高敏C-反应蛋白与白介素-6在急性冠状动脉综合征意义

目的 探讨急性冠状动脉综合征(acute coronary symptom,ACS)病人血清高敏C反应蛋白(high sensitivity-C reactive protein,hs-CRP)和白介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)浓度的变化及临床意义.方法 ACS组ACS病人60例,稳定型心绞痛(stable angina pectoris,SAP)组病人40例,对照组为40名健康人,检测血清IL-6、hs-CRP水平.结果 ACS组血清IL-6、hs-CRP水平明显高于SAP组和对照组(P＜0.01);ACS组中,急性心肌梗死病人又高于不稳定型心绞痛病人(P＜0.05);SAP组与对照组差异无统计学意义(P＜0.05);血清IL-6和hs-CRP水平呈正相关(r=0.5942,P＜0.01).结论 ACS病人血清IL-6和hs-CRP升高,其水平变化反映ACS的严重程度.     

血清同型半胱氨酸、高敏C反应蛋白水平与冠心病的关系

目的探讨血清同型半胱氨酸(HCY)、高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平与冠心病(CHD)患者病情严重性和冠状动脉病变支数的关系。方法选取疑似或已确诊CHD接受冠脉造影的197例患者,其中急性心肌梗死(AMI)51例、不稳定型心绞痛(UA)56例、稳定型心绞痛(SA)40例、非冠心病(NCHD)50例。采用循环酶法测定HCY,乳胶增强免疫比浊定量法测定hs-CRP水平。结果SA组、UA组、AMI组HCY及hs-CRP水平均高于NCHD组(P<0.0 1);UA组、AMI组HCY水平高于SA组(P<0.01);hs-CRP水平AMI组>UA组>SA组(P<0.01);随着冠状动脉病变的发展,单支病变、双支病变到三支病变,HCY、hs-CRP的水平也随之升高(P<0.05),且二者与冠脉病变支数相关(r分别为0.498、0.679,P<0.01);CHD患者血清HCY与hs-CRP呈正相关(r=0.880,P<0.01)。结论血清HCY和hs-CRP水平与CHD病情严重性及冠脉病变支数相关,HCY与hs-CRP具有相关性。联合检测血清HCY和hs-CRP水平,可更好地了解病情、指导治疗及判断预后。     

冠心病患者血清可溶性Fas和TNF-α水平变化

目的探讨血清可溶性Fas(sFas)和TNF-α水平与冠心病(CHD)之间的关系.方法采用酶联免疫吸附双抗体夹心ABC-ELISA方法测定57例CHD患者(CHD组)和23例对照组受试者血清sFas和TNF-α水平.结果CHD患者血清sFas水平高于对照组(P＜0.01),TNF-α水平也高于对照组(P＜0.05),且CHD患者血清sFas水平与TNF-α成正相关(r=0.289,P=0.029).CHD患者中sFas水平不稳定型心绞痛(UA组)患者和急性心肌梗死(AMI组)患者高于稳定型心绞痛(SA组)患者(P＜0.05).结论高水平的血清sFas和TNF-α与CHD有关,可能通过细胞凋亡和炎症反应途径参与冠状动脉粥样硬化斑块的发生发展.     

冠心病患者血清RBP4、hs-CRP、IL-6水平检测的临床意义

目的探讨冠心病(CHD)患者血清视黄醇结合蛋白4(RBP4)、高敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平检测的临床意义。方法选择内江市第一人民医院心内科于2017年1月至2018年1月就诊的CHD患者142例作为研究对象,另选取同期体检健康人50例作为对照组,比较两组患者血清hs-CRP、IL-6和RBP4水平,并分析CHD患者血清hs-CRP、IL-6和RBP4与冠心病病变程度的相关性。结果心肌梗死组、不稳定型心绞痛组、稳定型心绞痛组血清hs-CRP、IL-6、BRP4水平显著高于对照组,心肌梗死组、不稳定型心绞痛组血清hs-CRP、IL-6、BRP4水平显著高于稳定型心绞痛组(P0.05)。随病变支数及病变程度增加冠心病患者血清hs-CRP、IL-6、BRP4水平逐渐升高,不同病变支数及病变程度冠心病患者血清hs-CRP、IL-6、BRP4水平有统计学差异(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示,CHD组患者的血清RBP4与hs-CRP、IL-6表达呈正相关(r=0.476,0.584,P0.05);血清RBP4、hs-CRP、IL-6与Gensini积分呈正相关(r=0.672,0.574,0.465,P0.05)。结论血清RBP4、hs-CRP、IL-6水平升高可以反应CHD患者冠状动脉病变范围及狭窄程度。     

冠心病患者血清生长分化因子-15、脑钠肽、超敏C反应蛋白水平的变化

目的 观察冠心病(CHD)患者血清生长分化因子-15(GDF-15)、脑钠肽(BNP)、血清超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平的变化并探讨其与CHD不同类型的关系.方法 选择经冠状动脉造影确诊的CHD患者150例,其中稳定型心绞痛(SAP) 50例,不稳定心绞痛(UAP) 50例,急性心肌梗死(AMI) 50例,健康对照者148名,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA法)测定血GDF-15水平、BNP水平,采用散射比浊法测定hs-CRP水平.结果 CHD组血清GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP水平较对照组均显著增高(P＜0.001).AMI组血清GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP水平最高(P＜0.01),UAP组血清GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP水平高于SAP组和健康对照组(P＜0.01),SAP组血清GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP水平高于健康对照组(P＜0.01).相关分析显示GDF-15与BNP、GDF-15与hs-CRP以及BNP与hs-CRP均呈正相关性(r=0.558、r=0.545、r =0.579,P＜0.01).结论 血GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP水平随CHD类型的不同而变化,说明GDF-15、BNP和hs-CRP可能在CHD的发生发展中起一定作用.     

冠心病患者血清氧化低密度脂蛋白受体和基质金属蛋白酶-9水平变化及其临床意义

目的:观察冠心病患者血中凝集素样氧化低密度脂蛋白受体-1(LOX-1)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)水平变化及其相关性.方法:采用酶联免疫吸附法测定20例急性冠状动脉综合征患者(ACS组)、20例稳定型心绞痛患者(SA组)、20例非冠心病患者(对照组)血清LOX-1、MMP-9水平的变化.结果:①ACS组患者血清LOX-1、MMP-9水平高于SA组(均P＜0.05)及对照组(均P＜0.01);SA组患者血清LOX-1、MMP-9水平高于对照组(均P＜0.05);ACS患者治疗2周后LOX-1、MMP-9较治疗前显著下降(P＜0.01);②LOX-1、MMP-9的ROC曲线下面积分分别为0.786、0.716,且差异有统计学意义.结论:ACS患者血清LOX-1、MMP-9水平显著升高,二者可作为斑块不稳定的判断指标.     

不同临床类型冠心病患者血清NT-proBNP、hs-CRP浓度的相关性分析

目的通过比较不同临床类型冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(coronary heart disease,CHD)患者血清氨基末端脑钠肽前体(N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide,NT-proBNP)和高敏C反应蛋白(high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,hs-CRP)浓度,并分析血清NT-proBNP和hs-CRP浓度与冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系及两指标间的相关性,以探讨其在CHD发生、发展过程中的临床意义。方法选取2015年2月至2017年5月惠东县第二人民医院心血管内科收治的CHD患者172例,分为稳定型心绞痛(stable angina pectoris,SAP)组(n=58)、不稳定型心绞痛(UAP)组(n=54)、急性心肌梗死(AMI)组(n=60),另选取同期性别、年龄匹配的健康体检者50名作为对照组。比较4组血清NT-proBNP、hs-CRP浓度和冠状动脉Gensini评分,采用Pearson相关分析分析CHD患者血清NT-proBNP和hs-CRP浓度与冠状动脉Gensini评分的关系及两指标间的相关性。结果与对照组比较,SAP组、UAP组和AMI组血清NT-proBNP、hs-CRP浓度和Gensini评分均明显升高,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);血清NT-proBNP和hs-CRP浓度均以AMI组最高,SAP组最低,各组组间两两比较,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);AMI组、UAP组Gensini评分明显高于SAP组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05),而AMI组、UAP组间比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);CHD患者中,血清NT-proBNP、hs-CRP浓度均与Gensini评分呈显著正相关(r=0.528,P0.01;r=0.485,P0.01);血清NT-proBNP和hs-CRP浓度呈显著正相关(P0.05)。结论血清NT-proBNP、hs-CRP浓度在CHD不同临床类型之间具有显著差异,且与冠状动脉病变严重程度密切相关,对CHD早期的诊断和病情严重程度的判断具有一定的临床意义。     

血清氧化型低密度脂蛋白及同型半胱氨酸水平与冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性研究

目的 通过观察血清氧化型低密度脂蛋白(OX-LDL)和同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)与冠心病(CHD)患者冠状动脉病变支数、稳定情况,以及血清OX-LDL与Hcy的相关性,探讨其对冠心病冠状动脉病变严重程度的预测价值.方法 选择冠状动脉造影确诊的CHD患者144例,其中不稳定型心绞痛(UAP)73例,稳定型心绞痛(SAP)71例,据冠脉造影结果 分为单支病变组(34例)、双支病变组(36例)和多支病变组(74例,≥3支病变),另选同期健康体检者50例为健康对照(NC)组.分析血清OX-LDL和Hcy与冠状动脉病变支数、稳定情况,以及血清OX-LDL与Hcy的相关性.结果 (1)UAP、SAP及NC组之间血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);UAP、SAP组血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平均显著高于NC组(P＜0.01);UAP与SAP组相比,血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).(2)CHD患者单支病变、双支病变及多支病变组血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01),且随病变支数的增加而升高,多支病变组均显著高于双支病变组(P＜0.01),双支病变组显著高于单支病变组(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).(3)CHD患者血清OX-LDL与Hcy呈正相关(r=0.793,P＜0.01),病变支数与血清OX-LDL和Hcy呈显著正相关(r=0.625、0.719,均P＜0.01).结论 血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平与CHD冠状动脉病变、病变稳定性及病变支数有关,以及血清OX-LDL与Hcy具有相关一致性.联合检测血清OX-LDL和Hcy水平,可更好的了解病情、指导治疗及判断预后.     

不同类型老年冠心病患者外周血单核细胞程序性死亡因子配体2的表达及与血清超敏C反应蛋白、白细胞介素6的相关性

目的探讨不同类型老年冠心病(CHD)患者外周血单核细胞程序性死亡因子配体(PD-L)2的表达情况及其与血清高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、白细胞介素(IL)-6等炎性因子的联系。方法老年CHD患者112例,其中急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者34例,不稳定型心绞痛(UAP)患者41例,稳定型心绞痛(SAP)患者37例,同时选取体检的健康人33名作为对照组,检测各组PD-L2、hs-CRP、IL-6以及IL-8表达水平。结果 AMI组PD-L2蛋白表达水平明显高于其他组,而对照组最低;AMI组血清hs-CRP、IL-6和IL-8水平明显高于其他组(P0.05);SAP组和对照组血清hsCRP、IL-6和IL-8差异无统计学意义(P0.05);PD-L2表达水平与hs-CRP、IL-6表达水平呈正相关(P0.05),而与IL-8表达水平无相关性(P0.05)。结论老年CHD患者外周血单核细胞PD-L2表达水平明显升高,可能促进了血清hs-CRP、IL-6的分泌。     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者妊娠相关血浆蛋白A的变化

目的:观察急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)患者妊娠相关血浆蛋白A(PAPP-A) 水平的变化.方法:冠状动脉造影(CAG)证实的冠心病患者80例,分为ACS组(53例) 、稳定型心绞痛(SA)组(27例),以23例CAG正常者为正常对照组;测定各组患者入院时外周血清PAPP-A水平, 分析不同组别间及ACS组、SA组中冠状动脉病变不同程度者PAPP-A水平的变化,并分析PAPP-A水平与TnT、CK-MB的相关性.结果:①ACS组的PAPP-A水平显著高于正常对照组和SA组(P＜0.01),正常对照组与SA组之间及ACS组中不稳定型心绞痛和急性心肌梗死亚组PAPP-A水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);②PAPP-A水平与CK-MB、TnT水平无显著相关;③ACS组、SA组中冠状动脉病变不同程度亚组PAPP-A水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:检测PAPP-A水平对ACS早期诊断可能有一定的意义,但冠状动脉病变程度与PAPP-A水平无显著相关.     

胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点分析

目的胰岛素瘤是最常见的胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤，因其临床表现多样，导致诊断困难。影像学诊断尤其是超声内镜(EUS)在胰岛素瘤的诊断中起着重要作用，拥有较高的敏感性和特异性。本研究拟通过明确胰岛素瘤的解剖分布特点，以期有助于提高影像学的诊断准确率和降低漏诊率，尤其是在教育和培训实践中对于EUS的学习者更具有指导价值。 方法回顾性分析解放军总医院第一医学中心病案资料数据库1993年1月至2019年11月经外科手术、病理确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者的临床资料，检索方法采取搜索术后病理诊断为"胰岛素瘤"的病例，通过查阅病例的方法，提取出胰岛素瘤的大小和解剖分布等数据，进一步分析其特点。 结果共检索到确诊为胰岛素瘤的患者116例，其中，男45例、女71例，年龄13～76岁，平均年龄(44.4±14.85)岁。胰岛素瘤单发110例(94.8%)、多发6例(5.2%)。位置分布：头颈部46例(39.7%)，单发45例、多发1例；体尾部68例(58.6%)，单发65例、多发3例；全胰腺多发2例(1.7%)。病变大小特点：最大径0.4～3.4 cm，平均大小(1.53±0.58)cm。≤1 cm 29例、>1 cm而≤1.5 cm41例、>1.5 cm而≤2.0 cm28例，≤3 cm 15例，>3 cm 3例。年龄与肿瘤的大小相关，≤44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.36±0.51)cm、>44岁患者肿瘤平均大小为(1.70±0.60)cm，P<0.05。头颈部的肿瘤大于体尾部的肿瘤，头颈部肿瘤平均大小(1.66±0.63)cm，体尾部(1.42±0.52)cm，P<0.05。 结论胰岛素瘤在胰腺体尾部较头颈部更好发；绝大多数单发，但可以全胰腺多发；多数小于1.5 cm，肿瘤的大小与患者年龄和肿瘤的解剖分布相关。     

Pathogenesis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater

Most adenomas and carcinomas of the small intestine and extrahepatic bile ducts arise in the region of the papilla of Vater. In familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) it is the main location for carcinomas after proctocolectomy. In many cases symptoms due to stenosis lead to diagnosis at an early tumor stage. In about 80%, curative intended resection is possible. Operability is the most relevant prognostic factor. Most ampullary carcinomas resp. carcinomas of the papilla of Vater develop from adenomatous or flat dysplastic precursor lesions. They can be sited in the ampulloduodenal part of the papilla of Vater, which is lined by intestinal mucosa. They also can develop in deeper parts of the ampulla, which are lined by pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa. Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and pancreaticobiliary-type adenocarcinoma represent the main histological types of ampullary carcinoma. Furthermore, there exist unusual types and undifferentiated carcinomas. Many carcinomas of intestinal type express the immunohistochemical marker profile of intestinal mucosa (keratin 7?, keratin 20+, MUC2+). Carcinomas of pancreaticobiliary type usually show the immunohistochemical profile of pancreaticobiliary duct mucosa (keratin 7+, keratin 20?, MUC2?). Even poorly differentiated carcinomas, as well as unusual histological types, may conserve the marker profile of the mucosa they developed from. These findings underline the concept of histogenetically different carcinomas of the papilla of Vater which develop either from intestinal- or from pancreaticobiliary-type mucosa of the papilla of Vater. Molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas are similar to those of colorectal as well as pancreatic carcinomas, although they appear at different frequencies. In future studies, molecular alterations in ampullary carcinomas should be correlated closely with the different histologic tumor types. Consequently, the histologic classification should reflect the histogenesis of ampullary tumors from the two different types of papillary mucosa.     

Demonstration of the mechanism of action of biguanides

Summary Palmitic acid oxidation in rat diaphragm homogenate is depressed by biguanide concentrations that are still incapable of inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation. Glucose oxidation is not directly effected by the same biguanide concentrations: however, the inhibitory effect of palmitic acid on glucose oxidation is partly removed by biguanides. Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation, which accounts for most of the metabolic effects caused by these drugs, can be regarded as the fundamental mechanism of action of biguanides. There is some evidence suggesting that these drugs might interact with carnitine, thus preventing long-chain fatty acids from being transported across the mitochondrial membrane to the site of oxidation. Traduzione a cura degli AA.     

Lack of correlation of degree of villous atrophy with severity of clinical presentation of coeliac disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Both the clinical presentation and the degree of mucosal damage in coeliac disease vary greatly. In view of conflicting information as to whether the mode of presentation correlates with the degree of villous atrophy, we reviewed a large cohort of patients with coeliac disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We correlated mode of presentation (classical, diarrhoea predominant or atypical/silent) with histology of duodenal biopsies and examined their trends over time. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 499 adults, mean age 44.1 years, 68% females. The majority had silent coeliac disease (56%) and total villous atrophy (65%). There was no correlation of mode of presentation with the degree of villous atrophy (p=0.25). Sixty-eight percent of females and 58% of males had a severe villous atrophy (p=0.052). There was a significant trend over time for a greater proportion of patients presenting as atypical/silent coeliac disease and having partial villous atrophy, though the majority still had total villous atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Among our patients the degree of villous atrophy in duodenal biopsies did not correlate with the mode of presentation, indicating that factors other than the degree of villous atrophy must account for diarrhoea in coeliac disease.     

血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展

血吸虫童虫是宿主免疫系统攻击的重要靶标,包括皮肤型、肺型和肝门型童虫。宿主分子对童虫生长发育具有重要作用。童虫生长发育机制包括免疫调节、信号转导、性别发育及凋亡等。肌动蛋白、组织蛋白酶、烯醇化酶和葡萄糖基转移酶等分子为血吸虫童虫生长发育的重要分子。本文对血吸虫童虫生长发育及其机制的研究进展做一综述。     

氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性评价

目的评价氯硝柳胺悬浮剂的毒性，为现场大规模应用灭螺提供依据。方法按照中华人民共和国国家标准GB 15670-1995《农药登记毒理学试验方法》和鱼类毒性试验方法进行。结果经口、经皮肤的LDso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000 mg/kg，经呼吸道的LCso雌、雄性大鼠均>5 000mg/m3，该药经口、经皮肤、经呼吸道毒性均属微毒类药物；兔眼用药后，观察期内无不良反应，对眼无刺激性；皮肤用药后对皮肤无刺激性。与氯硝柳胺原药、氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐原药和氯硝柳胺乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂相比，氯硝柳胺悬浮剂对鱼急性毒性最低。结论氯硝柳胺悬浮剂属微毒类药物，对鱼的毒性低于其乙醇胺盐可湿性粉剂，适合于现场应用。     

124例耐多药结核分枝杆菌基因突变特征分析

目的对临床分离的耐多药结核分枝杆菌相关基因的突变特征进行分析。方法对124例耐多药结核分枝杆菌以及50株敏感株的耐药相关基因(包括异烟肼inh A、kat G、oxyR-ahp C间隔区以及利福平rpo B)进行序列测定,分析其基因突变情况。结果异烟肼耐药inh A基因突变率为14.5%;kat G基因突变率为70.2%(87/124),主要位于315位;oxyR-ahp C间隔区突变率为15.3%;inh A、kat G两种基因同时突变率75.0%,三种基因同时突变率为89.5%。利福平rpo B基因突变的检出率高达95.2%,突变主要发生在531、526、516位点。结论我省耐多药菌异烟肼耐药相关基因最常见突变为kat G 315、inh A C-T(-15)、axyR-ahp C间隔区(-10)C-T,利福平为rpo B531、526、516。结合MDR-TB耐药相关基因的特征分析,可以建立一种快速、准确、特异的适合于我省的检测结核菌耐多药性的新方法。     

Assessment of quality of life of parents of children with juvenile chronic arthritis

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the psychological status of parents of children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). The QOL, anxiety and depression of the parents of 28 children with JCA were evaluated and compared to those of the parents of 28 healthy children. Mothers of JCA children and mothers of healthy children reported similar QOL. The reported anxiety and depression levels were similar for mothers and fathers in both groups. The parents of children with pauciarticular-type JCA reported lower QOL and higher levels of anxiety and depression than the parents of children with other types, namely polyarticular and systemic JCA. These findings may be explained by the fact that the pauciarticular patients had shorter disease duration and were less frequently seen in the outpatient clinic. The QOL of mothers of children with JCA was found to be slightly impaired in the group of children with pauciarticular JCA. Future larger studies are needed to confirm these results, as the number of subjects in the three groups was rather low. Received: 26 September 2001 / Accepted: 8 February 2002     

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Rate of Change of Glucose on Measurement Error of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Background

A 5-day in-patient study designed to assess the accuracy of the FreeStyle Navigator® Continuous Glucose Monitoring System revealed that the level of accuracy of the continuous sensor measurements was dependent on the rate of glucose change. When the absolute rate of change was less than 1 mg•dl⁻¹•min⁻¹ (75% of the time), the median absolute relative difference (ARD) was 8.5%, with 85% of all points falling within the A zone of the Clarke error grid. When the absolute rate of change was greater than 2 mg•dl⁻¹•min⁻¹ (8% of the time), the median ARD was 17.5%, with 59% of all points falling within the Clarke A zone.

Method

Numerical simulations were performed to investigate effects of the rate of change of glucose on sensor measurement error. This approach enabled physiologically relevant distributions of glucose values to be reordered to explore the effect of different glucose rate-of-change distributions on apparent sensor accuracy.

Results

The physiological lag between blood and interstitial fluid glucose levels is sufficient to account for the observed difference in sensor accuracy between periods of stable glucose and periods of rapidly changing glucose.

Conclusions

The role of physiological lag on the apparent decrease in sensor accuracy at high glucose rates of change has implications for clinical study design, regulatory review of continuous glucose sensors, and development of performance standards for this new technology. This work demonstrates the difficulty in comparing accuracy measures between different clinical studies and highlights the need for studies to include both relevant glucose distributions and relevant glucose rate-of-change distributions.     

Study of constancy of hydrogen-consuming flora of human colon

The constancy of the hydrogen consuming flora of the human colon was studied in 15 healthy subjects via two measurements obtained 18 to 36 months apart. Hydrogen disappearance rate and the major products of H₂-consuming bacteria, methane and sulfide, were measured during incubation of fecal homogenates with excess hydrogen and sulfate. In 11/15, the hydrogen consumption rate and the predominant hydrogen-consuming pathway (methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, or neither) remained constant. However, major shifts in these pathways were observed in four subjects, with two losing and two gaining the ability to produce methane. Methanogenesis was associated with the highest hydrogen consumption rate. This study demonstrates that clinically unrecognizable, major alterations of the colonic flora occur in healthy subjects. Understanding of the factors responsible for these alterations might allow for therapeutic manipulation of the colonic flora.Supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs and NIDDKD RO1 DK 13309-25.