Biomedical subjects

B Feng

Publications and source records attributed to B Feng.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Solution conformation of the (-)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct opposite a deletion site in a DNA duplex: intercalation of the covalently attached benzo[a]pyrene into the helix with base displacement of the modified deoxyguanosine into the minor groove.

A combined NMR-computational approach was employed to determine the solution structure of the (-)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct positioned opposite a -1 deletion site in the d(C1-C2-A3-T4-C5- [BP]G6-C7-T8-A9-C10-C11).d(G12-G13-T14-A15-G1 6-G17-A18-T19-G20-G21) sequence context. The (-)-trans-anti-[BP]dG moiety is derived from the binding of the (-)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide [(-)-anti-BPDE] to N2 of dG6 and has a 10R absolute configuration at the [BP]dG linkage site. The exchangeable and non-exchangeable protons of the benzo[a]pyrenyl moiety and the nucleic acid were assigned following analysis of two-dimensional NMR data sets in H2O and D2O solution. The solution conformation has been determined by incorporating intramolecular and intermolecular proton-proton distances defined by lower and upper bounds deduced from NOESY spectra as restraints in molecular mechanics computations in torsion angle space followed by restrained molecular dynamics calculations based on a NOE distance and intensity refinement protocol. Our structural studies establish that the aromatic BP ring system intercalates into the helix opposite the deletion site, while the modified deoxyguanosine residue is displaced into the minor groove with its face parallel to the helix axis. The intercalation site is wedge-shaped and the BP aromatic ring system stacks over intact flanking Watson-Crick dG.dC base pairs. The modified deoxyguanosine stacks over the minor groove face of the sugar ring of the 5'-flanking dC5 residue. The BP moiety is positioned with the benzylic ring oriented toward the minor groove and the distal pyrenyl aromatic ring directed toward the major groove. This conformation strikingly contrasts with the corresponding structure in the full duplex with the same 10R (-)-trans-anti-[BP]dG lesion positioned opposite a complementary dC residue [de los Santos et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 5245-5252); in this case the aromatic BP ring system is located in the minor groove, and there is no disruption of the [BP]dG.dC Watson-Crick base pairing alignment. The intercalation-base displacement features of the 10R (-)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct opposite a deletion site have features in common to those of the 10S (+)-trans-anti-[BP]dG adduct opposite a deletion site previously reported by Cosman et al. [(1994)(Biochemistry 33, 11507-11517], except that there is a nearly 180 degrees rotation of the BP residue about the axis of the helix at the base-displaced intercalation site and the modified deoxyguanosine is positioned in the opposite groove. In the 10S adduct, the benzylic ring is in the major groove and the aromatic ring systems point toward the minor groove. This work extends the theme of opposite orientations of adducts derived from chiral pairs of (+)- and (-)-anti-BPDE enantiomers; both 10S and 10R adducts can be positioned with opposite orientations either in the minor groove or at base displaced intercalation sites, depending on the presence or absence of the partner dC base in the complementary strand.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1997

Developmental aspects of transcription of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in newborn dogs.

Our previous investigations demonstrated that unsuppressed gluconeogenesis under hyperinsulinemia in newborn dogs may be a mechanism of neonatal hyperglycemia. In the present study, the transcription of the gene for fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (fru-1,6-P2ase; E 3.1.3.11) of newborn dogs was studied under various metabolic perturbations (age, suckling, fasting, and hyperinsulinemia). Total RNAs isolated from livers and kidneys were hybridized with a rat fru-1,6-P2ase cDNA probe. We observed that (i) fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA was expressed in both kidney and liver at birth and was about 40 and 80% of those in kidney and liver of adult dog, respectively; (ii) suckling decreased the kidney fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA level to 77.8 +/- 1.7% (24 h) from 100.0 +/- 8.0% (4 h), but increased liver mRNA to 158.6 +/- 11.4% (24 h) from 100.0 +/- 2.3% (4 h); (iii) during a 24-h period of fasting, the kidney fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA level did not change in the first 10 h and then increased 18.5% at 24 h, whereas the liver fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA increased ca. 20% during the first 10 h and then up to 161.1 +/- 18.0% at 24 h compared to that at 100.0 +/- 11.4% (0 h); (iv) euglycemic hyperinsulinemia did not change the renal fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA level, but lowered the hepatic fru-1,6-P2ase mRNA level to 56.0 +/- 8.7 from 100.0 +/- 11.8% (fasted controls) in newborn dogs, which was identical to that in adult dogs. These data suggest that the fru-1,6-P2ase in liver may play a more important role in glucose homeostasis of newborn dogs than that in kidney during the first day of their lives and that the incomplete suppression of transcription of the hepatic fru-1,6-P2ase gene by insulin in newborn dogs may not contribute to neonatal hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Two distinct protein-protein interactions between the NIT2 and NMR regulatory proteins are required to establish nitrogen metabolite repression in Neurospora crassa.

Nitrogen metabolism is a highly regulated process in Neurospora crassa. The structural genes that encode nitrogen catabolic enzymes are subject to nitrogen metabolite repression, mediated by the positive-acting NIT2 protein and by the negative-acting NMR protein. NIT2, a globally acting factor, is a member of the GATA family of regulatory proteins and has a single Cys2/Cys2 zinc finger DNA-binding domain. The negative-acting NMR protein interacts via specific protein-protein binding with two distinct regions of the NIT2 protein, a short alpha-helical motif within the NIT2 DNA-binding domain and a second motif at its carboxy terminus. Deletions of segments of NIT2 throughout most of its length result in truncated proteins, which are still functional for activating gene expression; most of these mutant NIT2 proteins still allow proper nitrogen repression of nitrate reductase synthesis. In contrast, deletions or certain amino acid substitutions within the zinc finger and the carboxy-terminal tail result in a loss of nitrogen metabolite repression. Those mutated forms of NIT2 that are insensitive to nitrogen repression have also lost one of the NIT2-NMR protein-protein interactions. These results provide compelling evidence that the specific NIT2-NMR interactions have a regulatory function and play a central role in establishing nitrogen metabolite repression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Ocular components measured by keratometry, phakometry, and ultrasonography in emmetropic and myopic optometry students.

Ocular components were measured by keratometry, phakometry, and ultrasonography on 176 young adults. Refractive error was measured by retinoscopy. Mean vitreous depth was greater and the cornea was steeper in myopes than in emmetropes. There were no significant differences between myopes and emmetropes in mean anterior chamber depth, crystalline lens thickness, anterior crystalline lens radius, posterior crystalline lens radius, or crystalline lens power. Coefficients of correlation were calculated for each of the ocular components with refractive error for the entire group of 176 subjects. The components that showed statistically significant correlations with refractive error were vitreous depth and anterior corneal radius. Eyes with greater vitreous depths tended to have flatter anterior corneal surfaces. The slope of the principal axis relating these two variables was significantly different in emmetropes and myopes. Eyes with greater vitreous depths tended to have lesser crystalline lens power. Vitreous depth showed a statistically significant correlation with posterior lens radius, but not with anterior lens radius.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[Improvement of the assay for pre-S2 Ag/Ab detection and its application in different patients].

A new ELISA inhibition test for measuring serum Pre-S2Ab was developed to avoid the "double positive" phenomenon. One hundred and twenty samples with Pre-S2Ab negative were detected for Pre-S2Ab, the critical range for Pre-S2Ab in normal population was confirmed: a positive result was decided while the inhibition ration was over 50%, a negative result was decided while the inhibition ratio was less than 34%, and a dubious result was decided while the ratio was over 34% but less then 50%. At the same time, serum samples from sixty patients with chronic hepatitis B were detected for Pre-S2Ag and Pre-S2Ab, it showed that (1) the positive ratio of HBV DNA in patients with Pre-S2Ag positive was much higher than in patients with Pre-S2Ag negative (P < 0.01); (2) to the 46 patients with HBV DNA positive, Pre-S2Ag had a better relationship with HBV DNA than the HBeAg/Ab did (P < 0.01). Furthermore, to patients with acute hepatitis B, the presence of Pre-S2Ab was closely related to the prognosis of the disease, and the Pre-S2Ab assay could also be used to evaluate the preventive effect of HB vaccine containing Pre-S2Ag.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

PubMed1997

[Variation in hepatitis C virus NS 5b nucleotide sequence and its relationship with interferon treatment].

In order to investigate variation in hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 5b (NS5b) nucleotide sequence and the relationship with interferon treatment, cDNA containing in this region were obtained by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from the sera of 4 HCV RNA positive asymptomatic chronic carriers and 9 chronic hepatitis C patients. The cDNA were then directly analysed by polymerase-chain-reaction-directed sequencing. Compared with three published HCV type II/1b sequences (HCV-J, HC-C2 and HCV-BDS), the homology of HCV was lower in the patients with chronic hepatitis C (93.52% +/- 2.09% average), especially in nonresponders to interferon (92.70 +/- 1.90% average), than in asymptomatic HCV carriers (95.65 +/- 2.61%). In 5 patients, HCV RNA was eliminated by interferon treatment. In the remaining 4 interferon-treated HCV survived patients there were 9-48 nucleotide substitutions in HCV mutants out of 380 nucleotides, resulting 6-20 amino acids changes out of 126 amino acids. These results suggested that NS5b region variants play an important role in maintaining persistent infection and the evolution of NS5b is associated with the effect of interferon treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Preliminary study on oncogene MDM2 in acute leukemias].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the causes of MDM2 gene overexpression. METHODS: The amplification and overexpression of MDM2 gene in 41 acute leukemia patients and two leukemic cell lines (K051 and HL60) were studied by using Southern blot, dot hybridyzation and RT-PCR techniques. RESULTS: Overexpression of MDM2 gene was found in 51.2% (21/41) of the patients and HL60 cell line, but no amplification of the gene was found in all the patients and the two cell lines. CONCLUSION: The level of MDM2 gene expression was related to the prognoses of the patients but not to FAB subtypes of acute leukemias.

Actins↗

PubMed1997

[Clonal analysis of blood cells using X-linked HUMARA gene polymorphism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the method for clonal analysis of blood cells. METHODS: Thirty female AML patients and 20 normal female subjects were analysed by the analysis of X-linked HUMARA gene polymorphism and methylation pattern. RESULTS: The heterozygote rate of HUMARA gene in Chinese women was 88% and the gene had a stable methylation pattern. Out of 20 control females, 17 were heterozygotes and among them 15 were polyclonal, 2 (11.8%) showed skewed X-inactivation. All heterozygote AML were clonal hematopoiesis. CONCLUSION: HUMARA gene polymorphism is a good marker for clonality analysis of blood cells.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Study on the immunophenotype of myeloid cells in myelodysplastic syndromes and its clinical implications].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunophenotype of myeloid cells in myelodysplastic syndromes and its clinical implications. METHODS: A panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to detect CD13, CD33, CD15 and CD14 on the membrane surfaces of myeloid cells in the bone marrow from 51 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 21 with aplastic anemia (AA), 21 with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and 15 normal subjects, by immunoenzymatic assay. The morphology and chromosome karyotype of bone marrow cells of MDS patients were also examined. RESULTS: CD14+ cells, CD13+ cells and CD33+ cells in the bone marrow were more in MDS patients than in normal controls, AA patients and PNH patients. CD15+ cells in the bone marrow were less in MDS patients than in normal controls. The percentages of CD14, CD13 and CD33 positive cells in the bone marrow of MDS patients were related to the percentage of myeloblast, the chromosomal aberrations and the response to treatment. CONCLUSION: There was an immunophenotypic misexpression of myeloid cells in MDS patients. Immunophenotype analysis of myeloid cells might be useful for the diagnosis and directing treatment in MDS patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[High expression of human thrombopoietin mutant fusion protein in E. coli].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain human thrombopoietin (Tpo)mutant cDNA encoding mature peptide N terminal 1 approximately 196 amino acids and investigate its expression in E. coli JM109. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA recombination techniques were employed. PCR product was inserted into pUC19 vector and sequenced and then cloned into expression vector pMAL-c2. RESULTS: E. coli JM109 cells with plasmid pMAL -MBP/TpoM were induced by IPTG for 4-5 hours. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that MBP/TpoM molecular weight is about 63KD. Scanning analysis indicated that expressed protein accounts up to 37% of total E. coli proteins. CONCLUSION: The Tpo mutant of interest is successfully expressed in E. coli JM109 cells.

DNA, Complementary↗

PubMed1997

[Targeting delivery of liposomal adriamycin by intra-lymphatic infusion].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of delivering liposomal adriamycin (lipo-ADM) to the regional lymph nodes via intralymphatic infusion in a rabbits model. METHODS: The plasma and tissue ADM levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at 0.5 hour, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days. RESULTS: The maximum ADM level (Cmax) in the lymph nodes of lipo-ADM was 91.23 micrograms/g, which was 2 times higher than that of the free-ADM group. The area under the ADM concentrations-time curve (AUC) of the regional lymph nodes of lipo-ADM and free-ADM was 138.34 micrograms/day x g-1, 31.86 micrograms/day x g-1 respectively (P < 0.01). The pathological features showed that the lipo-ADM group had more microabscess, necrosis and fibrosis in the lymph nodes than those of the free-ADM group. The histological changes of heart were absent or slight in the lipo-ADM group. CONCLUSIONS: lipo-ADM has a high affinity for lymphatic tissue. Intralymphatic infusion of lipo-ADM may be useful for the treatment of lymphnode metastasis in ovarian cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Autoantibodies and anti-interferon antibody in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and its clinical significance: a preliminary investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antoantibodies and anti-interferon antibody in chronic viral hepatitis patients treated with interferon and the relation of the antibodies to the curative effect of interferon. METHODS: Forty chronic viral hepatitis patients (twenty cases for hepatitis B; twenty patients for hepatitis C) were studied. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to measure the autoantibodies. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to measure the anti-interferon total antibody. RESULTS: Compared with normal groups, the autoantibodies in patients increased significantly (P < 0.01), and the anti-interferon antibody in chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients had an obvious difference (P < 0.05). As for the curative effect, the presence or absence of autoantibodies did not have a distinct significance in patients treated with alpha-interferon, but the patients with anti-interferon antibody before or after therapy might have a different response to alpha-interferon. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the presence of autoantibodies was not a contraindication to the use of interferon in patients with chronic viral hepatitis; the clinical significance of anti-interferon antibody should be further studied.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1996

Major groove (S)-alpha-(N6-adenyl)styrene oxide adducts in an oligodeoxynucleotide containing the human N-ras codon 61 sequence: conformations of the S(61,2) and S(61,3) sequence isomers from 1H NMR.

The (S)-alpha-(N6-adenyl)styrene oxide adducts at positions X6 in d(CGGACXAGAAG). d(CTTCTTGTCCG) and X7 in d(CGGACAXGAAG).d(CTTCTTGTCCG), incorporating codons 60, 61 (underlined), and 62 of the human n-ras protooncogene, were examined by 1H NMR. These were the S(61,2) and S(61,3) adducts. Chemical shift perturbations were in the 3'-direction from the sites of adduction; upfield changes associated with the styrene aromatic ring current were noted for S-SOA6 H2 and H1', T16 N3H, H6, and CH3 resonances in the S(61,2) oligomer. In the S(61,3) oligomer, S-SOA7 H1', T16 H1', C15 N4Ha, and H5 shifted upfield. The styrene aromatic rings flipped rapidly on the NMR time scale; under these conditions the ortho and meta aromatic protons were equivalent. A sequence effect, in which the S(61,2) adduct equilibrated between two conformers, while the S(61,3) adduct exhibited only a single conformation, was observed. Potential energy minimization of the S(61,2) adduct major conformation yielded a structure in which the styrene ring was oriented in the 3'-direction and interacted primarily with the complementary strand. For the S(61,3) adduct, 291 restraints were obtained from NOE data at three mixing times using relaxation matrix analysis. The emergent structures refined to an average rms difference of 1.3 A, determined by pairwise analysis. These were compared to NOE intensity data; the calculated sixth root residual index was 9.2 x 10-2 at 250 ms. In the refined structure, the styrene ring was also oriented in the 3'-direction and interacted with the complementary strand. The minor conformation of the S(61,2) adduct was not identified. These results contrasted with the diastereomeric R(61,2) and R(61,3) adducts, which underwent slow ring flips on the NMR time scale and for which small sequence effects involving the minimum energy conformation of the styrene ring were observed.

Adenine↗

PubMed1996

Differential effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on neonatal canine gene expression.

To determine the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and amylin on glucose homeostasis in vivo in newborn dogs, euglycemic hyper-IGF-1 clamps and hypoglycemic hyper-IGF-1 clamps were performed in newborn dogs. Northern blotting and radioimmunoassays were used to study the effects of the infused IGF-1 and/or hypoglycemia on the mRNA expression of the genes for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and on the expression of the amylin gene in newborn dogs. Our results were that (1) Infused IGF-1 (plasma IGF-1 >/=1000 ng/ml) rapidly lowered the plasma glucose level, and 120 +/- 38 mg glucose/pup was co-infused during a 105-min clamp to maintain the plasma glucose at the basal level. (2) The infused IGF-1 rapidly reduced the liver cytosolic mRNA for the PEPCK gene to an almost undetectable level. (3) Hyper-IGF-1 had no effect on mRNA level of the amylin gene in pancreas, 106.7 +/- 14.2% vs 100.0 +/- 5.9% (controls), or on plasma amylin concentration, 56. 0 +/- 5.7 pg/ml vs 52.1 +/- 5.7 pg/ml (basal). (4) The amylin mRNA level, 127.8 +/- 3.9% vs 100.0 +/- 5.9% (controls) (P = 0.017), and the plasma amylin concentration, 132.3 +/- 18.3 pg/ml vs 110.0 +/- 10.8 pg/ml (controls) (P = 0.371), showed a parallel stimulation by hypoglycemia in the presence of hyper-IGF-1. We concluded that (1) IGF-1 acutely suppressed cytosolic PEPCK gene expression in liver of newborn dogs. (2) IGF-1 does not effect the expression of the pancreatic amylin gene. (3) Amylin may be involved in glucose homeostasis in newborn dogs and may play a role as a counterregulatory factor during the neonatal period. Unsuppressed amylin production may contribute to neonatal hyperglycemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The regulatory protein NIT4 that mediates nitrate induction in Neurospora crassa contains a complex tripartite activation domain with a novel leucine-rich, acidic motif.

Expression of nit-3 and nit-6, the structural genes which encode nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in Neurospora crassa, requires the global-acting NIT2 and the pathway specific NIT4 regulatory proteins. NIT4, which consists of 1090 amino-acid residues, possesses a Cys6/Zn2 zinc cluster DNA-binding-domain. NIT4 was dissected to localize transactivation domains by fusion of various segments of NIT4 to the DNA-binding domain of GAL4 for in vivo analysis in yeast. Three separate activation subdomains, and one negative-acting region, which function in yeast were located in the carboxyl-terminal region of NIT4. The C-terminal tail of 28 amino-acid residues was identified as a minimal activation domain and consists of a novel leucine-rich, acidic region. Most deletions which removed even small segments of the NIT4 protein were found to lead to the loss of NIT4 function in vivo in N. crassa, implying that the central region of the protein which lies between the DNA-binding and activation domains is essential for function. The yeast two-hybrid system was employed to identify regions of NIT4 responsible for dimer formation. A short isoleucine-rich segment downstream from the zinc cluster, predicted to form a coiled coil, allowed dimerization in vivo; this same isoleucine-rich region also showed dimerization in vitro when examined via chemical cross linking. The enzyme nitrate reductase has been postulated to exert autogenous regulation by directly interacting with the NIT4 protein. This possible nitrate reductase-NIT4 interaction was investigated with the yeast two-hybrid system and by direct in vitro binding assays; both assays failed to identify such a protein-protein interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Immunohistoselective sequencing (IHSS) of p53 tumor suppressor gene in human oesophageal precancerous lesions.

Accumulation of p53 protein occurs in human oesophageal precancerous lesions and even in near-normal oesophageal epithelium. In some instances, p53 gene mutations have been detected. In many of the cases of p53 protein accumulation in early lesions, however, p53 mutations were not detected due to either the lack of mutation or the low abundance of cells with a mutation. In order to enrich p53 immunostain-positive cells for single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing, an immunohisto-selective sequencing (IHSS) method was developed. Anti-p53 antibody-peroxidase stained oesophageal tissue sections were subjected to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to damage the DNA in p53 immunostain-negative cells. The immunostain protected p53 immunostain-positive cells from the UV light and thus preserved the DNA in those cells for PCR amplification. Comparison of the SSCP results from sections with and without UV treatment showed that the IHSS method selectively enriched p53 immunostain-positive cells. With this method, we could analyse mutations in samples with as few as 30 p53 immunostain-positive cells per tissue section. Analysis was carried out on tissues with precancerous lesions from six surgically-resected oesophageal specimens and 13 oesophageal biopsies from symptom-free subjects. The results of mutation analysis for some of the samples were confirmed by microdissection to enrich the p53-positive cells. The mutations in tissues with precancerous lesions were compared with those in the corresponding squamous cell carcinomas. The IHSS method is shown to be a simple and effective way to analyse mutations in p53 immunostain-positive cells. IHSS may also be a general method for molecular analysis of biological specimens after immunohistochemical staining.

DNA↗

PubMed1996

Rat as an animal model carrying human hepatitis B virus in hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an experimental animal model of rat carrying human hepatitis B virus in the hepatocytes using a simple and reproducible method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human serum rich in hepatitis B virus was injected into portal veins and caudalis veins of young male Wistar rats. One and two months after the injection, liver biopsies were done. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study of liver specimens were carried out. Sera were also examined for HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All of seven rats in this experiment were HBV DNA and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positive in their hepatocytes. Most HBV positive hepatocytes were distributed around the central vein and scattered in the liver lobules, and HBV DNA and HBsAg were located in cytoplasm. HBsAg exists mainly as the forms of diffuses and inclusion body. No hepatocytic damage or inflammation was observed. Neither viremia nor antigenemia was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies showed for the first time that natural human HBV can enter Wistar rat liver cells through intravenous injection efficiently and express for a long period. This animal model can be used in the studies of HBV molecular biology, therapeutic regimens and prophylaxis against HBV. A possible mechanism of HBV entering rat hepatocytes is also proposed.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

[Acetaminophen absorption test for determination of diabetic gastroparesis and effects of erythromycin on gastric emptying].

The purpose of this study is to know the incidence of diabetic gastroparesis in diabetics and its relationship with diabetic neuropathy and to direct rational clinical treatment. Acetaminophen absorption test was performed for determination of gastric emptying function of liquid in 43 patients with diabetes mellitus (male 23, female 20, mean age 53.5 years). The patients were divided into two groups: diabetics with and without autonomic neuropathy. The change of gastric emptying time (GET) after intravenous administration of erythromycin (100 mg/h) was observed. The results showed that GET in diabetics was significantly prolonged. The incidence of abnormal gastric emptying function of liquid was 51.16%. GET in diabetics with neuropathy was significantly longer than that in those without neuropathy (42.83 +/- 13.80 min vs 26.00 +/- 11.42 min, P < 0.01). Its incidence was significantly increased in diabetic neuropathy and related to its severity. Delayed GET in diabetics was normalized after erythromycin administration (from 47.63 +/- 6.74 min to 20.53 +/- 7.43 min, P < 0.01). The results indicate that this test can be used as an objective indicator for diabetic gastric autonomic neuropathy and gastroparesis. Erythromycin accelerates gastric emptying.

Absorption↗