Total parenteral nutrition with glutamine in bone marrow transplantation and other clinical applications (A randomised double-blind study) Schloerb P and Amare M. JPEN 1993: 17: 407-413

29 patients with either haematological or solid tumours, and receiving allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplants (BMT) were included in a double-blind, randomised study of glutamine-free versus glutamine-supplemented TPN. Patients were given isocaloric, isonitrogenous TPN after BMT until they consumed 50% of their required diet orally. Length of hospital stay was significantly (5.8 days) less in patients receiving TPN/GLN. Incidence of positive bacterial cultures, clinical infections and mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups.     

Combination of recombinant human growth hormone and glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition to surgical patients: effects on circulating amino acids

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Both recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and glutamine (GLN) may have beneficial anabolic actions on amino acid metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the additive effects of rhGH and GLN on plasma amino acids postoperatively. METHODS: 31 females undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to three groups: Group I (n=10) received 13 IU/m(2) of rhGH the morning of surgery and the following three postoperative days, together with glutamine-free TPN for the first two postoperative days. Group II (n=11) received rhGH as the first group, together with glutamine-enriched (7 g GLN/m(2)/day) TPN. Group III (n=10) received glutamine-enriched TPN as the second group, but rhGH was replaced by placebo. Daily plasma amino acid concentrations and nitrogen balance were determined. RESULTS: In the GH treated groups, the plasma concentrations of several amino acids were decreased on the third postoperative day, compared to preoperatively. This was not observed in Group III. The changes were more pronounced in Group II. In Group II the negative AV-differences of amino acids tended to be attenuated, while the patients in Group III had increased negative AV-differences. The cumulative nitrogen balance was significantly improved in the GH groups, compared with Group III. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of growth hormone and glutamine has additive effects on AV-balances of amino acids postoperatively, whereas nitrogen balance is not further improved when adding glutamine to rhGH treatment.     

Effect of oral glutamine supplementation during bone marrow transplantation

BACKGROUND: Because all patients receiving bone marrow transplant (BMT) and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant (PBPCT) experience gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity from the preparative regimen of chemotherapy, with or without radiation, oral glutamine was administered during the preparatory regimen and after transplant to maintain GI structure and function. METHODS: To evaluate effects of oral glutamine on nutritional status and overall outcome, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was performed on 58 autologous and allogeneic BMT patients. Patients received 30 g of oral glutamine or placebo daily. RESULTS: The trends of decreased median length of stay and the median number of days of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were seen in the group supplemented with the >0.285-g/kg (the recommended dosage) dose of glutamine; however, there was no statistically significant difference in the nutritional status and overall patient outcome as assessed by days receiving TPN, number of days required until oral intake resumed, length of hospitalization, number of days and highest grade of mucositis, and quantity and number of days of diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the hypothesis that oral glutamine may offer benefit. Further investigation is required regarding clinical tools for determining effectiveness, administration for tolerance and compliance, dosage, and potential of oral glutamine usage.     

Effect of glutamine supplementation on protein metabolism and glutathione in tumor-bearing rats

The effect of glutamine (GLN)-supplemented total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on tumor growth and protein metabolism was investigated in tumor-bearing rats. Six days after implantation of AH109A hepatoma, rats received isonitrogenous TPN without or with alanyl-glutamine (25% of total N) for a period of 6 days. Protein turnover was assessed by continuous infusion of l4C-leucine and levels of GLN and glutathione were determined in muscle, jejunum and liver. Diet had no effect on tumor parameters: weight (mean = 4.4 g), GLN and glutathione concentrations, protein synthesis rate and bromodeoxyuridine-labeling index. Body weight loss was less pronounced in the GLN group (-5.5 +/- 1.2 vs. -9.4 +/- 1.4 g/5d). Decrease in plasma and muscle GLN concentrations (-30% and -17% vs. healthy controls, respectively) was limited in tumor-bearing rats receiving GLN-enriched TPN (-15% and +3%). GLN-supplemented TPN increased muscle and jejunum fractional synthesis rates (36% and 25% vs. standard TPN, respectively) and reduced body protein breakdown in tumor-bearing animals (303 +/- 33 vs. 421 +/- 66 mumol Leu/Kg/h). Decrease in jejunum glutathione levels was partially abolished in the GLN group: -50% vs. -64% in the standard TPN group; no effect was noticed in other tissues. The authors conclude that GLN-supplemented TPN improves protein metabolism at both the whole body and the tissue level, and prevents GLN and glutathione deficiencies associated with tumor implantation.     

Total parenteral nutrition delays platelet engraftment in patients who undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJECTIVES: One of the major challenges in the post-transplant period is nutrition. In this prospective, non-randomized study, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was given to 31 patients and partial parenteral nutrition (PPN) was given to 30 patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for solid tumors or hematologic malignancies to compare the effects of these parenteral nutrition modalities on post-transplant hematological engraftment, blood chemistry, and supportive therapy requirements. METHODS: All patients in the TPN group and 17 patients in the PPN group received growth factor in the post-transplant period. Both groups did not differ with respect to sex, age, and reinfused CD34(+) cell numbers. RESULTS: After transplantation body mass index and body weight decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.001). Whereas serum albumin concentrations did not decrease significantly in the TPN group, it fell markedly in the PPN group at the end of parenteral nutrition (P = 0.019). After parenteral nutrition, blood chemistry was also remarkable for serum urea and glucose levels, which were elevated significantly in the TPN group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Patients receiving TPN had a higher incidence of positive microbial cultures and clinical infection than did patients receiving PPN (64.5% versus 40%, P = 0.05). The most striking result was a delay in platelet engraftment for the TPN group compared with the PPN group (15.54 and 12.93 d, respectively; P = 0.014). This difference was also noted in patients using growth factor in the PPN group (P = 0.017). Parallel to these results, platelet transfusion requirement increased in the TPN group compared with the PPN group (1.93 versus 1.16 U, P = 0.004). Both groups were unremarkable for leukocyte recovery and red blood cell transfusion requirement. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, TPN has some pitfalls of hyperglycemia, infection tendency, delayed platelet engraftment, and increased platelet transfusion requirement. Therefore, it should not be used as a standard nutrition support for patients undergoing autotransplantation.     

Effect of glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The management of acute pancreatitis (AP) frequently includes parenteral nutrition, but conditionally essential amino acids such as glutamine are not included in conventional total parenteral nutrition (TPN).AIM: This study was conducted to determine whether the inclusion of glutamine has a beneficial effect in patients with AP receiving TPN. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled study 28 patients with AP received either a standard TPN with 1.5 g/kg body weight protein or an isonitrogen, isocaloric TPN which contains 0.3 g/kg L -alanine- L -glutamine. Patients were assessed for nutritional and inflammatory parameters, infectious complications, length of TPN, length of hospital stay (LOS) and cost of TPN. RESULTS: There were no side-effects related to glutamine substitution observed. Glutamine was associated with a significant increase of cholinesterase, albumin and lymphocyte count in AP as well a decrease of C-reactive protein compared to standard TPN at day 14. There was a reduced length of TPN (10 [6-16] vs 16 [10-18] days, P<0.05) and a trend of reduced LOS (21 [14-32] vs 25 [19-40] days) in AP patients receiving glutamine. The overall cost per patient for TPN did not differ (gln+: 929+/-586 vs gln-: 981+/-507 euro/patient). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that glutamine substitution is beneficial and does not increase the overall cost of parenteral feeding in patients with acute pancreatitis.     

Influence of N-acetylglutamine or glutamine infusion on plasma amino acid concentrations during the early phase of small-bowel adaptation in the dog.

Glutamine is a nonessential neutral amino acid that is widely consumed by the intestinal tract in catabolic states. We have followed up the plasma amino acid profile after extensive small-bowel resection in dogs receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with or without glutamine (GLN) or N-acetylglutamine (aGLN) supplementation. Animals were divided into four groups according to the type of surgery (enterectomy or transection) and nutrition (TPN, TPN with aGLN, or TPN with GLN). Plasma GLN levels decreased in group I (enterectomy and TPN) on day 2 (p = .03) and significantly increased on postoperative days in groups III (enterectomy and TPN with aGLN) and IV (enterectomy and TPN with GLN). A significant increase of plasma GLN was observed in groups III and IV compared with group I on days 6 and 8 (p = .03 and p = .01). Plasma alanine decreased in groups with bowel resection, whereas no change was observed in the control group (transection) and the decrease of plasma alanine was significantly less pronounced in groups III and IV compared with group I. The increase of crypt depth and villous height was more pronounced in groups III and IV. These results suggest that GLN is a required substrate for mucosal growth and function, which could improve the intestinal adaptation encountered after enterectomy.     

Oral glutamine and the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has suggested that glutamine is one of the primary energy sources of the colon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral glutamine supplementation on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats, weighing 174.41 +/- 37.39 g, were housed in individual cages. All rats had free access to water and standard rat chow. The rats were randomized to receive daily, for 7 days before the operation and during the postoperative period, 10% L-glutamine (GLN group) or 10% glycine (GLY group) in isonitrogenous and isovolumetric solutions (1.5 g/kg per day), through an orogastric tube. On the eighth day, rats were anesthetized and subjected to 2 colonic transections, one 6 cm distal from the ileocecal valve and another 5 cm distal from the first transection. Bowel continuity was restored by 2 end-to-end, single layer, everted, anastomoses with 8 interrupted sutures (6-0 nylon). After the operation, the rats were kept in individual cages and had free access to water and rat chow. One-half of the rats in each group were killed either on postoperative day 3 or 8, and the 2 colonic anastomoses of each animal were resected and stored in 0.9% saline and 10% formalin for tensile strength and histologic (hematoxylineosin and collagen densitometry) studies, respectively. Student's t-test and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Total rupture strength was significantly higher in the GLN group (GLN: 0.068 +/- 0.045 kgf versus GLY: 0.042 +/- 0.027 kgf, p = .04). The mean monocytes infiltrate was significantly smaller in the GLN group (p = .04). The collagen densitometry analysis demonstrated greater percent area of type I (mature) in the GLN group compared with GLY (58.65 +/- 11.70% versus 41.79 +/- 10.54%, p = .0000), respectively. Subgroup analyses according to the day of rat death were still significant: GLN 3: 54.22 +/- 10.02% versus GLY 3: 41.92 +/- 13.31% (p = .04) and GLN 8: 62.63 +/- 12.13% versus GLY 8: 41.67 +/- 7.69% (p = .0004). Type III collagen (immature) percent area was significantly smaller in the GLN group's colonic anastomoses (GLN: p = .0000; GLN 3: p = .04 and GLN 8: p = .0003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative oral glutamine supplementation increases total rupture strength and improves the percent area of mature collagen at the anastomoses sites on postoperative days 3 and 8.     

Epidermal growth factor regulates intestinal glutamine uptake during total parenteral nutrition

Sprague Dawley rats were randomised into three groups: group I (chow) were fed rat chow and water ad libitum, group II total parenteral nutrition (TPN) received a standard formula of TPN, and group III (TPN--epidermal growth factor (EGF)) received the same TPN as group II and injections of EGF (0.1 microg/gm body weight) subcutaneously twice daily. Glutamine (GLN) concentrations in tissues and blood were measured by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Gut GLN extraction was calculated by dividing the difference in GLN concentrations (Conc) between the carotid artery (ART) and portal vein (PV) by the arterial concentration [(ART Conc - PV Conc)/ART Conc]. TPN induced a marked reduction of GLN concentration in tissues and blood, and also reduction of gut GLN extraction. When EGF was administered along with TPN, gut GLN concentration did not fall and gut GLN extraction was increased by 15% (TPN - EGF 1 week, P < 0.05). Arterial blood concentration of GLN was increased when TPN and EGF were used for 1 week (P < 0.05 vs control). But EGF did not prevent the GLN concentration of other tissues decreasing during TPN. Our results suggest that EGF can regulate intestinal uptake of GLN during TPN.     

Parenteral nutrition support after bone marrow transplantation: comparison of total and partial parenteral nutrition during the early posttransplantation period

OBJECTIVE: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) usually is indicated if the patient's malignant disease involves the marrow or if hazard to the normal marrow is the limiting factor in the aggressive treatment of disease. The success of BMT depends on a complete team with all the resources needed to ensure optimal results. Aggressive nutrition support after BMT is very important. Adequate parenteral nutrition, total (TPN) or partial, followed by enteral nutrition according to the patient's gastrointestinal function is the important principle. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2000, 60 patients, 46 male and 14 female, received BMT in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Their ages ranged from 6 to 54 y. Standard TPN was used in 40 patients after BMT, and partial parenteral nutrition was used in the remaining 20 patients. TPN was enriched with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) when the patient's liver functions were impaired, and cyclic TPN was shifted when the patient's liver functions persistently deteriorated. RESULTS: Most patients improved their nutrition status and increased their body weights, especially those receiving TPN. The patients receiving partial parenteral nutrition decreased their visceral proteins significantly during the course of parenteral nutrition. The BCAA-TPN can maintain a patient's visceral protein better than standard TPN. Only two patients expired because of graft rejection and sepsis; their body weights and nutrition status showed deterioration despite aggressive nutrition support. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the nutrition support for patients with BMT is related to the success of marrow transplantation. Parenteral nutrition support, especially with TPN, is important because of frequent gastrointestinal dysfunction during the posttransplantational period, and it is better at maintaining the nutrition status and body weights of patients after BMT. An oral diet can be resumed after the patient's gastrointestinal function has improved and it can be tolerated.     

胃癌合并糖尿病病人术后早期肠内营养的疗效分析

目的:对于胃癌合并糖尿病的病人,探讨术后早期肠内营养(EEN)对病人术后恢复情况的影响.方法:回顾性地比较102例胃癌合并糖尿病的病人接受EN(n =48)或全肠外营养(TPN,n=54)的疗效,了解两组病人术后恢复情况和血糖控制情况的差异. 结果:与TPN组病人比,EN组病人平均肛门排气时间和住院时间较短(P＜0.05),术后第7天空腹血糖较低(P＜0.05),但胃肠道症状发生率较高(P＜0.05). 结论:对胃癌合并糖尿病的病人术后EEN仍然适用,但在营养支持过程中需要更精心地护理,以减少胃肠道并发症.     

The Impact of Glutamine Dipeptide–Supplemented Parenteral Nutrition on Outcomes of Surgical Patients

Objective: To evaluate the impact of glutamine dipeptide–supplemented parenteral nutrition (GLN‐PN) on clinical outcomes in surgical patients. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register were searched to retrieve the eligible studies. The studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of GLN‐PN and standard PN on clinical outcomes of surgical patients. Clinical outcomes of interest were postoperative morbidity of infectious complication, mortality, length of hospital stay, and cost. Statistical analysis was conducted by RevMan 4.2 software from the Cochrane Collaboration. Results: Fourteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (N = 587) were included in this meta‐analysis. The results showed that glutamine dipeptide significantly reduced the length of hospital stay by around 4 days in the form of alanyl‐glutamine (weighted mean difference [WMD] = ?3.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] ?5.40, ?2.28; z = 4.82; P < .001) and about 5 days in the form of glycyl‐glutamine (WMD = ?5.40; 95% CI ?8.46, ?2.33; z = 3.45; P < .001). The overall effect indicated a significant decrease in the infectious complication rates of surgical patients receiving GLN‐PN (risk ratio = 0.69; 95% CI 0.50, 0.95; z = 2.26; P = .02). Conclusion: GLN‐PN was beneficial to postoperative patients by shortening the length of hospital stay and reducing the morbidity of postoperative infectious complications.     

重组人生长激素和口服谷氨酰胺双肽联合应用改善严重烧伤患者内毒素血症的作用

目的探讨重组人生长激素(rhGH)和口服谷氨酰胺双肽(Glutaminedipeptide)改善严重烧伤病人内毒素血症的作用。方法36例烧伤总面积大于40%,Ⅲ度面积大于20%的患者加入研究,随机分为对照组(Controlgroup),谷氨酰胺双肽组(GLNgroup)和联合应用谷氨酰胺双肽及重组人生长激素组(GLN+rhGHgroup)。每组12人,对照组常规治疗;谷氨酰胺双肽组伤后1～14天口服谷氨酰胺双肽0.5g     

Effects of glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition on acute pancreatitis

AIM: This study was performed to determine the effects of glutamine enriched total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on the patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). METHOD: Forty patients with AP, who had Ranson's score between 2 and 4 received either standard TPN (control group) or TPN with glutamine (treatment group). The patients in the treatment group received TPN containing 0.3 g/kg/days glutamine. At the end of the study, patients were evaluated for nutritional and inflammatory parameters, length of TPN and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The length of TPN applications were 10.5+/-3.6 days and 11.6+/-2.5 days, and the length of hospital stays were 14.2+/-4.4 and 16.4+/-3.9 days for the treatment and control groups (NS), and the complication rates in the treatment and control groups were 10 and 40%, respectively (P<0.05). The transferrin level increased by 11.7% in the group that received glutamine-enriched TPN (P<0.05), whereas the transferrin level decreased by 12.1% in the control group (NS). At the end of the study, slight but not significant changes were determined in both groups in fasting blood sugar, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total cholesterol concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, leukocytes, CD(4), CD(8), serum Zn, Ca and P levels compare to the baseline levels (NS). Significant decreases were determined in serum lipase, amylase activities and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have shown that glutamine supplementation to TPN have beneficial effects on the prevention of complications in patients with AP.     

Glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition maintains intestinal interleukin-4 and mucosal immunoglobulin A levels

BACKGROUND: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) prevents progressive malnutrition but fails to maintain intestinal gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) or established respiratory antiviral or antibacterial mucosal immunity. Our previous work demonstrated that decreases in intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) were associated with decreases in Th2-type IgA-stimulating cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. Because glutamine supplementation of TPN partially preserves respiratory defenses and normalizes GALT, we investigated the ability of parenteral glutamine to normalize respiratory and intestinal IgA levels and measured Th2 cytokines in intestinal homogenates. METHODS: Animals were cannulated and randomly assigned to receive chow (n = 17), TPN (n = 18), or an isonitrogenous, isocaloric TPN solution formulated by removing the appropriate amount of amino acids and replacing them with 2% glutamine (n = 18) for 5 days. Respiratory tract and intestinal washings were obtained for IgA and the intestine homogenized and analyzed for IL-4 and IL-10. RESULTS: TPN decreased intestinal and respiratory IgA in association with decreases in intestinal IL-4 and IL-10 compared with chow-fed animals. Glutamine significantly improved respiratory and intestinal IgA levels, significantly improved IL-4 compared with TPN animals, and maintained IL-10 levels midway between chow-fed and TPN animals. CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine-enriched TPN preserved both extraintestinal and intestinal IgA levels and had a normalizing effect on Th2-type IgA-stimulating cytokines.     

Effects of glutamine-enriched parenteral nutrition on the exocrine pancreas

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with intestinal and pancreatic atrophy and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the addition of glutamine to intravenous feedings attenuates TPN-associated intestinal atrophy. However, the effect of glutamine-supplemented intravenous feedings on the pancreas of intact animals is unknown. This study compared the effects of an intravenous infusion of a 2% glutamine-enriched diet (GLN) with an isonitrogenous, isocaloric diet without glutamine (CONT) on the composition and structure of the exocrine pancreas in laboratory rats with and without a 60% small bowel resection. In nonresected, TPN-fed animals, pancreatic weight was significantly increased in the GLN group when compared to CONT (645 +/- 33 g vs 554 +/- 20 g, p less than 0.05). Nonresected GLN animals also had increased pancreatic DNA (3.82 +/- 0.19 mg vs 2.91 +/- 0.49 mg, p less than 0.005) and protein contents (93.0 +/- 5.9 mg vs 76.6 +/- 7.0 mg, p = 0.08) compared to control. Similar significant increases in pancreatic weight, DNA, and protein were observed in intestinally resected animals fed the glutamine diet. When data from CONT and GLN animals were pooled and analyzed together, glutamine significantly increased total pancreatic trypsinogen and lipase contents (p less than 0.05). The increase in trypsinogen in resected GLN animals was significantly greater than in CONT animals (283 +/- 22 vs 139 +/- 23, p less than 0.005). Biochemical and morphometric observations demonstrated that the trophic effects of glutamine on the exocrine pancreas were manifest by acinar hyperplasia and not hypertrophy. Glutamine appears to be an important nutrient for pancreatic exocrine tissue during TPN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Glutamine-enriched total parenteral nutrition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: Studies in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggest that supplementation of total parenteral nutrition with glutamine (gln), a conditionally essential amino acid in catabolic conditions, increases gln plasma concentrations, reduces intestinal damage, improves nitrogen balance and may improve the course of the disease. However, human data supporting this assumption are missing. METHODS: A total of 24 consecutive patients with an acute exacerbation of IBD (19 Crohn's disease; five ulcerative colitis) and scheduled for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (>7 days) were randomised. Parallel to a standardised anti-inflammatory therapy, the patients received either a TPN with 1.5 g/kg body weight of a standard amino acid or an isonitrogenic, isocaloric TPN with 1.2 g/kg body weight of a standard amino acid and 0.3 g/kg L-alanine-L-glutamine. Primary end points were gln plasma concentrations and intestinal permeability assessed by urinary lactulose and D-xylose ratio. RESULTS: Gln plasma levels did not differ significantly in either group throughout the study. Intestinal permeability did not change within 7 days either with or without gln supplementation (Delta-lactulose/xylose ratio: 0.01+/-0.05 (gln+) vs 0.02+/-0.1 (gln-)). The observed changes in inflammatory and nutritional parameters, and also disease activity, length of TPN and hospital stay, were independent of glutamine substitution. Five (41%) patients in the gln+ group and three (25%) patients in the gln- group needed surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Although limited by the sample size, these results do not support the hypothesis that glutamine substitution has an obvious biochemical or clinical benefit in patients with active IBD scheduled for total parenteral nutrition.     

Effect of single and combined supply of glutamine, glycine, N-acetylcysteine, and R,S-alpha-lipoic acid on glutathione content of myelomonocytic cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Several diseases are characterised by decreased glutathione (GSH) levels due to an enhanced formation of oxygen radicals. To increase GSH levels, the additional supply of GSH precursors was suggested. In this study we evaluated the potency of a single and combined administration of the GSH modulating substances glutamine (GLN), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and glycine (GLY) as well as R,S-alpha-lipoic acid (LA) to enhance intracellular GSH content in a well-defined model system. RESULTS: Exposure of myelomonocytic U937 cells for 24 h to GLN revealed a 1.5-fold enhancement of GSH levels with a concomitant decrease in the formation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Addition of NAC stimulated GSH formation only at subphysiological GLN levels. GLY enhanced GSH levels under GLN starvation, but caused a diminution of GSH content under optimal GLN supply. LA in combination with 2 mmol/l GLN evoked a 3.6-fold enhancement of GSH content compared to GLN starved cells. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the GSH content of U937 cells is dependent on the supply of GLN, NAC, LA, and GLY. Combinations of the single substances can enhance but also decrease the intracellular GSH content, which is of clinical importance when supplying GSH-modulating substances to patients.     

小肠移植围手术期的营养支持

目的:改进小肠移植围手术期的营养支持方法,并总结3例小肠移植病人的营养支持疗效. 方法:3例病人均接受全小肠移植.病人手术前先接受TPN支持,术后便开始TPN支持.随着移植肠功能的恢复,在对EN支持耐受和有效地维持营养状态的前提下,尽快实现PN向EN过渡,恢复经口进食,并最终摆脱PN支持.应用Gln、甘氨酰谷氨酰二肽和生长激素,以促进移植肠功能的恢复. 结果:3例病人分别于移植术后21、14和24 d摆脱TPN,体质量和血浆ALB水平明显改善. 结论:改进小肠移植围手术期的营养支持方法,能促进移植肠功能恢复,使病人尽快适应EN支持.     

谷氨酰胺强化的肠外营养对肠瘘病人腔静脉导管感染的影响

目的:观察谷氨酰胺(Gln)强化的肠外营养(PN)对肠瘘病人腔静脉导管感染(CRI)的发生率及细菌谱的影响.方法:对2002年10月至2003年12月该院收治的使用腔静脉导管进行PN的肠瘘病人进行前瞻、随机研究.对照组接受常规全肠外营养(TPN),Gln组在常规TPN中加入力肽100ml.结果:117例肠瘘病人,共进行139次腔静脉置管.对照组71例病人共进行84次腔静脉置管,细菌定植的发生率为26.2%,导管相关性血行感染(CRBSI)的发生率为6.0%.Gln组46例病人共进行55次腔静脉置管,细菌定植的发生率为12.7%,CR-BSI为1.8%.Gln组和对照组病人革兰阴性细菌感染的发生率分别为3.6%与16.7%,二者有显著性差异(P=0.037).结论:Gln强化的PN可以减少肠瘘病人CRI的发生,尤其是来源于肠道的革兰阴性菌的感染.