Inhibition of gastric peristalsis by glucagon via glucagon receptors on smooth muscles did not influence autonomic nervous activity, unlike the results obtained after administration of scopolamine butylbromide. Therefore, glucagon may be safe for use with elderly patients and those with cardiopulmonary complications.

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Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is involved in the formation of chronic peptic ulcer. However, a previously reported hypothesis concerning the involvement of central autonomic nervous disorder in this condition cannot be ruled out. Aim: To use spectrum analysis of heart rate viability to examine autonomic nervous activity before and after H. pylori eradication. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic duodenal ulcer (duodenal ulcer group) and 20 age‐matched normal adults (N group). In both groups, 24‐h Holter electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded and spectrum analysis of heartrate variability was performed. In the duodenal ulcer group, Holter ECG was recorded before and after H. pylori eradication. Results: In the N group, analysis of heart rate variability showed that high frequency (HF) power, an index of parasympathetic activity, was high at night, while the low frequency (LF)/HF ratio, an index of sympathetic function, was high during the daytime. In the duodenal ulcer group, HF power was higher at night than during the daytime, showing a similar pattern to the N group, but the power value was higher than in the N group (P < 0.05). In the duodenal ulcer group, LF/HF at night was significantly higher than that of the N group. In addition, in the duodenal ulcer group, autonomic activity after H. pylori eradication did not differ significantly from that before H. pylori eradication. Conclusions: In patients with chronic peptic ulcer, both sympatheticotonia and parasympatheticotonia may occur at night, and this abnormality in autonomic nervous activity may cause increased gastric acid secretion and gastric mucosal vasoconstriction. Abnormalities in autonomic activity persist even after H. pylori eradication, suggesting that they may be an independent risk factor in the formation of chronic peptic ulcer in addition to H. pylori infection.

Key wordsBenidipine hydrochloride, autonomic nerve, essential hypertension, high-or lowsalt diet CAS 91559−74−5 Coniel  Hypertension, essential Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 53, No. 5, 314−320 (2003) SummaryThe effects of benidipine hydrochloride (CAS 91559-74-5, Coniel  ) on autonomic nervous activity in hypertensive patients with high-and low-salt diets were investigated. Six patients having a urinary sodium excretion of 80 mEq/day or less (low salt group) and 6 patients having a urinary sodium excretion of 200 mEq/ day or more (high salt group) were orally given benidipine hydrochloride (4 mg). Before and four weeks after the treatment with benidipine, 24-h circadian variation in blood pressure and 24-h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded. The low frequency power spectrum of heart rate (LF power; 0.04−0.15 Hz), high frequency power spectrum of heart rate (HF power; 0.15−0.40 Hz), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF) were calculated, and these parameters were averaged every hour in every subject. HF power was significantly lower and LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in the highsalt group than in the low-salt group before the treatment. However, the benidipine treatment significantly increased the HF power in both groups, particularly in the high-salt group, and significantly decreased the LF/HF ratio in both groups. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the antihypertensive effect of benidipine between the high-and low-salt intake groups. These results suggest that benidipine favourably influences blood pressure and autonomic nervous activity in hypertensive patients with a high-salt intake. It is concluded that benidipine may be useful for improving the development of salt-induced hypertension and its accompanying haemodynamic responses. Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 53, No. 5, 314−320 (2003) 314 Nomura et al. − Benidipine hydrochloride