We studied the histologic and biochemical alterations in experimental acute pancreatitis induced by supramaximal caerulein stimulation in rats. All rats received 4 subcutaneous injections of various doses of caerulein (5-50 micrograms/kg body weight) at hourly intervals over 3 h, and 9 h after the first injection all animals were killed. Subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg body weight of caerulein induced a significant increase in serum amylase activity and histologic evidence of acute interstitial pancreatitis similar to those observed with the 50 micrograms/kg body weight dosage of caerulein. Therefore, a total of 4 subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg body weight of caerulein was chosen to study the time-course of structural and biochemical alterations in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Serum amylase activity reached a maximal value of 10-fold increase over the basal values at 6 h, and then decreased gradually to normal values at 18 h after the first injection. Remarkable interstitial edema and cytoplasmic vacuoles in acinar cells were the earliest histologic alterations. Cellular infiltration was prominent at 9-12 h after the first injection. Although these histologic changes almost completely disappeared after 24 h, the reduction in the number of zymogen granules was still detectable by electron microscopic examination even after 7 days. DNA content in the pancreas showed no significant changes following the induction of acute pancreatitis, whereas a moderate to marked reduction in enzyme content persisted after 7 days. Within 14 days after the initiation of the injections, both structural and biochemical changes had completely disappeared.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats.

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. (G. sylvestre; GS4) on glucose homeostasis was studied in rats. In the first set of experiments, the acute effect of GS4 was examined in both non-diabetic and streptozocin (30 mg/kg)-induced mildly diabetic rats. Administration of 1 g/kg body weight of GS4 to 18-h fasted non-diabetic rats significantly attenuated the serum glucose response to oral administration of 1 g/kg glucose. The immunoreactive insulin (IRI) response in GS4-administered rats was lower, but not significantly, than that in control rats. In mildly diabetic rats, a 60 min increment in serum glucose concentrations was significantly reduced by GS4 administration. No IRI response was observed in these diabetic rats irrespective of GS4 administration. In the second set of experiments, the chronic effect of GS4 was examined in mildly diabetic rats. Two weeks after the induction of diabetes, the rats were divided into two groups that had similar impairment of glucose tolerance assessed by an oral glucose loading test. The rats were fed for 32-35 days with either a control diet or a diet supplemented with GS4. After 4 weeks, GS4 showed a tendency to reduce the serum glucose concentrations in the fed state and to improve the glucose tolerance. Gain in body weight, food intake, pancreas weight and the pancreatic contents of IRI, protein, amylase and trypsinogen were unaltered in the GS4-treated group compared with the control. These results suggest the usefulness of G. sylvestre in the treatment of certain classes of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Amylases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of FK037, a new parenteral cephalosporin.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of FK037, a new parenteral cephalosporin, were compared with those of cefpirome, ceftazidime and flomoxef. The advantages of in vitro activity of FK037 were as follows: (1) a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, (2) the most potent activity (MIC90: 25 micrograms/ml) of the cephalosporins tested against highly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (H-MRSA), (3) a strong activity against Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter freundii resistant to the third-generation cephalosporins tested. The MICs of FK037 for 90% of the clinical isolates tested (MIC90s) were 0.012 microgram/ml for Streptococcus pyogenes, 0.05 microgram/ml for Escherichia coli, 0.1 microgram/ml for Streptococcus pneumoniae, 0.2 microgram/ml for Haemophilus influenzae and Proteus mirabilis, 0.39 microgram/ml for Klebsiella pneumoniae, 1.56 micrograms/ml for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Enterobacter aerogenes, 3.13 micrograms/ml for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Moraxella catarrhalis, 6.25 micrograms/ml for C. freundii, 12.5 micrograms/ml for low-level methicillin-resistant S. aureus (L-MRSA), Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 25 micrograms/ml for H-MRSA and Serratia marcescens. FK037 was similar in potency to cefpirome against strains except MRSA, and was superior to ceftazidime and flomoxef against strains except P. vulgaris and/or M. catarrhalis. The increase in MICs of FK037 against 2 L-MRSA strains (2- or 4-fold) was smaller than that of cefpirome and flomoxef (16- to 64-fold) after the third serial culture in the presence of each drug. FK037 was highly bactericidal against S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa at the MIC or higher. FK037 had a potent protective activity against murine experimental systemic infections due to a wide variety of bacteria. Its protective activity was the strongest among the cephalosporins tested against H-MRSA and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Against the other strains, FK037 was as effective as cefpirome and similar or superior to flomoxef and ceftazidime though it was inferior to ceftazidime against P. aeruginosa. Transmission electron microscopic studies revealed that FK037 inhibited septum formation and induced thick cross walls and bacteriolysis at the division sites in MRSA after 4 h incubation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pulpal response to a new light-cured composite placed in etched glass-ionomer lined cavities.

This study evaluated the pulp biocompatability of a new light-cured composite resin which was placed in etched glass-ionomer-lined cavities of monkey teeth. The pulpal response to this material was less than that to zinc-oxide eugenol cement in each observation period. Therefore this material seems to meet acceptable biocompatability standards in nonhuman primates.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monkey pulpal response to adhesively luted indirect resin composite inlays.

Monkey pulpal responses to resin-bonded indirect resin composite inlays were histopathologically evaluated by placing them in either etched-enamel, total-etched, or adhesive-resin-lined cavities. Initial pulpal responses caused by re-exposure of the cut dentin surfaces and luting procedure subsided if a tight marginal seal was secured by final cementation of the inlay. The adhesive resin coating of freshly cut dentinal walls/floors seems to provide a new technique to protect the dentin and pulp in indirect restorations requiring temporary sealing.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monkey pulpal responses to conventional and adhesive luting cements.

Monkey pulpal responses to metal inlays luted with a combination of an adhesive resin and luting composite and conventional dental cements were histopathologically evaluated. Initial pulpal responses caused by re-exposure of the cut dentin surfaces and luting procedure under hydraulic pressure subsided at 90 days after final cementation. There was no significant difference among pulpal reactions to conventional dental cements and a combination of an adhesive resin and luting composite. The adhesive resin coating of freshly cut dentinal walls/floors immediately after cavity preparation seems to provide protection for the dentin and pulp in indirect restorations requiring temporary sealing.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term reaction of exposed monkey pulp beneath adhesive resins.

Monkey pulpal responses to four adhesive resin systems used as direct pulp capping agents were histopathologically evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days after operation. No serious inflammatory reaction of the pulp, such as necrosis or abscess formation, was observed. Slight inflammatory cell infiltration was the main inflammatory reaction of the exposed pulp, and the exposed area became occluded with dentin bridging as the observation period increased. Healing of exposed dental pulp beneath adhesive resin capping slightly differed depending on the materials used.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Meal-related changes in plasma CCK bioactivity in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

In order to clarify whether there is a negative feedback mechanism for CCK secretion, we investigated plasma CCK bioactivity in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (CP) according to the characteristics of their pancreatic disease. Basal, meal-stimulated, and integrated release of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) bioactivity was measured in 24 patients with CP and in 12 healthy controls. The values obtained were compared between the healthy control group and the CP group, and between subgroups of CP patients established on the basis of the presence/absence of several parameters: abnormal gastric emptying, abdominal pain, steatorrhea, pancreatic calcification, insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus, and impairment of pancreatic exocrine functions as indicated by secretin test. A bioassay method using pancreatic acini was used to measure plasma CCK bioactivity. In the control group, plasma CCK bioactivity increased from a basal value of 1.6 +/- 0.7 pmol/L to a maximal increase of 6.6 +/- 4.1 pmol/L, and the integrated CCK release following a test meal was 37.7 +/- 19.3 pmol/L.150 min. In the CP group, plasma CCK bioactivity increased from 1.6 +/- 0.9 pmol/L to a maximal increase of 8.2 +/- 8.7 pmol/L, and the integrated release of CCK was 43.0 +/- 37.7 pmol/L.150 min. None of the differences between them were significant. No significant differences in basal value, maximal increase, or integrated plasma CCK release were noted according to any of the parameters of the CP patients and the control group. Nor was there any correlation between impairment of pancreatic exocrine function and plasma CCK bioactivity. These results provide no evidence of a negative feedback mechanism between pancreatic exocrine dysfunction and CCK secretion.

Adult↗