Do pancreatic cancer cells selectively stimulate islet beta cells to secrete amylin?
A soluble factor from pancreatic cancer cells selectively stimulates amylin secretion from islet cells, explaining the excessive amylin secretion found in pancreatic cancer. Because elevation of amylin concentration is an early feature of pancreatic cancer, characterization and measurement of the tumor-derived amylin-releasing factor might be valuable in the early detection of this disease.
Severe cervical spinal cord injury is associated with decreased circulating OPG levels placing these patients at risk for accelerated bone loss that appears unrelated to locomotive mode.