Royal College of Surgeons of England

About: Royal College of Surgeons of England is a nonprofit organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 1819 authors who have published 2150 publications receiving 88950 citations. The organization is also known as: The Royal College of Surgeons of England & The Royal College of Surgeons.

Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as a mechanism of action for aspirin-like drugs

Abstract: Experiments with guinea-pig lung suggest that some of the therapeutic effects of sodium salicylate and aspirin-like drugs are due to inhibition of the synthesis of prostaglandins.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide is a potent vasodilator

Abstract: A novel peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), has been predicted to result from alternative processing of the primary RNA transcript of the calcitonin gene in the rat. Several lines of evidence suggest that CGRP is a transmitter in the central and peripheral nervous system. Human CGRP has been isolated and characterized, and shown to have potent effects on the heart. The observations presented here indicate that human and rat CGRP also have potent effects on blood vessels. Intradermal injection of CGRP in femtomole doses induces microvascular dilatation resulting in increased blood flow, which we have detected in the rabbit by using a 133Xe clearance technique. In human skin, CGRP induces persistent local reddening. Microscopic observation of the hamster cheek pouch in vivo revealed that topical application of CGRP induces dilatation of arterioles. Furthermore, CGRP relaxes strips of rat aorta in vitro by an endothelial cell-dependent mechanism. Therefore, we suggest that local extravascular release of CGRP may be involved in the physiological control of blood flow and that circulating CGRP may contribute to hyperaemia in certain pathological conditions.

Aspirin selectively inhibits prostaglandin production in human platelets

Abstract: Platelets in the blood of volunteers who have taken aspirin can no longer produce prostaglandins.

Risk assessment after acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the relative importance of risk factors for mortality after acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and to formulate a simple numerical scoring system that categorizes patients by risk. A prospective, unselected, multicentre, population based study was undertaken using standardised questionnaires in two phases one year apart. A total of 4185 cases of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage over the age of 16 identified over a four month period in 1993 and 1625 cases identified subsequently over a three month period in 1994 were included in the study. It was found that age, shock, comorbidity, diagnosis, major stigmata of recent haemorrhage, and rebleeding are all independent predictors of mortality when assessed using multiple logistic regression. A numerical score using these parameters has been developed that closely follows the predictions generated by logistical regression equations. Haemoglobin, sex, presentation (other than shock), and drug therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants) are not represented in the final model. When tested for general applicability in a second population, the scoring system was found to reproducibly predict mortality in each risk category. In conclusion, a simple numerical score can be used to categorize patients presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage by risk of death. This score can be used to determine case mix when comparing outcomes in audit and research and to calculate risk standardised mortality. In addition, this risk score can identify 15% of all cases with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage at the time of presentation and 26% of cases after endoscopy who are at low risk of rebleeding and negligible risk of death and who might therefore be considered for early discharge or outpatient treatment with consequent resource savings.