Iodine status in vegans consuming a living food diet

The dietary intake and urinary output of iodine and the thyroid activity was measured in 12 living food eaters (people consuming uncooked, Lactobacilli rich vegan food) and omnivores. Seven day food record was used for calculating the dietary iodine intake, instrumental neutron activation analysis for measuring the urinary iodine output and RIA for determining of the thyroid hormones (TSH and FT4). The living food eaters were divided into two groups according to urinary iodine output: high iodine group (≥900 ug/d) and low iodine group (<200 ug/d). Thyroid activity in both groups was with in normal range. Dietary intake of iodine was dependent on the the use of seaweed. The highest amounts of dietary iodine observed in the present study, as assessed by the the urinary iodine output, can be harmful for susceptible subjects. On the other hand the calculated intake of iodine by living food eaters didn't fill the RDA. As an conclusion on a living food diet one has to ensure the sufficient intake of iodine by consuming seaweed or Kelp tablets daily. However the intake of these preparations needs to be kept at reasonble limits due to their possible high iodine content. More information of the iodine content of different seaweeds and seaweed products is needed.     

Adenoviral gene transfer restores lysyl hydroxylase activity in type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a disease characterized by disturbed lysine hydroxylation of collagen. The disease is caused by mutations in lysyl hydroxylase 1 gene and it affects several organs including the cardiovascular system, the joint and musculoskeletal system, and the skin. The skin of type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients is hyperelastic, scars easily, and heals slowly and poorly. We hypothesized that providing functional lysyl hydroxylase 1 gene to the fibroblasts in and around wounds in these patients would improve healing. In this study we tested the feasibility of transfer of the lysyl hydroxylase 1 gene into fibroblasts derived from rats and a type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient (in vitro) and into rat skin (in vivo). We first cloned human lysyl hydroxylase 1 cDNA into a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad5RSV-LH). Transfection of human type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome fibroblasts (about 20% of normal lysyl hydroxylase 1 activity) with the vector increased lysyl hydroxylase 1 activity in these cells to near or greater levels than that of wild type, unaffected fibroblasts. The adenoviral vector successfully transfected rat fibroblasts producing both beta-galactosidase and lysyl hydroxylase 1 gene activity. We next expanded our studies to a rodent model. Intradermal injections of the vector to the abdominal skin of rats produced lysyl hydroxylase 1 mRNA and elevated lysyl hydroxylase 1 activity, in vivo. These data suggest the feasibility of gene replacement therapy to modify skin wound healing in type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients.     

Bronchial sleeve resection or pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity-matched analysis of long-term results,survival and quality of life

Background

No randomized studies exist comparing pneumonectomy (PN) and sleeve lobectomy (SL). We evaluated surgical results and long-term quality of life in patients operated on for central non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using either SL or PN.

Methods

A total of 641 NSCLC patients underwent surgery 2000-2010. SL was performed in 40 (6.2%) and PN in 67 (10.5%). In 2011, all surviving patients were sent a 15D Quality of Life Questionnaire which 83% replied. Propensity-score-matching analysis was utilized to compare the groups.

Results

Thirty-two bronchial (18 right/14 left), seven vasculobronchial (3 right/4 left), one right wedge SL, and 18 right and 22 left PN were performed. Preoperatively, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and diffusion capacity did not differ between groups. The perioperative complication rate and pattern were similar, but SL group had less major complications (P<0.027). One perioperative death (2.5%) occurred in SL group and four (6%) in PN. The 90-day mortality rate was 5% (n=2) for SL and 7.5% (n=5) for PN. In the follow-up total cancer recurrence did not differ (P=0.187). Quality of life measured by 15D showed no significant difference in separate dimensions or total score, except tendency to favor SL in moving or breathing. The 5-year survival did not differ between groups (P=0.458), but no deaths were observed in SL group after 5 years.

Conclusions

Due to less major operative complications and better long-term survival, we would advocate using SL when feasible, but in patients tolerating PN it should be considered if SL seems not to be oncologically sufficiently radical.     

Consumption of special diet among Finnish adolescents in 1979–2001: repeated national cross-sectional surveys

Objective: To study consumption of special diet (disease-related and non disease-related) among Finnish adolescents during 1979–2001.Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to nationally representative samples of 12- (except in 1979), 14-, 16-, and 18-year-olds in 1979, 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001.     

Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms

The effect of a strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria on symptoms in 18 fibromyalgia patients during and after a 3-month intervention period in an open, non-randomized controlled study was evaluated. As control 15 patients continued their omnivorous diet. The groups did not differ significantly from each other in the beginning of the study in any other parameters except in pain and urine sodium. The results revealed significant improvements in Visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) (p=0.005), joint stiffness (p=0.001), quality of sleep (p=0.0001), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) (p=0.031), General health questionnaire (GHQ) (p=0.021), and a rheumatologist's own questionnaire (p=0.038). The majority of patients were overweight to some extent at the beginning of the study and shifting to a vegan food caused a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) (p=0.0001). Total serum cholesterol showed a statistically significant lowering (p=0.003). Urine sodium dropped to 1/3 of the beginning values (p=0.0001) indicating good diet compliance. It can be concluded that vegan diet had beneficial effects on fibromyalgia symptoms at least in the short run.     

Comparison of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Franz cell methods to assess dermal diffusion of volatile chemicals

Recent work in our laboratory shows that it is possible to measure the minute weight changes of skin during exposure to chemical vapor using the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method. Further, the TGA weight curves can be analyzed with a two-compartment diffusion model, yielding two sets of diffusion and skin:air partition coefficients. In this study, the dermal diffusion of six chemical vapors (n-butanol, cyclohexanone, ethyl benzene, n-hexane, styrene and m-xylene) were studied by the TGA method using neonatal pig skin. The penetration of the six substances was also studied using conventional Franz diffusion cells and neat, liquid chemical. A combined analysis of the data, along with previously published data on four additional substances (n-butyl acetate, methanol, 2-propanol and toluene) suggest a good agreement between the TGA and the Franz cell methods with respect to diffusion coefficients. An interesting observation is that correction of the TGA-derived diffusion coefficients by the octanol:water partition coefficient improves the agreement with the Franz cell-derived coefficients. TGA-data for seven of the substances were further compared with dermal diffusion studies on chemical vapor reported by other investigators. The comparisons show good agreement with respect to permeability as well as skin:air partition coefficients. In conclusion, it appears that good estimates of diffusion coefficients as well as skin:air and permeability coefficients can be derived for volatile chemicals with the TGA technique.     

Consumption of special diet among Finnish adolescents in 1979-2001: repeated national cross-sectional surveys

Summary. Objective: To study consumption of special diet (disease-related and non disease-related) among Finnish adolescents during 1979–2001.Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to nationally representative samples of 12- (except in 1979), 14-, 16-, and 18-year-olds in 1979, 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001.Results: The total number of respondents was 33998. The response rate declined from 78% in 1979 to 70% in 2001. Consumption of special diet increased from 1979 to 2001: in 14- year-old girls from 4% to 24%, boys from 1% to 12%; 16-yearold girls from 5% to 29%, boys from 3% to 11%; and 18-year-old girls from 9% to 30%, boys from 3% to 16%. An increase was observed both in the consumption of disease-related diets (diabetic, lactose intolerance, allergies), and in non disease-related diets (weight reducing, sports and body-building, vegetarianism, other).Conclusions: Adherence to special diet is partly explained by an increased prevalence of certain diseases (lactose intolerance, allergies, diabetes). Increase in vegetarianisms and diets related to body weight or shape are most likely explained by fads, ideals created by media, and by growing ecological awareness.

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Zusammenfassung. Das Einhalten spezieller Diäten durch finnische Jugendliche: wiederholte nationale Querschnittserhebung, 1979–2001Fragestellung: Untersuchung der Einhaltung von Diäten durch finnische Jugendliche im Zeitraum von 1979–2001.Methoden: Schriftliche Befragung ausgewählter Stichproben von 12-, 14-, 16-, und 18-Jährigen in ganz Finnland in den Jahren 1979 (ohne 12-Jährige), 1993, 1997, 1999 und 2001.Ergebnisse: Insgesamt 33998 Jugendliche antworteten. Die Rücklaufquote sank von 78% im Jahr 1979 auf 70% im Jahr 2001. Der Anteil an Jugendlichen, die eine spezielle Diät einhalten, stieg zwischen 1979 und 2001 bei 14-jährigen Mädchen von 4% auf 24%, bei 14-jährigen Jungen von 1% auf 12%; bei 16-jährigen Mädchen und Jungen von 5% auf 29% resp. von 3% auf 11%; bei 18-jährigen Mädchen von 9% auf 30% und bei gleichaltrigen Jungen von 3% auf 16%. Sowohl die Einhaltung von krankheitsbedingten Diäten (Diabetes, Laktose-Intoleranz, Allergien) als auch von Diäten ohne Krankheitsbezug (Gewichtsabnahme, Sport und Bodybuilding, Vegetarismus o.ä.) ist häufiger geworden. Die beobachtete Zunahme könnte aufgrund einer geringfügigen Modifikation der Fragestellung im Jahr 1999 etwas grösser als in Realität ausfallen.Schlussfolgerungen: Die wachsende Bedeutung von Diäten im Jugendalter lässt sich zum Teil durch eine steigende Prävalenz gewisser Krankheiten erklären (Laktose-Intoleranz, Diabetes). Der zunehmende Vegetarismus und das Einhalten von Diäten zur Kontrolle von Körpergewicht oder -form dürften vor allem durch Modeerscheinungen, von Medien geschaffene Ideale und ein wachsendes ökologisches Bewusstsein zu erklären sein.

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Résumée. Suivi d’un régime spécifique parmi les adolescents finlandais: enquêtes nationales répétées (1979–2001)Objectifs: Etudier le suivi de régimes spécifiques par les adolescents finnois entre 1979 et 2001.Méthodes: Des questionnaires auto-administrés ont été envoyés à des échantillons nationaux représentatifs d’adolescents de 12, 14, et 18 ans en 1979, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001 (12 ans pas inclus en 1979).Résultats: 33998 réponses ont été reçues. Le taux de réponse est passé de 78% en 1979 à 70% en 2001. Le suivi d’un régime spécifique a augmenté entre 1979 et 2001: chez les adolescentes de 14 ans de 4 à 24%, chez les garçons de 1 à 12%; chez les adolescentes de 16 ans de 5 à 29%, chez les garçons de 3 à 11%; chez les adolescentes de 18 ans de 9 à 30%, chez les garçons de 3 à 16%. Cette augmentation a été observée aussi bien pour les régimes en lien avec une maladie (diabète, intolérance au lactose, allergie) que pour d’autres régimes (régime amaigrissant, en lien avec la pratique d’un sport ou de body-building, régime végétarien, etc.)Conclusions: Le fait de suivre un régime spécifique s’explique partiellement par une prévalence augmentée de certaines maladies (intolérance au lactose, allergies, diabète). L’augmentation de la pratique d’un régime végétarien et de régimes en lien avec le poids corporel est très probablement à mettre en lien avec la mode, les idéaux relayés par les médias et par une conscience écologique de plus en plus répandue.

     

Coumarin 7-hydroxylation in long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet

Objective: Coumarin 7-hydroxylation was investigated in 21 Finnish vegans (20 females, one male) consuming a strict, uncooked vegan diet (“living food diet”) and in their matched omnivorous controls, by means of an in vivo coumarin test. Method: A capsule containing 5?mg of coumarin (Venalot^®) was taken after an overnight fast, and urine samples were collected before and 2, 4 and 6?h after the drug administration. The extent and rate of urinary excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin was determined using HPLC. Results: The total urinary excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin during 6?h was 58 (range 23–85) and 64 (range 39–92)% of the administred dose in the vegan and control groups. The coumarin index (excretion of 7-hydroxycoumarin during the first 2?h as percentage of total excretion) was 72% in the vegan and 78% in the control groups. A negative correlation was observed between the coumarin index and the consumption of wheatgrass juice by the vegans (r?=??0.60, P?n?=?21). Proportion of slow hydroxylators (excreting 7-hydroxycoumarin after 4?h) was not statistically different between the groups (5/21 in the vegans vs 8/20 in the controls). Conclusion: According to the present study, the clearly different dietary patterns and nutrient intakes between the vegans and the omnivores resulted in similar extent and rate of 7-hydroxycoumarin formation, indicating only a minor effect on coumarin hydroxylase (CYP2A6) activity by the plant substances in the uncooked vegan diet.     

Antioxidant status in vegetarians versus omnivores

Every day, vegetarians consume many carbohydrate-rich plant foods such as fruits and vegetables, cereals, pulses, and nuts. As a consequence, their diet contains more antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene) and copper than that of omnivores. Intake of zinc is generally comparable to that by omnivores. However, the bioavailability of zinc in vegetarian diets is generally lower than that of omnivores. Dietary intake of selenium is variable in both groups and depends on the selenium content of the soil. Measurements of antioxidant body levels in vegetarians show that a vegetarian diet maintains higher antioxidant vitamin status (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene) but variable antioxidant trace element status as compared with an omnivorous diet. To evaluate the antioxidative potential of a vegetarian diet versus an omnivorous diet, more studies are needed in which the total antioxidant capacity is determined rather than the status of a single antioxidant nutrient.     

Thoracotomy and VATS Surgery in Local Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Differences in Long-Term Health-Related Quality Of Life

BackgroundAs a result of routine low-dose computed tomographic screening, lung cancer is more frequently diagnosed at earlier, operable stages of disease. In treating local non–small-cell lung cancer, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive surgical approach, has replaced thoracotomy as the standard of care. While short-term quality-of-life outcomes favor the use of VATS, the impact of VATS on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unknown.Patients and MethodsWe studied patients who underwent lobectomy for the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer from January 2006 to January 2013 at a single institution (n = 456). Patients who underwent segmentectomy (n = 27), who received neoadjuvant therapy (n = 13), or who were found to have clinical stage > T2 or > N0 disease (n = 45) were excluded from analysis. At time of HRQoL assessment, 199 patients were eligible for study and were mailed the generic HRQoL instrument 15D.ResultsA total of 180 patients (90.5%) replied; 92 respondents underwent VATS while 88 underwent open thoracotomy. The VATS group more often had adenocarcinoma (P = .006), and lymph node stations were sampled to a lesser extent (P = .004); additionally, hospital length of stay was shorter among patients undergoing VATS (P = .001). No other clinical or pathologic differences were observed between the 2 groups. Surprisingly, patients who underwent VATS scored significantly lower on HRQoL on the dimensions of breathing, speaking, usual activities, mental function, and vitality, and they reported a lower total 15D score, which reflects overall quality of life (P < .05).ConclusionIn contrast to earlier short-term reports, long-term quality-of-life measures are worse among patients who underwent VATS compared to thoracotomy.