We have developed a sensitive, specific and reproducible radioimmunoassay for cholecystokinin (CCK) with which basal levels of CCK of between 400-800 pg/ml have been measured in normal man, in patients with diabetes and with duodenal ulcer disease, and in normal dogs. After a meal, circulating levels of CCK rose to 1000-1200 pg/ml in human subjects. Release of CCK was more rapid in diabetic and duodenal ulcer patients than in normal subjects, but elevated postprandial levels persisted much longer in normal subjects. Patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome had elevated values of cholecystokinin which rose after a meal. Lack of correlation between elevated basal levels of gastrin and CCK in patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome suggest that the hypercholecystokininemia may be absolute. The disappearance half-time of exogenous CCK was about 21/2 minutes in normal subjects as well as in diabetic and duodenal ulcer patients. Studies in dogs demonstrated no uptake of basal levels of cholecystokinin by the kidney; on infusion of exogenous CCK-33, the kidney extracted 43% of the total CCK presented and 56% of the integrated CCK. We conclude that: 1) circulating basal and postprandial levels of CCK may be measured in a reproducible fashion; 2) postprandial release of CCK is more rapid in diabetic and duodenal ulcer patients than in normal man; 3) the disappearance half-time of exogenous CCK in man and dogs is about 21/2 minutes; 4) the kidney is a major site for uptake of CCK.

Five dogs prepared with Heidenhain pouches received infusions of saline, GIP and VIP before and after a standard meat meal. Blood samples were obtained under basal conditions and at subsequent intervals for measurement of gastrin, insulin, GIP and VIP by radioimmunoassay. GIP and VIP infusions had no effect on basal levels of gastrin. GIP and VIP (in common with secretin and glucagon) were found to suppress food-stimulated release of gastrin and gastrin-stimulated acid secretion from the Heidenhain pouch. Insulin levels were significantly elevated during GIP and VIP infusions. Food released GIP (and perhaps VIP.

Ten patients severely disabled by post-gastrectomy syndromes were allocated to two treatment groups. Those with predominant dumping received a 10-cm antiperistaltic jejunal interposition; those with predominant bile vomiting received a 20-cm isoperistaltic interposition. After follow-up for a minimum of 3 years, 6 patients remained virtually asymptomatic (Visick grades 1 and 2). There were 2 deaths from myocardial infarction, 6 months and 2 years after remedial surgery. One patient developed a stomal ulcer after successful treatment of dumping. Jejunal interposition appears to be a safe and relatively successful procedure. A short antiperistaltic loop is recommended for early dumping; for bile vomiting a longer isoperistaltic segment is a satisfactory alternative to Roux-en-Y conversion.

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Three symptomatic cases of congenital solitary cyst are reported, one in the liver and two in the spleen. Recurrence of the hepatic cyst after partial excision and drainage was complicated by fistula formation between the cyst and the duodenum. The fistula was successfully closed at a second operation. Calcification of the cyst wall occurred in one of two epithelial cysts of the spleen in young women, which were treated by splenectomy. Besides their rarity, congenital solitary cysts of the liver and spleen have several other features in common. Isotopic and ultrasonic scanning assist diagnosis in both conditions.