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C D Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C D Liu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Reduced length of stay by implementation of a clinical pathway for bariatric surgery in an academic health care center.

Bariatric surgery is being performed in increasing numbers in an era when reimbursements are being reduced. Academic health centers bear the responsibility for training surgeons to perform these operations yet must keep costs to a minimum and retain high quality. The UCLA Bariatric Surgery Program developed a clinical pathway for the pre- and postoperative management for gastric bypass patients to achieve these goals. Medical records for 182 consecutive gastric bypass patients were retrospectively reviewed before implementation of the pathway (Group I) during the fiscal year of 1998/1999. Data on average length of stay, average intensive care unit length of stay, average standard variable cost, percentage readmission rate, and percentage return to the operating room were collected. This information was compared with the data collected prospectively from 182 patients after implementation of the pathway in July of 1999 (Group II) during the fiscal year of 1999/2000. Hospital cost per admission was reduced by 40 per cent in Group II compared with Group I (P < 0.02). The average length of stay was reduced from 4.05 days in Group I to 3.17 days in Group II (P < 0.033). Overall readmission rate was decreased from 4.2 per cent in Group I to 3.2 per cent in Group II (P < 0.05). There were no differences in morbidities between both groups. The pathway reduced costs by reducing the hospital length of stay, intensive care unit utilization, and readmission rates. Quality was maintained as evidenced by a similar pattern of postoperative morbidities yet readmission rates were reduced. Our results indicate that implementation of a clinical pathway for bariatric surgery reduces cost and improves quality of care in an academic institution.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Structure-activity studies including a Psi(CH(2)-NH) scan of peptide YY (PYY) active site, PYY(22-36), for interaction with rat intestinal PYY receptors: development of analogues with potent in vivo activity in the intestine.

Peptide YY (PYY) is a gut hormone that inhibits secretion and promotes absorption and growth in the intestinal epithelium. We have performed structure-activity studies with the active site, N-alpha-Ac-PYY(22-36)-NH(2), for interaction with intestinal PYY receptors. Investigation of aromatic substitutions at position 27 resulted in analogues that exhibited potent in vitro antisecretory potencies with N-alpha-Ac-[Trp(27)]PYY(22-36)-NH(2) exhibiting even greater potency than intact PYY. In vivo studies in dogs revealed that this analogue also promoted intestinal absorption of water and electrolytes during continuous intravenous and intraluminal infusion. Investigations carried out to identify features that would enhance stability revealed that incorporation of Trp(30) increased affinity for PYY receptors. A "CH(2)-NH" scan revealed that incorporation of reduced bonds at position 28-29 or 35-36 imparted greater receptor affinity. In general, disubstituted analogues designed based on the results of single substitutions exhibited good receptor affinity with N-alpha-Ac-[Trp(27),CH(2)-NH(35-36)]PYY(22-36)-NH(2) having the greatest affinity (IC(50) = 0.28 nM). Conservative multiple substitutions with Nle-->Leu and Nva-->Val also imparted good affinity. An analogue designed to encompass most of the favored substitutions, N-alpha-Ac-[Nle(24,28),Trp(30),Nva(31), CH(2)-NH(35-36)]PYY(22-36)-NH(2), exhibited a proabsorptive effect in dogs comparable to, but longer lasting than, that of intact hormone. Selected analogues also exhibited good antisecretory potencies in rats with N-alpha-Ac-[Trp(30)]PYY(22-36)-NH(2) being even more potent than PYY. However, the potencies did not correlate well with the PYY receptor affinity or the proabsorptive potencies in dogs. These differences could be due to species effects and/or the involvement of multiple receptors and neuronal elements in controlling the in vivo activity of PYY compounds. PYY(22-36) analogues exhibited good affinity for neuronal Y2 receptors but poor affinity for Y1 receptors. Also, crucial analogues in this series hardly bound to Y4 and Y5 receptors. In summary, we have developed PYY(22-36) analogues which, via interacting with intestinal PYY receptors, promoted potent and long-lasting proabsorptive and antisecretory effects in in vivo models. These compounds or analogues based on them may have useful clinical application in treating malabsorptive disorders observed under a variety of conditions.

Animals↗

Hypericin and photodynamic therapy decreases human pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of pancreatic cancer has remained dismal despite advances in medical and surgical care. Recent preclinical data have revealed that hypericin, a photochemical dye, is activated by green light and generates toxic radical species in tumors. We hypothesized that interstitial hypericin and laser phototherapy would decrease pancreatic cancer growth. METHODS: MiaPaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells were grown in tissue culture. In vitro experiments were performed with addition of 10 microg of hypericin/500,000 cancer cells. Cells were incubated with hypericin for 2 h. Cells were then exposed to KTP532 green laser light for 1 min at 0.6 W using a cylindrical diffuser tip. Cell growth was measured by MTT assay 24 h after laser treatment, N = 12. MiaPaCa-2 cells were implanted subcutaneously and orthotopically in pancreas of nude mice. After 5 weeks, both tumors were injected with 100 microg of hypericin followed by insertion of a cylindrical diffuser tip into the tumor center. Mice received 200J KTP laser light at 1.0 W in two sites. Tumors were measured before and 4 weeks after laser treatment. RESULTS: Both in vitro and in vivo mice data showed a significant decrease in growth of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer cell growth was suppressed by 66.1 +/- 0.2%, n = 12, P < 0.01, ANOVA. Subcutaneous shoulder tumors were suppressed by 91.2 +/- 2.3%, n = 12, P < 0.001, and orthotopically grown pancreatic tumors were suppressed by 42.2 +/- 8.1%, n = 12, P < 0.05, compared to pretreatment sizes. Data expressed as percentage reduction vs paired controls in the MTT assay and vs pre-photodynamic therapy in mice experiments. Paired Student's t tests were performed vs pretreatment sizes. CONCLUSION: Both in vitro and in vivo results revealed a significant decrease in pancreatic cancer cell growth. Laser or dye alone had no effect, indicating that intratumor hypericin and laser therapy may prove useful in unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗

Laparoscopic port sites do not require fascial closure when nonbladed trocars are used.

The development of nonbladed obturators with integrated stability sleeves allows for creation of a muscle-splitting dilated laparoscopic port site with minimal abdominal wall defects after removal of trocar sleeves. Our objective was to determine the safety of using nonbladed obturators and not closing laparoscopic fascial port sites. Seventy patients underwent various laparoscopic procedures including the following: seven laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypasses, 21 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 23 laparoscopic hernia repairs, 10 laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications, two laparoscopic appendectomies, two laparoscopic liver biopsies, one laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, one laparoscopic jejunal resection, one laparoscopic low anterior resection, one laparoscopic splenectomy, and one bedside diagnostic laparoscopy. A total of 180 laparoscopic port sites did not undergo fascial closure involving 110 10- to 12-mm ports. One hundred eighty nonbladed trocars were inserted without complication during laparoscopic surgery. In all cases the nonbladed obturator did not cause bleeding or injure viscera. Upon removal of large laparoscopic ports, the fascial defect was less than 6 to 8 mm, and the muscles of the abdominal wall covered the port site defect. The anterior fascial defect did not line up with the posterior fascial defect after removal of CO2 insufflation. No patients have developed ventral incisional hernias in the postoperative period (median follow-up of 11 months). We conclude that the use of nonbladed laparoscopic trocars is a safe technique with the ability to visualize dissection through the abdominal wall layers to create the smallest port dissection without bleeding or cutting muscle fibers. The ability to split the abdominal wall musculature allows the surgeon to forego closure of the small fascial defect.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Intraluminal peptide YY induces colonic absorption in vivo.

INTRODUCTION: Peptide YY (PYY) is a 36 amino acid hormone released into the circulation and lumen of the intestine after a meal. Previous studies have shown that exogenous administration of intravenous PYY stimulates water and electrolyte absorption in both the small and large intestines. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intraluminal administration of PYY on colonic absorption of electrolytes and water. METHODS: Six conditioned 25-kg dogs had 20 cm of colonic Thiry-Vella fistulae surgically constructed under general anesthesia. After a two-week recovery period, the animals received intraluminal PYY at 600 pmol/kg/hour after a 90-minute steady-state basal period. The Thiry-Vella fistulae were perfused with an isotonic buffer solution containing [14C]polyethylene glycol as a volume marker. Ion and water transport were measured every 15 minutes. RESULTS: On intraluminal infusion of PYY, increased absorption of water, sodium, and chloride was observed in the colon. A twofold increase in absorption rates occurred compared with basal rates lasting more than one hour after cessation of intraluminal PYY (N = 6; P < 0.05 vs. basal by analysis of variance). CONCLUSION: PYY-secreting cells of the colon may contribute to the regulation of absorption after a meal. Exogenous administration of intraluminal PYY may also be a therapeutic treatment modality for malabsorption.

Animals↗

Overnight closed suction drainage after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer.

Axillary lymphadenectomy in breast conservation surgery is associated with substantial morbidity in either seroma formation or infection. Seroma formation in the axilla requiring aspiration occurs in up to 42 per cent of patients treated without drainage. Prolonged outpatient suction drainage reduces but does not eliminate the incidence of seroma formation, while increasing cost, discomfort, and possibly infection rates. We studied the efficacy of overnight closed suction drainage in patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. Fifty consecutive patients undergoing a standard axillary dissection for breast cancer were studied. The axilla was drained with a 7-French closed suction drain. All drains were removed within 23 hours of surgery and prior to discharge from the outpatient surgical center. Patients were examined by the operating surgeon 7 to 10 days after surgery. One patient (2%) experienced a seroma postoperatively. No infections were observed in all 50 patients, and the remaining 49 patients did not experience visible or symptomatic seromas. The number of lymph nodes removed ranged between 5 and 33 with a mean of 15.5 +/- 0.6. Nine out of 50 (18%) patients had metastatic breast cancer to the axillary lymph nodes. Patients undergoing breast conservation surgery benefit from overnight closed suction drainage of the axilla. This short-term method reduces the incidence and the inherent morbidity of axillary seroma formation.

Ambulatory Care↗

Amiloride inhibits meal-stimulated colonic absorption.

Meal-stimulated colonic absorption has recently been described, but the cellular transport mechanisms mediating this response are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of Na+ transport pathways to colonic proabsorption. Distal colonic Thiry-Vella loops were constructed in six dogs. Absorption was measured by infusing the loops with a physiological electrolyte solution containing [14C] polyethylene glycol as the impermeant marker. In the first set of experiments, the dose dependence of amiloride-induced inhibition of basal colonic absorption was determined. In the second set of experiments the effect of amiloride, which inhibits both Na+ channels and Na+/H+ exchange in colonocytes, on meal-stimulated colonic absorption was determined. Luminal amiloride inhibited basal colonic absorption in a dose-dependent manner, with significant reductions in Na+ absorption occurring with concentrations of 10(-2)M and higher. Infusion with 10(-3)M amiloride, a concentration that did not alter basal absorption, resulted in significant reductions in postprandial water, Na+, and Cl- absorption. These results suggest that meal-stimulated colonic absorption is mediated, at last in part, by transcellular Na+ absorptive pathways.

Amiloride↗

Epidermal growth factor improves intestinal adaptation during somatostatin administration in vivo.

Somatostatin (SMS) is administered to patients with short bowel syndrome and enterocutaneous fistulae. Previous studies have shown detrimental effects of SMS on intestinal adaptation after bowel resection. We examined whether administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) could reverse the deleterious effects of SMS seen after enterectomy. Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an 80% small bowel resection or transection as control. Rats received either SMS at 50 ng x kg(-1) x h(-1), EGF/Urogastrone at 1.5 microg x kg(1-) x h(-1), or both via subcutaneous miniosmotic pumps. Samples were obtained at 1 day and 1 week after surgery for histologic examination, analysis of apical Na+/glucose cotransporter protein and mRNA expression, and analysis of basolateral Na+/K+ ATPase protein and mRNA expression. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blotting whereas mRNA expression was compared by ribonuclease protection assay. Histologically, villus to crypt length after intestinal resection showed increased adaptation in EGF/SMS vs SMS treated animals in both jejunum and ileum. Analysis of mRNA and protein of epithelial transporters show early increases when EGF is administered with SMS vs SMS only. We conclude that combination therapy using EGF and SMS may be beneficial to intestinal adaptation after small bowel resection. Both histologic and molecular data suggest an enhanced absorptive potential and adaptation of the remaining intestine when EGF is administered.

Analysis of Variance↗

Cholecystokinin mediation of colonic absorption via peptide YY: foregut-hindgut axis.

Peptide YY (PYY), a 36-amino-acid polypeptide, is found in abundance in the colon, a region where its physiologic roles are unknown. Previous studies have revealed a substantial increase in plasma PYY after cholecystokinin (CCK) administration. PYY is released from the hindgut in response to a meal and inhibits CCK release. In this study we evaluated the effects of CCK and PYY on intestinal absorption of water and electrolytes. Colonic, ileal, or jejunal Thiry-Vella fistulas (TVFs) were created in 12 dogs, and intestinal continuity was reestablished. The TVFs were perfused with an isotonic buffer solution containing [14C] PEG as a volume marker. Electrolyte and water transport were measured every 15 minutes, and plasma PYY and CCK levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Group 1 dogs received an intravenous bolus of MK329, a specific CCK receptor antagonist, at 20 nmol/kg after a standard mixed meal; group 2 colonic TVF dogs received a meal and an intravenous bolus of PYY polyclonal antibody at 1 mg/kg. Postprandially, all three regions of the bowel became significantly proabsorptive for water, sodium, and chloride. In the colon postprandial absorption was abolished by MK329 starting 60 minutes after a meal, whereas specific CCK receptor blockade blunted ileal absorption. CCK receptor blockade did not affect postprandial absorption in the jejunum. Postprandial PYY levels did not rise in MK329-treated animals. PYY antibody reduced colonic absorption during the postprandial phase. Reduction of meal-induced colonic absorption and PYY release by MK329 in awake dogs suggests an important foregut-hindgut hormonal feedback loop. Foregut-derived CCK stimulates hindgut PYY release, which in turn stimulates colonic absorption while inhibiting further CCK release.

Animals↗

Adjuvant hormonal treatment with peptide YY or its analog decreases human pancreatic carcinoma growth.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed decreased pancreatic cancer cell growth upon administration of peptide YY (PYY). We examined whether adjuvant treatment with PYY or its synthetic analog, BIM-43004, would decrease human pancreatic adenocarcinoma growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3, were cultured and assessed for growth by MTT assay. Pancreatic cancer cells received 500 pmol of PYY or BIM-43004 for 24 hours prior to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 10 micrograms/mL) and leucovorin (40 micrograms/mL) administration. Cell membrane epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors were analyzed by Western blotting after exposure to peptides and chemotherapy. RESULTS: Cancer cell growth was reduced in all groups receiving hormonal pretreatment (23% PYY/5-FU/leucovorin versus control; 27% BIM-43004/5-FU/leucovorin versus control) as compared with groups receiving 5-FU and leucovorin only (16% versus control). The EGF receptor expression was reduced by 30% in cells treated with PYY/5-FU/leucovorin and by 45% in cells treated with BIM/5-FU/leucovorin as compared with control cells without treatment. CONCLUSION: Human pancreatic cancer cell growth is further decreased when pretreated with PYY or its synthetic analog prior to chemotherapy.

Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast↗

Peptide YY: a potential proabsorptive hormone for the treatment of malabsorptive disorders.

Peptide YY (PYY) is a 36 amino acid peptide that is released from the endocrine cells of the distal ileum, colon, and rectum following a meal. PYY is strongly proabsorptive in the small intestine. We studied the effects of intravenous PYY on colonic water and electrolyte transport in awake dogs. Dogs had 20 cm neurovascularly intact colon Thiry-Vella fistulas (TVS) surgically constructed. Colonic transport was studied in three experimental groups. Group 1 animals received a standard mixed meal. Group 2 animals were unfed and received intravenous PYY and 100 pmol/kg/hr for two hours. This dose of PYY has previously been shown to simulate the plasma levels of PYY normally seen after a meal. Group 3 received intravenous PYY at the same dose in addition to a mixed meal. Our study shows an increase in colonic water, Na+, and Cl- absorption after a meal (P < 0.05). Infusion of PYY at a 100 pmol/kg/hr was significantly proabsorptive beginning at 60 minutes (P < 0.01). Infusion of PYY in addition to a meal further increased absorption (P < 0.05). PYY is a potent proabsorptive agent in the colon of the conscious dog. PYY, or its analogs, may be useful clinical agents in intestinal malabsorptive disorders or after bowel resection.

Animals↗

Pancreatic peptide YY mRNA levels increase during adaptation after small intestinal resection.

Peptide YY (PYY) is a 36-amino-acid peptide known to inhibit pancreatic and gastrointestinal secretion. Immediately following small bowel resection, intestinal PYY mRNA and plasma PYY levels rise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PYY expression changes in the pancreas during the adaptive period after extensive small bowel resection. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g) underwent 70% small intestinal resection or transection alone as control. Animals were sacrificed at 6 hr, 24 hr, 1 week, or 2 weeks following operation (N = 5/time group). Pancreatic tissue was harvested and RNA was isolated by the guanididium-thiocyanate method. PYY mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcriptase PCR, standardized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and semiquantitated by Southern blotting and 32P cpm. Ribonuclease protection assay was used to confirm PCR results. PYY mRNA expression was increased 9 1/2-fold beginning 6 hr after resection compared to transection (P < 0.05). PYY mRNA levels remain elevated, 2 1/4-fold greater than control after 2 weeks (P < 0.05) as analyzed by reverse transcriptase PCR and ribonuclease protection assay. Quantitation by ribonuclease protection assay reveals a gradual elevation of PYY mRNA levels in transected animals compared to a nonoperated rat starting at 1 and 2 weeks. Pancreatic PYY mRNA levels increase rapidly after extensive intestinal resection and remain elevated 2 weeks postoperatively. These results confirm for the first time that the increase in PYY seen after extensive intestinal resection also occurs in extraintestinal sites. In the pancreas, elevated PYY levels may inhibit exocrine secretion, reducing luminal volume, and thereby facilitating intestinal adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Amino acids mediate postprandial jejunal proabsorption.

Ingestion of a meal stimulates small intestinal ion and water transport. Current evidence suggests that this response, termed proabsorption, is primarily mediated by the apical Na+/glucose cotransporter. Like glucose, the majority of amino acid absorption occurs by Na(+)-dependent, secondary active transport. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of amino acid transport in meal-induced jejunal ion and water absorption in vivo. Exteriorized, neurovascularly intact jejunal loops measuring 25 cm were created in six female mongrel dogs, and the dogs were allowed to recover for 2 weeks. After an overnight fast, the loops were perfused with a standard buffer containing 10 mM aspartate, leucine, glycine, or lysine. Net water and electrolyte absorption before and after a mixed meal was calculated using [14C]polyethylene glycol as a volume marker. Aspartic acid, leucine, glycine, and lysine are each transported by a separate transporter system. Except for lysine, each amino acid significantly (P < 0.05) potentiated sodium and water absorption after a meal. In addition, this effect was at least as great as that seen with 10 mM glucose. These results demonstrate that amino acid transporter, like the Na+/glucose cotransporter, mediates meal-induced jejunal sodium and water absorption and may be as important in the proabsorptive response.

Amino Acids↗

Human pancreatic cancer growth is inhibited by peptide YY and BIM-43004-1.

Exogenous peptide YY (PYY) decreases pancreatic exocrine secretion, pancreatic endocrine function, and pancreatic blood flow. We hypothesized that pancreatic cancer cell growth may be inhibited by PYY and a new synthetic analog, BIM-43004-1. Two human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, PANC-1 and Mia PaCa-2, were examined in tissue cultures. Viable pancreatic cancer cells were counted with trypan blue on a hemocytometer slide. Cells (10K, 20K, 40K, and 80K) were cultured and allowed to grow for 36 hr (n = 14/cell concentration). Pancreatic cancer cells received either PYY or BIM-43004-1 at various concentrations. Control tissue cultures received an equivalent volume of saline inoculation. After incubation with the above peptides for 24 hr, MTT tetrazolium bromide was added to assay mitochondrial activity of pancreatic cancer cells in response to PYY and its analog. MTT assay reveals a significant decrease in pancreatic cancer cell growth when PYY and BIM-43004-1 are added to the cell culture. Results in Mia PaCa-2 reveal a 24% cell growth reduction after exposure to PYY and a 23% reduction in cell growth when treated with BIM-43004-1. In PANC-1 cells, a 25% reduction in growth of cells is noted after PYY treatment and a 24% reduction in growth after BIM-43004-1 treatment. (means +/- SEM, P < 0.05 by Student's t test). Our results reveal a significant reduction in human ductal pancreatic cancer growth when treated with either PYY or its analog, BIM-43004-1. These agents may be useful hormonal adjuncts in the chemotherapy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Cyclic AMP↗

A novel synthetic analog of peptide YY, BIM-43004, given intraluminally, is proabsorptive.

Peptide YY (PYY), a proabsorptive hormone, is released into the circulation and lumen of the small intestine after a meal. We have recently found that intraluminal PYY is proabsorptive in the ileum. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intraluminal administration of a new substituted PYY (22-36) analog on intestinal absorption of electrolytes and water. Twelve conditioned 20-kg dogs had 25-cm jejunal, 25-cm ileal, or 20-cm colonic Thiry-Vella fistulas (TVF) surgically constructed under general anesthesia (jejunal and ileal TVF, N = 6, and colonic TVF, N = 6). After a 2-week recovery period, the animals received the intraluminal PYY analog, BIM-43004, in the ileum (200 pmole/kg) or colon (300 pmole/kg) for 60 min after a 90-min steady-state basal period was confirmed. The TVF were perfused with an isotonic buffer solution containing [14C]polyethylene glycol as a volume marker. Ion and water transport were measured every 15 min. Net water absorptions were significant in the ileum and colon but not in the jejunum upon intraluminal administration of the PYY analog, BIM-43004. Colonic water absorptions were increased more than twofold above basal absorption rates and ileal absorptions were increased more than 1.5-fold upon addition of intraluminal BIM-43004. Sodium and chloride ion absorption in the colon and ileum paralleled water fluxes. We are describing for the first time a synthetic peptide analog of PYY that produces significant water and electrolyte absorption in the ileum and colon when administered luminally. This synthetic analog may have therapeutic potential in patients with malabsorptive disorders.

Animals↗

Y2 receptors decrease human pancreatic cancer growth and intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels.

BACKGROUND: Peptide YY (PYY), a 36 amino acid enteric hormone, is known to decrease pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function. Previous studies with BIM-43004-1, a modified PYY(22-36) Y2 receptor agonist, have revealed diminished mitochondrial activity in pretreated pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. We investigated the effects of both PYY and BIM-43004-1 on pancreatic cancer growth in vivo. METHODS: The 100,000 to 150,000 human pancreatic cancer cells, Mia PaCa-2, were orthotopically transplanted into 48 male athymic mice. After 1 week animals were treated with either PYY or BIM-43004-1 at 200 pmol/kg/hr via miniosmotic pumps for 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Paired controls received saline solution. At death tumor size and mass were measured. Receptor binding studies and intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were measured in vitro. RESULTS: All mice had significant human cancer growth within the pancreas by histologic sections at 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Tumor mass was decreased by 60.5% in BIM-43004-1 treated mice and 27.1% in PYY treated mice. Receptor binding studies revealed binding of [125I]-BIM-43004-1 and displacement of ligand on competitive addition of nonradioactive BIM-43004-1. K dissociation constant of 4.5 nmol and 27,000 receptors per cell were quantitated by receptor binding studies. In BIM-43004-1 treated pancreatic cells a 52.5% decrease in intracellular cAMP levels was noted, whereas a 15.3% decrease was seen in PYY treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: BIM-43004-1, a novel Y2 synthetic agonist, specifically binds to human pancreatic cancer cells, decreases intracellular cAMP levels, and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Adjuvant hormonal treatment with this Y2 receptor analog may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Animals↗

Laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

In the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), laparoscopic approaches have been avoided because of the often fragile intestinal tissue, thickened mesentery, malnutrition, immunosuppression, and the presence of dense adhesions. In this article, we report 10 successfully managed laparoscopic cases in IBD patients (five with ulcerative colitis, five with Crohn's Disease). Patients with ulcerative colitis underwent total abdominal colectomies, mucosal proctectomies, J-pouch construction, and diverting ileostomies. Procedures in patients with Crohn's disease included ileocecectomy (3), sigmoid colectomy with takedown of a transverse colonic fistula (1), and stricturoplasty (1). One of the 10 cases was converted to an open technique for technical reasons. Six of the 10 patients were on high dose corticosteroids for disease control. Hospital stay ranged from 6-13 days, with a median of 7 days. The morbidity rate was 20 per cent, and included one case of mild postoperative pancreatitis in a Crohn's disease patient and one delayed peri-ileostomy fistula in an ulcerative colitis patient. There was no mortality. Based on these results, we conclude that laparoscopic intestinal surgery is both feasible and safe in selected patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Use of laparoscopic techniques in these patients may reduce hospital stay, lessen adhesion formation, and improve cosmetic results in this generally young group of patients.

Adolescent↗