Gastrin is not required for liver regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Although several growth factors are known to be essential for liver regeneration, the role of gastrin remains controversial. METHODS: Liver regeneration was examined in wild-type (WT) and gastrin-deficient (gastrin KO) mice at days 2 and 10 after partial (40%) hepatectomy by measurement of liver weight. Hepatocyte proliferation and circulating gastrin concentrations were measured at the same time points by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of liver regeneration between gastrin KO and WT mice. Hepatocyte proliferation in both groups was increased at day 2 but had returned to baseline values by day 10. At day 2, hepatocyte proliferation in the gastrin KO mice was significantly higher than in WT animals, whereas at day 10, proliferation was significantly greater in the WT mice. The circulating gastrin concentration in the WT mice was significantly lower at day 10 than in unoperated WT animals. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that gastrin is not essential for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

[Allergy tests in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis]. / Alergoloski test kod djece sa sezonskim alergijskim rinitisom.

The aim of this study is to show positive allergy test od tree pollen, grass pollen and weed pollen in children with season allergic rhinitis. In the study is comprised 335 children, which are tested in Pulmoallergologic out-patient department of Paediatric clinic in Sarajevo in last three years from march 1999 to march 2002 year. In testing was used prick-test with Bencard firm allergen. Criterion for positive reaction was urtica, which appear 20 minutes after testing, with diameter equal or bigger than 3 mm, and erythema was 10 mm. Positive results on tree pollen was in 98 children (29.2%), on grass pollen in 210 children (62.6%), and on weed pollen in 27 children (8.0%). In group of tree pollens Coryllus avellana pollen (Hazel pollen) has the biggest number of positive results in 74 children (75.5%), in group of grass pollens Poa pratensis pollen (Mcadow grass pollen) has biggest number of positive results in 169 children (80.4%) and in group of weed pollens main allergen is Ambrosia clator (Rag weed) in 25 children (92.0%). In therapy of our children we preferred nasal topical corticosteroide Fluticason propionate Flixonase (GlaxoSmithkline) in one daily dose 50 mcg and we had fast and prolonged result in amelioration of symptoms.