Effects of octreotide treatment on early TNF-alpha production and localization in experimental chronic colitis.

Background: Colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNB) is a model of Th1 disease, mainly explored from the third day of induction. It has recently been shown that octreotide and other somatostatin analogues can modify inflammatory/immune processes by acting on cytokines.

Aim: To examine TNFalpha production and the effect of preventive treatment with octreotide, during the early phase of TNB-colitis.

Network of inflammatory cytokines and correlation with disease activity in ulcerative colitis.

Objective: The inflammatory component of most human inflammatory chronic diseases implicates the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL1beta) seem to play an important role in ulcerative colitis (UC) in relevant experimental models. Moreover, antiTNF therapy seems promising experimentally and clinically.

Technetium Tc 99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxine leukocyte scintigraphy in patients with ulcerative colitis: correlation with clinical, biologic, endoscopic, and pathologic intensity, and local release of interleukin 8.

Background: Technetium Tc 99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxine (99mTc-HMPAO) has been used to radiolabel leukocytes with promising results for its clinical use in inflammatory bowel disease. During active ulcerative colitis, colonoscopy is indicated to determine the extent and the intensity of the disease for proper management. The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy can give information similar to that obtained with colonoscopy during acute attacks of ulcerative colitis.

Effects of lanreotide, a somatostatin analogue, on postprandial gastric functions and biliopancreatic secretions in humans.

Aims: Lanreotide is a novel synthetic somatostatin analogue. A long-acting formulation of lanreotide has been shown to be effective for the treatment of gastroentero-pancreatic hormone-producing tumours but effects on postprandial digestive and absorptive functions remain obscure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous lanreotide on gastric and biliopancreatic secretions in man as well as the absorption of nutrients and the duodeno-caecal transit time after ingestion of an homogenized meal (500 kcal, 55% carbohydrates, 15% proteins, 30% lipids).