Gastrin releasing peptide and gastrin releasing peptide receptor expression in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours.

Aims: To establish whether gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) and the GRP receptor (GRPR) are expressed together in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours.

Methods: Twenty six carcinoid tumours from the stomach, small intestine, appendix, and colorectum were investigated by immunohistochemistry for GRP and GRPR.

Results: GRP was detected in nine of 19 tumours and GRPR in 22 of 26.

Hypokalaemia during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in hypopituitary adults with and without growth hormone deficiency.

Objective: We have investigated plasma potassium changes during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia (IIH) in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) who have low total body potassium and may also have a vulnerable myocardium due to an increased prevalence of atherosclerosis.

Design: Hypoglycaemia was induced through the administration of intravenous soluble insulin (0.1 U/Kg, i.

A comparison between short ACTH and insulin stress tests for assessing hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function.

Objective: Insulin-induced hypoglycaemia is the standard method for assessment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of patients with pituitary or hypothalamic disease. It has been claimed that a normal cortisol response to the 30-minute ACTH stimulation test (AST) obviates the need to perform the insulin stress test (IST) in these patients. The objective of our study was to compare both tests in a group of consecutive patients with pituitary disease.