Perforated gastric ulcer causing mediastinal emphysema: A case report

BACKGROUND Mediastinal emphysema is a condition in which air enters the mediastinum between the connective tissue spaces within the pleura for a variety of reasons.It can be spontaneous or secondary to chest trauma,esophageal perforation,medi-cally induced factors,etc.Its common symptoms are chest pain,tightness in the chest,and respiratory distress.Most mediastinal emphysema patients have mild symptoms,but severe mediastinal emphysema can cause respiratory and circulatory failure,resulting in serious consequences.CASE SUMMARY A 75-year-old man,living alone,presented with sudden onset of severe epigastric pain with chest tightness after drinking alcohol.Due to the remoteness of his residence and lack of neighbors,the patient was found by his nephew and brought to the hospital the next morning after the disease onset.Computed tomography(CT)showed free gas in the abdominal cavity,mediastinal emph-ysema,and subcutaneous pneumothorax.Upper gastrointestinal angiography showed that the esophageal mucosa was intact and the gastric antrum was perforated.Therefore,we chose to perform open gastric perforation repair on the patient under thoracic epidural anesthesia combined with intravenous anesthesia.An operative incision of the muscle layer of the patient's abdominal wall was made,and a large amount of subperitoneal gas was revealed.And a continued incision of the peritoneum revealed the presence of a perforation of approx-imately 0.5 cm in the gastric antrum,which we repaired after pathological examination.Postoperatively,the patient received high-flow oxygen and cough exercises.Chest CT was performed on the first and sixth postoperative days,and the mediastinal and subcutaneous gas was gradually reduced.CONCLUSION After gastric perforation,a large amount of free gas in the abdominal cavity can reach the mediastinum through the loose connective tissue at the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm,and upper gastrointestinal angiography can clarify the site of perforation.In patients with mediastinal emphysema,open surgery avoids the elevation of the diaphragm caused by pneumoperitoneum compared to laparoscopic surgery and avoids increasing the mediastinal pressure.In addition,thoracic epidural anesthesia combined with intravenous anesthesia also avoids pressure on the mediastinum from mechanical ventilation.

Tilapia Head Glycolipid Alleviates Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcer via Regulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Through COX/PGE2 Signaling Pathway in Adult Rats

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the ameliorative effect and molecular mechanism of tilapia head glycolipid(TH-GL)on indomethacin(IDM)-induced gastric ulcer in male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats.The gastric ulcer model was established by oral administration of 30mgkg^(-1) IDM after 7 days of TH-GL or omeprazole(OME)administration in rats.Then the macroscopic gastric injury symptoms,gastric mucosa protective factor cyclooxygenase 1(COX-1),cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2),prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2)),the levels of oxidative stress,and inflammatory cytokine expression levels in the rats were analyzed.The experimental results showed that multiple ulcers appeared on the gastric surface of the rats in the model group.Compared to the model group,TH-GL significantly alleviated gastric ulcers and reduced the gastric damage index in rats.In addition,TH-GL significantly promoted the expression of constitutive enzyme COX-1 while inhibited the expression of inducible enzyme COX-2,and make PGE2 maintain at normal levels.TH-GL also inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory responses,increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and glutathione(GSH)content,decreased the level of malondialdehyde(MDA)and the content of pro-inflammatory factor.In conclusion,these results suggested that TH-GL could maintain the expression levels of COX-1 and PGE2 while inhibit the expression of COX-2 in the gastric of rat and then prevent IDM-induced gastric ulcer,which may be related to the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory response.Therefore,TH-GL might be a new option for the prevention of gastric diseases induced by IDM.

Albizzia chinensis(Osbeck)Merr extract YS ameliorates ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer injury in rats by regulating NRF2 signaling pathway

Background:Around the world,there is a high incidence of gastric ulcers.YS,an extract from the Chinese herb Albizzia chinensis(Osbeck)Merr,has potential therapeutic applications for gastrointestinal diseases.Here we elucidated the protective effect and underlying mechanism of action of YS on gastric ulcer in rats injured by ethanol.Methods:The ethanol-i nduced gastric ulcer rat model was used to assess the protective effect of YS.A pathological examination of gastric tissue was performed by H&E staining.GES-1 cells damaged by hydrogen peroxide were used to simulate oxidative damage in gastric mucosal epithelial cells.Endogenous NRF2 was knocked down using small interfering RNA.Immunoprecipitation was used to detect ubiquitination of NRF2.Co-i mmunoprecipitation was used to detect the NRF2-Keap1 interaction.Results:YS(10 and 30 mg/kg,i.g.)significantly reduced the ulcer index,decreased MDA level,and increased SOD and GSH levels in gastric tissues damaged by ethanol.YS promoted NRF2 translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus and enhanced the NQO1 and HO-1 expression levels in injured rat gastric tissue.In addition,YS regulated NQO1 and HO-1 via NRF2 in H_(2)O_(2)-i nduced oxidative injured GES-1 cells.Further studies on the underlying mechanism indicated that YS reduced the interaction between NRF2 and Keap1 and decreased ubiquitylation of NRF2,thereby increasing its stability and expression of downstream factors.NRF2 knockdown abolished the effect of YS on MDA and SOD in GES-1 cells treated with H_(2)O_(2).Conclusion:YS reduced the NRF2-Keap1 interaction,promoting NRF2 translocation into the nucleus,which increasing the transcription and translation of NQO1 and HO-1 and improved the antioxidant capacity of rat stomach.

Helicobacter pylori infection alters gastric microbiota structure and biological functions in patients with gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is closely associated with gastrointestinal diseases.Our preliminary studies have indicated that H.pylori infection had a significant impact on the mucosal microbiome structure in patients with gastric ulcer(GU)or duodenal ulcer(DU).AIM To investigate the contributions of H.pylori infection and the mucosal microbiome to the pathogenesis and progression of ulcerative diseases.METHODS Patients with H.pylori infection and either GU or DU,and healthy individuals without H.pylori infection were included.Gastric or duodenal mucosal samples was obtained and subjected to metagenomic sequencing.The compositions of the microbial communities and their metabolic functions in the mucosal tissues were analyzed.RESULTS Compared with that in the healthy individuals,the gastric mucosal microbiota in the H.pylori-positive patients with GU was dominated by H.pylori,with signi-ficantly reduced biodiversity.The intergroup differential functions,which were enriched in the H.pylori-positive GU patients,were all derived from H.pylori,particularly those concerning transfer RNA queuosine-modification and the synthesis of demethylmenaquinones or menaquinones.A significant enrichment of the uibE gene was detected in the synthesis pathway.There was no significant difference in microbial diversity between the H.pylori-positive DU patients and healthy controls.CONCLUSION H.pylori infection significantly alters the gastric microbiota structure,diversity,and biological functions,which may be important contributing factors for GU.

Influence of a diet meal plan on pepsinogen I and II,gastrin-17,and nutritional status in gastric ulcer patients

BACKGROUND Gastric ulcers(GUs)have a high risk of clinical morbidity and recurrence,and further exploration is needed for the prevention,diagnosis,and treatment of the disease.AIM To investigated the effects of a diet plan on pepsinogen(PG)I,PG II,gastrin-17(G-17)levels and nutritional status in patients with GUs.METHODS A total of 100 patients with GUs treated between May 2022 and May 2023 were enrolled,with 47 patients in the control group receiving routine nursing and 53 patients in the experimental group receiving dietary nursing intervention based on a diet plan.The study compared the two groups in terms of nursing efficacy,adverse events(vomiting,acid reflux,and celialgia),time to symptom improvement(burning sensation,acid reflux,and celialgia),gastric function(PG I,PG II,and G-17 levels),and nutritional status[prealbumin(PA)and albumin(ALB)levels].RESULTS The experimental group showed a markedly higher total effective rate of nursing,a significantly lower incidence of adverse events,and a shorter time to symptom improvement than the control group.Additionally,the experimental group’s post-intervention PG I,PG II,and G-17 levels were significantly lower than preintervention or control group levels,whereas PA and ALB levels were significantly higher.CONCLUSION The diet plan significantly reduced PG I,PG II,and G-17 levels in patients with GUs and significantly improved their nutritional status.

Sequential bowel necrosis and large gastric ulcer in a patient with a ruptured femoral artery:A case report

BACKGROUND Severe bleeding as a result of a major vascular injury is a potentially fatal event commonly observed in the emergency department.Bowel necrosis and gastric ulcers secondary to ischemia are rare due to their rich blood supply.In this case,we present the case of a patient who was treated successfully following rupture of his femoral artery resulting in bowel necrosis and an unusually large gastric ulcer.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old male patient sustained a knife stab wound to the right thigh,causing rupture of his femoral artery and leading to massive bleeding.He underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation and received a large blood transfusion.Abdominal surgeries confirmed bowel necrosis,and jejunostomy was performed.The necrotic intestine was removed,the remaining intestine was anastomosed,and the right thigh was amputated.After three surgeries,the patient's overall condition gradually improved,and the patient was discharged from the hospital.However,one day after discharge,the patient was admitted again due to dizziness and melena,and a gastroduodenoscopy revealed a giant banded ulcer.After 2 weeks of treatment,the ulcer had decreased in size without bleeding.Six months after the last surgery,enterostomy and reintroduction surgery were completed.The patient was fitted with a right lower limb prosthesis one year after surgery.After 3 years of follow-up,the patient did not complain of discomfort.CONCLUSION Trauma department physicians need to be aware of the possible serious complications involving the abdomen of trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Endoscopic treatment of bleeding gastric ulcer causing gastric wall necrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric wall necrosis is a rare complication of endoscopic treatment for bleeding gastric ulcer,which may exacerbate the patient’s condition once it occurs and may even require surgical intervention for treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 59-year-old man was admitted to our department with melena.Endoscopy revealed a giant ulcer in the gastric antrum with a visible vessel in its center,which was treated with sclerosants and tissue glue injection and resulted in necrosis of the gastric wall.CONCLUSION Injection of sclerosants and tissue glue may lead to gastric wall necrosis,which is a serious complication.Therefore,before administering this treatment to patients,we should consider other more effective methods of hemostasis to avoid gastric wall necrosis.

Progress of Research on the Effect of Dietary Care on Patients with Gastritis and Gastric Ulcers

Gastritis gastric ulcer is a common disease of the digestive system,which has a serious impact on the quality of life and health of affected individuals.Dietary care is one of the important measures to treat and prevent gastritis gastric ulcers.This paper reviews the research progress on the impact of dietary care on patients with gastritis and gastric ulcers,including dietary behavioral intervention,dietary habit cultivation,dietary hygiene education,and nutritional support.Studies have shown that rational dietary care was able to improve the clinical symptoms of patients,regulate the intestinal microbial community,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and other pathways to improve the pathophysiological state of patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer and prevent recurrence.Therefore,dietary care is of great significance to patients with gastritis and gastric ulcers.

Action Mechanism of Radix Aucklandiae against Gastric Ulcer Based on Network Pharmacology

[Objectives] To explore the potential targets and action mechanism of radix aucklandiae (RA) in the treatment of gastric ulcer (GU) by network pharmacology. [Methods] Gene targets were obtained through TCMSP, DisGeNet, OMIM, GeneCards databases, which related to GU and the active components of RA. The mutual potential functional targets were selected through Venny to constitute the PPI protein interaction network. The DAVID database was applied for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the common targets to construct the "Active component-Target-Pathway" network and analyze the relationship between them. [Results] There are 31 active components, 82 related targets and 16 common targets in the treatment of GU. The active components in Ra may exert anti-ulcer effects through six signaling pathways, including NF-κB, Toll-like receptors, VEGF and HIF-1. In addition, PTGS2, TNF, TLR4, JUN, IL2, SRC, RELA, KDR, NOS2 and PLAU may be the 10 key targets of Ra in the treatment of GU. [Conclusions] Ra controls GU through the synergies of multiple components, targets and pathways. It can provide a theoretical basis for further study on the mechanism of RA in treating GU.

Immune function, gastrointestinal hormone levels, and their clinical significance in patients with gastric ulcers complicated with depression

BACKGROUND Gastric ulcer(GU)is a common digestive tract disease,and medical records of GU combined with depression are increasingly common.Currently,the risk factors and pathogenesis of GU complicated with depression remain unclear.Low immune function and gastrointestinal hormone levels may also be significant risk factors.Therefore,this study explored the immune function and gastrointestinal hormone levels in patients with GU combined with depression.AIM To explore the immune function,gastrointestinal hormone level,and clinical significance of patients with GU combined with depression.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 300 patients with GU combined with depression admitted to Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2021 to June 2022 as the study subjects.According to the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)score,patients were divided into mild-to-moderate(n=210)and heavy(n=90)groups.Basic data,immune function indices[immunoglobulin A(IgA),IgM,IgG,serum CD4+and CD8+percentage,and CD4+/CD8+ratio],and gastrointestinal hormone indices[serum gastrin(GAS),cholecystokinin(CCK),and motilin(MTL)levels]were collected.The basic data of the two groups were compared,and the immune function and gastrointestinal hormone indices were analyzed.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing the severity of GU complicated with depression.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and area under the ROC curve(AUC)were used to analyze the value of the immune function index,gastrointestinal hormone index,and combined index in predicting the severity of GU complicated with depression.RESULTS There were no marked differences in sex,age,body mass index,abdominal distension,abdominal pain,belching,nausea,vomiting,or sleep disorders between the heavy and mild-to-moderate groups(P>0.05).There was a marked difference in the family history of depression between the heavy and mild-to-moderate groups(P<0.05).There were significant differences in serum IgA and IgM levels and serum CD4+,CD8+,and CD4+/CD8+ratios between the heavy and mild-to-moderate groups(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that IgA,IgM,GAS,and CCK serum levels influenced the severity of GU with depression(P<0.05).The AUC of the ROC curve for serum IgA level predicting GU with depression severity was 0.808[95%confidence interval(CI):0.760-0.857],the AUC of the serum IgM level was 0.757(95%CI:0.700-0.814),the AUC of the serum GAS level was 0.853(95%CI:0.810-0.897),the AUC of the serum CCK level was 0.762(95%CI:0.709-0.822),the AUC of immune function(IgA,IgM)and gastrointestinal hormone levels(GAS,CCK)for the prediction of GU with depression severity was 0.958(95%CI:0.933-0.976).CONCLUSION Important factors influencing GU complicated with depression are serum IgA,IgM,GAS,and CCK indicators.They can be used as indicators to predict the severity of GU complicated with depression.

Gastroprotective Effect of Alpinia zerumbet(Pers.)Burttet Smith on Ethanol-induced Gastric Ulcers in vivo and vitro

[Objectives]To explore the protective effect of Alpinia zerumbet(Pers.)Burttet Smith ethanol extraction(YSJ)on gastric ulcers.[Methods]The ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model was generated by male Kunming mice.The mice were divided into six groups,including control,model(GU),positive omeprazole enteric-coated capsules(18 mg/kg),YSJ low(1.17 g/kg),medium(2.34 g/kg)and high(4.68 g/kg)dose groups.To observe the state of gastric tissues,hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining was applied and immunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to evaluate the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and Cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)in gastric tissues.The ulcer index,biochemical parameters,and inflammatory proteins were evaluated.In vitro,GES-1 cells were induced by anhydrous ethanol to found gastric ulcer model.The groups were the same as in vivo experiment.Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT and IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 were detected by Elisa assays.[Results]The injuries of gastric tissue in the model group were unambiguously observed and improved after YSJ treatment.The levels of interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 8(IL-8),and TNF-αin serum and tissues were decreased(P<0.05 or 0.01),whereas interleukin 4(IL-4)and prostaglandin E 2(PGE 2)were increased after treatment with YSJ(P<0.05 or 0.01).The levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-8 were decreased in YSJ groups,while IL-4 and PGE 2 presented the opposite trend.The protein expression of p-NF-κB,NF-κB,p-IκBα,IκBα,and TNF-αwas inhibited after treatment with YSJ(P<0.05 or 0.01).[Conclusions]These results demonstrate that YSJ alleviates the occurrence and development of gastric ulcers via inhibiting inflammation.

Comparative Observation on Nursing Effect of Nursing Intervention and Routine Nursing in Patients with Renal Calculi and Gastric Ulcer and the Impacts on Epidermal Growth Factor

Objective: To explore the comparative observation on nursing effect of nursing intervention and routine nursing in patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer and the impacts on epidermal growth factor. Methods: A total of 72 patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer were selected and treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2018. They were divided into the observation group and the control group, 36 for each. Comprehensive nursing intervention was implemented in the observation group, whereas routine nursing was implemented in the control group. The level of epidermal growth factor, nursing satisfaction, renal calculi recurrence rate, average hospital stay and postoperative blood loss were compared between the two groups after nursing. Results: There was no significant difference in the level of epidermal growth factor between the two groups before nursing (P > 0.05), while after nursing, the level in the observation group was higher compared with the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P Conclusion: With regard to patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer, comprehensive nursing intervention can improve nursing satisfaction and quality of patients’ lives, reduce calculi recurrence rate, and increase the level of epidermal growth factor, which has clinical application value.

Clinical Effect of Omeprazole Combined with Amoxicillin in the Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of omeprazole+amoxicillin in patients with gastric ulcers.Methods:62 cases of patients with gastric ulcers who were treated from January 2022 to December 2022 were recruited and randomly divided into groups.Omeprazole+amoxicillin treatment was included in the study group,and amoxicillin treatment was included in the control group.The score of gastric ulcer symptoms,time of symptom resolution,gastrointestinal hormone index,and adverse reactions were compared.Results:The gastric ulcer symptom scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);the gastric ulcer symptoms and Helicobacter pylori-negative time in the study group were shorter than those in the control group(P<0.05);the gastrointestinal hormone indexes in the study group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05);the adverse reaction rate of gastric ulcer in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Omeprazole+amoxicillin in the treatment of gastric ulcers can regulate gastrointestinal hormones,relieve gastric ulcer symptoms,and shorten the duration of ulcers,which is highly effective and feasible.

Primary Gastric Synovial Sarcoma Diagnosed by Endoscopic Surveillance of a Gastric Ulcer

Primary gastric synovial sarcoma is rare and challenging to diagnose. We present a case of a gastric ulcer that was diagnosed as primary gastric synovial sarcoma only after surveillance endoscopy with repeat biopsies. The diagnosis was established with the identification of the pathognomonic chromosomal translocation t(X;18)(p11;q11). The patient was treated with wedge resection and has remained disease-free on surveillance imaging and endoscopy. This case demonstrates the difficulty in diagnosing primary gastric synovial sarcoma and the benefits of early disease detection.

Efficacy and safety of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in the treatment of gastric ulcer:a systematic review and meta-analysis of twenty-seven randomized controlled trials

Background:Banxia XieXin Decoction(BXD)is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction commonly used in the Chinese clinical treatment of gastric ulcer(GU).Although some people believe that it may have some advantages in this regard,There is no reliable evidence-based study demonstrating its effectiveness.This study aims to systematically evaluate the healing effect and security of BXD in the treatment of GU.Methods:PubMed,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,ScienceNet,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang database,Weipu database,and China biomedical literature service(CBM)database were systematically searched to obtain all randomized controlled trials(RCTs)evaluating the treatment GU of BXD published as of April 2022.Two researchers independently screened and extracted all research data,finally evaluated the bias risk of inclusion in the study using revman 5.4.Results:This meta-analysis included 27 randomized controlled trials and 1411 patients.The clinical effective rate,recurrence rate,HP eradication rate,adverse reaction rate,and visual analog score(VAS)of BXD combined treatment and standard treatment alone were compared.The results of the meta-analysis showed that BXD combined treatment improve the symptoms related to the gastric ulcers and reduce drug-related adverse reactions.Due to the low quality of the research included in this analysis,in-depth high-quality research is crucial for verifying these results.

History of Helicobacter pylori,duodenal ulcer,gastric ulcer and gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection underlies gastric ulcer disease, gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer disease. The disease expression reflects the pattern and extent of gastritis/gastric atrophy (i.e., duodenal ulcer with non-atrophic and gastric ulcer and gastric cancer with atrophic gastritis). Gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastric cancer have been known for thousands of years. Ulcers are generally non-fatal and until the 20th century were difficult to diagnose. However, the presence and pattern of gastritis in past civilizations can be deduced based on the diseases present. It has been suggested that gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer both arose or became more frequent in Europe in the 19th century. Here, we show that gastric cancer and gastric ulcer were present throughout the 17th to 19th centuries consistent with atrophic gastritis being the predominant pattern, as it proved to be when it could be examined directly in the late 19th century. The environment before the 20th century favored acquisition of H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis (e.g., poor sanitation and standards of living, seasonal diets poor in fresh fruits and vegetables, especially in winter, vitamin deficiencies, and frequent febrile infections in childhood). The latter part of the 19th century saw improvements in standards of living, sanitation, and diets with a corresponding decrease in rate of development of atrophic gastritis allowing duodenal ulcers to become more prominent. In the early 20th century physician’s believed they could diagnose ulcers clinically and that the diagnosis required hospitalization for “surgical disease” or for “Sippy” diets. We show that while H. pylori remained common and virulent in Europe and the United States, environmental changes resulted in changes of the pattern of gastritis producing a change in the manifestations of H. pylori infections and subsequently to a rapid decline in transmission and a rapid decline in all H. pylori-related diseases.

Effects of Aloe vera and sucralfate on gastric microcirculatory changes,cytokine levels and gastric ulcer healing in rats

AIM： To compare the effects of Aloe vera and sucralfate on gastric microcirculatory changes, cytokine levels and gastric ulcer healing. METHODS： Male Spraque-Dawley rats （n=48） were divided into four groups. Group 1 served as control group, group 2 as gastric ulcer group without treatment, groups 3 and 4 as gastric ulcer treatment groups with sucralfate and Aloe vera. The rats from each group were divided into 2 subgroups for study of leukocyte adherence, TNF-α and IL-10 levels and gastric ulcer healing on days 1 and 8 after induction of gastric ulcer by 20% acetic acid. RESULTS： On day 1 after induction of gastric ulcer, the leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venule was significantly （P〈 0.05） increased in the ulcer groups when compared to the control group. The level of TNF-α was elevated and the level of IL-10 was reduced. In the ulcer groups treated with sucralfate and Aloe vera, leukocyte adherence was reduced in postcapillary venule. The level of IL-10 was elevated, but the level of TNF-a had no significant difference. On day 8, the leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venule and the level of TNF-α were still increased and the level of IL-10 was reduced in the ulcer group without treatment. The ulcer treated with sucralfate and Aloe vera had lower leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venule and TNF-α level. The level of IL-10 was still elevated compared to the ulcer group without treatment. Furthermore, histopathological examination of stomach on days 1 and 8 after induction of gastric ulcer showed that gastric tissue was damaged with inflammation. In the ulcer groups treated with sucralfate and Aloe vera on days 1 and 8, gastric inflammation was reduced, epithelial cell proliferation was enhanced and gastric glands became elongated. The ulcer sizes were also reduced compared to the ulcer group without treatment. CONCLUSION： Administration of 20% acetic acid can induce gastric inflammation, increase leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venule and TNF-α level and reduce IL-10 level. Aloe vera treatment can reduce leukocyte adherence and TNF-αlevel, elevate IL-10 level and promote gastric ulcer healing.

Refractory gastric ulcer with abundant IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration: A case report

We describe a 77-year-old man with refractory gastric ulcer that worsened after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.Pathology showed marked infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in the gastric lesions,which led us to suspect IgG4-related sclerosing disease.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report of IgG4-related gastric ulcer without the main manifestation of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Effects of hydrotalcite combined with esomeprazole on gastric ulcer healing quality: A clinical observation study

AIM To evaluate the effects of hydrotalcite combined with esomeprazole on gastric ulcer healing quality. METHODS Forty-eight patients diagnosed with gastric ulcer between June 2014 and February 2016 were randomly allocated to the combination therapy group or monotherapy group. The former received hydrotalcite combined with esomeprazole, and the latter received esomeprazole alone, for 8 wk. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were recruited and acted as the healthy control group. Endoscopic ulcer healing was observed using white light endoscopy and narrow band imaging magnifying endoscopy. The composition of collagen fibers, amount of collagen deposition, expression of factor. and TGF-beta 1, and hydroxyproline content were analyzed by Masson staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent imaging and ELISA. RESULTS Following treatment, changes in the gastric microvascular network were statistically different between the combination therapy group and the monotherapy group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in collagen deposition, expression level of Factor. and TGF-beta 1, and hydroxyproline content in the two treatment groups compared with the healthy control group. These parameters in the combination therapy group were significantly higher than in the monotherapy group (P < 0.05). The ratio of collagen. to collagen. was statistically different among the three groups, and was significantly higher in the combination therapy group than in the monotherapy group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Hydrotalcite combined with esomeprazole is superior to esomeprazole alone in improving gastric ulcer healing quality in terms of improving microvascular morphology, degree of structure maturity and function of regenerated mucosa.

Mechanisms of action of leptin in preventing gastric ulcer

To investigate the effects of leptin （1-20μg/kg） on acidified ethanol （AE）- and indomethacin （Indo）-induced gastric lesions in rats and compare it with ranitidine, lansoprazole, and omeprazole and to determine its mechanisms of actions.METHODS： Gastric ulcers, which were approximately 1 mm in width, formed in the glandular portion of the gastric mucosa produced by oral administration of either AE or Indo were taken as ulcer index. The inhibitory effect of subcutaneous administration of leptin, two proton pump inhibitors （PPIs） lansoprazole and omeprazole, or H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine 30 min before AE or Indo was evaluated.A radioimmunoassay was used to determine the PGE2 concentration in the homogenate of the glandular portion of the stomach. We performed histological study of the glandular stomach for the evaluation of total, acidic, and sulfated mucus content.RESULTS： Subcutaneous administration of leptin, two PPI slansoprazole and omeprazole or H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine 30 min before AE or Indo produced a dosedependent and reproducible inhibition of gastric ulcers （GUs）. This inhibition was found to be more potent than other antagonists used. In N^G-nitro L-arginine methyl ester （L-NAME）-pretreated animals, the ulcer prevention ability of leptin in AE-induced ulcer was significantly reduced,compared to rats without L-NAME pretreatment. However,the ulcer prevention ability of leptin was not altered by L-NAME treatment in Indo-induced ulcers. Leptin produced a dose-dependent increase in PGE2 level in the gastric glandular tissues. Leptin also increased mucus secretion.CONCLUSION： The results of the present study show that leptin inhibits GU formation by AE or Indo in a dosedependent and reproducible manner in rats. The results also suggest that leptin prevents ulcer formation by increasing the activities of the cyclo-oxygenase and/or nitric oxide pathways and by increasing mucus secretion.