Takane Azumi

Difference in localization of esophageal mucosal breaks among grades of esophagitis

Background:  Gastroesophageal reflux occurs mainly during the daytime in patients with Los Angeles grade A esophagitis, but predominantly during the night in patients with grade C and D esophagitis. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate whether this difference in the pattern of gastroesophageal reflux influences the circumferential localization of erosions in the esophageal wall.

Helicobacter pylori infection prevents the occurrence of the tolerance phenomenon of histamine H2 receptor antagonists

Background : The attenuated anti‐secretory activity of H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) during continuous administration is referred to as the tolerance phenomenon. However, it is not clarified whether Helicobacter pylori infection affects the occurrence of tolerance to H2RA. It is also not clarified whether the tolerance phenomenon occurs to a new H2RA, lafutidine.

Tolerance to H2 receptor antagonist correlates well with the decline in efficacy against gastroesophageal reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background and Aim:  The attenuated antisecretory activity of H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) during continuous administration is known as the tolerance phenomenon. The authors recently clarified that presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori infection influences the occurrence of the tolerance phenomenon. The aim of this study was to clarify whether tolerance to H2RA is correlated with attenuation of the inhibitory effect against gastroesophageal acid reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Comparative study of the speed of acid-suppressing effects of oral administration of cimetidine and famotidine

Background and Aim:  H2 histamine receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are widely used in patients with acid‐related diseases, and the onset of antisecretory activity of H2RAs is reported to be faster than that of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The aim of this study was to compare the rapidity of onset of antisecretory activity of cimetidine and famotidine when orally administered.

A comparative study of intragastric acidity during post‐breakfast and pre‐dinner administration of low‐dose proton pump inhibitors: a randomized three‐way crossover study

The absorption and bioavailability of proton pump inhibitors is influenced by food intake. Proton pump inhibitors bind to the parietal cell active proton pump, which is maximally stimulated after dinner: usually the largest meal of the day. However, it has not been fully clarified whether the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors differs between post‐breakfast and pre‐dinner dosing.

Nizatidine and Cisapride Increase Salivary Secretion in Rats

Saliva is a neurally induced solution with buffering capacity against acidic solutions. Salivation therefore plays an important role in defending the esophageal mucosa against refluxed gastric acid and is evoked by cholinergic stimulation. Both nizatidine and cisapride are reported to increase acetylcholine concentrations in the postganglionic cholinergic synapses. We performed this study to clarify the effect of administration of nizatidine and cisapride on salivary secretion. Eight-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were used for the experiments. Histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion was measured after intraduodenal administration of nizatidine or famotidine to determine the equipotent acid-suppressing doses. Salivary secretion was then measured for 3 hr after intraduodenal administration of nizatidine (30 mg/kg), famotidine (3 mg/kg), or cisapride (1 mg/kg). Both nizatidine and famotidine dose-dependently inhibited histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion. Total salivary secretion was significantly increased by nizatidine (P = 0.02) and cisapride (P = 0.02) but not by famotidine (P = 0.50) compared with controls.

Prophylactic administration of antibiotics unnecessary following ultrasound-guided biopsy and ablation therapy for liver tumors: Open-labeled randomized prospective study.

Aim:  To determine the prophylactic effect of antibiotics administration in the prevention of infection following an ultrasound‐guided percutaneous liver biopsy or treatment of liver tumors, we performed an open‐labeled randomized prospective study of patients who received prophylactic antibiotics after undergoing those procedures.

Study of arteriosclerosis in patients with hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis

Background and Aim:  It has been reported that the prevalence of hiatal hernia (HH) and reflux esophagitis (RE) increases with age, as does the degree of arteriosclerosis. However, it has not been investigated whether or not arteriosclerosis is correlated with the presence of HH and RE. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the degree of arteriosclerosis in patients with HH and RE compared with subjects without HH and RE.

Ferucarbotran expands area treated by radiofrequency ablation in rabbit livers

Background and Aim:  Several studies have examined the factors involved with expansion of the coagulation volume following radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Ferucarbotran contains superparamagnetic iron oxide that generates heat in a radiofrequency electric field and may have an effect on the area affected by RFA. We attempted to determine whether ferucarbotran administration expands radiofrequency‐ablated volume using a rabbit model.

Kinetics of indocyanine green removal from blood can be used to predict the size of the area removed by radiofrequency ablation of hepatic nodules

Background and Aim:  The size of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the liver can be negatively influenced by the surrounding blood flow. The indocyanine green (ICG) test can be used to evaluate the effective blood flow in the liver, and distance from the hilus can affect local blood flow. The aim of this study was to assess whether the ICG test or distance from the hilus could be used to predict the size of the ablated area in liver by RFA treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules.