ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cholesterol-rich foods, such as eggs, has a minimal effect on circulating cholesterol levels in healthy humans. To gain insight, we investigated whether phospholipids rich in eggs (EPL) interfere with intestinal cholesterol absorption in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the acute effect of EPL on intestinal cholesterol absorption, male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered with 6, 11, or 19 mg of EPL for three days. We also tested the effect of chronic EPL consumption on cholesterol metabolism in the small intestine and the liver in mice with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat/high cholesterol (HF/HC; 35% fat, 0.25% cholesterol, w/w) diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, and subsequently the mice were either fed 0, 0.4 or 0.8% (w/w) of EPL for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased by the highest dose of acute EPL administration compared to control. Chronic EPL supplementation did not significantly alter intestinal cholesterol absorption nor plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the small intestine and the liver, EPL supplementation minimally altered the expression of genes which regulate cellular cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Although chronic EPL consumption was not able to counteract hypercholesterolemia in HF/HC-fed mice, acute EPL administration decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. This study provides in vivo evidence that acute administration of PLs in eggs prevent cholesterol absorption in the intestine, suggesting a mechanism for a minimal effect of egg consumption on circulating cholesterol levels.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Absorption , Cholesterol , Diet , Eggs , Hypercholesterolemia , Intestinal Absorption , Intestine, Small , Intestines , Lipoproteins , Liver , Metabolism , Ovum , Phosphatidylcholines , Phospholipids , PlasmaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Evidence indicates that berry anthocyanins are anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. However, berries differ vastly in their anthocyanin composition and thus potentially in their biological and metabolic effects. The present study compared hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of blueberry (BB), blackberry (BK), and blackcurrant (BC) in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat (HF; 35% fat, w/w) control diet or a HF diet supplemented with freeze-dried 5% BB, 6.3% BK or 5.7% BC for 12 weeks (10 mice/group) to achieve the same total anthocyanin content in each diet. Plasma lipids, antioxidant status and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. The expression of genes involved in antioxidant defense, inflammation, and lipid metabolism was determined in the liver, epididymal adipose tissue, proximal intestine, and skeletal muscle. Histological analysis was performed to identify crown-like structure (CLS) in epididymal fat pads to determine macrophage infiltration. RESULTS: No differences were noted between the control and any berry-fed groups in plasma levels of liver enzymes, insulin, glucose, ferric reducing antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor α. However, BK significantly lowered plasma triglyceride compared with the HF control and other berries, whereas BC significantly reduced F4/80 mRNA and the number of CLS in the epididymal fat pad, indicative of less macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that BB, BK and BC with varying anthocyanin composition differentially affect plasma lipids and adipose macrophage infiltration in DIO mice, but with no differences in their antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory potential.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Adipose Tissue , Anthocyanins , Blueberry Plants , Cytokines , Diet , Fruit , Glucose , Inflammation , Insulin , Intestines , Lipid Metabolism , Liver , Macrophages , Muscle, Skeletal , Obesity , Plasma , RNA, Messenger , Rubus , Superoxide Dismutase , Triglycerides , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report the characteristics and genetic epidemiology of keratoconus patients in the Korean population based on questionnaires, ophthalmologic findings, and genetic studies. METHODS: From September 2007 through August 2009, an epidemiologic investigation was performed through questionnaires and ocular examination of 190 keratoconus patients. To investigate the genetic cause, blood samples were taken from the keratoconus patients. Genetic analysis of keratoconus was performed through the analysis of sensitive candidate genes. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 29.6 years. Seventy-seven percent of the subjects rubbed their eyes with 17 percent suffering from atopy, allergy, and asthma. Thirty-two percent of subjects demonstrated Vogt's striae as the most frequent biomicroscopic keratoconus finding. No family history was found. Genetic analysis showed sensitive genetic variations of VSX1, LUM, and IL1B. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiology of Korean keratoconus patients was investigated through research and genetic study resulting in discovery of sensitive genes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Asthma , Eye , Genetic Variation , Hypersensitivity , Keratoconus , Korea , Molecular Epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Stress, PsychologicalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is difficult to treat patients with hepatolithiasis because of recurrent or residual stones and serious postoperative complications. This study was done to compare the operation method and postoperative progression related to location of the hepatolithiasis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was done in 234 patients who underwent operation due to hepatolithiasis from Jan. 1989 to Dec. 1998 in Chonnam University Hospital. RESULTS: The patients with left intrahepatic duct stones were 135, with right intrahepatic duct stones were 30 and with both intrahepatic duct stones were 69. In cases of resection of the liver, left lobectomy, left lateral segmentectomy, right posterior segmentectomy or right lobectomy was done. In a patient with stone in caudate lobe, caudate lobectomy was done. In non-resected group choledocholithotomy was done. Of 135 patients with left intrahepatic stones, 117 patients(86.7%) underwent hepatic resection and 18 patients(13.3%) underwent choledocholithotomy. Of 30 patients with right intrahepatic stones, 6 patients(20.0%) underwent hepatic resection and 24 patients(80.0%) underwent choledocholithotomy. Of 69 patients with both intrahepatic stones, 36 patients(52.2%) underwent resection and 33 patients(47.8%) underwent choledcholithotomy. Overall incidence of remnant stone was 28.2%. In resected group of left intrahepatic stones, the incidence of remnant stones was 8.5% and in non-resected group 33.3%. In resected group of right intrahepatic stones, the incidence of remnant stones was 0% and in non-resected group 37.5%. In resected group of both intrahepatic stones, the incidence of remnant stones was 55.6% and in non-resected group 63.6%. Incidence of postopertive complications was 22.6% and wound complication was most common. There was no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis confined to one lobe has an advantage of low incidence of remnant stone without increasing the morbidity and mortality rate. In both intrahepatic stones, the treatment is difficult, but if operation is performed with proper selection of extent of hepatic resection, favorable result would be expected.
Subject(s)
Humans , Incidence , Liver , Mastectomy, Segmental , Mortality , Postoperative Complications , Retrospective Studies , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is common practice for surgeons to place a T-tube after common bile duct exploration. T-tubes are regarded as safe and they allow postoperative cholangiography. But the unexpected cases of bile peritonitis after T-tube removal raised questions of common factors in etiology. The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors of biliary leakage after removal of T-tube from common bile duct. Materials and METHODS: Seven cases of biliary leakage after removal of T-tube have been experienced in Department of Surgery of Chonnam National University Hospital from January 1988 to March 2000. Seven cases were investigated with respect to the following parameters : presenting disease, underlying disease, laboratory findings, nutritional status, findings associate with T-tube, clinical findings and the results of treatments. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 62.9years(range, 45-77years). The presenting diseases were CBD stone with GB stone in three cases, CBD stone in two cases, IHBD stone in two cases. Previous medical history was unremarkable with the exceptions of one hypertensive patient and one patients with early gastric cancer concurrently undergoing treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The mean body mass index(BMI) of the patients was 20.5. Arterial blood gas analyses and pulmonary function tests were normal. Preoperative laboratory findings were unremarkable except one patient of hypoalbuminemia. Liver function tests were normal, except in one patient with toxic hepatitis. In all cases, silastic T-tube was inserted following cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy. The mean CBD diameter was 16.4mm (range, 12-21mm). CBD repair was done with absorbable sutures. Postoperative T-tube cholangiography revealed a remnant stone in the patients with the left intrahepatic stone and were unremarkable in all other cases. The T-tube was removed after a mean duration of 24.6days(range, 15-53). The abdomial pain and tenderness in all patients, most frequently in the right upper qudrant, was the significant sign and symptom associated with bile leakage. The symptoms resolved in four of five patients by drainage using a nelaton tube. The remaining patients(n=3) underwent reinsetion of T-tube. CONCLUSIONS: It is very difficult to predict the occurrence of bile leakage after T-tube removal. And early diagnosis and immediate percutaneous drainage make a good result in patient with localized peritonitis.