Intercorrelations of lipoprotein subfractions and their covariation with lifestyle factors in healthy men

So far, little is known about the effect of nutrition and lifestyle on the composition of circulating lipoprotein subfractions. In the current study, we measured the correlations among physical activity, nutrient intake, smoking, body-mass index (BMI), and age with the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, and apolipoproteins (ApoA1, ApoA2 and ApoB) in subfractions of LDL and HDL in 265 healthy working men. Concentrations of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoB in small, dense atherogenic LDL particles (sdLDL) correlated negatively (p<0.001) with those of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoA1 in HDL2, respectively. Age correlated positively with sdLDL while increasing BMI correlated with an atherogenic shift of cholesterol, phospholipids, and ApoB from large, buoyant LDL (lbLDL) to sdLDL and decreasing concentrations of HDL2 constituents. Physical activity and alcohol intake correlated negatively with sdLDL constituents and positively with HDL2 components. Consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) correlated with a lower ratio of sdLDL to HDL2 cholesterol. A favorable lipoprotein subfraction profile linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in men was associated with physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and dietary intake of MUFA, which might be exploited in future interventions for prevention of age- and BMI-associated atherogenic shifts of lipoprotein subfractions.     

Suture pulley countertraction method reduces procedure time and technical demand of endoscopic submucosal dissection among novice endoscopists learning endoscopic submucosal dissection: a prospective randomized ex vivo study

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Hydrolysis and absorption of glucose polymers from rice compared with corn in chronic diarrhea of infancy.

Because rice remains the most available carbohydrate in developing countries, where chronic diarrhea is most prevalent, we compared the in vitro hydrolysis and clinical tolerance of rice glucose polymer with those of corn glucose polymer. Rice glucose polymer hydrolysis to D-glucose and short-chain polymers (polymers with two to four glucose units and those with five or more units) was similar to that for corn glucose polymers during incubation with saliva or duodenal aspirates. However, rice glucose polymers yielded more short-chain products than corn glucose polymers during incubation with pooled mucosal homogenates (p less than 0.01). In vivo tolerance testing of 16 infants with chronic diarrhea confirmed that rice glucose polymers were well tolerated and, compared with corn glucose polymers, achieved a higher maximal increase of serum glucose concentration (36.6 +/- 7.3 vs 27.6 +/- 10.3 mg/dl; p less than 0.02), a shorter time to peak serum glucose concentration (34.0 +/- 10.2 vs 52.5 +/- 25.7 minutes; p less than 0.02), and a greater area under the serum glucose response curve at 30 minutes (538 +/- 131 vs 1035 +/- 501 cm; p less than 0.02). We conclude that rice glucose polymers are rapidly hydrolyzed in vitro and in vivo and are more rapidly absorbed than are corn glucose polymers in children with chronic diarrhea.     

Vitamin D deficiency, pancreatic and small intestinal enzyme development in rats

Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been shown to lead to reduced body weights in developing rat pups. To evaluate the effects of vitamin D deficiency alone both in dams and pups during the perinatal age on the ontogeny of gastrointestinal enzymes, female weanling rats (3 weeks of age) were divided into three groups. Groups I and II were fed a control (vitamin-D-replete) diet. Group II were fed a vitamin-D-deficient diet. Six weeks afterward they were mated with normal male rats while continuing on their respective diets until sacrifice. Only rats that delivered their pups on the same day from each group were brought into the study. Litter sizes of groups I and II were adjusted to 10, while group III was adjusted to 13 such that the rate of growth paralleled that of group II. At 19 days after birth, all dams and pups were sacrificed. There were no differences in the calcium and phosphorus contents in breast milk obtained from dams of each group. The serum calcium concentration of pups from group II (vitamin-D-deficient) was lower than the other groups. Body weights of pups from groups II and III were significantly lower than those of group I. The mucosal weight, total mucosal protein, mucosal DNA, sucrase, and maltase activities from groups II and III were similar, but lower than group I. Pancreatic weight, total pancreatic protein, DNA, amylase, and lipase activities from groups II and III were also similar, but lower than group I. Vitamin D deficiency was confirmed in both dams and pups from group II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparisons of a chicken-based formula with soy-based formula in infants with cow milk allergy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chicken-based formula can replace soy-based formula in infants with cow milk allergy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight infants with cow's milk allergy, aged between 2-24 months of age were randomized to receive either chicken-based formula or soy-based formula for 14 days. RESULTS: In the group of soy-based formula, 12 out of 18 infants had evidence of intolerance and could not continue with the formula. However, only 4 out of 20 infants in the chicken-based formula group had evidence of clinical intolerance. All other 16 infants were fed the chicken-based formula with success. The number of infants who were intolerant to chicken formula was significantly lower than the number of those fed soy-based formula (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Chicken-based formula can be used more effectively than soy-based formula in infants with cow milk allergy.     

High-calorie, rice-derived, short-chain, glucose polymer-based oral rehydration solution in acute watery diarrhea

In this study, we have compared the effects of the World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (WHO ORS) and an ORS containing short polymers of glucose (Amylyte ORS) at a high caloric density (five times) and comparable osmolality, on stool output, duration of diarrhea, weight gain and fluid and electrolyte balance, in randomized, open-labeled, controlled clinical trials in five centers. A total of 198 male children (4 months to 10 years) with acute diarrhea (<72 h after onset) were assigned by random allocation to either WHO ORS or Amylyte ORS at five centers in Asia. Children were stratified according to grade of dehydration (mild, moderate or severe) and the initial purging rates during the first 6h (low (<2ml/kg/h), moderate (2–5ml/kg/h) and high (>5ml/kg/h) purgers). The clinical characteristics of the children in the two treatment groups were comparable. Amylyte ORS reduced stool volumes significantly in children with severe dehydration (285.4 ± 74.2 versus 75.5 ±20.0 ml/kg; p < 0.05) and in children with a high initial purging rate (200.3 ±42.8 versus 130.5 ± 9.1 ml/kg; p < 0.05). This was accompanied by a significant (276.4 ±14.6 versus 227.6 ± 11.8 ml/kg; p < 0.01) reduction in ORS requirements in the Amylyte ORS treated group, the effect being greatest in children with severe dehydration (491.5 ± 108.5 versus 155.7 ± 27.3 ml/kg; p < 0.01) or high initial purging rates (394.2 ± 66.2 versus 316.8 ± 34.8 ml/kg; p < 0.05). In mild or moderate dehydration and low or moderate purgers, duration of diarrhea in children treated with Amylyte ORS was not reduced. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in duration of diarrhea was found in children with severe dehydration (56.4 ± 1.8 versus 34.0 ± 5.6h) or high purging rates (51.5 ± 7.1 versus 38.2 ± 4.8 h). Significantly (p < 0.0001) greater weight gain (520.3 ± 48.5 g versus 228.5 ± 42.1 g) and percent gain in weight (4.8 ± 0.4% versus 2.3 ± 0.4%) were found in children given Amylyte ORS compared with those given WHO ORS. Amylyte ORS rehydrated children with acute diarrhea, reduced stool volume, duration of diarrhea and ORS requirements in children with severe dehydration or high initial purging rates, and improved weight gain. Amylyte ORS has the advantage of containing short polymers of glucose that provide over five times the calories per liter than the glucose-based WHO ORS.