Feces analysis

Abstract: Stools were screened for gallstones in 36 patients with acute pancreatitis associated with gallstones. These patients had typical clinical evidence of pancreatitis with transiently elevated serum amylase and bilirubin concentrations. Another 36 patients with gallstones but without acute pancreatitis served as controls. Gallstones were found in the feces of 34 out of 36 patients with pancreatitis, but in only three out of the 36 control cases. In the former group, the finding was usually preceded by a relief of the symptoms and a rapid decrease of serum amylase and bilirubin concentrations. The calculi found in the stools and those found in the biliary tracts of the patients at operation were identical as determined by gross inspection and chemical analysis. These findings suggest that acute pancreatitis associated with gallstone disease is frequently caused by transient blockage of the ampulla of Vater by migrating gallstones. (N Engl J Med 290:484–487, 1974)

Abstract: A method has been developed, based on techniques used for isolating bacteria from the rumen, that enables human faeces to be fractionated into three major components. The method requires repeated, vigorous agitation of a suspension of faecal solids with detergent, the use of a stomacher, and high-speed centrifugation. By this means the faecal microflora are separated from faecal dietary-fibre residues. These two components, with water-soluble material in the stool, comprise 98.3 +/- 0.9% of faecal solids. The purity of the microbial fraction was demonstrated by Gram and plant stains and by scanning electron microscopy. Microscopic counts of the bacteria in each fraction of the stool showed that the microbial fraction contained 95% of the total bacteria. Chemical analysis of the component sugars indicated 6-7% possible contamination by non-bacterial polysaccharides. The bacterial pellet was 6% nitrogen, and accounted for 60% of the total faecal nitrogen. When faeces from nine healthy subjects on a metabolically controlled British-type diet were studied, bacteria comprised 54.7 +/- 1.7% of the total solids, fibre 16.7 +/- 0.8% and soluble material 24.0 +/- 1.3%. Bacteria therefore represent a much larger proportion of the faecal mass than was previously thought.

Abstract: Three healthy adult males were restricted to complete bed rest for periods of 30–36 weeks. Urinary calcium excretion was elevated throughout bed rest, averaging 61 mg./day above the base-line value of 193 mg./day. Maximum urine calcium excretion occurred during the seventh week and was 136 mg./day above the base-line value. Fecal calcium excretion was also increased during bed rest. Sweat calcium was unchanged and represented only 2 per cent of calcium output. Mean calcium balances for the three subjects during bed rest were −202, −207, and −254 mg./day. The measured calcium loss during the entire bed rest period averaged 4.2 per cent of the estimated total body calcium. Calcium balance became more normal but remained negative during the three-week period of reambulation. Phosphorus excreted in the urine and phosphorus balance patterns were similar to calcium patterns. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels did not change appreciably during bed rest, but both levels fell during reambulation. Urinary hydroxyproline and pyrophosphate were mildly elevated during bed rest and fell with reambulation. Gamma ray transmission scanning of the os calcis revealed large losses of mineral during bed rest. The decreased mass in the central portion of this bone ranged from 25 per cent to 45 per cent. Mineral reaccumulated in the central os calcis following reambulation at a rate similar to its rate of loss during bed rest. Bone dissolution during bed rest may occur to a greater extent in weight-bearing bones than in the remainder of the skeleton, and the process appears to be reversible.