Inhibition of growth of two human pancreatic adenocarcinomas in vivo by somatostatin analog SMS 201-995.

Somatostatin inhibits hormone secretion from gastrointestinal endocrine tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether SMS 201-995, a long-acting analog, would inhibit the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Two human pancreatic cancers grown in nude mice were studied: SKI, which has cholecystokinin receptors, and CAV, which does not.

Bombesin inhibits growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma in nude mice.

Bombesin, a 14-amino acid peptide, exhibits direct and indirect effects on the gastrointestinal tract, including release of hormones, stimulation of pancreatic, gastric, and intestinal secretion and intestinal motility. Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin, two of the hormones released by bombesin, have been shown to play a role in maintaining the growth of normal gastrointestinal mucosa as well as in eliciting trophic responses in normal and neoplastic tissue. We studied the effects of chronic bombesin treatment on the growth of a human ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma (SKI) xenografted into nude mice, and on the growth of the normal nude mouse pancreas.

Mechanisms of the trophic actions of bombesin on the pancreas.

Bombesin has both direct and indirect effects [mediated through release of cholecystokinin (CCK)] on pancreatic secretion. Polyamine biosynthesis, essential for DNA synthesis, is increased in the pancreas after CCK stimulation. The purpose of this study was to examine the trophic effects of bombesin and to determine whether the mechanism of bombesin-induced pancreatic growth is mediated through synthesis of polyamines.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: possible tumor marker for medullary thyroid cancer.

We have sought to determine whether medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) released calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in vivo. MTC cells were inoculated from tissue culture into eight Wag-Rij rats. One month later blood was drawn before and after the intravenous injection of calcium, and plasma levels of CGRP and calcitonin (CT) levels in that blood were determined by radioimmunoassay.

Immunoreactive trypsin in acute pancreatitis: elevated levels do not correlate with hyperamylasaemia.

Immunoreactive trypsin (IRT) was measured in the serum of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis (AP) and compared to serum amylase levels. Both were elevated beyond the normal range at presentation (mean IRT 557 +/- 252 micrograms/l, range 181-1000 micrograms/l, mean control IRT 42 +/- 14 micrograms/l, range 15-82 micrograms/l; mean amylase 4500 +/- 3200 IU/l, range 600-10,500 IU/l, control amylase mean 175 +/- 43 IU/l, range 48-320 IU/l). There was minimal correlation between IRT and amylase elevation but both returned to normal at the same rate in patients who recovered.

Imaging of metastatic medullary carcinoma of the thyroid with 131I-meta-iodobenzyl guanidine.

The uptake of 131I-MIBG by medullary carcinoma of the thyroid was studied in six patients after total thyroidectomy in whom persistent raised plasma calcitonin levels were indicative of residual disease. The only patient in whom any activity in a possible metastasis was seen had by far the highest level of circulating calcitonin of the group and in contrast one patient with a presumptive metastatic deposit showed no uptake of MIBG into it. In conclusion the uptake of 131I-MIBG by medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is unreliable and unpredictable.

Biliary concentrations of temocillin.

Temocillin is a new semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotic with a spectrum of activity against most aerobic Gram-negative bacteria. We investigated the biliary excretion of temocillin after administration of 1g either intravenously or intramuscularly to 15 patients with normal liver and renal function who were undergoing elective cholecystectomy for gallstones. Very high concentrations of temocillin (up to 8 times the corresponding serum concentrations) were found in common bile duct bile and gallbladder bile of functioning gallbladders 1 to 2 hours after administration.

The accuracy of ultrasound in the measurement of changes in bladder volume.

Ultrasound is an established method of assessing bladder and residual urine volumes. The aim of this study was to improve the accuracy of ultrasound in measuring changes in bladder volume and to avoid bladder catheterisation. Seventeen patients took part in the trial; their bladders were scanned before and after micturition and bladder volumes were estimated.

Hypomagnesaemia in diabetes.

The plasma magnesium (Mg) concentrations of 582 unselected diabetic outpatients and 140 control subjects were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean plasma Mg (+/-S.D.