Serum bile acids and risk factors for colorectal cancer.

The ratio of deoxycholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid in the serum of 62 men was inversely related to body mass index and to saturated fat intake after adjustment for body mass index, smoking, and age conversely, this ratio was associated positively with the intake of fibre from grains.

Bile acid concentrations, cytotoxicity, and pH of fecal water from patients with colorectal adenomas.

In the multistage model of human colorectal tumorigenesis, both genetic and environmental factors play an important role. The identity of the environmental factors involved, however, still remains to be elucidated. As fecal bile acids are proposed as candidates, we compared the concentration of bile acids in fecal water from patients at different risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Regulation of B cell receptor-mediated MHC class II antigen processing by FcgammaRIIB1.

The processing and presentation of Ag by Ag-specific B cells is highly efficient due to the dual function of the B cell Ag receptor (BCR) in both signaling for enhanced processing and endocytosing bound Ag. The BCR for IgG (FcgammaRIIB1) is a potent negative coreceptor of the BCR that blocks Ag-induced B cell proliferation. Here we investigate the influence of the FcgammaRIIB1 on BCR-mediated Ag processing and show that coligating the FcgammaRIIB1 and the BCR negatively regulates both BCR signaling for enhanced Ag processing and BCR-mediated Ag internalization.

The effects of the calcium-restricted diet of urolithiasis patients with absorptive hypercalciuria type II on risk factors for kidney stones and osteopenia.

The calcium (Ca)-restricted diet of urolithiasis patients with absorptive hypercalciuria type II may decrease Ca excretion but increase biochemical markers of risk for osteopenia. We randomly allocated 25 patients from six hospitals into an experimental group (Ca restriction to 500 mg/day, oxalate-rich products discouraged and normalization of animal protein and sodium) and a control group (no restrictions) for one month. The urinary Ca excretion did not decrease significantly, but the oxalate excretion decreased, although not significantly.