AIM To explore the roles of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), heme oxygenase (HO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) in gastric ulceration and to investigate the relationships of the expression and activities of these enzymes at different stages of gastric ulceration. METHODS Gastric ulcers (kissing ulcers) were induced by luminal application of acetic acid. Gastric tissue samples were obtained from the ulc...

Studies assessing the effect and mechanism of probiotics on diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GI) including gastric ulcers are limited despite extensive work and promising results of this therapeutic option for other GI diseases. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which the probiotic mixture VSL#3 (a mixture of eight probiotic bacteria including Lactobacilli, Bifidobac...

OBJECTIVE This retrospective study was undertaken to review our experience with ablation of superficial veins with significant reflux, using VNUS ClosureFAST RF (radiofrequency) or laser 980 nm, in patients with primary chronic venous ulcers, and also determine its effects in ulcer healing and ulcer recurrence. METHOD Included were 25 limbs (18 patients with chronic primary venous ulcers (cli...

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking was shown to delay gastric ulcer healing and reduce synthesis of mucus, which is important for gastric ulcer protection and healing. Polyamines are important in these processes. AIMS To study the effects of cigarette smoking on the synthesis of mucus and to investigate if such an effect is acting by interference with the polyamine pathway. METHODS Gastric mucosa...

OBJECTIVE Chronic foot ulcers are a common, severe, and expensive complication threatening life and limb in patients with diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dalteparin on ulcer outcome in patients with diabetes, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and chronic foot ulcers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 87 patients were investigated in a prospect...

Recent evidence suggests that gastric mucosal injury induces adaptive changes in DNA methylation. In this study, the methylation status of the key tissue-specific genes in normal gastric mucosa of healthy individuals and cancer patients was evaluated. The methylation-variable sites of 14 genes, including ulcer-healing genes (TFF1, TFF2, CDH1, and PPARG), were chosen from the CpG-island margins ...

The effects of fasting on peptic ulcer disease were evaluated in a prospective study, involving 23 fasting patients who underwent endoscopy before and after Ramadan. Eighteen patients took an H(2)-blocker (ranitidine, 150 mg twice daily) regularly at "Suhur" and "Iftar" as prescribed, while 5 were drug defaulters. On the first endoscopy the diagnosis in 4 patients was active acute duodenal ulce...

In this non-comparative clinical evaluation, 36 subjects with venous leg ulcers, 85% of which were indolent or deteriorating, were treated with Urgotul® lipidocolloid wound dressing and the K-Four® multilayer compression bandaging system for 12 weeks or to healing –– whichever occurred first. Results show that Urgotul® was an ideal dressing in combination with K-Four®‚ being easy to apply (98.7...

Venous ulcers are still today one of the main socioeconomic problems of medical interest in terms of prevalence, morbidity, and costs to the health service. In the past, various studies have been carried out to identify a systemic pharmacologic treatment able to accelerate venous ulcer healing times, but frequently the results have not been satisfactory. The aim of this study was to evaluate th...