Posts Tagged ‘Abdomen’

Gastroduodenal Crohns Disease

02.27.10

In anatomy, the gastroduodenal artery is a small blood vessel in the abdomen.It supplies blood to the pylorus (distal part of the stomach) and the proximal part of the duodenum.It arises from the common hepatic artery and terminates in a bifurcation, when it splits into the right gastroepiploic artery and the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Crohns disease involving the gastric outlet and proximal duodenum, resulting in gastric outlet obstruction. Image on the right shows a view of the stricture as seen through a translucent dilating balloon, which has been inflated in the stricture.

1. Melatonin protection against ethanol-induced gastroduodenal injury was investigated in duodenumligated rats.
2. Melatonin, injected i.p. 30 min before administration of 1 ml of absolute ethanol, given by gavage, significantly decreased ethanol-induced macroscopic, histological and biochemical changes in the gastroduodenal mucosa.
3. Ethanol-induced lesions were detectable as haemorrhagic streaks. Ethanol administration damaged 36% and 25% of the total gastric and duodenal surface, respectively.

Melatonin treatment reduced ethanol-induced gastric and duodenal damage to 14% and 8%, respectively. When indomethacin was given together with ethanol, the gastric damaged area was 44% of the total surface, while the duodenal damaged area was 35%; melatonin administration reduced the damage to only 13% of the total gastric surface and to 12% of total duodenal surface.

4. Both stomach and duodenum of ethanol-treated animals showed polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration. The number of PMN increased more than 600 and 200 times in stomach and duodenum, respectively, following ethanol administration. Melatonin treatment reduced ethanol-induced PMN infiltration by 38% in the stomach and 20% in the duodenum. In indomethacin-ethanol-treated rats, the number of PMN increased by 875% compared to control group in the stomach and by 264% in duodenum. Melatonin administration reduced the indomethacin-ethanol-induced PMN rise by 57% in the stomach and 40% in the duodenum.

5. Gastroduodenal total glutathione (tGSH) concentration and glutathione reductase (GSSG-Rd) activity were significantly reduced following ethanol and indomethacin-ethanol administration. Melatonin ameliorated both the decrease in tGSH concentration as well as the reduction of GSSG-Rd activity elicited by ethanol both in the stomach and duodenum; melatonin was effective against indomethacin-ethanol-induced damage only in the stomach.

6. Ethanol-induced gastroduodenal damage is believed to be mediated by the generation of free radicals. Recently, a number of in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown melatonin to be an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger; thus, we conclude that the protection by melatonin against ethanol-induced gastroduodenal injury is due, at least in part, to its radical scavenging activity.

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Crohns Disease Surgery

01.08.10

Two-thirds to three-quarters of patients with Crohn’s disease will require surgery at some point during their lives. Surgery becomes necessary in Crohn’s disease when medications can no longer control the symptoms. It may also be performed to repair a fistula or fissure.

Another indication for surgery is the presence of an intestinal obstruction or other complication, such as an intestinal abscess. In most cases, the diseased segment of bowel and any associated abscess is removed; this is called a resection. The two ends of healthy bowel are then joined together in a procedure called an anastomosis. While resection and anastomosis may allow many symptom-free years, this surgery is not considered a cure for Crohn’s disease, because the disease frequently recurs at or near the site of anastomosis.

An ileostomy also may be required when surgery is performed for Crohn’s disease of the colon. After the surgeon removes the colon, he brings the small bowel to the skin, so that waste products may be emptied into a pouch attached to the abdomen. This procedure is needed if the rectum is diseased and cannot be used for an anastomosis.

The overall goal of surgery in Crohn’s disease is to conserve bowel and return the individual to the best possible quality of life. Surgery does not cure Crohn’s disease, but corrects an immediate problem that cannot be resolved using medication. Four types of surgery are commonly performed on individuals with Crohn’s disease:
•    Partial bowel resection, to remove a diseased portion of intestine
•    Strictureplasty
•    Correction of fistulas
•    Draining of an abscess

It is estimated that about 75% of individuals who live with Crohn’s disease will require surgery at some point in their lives, and that 75% of those who have one surgery will need at least one subsequent surgery.

Partial Bowel Resection
Resection is usually performed when a portion of intestine has been so damaged by disease that a permanent partial obstruction has formed. The most common areas removed are the terminal ileum, the ileocecal valve, and a small portion of the large intestine. Usually, the surgeon will attach (anastomose) the healthy ends of intestine together during the procedure.

Sometimes, however, there is mild inflammation throughout the intestine, preventing such reattachment. In these cases, a temporary ostomy is created. The ostomy allows intestinal contents to drain directly out of the body into a collecting bag through the abdominal wall. The ostomy is usually closed and the bowel reattached six to eight weeks after the initial surgery.After surgery, disease tends to occur above

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Celebrities With Crohns

05.31.09

Singer Anastacia was diagnosed with Crohns disease at age 13 and with breast cancer at age 29, but she has resolved to let neither disease defeat her. Her two albums, Not That Kind and Freak of Nature have earned a total of 42 platinum albums. She is an international sensation and has won several awards including awards as MTV Europe’s Best Pop Artist and Best New Artist at the World Music Awards.

Born in Chicago, Anastacia was introduced to the entertainment business at an early age by her parents; her father is a singer and her mother an actress. Anastacia started her career as a dancer in music videos and on Club MTV. She landed a recording contract with Epic Records after singing on MTV’s The Cut. Anastacia co-wrote the songs on her second album and has performed with legends such as Elton John and Luciano Pavoratti.Instead of being embarrassed by, or hiding her disease, Anastacia speaks openly about Crohns disease and the profound influence it has on her life and her music. She does not hide the scars on her abdomen, a reminder of the surgery she had for Crohn’s when she was just 13 years old. She feels that her disease helps her to understand herself and her motivations. Crohn’s also inspires her to live her life to the fullest.heoren

(Theo) Fleury was picked 188th in the 1987 National Hockey League draft. In the 1998-99 season, he scored 53 assists, the six highest number of assists in the league. He placed seventh in the league for goals and points, with 40 and 93, respectively.He was acquired as a free agent by the Rangers in July, 1999. At 5 foot 6 inches tall, he has become a role model for hockey players under 6 feet tall (6 feet considered to be the standard size for the NHL).
Theo is known for his fiestiness on the ice, and his determination. Diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 1996, he has been determined not to let the disease rule his lifeUnfortunately, on April 11, 2003, Theo was suspended indefinitely by NHL for violating the terms of his substance abuse aftercare program. He played the 2005-06 season with the Belfast Giants of the British Elite Ice Hockey League, and was named 2006 Kingdom of the Giants Most Valuable Player, but decided not return for the 2006-07 season.

Mike McCready, the lead Guitarist for the very popular rock band Pearl Jam, suffers from Crohns disease. Mike has admitted that, at times, the pain and associated urgency is so great that it affects his ability to perform on stage.
Mike has suffered with Crohns disease since the age of 15, and at times has taken up to 140 pills a week. He kept his disease hidden for several years as his band became popular. In 2003 Mike decided to become a spokesperson for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) after realizing that the disease affects so many children.Since going public, Mike has made numerous personal appearances and has donated signed guitars and other items to raise funds for the CCFA. Most recently, Mike has made a public service announcement that has been distributed to 1,250 radio stations across the United States.

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