St Bartholomew's Hospital

About: St Bartholomew's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 11054 authors who have published 13229 publications receiving 501102 citations. The organization is also known as: St. Bartholomew's Hospital & The Royal Hospital of St Bartholomew.

A variation in the ghrelin gene increases weight and decreases insulin secretion in tall, obese children.

Abstract: Ghrelin is a recently recognized gut-brain peptide originally derived from the gastric mucosa It stimulates growth hormone release, increases appetite and facilitates fat storage, and may interact with glucose metabolism We studied the ghrelin gene in a group of 70 tall and obese children (mean age 94 year, Z body mass index [BMI] and Z height >3 and/or BMI percentile >99%) We found 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms One common polymorphism of the ghrelin gene, which corresponds to an amino acid change in the tail of the prepro-ghrelin molecule, was significantly associated with children with a higher BMI (P = 0001), and with lower insulin secretion during the first part of an oral glucose tolerance test (P = 005) although no difference in glucose levels was noted This might suggest increased insulin sensitivity, although this is not supported by the lack of difference in fasting and 2 hour insulin levels; alternatively, this may be indicative of impaired first phase insulin secretion These data suggest that variations in the ghrelin gene contribute to obesity in children and may modulate glucose-induced insulin secretion

Effect of homeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia)

Abstract: mens. Several treatments were required for each tumour, and injecting alcohol was often associated with considerable pain, whereas our patients did not report pain. These reports did not mention changes seen on ultrasound scans during or immediately after injection, which we found useful in laser treatment. The most important advantage of the laser is its precision. It is unlikely that it will ever be possible to predict the extent of necrosis around a site at which absolute alcohol has been injected with an accuracy comparable to that already possible with the laser technique. In conclusion, interstitial laser hyperthermia is feasible and seems to be safe. A multiple fibre system makes it feasible to treat tumours of clinically relevant size in the centre of solid organs. The real challenge for the future will be to develop diagnostic techniques that disclose exactly how far individual tumours extend in a wider range of organs (unlike the well defined tumours treated in this pilot study) and to establish the conditions of laser treatment that give complete tumour ablation with safe healing. This combination of technologies may be valuable for treating otherwise untreatable tumours in a range of solid organs and for the primary treatment of small neoplasms such as tumours of the prostate and adrenal glands.

Methodological considerations in the determination of plasma catecholamines by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Abstract: We report on a systematic investigation into some frequently encountered problems in the estimation of catecholamines in plasma and biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The kinetics of adsorption and desorption of catecholamines from plasma on to alumina has been studied using laboratory-prepared and some commercial aluminas with various acids. Chromatographic conditions yielding optimal resolution and sensitivity have been characterised. Some possible interfering peaks have been identified. The stability of catecholamines in plasma has been studied.

The c-erb B-2 proto-oncogene in human pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: The c-erb B-2 oncogene encodes a 190 kD transmembrane growth factor receptor which is closely related to the EGF receptor and has been found to be amplified and overexpressed in a number of human adenocarcinomas, particularly of the breast. We have analysed, by immunocytochemistry using the 21N antibody, expression of c-erb B-2 in a retrospective series of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, chronic pancreatitis, and examples of histologically normal pancreas. In three cases (21 per cent) of chronic pancreatitis, there were focal areas of cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in regenerating epithelium. In 15 cases (17 per cent) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was seen, while in two cases (2 per cent) strong membrane staining of tumour cells was seen which could be blocked by peptide controls. c-erb B-2 immunoreactivity was also demonstrated using a second antibody, 20N, which recognizes another peptide sequence of the c-erb B-2 protein. There was no relationship between immunoreactivity and histological subtype or grade, but there was absolute concordance between staining in primary and metastatic deposits. Since the rat homologue (neu) of the c-erb B-2 oncogene may be activated by a specific point mutation in its transmembrane region, we have analysed 23 cases from this series for mutations by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequence-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. We were unable to identify activity mutations in this series. These data suggest that there is abnormal expression of c-erb B-2 oncogene in nearly 20 per cent of cases although mutational activation of this gene is not seen in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Corticotrophin releasing factor may be modulated vasopressin.

Abstract: CORTICOTROPHIN RELEASING FACTOR (CRF) was the first of the postulated hypothalamic factors controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland to be demonstrated biologically1. However, it is extraordinary that after 24 years of research, techniques which have established the identity of the hypothalamic peptides involved in the release of thryotrophin, the gonadotrophins and growth hormone, have been unsuccessful when applied to the search for a factor responsible for adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) release2,3. Vasopressin invariably releases ACTH from the anterior pituitary, but its partial agonistic properties in vitro4–6, its low potency in vivo7 and the isolation of active CRF fractions with little or no vasopressin activity2,3,8,9 have led to its rejection as a physiological CRF10,11. However, recent immunological and immunocytochemical findings have led to renewed interest in the role of vasopressin in ACTH release. High concentrations of immunoreactive vasopressin have been found in portal blood and a direct vasopressin-neurophysin containing axonal pathway to the hypophyseal portal system, which seems to be under the influence of the adrenal cortex, has been identified12,13. Using a sensitive releasing factor bioassay system, the perfused isolated anterior pituitary cell column14, and various immunological techniques, we have presented evidence to support the idea that vasopressin plays a major part in control of ACTH release6, and we now report the existence of hypothalamic factors with weak, labile CRF activity which potentiate the CRF activity of vasopressin to give it full agonistic properties indistinguishable from crude extracts of rat stalk median eminence (SME). Thus we propose that CRF is vasopressin modulated by other hypothalamic factor(s) released into the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system.