Nutritional Support in Malnourished Outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

(1) Background: The evidence for nutritional support in COPD is almost entirely based on ready-to-drink oral nutritional supplements (ONSs). This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of powdered ONSs alongside individualized dietary counseling in the management of malnutrition. (2) Methods: Malnourished outpatients with COPD were randomized to receive either routine care (Group A: counseling + recommended to purchase powdered ONSs) or an enhanced intervention (Group B: counseling + provision of powdered ONSs at no cost to the patient) for 12 weeks.

Interaction between BMI and APOE genotype is associated with changes in the plasma long-chain-PUFA response to a fish-oil supplement in healthy participants.

Background: Carriers of the apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE4) allele are lower responders to a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement than are noncarriers. This effect could be exacerbated in overweight individuals because DHA metabolism changes according to body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²).

Objectives: We evaluated the plasma fatty acid (FA) response to a DHA-rich supplement in APOE4 carriers and noncarriers consuming a high-saturated fat diet (HSF diet) and, in addition, evaluated whether being overweight changed this response.

Disrupted fatty acid distribution in HDL and LDL according to apolipoprotein E allele.

Objectives: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) metabolism seems to be disrupted in carriers of the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (E4+). The objective of this study was to investigate whether the ω-3 PUFA distribution in the high and low density lipoproteins is APOE-genotype dependant before and after supplementation with ω-3 PUFAs.

Methods: Eighty participants, aged between 20 and 35 y old were recruited and supplemented with 900 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid plus 680 mg of docosahexaenoic acid for 4 wk.

Apolipoprotein E isoforms disrupt long-chain fatty acid distribution in the plasma, the liver and the adipose tissue of mice.

Evidences suggest that omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) metabolism is imbalanced in apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 isoform carriers (APOE4). This study aimed to investigate APOE genotype-dependant modulation of FA profiles, protein and enzyme important to fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the adipose tissue, the liver and the plasma using human APOE-targeted replacement mouse-model (N=37). FA transport (FATP) and binding (FABP) protein levels in tissues and concentrations of liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) were performed.

Postprandial enrichment of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins with omega-3 fatty acids: lack of an interaction with apolipoprotein E genotype?

Background: We have previously demonstrated that carrying the apolipoprotein (apo) E epsilon 4 (E4+) genotype disrupts omega-3 fatty acids (n - 3 PUFA) metabolism. Here we hypothesise that the postprandial clearance of n - 3 PUFA from the circulation is faster in E4+ compared to non-carriers (E4-). The objective of the study was to investigate the fasted and postprandial fatty acid (FA) profile of triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fractions: Sf >400 (predominately chylomicron CM), Sf 60 - 400 (VLDL1), and Sf 20 - 60 (VLDL2) according to APOE genotype.

Effect of buttermilk consumption on blood pressure in moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women.

Objectives: Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) found in buttermilk is rich in unique bioactive proteins. Several studies suggest that MFGM proteins possess biological activities such as cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, but data in humans are lacking. Furthermore, to our knowledge, no study has yet investigated the antihypertensive potential of MFGM proteins from buttermilk.

Impact of buttermilk consumption on plasma lipids and surrogate markers of cholesterol homeostasis in men and women.

Background And Aims: Sphingolipids (SL) are important components of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) found in buttermilk. While studies in animal models suggest that dietary SL may have cholesterol-lowering properties, data in human are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of buttermilk consumption on plasma lipids and surrogate markers of cholesterol (C) homeostasis in humans.

Antioxidant activities of buttermilk proteins, whey proteins, and their enzymatic hydrolysates.

The oxygen radical absorbance capacities (ORAC) and metal chelating capacities (MCC) of protein concentrates prepared from buttermilk and cheese whey by ultrafiltration were compared with those of skim milk protein. Samples were also heat-denatured and hydrolyzed by pepsin for 2 h followed by trypsin for 3 h. The highest MCC was obtained for hydrolyzed skim milk protein.

Role of ribose deficit in rat testicular metabolism under conditions of overtraining.

Acute disorders of purine metabolism develop in rat testes under conditions of overtraining. These disorders are characterized by enhanced catabolism and reduced reutilization of purine mononucleotides and activation of lipid peroxidation of membrane structures against the background of reduced activities of the pentose cycle and antioxidant system. Administration of D-ribose to rats subjected to overtraining improves purine reutilization, stimulates the pentose cycle work, inhibits lipid peroxidation in membrane structures of the testes, and saves the testicular incretory function.

Pilot- and bench-scale testing of faecal indicator bacteria survival in marine beach sand near point sources.

Aim: Factors affecting faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and pathogen survival/persistence in sand remain largely unstudied. This work elucidates how biological and physical factors affect die-off in beach sand following sewage spills.

Methods And Results: Solar disinfection with mechanical mixing was pilot-tested as a disinfection procedure after a large sewage spill in Los Angeles.

Cancer control activities in Australian public hospitals.

Cancer is a major cause of death in Australia and there is considerable interest in the role health education in hospital settings has in reducing this burden. Based on a survey of medical superintendents and other hospital staff, this article describes the cancer control activities routinely conducted in Australian public hospitals. The survey considered cigarette smoking, alcohol, diet and nutrition, exercise, and the early detection of skin cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.

The practical use of porcine xenografting.

The authors present a literature review of porcine grafting and its application at Westside Veterans Administration Medical Center. Porcine xenografts allow wounds that would normally need skin grafting and are slow or nonhealing to close without additional trauma to the patient.

Lacrimal gland choristoma of the ciliary body.

A 22-month-old girl was found to have a pigmented mass of the ciliary body of the right eye. Five months later the globe was enucleated because of enlargement of the tumor and the appearance of brown pigment on the adjacent epibulbar surface. Histopathologic examination disclosed a lacrimal gland choristoma of the ciliary body with involvement of the limbal conjunctival surface and superficial sclera.

Nonteratoid medulloepithelioma of the ciliary body.

A 34-month-old girl was treated for anterior uveitis, a superiorly subluxated cataract, rubeosis iridis and secondary glaucoma of the right eye of 3 months duration. She was diagnosed as having medulloepithelioma only after a mass was subsequently identified on the anterior surface of the iris. A low grade malignant nonteratoid medulloepithelioma was found to involve the ciliary surface throughout the circumference of the enucleated right globe.

Isolated bilateral complete ptosis.

A 45-year-old man had bilateral complete ptosis attributed to damage to the central caudal nucleus in the nuclear complex of the third cranial nerve, the other subnuclei being spared. Many discrete inflammatory foci were found in the midbrain and brainstem, a picture resembling that seen in subacute encephalitis. The findings are related to Warwick's concept of the anatomy of the third nerve.