No appetite efficacy of a commercial structured lipid emulsion in minimally processed drinks

Background/Objectives:Fabuless (Olibra) is a commercially structured lipid emulsion, claimed to be a food ingredient that is effective for food intake and appetite reduction. The present study assessed its efficacy in a yoghurt-based mini-drink undergoing low or minimal food manufacturing (thermal and shear) processes.Subjects/Methods:Study 1: Twenty-four healthy volunteers (16 female, 8 male; age: 18-47 years; body mass index (BMI): 17-28?kg?m(-2)) took part in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel crossover trial. Consumption of a minimally processed 'preload' mini-drink (containing two different doses of Fabuless or a control fat) at 2?h after breakfast was followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 3 and 7?h post consumption of the preload. Study 2: As Study 1 (16 female, 8 male; age: 20-54 years; BMI: 21-30?kg?m(-2)). A chilled, virtually unprocessed, preload breakfast mini-drink (containing minimally processed Fabuless or a control fat) was provided 5?min after a standardised breakfast, followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 4 and 8?h post consumption of the preload.Results:The structured lipid emulsion tested had no significant effect on the primary measures of food intake or appetite.Conclusions:Even when exposed to minimal food-manufacturing conditions, Fabuless showed no efficacy on measures of appetite and food intake.     

Opportunistic Quantitative CT Bone Mineral Density Measurement at the Proximal Femur Using Routine Contrast‐Enhanced Scans: Direct Comparison With DXA in 355 Adults

For patients undergoing routine contrast‐enhanced CT examinations, an opportunity exists for concurrent osteoporosis screening without additional radiation exposure or patient time using proximal femur CT X‐ray absorptiometry (CTXA). We investigated the effect of i.v. contrast enhancement on femoral neck CTXA T‐score measurement compared with DXA. This cohort included 355 adults (277 female; mean age, 59.7 ± 13.3 years; range, 21 to 90 years) who underwent standard contrast‐enhanced CT assessment at 120 kV_p over an 8‐year interval, as well as DXA BMD assessment within 100 days of the CT study (mean 46 ± 30 days). Linear regression and a Bland‐Altman plot were performed to compare DXA and CTXA results. CTXA diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was evaluated with DXA as the reference standard. There was good correlation between DXA and CTXA (r² = 0.824 for both areal BMD and T‐scores) and the SD of the distribution of residuals was 0.063 g/cm² or 0.45 T‐score units. There was no trend in differences between the two measurements and a small bias was noted with DXA T‐score +0.18 units higher than CTXA. CTXA had a sensitivity for discriminating normal from low bone mineral density of 94.9% (95% CI, 90.6% to 97.4%). For opportunistic osteoporosis screening at routine post‐contrast abdominopelvic CT scans, CTXA produces T‐scores similar to DXA. Because femoral neck CTXA BMD measurement is now included in the WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) tool, this opportunistic method could help to increase osteoporosis screening because it can be applied regardless of the clinical indication for CT scanning. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Activation of protein kinase C results in the displacement of its myristoylated, alanine-rich substrate from punctate structures in macrophage filopodia

The myristoylated, alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a prominent substrate for protein kinase C (PKC) in a variety of cells, and has been implicated in diverse cellular processes including neurosecretion, fibroblast mitogenesis, and macrophage activation. In macrophages that have spread on the substratum, MARCKS has a punctate distribution at the cell-substratum interface of pseudopodia and filopodia. At these points, MARCKS co-localizes with vinculin and talin. Activation of PKC with phorbol esters results in the rapid disappearance of punctate staining of MARCKS, but not vinculin or talin, and is accompanied by cell spreading and loss of filopodia. The morphological changes and disappearance of punctate staining follow a time-course that closely approximates both the PKC-dependent phosphorylation of MARCKS, and its phosphorylation-dependent release from the plasma membrane. Our results suggest a role for PKC-dependent phosphorylation of MARCKS in the regulation of the membrane cytoskeleton.     

Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Spastic Patients

Patients with spasticity and hip arthritis can present challenges to treatment. This investigation evaluated the effectiveness and safety of THA in patients with upper motor neuron disease. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with history of cerebral palsy (CP) or acquired spasticity (AS) underwent 30 THAs for treatment of hip arthritis. They were followed for an average 2.5 years (range 2.1–12.1). Patients with CP were more likely to require hip adductor release and hip flexor lengthening at the time of THA. Statistically significant improvements were made in Harris Hip Scores, pain scores, range of motion, ambulatory status, and the use ambulatory-assistive devices. There were no dislocations in this group. Patients with spasticity can benefit from THA in terms of pain relief and improved mobility with relatively low complications.