specific activities of trypsin, leucine‐aminopeptidase (LAP), lipase, chymotrypsin, and pepsin were assessed throughout the development. Growth in terms of length was not significantly different between treatments. Total pepsin and chymotrypsin activity were significantly higher at the end of the experiment, 46‐d posthatch (dph) in larvae supplied with Bactocell. However, no significant effect of the probiotic was detected for trypsin, lipase, and LAP. On the basis of the results, California halibut larvae seemed to have adequate alkaline proteolytic activity early in development, whereas acid proteolytic activity was not detected until the complete formation of a functional stomach. The feeding protocol and probiotics evaluated were unable to improve the morphological development of digestive system or the digestive enzyme activity early on. Nevertheless, the increase in activity of pepsin and chymotrypsin observed at 46 dph suggests a potential use of these probiotics once the metamorphosis is completed, and thus warrants further evaluation.

In Vivo Digestion of a Thaumatin-Like Kiwifruit Protein in Rats

Food allergens must exhibit sufficient gastrointestinal stability to reach the intestinal mucosa where absorption and sensitization can occur. Therefore, investigation of protein stability within the gastrointestinal tract may provide a prospective test for the allergenic potential of novel proteins. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of the fruit matrix and purified pectin on the digestion in vivo of kiwifruit allergens in the rat gastrointestinal system. The major kiwi allergen, Act d 2, was quantified in several compartments of the gastrointestinal tract by a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Protein intactness was demonstrated by immunoblot. Under conditions of complex food digestion in vivo, a pepsin-labile protein survived passage from the stomach to the caecum during a 3-h period. Decay of Act d 2 in the rat gut exhibited an exponential pattern. Ingestion of kiwifruit was followed by a decrease in both total and specific pepsin activity. When purified, Act d 2 allergen was consumed together with pure apple pectin; both gastric acidity as well as specific and total pepsin activity declined and thus protected 23% of the ingested allergen from digestion for 90 min. In conclusion, ingestion of pectin-rich fruits and particularly pectin supplements may have a protective action on pepsin-labile allergens and prolong their survival in both gastric and duodenal juices, enabling efficient uptake and presentation to the immune system.

Developmental patterns of digestive enzyme activity in the stomach and pancreas of growing Jinhua and Landrace gilts

The activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase in pancreas and the activity of pepsin in cardiac mucosa were measured in Jinhua and Landrace gilts at 35, 80 and 125 days of age, respectively. Jinhua gilts had lower total trypsin and total pepsin activities compared with Landrace gilts (P<0.01), and lower pepsin activity (per g of cardiac mucosa) at 80 days (P<0.05) and 125 days of age (P<0.01). In contrast, Jinhua gilts had higher amylase activity (per g of pancreas) and lipase activity (per kg of empty body weight) compared with Landrace gilts (P<0.001), and higher total amylase activity at 35 days (P<0.05) and 125 days (P<0.01) of age. Jinhua gilts had higher lipase activity (per g of pancreas) at 35 days (P<0.05), 80 days (P<0.01) and 125 (P<0.001) days of age.

Secretion of total pepsin and pepsin 1 in healthy volunteers in response to pentagastrin and to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia

Objective. Human gastric juice contains a multiplicity of proteinases, and one enzyme (pepsin 1) is increased in patients with peptic ulcer disease. However, little is known about its secretion in health. The purpose of this study was to determine the pepsin 1 content in relation to the total pepsin of human gastric juice in healthy volunteers and the effect of different stimuli on secretion. Material and methods. Human gastric juice from healthy volunteers was collected at 10-min intervals over a period of 30 min basally and up to 60 min after continuous intravenous pentagastrin administration (n=13) or insulin-induced hypoglycaemia (n=11). Pepsin 1 was measured by semiquantitative agar gel electrophoresis and the total pepsin as the proteolytic activity calibrated against pig pepsin A. Results. Pepsin 1 was present in 23 out of 24 basal gastric juice samples at a mean concentration of approximately 12 µg/ml. During continuous intravenous pentagastrin to 11 subjects for 60 min, the mean concentration and secretion rates per minute rose to 24 µg/ml and 122 µg/min at 60 min; the proportion of pepsin 1 to total pepsin was 2.8% in basal secretions increasing to 7.8% in the 60 to 70-min samples. Following intravenous insulin administration to 11 subjects, the mean concentration and secretion rates of pepsin 1 rose to 33 µg/ml and 127 µg/min at 60 min: the proportion of pepsin 1 to total pepsin was 0.8% in basal secretions and 3.1% in the 50 to 60-min samples. Conclusions. Both pentagastrin and hypoglycaemia caused similar maximal secretion rates of pepsin 1, but hypoglycaemia caused greater secretion rates of total pepsin. The maximum concentrations and secretion rates of pepsin 1 occurred at different times from those of total pepsin and there is a threshold of total pepsin secretion below which pepsin 1 was not released.

Antiulcer Activity of the Root Bark of Oroxylum indicum. Against Experimental Gastric Ulcers

The current study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the root bark of Oroxylum indicum. Vent. (Bignoniaceae) against experimental gastric ulcers. The 50% alcohol extract of root bark of Oroxylum indicum. and its different fractions, viz., petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n.-butanol, were studied (p.o.) against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. The alcohol extract (300 mg/kg) and its different fractions (100 and 300 mg/kg) showed significant reduction in gastric ulceration. Out of all these fractions, the petroleum ether (96%) and n.-butanol (99%) fractions showed maximum inhibition of gastric lesions against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. The results were comparable with omeprazole (reference standard). In the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model, treatment with both the active fractions and omeprazole showed significant antioxidant activity as evident from the reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation that was measured in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA), along with significant rise in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione levels (GSH), when compared with the control group. In 6-h pylorus-ligated animals, active fractions of drug at 100 mg/kg showed significant reduction in the ulcer index. Furthermore, in the pylorus-ligation model, significant reduction (p < 0.05) was observed in total acidity, total acid output, pepsin activity, and pepsin output, along with a significant rise in the total carbohydrate to protein ratio (reflecting mucin activity) when compared with the control group. TLC studies revealed the presence of baicalein in the petroleum ether and hydrosylate in n.-butanol fraction. Fingerprinting of both the active fractions was developed by performing HPLC analysis. Baicalein was found to be a major flavonoid present both in petroleum ether and n.-butanol hydrosylate. The mechanism of its antiulcer activity could be attributed to a decrease in gastric acid secretory and antioxidant activities leading to gastric cytoprotection. This activity could be linked to the presence of baicalein in the root bark of the plant.

Study of Chlorophytum arundinaceum. Against Experimental Gastric Ulcer

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of a 50% alcohol extract of Chlorophytum arundinaceum. Baker (CAE) against ethanol-induced pylorus ligation and cold stress–induced experimental gastric ulcer. The CAE was given at the dose of 100 mg/kg, p.o., in all the models, and results of those were compared with that of animals treated with omeprazole 20 mg/kg, p.o. (reference standard). Ulcer index was a common evaluating parameter in all the models. In the pylorus ligation model, acid secretory parameters (total acid, pepsin activity, and total acid output) and mucoprotective parameters (total carbohydrate, total protein, and mucin activity) were studied. In addition, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity were specifically studied in cold stress–induced gastric ulcer model. Effects on vascular permeability as well as gastric emptying were also studied. CAE has shown significant protection in gastric ulceration as evident from reduction (p < 0.05) in ulcer index in all the models. In the pylorus ligation model, CAE showed significant increase in mucin activity, but no significant change was observed on acid secretory parameters. Besides, CAE has shown antioxidant activity in gastric mucosal homogenate where it reversed the increased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the decreased level of catalase content. Further, CAE has shown reduction in vascular permeability and gastric emptying. Hence, it is suggested that Chlorophytum arundinaceum. possesses significant antiulcer activity. The mechanism of its activity is associated with strengthening of the gastric mucosal barrier.