[Angiosarcoma of the colon].

Angiosarcoma is a rare tumour, particularly angiosarcoma in the colon. We report such a case, and demonstrate the need to use other methods to supplement the ordinary morphological examination of the tumour in order to verify the correct diagnosis. This is important, in order to plan the correct treatment and follow-up of the patient.

Specific physiological regulation of luteinizing hormone secretory events throughout the human menstrual cycle: new insights into the pulsatile mode of gonadotropin release.

Abstract To investigate the physiological regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretory events and the endogenous clearance of this hormone, we applied multiple-parameter deconvolution analysis to serum LH concentration-time series obtained from normal women during three phases of the menstrual cycle. The number of significant LH secretory bursts (/24 h) was maximal in the late follicular (LF) phase (27 +/- 1.6; mean +/- SEM), minimal in the mid-luteal (ML) phase (10 +/-1.

Nature of gonadotropin-releasing hormone self-priming of luteinizing hormone secretion during the normal menstrual cycle.

To investigate further the nature of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone self-priming effect on luteinizing hormone release, we administered two submaximal doses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 hours apart to women at three stages of the menstrual cycle and analyzed the resultant luteinizing hormone secretory episodes with deconvolution analysis. When the characteristics of the secretory episodes associated with the second gonadotropin-releasing hormone challenge were compared with those associated with the first, both an enhanced maximal secretory rate and mass of luteinizing hormone secreted was demonstrable at each phase of the cycle. No differences in the luteinizing hormone secretory event half-duration were detected when the responses to the first and second gonadotropin-releasing hormone doses were compared.

Attenuated pulsatile release of prolactin in men with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Pulsatile and circadian patterns of PRL release were studied in 11 insulin-dependent diabetic men by sampling blood every 10 min for 24 h and comparing the results to those obtained in 12 normal nondiabetic men. The diabetic men had a mean (+/- SE) 24-h serum PRL concentration of 5.5 +/- 0.

Alterations in the pulsatile mode of growth hormone release in men and women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The mechanisms responsible for the elevated levels of circulating GH observed in diabetes mellitus (DM) remain incompletely defined. To assess the episodic fluctuations in serum GH as a reflection of hypothalamic-pituitary activity, we accumulated GH concentration-time series in a total of 48 adult men and women with and without insulin-dependent DM by obtaining serum samples at 10-min intervals over 24 h. Significant pulses of GH release were subsequently identified and characterized by an objective, statistically based pulse detection algorithm (Cluster) and fixed circadian (24-h) periodicities of secretory activity, resolved using Fourier expansion time-series analysis.

Allogenic induction of thromboplastin synthesis in monocytes and endothelial cells. Biphasic effect of cyclosporin A.

Monocytes and endothelial cells were stimulated in co-culture with allogeneic lymphocytes to produce thromboplastin (TPL). The induction was biphasic, an early response (8-24 h) was greatly augmented by cyclosporin A (CS) (0.5-5 micrograms/ml) whereas the late response (day 3-4) was inhibited.

Cytokine-induced procoagulant activity in monocytes and endothelial cells. Further enhancement by cyclosporine.

IL-1, IL-2, and TNF alpha are important biological response modifiers of inflammatory and immunological reactions. Our experiments show that these cytokines are potent inducers of thromboplastin (TPL) activity but that their effects differ with regard to cell type and kinetics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), monocytes (M), and mononuclear blood cells (MNC). Recombinant IL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta and rTNF alpha all induced a dose-dependent increase in endothelial cell TPL activity, whereas rIL-2 had essentially no such effect.

Activation of monocytes--more than one process. Differential effect of cytokines on monocytes.

Monocytes and macrophages respond to a number of exogenous agents by alterations in metabolism and gene expression in a process loosely called 'activation'. The question arises whether these alterations in cellular activity are the pleiotropic effects of one programmed activation process or result from separately programmed activation pathways. We report that certain cytokines (interleukin 1 (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta) and interleukin 2 (IL-2] which all activate monocytes, induce the synthesis of thromboplastin (TPL) and (IL-1 beta only) factor VII.

Differential effect of alpha-interferon and gamma-interferon on thromboplastin response in monocytes and endothelial cells.

Recombinant gamma-interferon (r gamma-IFN) has contrasting effects on thromboplastin (TPL) synthesis induced in monocytes (M) and endothelial cells by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol ester (TPA), and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) the induced thromboplastin response was significantly augmented by r gamma-IFN whereas the monocyte response was inhibited. Recombinant alpha-interferon (r alpha-IFN) had no effect on thromboplastin induction in endothelial cells but had a significant inhibitory effect on the TPL response in monocytes when LPS or LPS and cyclosporin A (CS) were used as inducing agents.

Beta-adrenoceptor blockade in the treatment of postoperative adynamic ileus.

Abdominal trauma, such as surgery and peritonitis, leads to inhibition of intestinal motility, partly mediated by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. To investigate the effect of nonselective beta-blockade on adynamic ileus, propranolol was compared with placebo in the postoperative course after elective colonic surgery in a double-blind randomized study. Ten patients received 4 mg propranolol intravenously twice daily, and ten received 10 mg intravenously twice daily.

Effect of cyclosporine A on procoagulant activity in mononuclear blood cells and monocytes in vitro.

Monocytes and macrophages synthesize thromboplastin when induced by a number of compounds. Our experiments show that cyclosporine A (CyA) enhances the synthesis of procoagulant activity in monocytes and in whole mononuclear cells (MNC) about two-fold when phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) is the stimulant. The enhancement is inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide.

The effect of phospholipase C in sheep.

Based on earlier studies in rats, phospholipase C (PLC) seemed to be a very promising prophylactic agent for certain types of thrombo-embolic disease. Recent studies in rabbits have, however, demonstrated that phospholipase C is more toxic than expected from the previous data. To gain more knowledge about its toxicity in larger animals we have studied its effect in sheep.

Relapse of duodenal ulcer after treatment with trimipramine/antacids or cimetidine/antacids.

Ninety-three patients with duodenal ulcer were treated with trimipramine, 25 mg at night; cimetidine, 400 mg at night; or cimetidine, 1000 mg/day. In addition, all patients were given 20 ml antacids 1 and 3 h after meals. The healing rates after 6 weeks' treatment were 86%, 85%, and 100% in the three groups, respectively (differences not significant).

The influence of hormones and drugs on gastric pepsin secretion. The role of vagal innervation.

Seven double-pouch dogs with one vagally innervated Amdrup pouch (AP) and one denervated and denervated mucosa at the same time in the same animal. Stimulation was done by food, a mixture of liver, heart and bonemeal, 10 g/kg. Cimetidine, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg; atropine, 0.

Prognostic value of the pentagastrin and insulin tests after proximal gastric vagotomy.

A review was made of 72 patients 3--6 years after proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage operation for duodenal ulcer. To assess the prognostic value of gastric acid secretory analyses, the correlation between the clinical results and the pentagastrin and insulin tests made preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively was determined. The preoperative secretory analyses showed no such correlation.

Treatment of duodenal ulcer with antacids in combination with trimipramine or cimetidine.

Ninetyfive patients with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcer were randomly allocated in a double blind manner to 3 different treatments. Thirtyfive patients were treated with trimipramine 25 mg nocte, 32 patients with cimetidine 400 mg nocte and 26 patients with cimetidine 200 mg 3 times a day and 400 mg nocte (standard dose). In addition all patients got intensive antacid treatment with LinkR, 20 ml 1 and 3 hours after meals.

Treatment of duodenal ulcer with ranitidine, a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist.

Fifty patients with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcer were treated with either 100 mg of ranitidine hydrochloride (corresponding to 89.4 mg of ranitidine base) or identical placebo tablets twice daily under double-blind conditions. One patient did not attend for the second endoscopy and was excluded.