Complex penetrating duodenal injuries: less is better.

Background: The traditional management of complex penetrating duodenal trauma (PDT) has been the use of elaborate temporizing and complex procedures such as the pyloric exclusion and duodenal diverticulization. We sought to determine whether a simplified surgical approach to the management of complex PDT injuries improves clinical outcome.

Methods: A retrospective review of all consecutive PDT from 2003 to 2012 was conducted.

A comprehensive five-step surgical management approach to penetrating liver injuries that require complex repair.

Background: The objective of this study was to describe a comprehensive five-step surgical management approach for patients with penetrating liver trauma based on our collective institutional experience.

Methods: A prospective consecutive study of all penetrating liver traumas from January 2003 to December 2011 at a regional Level I trauma center in Cali, Colombia, was conducted.

Results: A total of 538 patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma were operated on at our institution.

Ethnicity-related polymorphisms and haplotypes in the human ABCB1 gene.

Introduction: The human multidrug resistance gene ATP-binding cassette B1 (ABCB1) codes for P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an important membrane-bound efflux transporter known to confer anticancer drug resistance as well as affect the pharmacokinetics of many drugs and xenobiotics. A number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified throughout the ABCB1 gene that may have an effect on P-gp expression levels and function. Haplotype as well as genotype analysis of SNPs is becoming increasingly important in identifying genetic variants underlying susceptibility to human disease.

Circulating levels of adrenomedullin in patients with Addison's disease before and after corticosteroid treatment.

Background And Objective: A novel hypotensive peptide, adrenomedullin (AM), had recently been isolated, purifed and its encoding gene sequenced from a human phaeochromocytoma. In humans AM circulates in physiological levels and possesses a distinct vasodilatatory activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the behaviour of AM levels in primary adrenal failure.

[Behavior of plasma levels of endothelin 1 and noradrenaline in patients with stable angina during the cold pressor test].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and norepinephrine (NE) levels in patients with stable angina during a sympathetic stimulation test as the cold pressor test. We enrolled in the study 29 subjects: 14 patients with stable angina (all men, mean age 58.3 +/- 7.

High plasma endothelin-1 levels in hypertensive patients with low-renin essential hypertension.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide derived from endothelial cells and may be important in the control of systemic blood pressure (BP) and local blood flow. Immunoreactive ET-1 plasma levels may be normal or elevated in human arterial hypertension, although the exact pathophysiological role of ET-1 remains to be established. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between the components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and plasma ET-1 levels in patients with low, normal or high-renin essential hypertension.

Circulating endothelin-1 in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with retinopathy.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a novel 21-amino acid vasoconstrictive peptide secreted by endothelial cells, has been thought to play a role in various forms of vascular disease. Diabetes mellitus is well known for its association with microvascular damage. To investigate whether ET-1 levels may be related to microangiopathy in diabetes mellitus, plasma ET-1 levels were measured in two groups of diabetic patients: A) 47 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and retinopathy (28 M, 19 F; mean age 60.

High plasma levels of endothelin-1 in untreated Addison's disease.

The aim of this study has been to investigate the plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in adult patients with proven Addison's disease (AD). Plasma ET-1 levels were measured in 29 subjects (17 males and 12 females, aged between 20 and 54 years): 15 of them were patients with AD and 14 were sex- and age-matched normal subjects, used as a control group. All patients with AD have been studied under basal conditions and nine of them also after 2 weeks on oral corticosteroid therapy (individual cortisol dosage ranging from 25 to 37.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in stools of healthy subjects and patients with celiac disease.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidylcarboxypeptidase that occurs in three types of cells: endothelial, epithelial, and neuroepithelial. ACE activity is present in plasma, urine, and vascular endothelium. High levels of ACE are found in the brush border of human small bowel.

Effects of haemodialysis session on plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol in patients with end-stage renal disease.

The effect of a regular haemodialysis session on the plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol was investigated in 14 patients with end-stage renal disease and 20 healthy controls. Blood for analysis of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol was sampled before and immediately after haemodialysis. In four patients the dialysate was studied for presence of these hormones, but showed no specific activity.

Plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma and pheochromocytoma.

The aim of the study was to evaluate possible changes of plasma endothelin-1 levels (ET-1) in patients with hypertension secondary to primary aldosteronism and pheochromocytoma. We enrolled in the study: 12 patients affected by aldosterone-producing adenoma (5 M and 7 W; mean age 42.1 +/- 17.

Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with coronary artery disease during stress test before and after nisoldipine administration.

The purpose of this study was to determine the response of plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) to dynamic exercise in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina pectoris and positive exercise tolerance test, before and after treatment with the calcium antagonist nisoldipine (20 mg/day buccally for 7 days). Plasma ET-1 levels and hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were determined at rest, at peak exercise and recovery. All patients had a positive electrically and clinically stress test and all of the eight patients did not developed ECG signs of myocardial ischemia after nisoldipine administration.

beta-Endorphin and propiomelanocortin-correlates peptides response in suspected and confirmed ischemic heart disease during exercise.

Unlabelled: In this study, we investigated circulating beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol in subjects with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and in patients with CAD during stress testing. Group I: 18 subjects, all male (average age 48 +/- 9 yrs) with suspected (CAD) were enrolled. Group II: 35 patients, 30 males and 5 females (average age 54.

Plasma endothelin-1 levels in normotensive and borderline hypertensive subjects during a standard cold pressor test.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide derived from endothelium. The presence of ET-1 in human vascular endothelium and in the plasma suggests that it may play a role in the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure (BP) in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of plasma ET-1 in 10 normotensives (average 36.

Increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in 25 hyperthyroid subjects, 15 hypothyroid subjects, and 21 age-matched normal controls. In hyperthyroid patients, plasma concentrations of ET-1 were significantly higher than in the control group (P < .0001) and in hypothyroid patients (P < .

Dynamic exercise induces elevation of plasma levels of endothelin-1 in patients with coronary artery disease.

In this investigation the response of endothelin-1 plasma levels to dynamic exercise in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) was studied. The study population consisted of 20 patients with CAD, 16 men and 4 women (mean age 53 +/- 8.6 years).

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels in patients with recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetes after one year of low-dose cyclosporin therapy. IMDIAB Study Group.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) is today used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and in the past was given also to patients with recent-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Hypertension is a major hazard in patients receiving CyA. In this study we have evaluated the effect of CyA administered to IDDM patients on blood pressure and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE), an endopeptidase that is an integral part of the renin-angiotensin and bradykinin systems.

Response of serum angiotensin converting enzyme, plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone to conventional dialysis in patients on chronic haemodialysis.

The aim of this study was to examine serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) activity and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in patients on chronic haemodialysis during one routine dialysis session. Fourteen patients (8 men and 6 women; mean age 51.9 +/- 17 years) with end stage renal disease, receiving regular haemodialysis treatment for an average of 6 months, were studied.

Reduced serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in children with congenital hypothyroidism.

In this study levels of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) were evaluated using colorimetric method in 24 children with congenital hypothyroidism, 28 children from an iodine deficient zone (14 euthyroid, 14 subclinically hypothyroid) and 21 normal children. In the children with congenital hypothyroidism SACE levels (28.15 +/- 6.

[Insulin resistance in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease].

The pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOs) is not well known till now. Previous reports indicated an hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in obese and non obese PCOs. However the role of hyperinsulinemia in PCOs pathogenesis is not completely understood.

Mixed type sweat gland adenoma: a case report.

We describe a case of a young woman with inguinal sweat-gland adenoma, that had histological characteristics of both hidradenoma papilliferum and clear-cell hidradenoma. The neoplastic risk potential for the 2 conditions is discussed.

A chronobiological approach to circulating levels of renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, aldosterone, ACTH, and cortisol in Addison's disease.

This study deals with a chronobiological approach to the circadian rhythm of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the ACTH-cortisol axis (ACA) in patients with Addison's disease (PAD). The aim is to explore the mechanism(s) for which the circadian rhythmicity of the RAAS and ACA takes place. The study has shown that both the RAAS and ACA are devoid of a circadian rhythm in PAD.