title: Patterns of gastric myoelectrical activity in human subjects of different ages.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental change of gastric myoelectrical activity in humans. Five groups of healthy subjects were studied, including 10 preterm newborns, 8 full-term newborns, 8 full-term infants (ages 2-6 mo), 9 children (ages 4-11 yr), and 9 adults. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrogastrography for 30 min before and 30 min after a test meal in each subject. Spectral analysis methods were applied to compute the parameters of the electrogastrogram (EGG). The results showed that the percentage of 2- to-4-cycles/min (cpm) slow waves was 26.6 +/- 3.9% in the preterm newborns, 30.0 +/- 4.0% in full-term newborns, 70 +/- 6.1% in 2- to 6-mo-old infants (P < 0.001 compared with newborns), 84.6 +/- 3.2% in 4- to 11-yr-old children (P < 0.03 compared with infants), and 88.9 +/- 2.2% in the adults (P > 0.05 compared with children). In conclusion, gastric slow waves are absent at birth, and there is a maturing process after birth. Age-matched controls are necessary for the interpretation of EGG data from neonates and infants, whereas EGG data in children are the same as in adults.
authors.affiliation: Lynn Institute for Healthcare Research, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Co
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sutphen
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Torres-Pinedo
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Orr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology*