The orexigenic peptide ghrelin has been shown to have prokinetic activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) system of several species, including humans. In this series of experiments, we have evaluated the prokinetic activity of novel, small-molecule ghrelin receptor (GhrR) agonists after parenteral and peroral dosing in mice and rats. Gastric emptying, small intestinal transport, and fecal output w...

Background—Patients on total parenteral nutrition have an increased risk of developing gallstones because of gall bladder hypomotility. High dose amino acids may prevent biliary stasis by stimulating gall bladder emptying. Aims—To investigate whether intravenous amino acids also influence antroduodenal motility. Methods—Eight healthy volunteers received, on three separate occasions, intravenous...

This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of action of progesterone on gallbladder smooth muscle in guinea pigs. Adult male guinea pigs were treated with either progesterone (2 mg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ day-1) or saline for 7 days. Gallbladder muscle cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. Contractile responses to agonists were expressed as percent shortening from control cell l...

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been a spectacular clinical and commercial success in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Many of these mAbs (for example, OKT3, Campath-1H, rituximab and infliximab) are against surface or secreted products of lymphocytes. However, mAbs can have a variety of adverse effects including fever, chills and nausea. This is probably a result of cytokine ...

OBJECTIVE To study the survival rate and prognostic indicators of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) in a Hungarian population. METHODS Two hundred eighty patients with MCTD diagnosed between 1979 and 2011 were followed prospectively. Clinical features, autoantibodies, and mortality data were assessed. Prognostic factors for survival were investigated and survival was calculated from the ...

Electric signals from a chest skin electrode can be conducted to the heart and activate contraction. In the present study, normal and diabetic rabbits were stimulated by skin electrode on the abnormal bladder projection area using three levels of exporting voltage (5.84 V, 8.00 V, and 11.00 V). Results demonstrated significantly attenuated electric signals from both groups, in particular the di...

I. The rates of passage of markers of fluid and particulate digesta through the sheep alimentary tract have been described mathematically in single-injection experiments by analysing the concentration curves of marker excretion in faecal dry matter and then predicting these concentrations by means of an equation containing two exponential terms. Thrce components related to this equation are a t...