Inhibitory effect of nifedipine on cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder contraction in man

A prospective study was performed on seven male and eight female patients with normal hepatobiliary findings to investigate the effect of 20 mg nifedipine on cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder contraction. Each patient received 1 IDU (Ivy dog unit) cholecystokinin per kg body weight intravenously on two consecutive days, with additional administration of 20 mg nifedipine sublingually on the second day. Gallbladder volumes were assessed by ultrasonography over a period of 25 minutes. Cholecystokinin induced a maximal reduction in the mean initial volume of 56.8 +/- 3.6%. After nifedipine, this volume change was significantly reduced to 30.9 +/- 5.1% (p less than 0.001). Thus our data suggest for the first time that the calcium-channel-blocking agent nifedipine can have an effect on human gallbladder kinetics.     

Sonographic evaluation of gallbladder kinetics: in vitro and in vivo comparison of different methods to assess gallbladder emptying.

In an in vitro study, 10 gallbladders of adult pigs and 6 gallbladders of lambs, all removed immediately after slaughtering, were stimulated in a water bath by electric means to induce active contraction. Gallbladder emptying was followed by ultrasonography employing five measurement procedures: (1) gallbladder width, (2) longitudinal planimetry, (3) transverse planimetry, (4) ellipsoid method, and (5) sum of cylinders method. In an in vivo investigation, gallbladder emptying of 30 volunteers (12 healthy subjects, 18 diabetics) was evaluated in the same way after ingestion of a fatty meal. Gallbladder width was found to be unsuitable to estimate the decrease in gallbladder volume due to a nonlinear relation of the parameters. Longitudinal planimetry tended to be less valid than transverse planimetry in assessing gallbladder volume reduction. The most valid estimation of gallbladder volume decreases was obtained by the two three-dimensional procedures. However, in neither in vitro nor in vivo could a significant difference between the sum of cylinders method and the ellipsoid method in determining relative volume reduction be established. We conclude that a three-dimensional measurement procedure should be used for valid assessments of gallbladder motility. However, according to our data there is no advantage in using the time-consuming sum of cylinders method compared to the simple ellipsoid method.     

Whole body MR imaging in ankylosing spondylitis: a descriptive pilot study in patients with suspected early and active confirmed ankylosing spondylitis

Background  

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder which usually begins in early adulthood. The diagnosis is often delayed by many years. MR imaging has become the preferred imaging method for detection of early inflammation of the axial skeleton in ankylosing spondylitis.     

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia: considerations for clinical trials

There is little agreement about the methodology of clinical trials of antipsychotic drugs in patients with negative symptoms. A literature review revealed wide variation in experimental design, rating scales and study duration. This reflects differing views as to the definition and response to treatment of negative symptoms. Some degree of standardization would improve comparability of studies and aid the development of new compounds. Patients included in such studies should have displayed negative symptoms for at least 6 months. Depressive symptoms, positive schizophrenic symptoms and extrapyramidal signs may all influence or be confused with negative symptoms and may respond to treatment; they should be at a low level at baseline and should be measured during the study period. Studies should last at least 8 weeks. Several scales are available for measuring negative symptoms and are reviewed; a global impression score should be used additionally.     

Alterations of lens metabolism with experimentally induced cataract in rats

Rat lenses with experimentally induced cataract (either by naphthalene or by streptozotocin) were analyzed biochemically. Both noxae had some effects in common. Water-soluble protein and aldose reductase activity decreased, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase and glutathione reductase activity increased. A specific effect of streptozotocin was the rise in glucose, fructose and sorbitol. A specific effect of naphthalene was increased amounts of water-insoluble protein.