1. The intravenous injection of para-methoxyphenylethylamine (PMPEA) into cats produces an increase in the size of the spinal cord monosynaptic reflex. The reflex elevation occurs within 30 s of drug administration, reaches a peak within 2 min, and lasts about 20 min.2. The action of PMPEA is similar for extensor (gastrocnemius-soleus) and flexor (posterior biceps-semitendinosus) monosynaptic reflexes.3. Repeated doses of PMPEA give comparable effects. The degree of monosynaptic reflex elevation is dose related.4. The action of PMPEA is antagonized by phenoxybenzamine and by methysergide or cyproheptadine. The combination of phenoxybenzamine with either of the latter is particularly effective in preventing the reflex facilitation by PMPEA.5. It is concluded that PMPEA has a central action on the spinal cord. It seems likely that monoaminergic synapses are involved.

Animals↗

PubMed1970

Two cases of "pancreatic cholera" with features of peptide-secreting adenomatosis of the pancreas.

The clinical data are presented of two women with profound metabolic upset from exceptional water and electrolyte losses in diarrhoea. One had an islet-cell adenoma of the pancreas and the other abnormal islets. Gastric and pancreatic function were abnormal in both, consistent with the subsequent demonstration of a pancreatic and choleretic secretagogue in the tumour tissue and pancreatic and gastric secretagogues in circulating blood (Cleator, Thomson, Sircus, and Coombes, 1970).

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

PubMed1970

Faecal stasis and diverticular disease in ulcerative colitis.

The incidence of faecal stasis and of diverticular disease has been studied in a group of 399 patients with ulcerative colitis. Sixty-one patients had faecal stasis and 23 patients had diverticular disease. Pathological studies demonstrated an increase in the thickness of the inner spiral muscle in colitis patients with faecal stasis. The thickening was not as great as that seen in diverticular disease. Preliminary studies on the motility patterns in patients with faecal stasis show a higher mean activity in the pelvic colon than in normals but not as great as that seen in diverticular disease. Pressure studies in patients with faecal stasis have shown hypotonia in the proximal colon associated with dilatation.The possible significance of these results is discussed. It is suggested that ulcerative colitis may initiate a motility disturbance which leads to muscle thickening similar to that in diverticular disease. Diverticula associated with ulcerative colitis are usually not involved in the mucosal inflammatory process.

Barium Sulfate↗

PubMed1970

Arthropathy, ankylosing spondylitis, and clubbing of fingers in ulcerative colitis.

In a retrospective study of 399 patients with ulcerative colitis, 27 patients had colitic arthritis, 17 had ankylosing spondylitis, and 20 had clubbing of the fingers. Colitic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis were not related to severity, extent of involvement, or duration of colitis. A significant association between colitic arthropathy and other complications of ulcerative colitis, such as pseudopolyposis, perianal disease, eye lesions, skin eruptions, aphthous ulceration, and liver disease has been demonstrated. The outcome of the first referred attack of colitis in the presence of colitic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis remained uninfluenced. Clubbing of fingers was related to severity, extent of involvement, and length of the history of colitis. A significant association between clubbing of the fingers and carcinoma of the colon, pseudopolyposis, toxic dilatation, and arthropathy has been shown. The frequency of surgical intervention in patients with clubbing was higher but the overall mortality was not significantly different from the patients without clubbing.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1970