Vasoactive intestinal peptide producing tumour contains high density of somatostatin receptors.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Gyr.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
To determine the local gastrointestinal absorption of a new synthetic somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995 = Sandostatin), an intestinal tube was passed in eight healthy volunteers and on different days an aqueous solution was administered at four different locations: stomach, proximal duodenum, ligament of Treitz and jejunum. In a follow-up study, an oro-ileal tube was passed in six of the original volunteers and the drug solution was administered in to the terminal ileum. The aqueous solution of SMS was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after local application, and it was well tolerated. Absorption of the drug from the different sites was comparable, although there was a tendency to decreased peptide absorption after ileal administration. Absorption of the drug was quite variable between the subjects and the different locations. The dose-corrected systemic availability relative to subcutaneous administration in another study was 0.28%. However, significant plasma SMS concentrations were achieved, suggesting that oral delivery of the polypeptide may eventually be possible for long-term treatment of a variety of disorders.
Two patients with severe secretory diarrhea due to metastatic vasoactive intestinal peptidoma were treated with a synthetic somatostatin analogue in an attempt to control the patients' vasoactive intestinal peptide-related symptoms. In both patients, a good initial response to this treatment could be demonstrated; not only did diarrhea subside but there was also a dramatic fall in vasoactive intestinal peptide plasma levels. However, after 11 and 4 days respectively, diarrhea recurred accompanied by a rise in vasoactive intestinal peptide plasma levels. In fact, under treatment with the somatostatin analogue and with natural somatostatin, a significant rebound state was observed regarding diarrhea as well as vasoactive intestinal peptide levels, which caused considerable difficulty in the clinical management in 1 patient. This patient had to undergo surgery. In the second patient, the responsiveness to somatostatin analogue returned a few days after discontinuation of the treatment, lasting, however, for a short period only. The possible mechanism of this escape and rebound with somatostatin treatment is discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The 'sump syndrome' is a rare, late complication of choledochoenterostomies. We observed 13 patients with this syndrome. The clinical features included recurrent cholangitis, liver abscesses, and recurrent pancreatitis. Five patients were treated by surgery, eight patients endoscopically. Reviewing an average follow up period of 22 months (range 6-60) after therapeutic endoscopy and 57 months (range 1-126) after different surgical procedures, we conclude that endoscopic sphincterotomy with removal of the debris is as efficient a therapy of the 'sump syndrome' as surgical sphincteroplasty and entails a smaller risk for the patient. We therefore advocate that endoscopic papillotomy should first be tried in all cases of 'sump syndrome' in the absence of suprapapillary stricture of the bile ducts.
The role of gastrin as a regulator of exocrine pancreatic secretion has not been proven adequately. In the present study we therefore compared the relative molar potencies of sulfated and unsulfated gastrin 17 with structurally related CCK peptides (synthetic CCK-8 and natural porcine CCK-33) in stimulating exocrine pancreatic secretion in conscious dogs. Dose response curves were constructed for pancreatic and gastric acid secretion. Plasma gastrin levels after exogenous gastrin 17-I and -II were compared with postprandial gastrin concentrations (meal: ground beef 20 g/kg body wt). The molar potency estimates calculated with synthetic CCK8 as standard (potency = 1.00) for pancreatic protein secretion were natural porcine 50% pure CCK-33 1.60, gastrin 17-I 0.12, and gastrin 17-II 0.16. All four peptides induced a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. However, the blood concentrations needed to stimulate pancreatic secretion were above the postprandial gastrin levels. Our data indicate that both gastrin 17 peptides are not physiological regulators of pancreatic enzyme secretion in dogs.
The present study was designed to determine whether somatostatin is released into the circulation in sufficient amounts to regulate exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function and to evaluate the possible role of somatostatin as a hormonal regulator of the pancreas. Mean plasma somatostatin levels (SLI) increased from 11 +/- 2 pmol liter-1 to peak concentrations of 18 +/- 2 in six healthy male volunteers after a steak meal (P less than 0.05). Infusion of somatostatin inhibited hormone-induced exocrine pancreatic secretion and suppressed cerulein-stimulated pancreatic polypeptide (PP) secretion, but did not significantly change arginine-stimulated insulin and glucagon release at mean plasma somatostatin concentrations within the range seen after a meal. The amount of somatostatin released after a meal thus was of sufficient magnitude to inhibit exocrine pancreatic function and PP release. On the other hand, basal and arginine-stimulated glucagon and insulin secretions were not significantly affected by these plasma concentrations of intravenous somatostatin suggesting that the exocrine pancreas might be more sensitive to somatostatin than the islet cells. We conclude that somatostatin in concentrations within the range seen after a meal is a potent inhibitor of stimulated acinar cell function in man. The findings support the hypothesis that somatostatin acts as a true hormonal regulator.
The irritable bowel syndrome is a common motility disorder of the gut characterized by constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptoms are markedly influenced by psychological factors. The diagnosis is based on typical symptoms and exclusion of organic diseases. Psychological support by the physician is an important part of the patients' treatment. High fiber diets and bulking agents may be prescribed in addition. Antispasmodic and antidiarrheal drugs should be given only the shortest time possible, while psychotropic drugs are seldom necessary.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This review deals with the epidemiology of acute infectious diarrhea mainly with regard to third world countries. It also reports on advances in modern case management, oral rehydration, antibiotic therapy and problems of host resistance and transmission.
The documentation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is important for the clinical diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. The NBT-PABA test (Bentiromide test) depends on the cleavage peptide NBT-PABA by chymotrypsin and the quantitation of released PABA in serum or urine. The sensitivity of the oral NBT-PABA test is nearly as high as that of the much more demanding secretin-CCK test and the specificity is excellent as well. The NBT-PABA test is a simple and valuable aid for the clinical diagnosis and follow-up of patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Due to the growth in tourism, infectious diarrhea is no longer a problem of warm developing countries but a common condition encountered by the general practitioner. In this review the authors summarize the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical picture of the disease, and outline the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
A report is presented on a 30-year-old Ecuadorian and a 40-year-old Sicilian with ventricular neurocysticercosis. The disease was manifested as occlusive hydrocephalus with signs of acute augmentation of intracranial pressure requiring emergency ventricular drainage. Subsequently several cysts were removed from the ventricles of both patients by craniotomy. One of the patients was discharged and left for Ecuador after operation while the other received antiparasitic therapy with praziquantel; this did not, however, contribute to an improvement of the symptoms. The diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of neurocysticercosis are discussed.
27 patients who presented with pyogenic liver abscess from 1957 to 1984 are analyzed retrospectively and compared with the literature. Diagnosis and start of therapy were frequently delayed because of the unspecificity of symptoms. Symptoms included fever, abdominal pain, weakness, and loss of weight. In 50% of all patients, the abscess was found by chance at laparotomy or autopsy. The most frequent causes of abscess formation were cholestasis due to extrahepatic obstruction and intraabdominal infections. Frequently a predisposing condition such as carcinoma, diabetes mellitus or alcohol abuse was found. The overall mortality was 25%, and was higher in patients with multiple abscesses of the liver (36%) than in patients with solitary abscesses (10%). With the introduction of new imaging procedures (ultrasound, computer tomography), the abscesses can be punctured under view and the antibiotic therapy can be based on bacterial analysis. The causative bacterial organism could be identified by cultures of the abscess fluid and blood in up to 90%. The bacteria identified usually were identical to the intestinal flora. Using specific antibiotic therapy, surgical treatment is often unnecessary and can be reserved for abscesses resistant to conservative treatment and for those due to correction of the original source of abscess formation.