Duodenal ulcer

Although the etiology of duodenal ulcer is not known, its treatment with drugs that reduce acid secretion is well accepted. The central role of calcium in stimulus-secretion coupling resulting in acid secretion by gastric parietal cells is documented. However, the status of intracellular calcium in gastric parietal cells in the basal state in patients with duodenal ulcer is not known. Multiple endoscopic gastric mucosal biopsies from the corpus of the stomach of 52 patients were processed and isolated parietal cells were studied. Intracellular calcium was estimated using fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester. Influx and efflux were determined by using radioactive calcium. Acridine orange retention was used to assess acid production. Only calcium influx at 20 min was significantly (P<0.01) more in patients with duodenal ulcer as compared to the control group. There was no difference between the groups in calcium influx at 0 and 60 min; calcium efflux at 0, 20, and 60 min; intracellular free calcium and acid secretion. We conclude that in the unstimulated state calcium homeostasis in isolated parietal cells of patients with duodenal ulcer shows only a minimal difference as compared to controls.     

Changes in distal esophageal function in response to cooling

The effects upon esophageal motility of water at room temperature and 0 degrees C, taken as repeated small boluses and as 200-ml volumes swallowed as rapidly as possible, were compared before and after pretreatment with isosorbide denitrate 5 mg sublingually, in nine young healthy subjects and two patients with esophageal spasm. Iced water caused reduced strength, increased duration, and reduced velocity of distal esophageal contractions. It also reduced the force of lower esophageal sphincteric contraction, an effect that was more transient than that seen in the esophageal body, but it did not alter the magnitude of sphincteric relaxation. Esophageal responses in normal subjects with water at the two temperatures were not affected by isosorbide denitrate. The responses to iced water in the two patients with esophageal spasm were qualitatively similar to those in normal subjects. These findings indicate that cooling brings about a transient state of relative paralysis in the distal esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter. Taken in conjunction with other observations, they are consistent with the notion that cold-induced chest pain, whether in normal subjects or in patients with esophageal motor disorders, is related to esophageal distension.     

Adipose tissue infiltration in minor salivary glands of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome: Lack of significant correlation with the disease. An image analysis of 174 cases*

Fatty infiltration in minor salivary gland biopsies and its correlation to systemic autoimmune diseases are controversial in the literature. Presence and extent of fatty infiltration in minor salivary glands of 107 Sjögren’s syndrome patients and 67 age-matched sicca controls were compared with statistical analyses. No significant difference was found regarding the presence or the extent of fatty infiltration between the two groups. Fatty infiltration seems to be unrelated to Sjögren’s syndrome thus its examination in salivary gland biopsy samples cannot improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease.     

Prenatal dietary load of Maillard reaction products combined with postnatal Coca-Cola drinking affects metabolic status of female Wistar rats

Aim

To assess the impact of prenatal exposure to Maillard reaction products (MRPs) -rich diet and postnatal Coca-Cola consumption on metabolic status of female rats. Diet rich in MRPs and consumption of saccharose/fructose sweetened soft drinks is presumed to impose increased risk of development of cardiometabolic afflictions, such as obesity or insulin resistance.

Methods

At the first day of pregnancy, 9 female Wistar rats were randomized into two groups, pair-fed either with standard rat chow (MRP-) or MRPs-rich diet (MRP+). Offspring from each group of mothers was divided into two groups and given either water (Cola-) or Coca-Cola (Cola+) for drinking ad libitum for 18 days. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and circulating markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed.

Results

MRP+ groups had higher weight gain, significantly so in the MRP+/Cola- vs MRP-/Cola-. Both prenatal and postnatal intervention increased carboxymethyllysine levels and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity, both significantly higher in MRP+/Cola + than in MRP-/Cola-. Total antioxidant capacity was lower in MRP+ groups, with significant decrease in MRP+/Cola + vs MRP-/Cola+. Rats drinking Coca-Cola had higher insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, heart rate, advanced oxidation of protein products, triacylglycerols, and oxidative stress markers measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances compared to rats drinking water, with no visible effect of MRPs-rich diet.

Conclusion

Metabolic status of rats was affected both by prenatal and postnatal dietary intervention. Our results suggest that combined effect of prenatal MRPs load and postnatal Coca-Cola drinking may play a role in development of metabolic disorders in later life.Maillard reaction products (MRPs), first described by French biochemist C. Maillard in the beginning of 20th century (1), are formed by nonenzymatic reactions of reactive sugars and proteins, giving thermally processed food its typical color, taste, and odor.Eight decades later Brownlee et al. recognized that same substances are formed naturally in human body, and named the in vivo analogues of MRPs “advanced glycation end products” (AGEs) (2,3). Except for classical pathway of their formation under hyperglycemic conditions, there are alternative pathways of AGEs formation effective – under oxidative- and carbonyl-stress, utilizing reactive aldehydes formed during lipid peroxidation and autooxidation of glucose. AGEs are implicated in pathophysiology of aging and different non-communicable diseases: AGE-modification alters the structure (physical and chemical properties) and thus function (biological properties) of proteins (4). Discovery of specific cell-surface receptor for AGEs (RAGE) enabled characterization of indirect harmful pathways leading to enhanced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory, diabetogenic, and atherogenic effects (5,6).In 1997, Koschinsky et al (7) showed that dietary MRPs partially absorbed into the bloodstream were chemically and biologically active, exerting harmful health effects, which is why they were called “glycotoxins.” This finding prompted extensive research confirming that consumption of large amounts of dietary MRPs might induce or aggravate insulin resistance, renal impairment or atherosclerosis, activate inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, and contribute to development of complications in diabetes and nephropathies (8-11). These findings raise the question on the role of MRPs-rich diet in prenatal programming. Evidence strongly suggests that maternal obesity and improper prenatal nutrition provide maladaptive intrauterine cues to developing offspring, predisposing organs for chronic disease later in life (12,13). Maternal dietary habits affect the fetus, outcome of pregnancy, and long term health of the child (14-16). Mericq et al found a direct relationship between newborn’s and maternal serum levels of several AGEs at the time of delivery, suggesting maternal transmission of AGEs (17). AGEs/RAGE axis activates in pregnancy-associated pathologies impacting fetus development, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth (18-20).Rising prevalence of obesity and obesity-associated (particularly metabolic) complications in youth (21,22) was linked, among others, to rising consumption of sugar-sweetened carbonated drinks such as cola beverages (23,24). Effects are attributed to multiple factors, including higher caloric intake, high fructose content rendering less satiety and compensation and resulting in elevated plasma uric acid, and a general effect of consuming refined carbohydrates (25,26). Moreover, cola beverages also contain MRPs and reactive AGE-precursors, most abundantly hydroimidazolone derived from arginine residues modified by methylglyoxal (27,28).To the best of our knowledge potential effects of MRPs-rich diet during pregnancy on prenatal programming have yet not been investigated. In this study we investigated the metabolic status of young adult rats – offspring of mothers consuming MRPs-rich diet during pregnancy. As drinking of cola beverages is increasingly popular among children and adolescents, our second aim was to investigate the additional impact of Coca-Cola consumption on prenatally affected young adult rats.     

Influence of condensing equipment and temperature on exhaled breath condensate pH, total protein and leukotriene concentrations

BACKGROUND: Exhaled breath condensate analysis is an attractive but still not fully standardised method for investigating airway pathology. Adherence of biomarkers to various condensing surfaces and changes in condensing temperature has been considered to be responsible for the variability of the results. Our aims were to compare the efficacy of different types of condensers and to test the influence of condensing temperature on condensate composition. METHODS: Breath condensates from 12 healthy persons were collected in two settings: (1) by using three condensers of different type (EcoScreen, R-Tube, Anacon) and (2) by using R-Tube condenser either cooled to -20 or -70 degrees C. Condensate pH at standardised CO(2) level was determined; protein content was measured by the Bradford method and leukotrienes by EIA. RESULTS: Breath condensates collected using EcoScreen were more alkaline (6.45+/-0.20 vs. 6.19+/-0.23, p<0.05 and 6.10+/-0.26, p<0.001) and contained more protein (3.89+/-2.03 vs. 2.65+/-1.98, n.s. and 1.88+/-1.99 microg/ml, p<0.004) as compared to the other devices. Only parameters obtained with R-Tube and Anacon correlated. Condensing temperature affected condensate pH (5.99+/-0.20 at -20 degrees C and 5.82+/-0.07 at -70 degrees C, p<0.05) but not protein content. Leukotriene B(4) was not found in any sample and cysteinyl-leukotriene was not found in condensates collected with R-Tube or Anacon. CONCLUSION: Condenser type influences sample pH, total protein content and cysteinyl-leukotriene concentration. Condensing temperature influences condensate pH but not total protein content. These results suggest that adherence of the biomarkers to condenser surface and condensing temperature may play a role but does not fully explain the variability of EBC biomarker levels.