Biochemistry: Minerals and Gastric Juice

A test used to evaluate the presence of bile salts in a solution. If bile salts are present, sulphur flower will sink to the bottom of a test tube. In the absence of bile salts, the sulphur flower will remain at the liquid surface.

A test used to detect the presence of lactic acid in gastric juice. Lactic acid is a marker for bacterial infection in the stomach, indicating a possible health issue.

A test used to identify lactic acid in gastric juice. This test uses ferric chloride in phenol solution (Uffalman's reactive) to change color when lactic acid is present.

The peak effect of histamine administration on gastric secretion typically occurs within the first hour after injection.

A diagnostic test that uses histamine to stimulate gastric acid secretion. It's used to assess the function of the stomach and diagnose conditions like ulcers.

Adverse reactions that can occur after histamine administration, including headache, tachycardia, hypotension, abdominal pain, and gastric hemorrhage.

A diagnostic test that uses insulin to induce hypoglycemia, which in turn stimulates gastric acid secretion. It's used to assess the effectiveness of vagotomy.

A synthetic peptide used as a potent stimulant of gastric acid secretion, often preferred over histamine due to its safety profile.

Previously used as stimulants for gastric acid secretion, but their effectiveness is much lower compared to histamine, pentagastrin, or a meal, so they're no longer used routinely.

The volume and concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in gastric juice, measured under basal conditions or with maximal stimulation. These measurements help diagnose and monitor stomach conditions.

A method to determine the acidity of gastric juice using titration. It involves neutralizing the acid with a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

The presence of free hydrochloric acid (HCl) in gastric juice, measured using a chemical reaction with a specific reagent (Topffer reactive), which turns the solution red in the presence of free HCl.

The amount of HCl neutralized by the addition of a known volume of NaOH solution.

The total amount of HCl in gastric juice, calculated by adding the free HCl and combined HCl.

A unit of measurement used to express the acidity of gastric juice, representing the volume of NaOH solution (n/10) required to neutralize the HCl in 100 ml of gastric juice.

A method used to detect the presence of free HCl in gastric juice by heating it with a specific reagent (Gunsburg reactive), which produces a red color in the presence of free HCl.

The ability of bile salts to reduce the surface tension between water and fat, allowing efficient emulsification of fats for digestion.

The process of breaking down fat into smaller droplets, increasing its surface area for enzymatic digestion.

A solution of vanillin and fluroglucin in alcohol, used to detect the presence of free HCl in gastric juice.

Potassium sulfocyanate (KSCN) is a chemical found in saliva. It is primarily an excretory product from protein metabolism or fruit intake, acting as a detoxification mechanism. The concentration of KSCN is higher in smoker's saliva than non-smokers.

A brick-red precipitate of ferric sulfocyanate forms when saliva is mixed with ferric chloride (FeCl3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). This reaction is utilized to indicate the presence of KSCN in saliva.

Gastric aspiration using an Einthorn tube or an endoscope is a common technique for collecting gastric juice in humans.

Histamine, histalog, pentagastrin, and insulin are commonly utilized clinical stimulators to induce gastric juice secretion for investigative purposes.

The maximal stimulatory test using histamine was introduced by Kay in 1953 and is a standard procedure in investigating gastric ulcers. It assesses the stomach's ability to secrete HCl acid.

Histamine, when administered in a dosage of 40 µg/kg/h, can induce maximal acid secretion. This dosage has been established as the standard for assessing gastric acid output.

The augmented histamine test, utilizing a dosage of 40 µg/kg, was developed after realizing lower doses were insufficient for maximal acid output. This test is a routine procedure in clinical practice.

In atrophic gastritis, histamine doesn't elicit a response, indicating a diminished ability of the stomach to produce HCl acid. This observation is significant for diagnosis and understanding the condition.