This paper describes the clinical manifestations and the significance of the fasting blood glucose-insulin relationship and the prolonged fasting test in the diagnosis of insulinoma. Pre-and postoperative results are reported. In addition, a description is given of the angiographic demonstration and the results of the surgical removal of the insulinomas.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gravitational haemodynamics and oedema prevention in the giraffe.

Because it is so tall, the giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis, provides an important animal model for investigating adaptive mechanisms to orthostatic (gravitational) pressure changes. Previous physiological studies of the giraffe have concentrated on arterial blood pressures in the heart and neck. Briefly, these investigations revealed that arterial pressure near the giraffe heart is about twice that in humans, to provide more normal blood pressure and perfusion to the brain. Another important question is that of how giraffes avoid pooling of blood and tissue fluid (oedema) in dependent tissues of their extremities. As monitored by radiotelemetry, the blood and tissue fluid pressures that govern transcapillary exchange vary greatly with exercise. These pressures, combined with a tight skin layer, move fluid upward against gravity. Other mechanisms that prevent oedema include precapillary vasoconstriction and low permeability of capillaries to plasma proteins.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoreactivity of gastric ECL and A-like cells in fasted and fed rats and mice.

The oxyntic mucosa of rat and mouse stomach harbors histamine-producing ECL cells and ghrelin-producing A-like cells. The ECL cells are known to be active when the circulating gastrin levels are elevated in response to food intake. The A-like cells are the main source of circulating ghrelin. In response to starvation, the circulating ghrelin is elevated as a hunger signal. The aim of the present work was to study the correlation between the immunoreactivities and cellular activities of the ECL cells and A-like cells. Rats were either fed or fasted for 48 h and mice for 24 h. Immunohistochemical examination with antiserum against chromogranin A-derived fragment pancreastatin revealed both the ECL cells and the A-like cells without a difference between fasted and fed animals. Histamine was limited to the ECL cells with no significant difference between fasted and fed animals. Histidine decarboxylase (HDC) immunoreactivity occurred predominately in the ECL cells of the fed, but not fasted, animals in which the HDC enzymatic activity in the oxyntic mucosa was higher than in fasted animals. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was increased in terms of intensity, but not cell density in fasted animals. Thus, the immunoreactivities of ECL cells and A-like cells might be affected by starvation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infantile diarrhoea and malnutrition associated with Candida in a developing community.

The association of infantile diarrhoea with the occurrence of Candida species and their different morphological cell forms (pseudohyphae and/or blastospores) in faeces was studied in children of 0-15 months in a developing community (Lahore, Pakistan) where malnutrition is prevalent. Stool samples from 119 patients admitted to the Diarrhoea Treatment Unit, Department of Pediatrics, King Edward Medical College, and 46 healthy children were investigated for yeasts, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Salmonella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were seen in 13 (11%) each of the cases while Candida was the most frequent micro-organism, grown in cultures from 38 (32%) of the diarrhoea cases. C. tropicalis dominated (19%) over C. albicans (6%) and C. parapsilosis (3%). However, in a great number of cases (23, equals 19%), Candida did not grow in cultures but blastospores and/or pseudohyphae were seen on microscopical examination. Other Candida species and yeasts were relatively more common in the control group. Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis were the only identified agents in 23 of the cases (19%). The characteristic clinical findings in children with Candida as the only identified pathogen were malnutrition (69%), age less than 8 months (90%), and microscopically identified pseudohyphae in faecal smears (71%).

Bacterial Infections↗