Relaxation dynamics of photoexcited excitons in rubrene single crystals using femtosecond absorption spectroscopy.

The relaxation dynamics of an exciton in rubrene was investigated by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. Exciton relaxation to a self-trapped state occurs via the coherent oscillation with 78 cm(-1) due to a coupled mode of molecular deformations with phenyl-side-group motions and molecular displacements. From the temperature dependence of the decay time of excitons, the energy necessary for an exciton to escape from a self-trapped state is evaluated to be ~35 meV (~400 K). As a result, a self-trapped exciton is stable at low temperatures. At room temperature, excitons can escape from a self-trapped state and, subsequently, they are dissociated to charged species. The exciton dissociation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the results.

Postoperative pain status after intraoperative systemic dexmedetomidine and epidural neostigmine in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine whether intraoperative systemic dexmedetomidine improves postoperative pain and interacts with epidural neostigmine to produce analgesic effects. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing gynaecological surgery were randomly divided into four groups to receive epidural neostigmine and/or systemic dexmedetomidine: control (Group C), epidural neostigmine (Group N), systemic dexmedetomidine (Group D) and co-administered neostigmine and dexmedetomidine (Group ND). Epidural neostigmine (0.3 mg) was administered with 10 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine before the induction of general anaesthesia. Systemic dexmedetomidine (loading dose of 1 mug kg-1 over 10 min followed by 0.4 mug kg-1 h-1) was infused after the induction of general anaesthesia and continued until the end of surgery. The pain status of patients was assessed using the visual analogue scale at 2, 4, 6, 24 and 72 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Intraoperative systemic dexmedetomidine alone did not reduce postoperative pain scores. However, co-administered neostigmine and dexmedetomidine significantly decreased scores at 24 and 72 h (Group C: 3.0 [1.0-5.8] and 2.0 [0.3-3.0]; Group N: 1.5 [0.3-3.4] and 0 [0-1.3]; Group D: 3.5 [0-5.0] and 0 [0-1.4]; and Group ND: 0 [0-1.0]* and 0 [0-0]; median [interquartile range] *P = 0.0031, P = 0.0045 compared with Group C). CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative systemic infusion of dexmedetomidine alone at doses causing sedation does not result in postoperative analgesic effects. However, the co-administration of systemic dexmedetomidine and epidural neostigmine at higher doses may be a useful method to improve postoperative pain although side-effects have to be evaluated.

[Surgical treatment for infectious tricuspid valve endocarditis with ventricular septal defect; report of a case].

We report a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). A 54-year-old female who had a history of dental therapy admitted to our hospital with a fever of unknown origin. Echocardiography showed vegetation attached to the tricuspid valve and small VSD. The direct closure of VSD and tricuspid valve replacement was performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful.

Evaluation of the flow characteristics of an internal thoracic artery graft after coronary artery bypass grafting by intercostal Duplex scanning ultrasonography.

AIM: We previously reported intercostal duplex scanning ultrasonography to be a reliable technique for the evaluation of the internal thoracic artery (ITA). The purpose of this study was to determine the flow characteristics of the ITA graft using this technique. METHODS: We evaluated the flow characteristics of 69 ITA grafts who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting by this technique. The internal diameter, mean systolic and diastolic velocity, total flow volume and diastolic fraction were all thus obtained. RESULTS: One occluded graft was found during the follow-up. The mean systolic velocity significantly decreased after the operation (P=0.0001) and the mean diastolic velocity significantly increased both just after the operation (P=0.0002) and 1 year later (P=0.0283). The average diameter of the ITA graft after the operation (1.70+/-0.39), at 1 year (1.73+/-0.29) and at 2 years thereafter (1.66+/-0.27 mm) all significantly decreased in comparison to the preoperative value (2.30+/-0.35 mm) (P=0.0001). The average total flow volume after the operation (35.8+/-22.2), and at 1 year (29.4+/-16.5) and 2 years thereafter (23.4+/-12.7), respectively, were significantly decreased in comparison to the preoperative value (59.4+/-28.6 mL/min) (P=0.0001). However, the average diastolic fraction which was 25.1+/-10.5% before the operation significantly increased after the operation (54.5+/-12.0, 53.2+/-11.2 at 1 year and 50.4+/-9.3 at 2 years) (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: This technique is thus considered to be a useful noninvasive for the postoperative follow-up of the graft function. A significant increase in the diastolic fraction is thought to be important for maintaining long term graft patency.

Involvement of the Oct-1 regulatory element of the gadd45 promoter in the p53-independent response to ultraviolet irradiation.

The gadd45 gene, a growth arrest and DNA damage (gadd)-induced gene, is transcriptionally activated by UV irradiation through two distinct pathways. One requires the sequence-specific binding of the p53 tumor suppressor protein to a responsive element within the third intron of the gadd45 gene, and the other is p53-independent activation of the gadd45 promoter region, although the UV-response element that mediates this has yet to be defined. To investigate the sequences involved in induction of gadd45 by UV irradiation in a p53-independent pathway, we performed mutation analyses of the human gadd45 promoter fused to the luciferase reporter gene in cell lines in which p53 was inactivated. We found that the UV-responsive element was involved in the Oct-1 binding site at -99 bp relative to the transcription start site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that Oct-1, a transcription factor, bound this element on the gadd45 gene, although the intensity and mobility pattern of the retarded bands were not altered by UV irradiation. These results suggest that the Oct-1 regulatory element might be one of the essential elements involved in the activation of the gadd45 promoter by UV irradiation in a p53-independent pathway.

Effect of Antihypertensive Drugs on Uric Acid Metabolism in Patients with Hypertension: Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: Hypertension is a common complication in patients with gout and/or hyperuricemia. Besides, hyperuricemia is a risk factor of gout as well as ischemic heart disease in hypertensive patients. Moreover, the risk of gout is modified by antihypertensive drugs. However, it remains unclear how antihypertensive agents affect uric acid metabolism. Purpose: In the present study, we investigated the uric acid metabolism in treated hypertensive patients to find out whether any of them would influence serum levels of uric acid. Patients and methods: 751 hypertensive patients (313 men and 438 women) under antihypertensive treatment were selected. Blood pressure (BP), serum uric acid (SUA) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured and evaluated statistically. Results: In patients treated with diuretics, beta-blockers and/or alpha-1 blockers SUA levels were significantly higher than in patients who were not taking these drugs. Besides, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients treated with diuretics, beta-blockers and/or alpha-1 blockers was negatively correlated with SUA level. There were gender differences in the effects of beta-blockers and alpha-1 blockers. Multiple regression analysis indicated that both diuretics and beta-blockers significantly contributed to hyperuricemia in patients with medication for hypertension. Conclusion: Diuretics, beta-blockers and alpha-1 blockers reduced glomerular filtration rate and raised SUA levels. Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, including losartan, did not increase SUA levels.

Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of N-triiodoallyl- and N-iodopropargylazoles. New antifungal agents.

New series of N-(2,3,3-triiodoallyl) and N-(3-iodopropargyl) azole derivatives (100 compounds) involving pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, and tetrazole nuclei were synthesized successively with the aid of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis to obtain potent antifungal agents. Starting from the derivatives of nitropyrrole-containing antibiotics, the QSAR analysis of the pyrrole derivatives against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes strains indicated the positive contribution of the nitro group and negative effect of the size of molecule. Further application of the QSAR analysis on the multi-azole derivatives revealed the importance of hydrophobicity and electronegativity as well as steric effect to the activities and led to the synthesis of one of the most potent iodo compounds, 2-(2,3,3-triiodoallyl)tetrazole (67, ME1401).

Analysis of digital subtraction coronary angiography for estimation of flow reserve in critical coronary stenosis.

To examine the accuracy of digital subtraction angiographic assessment of coronary flow reserve in critical coronary stenosis, time-density curves were obtained from digital angiograms for a myocardial region of interest. Time-to-peak contrast (TPC) and contrast washout rate (T) were measured in 11 patients with critical 1-vessel lesions before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Collectively, the values of TPC and T were significantly shortened, from 5.8 +/- 1.1 to 4.4 +/- 1.0 seconds (p less than 0.01) and from 11.3 +/- 4.0 to 5.2 +/- 1.2 seconds (p less than 0.001) after PTCA, respectively. All 11 patients except 1 showed shortened T after PTCA; however, in 5 of the 11 patients, TPC after PTCA had approximately the same values as those before PTCA. In experiments in dogs with critical circumflex stenosis, coronary flow and posterior wall thickening at rest were not different from control; however, contrast media-induced hyperemia was markedly attenuated, accompanied by a significant prolongation of T (7.7 +/- 4.5 vs 15.8 +/- 1.9 seconds, p less than 0.01) and completely unchanged TPC (both 6.8 seconds). With simultaneous tracings of coronary flow and time-density curves, TPC and the washout phase on the curve corresponded with contrast-induced transient flow reduction and hyperemic phases, respectively. It is concluded that T appears more sensitive than TPC when basal coronary flow is maintained to almost normal levels, as in patients with stable effort angina pectoris having critical coronary stenosis.

Characterization of ribonuclease HII from Escherichia coli overproduced in a soluble form.

Escherichia coli RNase HII is composed of 198 amino acid residues. The enzyme has been overproduced in an insoluble form, purified in a urea-denatured form, and refolded with poor yield [M. Itaya (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 8587-8591]. To facilitate the preparation of the enzyme in an amount sufficient for physicochemical studies, we constructed an overproducing strain in which E. coli RNase HII is produced in a soluble form. The enzyme was purified from this strain and its biochemical and physicochemical properties were characterized. The good agreement in the molecular weights estimated from SDS-PAGE (23,000) and gel filtration (22,000) suggests that the enzyme acts as a monomer. From the far-UV circular dichroism spectrum, its helical content was calculated to be 23%. The enzyme showed Mn(2+)-dependent RNase H activity. Its specific activity determined using (3)H-labeled M13 RNA/DNA hybrid as a substrate was comparable to but slightly higher than that of the refolded enzyme, indicating that the enzyme overproduced and purified in a soluble form is more suitable for structural and functional analyses than the refolded enzyme.

Chronic extrinsic denervation after small bowel transplantation in rat jejunum: Effects and adaptation in nitrergic and non-nitrergic neuromuscular inhibitory mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Extrinsic denervation of the transplanted small bowel could play a substantial role in motor dysfunction of the transplanted gut. We attempted to determine the effect of chronic extrinsic denervation on intestinal contractility. METHODS: Jejunal longitudinal muscle strips were obtained from rats 1 week and 8 weeks after (1) syngeneic small bowel transplantation, (2) ischemia/reperfusion, or (3) gut transection/reanastomosis. Nonoperated rats (naive controls) and sham-operated rats (sham controls), 1 week after celiotomy/gut manipulation, served as controls. We evaluated the effects of exogenous nitric oxide, increasing doses of cholinergic and adrenergic agonists, and electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the presence or absence of N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine, methylene blue, tetraethylammonium, or tetrodotoxin. RESULTS: Spontaneous contractile activity (_chi +/- SEM), when compared with the naive controls (11.3 +/- 2.0 g.5 min/mg), was increased in all 4 groups at 1 week (15.9 +/- 10 to 19.4 +/- 2 g.5 min/mg; P < or =.03 each) but not at 8 weeks postoperatively. The inhibition of contractile activity by nitric oxide was increased in small bowel transplantation in naive controls at 8 weeks to 80% +/- 10% versus 50% +/- 7% (P <.02). EFS induced an inhibition of contractile activity that was tetraethylammonium- and tetrodotoxin-sensitive but N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine- and methylene blue-insensitive; the maximal EFS-induced inhibition was increased at 1 week and 8 weeks but only in the small bowel transplantation groups to 103% +/- 5% and 95% +/- 7%, respectively, versus 72% +/- 8% in naive controls (P

Superantigenic exotoxin production by isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from the Kawasaki syndrome patients and age-matched control children.

Nineteen strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the throat or the tooth surfaces of 19 cases amongst 127 patients with Kawasaki syndrome (KS) during the acute phases and 11 S. aureus isolates were obtained from five of 17 diseased controls and six healthy controls. The production of exotoxins, particularly superantigenic toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), coagulase serotype, pigment production, haemolytic activity and tryptophan auxotrophy of these isolates were compared. Among 10 KS S. aureus strains isolated in 1990-1991, five (50%) secreted TSST-1, a higher frequency than two (18%) of 11 control isolates. In contrast, none of the nine KS strains collected in 1984 produced TSST-1. Four of five TSST-1-secreting KS strains produced white or white to golden pigmentation, whereas the two control strains capable of TSST-1 production formed golden colonies. There were no noticeable differences between S. aureus strains from KS patients and control children in the production of staphylococcal exotoxins A-E, coagulase serotype, haemolysis of sheep erythrocytes and tryptophan auxotrophy. The pathological or aetiological role of a new TSST-1-secreting S. aureus clone in patients with KS was not confirmed.

Biologically active extracellular products of oral viridans streptococci and the aetiology of Kawasaki disease.

A bacteriological study of isolates from the oral cavity of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), age-matched non-KD patients and healthy children, showed that over half the KD and control isolates had gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci. About 50% of these organisms were identified as viridans streptococci by means of an API Strep 20 kit. Further identification by fluorometric DNA-DNA hybridisation demonstrated that the predominant species were S. oralis and S. mitis, each of which accounted for 25% of the isolates of viridans streptococci; 40% of viridans strains were unidentifiable; and S. sanguis and S. parasanguis were minor components. Studies in vivo showed that insertion of culture supernates of most of the viridans streptococci increased capillary permeability and induced redness with swelling and occasional bleeding in rabbit skin. One-third of S. mitis strains and one-fifth of the unidentified strains caused aggregation of human blood platelets, whereas S. oralis and other strains had no such effect. The distribution of extracellular lipoteichoic acids and glucan produced in the presence of sucrose was also examined. There were no significant differences in the recovery rate of viridans streptococci forming these biologically active extracellular products between KD and control groups.

Tube device for facilitating distal anastomosis in aortic arch replacement.

The technique of placing an inverted graft into the descending thoracic aorta facilitates and secures the distal anastomosis in aortic arch replacement, especially in the anastomosis beyond the transverse arch. We developed a simple technique using a pair of thin-walled tubes to enable the arch graft, with its four branches, to be smoothly inserted into the flaccid, normal-caliber descending aorta. The use of these tubes simplified the procedure, resulting in time saving.

Alterations in monoamines and GABA in the ventromedial and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus following cold exposure: a reduction in noradrenaline induces hyperphagia.

A microdialysis technique for the in vivo assessment of the monoaminergic and GABAergic levels in the ventromedial (VMN) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus was used in order to examine the activities of neurons that project to the hypothalamic regions and are implicated in the regulation of ingestive behavior and energy balance. Cold exposure increased food intake, as well as the circulating levels of glucose, noradrenaline (NA), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine, and corticosterone. The dialysate concentrations of NA, dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the VMN all decreased after exposure to cold. The changes in extracellular NA, DA, and GABA in the PVN under cold conditions were similar to those in the VMN. NA release in the VMN or PVN was decreased after local electrolytic lesions, which significantly increased food intake. Thus, low activities of noradrenergic axons of neurons terminating in the VMN and PVN may be a good mechanism to induce feeding behavior. Extracellular 5-HT in the PVN was significantly increased, along with a significant decrease in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, in cold-exposed rats, suggesting that serotonergic fibers terminating in the PVM are more closely related to the increases in adrenocortical and thyroid hormone secretion than to food intake. The neuronal activities, indicating that a sympathetic tone is activated on stimulation of the VMN and/or PVN, may be changes in GABAergic and/or serotonergic neurons.

Purification and partial characterization of a novel human platelet aggregation factor in the extracellular products of Streptococcus mitis, strain Nm-65.

A human blood platelet aggregation factor was purified from the extracellular products (ECP) of Streptococcus mitis, strain Nm-65 by sequential chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, hydroxyapatite and Superdex 75 columns. The purified factor (S. mitis-derived human platelet aggregation factor, Sm-hPAF) gave a single band with a molecular weight of 66 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Sm-hPAF showed a peak absorption at 278 nm and an isoelectric point of around 8.5. Chemical analyses revealed that Sm-hPAF contained no sugars and that its first 15 amino-terminal amino acid residues were H-DEQGNRPVETENIAR. Platelet aggregation activity of Sm-hPAF was abolished by heating at 45 degrees C for 10 min. Platelet aggregation by Sm-hPAF was accompanied by a release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in a dose-dependent manner. The platelet aggregation was not inhibited by either prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS), that inhibit the platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Twenty (77%) platelet rich-plasma (PRP) specimens derived from 26 healthy volunteers were aggregated by Sm-hPAF, but the remaining 6 (23%) were not reactive. A preliminary study suggested the presence of an inhibitory factor against Sm-hPAF in the plasma from a non-reactive donor.

Gastrointestinal motor activity after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy with or without vagotomy in dogs.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we evaluated gastrointestinal motility after gastrectomy of a new pylorus-preserving technique that is becoming a popular operation for early stage carcinoma of the stomach. STUDY DESIGN: Using strain-gauge force transducers we studied gastrointestinal motility in control dogs, dogs after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy, and dogs after conventional distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction. Dogs with gastrectomy were reoperated upon after recording motility patterns, and the effect of vagal denervation of the gastric remnant on motility was investigated. Overall motility pattern, length of the digestive phase in the jejunum, and interval of the interdigestive phase III contractions were studied and compared among the three groups. RESULTS: In dogs after gastrectomy without vagal denervation, the regular occurrence of interdigestive phase III contractions from the gastric remnant to the jejunum was identified. In dogs after gastrectomy with vagal denervation, however, no apparent interdigestive phase III contractions were observed in the gastric remnant. The duration of the digestive phase in the jejunum, which correlates with postprandial gastric emptying, was not different between the control dogs and the dogs having pylorus-preserving gastrectomy. However, this duration was significantly shorter in dogs having conventional distal gastrectomy compared with the control dogs, not only before but after vagal denervation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the postoperative motor function after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy may be superior to that after conventional distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction.

Mediators for fat-induced ileal brake are different between stomach and proximal small intestine in conscious dogs.

Our aim was to determine the mechanisms by which intraileal fat alters proximal gastrointestinal motility--the ileal brake. Five mongrel dogs with ileal Thiry-Vella fistulas were equipped with strain gauge force transducers on the upper gut to measure contractile activity. Ileal infusions of 115 mmol/L oleic acid and triglyceride were studied in dogs with extrinsically innervated and extrinsically denervated Thiry-Vella loops. Plasma concentrations of peptide YY and total glucagon-like immunoactivity were measured. Oleic acid but not triglyceride inhibited postprandial contractions in the gastric antrum in dogs with innervated and denervated Thiry-Vella loops. Postprandial duodenal and jejunal motility was inhibited by oleic acid regardless of extrinsic denervation to the loops (P <0.05), but triglyceride inhibited small intestinal motility only in dogs with innervated Thiry-Vella loops. Intraileal oleic acid but not triglyceride increased plasma concentrations of peptide YY and total glucagon-like immunoactivity in dogs with innervated and denervated Thiry-Vella loops. Intraileal oleic acid inhibits gastric and small intestinal motility possibly via increased plasma concentrations of peptide YY and enteroglucagon. Intact extrinsic innervation is necessary for intraileal triglyceride to inhibit small intestinal motility.

Small bowel transplantation induces adrenergic hypersensitivity in ileal longitudinal smooth muscle in rats.

Our aim was to determine the effects of small bowel transplantation on contractility of longitudinal muscle in the rat ileum. Full-thickness longitudinal muscle strips from four groups of rats (naive controls, sham-operated controls, and 1 week and 8 weeks after syngeneic orthotopic small bowel transplantation) were studied in vitro. Neither baseline contractility nor response to neural blockade (tetrodotoxin) or adrenergic/cholinergic blockade differed among the groups. Although the dose response to the cholinergic agonist bethanechol and to nitric oxide did not differ among groups, the ED50 (negative log of concentration giving half-maximal effect) for the adrenergic agonist norepinephrine was increased l week and 8 weeks after transplantation, indicating a hypersensitivity response not blocked by tetrodotoxin. Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory responses to electrical field stimulation were of greater amplitude and occurred at lesser frequencies (>/=5 Hz) 1 week after small bowel transplantation, but returned to control values 8 weeks postoperatively. These inhibitory responses were blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NMMA but not by methylene blue, a nonspecific inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. Small bowel transplantation induces a persistent adrenergic denervation hypersensitivity at the muscle and appears to upregulate, at least transiently, other inhibitory mechanisms mediated by neural release of nitric oxide. Small bowel transplantation does not alter muscle response to cholinergic pathways. These alterations in smooth muscle contractility may affect gut function early after clinical small bowel transplantation.

Effect of ileojejunal transposition on gastrointestinal motility, gastric emptying, and small intestinal transit in dogs.

There is speculation that enteroglucagon and peptide YY are responsible for mediating the <> known as a suppressive reaction of upper gastrointestinal motility and transit that is induced by the infusion of nutrients into the ileum. We studied changes in motility and transit in dogs with ileojejunal transposition in which the distal ileum is exposed to undigested nutrients. Nine adult mongrel dogs were equipped with strain gauge force transducers placed on the gastric body, antrum, duodenum, and proximal jejunum. Measurements of gastrointestinal motility, gastric emptying, and plasma levels of total glucagon-like immunoreactivity, immunoreactive glucagon, and peptide YY were obtained both before and after either ileojejunal transposition (5 dogs) or sham operation (4 dogs). Postprandial contractions in the gastric antrum and gastric emptying were significantly inhibited after ileojejunal transposition. The inhibitory effect of ileojejunal transposition on antral motor activity was found to correlate with the rise in plasma total glucagon-like immunoreactivity and peptide YY concentrations. However, plasma glucagon levels were unaffected by ileojejunal transposition. These results suggest that hypersecretion of enteroglucagon and peptide YY induced by ileojejunal transposition inhibits postprandial gastric motor function.

Chronic diversion of bile to the urinary bladder induces pancreatic growth in dogs.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of chronic biliary diversion and its effect on pancreatic growth. In the first part of the study, nine mongrel dogs underwent diversion of bile from the gastrointestinal tract by ligating the common bile duct and interposing a segment of jejunum between the gallbladder and the urinary bladder (cholecystojejunocystostomy [CJC]). Despite the loss of 7% of their body weight at 12 weeks after bilioenteric diversion, CJC dogs had significantly greater pancreatic wet weight than control dogs (51.2 +/- 2.2 g vs. 37.1 +/- 2.2 g). In the second part of the study, six other dogs underwent CJC. Twelve weeks later, bilioenteric continuity was restored by creating a cholecystojejunoduodenostomy (CJD). The dogs were given butter (3 g/kg) by mouth (prior to surgery, 12 weeks after CJC, and 4 weeks after CJD). Pancreatic excisional biopsy specimens were obtained at each operation and at autopsy. CJC induced more pancreatic RNA per milligram of weight (743 +/- 52, CJC; 579 +/- 44, prior to surgery, P <0.05 vs. CJC; 520 +/- 26 microg/100 mg tissue, CJD, P <0.01 vs. CJC), but not more DNA, and significantly higher basal plasma cholecystokinin levels and butter-stimulated cholecystokinin responses when compared with values prior to surgery or following CJD. We conclude that chronic biliary diversion induces pancreatic growth associated with hypersecretion of cholecystokinin in dogs.