Human calcium absorption from whole-wheat products

Fractional calcium absorption from wheat products and the influence of co-ingested wheat products on calcium absorption from milk were measured in a series of randomized crossover studies in healthy adult women. The wheat had been intrinsically labeled with 45Ca during growth. In the first study, fractional calcium absorption from leavened whole-wheat bread averaged 0.817 +/- 0.124. By comparison, absorption from milk, ingested at a comparable load in the same women, averaged only 0.589 +/- 0.111. When labeled bread was co-ingested with milk, at the same aggregate load as for bread alone, bread calcium absorption fell to 0.748 +/- 0.103 (P less than 0.05). In a second study, calcium absorption from an extruded cereal prepared from intrinsically labeled wheat bran was compared with milk. Calcium absorption from the cereal (0.223 +/- 0.046) was significantly less than from milk (0.375 +/- 0.072) (P less than 0.001). When the two were co-fed at the same total load, milk calcium absorption fell to 0.258 +/- 0.055 (P less than 0.001). In a third study, the effect of phytate hydrolysis through yeast fermentation and of Maillard browning on calcium absorption was investigated using leavened bread and underbaked and overbaked cookies, each made with intrinsically labeled wheat flour. Calcium absorption from cookies was not affected by the extent of browning and averaged 0.652 +/- 0.087. However, calcium absorption from bread in these same women averaged 0.703 +/- 0.108. This was significantly more than from the cookies (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Soybean phytate content: effect on calcium absorption

Absorption of calcium from soybeans with low and high phytate contents, intrinsically labeled with 45Ca, was measured in 16 normal women and compared in 15 of these same subjects with absorption of calcium from labeled milk. The average test load of calcium for all three sources was 2.45 mmol. Fractional calcium absorption (+/- SD) from the high-phytate soybeans averaged 0.310 +/- 0.070; from the low phytate soybeans, 0.414 +/- 0.074; and from milk, 0.377 +/- 0.056. The mean difference (+/- SEM) in fractional calcium absorption for the two phytate levels was 0.104 +/- 0.014 (P less than 0.001).     

Cocaine abuse.

The Addiction Research Center at the National Institute on Drug Abuse is conducting a program of research focusing on both the acute and longer term effects of intravenous cocaine. This column reviews and critiques a pair of studies, conducted at the Center, that explore the direct biochemical effects of intravenous cocaine administration. Implications for nursing practice and research are discussed.     

Depression in the post-MI patient.

Current nursing research has focused on the psychosocial complications and adjustment following myocardial infarction (MI). Depression can impair optimal recovery by the patient and family after MI. This article reviews and critiques two nursing studies related to depression. The first study focuses on reliably assessing depression in the post-MI patient. The second study explores the psychophysiologic link between depression and hypoxia. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.     

Tacrolimus with Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) or Sirolimus vs. Cyclosporine with MMF in Cardiac Transplant Patients: 1-Year Report

The most advantageous combination of immunosuppressive agents for cardiac transplant recipients has not yet been established. Between November 2001 and June 2003, 343 de novo cardiac transplant recipients were randomized to receive steroids and either tacrolimus (TAC) + sirolimus (SRL), TAC + mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclosporine (CYA) + MMF. Antilymphocyte induction therapy was allowed for up to 5 days. The primary endpoint of >/=3A rejection or hemodynamic compromise rejection requiring treatment showed no significant difference at 6 months (TAC/MMF 22.4%, TAC/SRL 24.3%, CYA/MMF 31.6%, p = 0.271) and 1 year (p = 0.056), but it was significantly lower in the TAC/MMF group when compared only to the CYA/MMF group at 1 year (23.4% vs. 36.8%; p = 0.029). Differences in the incidence of any treated rejection were significant (TAC/SRL = 35%, TAC/MMF = 42%, CYA/MMF = 59%; p < 0.001), as were median levels of serum creatinine (TAC/SRL = 1.5 mg/dL, TAC/MMF = 1.3 mg/dL, CYA/MMF = 1.5 mg/dL; p = 0.032) and triglycerides (TAC/SRL = 162 mg/dL, TAC/MMF = 126 mg/dL, CYA/MMF = 154 mg/dL; p = 0.028). The TAC/SRL group encountered fewer viral infections but more fungal infections and impaired wound healing. These secondary endpoints suggest that the TAC/MMF combination appears to offer more advantages than TAC/SRL or CYA/MMF in cardiac transplant patients, including fewer >/=3A rejections or hemodynamic compromise rejections and an improved side-effect profile.     

Location of the gene for 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

HLA typing of 33 families with one or more children suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia confirmed that the gene for 21-hydroxylase deficiency is closely associated with the HLA region. Analysis of two families in which recombination of chromosome 6 had occurred indicated that the gene locus is between the A and D loci of the HLA region. The rare allele Bw47 was observed in 18 parents and was always associated with the carrier state for 21-hydroxylase deficiency.     

Genetic heterogeneity in the Freeman-Sheldon syndrome: two adults with probable autosomal recessive inheritance

We report two sibs with the clinical features of the Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. T parents were unaffected and consanguineous, suggesting recessive inheritance.     

Development of hypothalamic opioid neurons: a combined immunocytochemical and [3H]thymidine autoradiographic study

Using a combined technique of immunocytochemistry and [3H]thymidine autoradiography, we have determined the "birth-date" of opioid peptide containing neurons in three hypothalamic nuclei. These include proopiomelanocortin neurons (indicated by ACTH immunoreactivity) in the arcuate nucleus, dynorphin A neurons in the supraoptic nucleus, and [Leu]enkephalin neurons in the periventricular nucleus. Arcuate proopiomelanocortin neurons were born very early in embryonic development, with peak heavy [3H]thymidine nuclear labelling occurring on embryonic day E12. Supraoptic dynorphin A neurons were also labelled relatively early (peak at E13). By contrast, [Leu]enkephalin neurons in the periventricular nucleus exhibited peak heavy nuclear labelling on day E14. The results indicate a differential genesis of these three opioid peptide containing neuronal groups in three different hypothalamic nuclei.     

Viability of periosteal tissue obtained postmortem

Periosteal autografts have the potential to regenerate articular cartilage defects, but this potential is limited by the patient's age. Allograft transplantation from a young donor to an older recipient might bypass this limitation. The effect of the time delay, between death and harvesting of a periosteal graft, on the chondrogenic potential of periosteum is important not only for transplantation but also for studies dealing with tissues retrieved postmortem (i.e., including the periosteal explant model). The purpose of this study was to investigate the chondrogenic potential of periosteum obtained postmortem and a possible beneficial effect of hypothermia. Thirty NZ white rabbits (2 months old) were sacrificed and stored at room temperature or 4 degrees C for 0, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, or 24 h. Periosteal explants were then obtained and a standard cartilage yield assay performed by culturing them for 6 weeks using the periosteal organ culture model as previous published. TGF-beta1 (10 ng/ml) was added for the first 14 days of culture. Histochemical analysis and quantitative collagen typing were performed. In the explants from the animals kept for 4 h at room temperature growth and chondrogenesis were dramatically reduced. Little or no chondrogenesis was seen in explants from rabbits maintained at room temperature after 4-8 h (or more) postmortem. Cooling the rabbits to 4 degrees C partially prevented this loss of viability and continued to do so for 24 h. Even storage at 4 degrees C did not eliminate the decrease in chondrogenic potential, though it did permit partial preservation of chondrogenic potential. If periosteum is to be used for allograft transplantation, or if it is used for experimental study, its viability must be assured. This is best accomplished by harvesting it immediately postmortem. Preservation techniques, cryopreservation, or hypothermia might be useful in preserving periosteal chondrogenic potential.