Susumu Saeki

Amylase in the lung.

Although elevated amylase levels in serum, pleural fluid, and extracts of tumor tissue in primary lung cancer have been reported, electrophoretic and column‐chromatographic studies have not revealed the ectopic production of amylase but have merely shown an increase of amylase activity of chiefly the salivary type in these materials. The present study was designed to make clear the nature of the amylase or amylase‐like substance in the serum, pleaural fluid and tumor extracts, and to determine whether amylase might be produced ectopically in tumor tissues. Our data not only comfirmed that the hyperamylasemia in some cases of primary lung cancer was due to an increase in salivary type isoamylases, but also showed that the same isoamylase pattern occurs in serum, pleural fluids, and diseased lung tissue of patients with pneumonia. However, the elution pattern of amylase in these materials in column‐chromatography on Sephadex G‐75 Superfine was different from that of salivary amylase. On the basis of our observations, it seems reasonable to conclude that the salivary type hyperamylasemia in some cases of primary lung cancer may be due to an increase in the amylase contained in normal lung tissues, resulting from activation and release into the blood stream by some inflammatory process. However, ectopic production of amylase was demonstrated in one particular case of primary lung cancer in which a high amylase content and a peculiar isoamylase were found both in the primary and metastatic lesions.

Salivary-type hyperamylasemia in primary lung cancer: Observation of a possible precursor of the salivary-type isoamylase

Although recent studies by column chromatography and electrophoresis showed that elevated amylase activity in the body fluids and tumor extracts in patients with primary lung cancer was mainly in the salivary-type isoamylase, neither mechanism nor mature of elevation of amylase have been clarified yet. This study was undertaken in order to make clear the nature of amylase elevated in the body fluids and tumor extracts of patients with primary lung cancer. In addition, amylase contained in the extracts of normal lungs and diseased lungs of patients who had died of various diseases was also studied. Our results revealed that amylase elevated in the body fluids and tumor extracts in patients with primary lung cancer was the salivary-type isoamylase and, moreover, that small amounts of salivary-type isoamylase in normal lung tissues and large amounts in diseased lung tissues were also contained. These facts suggested that salivary-type isoamylase was physiologically contained in normal lung tissues and large amounts in diseased lung tissues were also contained. These facts suggested that salivary-type isoamylase was physiologically contained in normal lung tissues and might be activated through pathological processes, such as inflammation, circulatory disturbance or tumor formation. Two peculiar isoamylases with cathodic mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were found. One of them was so unstable that it was converted to the stable salivary-type isoamylase, suggesting the precursor of human salivary isoamylase.

Effect of trimebutine maleate on emptying of stomach and gallbladder and release of gut peptide following a solid meal in man

We investigated the effect of orally administered trimebutine maleate on gastric and gallbladder emptying and on the release of gut peptide, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and gastrin in humans for 120 min after ingestion of a solid meal. Gastric emptying was measured by a radionuclide technique. Gallbladder emptying was estimated by real-time ultrasonography. The oral administration of 200 mg of trimebutine maleate significantly shortened the lag time in starting gastric emptying (P<0.05). Considering gallbladder emptying, trimebutine significantly inhibited the fasting emptying induced by neural reflex. Postprandially, there was a tendency toward an accelerated gallbladder emptying in the early phase. Neither the maximal percentage of gallbladder emptying nor the time of peak gallbladder emptying were affected. Trimebutine significantly blunted the postprandial PP response in the cephalic and gastric phases, reflecting a vagal-cholinergic activity (P<0.05). The PP response in the intestinal phase was also blunted. Gastrin release was significantly augmented only during the period of fasting after drug administration (P<0.05). The major effect of trimebutine maleate appears to be a shortening of the lag time at the start of gastric emptying probably via its anticholinergic activity.

Effect of synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog (ornoprostil) on gastric emptying and pancreatic polypeptide release after solid-meal ingestion in man

The effect of orally administered ornoprostil, 17S,20-dimethyl-6-oxoprostaglandin E1 methyl ester, on gastric emptying and on pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release after solid meal ingestion, was investigated in man. A radionuclide technique was used to measure gastric emptying of eight healthy volunteers. In addition, four parameters [SI (starting index): the lag time in the start of emptying;K value: the emptying rate;T1/2: the half emptying time; 120 min RR: the percent retention at 120 min] were determined for evaluation. Also, the PP response was analyzed according to two parameters: IPPRSI, the integrated PP response for periods up to SI, and IPPR120, the integrated PP response for 120 min. The results demonstrated that 5 μg of orally administered ornoprostil significantly reduced the gastric emptying rate of solid meal (T1/2 and 120 min RR,P<0.05). However, ornoprostil affected neither the basal PP concentrations nor the cephalic phase of PP secretion which was determined as IPPRSI. This thus suggests that ornoprostil affects the gastric motor function without interfering with the vagal-cholinergic pathway to the stomach.

The characteristics of amylase activity and the isoamylase pattern in serum and urine of infants and children

Determination of amylase activity and isoamylase patterns were performed in serum and urine of normal newborns, infants and children of different ages. In the serum of newborn infants measurable amounts of amylase were present. The activity increased with the age and reached the normal adult level by approximately 8 months of age. Isoamylase analysis revealed that the low level of serum amylase in infants was mainly due to deficiency of the pancreatic-type isoamylase. The absence of the pancreatic isoamylase in newborns and young infants is a physiological and developmental phenomenon. Great caution is therefore necessary when amylase isoenzymes are used in the diagnosis of abnormal pancreatic function and such results have always to be interpreted in relation to the age of the child.

A familial study of C5+cholinesterase and its frequency in the normal population

SummaryA case of familial hypercholinesterasemia was presented. A cholinesterase isoenzyme study revealed the extra C5 band nearer to the cathode than C4 on the gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 6 out of 8 subjects in the family. No significant difference in the effect of inhibitors and activator was found when compared with the normal control. We investigated the frequency of variant with C5+cholinesterase in normal healthy subjects. The frequency of the extra C5 band found in the normal healthy population in Japan was 1.2%. It was considered to be clinically useful for differential diagnosis of patients with elevated serum cholinesterase to find subjects with familial hypercholinesterasemia.