Role of taurine on acid secretion in the rat stomach.

Background: Taurine has chemical structure similar to an inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Previous studies on GABA in the stomach suggest GABAergic neuron is involved in acid secretion, but the effects of taurine are poor understood.

Methods: The effects of taurine on acid secretion, signal transduction, and localization of taurinergic neurons were determined in the rat stomach using everted whole stomach, RIA kit and immunohistochemical methods.

Giant cell (Temporal) arteritis with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a biopsy-proven case in Taiwan.

Giant cell arteritis with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy has rarely been diagnosed in Taiwan. Recently, we encountered a 76-year-old Taiwanese patient who presented with right visual impairment and marked pale swelling of his right disc. He also suffered body weight loss, general malaise and many typical manifestations of giant cell arteritis, such as jaw claudication, a tender, non-pulsating engorgement of his temporal arteries, and a highly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level.

Effects of serotonin on acid secretion in isolated rat stomach: the role of 5-HT3 receptors.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamin; 5-HT) content has been measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The distributions of 5-HT-containing cells and 5-HT3 receptors have been determined with specific antibodies against 5-HT and 5-HT3 receptors, respectively. The effect of serotonin on acid secretion has been studied using an isolated rat stomach model.

Foster Kennedy Syndrome in a Case with Retinitis Pigmentosa.

A 57-year-old woman suffering from long-term visual disturbance due to retinitis pigmentosa noted an even more severe deterioration of her left vision for several months. On ophthalmologic examination, her vision was 1/60 in the right eye and light perception (LP) in the left eye. An RAPD sign was noted in her left eye.