Evaluation of vitamin B6 intake and status of 20- to 64-year-old Koreans

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent research regarding vitamin B6 status including biochemical index is limited. Thus, this study estimated intakes and major food sources of vitamin B6; determined plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP); and assessed vitamin B6 status of Korean adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h diet recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (n = 254) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, cities of Kwangju and Gumi, Korea. Vitamin B6 intake and plasma PLP were analyzed by gender and by vitamin B6 supplementation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine associations of vitamin B6 intake and plasma PLP. RESULTS: The mean dietary and total (dietary plus supplemental) vitamin B6 intake was 1.94 +/- 0.64 and 2.41 +/- 1.45 mg/day, respectively. Median (50th percentile) dietary intake of men and women was 2.062 and 1.706 mg/day. Foods from plant sources provided 70.61% of dietary vitamin B6 intake. Only 6.3% of subjects consumed total vitamin B6 less than Estimated Average Requirements. Plasma PLP concentration of all subjects was 40.03 +/- 23.71 nmol/L. The concentration of users of vitamin B6 supplements was significantly higher than that of nonusers (P < 0.001). Approximately 16% of Korean adults had PLP levels < 20 nmol/L, indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin B6, while 19.7% had marginal vitamin B6 status. Plasma PLP concentration showed positive correlation with total vitamin B6 intake (r = 0.40984, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, vitamin B6 intake of Korean adults was generally adequate. However, one-third of subjects had vitamin B6 deficiency or marginal status. Therefore, in some adults in Korea, consumption of vitamin B6-rich food sources should be encouraged.

Suppression of VEGF and Decrease in Vascular Leakage by Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate in Diabetic Rats

PURPOSE: The authors of the present study investigated whether pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, could inhibit the development of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Seven-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats (n = 20) were used in the present study. STZ (70 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Blood glucose and body weight were monitored. Intraperitoneal injections of 5 microg and 50 microg PLP were administered every two days from the second week of induced diabetes. During the third week of PLP injections, the concentration level of plasma homocysteine was measured. In addition, functional status was examined by vitreous fluorophotometer and anatomical status by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining in the retina. RESULTS: Based on vitreous fluorophotometry examination, the PLP injection group proved to have a lower level of fluorescein concentration in the vitreous. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining revealed down-regulation of VEGF expression in the PLP group. In addition, the PLP group had a lower plasma homocysteine concentration. However, an over-dosage injection of PLP did not appear to have any noticeable impact on the treatment of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: PLP, an active coenzyme of vitamin B6, proved to have inhibitory effects on VEGF expression and vascular leakage in the diabetic rat retina.

Effect of acute changes in glucose concentration on neuronal activity and plasticity in the rat hippocampus / Efecto de los cambios agudos en la concentración de glucosa sobre la actividad neuronal y la plasticidad en el hipocampo de las ratas

OBJETIVES: Diabetes mellitus is a major public health concern in many regions of the world, including the Caribbean. Diabetes is associated with multi-system pathology and central nervous system complications have been receiving increasing attention (dementia, cognitive decline and memory loss). While such pathology has been shown to be associated with long term derangement in glucose metabolism,less is known about the effects of acute changes in glucose concentration on neuronal function. This study assesses the effects of acute changes in glucose concentration upon neuronal transmission and neuronal plasticity. METHODS: We made use of extracellular recordings from hippocampal slices of young adult rats and exposed them to changes in glucose concentration for 60 minutes before assessing synaptic plasticity. Experiments were carried out at both 30ºC and 35ºC. RESULTS: At 30ºC, glucose concentrations of 30 mM and 4 mM had little effect upon population spike potentials (PSP). However, reducing glucose concentration to 2 mM, 1 mM and 0 mM respectively resulted in a progressive decrease in the size of PSP until they were completely abolished. Similar results were observed at 35ºC except that 30 mM caused a significant increase in PSP size. Changes in glucose concentration had no effect upon synaptic plasticity at either 30ºC or 35ºC except below 2 mM glucose. CONCLUSION: Acute changes in glucose concentration have a limited impact on neuronal transmission unless concentrations drop below 2 mM. However, there seems to be little impairment of synaptic plasticity even at very low concentrations of glucose. We suggest that short term acute changes in glucose concentrations may not contribute directly to the cognitive decline associated with diabetes unless extremely severe.

OBJETIVOS: La diabetes mellitus es una de las principales preocupaciones de la salud pública en muchas regiones del mundo, incluyendo el Caribe. La diabetes se encuentra asociada con una patología multi-sistémica, y en tiempos recientes las complicaciones del sistema nervioso central han estado recibiendo cada vez mayor atención, incluyendo la demencia, el deterioro cognitivo y la pérdida de la memoria. Si bien se ha demostrado que esta patología se encuentra asociada con trastornos a largo plazo del metabolismo de la glucosa, poco se sabe de los efectos de los cambios agudos en la concentración de la glucosa en el funcionamiento neuronal. Este estudio evalúa los efectos de los cambios agudos en la concentración de glucosa, sobre la transmisión y la plasticidad neuronales. MÉTODOS:Se hizo uso de grabaciones extracelulares de segmentos del hipocampo de ratas adultas jóvenes. Las grabaciones fueron expuestas a cambios en la concentración de glucosa durante 60 minutos antes de evaluar la plasticidad sináptica. Los experimentos se llevaron a cabo a 30ºC y 35ºC. RESULTADOS: A 30ºC las concentraciones de glucosa de 30 mM y 4 mM tuvieron poco efecto sobre los potenciales de punta PSP (Population Spike Potentials). Sin embargo, la reducción de la concentración de glucosa a 2 mM, 1 mM y 0 mM respectivamente trajo como resultado una progresiva disminución del tamaño de los PSP hasta llegar a su total anulación. Resultados similares que observaron a 35ºC excepto en el caso de 30 mM, en el que se produjo un aumento significativo en la magnitud de los PSP. Los cambios en la concentración de glucosa no tuvieron efecto alguno sobre la plasticidad sináptica a 30ºC ni a 35ºC excepto por debajo de 2 mM de glucosa. CONCLUSIÓN: Los cambios agudos en la concentración de la glucosa tienen un impacto limitado sobre la transmisión neuronal a menos que las concentraciones caigan por debajo de 2 mM. Sin embargo, al parecer hay poca afectación de la plasticidad sináptica, incluso a concentraciones muy bajas de glucosa. Sugerimos que los cambios agudos a corto plazo de las concentraciones de glucosa pueden no contribuir directamente al deterioro cognitivo asociado con la diabetes, a menos que sea extremadamente severa.

Effects of Bulb Type Palatal Lift Prosthesis Therapy on Nasality and Velopharyngeal Function of Patients Following Palatoplasty / Oral Science International

In the present study, the effects of bulb type palatal lift prosthesis (bulb-PLP) therapy on nasality and velopharyngeal function (VPF) of patients with velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) following palatoplasty were longitudinally assessed.The subjects included 18 patients (3 to 52 years of age) who had shown persistent VPI following palatoplasty and who had received bulb-PLP therapy. Nasality and VPF were assessed by perceptual voice analysis, nasometer test, blowing test, and cephalometric radiographic examination. Based on the outcomes of bulb-PLP therapy, the subjects were classified into two groups: the effective group and the ineffective group. Furthermore, the obturating and VPF-activating effects by bulb-PLP therapy were analyzed, and factors relating to different VPF activities were determined.All subjects achieved adequate VPF by wearing a bulb-PLP. After treatment, 10 patients (55.6%) achieved successful activation of VPF without bulb-PLP (the effective group), while persistent VPI remained in 8 patients (the ineffective group). The beginning-blowing ratio of the effective group was significantly greater than that of the ineffective group (P < 0.05) and the velopharyngeal distance (V-P distance) of the effective group tended to be smaller (P = 0.07). Regarding the shape of the bulb head, the angular type was dominant in the ineffective group, while the round type was dominant in the effective group.Bulb-PLP therapy was useful for providing adequate VPF activation. Possible signs of the subsequent effective activation of VPF are considered to be: 1) preexisting adequate VPF on blowing, 2) smaller V-P distance, and 3) synchronized palatopharyngeal movement.

Advance in Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain(review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Phantom limb pain(PLP) is a common sequela of amputation. With the lucubration of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PLP, lots of progression for the treatment of PLP has been achieved. Combined modality therapy is very important especially in psychological, behavior and operative therapy.

Effects of Maternal Serum B vitamins, Homocysteine Concentrations and the 5, 10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Polymorphism on Pregnancy Outcomes

Maternal nutritional status has been shown to influence pregnancy outcomes. And the elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the effects of maternal serum levels of B vitamins and homocysteine, and the C677T MTHFR (5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphism on pregnancy outcomes. In 177 pregnant women of 24-28 wks of gestation, the MTHFR gene mutation, serum B vitamins and homocysteine concentrations were measured, and their pregnancy outcomes were investigated from medical records. The birth length, and 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates in the T/T mothers were 45.4+/-9.3 cm, 7.6+/-3.2 and 8.5+/-3.8, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the C/T (48.6+/-3.3 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.2) or the C/C mothers (49.4+/-1.9 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.0). The birth weight, birth length and the gestational age of neonates at delivery from hyperhomocysteinemic mothers whose homocysteine levels higher than 15 micromol were 2.5+/-1.3 kg, 43.9+/-9.0 cm, 35.4+/-6.3 wk, respectively, which were significant lower than those from normohomocysteinemic mothers (3.1+/-0.6 kg, 48.8+/-3.6 cm, 38.5+/-2.5 wk). The birth weight and birth length of neonates in mothers whose PLP levels were below the median were significantly lower than those from mothers with the PLP levels above the median. The 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum PLP levels were below the median. The 1-, 5 min Apgar scores and birth length of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum FMN levels were below the median. In conclusion, maternal B vitamin status, homocysteine and the C677T MTHFR genotype seem to have played an important role on pregnancy outcomes.