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Query: UMLS:C0030305 (pancreatitis)
 16,014 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Nicotine, an addictive agent in cigarette smoking, has been implicated in the etiology of pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma. Very little experimental data are, however, available regarding the effects of nicotine on the structural and functional changes in the exocrine pancreas. Two groups of rats divided into control and nicotine exposed were used. The animals in the nicotine group were maintained for 28 d with ad libitum water containing 0.77 mM of nicotine. At term, the animals were sacrificed, and pancreas was examined for pathological and functional changes. Nicotine induced cytoplasmic vacuolation and cellular edema in the exocrine pancreas. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin and CCK-8-stimulated amylase release in isolated acini were significantly decreased by nicotine, whereas the total cellular amylase content was significantly increased. Analysis of competitive ligand binding data on membranes from isolated acini showed that the Bmax and Kd values for CCK receptors were not significantly changed by nicotine, p > 0.05. These data indicate that a postreceptor mechanism is involved in the inhibition in stimulus-secretion coupling of enzyme secretion by nicotine. The increase in total cellular amylase content and decreased enzyme secretion by nicotine may be implicated in the induction of pancreatic pathology.
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PMID:Structural and functional changes of rat exocrine pancreas exposed to nicotine. 870 98

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer and probably pancreatitis. It has been reported that patients with chronic pancreatitis are 16 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than normal individuals. Nicotine, a major component of tobacco and an addicted drug of abuse in humans, appears to play a role in the aetiology of both pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. This review discusses major published reports pertaining to the influence of nicotine on these diseases in humans and the probable effects of nicotine on the pathophysiology of the pancreas in animal models. A hypothetical pancreatic acinar cell model showing multiple signal transduction pathways is presented relating to possible mechanisms of action of nicotine on the pathophysiology of the pancreas.
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PMID:Smoking and pancreatic disorders. 1095 14

Endothelin (ET) is a peptide secreted by the endothelial cells of blood vessels. It has a very strong vasoconstricting effect. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is present in the blood in low concentrations, but in response to the stimulus of cigarette smoking, it can be released into the interior of blood vessels in substantial quantities, resulting in rapid vasoconstriction. ET-1 activity causes ischemia and hypoxia in many organs, particularly in the pancreas. The destructive action of tobacco smoke components on the cells of the pancreas is known, but so far the mechanisms of these changes are not fully understood. It has been suggested that ET-1 may play a major role in this process. By inducing vasoconstriction in the pancreas, with a subsequent disruption in its blood flow, ET-1 leads to structural changes in this organ and to exocrine and endocrine dysfunction. ET-1 also has the ability to induce secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6), which intensify existing pancreatitis and lead to the progression of this disease. ET-1 can stimulate collagen production in the pancreas, which contributes to the formation of fibrosis in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Nicotine from tobacco smoke intensifies insulin resistance in patients with diabetes. High insulin concentrations induce the secretion of ET-1 by the endothelial cells of the pancreas. By inducing vasoconstriction and subsequent tissue hypoxemia, ET-1 can cause a decrease in peripheral glucose utilization and contribute to the progression of type 2 diabetes. ET-1 is considered a risk factor for pancreatic diseases, particularly acute ischemia and pancreatitis.
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PMID:The effect of endothelin-1 on pancreatic diseases in patients who smoke. 2428 61