Upper Portion Of Small Intestine Research Articles

Serum lipid profiles and eosinophilia among Giardia cyst passers

Giardia trophozoites attach to upper portion of small intestine and may present with severe damage affecting nutrient absorption. One of the main complications of giardiasis is lipid malabsorption. Consequently, infected people may lack the important caloric source and lipid soluble vitamins. This study aimed to assay serum lipid profiles and eosinophilia in Giardia cyst passers and compare with non- infected individuals. Three hundred and fifteen peripheral blood samples of Giardia cyst passers were studied by cell blood cunt and colorimetric methods and compare with control. All infected stool samples were confirmed by at least one method of saline-Lugol, formaline- ether concentration and trichrome staining or Ziehl–Neelsen. The results of these findings showed that Eosinophilia was greater than 5 in 18% of infected people, but was not in control. With the exception of high density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were statistically lower than those observed in the control groups (P < 0.05). This study revealed that there is a significant influence of Giardia lamblia on lipid levels and eosinophilia in infected individuals. Key words: Giardia cyst passer, lipid profiles and eosinophilia.

Cloning of a New Aquaporin (AQP10) Abundantly Expressed in Duodenum and Jejunum

A new aquaporin (AQP10) was identified in human small intestine. This gene encoded a 264-amino-acid protein with high sequence identity with AQP3 (53%), 9 (52%), and 7 (43%). These AQPs constitute one subfamily of AQP family that is differentiated from the other subfamily of AQP (AQP0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) by sequence homology. Ribonuclease protection assay and Northern blotting demonstrated almost exclusive expression of AQP10 mRNA in the duodenum and jejunum. In situ hybridization localized it in absorptive jejunal epithelial cells. Xenopus oocytes expressing AQP10 exhibited an increased osmotic water permeability in a mercury-sensitive manner. Although AQP10 belongs to the AQP subfamily, which has been characterized by permeability to water and neutral solutes such as urea and glycerol, it was not permeable to urea nor glycerol. The specific expression of AQP10 suggests its contribution to the water transport in the upper portion of small intestine.

In vivo biosynthesis of retinoic acid from beta-carotene involves and excentric cleavage pathway in ferret intestine

This study was done to determine whether retinoic acid can be produced by excentric cleavage of beta-carotene in vivo. By using an inhibitor of retinaldehyde oxidation, citral, either retinaldehyde or beta-carotene was incorporated in a micellar solution and perfused through the upper portion of small intestine of ferrets. After 2 h perfusion of 1 microM retinaldehyde, retinoic acid rose in portal blood (+3.5 +/- 1.3 nmol/L) and was detected in the intestinal mucosa (30 +/- 2 pmol/g). When citral was added at 2 mM along with retinaldehyde, retinoic acid decreased in the portal blood and retinoic acid was not detected in the intestinal mucosa. With or without the presence of citral (2 mM), the perfusion of beta-carotene (10 microM) during 2 h caused a significant rise of retinoic acid in portal blood (+2.6 +/- 0.6 nmol/L and + 4.1 +/- 0.6 nmol/L, respectively) and in liver; moreover, significant amounts of retinoic acid were detected in the intestinal mucosa (19 +/- 3 pmol/g and 36 +/- pmol/g, respectively. This study demonstrates that after intestinal perfusion of beta-carotene in the ferret in vivo, a substantial amount of retinoic acid is formed via an excentric cleavage pathway.

Study On Metagonimus Yokogawai(Katsurada, 1912) In Korea: I. On The Metacercaria, Its Distribution In The Second Intermediate Host And The Development In The Final Host.

1)The metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai were isolated from the sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, clollected at Hwagae, South Kyongsang Do, one of the newly known endemic foci of metagonimiasis in Korea. The body structure of metacercaria of M.yokogawai was described and the measurements of the excysted metacercaria were also made. 2)In order to know the distribution of metacercariae within the host, the rate of infection and the intensity of infection, a total of 10 sweet fishes was examined and it was found all infected, from which a total of 38,511 metacercariae was isolated. The number of metacercariae in a fish varied from 219 to 14,427. The average number of metacercaria per fish was 3,851. The distribution of metacercariae in the four divided parts of fish was observed in the following order; number of metacercaria in the muscles; 2,417 (62.8%), in the subcutaneous tissues; 1,126.9 (29.3%), and on the scale; 291.9(7.7%). 3)The development of the metacercaria of M. yokogawai in the mouse host was experimentally traced every day for 10 days after infection. In an earlier period of infection, the growth rate of the genital primordia was distinctly high, particularly in the testes. The seminal receptable and seminal vesicle became clearly recognized in measurable size at 4 days after infection. The vitelline follicles and their ducts were also first visible in the living specimens at 6 days after infection. The oral sucker was larger in size than the ventral sucker in an early stage of the worms, however after 7 days after infection it reversed. The posterior part of body began to extend since two days after infection. Fully matured worms were able to collect only after 7 days after infection. At this stage, the body of worm became 0.7 mm long and 0.3 mm wide. The first positive appearance of eggs in the uterine tubule and in feces was on the 6th day and 10th day of infection, respectively. In an earlier stage of infection, the worms were found mostly in the upper portion of small intestine and the recovery rates of the worms were high, however according to the course of infection in later stage they were seen rather in the lower part of the intestine and the recovery rate also decreased.