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Biomedical subjects

E Brenna

Publications and source records attributed to E Brenna.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Long-term effects of inhaled nicotine.

Tobacco smoking has been reported to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, particularly of the lungs. In spite of extensive research on the health effects of tobacco smoking, the substances in tobacco smoke exerting these negative health effects are not completely known. Nicotine is the substance giving the subjective pleasure of smoking as well as inducing addiction. For the first time we report the effect on the rat of long-term (two years) inhalation of nicotine. The rats breathed in a chamber with nicotine at a concentration giving twice the plasma concentration found in heavy smokers. Nicotine was given for 20 h a day, five days a week during a two-year period. We could not find any increase in mortality, in atherosclerosis or frequency of tumors in these rats compared with controls. Particularly, there was no microscopic or macroscopic lung tumors nor any increase in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. Throughout the study, however, the body weight of the nicotine exposed rats was reduced as compared with controls. In conclusion, our study does not indicate any harmful effect of nicotine when given in its pure form by inhalation.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1996

Marked increase in gastric acid secretory capacity after omeprazole treatment.

BACKGROUND: In contrast with the histamine2 (H2) blockers, proton pump inhibitors have not been shown to give rebound hypersecretion of acid. Taking into consideration the hyperplasia of the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell provoked by hypergastrinaemia secondary to profound acid inhibition and the central role of histamine from ECL cells in the regulation of acid secretion, the lack of any rebound acid hypersecretion after treatment with proton pump inhibitors has been questioned. AIMS: To reassess the effect of treatment with omeprazole on post-treatment acid secretion. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Basal and pentagastrin stimulated acid secretion were determined in nine patients with reflux oesophagitis before and 14 days after termination of a 90 day treatment period with the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (40 mg daily). Basal gastrin release were determined before and during omeprazole treatment. Furthermore, biopsy samples from the oxyntic mucosa were taken before and at the end of the treatment period for chemical (histamine and chromogranin A (CgA)) evaluation of the ECL cell mass. RESULTS: A substantial increase in meal stimulated gastrin release during omeprazole treatment resulted in an increased ECL cell mass. Furthermore, CgA in serum increased during omeprazole treatment suggesting that serum CgA may be used as a test to evaluate ECL cell hyperplasia. A significant increase in basal and a marked (50%) and significant increase in pentagastrin stimulated acid secretion were found after treatment with omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Increased acid secretion after a conventional treatment period with a proton pump inhibitor is probably due to ECL cell hyperplasia and may have negative consequences for acid related diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Chromogranin A and pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity in normal pregnancies.

Placenta is a neuroendocrine organ, and we therefore wanted to study the occurrence of the general neuroendocrine marker chromogranin A (CgA) and its split product pancreastatin. CgA and pancreastatin-like immunoreactivity (PST-LI) were determined by ELISA and RIA methods, respectively, in homogenates from term placentas, sera from pregnant women, nonpregnant women, umbilical cords, and in amniotic fluids. In placental homogenates, the mean level of CgA was 7.1 +/- 8.6 pmol/g wet wt (mean +/- SD), whereas PST-LI was not detectable. CgA immunoreactivity was demonstrated by immunofluorescence studies of isolated trophoblasts and decidual cells from term placentas. In trophoblasts, CgA was colocalized with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen. By Northern blotting, a distinct band corresponding to CgA messenger RNA (mRNA) was demonstrated in the placental cell line, whereas, in placental homogenates, a mRNA band of a slightly larger size was found. Median CgA level in maternal sera at term tended to be higher (median: 469 pmol/L, range 61-980 pmol/L, P < 0.1) than at 6-11 weeks (286 pmol/L, 61-653 pmol/L) or in sera from nonpregnant women (306 pmol/L, 204-469 pmol/L). In umbilical cord sera, median CgA level was significantly higher (898 pmol/L, 102-2245 pmol/L, P < 0.05) than in term sera. Median serum level of PST-LI was significantly higher at term (38 pmol/L, 0-131 pmol/L) than at 6-11 weeks (9 pmol/L (0-85 pmol/L, P < 0.05), than in nonpregnant women (6 pmol/L, 0-52 pmol/L, P < 0.05), and in umbilical cord sera (12 pmol/L, 0-76 pmol/L, P < 0.05). In amniotic fluid, median CgA value was significantly higher at term (1163 pmol/L, 714-1673 pmol/L) than at 14-17 weeks (551 pmol/L, 82-980 pmol/L, P < 0.01), whereas median level of PST-LI was significantly higher at 14-17 weeks (32 pmol/L, 6-97 pmol/L) than at term (0 pmol/L, 0-15 pmol/L, P < 0.01). To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of CgA and PST-LI in placenta and amniotic fluid and the occurrence CgA mRNA in placental tissue and in a placental cell line. The presence of CgA in placenta may indicate a physiological role in pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Damages to the large intestine induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause side effects in the large bowel. We describe two cases which illustrate some of the aspects associated with this problem, and briefly outline the different types of side effects encountered, and possible pathogenetic mechanisms. It is emphasized that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause exacerbation of quiescent colitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The use of these drugs in such patients should be very restrictive. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also precipitate de novo colitis. They are also associated with collagenous colitis, non-gangrenous ischemic colitis, complications to diverticular disease, and ulceration of the colon.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Differential expression and regulation of SSTR2 messenger RNA in rat gastric antrum and corpus.

Somatostatin modulates both endocrine and exocrine functions in the gastric mucosa, where three of the five cloned somatostatin receptors are present. This study examines changes in somatostatin receptor (SSTR) mRNA abundance during fasting, feeding, and profound acid inhibition with omeprazole. Serum gastrin as well as somatostatin and SSTR mRNA abundances were measured in antrum and corpus. In Northern blots of corpus RNA, the SSTR2 probe hybridized with two previously reported species of mRNA (2.4 and 2.8 kb); in addition, a weak previously unreported 1.6-kb band was detected. In antrum, the 1.6-kb band dominated. Fasting increased antral somatostatin mRNA from 100 +/- 8 to 161 +/- 24% and SSTR mRNA from 100 +/- 10 to 179 +/- 14% (P < 0.05). Omeprazole reduced antral somatostatin mRNA to 34 +/- 4% of control (P < 0.05) and elevated SSTR mRNA to 135 +/- 5% of control (P < 0.01). Omeprazole treatment reduced corpus somatostatin mRNA to 59 +/- 5% (P < 0.05), and elevated SSTR mRNA to 140 +/- 3% of control (P < 0.01). The results therefore indicate that a novel SSTR mRNA subtype exists in the stomach and predominates in the antrum. The abundance of this SSTR mRNA is upregulated by both fasting and achlorhydria; conditions that increase or decrease endogenous antral somatostatin, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of the histamine-2 agonist impromidine on stem cell proliferation of rat oxyntic mucosa.

BACKGROUND: The trophic effect of gastrin on the histamine-containing enterochromaffin-like cell is pronounced but on the stem cell of the oxyntic mucosa it is only modest. In the rat, gastrin stimulates acid secretion mainly by releasing histamine from enterochromaffin-like cells. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the trophic effect of gastrin on stem cells is also mediated by histamine released from the enterochromaffin-like cell. METHODS: We stimulated rats with the histamine-2 agonist impromidine. Impromidine, 0.2 mg/h, was given for 2 days by subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps, and the trophic effect on stem cells was assessed by incorporation of tritiated thymidine. RESULTS: The plasma gastrin concentrations were 33.9 (9.4) pM and 27.3 (6.0) pM, and the stem cell labelling index values were 5.92 (1.94) and 8.09 (3.78) in the controls and impromidine-stimulated animals, respectively (mean value (SD)). These differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study provides no evidence that histamine-2 receptors mediate a trophic effect on the stem cell of the rat oxyntic mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The effect of tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate on the rat stomach.

BACKGROUND: Bismuth has been used as symptomatic treatment of dyspepsia for many years. It promotes healing of peptic ulcers and reduces their recurrence. The beneficial effect of bismuth on duodenal ulcer disease is thought to be due to an effect on Helicobacter pylori, although it has a rather weak bactericidal effect on H. pylori in vitro. Eradication of H. pylori in duodenal ulcer patients by a combination of bismuth, tetracycline and metronidazole has been reported to increase the density of somatostatin-producing D cells in the antrum. A reduced D cell density in the antral mucosa of duodenal ulcer patients could explain their exaggerated gastrin release. AIMS/METHODS: To test the possibility that bismuth could affect the neuroendocrine cells independently of the presence of H. pylori or not, we gave rats a diluted tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate solution by gastric gavage for 14 days. RESULTS: Tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate treatment did not affect maximal pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion or histamine release in isolated rat stomachs or the density of argyrophil cells in the oxyntic and antral mucosa. However, it significantly reduced the duodenal concentration of gastrin and calcitonin gene-related peptide, and the density of G cells in the antrum and duodenum. CONCLUSION: The effect of tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate on the G cell may be of significance for its beneficial effect on duodenal ulcer disease.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of the trophic effect of longterm treatment with the histamine H2 receptor antagonist loxtidine on rat oxyntic mucosa by differential counting of dispersed cells.

To evaluate whether the general trophic effect of gastrin on the oxyntic mucosa is an indirect effect mediated by histamine H2 receptors, sustained 24 hour hypergastrinaemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by treatment with the long acting and potent histamine H2 antagonist loxtidine for five months. The trophic effect was assessed by weight, enumeration of total mucosal cells, parietal cells, and enterochromaffin like cells in smears stained for the actual cells after enzymatic dispersion of the mucosa, and by biochemical analysis of oxyntic mucosal homogenates. The weight of the whole stomach and the oxyntic mucosa increased by 12.7% (p = 0.016) and 27.5% (p = 0.006), respectively. Total oxyntic mucosal protein content increased by 28.7% (p = 0.058). Total numbers of mucosal cells and parietal cells increased by 11.9% (NS) and 24.1% (NS), respectively. The amount of the parietal cell specific enzyme H+,K(+)-ATPase was unchanged. On the other hand, the number of enterochromaffin like cells and related parameters, histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine content of the oxyntic mucosa, showed a pronounced and significant increase. It is concluded that the general trophic effect of gastrin on the oxyntic mucosa is not mediated by the histamine H2 receptor. The tropic effect of gastrin on the parietal cell seems, in contrast with that on the enterochromaffin like cell, not to be specific but only reflecting the general trophic effect on the oxyntic mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gastrin regulates histidine decarboxylase activity and mRNA abundance in rat oxyntic mucosa.

Gastrin release histamine from the oxyntic mucosa, stimulates the enzymatic activity of histidine decarboxylase (HDC), increases HDC mRNA abundance, and has a trophic effect on the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell. In the present study, we examined the effect of exogenous gastrin on HDC activity and mRNA and the time scale of increase and decline of HDC activity and mRNA. Rats received intravenous infusion of gastrin-(1-17) in different doses or periods of time. Oxyntic mucosal HDC activity and mRNA abundance increased significantly with serum gastrin concentrations in the physiological range. The onset of response was rapid and maximal for both parameters after 2 h. Poststimulatory decrease was maximal 2 h after cessation of gastrin infusion. Those observations suggest that HDC enzymatic activity and mRNA abundance are important in meal-to-meal regulation of gastric secretion. Furthermore, HDC enzymatic activity and mRNA abundance varied in parallel, indicating that HDC mRNA abundance is important in the overall regulation of gastric mucosal HDC activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Do neuroendocrine cells, particularly the D-cell, play a role in the development of gastric stump cancer?

Previously, we have shown that a significant proportion of human gastric carcinomas of the diffuse type may be neuroendocrine tumors derived from the enterochromaffinlike (ECL) cell. The growth of the ECL cell is specifically regulated by gastrin, suggesting an important role of gastrin in human gastric carcinogenesis. However, patients with antral-resected stomachs have reduced plasma gastrin and despite that an increased risk of gastric cancer. Recently, it has been shown that gastrin has a negative trophic effect on the oxyntic D-cell of the rat. The present study evaluates whether gastric stump carcinomas are D-cell derived. Twenty gastric stump carcinomas that had developed from 20 to 53 years after antral resection were examined for neuroendocrine differentiation by neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry and for D-cell origin by somatostatin immunohistochemistry. Half the tumors were classified as gastric carcinomas of the intestinal type, while the other half initially was classified as gastric carcinomas of the diffuse type. One of these latter tumors could, however, be reclassified as carcinoid tumor by appearance in hematoxylin erythrosin saffron-stained sections as well as by neuron-specific enolase positivity. Interestingly, this tumor was also positive for somatostatin, suggesting D-cell origin. Three other tumors were positive for neuron-specific enolase, but they were negative for somatostatin. Nevertheless, this study suggests that some gastric stump carcinomas may be malignant neuroendocrine tumors derived from neuroendocrine cells and possibly from D-cells. Furthermore, this study may indicate an important role for hormones and neuroendocrine cells in human gastric carcinogenesis.

Aged↗