A determination of caloric consumption based on a dietary survey table, fat and cholesterol intake, and analyses of fecal fatty acids and neutral sterols, and bile acid analysis (gas chromatographic method) were conducted on 33 subjects (including 17 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 16 normal controls). The factors related to hypocholesterolemia in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients were investigated and the following conclusions were obtained: (1) The total caloric intake and fat consumption by the CP patients were significantly lower with the exception of cholesterol consumption. (2) Significant increases were noted in fecal fat, neutral sterols, and bile acid excretion by the CP patients. (3) A significant positive correlation was noted between the total cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), reaffirming that the cholesterol level can be used as an indicator of nutritional status. (4) A significant negative correlation was noted between the serum total cholesterol and fecal bile acid excretion. These findings indicate that CP patients suffer from neutral sterol malabsorption, in addition to dietary fat maldigestion and bile acid malabsorption. Furthermore, bile acid malabsorption is cited as a factor in the development of hypocholesterolemia in CP patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of omeprazole on changes in gastric and upper small intestine pH levels in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Gastric and upper small intestine pH levels were measured continuously over 24 hours in patients with chronic pancreatitis, and values obtained before and after the administration of omeprazole were compared. Additionally, omeprazole was administered for 2 weeks and the fecal excretion of fat was compared before and after drug therapy. Postprandial gastric pH levels, initially 2.9 to 3.2, increased by 1.6 to 2.1 after treatment. Postprandial upper small intestine pH levels, initially 5.1 to 5.5, increased by 0.7 to 1.0. The lowest pH value of the upper small intestine was 2.2 to 2.4 postprandially; this was increased by > 1.0 after omeprazole, and the amplitude of pH variation was reduced. The cumulative proportions of intraintestinal pH strata of < or = 3, < or = 4, or < or = 5, and higher, initially being 16.4% to 17.1%, 27.4% to 31.7%, and 52.6% to 57.8%, respectively, were remarkably improved after drug treatment. Gastric pH and upper small intestine pH levels showed a positive correlation; an increase in gastric pH levels by 2 corresponded to an increase in small intestine pH levels by 1. After omeprazole administration, mean fecal excretion of fat was decreased to 4.1 +/- 2.6 g/d (range, 1.1 to 9.8 g/d) from 6.5 +/- 3.9 g/d (range, 1.6 to 13.5 g/d). Decreases in excretion of fat averaged 3.4 g/d (range, 2.2 to 4.5 g/d) in patients with steatorrhea. It was concluded that steatorrhea due to chronic pancreatitis can be improved to some extent by improving upper small intestine pH levels following the elevation of gastric pH levels after administration of omeprazole.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Xenogeneic (pig to rat) fetal liver fragment transplantation using macrocapsules for immunoisolation.

Acute liver failure caused by viral infection, surgical resection of a large part of the liver or by drug use has a high mortality. For its treatment, hepatocyte or liver tissue transplantation is useful. We report here the beneficial effects of xenogeneic fetal liver fragment (FLF) transplantation with an immunoisolation macrocapsule. The macrocapsules were made of a microporous polypropylene membrane. Pig FLFs (1 mL) was inserted into each capsule to serve as a graft in LEW rats. Acute liver failure was induced by 90% liver resection on day 0. Group 1: transplantation of encapsulated FLF into the omentum 2 days before liver resection (n = 17). Group 2: FLF transplantation into the omentum on day -2 (n = 11). Group 3: liver resection (control) (n = 19). The survival rate, the histology of the grafts and the biochemical parameters [blood sugar (BS), GPT, and GOT] were evaluated. The survival rates of groups 1, 2, and 3 on day 7 were 70.6, 0, and 11.1%, respectively. There were significant differences in BS, GPT, and GOT levels between groups 1 and 3 on day 1 (p < 0.05). On day 28, the histological analyses of the grafts of encapsulated FLFs revealed that the hepatocytes appeared viable, but that the haematopoietic cells had degenerated. Xenogeneic FLFs with macrocapsules survived more than 1 mo, and supported the host's liver function.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fecal excretions of hydroxy fatty acid and bile acid in diabetic diarrheal patients.

Thirteen normal subjects, 5 diarrheal controls (Group I) and 13 diabetics without peripheral neuropathy (Group II) were compared with 7 diabetic patients (Group III) with respect to fecal excretions of bile acids and hydroxy fatty acids for pathogenesis of diabetic diarrhea. The mean fecal excretions of bile acids per day were 304.9 mg for the normal controls, 297.8 mg for Group I, and 382.4 mg for Group II, while those of Group III were significantly higher (958.2 mg, p < 0.01) than the foregoing groups, and nearly three times as much as the controls. As to the fecal fatty acid excretion, there were no significant differences observed among these groups. The percentages of fecal hydroxy fatty acids were not significantly different in normal subjects (1.5%), Group I (2.0%), and Group II (1.2%). In contrast, the percentage of hydroxy fatty acid for Group III was greatly (p < 0.01) increased (13.2%). From the above results, the percentage of hydroxy fatty acid in diabetic diarrheal patients was high, suggesting that there is bacterial overgrowth. Meanwhile, the fecal bile acid level was increased about three times, indicative of poor absorption of bile acid from mild to moderate degree. Therefore, it is considered improbable that fecal hydroxy fatty acids and bile acids are the cause of diabetic diarrhea.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy by plasma filtration.

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Involvement of oxytocin and cholecystokinin-8 in interleukin-1 beta-induced adrenocorticotropin secretion in the rat.

It is well established that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a principal neuropeptide which mediates the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretory response to interleukin (IL)-1 in the rat. It has recently been suggested that besides CRH, arginine vasopressin may also play a stimulatory role in IL-1 induced ACTH secretion. However, it remains to be elucidated whether other neuropeptides possessing an ACTH-releasing activity are involved in this neuroendocrine event. Therefore, in this study, we examined possible roles for oxytocin (OT) and cholecystokinin (CCK)-8 in the IL-1-induced ACTH response, utilizing the technique of immunoneutralization of these peptides. For comparison, we examined the effect of CRH immunoneutralization as well. Human recombinant IL-1 beta (50 ng) was given intracerebroventricularly (to the 3rd ventricle) to freely moving male rats 15 min after injecting specific antiserum against CRH, OT, or CCK-8, or normal rabbit serum (control) via the same route. As expected, anti-CRH antibody significantly suppressed the ACTH response to IL-1 beta. Interestingly, anti-OT antibody acted in the same manner, whereas anti-CCK-8 antibody did not. These results suggest that in addition to CRH and arginine vasopressin, OT may also play a significant role in mediating the IL-1 beta-induced ACTH secretion in the rat.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of arginine vasopressin in interleukin-1 beta-induced adrenocorticotropin secretion in the rat.

In this study we examined whether arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the brain is involved in the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion induced by interleukin (IL)-1 beta in the rat. Human recombinant IL-1 beta (50 ng) was given intracerebroventricularly to freely moving male rats with or without a prior (15 min before) administration of anticorticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) or AVP antibody via the same route. The ACTH response to IL-1 beta was significantly reduced by both anti-CRH and anti-AVP antisera compared to the levels after normal rabbit serum. These results suggest that not only CRH but also AVP may mediate the IL-1 beta stimulation of ACTH secretion in the rat.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗