Gastrointestinal Flashcards
Where is niacin found?
- Protein
- Dairy products
- Many cereals
- Vegetables
Why would a bulimic patient present with dental decay?
Gastric acid in vomit
Where is vitamin E found?
- Vegetable oils
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Whole grains
What other signs would you see in Vitamin A deficiency (secondary)?
- Dry skin
- Keratinization of lungs, GI, urinary epithelium
What does pyridoxine deficiency result in?
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Cheilosis
- Glossitis
In severe deficiency: - Peripheral neuropathy
- Lymphopenia
- Anemia
How does pyridoxine deficiency occur?
Rare but may occur because of:
- Alcoholism
- Interactions with medications (INH)
In an anorexic patient, what can lead to sudden death?
Ventricular Arryhthmia
Prevalence of obesity increases with what?
It is higher among who?
- Age
- African American women
- People of low socioeconomic status
What are the signs / symptoms of anorexic patients?
- Increasingly cachectic
- Amenorrhea
- Bradycardia
- Low BP
- Hypothermia
- Edema
- Lanugo hair growth (fine hair)
Vitamin K is a cofactor in the synthesis of what clotting factors?
- II (2)
- VII (7)
- IX (9)
- X (10)
Where does vitamin K come from?
- Leafy greens
- Normal intestinal bacteria
Which is increased with vitamin K deficiency - PTT or PT?
PT (although both may be affected)
What is a condition of extreme weight loss, severe disturbance in body image, and fear of obesity?
Anorexia Nervosa
What happens with vitamin E toxicity?
Nothing… It’s rare
Which three conditions are keys to diagnosing pernicious anemia?
What is confirmed with?
- Megaloblastic anemia, Neurologic disturbances, Ataxia
- Schilling Test
What condition can overweight teenagers develop?
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
How does dermatitis present in pellagra?
Dark, scaly lesions on sun-exposed skin
What stains the skin orange?
Excess beta-carotene
Once Cobalamin (B12) is ingested, what does it bind to? What does this allow?
- Intrinsic factor from the parietal cells
- Absorption
Which vitamin is important for DNA synthesis and myelin formation?
Cobalamin (B12)
What can vitamin D deficiency cause?
- Rickets in children
- Osteomalacia
How is vitamin D make in the skin?
Exposure to sunlight
What are the symptoms of advanced lesions of dental caries?
Pain from eating hot, cold, and sugary foods
Which vitamin deficiency causes beriberi?
Thiamine (B1)
How does wet beriberi present?
- Cardiovascular disease
- High output heart failure
What BMI is considered overweight? obese?
Overweight… > 25
Obese… > 30 unless they have a high muscle mass
What is another name for B1?
Thiamine
Why would vitamin deficiency develop in a developed country?
- Chronic alcohol use
- Medication misuse
- Food faddism
- Long-term parenteral nutrition
What might happen to infants with pyridoxine insufficiency?
Seizures
Who is a typical anorexic patient?
- Teenage girl
- Higher socioeconomic status
- Perfectionist
What provides substrate for bacterial production of lactic acid on teeth, which erodes enamel?
Dietary carbohydrates (sucrose)
What can have a protected effect on osteoporosis?
Obesity
What is another name for vitamin D?
Calciferol
What is another name for B3?
Niacin
What is seen in riboflavin (B2) deficiency?
- Cheilosis
- Angular stomatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Corneal vascularization
- Anemia
What is angular stomatitis?
Fissuring at the angles of the mouth
What must children outside of the US do to ensure protection of dental caries? Why?
- Take fluoride supplements, Use fluoride compounds applied directly to teeth (mouth rinse / toothpaste)
- In US, water is fluoridated
Is the first or second dose of the Schilling test radioactive? How are each dose given?
- First
- First → PO / Second → Injection
What is a condition particularly common in alcoholics in which nystagmus, ataxia, confusion, and confabulation are present? What may it lead to?
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Come and death
What is ingested which offers protection against forming dental caries while the teeth are developing? At what ages are the teeth developing?
- Fluoride
- Birth-13
Which vitamin is a coenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism?
Niacin (B3)
What is the recommended treatment of dental caries?
Dental fillings
What is the mortality rate in anorexic hospitalized patients?
6%
What is scurvy?
Vitamin C deficiency
What does scurvy present with?
- Splinter hemorrhages
- Spontaneous hemorrhage
- Swollen, friable gums
- Secondary infections
- Myalgias
- Hemarthrosis
- Tooth loss
- Gangrene
- Also anemia
Which vitamin is needed for the formation of collagen and the maintenance of connective tissue, bone, and teeth, wound healing, and iron absorption?
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
What is another name for vitamin C?
Ascorbic acid
What is another name for B12?
Cobalamin
What is another name for vitamin A?
Retinol
Vitamin D enhances absorption of what two things from the gut?
- Calcium
- Phosphate
What is a rapid correction for vitamin K deficiency?
Injection of vitamin K
What is another name for B2?
Riboflavin
Which vitamin is a component of the coenzymes flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mono nucleotide (FMN)?
Riboflavin (B2)
What would be the treatment for anorexia?
- Psychiatric
- Family counseling
(Tubes, IV feeds rarely needed)
What surgery involves decreasing the patient’s stomach capacity with a vertical banded gastroplasty?
Roux-en-Y Banding
What does pyridoxine (B6) toxicity cause?
Sensory neuropathy
What does vitamin A toxicity cause?
- Mouth sores
- Anorexia
- Vomiting
- Increased intracranial pressure → Papilledema / headaches
What is cheilosis?
Swollen, cracked, bright red lips
How does riboflavin (B2) insufficiency occur?
Insufficient milk and animal product consumption
What are obese people more prone to get?
- Osteoarthritis
- Gall bladder disease
- Urinary stress incontinence
- Infertility
- Venous stasis disease
What is a condition in which the destruction of parietal cells results in insufficient amounts of intrinsic factor, which then leads to vitamin B12 deficiency?
Pernicious anemia
What would deficiency of vitamin A cause? (main deficiencies)
- Night blindness
- Conjunctival dryness
- Corneal keratinization
- Epithelial cells loose moisture and are replaced by horny cells
Niacin deficiency can occur in the setting of what four things? (excluding maize as diet staple)
- Diarrhea
- Cirrhosis
- Alcoholism
- Isoniazid use (INH)
How would vitamin D deficiency present on an x-ray?
- Long-bone bowing in children
- Demineralization in adults
Niacin deficiency occurs when what is a diet staple?
Maize (milled corn)
What does vitamin E insufficiency result from?
- Vitamin-insufficient infant formulas
- Protein-energy malnutrition
- Some malabsorption syndromes with steatorrhea
What vitamin maintains cell membranes by protecting lipids from oxidation? Why does this happen?
- Vitamin E
- Sucks up free radicals
Where else is vitamin D found (other than skin)?
- Dairy
- Fish
Which disorder is associated with binge eating, induced vomiting, and laxative use?
Bulimia
What are the normal values for PT, PTT, and INR?
- PT = 10-12s
- PTT = 30-45s
- INR = 1-2
What is vitamin A a component of in the retina?
Photoreceptor pigments → maintain normal epithelium
How does dry beriberi present?
Bilateral symmetrical peripheral neuropathy
What is the second most common cause of premature death in the US? What’s the first?
#2 = Obesity #1 = Smoking
Which conditions would increase the need for B1 (Thiamine)?
- Pregnancy
- Hyperthyroidism
Where is Thiamine (B1) found?
Grains
Removed in production of polished rice
Which vitamin is used in the metabolism of amino acids and the synthesis of heme?
Pyridoxine (B6)
What is another name for vitamin B6?
Pyridoxine
What does vitamin E insufficiency cause?
- Red blood cell hemolysis → anemia in infants
- Neurologic changes such as gait changes, areflexia, decreased vibration / position sense
How is anorexia diagnosed?
Loss of more than 15% of body weight in a thin patient who denies illness and has a fear of obesity
How many American adults are overweight or obese?
1/3
What can vitamin K toxicity cause?
Hemolysis (but rare…)
How is vitamin A formed by the body?
From beta-carotene (found in yellow, orange, and leafy green vegetables)
High doses of which vitamin can be used to lower LDLs and raise HDLs?
What is a common side effect of taking it?
- Niacin (B3)
- Flushing
Where is vitamin A found?
- Egg yolks
- Dairy products
- Liver
- Fish
What suggests the diagnoses of depletion of folate body stores?
Megaloblastic anemia without neurologic changes
Folate deficiency is often seen in who?
- Elderly
- Alcoholics
- Poor
(Inadequate nutrition)
What can vitamin D toxicity cause?
- Hypercalcemia
- Calcification in kidney, liver, eyes, and joints
What can vitamin K deficiency result in?
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Prolonged oozing
Which vitamin is used in the synthesis of DNA?
Folate
Niacin deficiency leads to what?
What does this consist of?
- Pellagra
- Four D’s = Diarrhea, Dermatitis, Dementia, Death
If someone passed out and was brought to the ER, what cocktail of drugs would you give?
- Thiamine (B1 deficiency)
- Narcan (Reverse drug effects)
- Dextrose (Sugar replenishment)
Where is folate found?
- Leafy green vegetables
- Citrus fruits
How is pernicious anemia treated?
IM injections of B12
Which vitamin contributes to carbohydrates metabolism as a coenzyme?
Thiamine (B1)
What is the treatment for a fistula?
Fistulotomy
-the tract is completely opened and allowed to heal from within.
What is a common cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks?
The Norwalk Virus
What virus causes severe diarrhea in small children and causes significant mortality in third world countries?
Rotavirus
- “rotates” out of the world
What are some other sources of viral gastroenteritis (besides Norwalk and Rotavirus)?
Enterovirus
Coxsackie A1 Virus
Echovirus
Adenovirus
Does viral gastroenteritis require treatment?
Rarely. The generally resolve without treatment.
What do you remember from Micro about Staph A.?
Coagulase positive
Catalase positive
Gram positive
Purple on staining
How does Staph Gastroenteritis occur?
From eating food containing the toxin- Staph A. particularly from foods left out at room temperature-milk,cheese, some meat and fish.
Within how many hours will a person experience vomiting, cramping and diarrhea after ingesting a food containing Staph A.?
8 hours
How soon can a person recover from being infected with Staph Gastroenteritis?
24-48 hours
How is Staph Gastroenteritis treated?
Fluid and electrolytes
What does the enterotoxin from Vibrio cholera do to the bowel lumen?
It causes electrolytes and water to be secreted into the bowel lumen.
How is cholera spread?
Fecal contamination of water, seafood and other products.
Where are endemic cases of cholera found?
Along the Gulf Coast of the US
Asia
Africa
Middle East
“Rice water” stools are found in what GI disorder?
Vibrio cholera
Are the rice water stools passed with Vibrio cholera painful?
No, they are passed without pain.
Why isnt the diarrhea bloody with Vibrio cholera?
Because the bowel mucosa remains intact.
Is fever seen in vibrio cholera?
Rare.
A patient comes in to your office with severe dehydration that leads to thirst,oliguria or anuria, cramps, weakness and loss of skin tone. What is on the top of your DD of GI disorders?
Cholera
What can circulatory collapse seen in Cholera cause?
Cyanosis
Stupor
Renal tubular necrosis
and Death…
What is the pH in the mouth- acidic or basic?
Basic
What will the labs show in a patient with Cholera?
Metabolic Acidosis because of the loss of Bicarb in the stool.
What is imperative with treatment of Cholera?
Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.
Why is Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline used in treatment of Cholera?
They are broad spectrum antibiotics.
Cipro- is gyrase inhibitor (inhibits the bacterial DNA from unwinding)
What is used to confirm the diagnosis of GERD?
- Endoscopy
- pH probe
- Motility studies
Other than an abnormal LES, what are some other causes of GERD?
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Scleroderma
- Cigarettes
- Alcohol
- Meds that dilate / relax
What are some medications that would relax / dilate the lower esophageal sphincter and may result in GERD?
- Anticholinergics
- Antipsychotics
- Beta-blockers
- Beta 2 agonists
- Calcium channel blockers
(AABBC)
What’s the first-line therapy for GERD?
Patients should:
- Elevate head of their beds
- Lose weight
- Change their diets to decrease intake of fat, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, and late-night snacks
What is the medical treatment for GERD?
- Antacids
- H2-receptor antagonists (-dine)
- Short-term trial of metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Proton pump blocker (omeprazole, lansoprazole)
What is a surgical procedure to treat severe GERD?
Nissen fundoplication
What is Nissen fundoplication?
Surgical procedure which wrap stomach tissue (fundus) around the LES to tighten it
What are the two cancer types of esophageal cancer? Which one is more common?
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
(Squamous cell is more common but adenocarcinoma now accounts for almost half of the cases)
What are two risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma in esophageal cancer?
- Heavy alcohol
- Tobacco
At the time of presentation, most patients with esophageal cancer have metastases where?
To lymph nodes
and local extension with invasion of nearby structures
What is the initial symptom of esophageal cancer? What does this lead to?
Dysphagia → weight loss
True or false: Patients with esophageal cancer first experience difficulty swallowing liquids, which gradually progresses to difficulty swallowing solids as well.
False (other way around)
What might be present in esophageal cancer if the laryngeal nerves are involved?
Coughing or hoarseness
Besides dysphagia, what other symptoms might be noted in esophageal cancer?
- Weakness
- Anemia
- Pain
- Regurgitation
- Aspiration
In patients with esophageal cancer, barium swallow typically shows what?
Lumen narrowed by an irregular mass
In patients with esophageal cancer, constricting bands are usually seen with what?
Annular lesions
In esophageal cancer, what is used for tissue diagnosis?
Esophagoscopy with biopsy
In esophageal cancer, what test will show extension and metastases?
CT scan
What is the treatment for esophageal cancer?
Some combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy
True or false: Prognosis in esophageal cancer is poor.
True
Why is prognosis of esophageal cancer poor?
Highly vascularized GI tract
True or false: Sialolithiasis causes pain with eating
False
How are sialolithiasis treated?
Sialagogues (lemon drops), warm compresses, and massage → excision might be needed
What might painless swelling of the parotid gland result with?
- Mumps
- Sarcoidosis
- Cirrhosis
- Neoplasms
- Infection
What happens in a dehydrated person which would cause infection and swelling of the parotid glands?
Oral bacteria are not sufficiently washed away and may ascend into the ducts
How would an infection of the parotid glands be treated?
Hydration and antibiotics
Difficulty in swallowing can be divided into problems of what two things?
Oropharyngeal transport and esophageal transport
What are oropharyngeal problems usually caused by?
Neurologic or muscular disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis
In esophageal dysphagia, what affects the swallowing of only fluids?
Obstructive disorders such as tumors, strictures, and rings
In esophageal dysphagia, what affects the swallowing of solids and fluids equally?
Motor disorders such as achalasia, spasms, and scleroderma
What is Schatzki’s ring?
Where the esophagus joins the stomach
What occurs if a lesion is pre-esophageal?
Nasal regurgitation or cough secondary to tracheal aspiration
What do patients with esophageal lesions complain of?
Food getting stuck
What may supraclavicular lymphadenopathy indicate?
- Cancer
- Nerve, problems
- Muscular problems
- Other
What is key in diagnosing the location and type of dysphagia?
Chronology, including whether onset involved solids, liquids, or both
What tests may be useful in diagnosing dysphagia?
- Barium swallow studies
- Upper endoscopy
- Esophageal manometry
- Esophageal pH monitoring
What is globes hystericus?
Lump in throat → usually psychogenic
How are patients who develop dysphagia because of stroke or other neuromuscular disorders treated?
Therapy
How are patients who develop dysphagia because of an obstruction treated?
Correction with surgery
What is achalasia?
Disorder of the esophagus which involves impairment of peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter relaxation
What is the etiology of achalasia?
Unknown
When does achalasia commonly occur?
Gradual onset most commonly begins between 20 and 40
How may patients presenting with achalasia have a malignancy of the gastroesophageal junction?
Small minority
What is the major symptom of achalasia?
Gradual onset of dysphagia of both solids and liquids
Regurgitation is common in achalasia. What does this cause at night?
Cough and aspiration
In a patient with achalasia, what would a barium swallow study show?
Dilated esophagus, with a classic beak-like lower portion
True of false: In achalasia, peristalsis is absent.
True
What is used to rule out stricture and carcinoma of achalsia?
Endoscopy with biopsy
What is the treatment for achalasia?
- Pneumatic dilation
- Botulinum toxin
- Laparoscopic myotomy
- Fundoplication
What is laparoscopic myotomy?
The surgical division of the involved muscle
What could laparoscopy myotomy result in?
Gastroesophageal reflux
What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Esophageal inflammation results when low pressures at the lower esophageal sphincter allow reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus
In addition to inflammation and ulceration, what else could patients with GERD develop?
- Strictures
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Bleeding
- Aspiration
What is Barrett’s esophagus?
Stratified squamous turning to columnar metaplasia → sometimes leading to adenocarcinoma
What kinds of patients is GERD seen in?
- Common in overweight
- May be seen in infants who present with vomiting, failure to thrive, anemia, or pulmonary symptoms
What is heartburn?
Burning behind the sternum that rises from the stomach toward the mouth
When does heartburn occur? How is it relieved?
Occurs when the patient lies down after eating / Resolved by sitting up, drinking fluids, and taking antacids
What are some atypical symptoms that occur because of reflux?
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Asthma
- Non-cardiac chest pain
What is a hiatal hernia?
Common disorder that involves protrusion of part of the stomach above the diaphragm
What are the two types of hiatal hernias?
- Sliding hiatal hernia
- Paraesophageal hiatal hernia
What does a sliding hiatal hernia involve?
Involves upward displacement of both the gastroesophageal junction and the stomach through the diaphragm
What does a paraesophageal hiatal hernia result from?
Results when part of the stomach is pushed through the diaphragm next to a normally located esophagus and gastroesophageal junction
True or false: If the lower esophageal sphincter is displaced upward, it is exposed to a higher pressure in the thoracic cavity and may not be able to remained closed.
False (it is exposed to a lower pressure)
What may occur due to a displacement upward of the LES?
Gastroesophageal reflux
In a hiatal hernia, what will x-rays and barium studies show?
A portion of the stomach above the diaphragm
What are some causes of a hiatal hernia?
- Age
- Obesity
- Smoking
What is an EGD?
Esaphagogastroduodenoscopy
What is the only therapy needed for a sliding hiatal hernia?
Control reflux, if present
What are some complications of a paraesophageal hernia?
Incarcerated or strangulated
What is indicated for recurrent or intractable symptoms of hiatal hernias?
Surgery → often involves a Nissen fundoplication
What is gastritis? How can it be classified?
- Inflammation of the gastric mucosa
- It can be classified erosive or nonerosive
What is gastritis usually due to?
- NSAID use
- Alcohol
- Severe illness (viral infection)
- Trauma
What is nonerosive gastritis caused by?
Helicobacter pylori
Nonerosive gastritis is present in what percentage of the population?
30 - 50%
What could nonerosive gastritis cause?
Gland atrophy or metaplasia
What is the presenting symptom of gastritis?
Mild dyspepsia
What is often the first sign of hospitalized patients with stress gastritis?
Blood in the nasogastric aspirate or hematemesis (“coffee grounds” emesis)
True or false: There is usually not significant bleeding in gastritis?
True (because lesions are superficial)
Why does alcohol cause gastritis?
Alcohol is a relaxant → makes it easier to vomit and acid comes up
In gastritis, endoscopy should be done promptly to rule out bleeding from more serious lesions such as what?
- Ulcers
- Esophageal varices
True or false: Nonerosive gastritis is usually asymptomatic.
True
True or false: In nonerosive gastritis, petechiae and erosions may be seen.
False (this happens in erosive gastritis → in nonerosive gastritis, the stomach appears normal but biopsy shows inflammation with neutrophils and lymphocytes)
What might be sufficient treatment for erosive gastritis? What else are commonly used?
- Avoidance of NSAIDs and alcohol
- Antacids and H2-blockers
What is used as a prophylactic to prevent stress gastritis in intensive care units?
H2-blockers
In peptic ulcer disease, where is ulcerative corrosion of the epithelium more common - stomach or duodenum?
Duodenum
What is the injurious agent in peptic ulcer disease?
Gastric acid
In peptic ulcer disease, what plays an important role in weakening the epithelium and making it susceptible to damage?
H. pylori
Besides H. pylori, what are other risk factors for peptic ulcer disease?
- NSAIDs
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Radiation treatments
- Being very ill (ventilator)
True or false: Numerous ulcer patients have higher-than-normal acid secretion.
False (few ulcer patients…)
True or false: Nausea and epigastric tenderness are common in PUD patients.
True
Fecal occult blood is present in what number of PUD patients?
1/3
Ulcers may be complicated by what three things?
- Bleeding
- Perforation
- Obstruction
What test may an ulcer be seen on?
GI series
What test identifies active H. pylori infection or malignancy in PUD patients?
Endoscopy with biopsy
What is a particular concern of gastric ulcers in a patient without history of NSAID use?
- H. pylori Infection
- Malignancy
How is H. pylori tested for in biopsy tissue with PUD patients?
Urease using pH-sensitive media
In PUD patients, what noninvasive test is used to document H. pylori eradication after therapy?
14C and 13C urea breath tests
When assessing for H. pylori in PUD patients, why are serum antibodies only sometimes useful?
They cannot distinguish between active and resolved infection
In PUD patients, what levels should be measured to exclude hypersecretory states such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
Serum gastrin levels
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome may be single or small multiple tumors. How many of the single gastrinomas are cancerous? Where do they spread to?
- 1/2 to 2/3 are cancerous
- Spread to nearby organs (liver)
What combination of antibiotics are used to treat H. pylori?
- Tetracycline
- Metronidazole
- Amoxicillin
- Clarithromycin
What drugs could be added to the antibiotic regimen to treat H. pylori?
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or proton pump blockers
True or false: After successful treatment of an infection of H. pylori, ulcers are still common.
False (ulcers are rare)
Nonhealing ulcers → what should you think?
Cancer
True or false: With ulcers, chronic H2-blocker therapy and surgical treatment are now rarely necessary.
True
In patients who cannot stop NSAID treatment, what would be given to patients with ulcers to reduce ulcer recurrence?
Coadminstration of H2-blockers, proton pump inhibitors, or prostaglandin analog misopristol (use of COX-2 selective NSAIDs also helps)
Which drug protects tissue lining in PUD?
Carafate (Sucralfate)
What is the normal regimen of PUD?
2 antibiotics + bismuth
In PUD, what percentage is a gastric ulcer? duodenal ulcer?
Gastric = 25% Duodenal = 75%
True of false: Gastric ulcers occur in younger people; duodenal ulcers occur in older.
False (opposite)
What is the major risk factor for gastric ulcers?
NSAIDs
What is the major risk factor for duodenal ulcers?
H. pylori
True or false: Pain with gastric ulcers varies, often not relieved by eating.
True
True or false: Pain with duodenal ulcers improves with food, worse 6-8 hours later.
False (it is true that duodenal ulcers improve with food but it gets worse 2-4 hours later