B U Andreassen | PubMed Health

PubMed2005

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) response to enteral intake in children during anti-cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal dysfunction is frequent in cancer and during anti-cancer treatment. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is secreted in a nutrition-dependent manner from the intestinal enteroendocrine L-cells. It accelerates crypt cell proliferation and nutrient absorption, inhibits enterocyte apoptosis and decreases mucosal permeability. Lack of GLP-2 may increase the risk of malabsorption and intestinal bacterial translocation. The aim of this study is to evaluate meal stimulated secretion of GLP-2 in children with cancer undergoing anti-cancer treatment. METHODS: Plasma-GLP-2 analysis after an overnight fast and 1 hour after intake of a mixed test meal. Data on gastrointestinal toxicity, blood neutrophile counts and food records were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Forty-four meal stimulation tests were performed in 25 children (median age, 6.0 years; range, 2.5-19) during anti-cancer treatment. Median GI toxicity score was 5 (range, 0-15), and mean energy intake was 62.4% of recommended values. P-GLP-2 values increased from mean (SD) 38 (18) to 63 (51) pmol/l (P < 0.0001). Twelve of the meal stimulation tests (28%) resulted in a p-GLP-2 increase >2 fold, which is assumed to be the lower limit of normal values. The increase was strongly dependent on the energy intake (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001), while toxicity score and neutrophile count had no significant influence (multiple regression). CONCLUSION: In children treated with anti-cancer therapy, GLP-2 secretion seems to be normal if the enteral energy intake is sufficient. Insufficient GLP-2 secretion could influence the gastrointestinal problems seen in the children with a low enteral energy intake.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Necrotizing enterocolitis. Occurrence in Western Denmark].

We reviewed the clinical presentation, subsequent course and outcome of 45 newborn infants with neuotizing enterocolitis (NEC) seen on eight neonatal intensive care units during a 10 year period (01.01.82-31.12.91). The average incidence of NEC was found to be 1.2 (0.3-3.8) per 10,000 liveborn infants with a tendency to increase during the period. Eighteen percent had a birth weight of less than 1,000 g. Thirty-six percent had a birthweight between 1,000 and 1,500 g. Twenty-nine percent had a birthweight between 1,500 and 2,500 g. The last group made up of 16% had birth weights above 2,500 g. The mortality was determined by the severity of the disease, being 0% for infants within Bell's stage I, 25% in Bell's stage II and 71% in Bell's stage III. Sixty-nine percent of the infants were diagnosed in stage III, probably because of low attention to NEC in its early stages. The prognosis of surviving infants was good with no gastrointestinal symptoms when evaluated four to five years later.

Denmark↗