No abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of gastric secretion on the interdigestive gastric motor activity and related serum motilin variations in elderly subjects. The study was carried out on two groups of elderly subjects: one with achlorhydria or marked hypochlorhydria due to chronic atrophic gastritis and the other with normal acid secretion. A group of nonelderly subjects with normal acid secretion was also examined as control. Gastric motility was studied manometrically and serum motilin was measured by radioimmunoassay on blood samples taken every 15 min during the entire motor recording period of 200–300 min. Both groups of elderly subjects showed (1) alterations in interdigestive gastric motility and (2) serum motilin which was steadily high without the normal cyclic fluctuations. These studies suggest that the alterations in gastric motor activity and serum motilin in aged subjects are not related to the acid secretory capacity of the stomach. Other factors, such as alterations in the neurohormonal control system of gut motility, should be considered in the genesis of these age-related disorders.

No abstract

A study was made of the serum insulin level after the intravenous administration of glucose (0.33 gm/kg) in two groups of normal subjects-18 in the 60-85 age bracket, and 16 in the 23-45 age bracket. All had a normal coefficient of glucose utilization and a normal blood glucose curve after intravenous administration of glucose. Serum insulin was assayed by the radio-immunological method, with use of an ion exchange resin. Blood samples were drawn at 2, 5, 10, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the end of the glucose infusion:In the elderly subjects the maximal value was reached only after 5 minutes and the mean value was 39± 9~U/ml (range, 27-50), whereas in the younger subjects the serum insulin level rose immediately, reaching a maximal value 2 minutes after glucose infusion, the mean value being 54 ± 10 IlU/ml (range, 42.66). Thus the response of the pancreatic beta-cells to functional stimulation in the elderly subjects was slower and weaker than in the younger ones, although there was no decrease in glucose tolerance. There were no differences with respect to the peripheral utilization of insulin.Many studies concerning the metabolism of glucose in aged people have been suggested by the frequent clinical finding of diabetes mellitus in the elderly (1).Several of these studies have shown that aged subjects often exhibit a decreased carbohydrate tolerance with a higher fasting blood glucose level compared to younger subjects (27,14,25). Moreover, the glycaemic response after oral (5,11,12,35) or intravenous (31,28,30,32) administration of glucose and after the glucose-cortisone test (4, 26) resembles that of diabetic patients.Not all authors agree upon this point. Some assert that glucose tolerance

No abstract