In order to study whether or not mucosubstance increases occur in the pancreatic juice of patients with chronic pancreatitis, hexosamine was measured in duodenal aspirates during the secretin phase (S-40) following pancreozymin-secretin stimulation in 16 normal subjects, 37 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 6 patients with alcoholism, 13 patients with gallstones, and 11 patients with peptic ulcer. The hexosamine concentrations in the pancreatic secretions showed a negative correlation with the bicarbonate concentrations and volume output. Rises in hexosamine concentration were seen in alcoholism and chronic pancreatitis, especially in alcoholic pancreatitis. This is probably intimately related with the repeated ingestion of large amounts of alcohol over long periods of time. Since high hexosamine values are noted in the relapsing type of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, increases in viscosity due to mucosubstance increases in the pancreatic juice are probably related with the recurrence of acute attacks accompanying ductal stenosis or obstruction.

Abstract-The role of calcium ions in the activation of guinea pig neutrophil functions was examined by evaluating the effects of calcium antagonists.The data presented here show that calcium antagonists inhibit the activation of guinea pig neutrophil functions elicited by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) such as chemotaxis, superoxide anion generation and granule enzyme release in a concentration-dependent manner.

Comparative assessments of the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas associated with gallstone pancreatitis or alcoholic pancreatitis were performed in a series of 86 patients, 20 with cholelithiasis, 12 with chronic alcoholism, 24 with chronic gallstone pancreatitis and 30 with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and 32 healthy subjects were served as controls. The patients with cholelithiasis showed exocrine hypersecretion of the pancreas. In the patients with gallstone pancreatitis, all the assessed parameters of exocrine function were depressed. On the other hand, no pancreatic exocrine dysfunction was dispalyed in cases with chronic alcoholism. In the non-calcifying alcoholic pancreatitis, both the volume output and the the maximum concentration and output of bicarbonate were diminished but depression in amylase output was not seen. All these parameters were lowered in patients with calcifying pancreatitis. Elevation of hexosamine concentration in the pancreatic juice was evident in alcoholic pancreatitis as compared with gallstone pancreatitis, being particularly prominent in cases of non-calcifying pancreatitis. Patients with alcoholic pancreatitis were observed to secrete viscous pancreatic juice richer in amylase and hexosamine content, than those in the patients with gallstone pancreatitis. Endocrine dysfunction of the pancreas is more frequent and intense in alcoholic pancreatitis than in gallstone pancreatitis.

We attempted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using guidewires on 32 patients: 16 with main pancreatic duct (MPD) stricture and 16 with MPD obstruction which had been detected by ordinary ERCP. We also performed brushing cytology for pancreatic ductal lesions in 24 of these patients. In 15 of the 16 patients with a MPD stricture, an ERCP catheter was inserted up to the stricture and then the catheter was passed into the proximal MPD through the stricture using a guidewire (recanalization method). In 14 of the 16 patients with a MPD obstruction, the lesion was reached using guidewires. In addition, the recanalization method was possible in 12 of these 14 patients and the pancreatic ductal system proximal to the obstruction was visualized. ERCP using guidewires, especially using the recanalization method, allowed us to obtain detailed information, not only about the lesion itself but also on the pancreatic ductal system proximal to the lesion. Employing these methods, we obtained pancreatograms cliaracteristic of chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer with a high detection rate and could evaluate whether the lesion was benign or malignant even in cases difficult to diagnose using ordinary ERCP. Furthermore, an assessment of the lesion expansion was possible to some degree with the recanalization method. The diagnostic accuracy of brushing cytology of the ductal lesion using guidewires was 79%. Although one subject experienced acute pancreatitis after these procedures, she recovered following conservative treatment. No other serious complications were observed.

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