急诊经导管干细胞移植改善急性心肌梗死患者的左室收缩功能

目的近年来多个小样本临床试验提示在心肌梗死发生后一周内进行经冠状动脉内自体骨髓细胞移植可以促进受损心肌的修复和心功能的改善.本项随机双盲的临床研究旨在评价急诊经冠状动脉内骨髓细胞移植治疗急性心肌梗死是否可行.方法20例发病在24h内的急性心肌梗死患者随机分成骨髓移植组(n=10)和对照组(n=10),分别在急诊经皮介入治疗(PCI)成功后3h内经导管注入自体骨髓单个核细胞或安慰剂至梗死相关冠状动脉.随访患者PCI后1周及6个月左室射血分数(LVEF)和左心室舒张末期内径(LVDd).结果经胸心脏超声提示移植组LVEF由术后1周(53.8±9.2)%升至6个月(58.6±9.9)%,P＜0.05,而对照组无显著变化[(58.2±7.5)%比(56.3±3.5)%,P＞0.05];6个月随访移植组LVDd维持不变[(52.5±2.8)mm比(52.1±3.2)mm,P＞0.05],而对照组LVDd由术后1周(50.4±6.0)mm增加至(55.2±7.1)mm,P＜0.05.另外单光子放射计算机断层显像术(SPECT)提示移植组心肌灌注缺损指数由1周时的21±11降低至6个月时的13±10,P＜0.01.而对照组变化不显著.结论急诊经冠状动脉自体骨髓单个核细胞移植可以显著地改善急性心肌梗死患者左心室收缩功能,并且有效地防止远期左心室扩大.     

自体骨髓间充质干细胞和单个核细胞移植治疗冠心病的临床研究

目的　研究自体骨髓间充质干细胞 (BMSCs)和单个核细胞 (BMMNCs)经冠状动脉 (冠脉 )移植对冠心病、心肌梗死患者心功能的影响及其安全性。方法　 10例冠心病伴心肌梗死患者 ,通过冠脉转运将BMMNCs植入心肌梗死区 ,术前和术后 6个月分别行99mTc MIBI心肌灌注显像、二维超声心动图及动态心电图检查。结果　 3例患者因心肌梗死罪犯血管狭窄小于 5 0 %未行经皮冠状动脉介入术 (PCI) ,仅移植干细胞。余 7例患者在梗死相关冠脉开通后注入干细胞。 10例患者二维超声心动图检查示左心室射血分数 (LVEF)较术前平均增加 10 5 % (4 0 %～ 18% ) ,左心室舒张末期内径(LVDd)较术前平均减少 2 2mm(- 4mm～ 8mm) ,99mTc MIBI显示梗死部位心肌灌注明显改善。术中及术后随访 6～ 12月均无心律失常和其它合并症发生。结论　自体BMSCs和MMNCs经冠脉移植治疗冠心病心肌梗死 ,可以抑制左心室重构 ,改善心脏功能。     

自体骨髓单个核细胞移植对急性前壁心肌梗死患者预后研究

目的:观察经冠状动脉(冠脉)自体骨髓单个核细胞(mononuclear bone marrow cell,MBMC)移植对急性前壁心肌梗死患者心室重构、心肌组织血流灌注及左心室收缩功能的影响。方法:选取40例急性前壁心肌梗死患者,根据患者的意愿分干细胞移植组(20例,接受急诊经皮冠脉介入治疗 标准药物 经冠脉注入骨髓单个核细胞治疗)和常规治疗对照组(20例,接受急诊经皮冠脉介入治疗 标准药物治疗)。两组患者分别于术前、术后3个月、术后6个月进行6分钟步行实验、多谱勒心脏超声心动图、平衡法核素心血池显像(ENRA),并记录发病6个月内主要临床事件。结果:同常规治疗组相比,心室重构、心肌组织血流灌注及左心室收缩功能术后3个月各项指标两组无明显差异,术后6个月干细胞移植组较常规治疗组改善明显,有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:本研究提示自体骨髓单个核细胞经冠脉移植治疗急性心肌梗死是安全的,能改善患者心肌组织灌注、左心室收缩功能及优化心室重构。     

前列地尔对急性心肌梗死患者行急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗术后心功能的影响研究

目的探讨前列地尔对急性心肌梗死患者行急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)术后心功能的影响。方法选择2013年4月—2014年5月在广东医学院附属厚街医院行急诊PCI的急性心肌梗死患者60例,随机分为试验组和对照组,各30例。两组患者均行急诊PCI,对照组给予硝酸甘油、替非罗班治疗,试验组在对照组治疗基础上于术中在冠状动脉罪犯血管远端注射前列地尔。两组患者均于急诊PCI术后2、4、8、12、16及24 h测定血清肌酸激酶(CK)、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、内皮素(ET)和超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平;急诊PCI术后24 h和7 d测定N-末端脑钠肽前体(NT-pro BNP)水平和左心室射血分数(LVEF);PCI术后即刻造影示校正的TIMI帧数(CTFC)。结果急诊PCI术后2、4、8、12、16及24 h试验组患者血清CK、CK-MB、LDH、ET、hs-CRP水平均低于对照组(P<0.05);术后24 h两组患者血清NT-pro BNP水平和LVEF比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);术后7 d试验组患者血清NT-pro BNP水平低于对照组,LVEF高于对照组(P<0.05)。PCI术后即刻试验组患者CTFC为(27.13±4.13)帧,低于对照组的(36.24±4.89)帧(P<0.05)。结论急诊PCI术中给予前列地尔可改善急性心肌梗死患者心肌微循环,通过扩张冠状动脉、抗炎等减轻心肌再灌注损伤,进而改善心功能。     

冠状动脉内应用替罗非班在急性心肌梗死患者急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗中的应用效果

目的探讨冠状动脉内应用替罗非班在急性心肌梗死患者急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)中的应用效果。方法选取2013年1月—2015年1月柳铁中心医院收治的急性心肌梗死患者96例,按照随机数字表法分为观察组及对照组,每组48例。两组患者均行急诊PCI,对照组患者常规静脉内应用替罗非班,观察组患者冠状动脉内应用替罗非班。比较两组患者PCI手术前后TIMI血流分级,PCI术后二磷酸腺苷(ADP)、花生四烯酸(AA)、胶原(COL)诱导的血小板聚集率和左心室功能指标〔左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左心室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、左心室收缩末期内径(LVESD)〕以及近期不良心血管事件(包括PCI术后30 d内发生的心绞痛、心功能不全加重、再梗死、心源性死亡)发生率。结果两组患者PCI术前TIMI血流分级比较,差异无统计学意义(u=0.189,P0.05);观察组PCI术后TIMI血流分级优于对照组(u=5.965,P0.05)。观察组患者PCI术后ADP、AA、COL诱导的血小板聚集率均低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组患者PCI术后LVEF大于对照组,LVEDD、LVESD小于对照组(P0.05)。观察组患者近期不良心血管事件发生率为14.59%,低于对照组的39.59%(P0.05)。结论冠状动脉内应用替罗非班有助于改善急性心肌梗死患者急诊PCI术后TIMI血流分级,优化心肌再灌注情况,降低血小板聚集程度,改善左心室功能,减少近期不良心血管事件的发生。     

经冠状动脉自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死的临床研究

目的采用随机、对照、前瞻性的临床试验,评价经冠状动脉自体骨髓单个核细胞(BMMNCs)移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死的有效性和安全性。方法入选26例急性前壁心肌梗死患者,BMMNCs移植组(14例)行经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)治疗联合经冠状动脉自体BMMNCs移植;对照组(12例)接受PCI治疗。结果3个月后,BMMNCs移植组左室射血分数(LVEF)由(54.29±5.47)%提高至(59.21±5.54)%(P<0.05),与对照组比较,无统计学差异(P>0.05);PET/CT示BMMNCs移植组心肌18F-FDG代谢显像明显改善;明尼苏达生活质量评分的改变亦具有统计学意义。结论经冠状动脉自体BMMNCs移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死安全而有效,可能与BMMNCs转分化为心肌细胞改善心功能有关。     

急性心肌梗死延迟冠状动脉介入治疗的远期疗效

目的观察延迟冠状动脉(冠脉)介入治疗(PCI)对急性心肌梗死患者远期疗效的影响.方法回顾性分析1996年1月至2002年10月我院276例急性心肌梗死患者的临床资料,根据患者是否接受介入治疗或接受介入治疗的种类、将患者分为直接急诊PCI治疗组(急诊组)75例,延迟PCI治疗组(延迟组)73例以及常规药物治疗组(对照组)128例.收集并分析住院期间的临床资料,对存活出院的患者随访,记录主要心血管事件(MACE)的发生情况,并于出院第12～48个月进行超声心动图检查.结果基线资料急诊组ST段抬高例数高于其他两组,住院天数明显降低(P<0.05).住院期间病死率对照组明显高于急诊组和延迟组.平均随访4.3±2.7年(1.8～7.5年),完成随访247人(89.5%).随访期左心室射血分数(LVEF)值延迟组为57.4%±3.4%,急诊组为59.3%±7.5%,对照组为54.7%±4.1%.延迟组死亡1例,急诊组死亡1例,对照组死亡14例.与对照组相比,延迟PCI治疗可改善心肌梗死患者的左心室功能,降低远期MACE的发生率;与急诊组相比,其左心室功能改善及远期临床事件发生率的降低差异无统计学意义.结论与常规药物治疗相比,延迟PCI治疗可改善急性心肌梗死患者的远期预后.     

血糖在急性心肌梗死介入治疗患者的预后价值

目的:观察入院时随机血糖对急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死患者直接冠状动脉介入术(PCI)后的心肌灌注的影响及预后价值。方法:对直接PCI治疗的182例资料完整的急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死患者进行了回顾性分析,根据患者入院后即刻的随机血糖分为3组:A组血糖<7.8mmol/L,B组血糖7.8～11.0mmol/L,C组血糖≥11.0mmol/L。评估PCI后TIMI血流分级及TMPG心肌灌注分级;发病后1周内行超声心动图检查测定左心室射血分数(LVEF),评价心脏收缩功能。结果:①冠状动脉造影结果中多支血管病变:C、B组(65.8%、63.6%)多于A组∶(49.4%,P<0.05);②PCI后梗死相关血管TIMI血流分级3级:3组无明显差异(89.9%、87.3%、89.5%,P>0.05);③PCI后心肌灌注分级(TMPG)0～1级:C、B组(28.9%、27.3%)高于A组∶(14.6%,P<0.05);④PCI后1周内超声心动图左室射血分数(LVEF值):C、B组[(49.6±7.0)%,(51.4±7.0)%低于A组∶(58.5±7.2)%,P<0.05]。结论:入院随机血糖高的急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死患者在介入治疗后的心肌灌注差、心功能差。     

经冠状动脉自体骨髓干细胞移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死的临床研究

目的 评价经冠状动脉自体骨髓干细胞（MSCs）移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死的有效性和安全性.方法 入选我院心内科急性前壁心肌梗死住院患者20例,随机分成两组,每组10例.治疗组PCI后经冠状动脉行骨髓干细胞移植,对照组单纯PCI治疗.出院前及移植后定期复查心脏彩超、心肌核素显像（SPECT）及6 min步行试验.结果 ①心脏彩超检查：治疗组术后心功能逐渐好转,随访6个月左室射血分数（LVEF）由（50.5±6.6）%提高至（63.9±7.9）%（P＜0.05）,与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.②SPECT：对照组无明显变化,治疗组心肌灌注显像明显改善.③6 min步行试验：随访6个月,两组较出院前均明显改善（P＜0.05）,组间比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 经冠状动脉自体MSCs移植治疗急性前壁心肌梗死安全、有效,可能与MSCs再生心肌、抑制心室重构、改善心功能有关.     

冠状动脉内注射乌拉地尔对急性心肌梗死心肌灌注和心功能的影响

目的:探讨乌拉地尔对急性心肌梗死(AMI)急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)患者心肌灌注和心功能的影响。方法:对经急诊PCI治疗的AMI患者54例,随机分为乌拉地尔组、硝酸甘油组和对照组。分别于经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术前冠状动脉内注射乌拉地尔、硝酸甘油、生理盐水。观察PCI术前、术后心肌梗死溶栓试验(TIMI)血流、校正的TIMI帧计数(cTFC)、心肌充血分级(MBG)、ST段回落、心肌坏死指标、左心室射血分数(LVEF)及住院期间主要心血管不良事件(MACE)。结果:乌拉地尔组与硝酸甘油组和对照组相比,PCI后cTFC降低、MBG增加、ST段回落增加、LVEF增加、CK和TnT峰值降低(P均<0.01)。结论:乌拉地尔可改善AMI急诊PCI患者冠状动脉血流、心肌灌注和左心室收缩功能,减少梗死面积,不增加住院期间MACE。     

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.