重症慢阻肺患者短期营养支持下血清游离脂肪酸的变化

对25例重症慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)伴营养不良的患者进行初步营养评价,并对其中12例给予口服加静脉营养支持治疗,观察患者在短期营养支持下血清游离脂肪酸(FFA)的变化。结果表明,短期营养支持并不能显著改善 FFA 水平(P<0.01),但在一定程度上增加患者体重,提高血清蛋白水平,脂肪乳剂的应用,可降低此类患者的动脉二氧化碳分压(PaCO_2),对 COPD 患者显示初步疗效。     

Human Cytochrome P450 Family 4 Enzymes: Function,Genetic Variation and Regulation

The microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 4 monooxygenases are the major fatty acid ω-hydroxylases. These enzymes remove excess free fatty acids to prevent lipotoxicity, catabolize leukotrienes and prostanoids, and also produce bioactive metabolites from arachidonic acid ω-hydroxylation. In addition to endogenous substrates, recent evidence indicates that CYP4 monooxygenases can also metabolize xenobiotics, including therapeutic drugs. This review focuses on human CYP4 enzymes and updates current knowledge concerning catalytic activity profiles, genetic variation and regulation of expression. Comparative differences between the human and rodent CYP4 enzymes regarding catalytic function and conditional expression are also discussed.     

Perioperative Oral Administration of Cystine and Theanine Enhances Recovery After Distal Gastrectomy

Background: It has been reported that cystine and theanine, amino acids related to glutathione synthesis, have immunomodulatory effects, such as suppressing inflammation after strenuous exercise. In this study, we examined the effects of oral administration of cystine and theanine during the perioperative period as a pilot study. Methods: Forty‐three cases of distal gastrectomy for cancer conducted in our department were assigned to the cystine and theanine group (CT group) or to the placebo control group (P group), and a randomized, single‐blind, parallel‐group study was then performed. Cystine (700 mg) and theanine (280 mg) or a placebo was administered to participants for 10 continuous days (4 days before to 5 days after surgery). Changes in pre‐ and postoperative interleukin (IL)–6, C‐reactive protein (CRP), albumin, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, total lymphocyte count, resting energy expenditure (REE), and body temperature were compared and examined. Results: Ten patients were excluded, leaving 33 patients in the study. The CT group had significantly lower IL‐6 values (postoperative day [POD] 4), CRP levels (POD 7), neutrophil counts (POD 4), and body temperatures (POD 5) than the P group (P < .05). In addition, REE in the P group peaked on day 1 (1.14 ± 0.16 [pre‐ and postoperative ratio]), whereas the CT group did not show any increase on POD 1 (0.99 ± 0.21, P < .05 vs P group). Conclusions: This study suggests that oral administration of cystine and theanine during the perioperative period may alleviate postgastrectomy inflammation and promote recovery after surgery.     

Highly selective and sensitive determination of free and total amino acids in Apocynum venetum L. (Luobuma tea) by a developed HPLC–FLD method coupled with pre-column fluorescent labelling

Amino acids (AA) are important chemical constituents of tea leaves remarkably influencing the quality of tea. In this study, free AA and total AA in Apocynum venetum L. (Luobuma tea) were estimated by HPLC equipped with fluorescent detector using 2-[2-(7H-dibenzo[a,g]carbazol-7-yl)-ethoxy] ethyl chloroformate (DBCEEC) as a fluorescent labelling reagent. Different parameters for derivatization and separation were optimized. AA were rapidly derivatized within 3 min at room temperature with DBCEEC. In conjunction with a gradient elution, a baseline resolution of 20 analytes was achieved on a reversed-phase Hypersil BDS C18 column. LC separation for the derivatized AA showed good reproducibility. Twenty AA were detected and showed significant linear responses with correlation coefficients (>0.9992). This developed method offered the low detection limit of 2.88–23.4 fmol.     

Current Strategies for Atherosclerosis and Lowering Cholesterol

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder in which nutritional factors are closely related to a number of the manifestations of the disease. Sounder nutritional principles might therefore prevent atherosclerosis itself or its major complications. Optimising nutrients would diminish monocyte adhesion to endothelium, suppress platelet aggregation, prevent oxidative modification of lipoproteins, minimise activation of coagulant factors and reduce the flux of cholesterol and of atherogenic lipoproteins through plasma.

Optimising the mix of dietary fatty acids should have the highest priority. Emphasis should be placed on those fatty acids, such as those derived from fish, which modify several cardiovascular risk factors, including plasma lipids, blood pressure and coagulation factors. Reduction of risk factors is also achieved but to a lesser extent by reducing total fat intake, reducing dietary cholesterol, optimising the mix of starches and fibre and increasing plant foods generally.

A developing strategy is to identify genetic predisposition to environmentally induced hyperlipidaemia, since most forms of hyperlipidaemia reflect interactions between genetic and dietary factors.     

Determination of Fatty Acid Levels in Erythrocyte Membranes of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterized by persistent and relapsing fatigue, often accompanied by numerous symptoms involving various systems of whole body. The etiology of CFS remains unclear. Literature reported whether the concentrations of the essential fatty acids in red cell membranes of CFS patients were decreased is controversial. In our study, Forty-two patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thirty-seven age- and sex-matched controls were selected from healthy medical staffs and volunteers. After lipid analysis, we found that the levels of the arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) were decreased in patients suffered from CFS. However, the levels of the palmitic acid and oleic acid were increased. We speculated that there are two possible mechanisms--one of which is that oxidative stress has led to an excessive oxidation and resulting in the above fatty acids. Alternatively, insufficiency of ingestion of fatty acids might not be the major cause.     

Glutamate concentration in whole saliva and taste responses to monosodium glutamate in humans

Abstract

It is universally accepted that saliva plays an important role in taste sensations. However, interactions between constituents of whole saliva and the five basic taste modalities are still poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible relationship between endogenous glutamate (Glu) levels in whole saliva and taste responses to a prototypic umami substance, monosodium glutamate (MSG; 0.03–10.0%). Rated intensity and pleasantness of MSG taste was studied in healthy volunteers divided into a high glutamate (HG) in saliva (HG; n = 19) and low glutamate in saliva (LG; n = 18) group based on the median split level of salivary Glu. The HG and LG group did not differ in terms of electrogustometric thresholds, rated intensity of the MSG samples and pleasantness of distilled water and the lower MSG concentrations (0.03–1.0%). Perceived intensity of water taste was significantly ( P