No elimination of aspiration pneumonia in neurologically disabled patients with feeding gastrostomy.

To clarify the relationship of aspiration pneumonia (ASP) to feeding gastrostomy in neurologically disabled patients, we reviewed the charts of 87 patients who had a feeding gastrostomy for enteral access. We looked for evidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and ASP. Prior to gastrostomy, the frequency of ASP was 29 of 87 patients.

Paradoxical effects of glucose feeding on liver regeneration and survival after partial hepatectomy.

Although glucose is regularly administered to patients after partial hepatic resection, its contribution to survival and/or liver regeneration is unclear. To examine this question fed and anesthetized rats underwent 68% or 90% hepatectomy and received either oral 20% glucose solution or tap water (controls) ad lib for 24 h. Survival was compared by life table analysis and the regeneration response measured by 3H-thymidine uptake into liver deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Rapid alterations in substrate profiles after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

We compared alterations in circulating levels of insulin and glucagon and metabolic fuels in response to partial (70%) hepatectomy (HP) and sham hepatectomy (SHP) in fasting rats and in unanesthetized, fasting control rats. Within 15 minutes, animals in the HP group were hypoglycemic compared with the SHP and control groups. After 30 minutes, the insulin concentration and the insulin-glucagon molar ratio (IGR) rose in the HP group.