OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administration of parenteral analgesic affects clinical monitoring, diagnostic accuracy and outcome of patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

METHODS: Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled administration of tramadol and normal saline (NS). Patients 11 to 65 years old with abdominal pain for less than seven days, with possibility of acute appendicitis and needing clinical monitoring for detinitive diagnosis, were included. Changes in abdominal physical examination findings and pain response were evaluated 30 minutes after administration of tramadol and placebo which were given right after initial assessment. Accuracy in diagnosis, appendiceal perforation rate, and morbidity and mortality rates were the outcome measures.

RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three patients were enrolled. Eighty-four patients received tramadol (Grp 1) and 79 received NS (Grp 2). Seven patients, 5 in Grp 1 and 2 in Grp 2, did not undergo an operation because of nonsurgical diagnoses which were verified to be accurate during follow-up. One hundred fifty-six patients, 79 in Grp 1 and 77 in Grp 2, were admitted with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis and underwent surgery. There was no significant difference between the groups when comparing the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis and outcome of appendectomy in terms of perforation, morbidity, and mortality rates. In those receiving parenteral analgesics, there was significant pain relief

CONCLUSION: When compared with saline placebo, the administration of a parenteral analgesic (tramadol) to patients being monitored for possible acute appendicitis effectively relieved pain and did not alter the ability of the surgeons to accurately evaluate such patients.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Tramadol ; Appendicitis ; Appendectomy ; Abdominal Pain ; Acute Pain ; Gastrin-releasing Peptide 2 ; Gastrointestinal Hormones

A collection of neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 3 and 4) of male rats project to the lower lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 5 and 6) and release a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to the somatic and autonomic regions, which are known to regulate male sexual reflexes. The GRP plays some special functions when bound to the specific GRP receptor (GRPR). The spinal GRP system is regulated by androgens. Accumulating evidence shows that GRP plays an important role in rat penile erection and ejaculation, and pharmacological stimulation of GRPRs with a specific agonist can restore penile reflexes and ejaculation in castrated male rats. Therefore, the GRP system appears to be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory dysfunction. The present paper briefly reviews the recent studies on the role of the spinal GRP system in regulating the sexual function of males.
Androgens ; metabolism ; Animals ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

PURPOSE: Bombesin-like peptides are known to be important in the autocrine growth of a number of small cell lung cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of bombesin family ligands/receptors expression in human gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, and to evaluate the relationship between the expression of bombesin family ligands/receptor and clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: We measured the expression of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), neuromedin B (NMB), and their receptors, in human gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Ligand and receptor mRNA studies were carried out on; 20 tumor and matched normal samples, and 9 gastric cell lines. The expression of mRNA of GRP/NMB, and their receptors, was examined by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Expression of GRP, NMB and GRPR, NMBR mRNA was found in 55%, 100%, 40%, and 100% of gastric cancer tissue, respectively. GRP/GRPR co-expression was observed in 30% of gastric cancer tissues and expression of gastric cancer was higher than that of normal mucosa. GRP and GRPR were highly expressed in the differentiated type of gastric cancer. In gastric cancer cell lines, these peptides and receptors were expressed equally. CONCLUSION: The result demonstrate that GRP, NMB, GRPR, and NMBR were expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. This result suggests that these may have a role as growth factors in gastric cancer growth, and these peptides may act in an autocrine fashion as a morphogen in gastric cancer.
Bombesin* ; Cell Line* ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; Humans ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Ligands* ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptides ; RNA, Messenger ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of gastrin(GAS) and gastrin releasing peptide(GRP) in patients with gastric cancer and investigate the clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression of GAS and GRP in sixty patients with gastric cancer was detected by using tissue chip technique and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThe positive rates of GAS and GRP were 30.0% and 11.7% respectively in 60 cases with gastric cancer. The positive rates of GAS and GRP were higher in moderately and poorly differentiated cancers than those in well differentiated cancer (P< 0.05). The positive rates of GAS and GRP were significantly higher in mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma than those in other types of gastric cancer (P< 0.05). The positive expression of GAS and GRP in gastric cancer was correlated with lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTissue chip technique is a feasible,rapid,economic and accurate approach for screening clinical tissue specimens on a large scale.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Array Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Although importance of intrapancreatic neurons containing gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in control of exocrine secretion has been raised, the nature of GRP in the pancreas is unclear Thus, the present study was undertaken to see distribution, content and molecular heterogeneity of immunoreactive GRP in the rat pancreas Content of immunoreactive GRP in the rat pancreas was 2 99 +/- 0.66 ng/g wet tissues determined by radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactive GRP was most abundantly expressed in the duodenal part among 3 parts of the pancreas, duodenal, body and splenic part. Vagotomy failed to change the content of immunoreactive GRP in the pancreas. Three distinct forms of immunoreactive GRP, very identical to GRP-27, bombesin-24 and neuromedin C, were observed in the rat pancreas by using reversed phase C18 HPLC and Sephadex G-50 superfine column chromatography. Cell bodies of neurons containing immunoreactive GRP were scattered in pancreatic connective tissues and their nerve fibers innerv ated pancreatic acini and large ducts as determined by immunohistochemistry. The present results suggest that three distinct forms of GRP exist in intrapancreatic GRPergic neurons, which exert a stimulatory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats.
Animals ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Connective Tissue ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; Pancreas* ; Population Characteristics* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats* ; Vagotomy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of plasma ProGRP, CYFRA 21-1 and CEA in patients with lung cancer.

METHODSThe levels of plasma ProGRP, CYFRA 21-1 and CEA were detected in 85 healthy control, 49 benign lung diseases and 143 lung neoplasms. The levels of ProGRP in the patients with SCLC was monitored.

RESULTSThe level of plasma ProGRP in SCLC (M 179.1 ng/ml) was significantly higher than adenocarcinoma (M 35.3 ng/ml), squamous-cell carcinoma (M 33.3 ng/ml), healthy control (M 35.6 ng/m) and benign lung diseases (M 33.3 ng/m), P < 0.001. The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing SCLC by ProGRP were 60.6% and 95.0% respectively. In the effective treatment group, ProGRP reduced 45.9%, in the progression group, ProGRP increased 103.1%, P < 0.05. The level of CEA in the metastatic adenocarcinoma (M 10.22 ng/ml) was significantly higher than non-metastatic adenocarcinoma (M 3.85 ng/ml) and squamous cell carcinoma (M 2.56 ng/ml) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe plasma ProGRP is a good indicator for diagnosing and evaluating cure effect in SCLC; the high expression of CEA is related to the metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; Female ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; blood ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; blood ; diagnosis

Since GABA and its related enzymes had been determined in beta-cells of pancreas islets, effects of GABA on pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. GABA, given intra-arterially at concentrations of 3, 10, 30 and 100 microM, did not exert any influence on spontaneous or secretin (12 pM)-induced pancreatic exocrine secretion. However, GABA further elevated cholecystokinin (10 pM)-, gastrin-releasing peptide (100 pM)- or electrical field stimulation-induced pancreatic secretions of fluid and amylase, dose-dependently. The GABA-enhanced CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were completely blocked by bicuculline (10 microM), a GABAA receptor antagonist but not affected by saclofen (10 microM), a GABA(B) receptor antagonist. The enhancing effects of GABA (30 microM) on CCK-induced pancreatic secretions were not changed by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) but partially reduced by cyclo-(7-aminoheptanonyl-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-Thr[BZL]) (10 microM), a somatostatin antagonist. In conclusion, GABA enhances pancreatic exocrine secretion induced by secretagogues, which stimulate enzyme secretion predominantly, via GABA(A) receptors in the rat pancreas. The enhancing effect of GABA is partially mediated by inhibition of islet somatostatin release. GABA does not modify the activity of intrapancreatic neurons.
Amylases/metabolism ; Animal ; Baclofen/pharmacology ; Baclofen/analogs & derivatives* ; Bicuculline/pharmacology ; Cholecystokinin/metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; GABA/pharmacology* ; GABA Antagonists/pharmacology ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide/metabolism ; Hormones/pharmacology ; In Vitro ; Pancreas/secretion* ; Pancreas/enzymology ; Pancreas/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism ; Secretin/metabolism ; Somatostatin/pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin/pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate five serum tumor markers used alone or in combination for the diagnosis of lung cancer.

METHODSThe level of five serum tumor markers: NSE, pro-GRP, CYFRA21-1, p53 antibody and CEA was detected by ELISA in 50 healthy adults, 170 lung cancer patients and 60 patients with respiratory infection.

RESULTSThe level of the five serum tumor markers in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than that of healthy adults and patients with respiratory infection (P < 0.01). The level of NSE and pro-GRP in patients with small-cell lung cancer was significantly higher than those of the other subtypes of lung cancer (P < 0.01); The level of CYFRA21-1 in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of other subtypes (P < 0.01). The specificity of p53 antibody was 100% in diagnosing lung cancer and the sensitivity of NSE, pro-GRP was much higher for small-cell lung cancer than for other subtypes (P < 0.01); The same was observed in CYFRA21-1 for the diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of the tumor markers in diagnosing lung cancer was significantly enhanced if used in combination (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese five tumor markers are valuable auxiliary parameters in diagnosing lung cancer. The combination of NSE and pro-GRP is more appropriate than other combinations in diagnosing small-cell lung cancer; the combination of CYFRA21-1, CEA and p53 antibody is the most valuable combination for diagnosing non-small-cell lung cancer. p53 antibody has the highest specificity for diagnosing lung cancer; CYFRA21-1 is the most valuable parameter for diagnosing squamous carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; blood ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; immunology