Objective To investigate the significance of urinary trypsinogen-2 dipstick test and the ratio of urinary amylase to urinary creatinine for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis(AP).Methods A total of 57 consecutive patients who were suspected as AP presenting with abdominal pain at the emergency department experienced the test of serum and urinary amylase, urinary creatinine assay, urinary trypsinogen-2 dipstick and ultrasonography. Results There were 18 patients diagnosed as acute pancreatitis, the serum amylase assay had a sensitivity of 88.9 percent (cutoff value, 300 U per liter) and a specificity of 87.2 percent, the sensitivity and specificity of the urinary amylase assay and the ratio of urinary amylase to urinary creatinine were 88.9 (cutoff value, 2000 U per liter), 94.4 (cutoff value, 120 U per mmol Cr), 84.6 and 89.7 percent, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the urinary trypsinogen-2 test strip were 94.4 and 92.3 percent. The sensitivity of the ultrasonography were 88.9 percent. Conclusion Urinary trypsinogen-2 dipstick test is a good index for the diagnosis of AP. The ratio of urinary amylase to urinary creatinine is also a useful index and may be better than urinary amylase for the diagnosis of AP.
Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factorβ3 (TGF-β3) on the amylase secretion of rat submandibular gland cells(RSGCs).Methods The RSGCs were cultured and identified. The expressions of CK 8.13, S100 and Vimentin in the RSGCs were examined by immunohistochemical staining. The experimental group was divided into 5 groups according to differentconcentrations of TGF-β3 (0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 25.0 ng/ml) and no TGF-β3 culture was used as control group. The effects ofTGF-β3 on the cell proliferation and amylase secretion were examined at the24th, the 48th, the 72nd and the 96th hour. MTT colorimetric method was used to estimate vital force of culture cells. Amylase protein was assayed by autobiochemistry equipment and Western blotting.Results The RSGCs were stained positively for CK 8.13 and S-100, but negatively for Vimentin. There were no significant differences in absorbency between the experimental groups and the control group(Pgt;0.05). Compared with the control group,TGF-β3 at concentrations of 0.5-10.0 ng/ml significantly stimulated the amylase secretion of RSGCs after 72 and 96 hours(Plt;0.01). But high concentration of TGF-β3 (25.0ng/ml) showed no stimulation. Western blotting demonstrated that the cultured RSGCs and submandibular gland had the same band of amylase electrophoresis.Conclusion TGF-β3 can stimulate RSGCs to differentiate and to secrete amylase, but TGF-β3 has no effect on proliferation ofRSGCs.