Randomised clinical trial: a 1-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of pancreatin 25 000 Ph. Eur. minimicrospheres (Creon 25000 MMS) for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency after pancreatic surgery, with a 1-year open-label extension.

Background: Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) often occurs following pancreatic surgery.

Aim: To demonstrate the superior efficacy of pancreatin 25 000 minimicrospheres (Creon 25000 MMS; 9-15 capsules/day) over placebo in treating PEI after pancreatic resection.

Methods: A 1-week, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentre study with a 1-year, open-label extension (OLE).

Prediction of the effect of bisoprolol in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Survival improvement by beta-blocker treatment in patients with chronic heart failure appears to be related to the intermediate-term changes in left ventricular function. The therapeutic potential of beta blockade might be increased by early identification of patients in whom left ventricular function would deteriorate. We aimed at predicting the intermediate-term effect of bisoprolol on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Prognostic value of simple exercise test parameters in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

The prognostic value of maximal exercise capacity as well as that of the simple exercise systolic blood pressure and heart rate variables were evaluated in 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients were treated beside digitalis and/or diuretics with vasodilators aggressively. Exercise was performed on an upright bicycle ergometer.

[Experience with long-term atrial pacing].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term results of atrial pacing. There were 27 atrial pacemaker implantations and 26 out of them were followed for an average of 47, 04 months. Lead dislodgement occurred in two cases, which made necessary a ventricular pacing.

Site of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition of growth hormone secretion in the rat.

The effect of altering gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity on growth hormone (GH) secretion of freely moving chronically cannulated male rats was studied. Systemic injection of the GABA agonist muscimol (2 mg/kg i.v.

Lack of episodic growth hormone secretion in rats with anterolateral deafferentation of the medial-basal hypothalamus.

Growth hormone secretory dynamics were studied in rats sampled through chronic indwelling right atrial cannulae at time-intervals ranging from 2 days to 2 months after placing an anterolateral cut (ALC) around the medial-basal hypothalamus (MBH). The episodic secretion normally occurring in the control animals could not be seen in the rats with an ALC. Instead of the usual high bursts and low trough levels occurring between 09.

Possible inhibitory influence of gamma-aminobutyric acid on growth hormone secretion in the rat.

Increasing the levels of endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by treating rats with GABA-transaminase inhibitors (ethanolamine-O-sulphate and gamma acetylenic GABA) resulted in a decrease in plasma levels of GH. Diminishing GABAergic activity by inhibiting GABA synthesis with 3-mercaptopropionic acid or by blocking GABA receptors with bicuculline increased plasma concentration of GH. The presence of GABA was without effect on the basal, somatostatin-inhibited or high K+-stimulated secretion of GH by hemipituitary glands in vitro.