Defining trimester-specific reference intervals for carbohydrate deficient transferrin in pregnant women.

Objectives: Extensive consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to severe complications for the unborn child. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) levels in serum have become a common biomarker for excessive alcohol intake. However, during pregnancy CDT levels can rise to levels above commonly used cut-off values, for reasons unrelated to alcohol intake.

Usability of femoral head bone marrow to verify reference ranges for the assessment of myelodysplasia by flow cytometry.

Background: A flow cytometry score (FCS) based on four parameters has been proposed for analysis of myelodysplastic syndromes patients with <5% blasts. We evaluated whether bone marrow aspirate samples isolated from femoral heads could be used for verification of cutoff values of the individual parameters score (IPS), contributing to the FCS and compared the applicability of FCS parameters in two centers.

Study Design And Methods: Bone marrow cells were obtained from femoral heads of patients who underwent hip replacement surgery.

Reference intervals and longitudinal changes in copeptin and MR-proADM concentrations during pregnancy.

Background: Vasopressin and adrenomedullin and their stable by-products copeptin and midregional part of proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) are promising biomarkers for the development of preeclampsia. However, clinical use is hampered by the lack of trimester-specific reference intervals. We therefore estimated reference intervals for copeptin and MR-proADM in disease-free Dutch women throughout pregnancy.

TSH and fT4 during pregnancy: an observational study and a review of the literature.

Background: Trimester-specific reference intervals for TSH are recommended to assess thyroid function during pregnancy due to changes in thyroid physiology. Laboratories should verify reference intervals for their population and assay used. No consistent upper reference limit (URL) for TSH during pregnancy is reported in literature.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios of urine and faeces as novel nutritional biomarkers of meat and fish intake.

Purpose: Meat and fish consumption are associated with changes in the risk of chronic diseases. Intake is mainly assessed using self-reporting, as no true quantitative nutritional biomarker is available. The measurement of plasma fatty acids, often used as an alternative, is expensive and time-consuming.

Effect of dietary meat and fish on endogenous nitrosation, inflammation and genotoxicity of faecal water.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with reduced colon tumorigenesis. However, their association with colorectal cancer incidence is not conclusive. We investigated the influence of isocaloric replacement of red meat with fatty fish on endogenous nitrosation, inflammation and genotoxicity of faecal water in apparently healthy human volunteers on controlled diets.

Effect of processed and red meat on endogenous nitrosation and DNA damage.

Haem in red meat (RM) stimulates the endogenous production of mutagenic nitroso compounds (NOC). Processed (nitrite-preserved red) meat additionally contains high concentrations of preformed NOC. In two studies, of a fresh RM versus a vegetarian (VEG) diet (six males and six females) and of a nitrite-preserved red meat (PM) versus a VEG diet (5 males and 11 females), we investigated whether processing of meat might increase colorectal cancer risk by stimulating nitrosation and DNA damage.

Detection and quantification of sucrose as dietary biomarker using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry.

Several epidemiological studies suggest a link between the intake of refined sugars and an increased risk for colorectal, breast, pancreatic and endometrial cancer. However, other studies failed to confirm these conclusions and the reason for this may be the ambiguity of dietary assessment methods - mainly self-reporting - employed. Sucrose is an established biomarker for sugars intake, allowing the objective assessment of dietary sucrose.

The PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone influences triacylglycerol metabolism in non-obese males, without increasing the transcriptional activity of PPARgamma in the subcutaneous adipose tissue.

PPARgamma is obligatory for fat mass generation and is thought to determine the amount of TAG stored per fat cell. We investigated whether ligand availability for PPARgamma is rate limiting in fat mass generation and substrate metabolism. Twenty healthy men (20-29 years) were randomly assigned to receive the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone (RSG) (8 mg/d) (n 10) or a placebo (n 10) during a stay of 7 d in a respiration chamber.

Energy expenditure during overfeeding.

The large inter-individual variation in weight gain during standardized overfeeding together with a weight gain that is often less than theoretically calculated from the energy excess suggest that there are differences between persons in the capacity to regulate energy expenditure and hence metabolic efficiency. Adaptive thermogenesis is defined as the regulated production of heat in response to environmental changes in temperature and diet, resulting in metabolic inefficiency. The question is whether adaptive thermogenesis can be identified in overfeeding experiments.

Metabolic effects of spices, teas, and caffeine.

Consumption of spiced foods or herbal drinks leads to greater thermogenesis and in some cases to greater satiety. In this regard, capsaicin, black pepper, ginger, mixed spices, green tea, black tea and caffeine are relevant examples. These functional ingredients have the potential to produce significant effects on metabolic targets such as satiety, thermogenesis, and fat oxidation.

Genetic analysis of physical activity in twins.

Background: The reduced contribution of physical activity (PA) to daily energy expenditure contributes to the increased prevalence of obesity. A genetic control of activity-induced energy expenditure (AEE) may contribute to a genetic susceptibility to obesity.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the variation and covariation in AEE and PA.

Measuring free-living energy expenditure and physical activity with triaxial accelerometry.

Objective: To investigate the ability of a newly developed triaxial accelerometer to predict total energy expenditure (EE) (TEE) and activity-related EE (AEE) in free-living conditions.

Research Methods And Procedures: Subjects were 29 healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 40. The Triaxial Accelerometer for Movement Registration (Tracmor) was worn for 15 consecutive days.

The effect of the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone on energy balance regulation.

Background And Aim: Fat mass generation requires an energy surplus and the activity of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). We investigated if the PPARgamma ligand rosiglitazone influences substrate usage, energy expenditure (EE) and energy intake (EI) and, thereby, how PPARgamma activity contributes to susceptibility to obesity.

Methods: Twenty healthy males (20-29 years) were randomly assigned to receive a placebo (n = 10) or rosiglitazone (8 mg/d) (n = 10) for seven consecutive days, while staying in a respiration chamber.

Metabolic efficiency and energy expenditure during short-term overfeeding.

Objective: To investigate whether efficiency of weight gain during a short period of overfeeding is related to adaptive differences in basal metabolic rate (BMR) and physical activity.

Subjects: Fourteen healthy females (age 25+/-4 years, BMI 22.1+/-2.