7 research outputs found
Upper gastrointestinal diseases in patients for endoscopy in South-Western Uganda
Background: There is a paucity of published data regarding upper
gastrointestinal diseases in Ugandans with upper gastrointestinal
symptoms referred for endoscopy. Objectives: To study the presenting
complaints, pathology and Helicobacter pylori prevalence among
patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in South-Western Uganda.
Methods: Patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal symptoms
underwent upper endoscopy and a urease test for Helicobacter Pylori,
all suspicious lesions were biopsied for histopathology review as
appropriate. Results: The most common presenting complaints were
epigastric pain (51.6%), dysphagia (13.6%) and odynophagia (7.1%). The
most common endoscopy finding was gastritis (40.2%), followed by normal
examination (15.2%), oesophageal cancer (13.6%), gastric ulcer (7.6%)
and gastric cancer (7.1%). Patients older than 40 years (n=110) had
significant findings including gastritis (50.9%), oesophageal cancer
(22.7%) and gastric cancer (11.8%). However in younger patients, with
the age range of 18-40 years (n=74), most examinations were normal
(92.9%). Of the 176 patients able to undergo Helicobacter pylori
testing 75.6% were positive. Helicobacter pylori infection was
associated with statistically significant increase in gastritis,
oesophageal cancer, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer, and duodenal ulcers
(p-values< 0.05). Conclusion: Gastritis, ulcerative disease, and
upper gastrointestinal malignancies are common in South-Western
Ugandans and are associated with a high prevalence of Helicobacter
pylori
Exopolysaccharide from marine microalgae belonging to the Glossomastix genus: fragile gel behavior and suspension stability
ABSTRACTWith the aim to find new polysaccharides of rheological interest with innovated properties, rhamnofucans produced as exopolysaccharides (EPS) in a photobioreactor (PBR) and an airlift bioreactor (ABR) by the marine microalgae Glossomastix sp. RCC3707 and RCC3688 were fully studied. Chemical characterizations have been conducted (UHPLC â MS HR). Analyses by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled online with a multiangle light scattering detector (MALS) and a differential refractive index detector showed the presence of large structures with molar masses higher than 106 g.molâ1. The rheological studies of these EPS solutions, conducted at different concentrations and salinities, have evidenced interesting and rare behavior characteristic of weak and fragile hydrogels i.e. gel behavior with very low elastic moduli (between 10â2 and 10âPa) and yield stresses (between 10â2 and 2âPa) according to the EPS source, concentration, and salinity. These results were confirmed by diffusing wave spectroscopy. Finally, as one of potential application, solutions of EPS from Glossomastix sp. have evidenced very good properties as anti-settling stabilizers, using microcrystalline cellulose particles as model, studied by multiple light scattering (MLS) with utilization in cosmetic or food industry. Compared to alginate solution with same viscosity for which sedimentation is observed over few hours, microalgae EPS leads to a stable suspension over few days