LFA-1 subunit expression in ulcerative colitis patients

The adhesion molecule, lymphocyte function associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) consisting of two subunits, CD11a and CD18, mediates lymphocyte migration into tissue and cell effector functions. Previous observations showed no differences in LFA-1 expression by circulating lymphocytes between inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls. The aim of the present work was to study subsets of circulating LFA-1⁴ lymphocytes in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients versus healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 16 UC patients and 10 healthy volunteers. The percentages of CD11a^lo, CD11a^hi; CD18^lo, CD18^hi T and B cells, as well as CD25 expression on these cells were studied using double staining with monoclonal antibodies and panning procedures. The percentage of CD11^hi and CD18^hi T cells was significantly decreased in quiescent UC patients as compared to active disease patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). The majority of CD25⁺ T cells were expressing CD11a and CD18 with low density. A detectable percentage, 2% (range 1–6%), of CD11a^hiCD25⁺ (but not CD18^hiCD25⁺) was found in UC patients with moderate to severe disease, but not in those with inactive UC or healthy controls. In conclusion, the percentage of CD11a^hi and CD18^hi T cells is decreased in peripheral blood of quiescent UC patients, which is probably associated with the effect of specific treatment. The percentage of CD11a^hi+ T cells is increased in peripheral blood of patients with active (moderate and severe) UC, which most likely reflects a sustained T-cell activation due to a persistent inflammatory process.The project was supported by grants from direktor Jacob Madsen's and Hustru Olga Madsen's Foundation.     

Low-Risk Diet and Lifestyle Habits in the Primary Prevention of Myocardial Infarction in Men : A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

Background

Adherence to a combination of healthy dietary and lifestyle practices may have an impressive impact on the primary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI).

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the benefit of combined low-risk diet and healthy lifestyle practices on the incidence of MI in men.

Methods

The population-based, prospective cohort of Swedish men comprised 45- to 79-year-old men who completed a detailed questionnaire on diet and lifestyle at baseline in 1997. In total, 20,721 men with no history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol levels were followed through 2009. Low-risk behavior included 5 factors: a healthy diet (top quintile of Recommended Food Score), moderate alcohol consumption (10 to 30 g/day), no smoking, being physically active (walking/bicycling ≥40 min/day and exercising ≥1 h/week), and having no abdominal adiposity (waist circumference <95 cm).

Results

During 11 years of follow-up, we ascertained 1,361 incident cases of MI. The low-risk dietary choice together with moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a relative risk of 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48 to 0.87) compared with men having 0 of 5 low-risk factors. Men having all 5 low-risk factors compared with those with 0 low-risk factors had a relative risk of 0.14 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.43). This combination of healthy behaviors, present in 1% of the men, could prevent 79% (95% CI: 34% to 93%) of the MI events on the basis of the study population.

Conclusions

Almost 4 of 5 MIs in men may be preventable with a combined low-risk behavior.     

Modulation of Intestinal Inflammation by Minimal Enteral Nutrition With Amniotic Fluid in Preterm Pigs

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe inflammatory disorder, associated with the difficult transition from parenteral to enteral feeding after preterm birth. We hypothesized that minimal enteral nutrition (MEN) with amniotic fluid (AF), prior to enteral formula feeding, would improve resistance to NEC in preterm pigs. Methods: Experiment 1: IEC‐6 cells were incubated with porcine (pAF) and human AF (hAF) to test AF‐stimulated enterocyte proliferation and migration in vitro. Experiment 2: Cesarean‐delivered, preterm pigs were fed parenteral nutrition and MEN with pAF, hAF, or control fluid (MEN‐pAF, MEN‐hAF, or MEN‐CTRL; all n = 9) for 2 days before tissue collection. Experiment 3: Preterm pigs were fed MEN diets as in experiment 2, but followed by 2 days of enteral formula feeding, which predisposes to NEC (NEC‐pAF, NEC‐hAF, or NEC‐CTRL; n = 10–12). Results: Both pAF and hAF stimulated enterocyte proliferation and migration in vitro. In experiment 2, MEN‐pAF and MEN‐hAF pigs showed increased body weight gain and reduced intestinal interleukin (IL)–8 and colonic IL‐6 levels, indicating reduced inflammatory response. In experiment 3, body weight gain was highest in the 2 groups fed AF as MEN, but NEC incidences were similar (NEC‐pAF) or increased (NEC‐hAF) compared with controls. Conclusions: Intake of pAF or hAF improved body growth and modulated intestinal inflammatory cytokines during a period of parenteral nutrition, but did not protect against later formula‐induced NEC in preterm pigs. Further studies are required to show if MEN feeding with species‐specific AF, combined with an optimal enteral diet (eg, human milk), will improve adaptation during the transition from parenteral to enteral feeding in preterm neonates.