Effects of herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction on rabbits after relieving intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction leads to blockage of the movement of intestinal contents. After relieving the obstruction, patients might still suffer with compromised immune function and nutritional deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Sijunzi decoction on restoring the immune function and nutritional status after relieving the obstruction. Experimental rabbits (2.5±0.2 kg) were randomly divided into normal control group, 2-day intestinal obstruction group, 2-day natural recovery group, 4-day natural recovery group, 2-day treated group, and 4-day treated group. Sijunzi decoction was given twice a day to the treated groups. The concentration of markers was analyzed to evaluate the immune function and nutritional status. The concentration of interleukin-2, immunoglobulins and complement components of the treated groups were significantly higher than the natural recovery group (P<0.05). The levels of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ increased then decreased in the treated groups. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and CD8+ were significantly lower than the natural recovery group. The level of total protein in the treated groups also increased then decreased after relieving the obstruction. The levels of albumin, prealbumin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were significantly higher in the treated groups than in the natural recovery group (P<0.05). Transferrin level in the treated groups was significantly higher than the obstruction group (P<0.05). Sijunzi decoction can lessen the inflammatory response and improve the nutrition absorption after relieving the obstruction.

Hematological and iron content evolution in exclusively breastfed late-preterm newborns

OBJECTIVES: To analyze and compare the evolution of hematological parameters and body iron content between exclusively breastfed late-preterm and term newborns during the first two months of life. METHODS: Cohort study. Weight, length, head circumference, body mass index, hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, serum iron and ferritin were measured in 25 late-preterm and 21 term newborns (at birth and at one and two months of age) who were exclusively breastfed. Statistical analysis: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test; and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Significance: p<0.05. RESULTS: The corrected gestational ages of the late-preterm infants were 39.98 weeks at one month of life and 44.53 weeks at two months. Anthropometric measures and the body mass index increased over time (p<0.001) and hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes and body iron content decreased (p<0.001). Late-preterm infants at term corrected gestational age had reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit and reticulocyte concentrations, and reduced total iron-binding capacity (p<0.001) and serum iron (p = 0.0034) compared with values observed in term newborns at birth. Late-preterm newborns at a corrected gestational age of one month post-term ...

Proteomic analysis of domestic pig pancreas during development using two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry / 한국실험동물학회지

Pig pancreas may be a therapeutic resource for human diabetic patients. However, this potential is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the molecular events of pig pancreas development. In this study, the embryonic day 60, neonate and 6-month protein profiles of pig pancreas were ascertained at using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Twenty four proteins were differentially expressed during pig pancreas development. Among them, 12 spots increased and 7 spots decreased according to development. The expression of 5 protein were highest at birth. Expression of digestive enzymes including trypsin, pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase and pancreatic alpha-amylase was elevated in adults, whereas chymotrypsins were highly expressed in neonates. Proteins that were abundantly expressed during gestation were alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-fetoprotein and transferrins. Taken together, we found out that several proteins were significantly up- or down- regulated from pig pancreas based on developmental stage. This study will provide basis for understanding development of pig pancreas.

Angiotensin receptor blocker add-on therapy in portal hypertension: To use angiotensin receptor blocker or not to use, that is the question

No abstract available.

Serum transferrin as a liver fibrosis biomarker in patients with chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transferrin and alpha-1 antitrypsin are reportedly associated with liver fibrosis. We evaluated the usefulness of serum transferrin and alpha-1 antitrypsin as new liver fibrosis markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: The study included 293 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent a liver biopsy between October 2005 and June 2009, and who had no history of hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum markers and liver fibrosis stages were compared. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that age (P<0.001), serum platelet count (P<0.001), and serum alkaline phosphatase level (P=0.003) differed significantly between the patients with and without liver cirrhosis. Serum transferrin levels were significantly lower in advanced fibrosis than in mild fibrosis in both univariate analysis (P=0.002) and multivariate analysis (P=0.009). In addition, the serum transferrin level was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in noncirrhotic patients (P=0.020). However, the serum level of alpha-1 antitrypsin was not significantly associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Serum transferrin could be promising serum marker for predicting advanced liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Korean Population: Results of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This study assessed the prevalence of, and risk factors for, iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among participants of the fifth Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010. Of 8,958 participants, 6,758 individuals > or =10 yr had sufficient data for the analysis of anemia and iron status. ID was defined as a transferrin saturation or =65 yr, lactating females, premenopausal females, and pregnant females were 8.1, 35.7, 42.8, and 95.5, respectively. Low income, underweight, iron- or vitamin C-poor diets were also associated with IDA. For populations with defined risk factors in terms of age, gender, physiological state and socioeconomic and nutritional status, national health policy to reduce IDA is needed.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for nutritional palliation of upper esophageal cancer unsuitable for esophageal stenting / A gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica na paliação nutricional do câncer do esôfago proximal sem possibilidade de colocação de prótese

CONTEXT: Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis. Most patients with advanced esophageal cancer have significant dysphagia that contributes to weight loss and malnutrition. Esophageal stenting is a widespread palliation approach, but unsuitable for cancers near the upper esophageal sphincter, were stents are poorly tolerated. Generally, guidelines do not support endoscopic gastrostomy in this clinical setting, but it may be the best option for nutritional support. OBJECTIVE: Retrospective evaluation of patients with dysphagia caused advanced esophageal cancer, no expectation of resuming oral intake and with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for comfort palliative nutrition. METHOD: We selected adult patients with unresecable esophageal cancer histological confirmed, in whom stenting was impossible due to proximal location, and chemotherapy or radiotherapy were palliative, using gastrostomy for enteral nutrition. Clinical and nutritional data were evaluated, including success of gastrostomy, procedure complications and survival after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and evolution of body mass index, albumin, transferrin and cholesterol. RESULTS: Seventeen males with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 60.9 years. Most of the patients had toxic habits. All underwent palliative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Gastrostomy was successfully performed in all, but nine required prior dilatation. Most had the gastrostomy within 2 months after diagnosis. There was a buried bumper syndrome treated with tube replacement and four minor complications. There were no cases of implantation metastases or procedure related mortality. Two patients were lost and 12 died. Mean survival of deceased patients was 5.9 months. Three patients are alive 6, 14 and 17 months after the gastrostomy procedure, still increasing the mean survival. Mean body mass index and laboratory parameters were roughly stable 1 and 3 months after the gastrostomy procedure. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with advanced upper esophageal cancer where only palliative treatment is possible, nutritional support is easily achieved with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, allowing patients to be at homes, surviving a significant period of time. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding should be considered as standard definitive nutritional palliation in patients with upper esophageal cancer, unsuitable for esophageal stenting.

CONTEXTO: O câncer do esôfago é frequentemente diagnosticado num estádio avançado, com mau prognóstico. A maioria dos pacientes com câncer avançado do esôfago sofre de disfagia que contribui para a desnutrição e perda de peso. A colocação de endopróteses é uma forma de paliação muito difundida. Contudo, as próteses muito próximas do esfíncter esofágico superior são mal toleradas pelos doentes, não sendo uma opção adequada se o câncer for muito proximal. Habitualmente, as recomendações para gastrostomia percutânea não incluem a paliação nutricional nestes doentes, mas a gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica pode ser a melhor forma de suporte nutricional no câncer avançado. OBJETIVO: Avaliação retrospectiva dos doentes com disfagia por câncer avançado do esôfago em que a gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica foi a forma de paliação nutricional, sem expectativa de retomar a ingestão oral. MÉTODO: Selecionaram-se doentes adultos com câncer irressecável do esôfago, com confirmação histológica e com localização proximal, impedindo a colocação de prótese, com a radioterapia e quimioterapia paliativas, usando a gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica para a nutrição entérica. Avaliaram-se dados clínicos e laboratoriais, incluindo o sucesso da gastrostomia, complicações e sobrevida após a gastrostomia e evolução do índice de massa corporal, albumina, transferrina e colesterol. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 17 homens com carcinoma epidermoide no estádio III ou IV, com média de idade de 60,9 anos. A maioria consumia tabaco e bebidas alcoólicas. Todos foram submetidos a radioterapia ou quimioterapia. A gastrostomia endoscópica foi bem-sucedida em todos, embora nove tenham necessitado de dilatação prévia. A maioria foi gastrostomizada nos 2 meses subsequentes ao diagnóstico. Ocorreu uma "buried bumper syndrome", resolvida com substituição do tubo e quatro complicações menores. Não houve implantação de metástases, nem mortalidade associada ao procedimento. Dois doentes foram perdidos e 12 morreram. Três doentes estão vivos 6, 14 e 17 meses após a gastrostomia e ainda estão aumentando a sobrevida média. Os valores médios do índice de massa corporal e da avaliação laboratorial mantiveram-se estáveis 1 e 3 meses após a gastrostomia. CONCLUSÃO: Em pacientes com câncer avançado do esôfago, em que só a terapêutica paliativa é possível, o suporte nutricional é facilmente obtido com gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica, permitindo aos pacientes permanecer em suas casas por um longo período. A nutrição por gastrostomia percutânea endoscópica deveria ser considerada, por rotina, como a opção definitiva para paliação nutricional em pacientes com câncer do esôfago proximal em que a colocação de prótese não é possível.

Associations of Serum Ferritin and Transferrin % Saturation With All-cause, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Even though experimental studies have suggested that iron can be involved in generating oxidative stress, epidemiologic studies on the association of markers of body iron stores with cardiovascular disease or cancer remain controversial. This study was performed to examine the association of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation (%TS) with all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: The study subjects were men aged 50 years or older and postmenopausal women of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994. Participants were followed-up for mortality through December 31, 2006. RESULTS: Serum ferritin was not associated with all-cause, cancer, or cardiovascular mortality for either men or postmenopausal women. However, all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality were inversely associated with %TS in men. Compared with men in the lowest quintile, adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality were 0.85, 0.86, 0.76, and 0.74 (p for trend < 0.01), 0.82, 0.73, 0.75, and 0.63 (p for trend < 0.01), and 0.86, 0.81, 0.72, and 0.76 (p for trend < 0.01), respectively. For postmenopausal women, inverse associations were also observed for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but cancer mortality showed the significantly lower mortality only in the 2nd quintile of %TS compared with that of the 1st quintile. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike speculation on the role of iron from experimental studies, %TS was inversely associated with all-cause, cancer and cardiovascular mortality in men and postmenopausal women. On the other hand, serum ferritin was not associated with all-cause, cancer, or cardiovascular mortality.

Concentraciones de hierro en atletas de resistencia / Iron status in endurance athletes

Numerous reports have described a poor iron status in endurance athletes (especially in females). However, the traditionally applied indicators of iron status may not truly reflect the iron status. Therefore the newly developed indicators for iron status (soluble transferrin receptor, reticulocyte indices or hypochromic red blood cells) should be applied to control iron status in endurance athletes.

Numerosos informes describen bajas concentraciones de hierro en los atletas de resistencia (especialmente en mujeres). Sin embargo, los indicadores tradicionalmente utilizados en la evaluación de los niveles de hierro podrían no reflejar claramente esta carencia. Por lo tanto, los recientemente descubiertos indicadores de las concentraciones de hierro (el receptor soluble de transferrina, los índices reticulocitarios y los glóbulos rojos hipocrómicos) podrían emplearse para controlar los niveles de hierro en los atletas de resistencia.

Effects of Nutritional Supplementation on Nutirtional Status in Patients with Nonalcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

Severe protein-calorie malnutrition, common in patients with advanced liver disease, can seriously undermine the capacity for regeneration and functional restoration of liver. Nutritional supplementation for these patients can improve biochemical and hormonal abnormalities. However, these effects were not identified in patient with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. To determine effects of nutritional supplementation in patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, 77 subjects aged 29 to 69 years participated in this study for 12 weeks and were subdivided into three groups; normal diet group (Control group, n=16), branched-chain amino acid supplementation group (BCAA group, n=31), nutritional supplementation group (NS group, n=30). Anthropometric parameters, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood cell counts, serum levels of lipids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acid composition, and plasma amino acids were examined. The mean values of age and height, and the initial values of weight and body mass index (BMI) were not different among all groups. After 12 weeks, there were no significant changes in these values in Control group. Only NS group showed significant increases in weight, lean body mass, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness. Serum transferrins were increased both in BCAA and NS groups. Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids, urea amino acids and glutamic acid were also significantly increased in these groups, but plasma levels of ammonia, serum LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index were decreased. However, there were no significant changes in serum levels of vitamin and mineral and composition of fatty acids in phospholipids in these groups. These results showed that the nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis can more improve nutritional status in these people together with increases of weight, body fat and lean body mass, compared to only BCAA supplementation. To ascertain and investigate the appropriate nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, further studies are necessary.