[Vitamin K2 influences several diseases].

In this paper we discuss the evidence of vitamin K2 deficiency which is a factor in several chronic diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. This deficiency is very common in the mentioned diseases although it is rarely treated by clinicians. Randomized clinical trials have shown that patients with osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer can benefit from vitamin K2 supplement.

[Unsuccessful vitamin D treatment].

Vitamin D3 (25-OHD3) analyses have increased exponentially and vitamin D deficiency (< 25 nmol/l) is common (15% of patients). The aim of the paper is to discuss reasons for unsuccessful treatment and to question the use of ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). Lack of effect of treatment can be due to: 1) too low dose, 2) incorrect analytical methods when injection treatment (vitamin D2) is used, 3) obesity, 4) seasonal variations, and 5) poor compliance.

[Vitamin D deficiency].

The importance of vitamin D for osteoporosis and fractures has been known for more than 40 years. Vitamin D deficiency is diagnosed by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), which should be > 50 nmol/l year round. Recent research suggests that a number of severe diseases could be prevented by increasing 25-OHD to 80 nmol/l.

[Effect of healthy school meal on selection of blood parameters].

Introduction: It was tested if a healthy school meal would result in significant changes in selected blood parameters and if such parameters would lie within generally accepted optimal values.

Material And Methods: The study was a block-randomized, controlled trial in which 145 pupils delivered blood before (week 39) and after the intervention (week 49). The intervention group received a healthy meal for two months (25-30% of the daily intake of calories).

Effects of five different alcoholic drinks on patients with Crohn's disease.

Objective: Many patients with Crohn's disease (CD) complain of abdominal discomfort after alcohol intake. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ethanol and sugar content in five different alcoholic drinks on abdominal discomfort in patients with CD.

Material And Methods: In a crossover study, two weeks apart, 12 healthy individuals and 20 patients with CD in remission consumed randomly red wine, white wine, Smirnoff Ice, Elephant Beer and pure ethanol.

Impact of enteral supplements enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and/or omega-6 fatty acids, arginine and ribonucleic acid compounds on leptin levels and nutritional status in active Crohn's disease treated with prednisolone.

Background: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) often develop malnutrition due to disease activity. We aimed to assess the effect of two different enteral supplements of Impact(R) Powder (IP; Novartis, Switzerland) on leptin levels and nutritional status in active CD patients during prednisolone treatment and tapering.

Methods: Thirty-one CD patients were randomized to IP Extra (group 1) or IP Standard (group 2).

Serum trefoil factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Trefoil factors (TFF1-3) play a critical role in mucosal protection and repair in the gastrointestinal tract. The aims of the present study were to examine associations between serum TFF1-3 and clinical and biochemical markers reflecting disease activity and to examine changes in TFF1-3 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) before and during high-dose prednisolone treatment and tapering.

Methods: Serum concentrations of TFF1-3 were quantified in 48 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 50 Crohn's disease (CD) patients with little or moderate activity.

[The influence of six alcoholic beverages on ethanol concentration in the blood and breath].

Introduction: We investigated the area under the curve (AUC) as a measure of the bioavailability of ethanol in healthy volunteers drinking six alcoholic beverages of different types. Furthermore, we investigated the correlation between the ethanol concentration in the blood and the breath test.

Materials And Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers (seven females, five males) consumed six drinks of different types in a crossover design after a six-hour fast.

Saliva Interleukin-6 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract. In regulation of this inflammatory process, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has a major role. Overproduction of IL-6 by immunocompetent cells contributes to development of the inflammatory condition.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins in active Crohn's disease treated with omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids and corticosteroids.

Objective: Catabolism and growth impairment are well-known complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This may be caused by the disease activity itself and/or the medical treatment, and both may lead to changes in the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of enteral nutrition, Impact Powder, as adjuvant therapy to corticosteroid treatment on changes in the GH/IGF-I axis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

How accurate are clinical activity indices for scoring of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Clinical activity indices are essential instruments in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). To subclassify components of disease indices in CD and UC, investigate technical noise in estimation of the indices, establish a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), evaluate correlation between indices and calculate the reference change value (RCV) for selected biochemical variables in individual cases, 50 patients with CD and 49 patients with UC were included in the study. Qualitative index variables were assessed for scoring errors.

Low S-adenosylmethionine concentrations found in patients with severe inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: S-adenosylmethionine is a methyl donor in many cellular reactions including detoxification of constantly produced hydrogen sulphide in the colon. A reduced capacity to detoxify hydrogen sulphide may be implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. S-adenosylmethionine could be low if this assumption is correct.

Platelets and anticoagulant capacity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are susceptible to thromboembolic complications. Several mechanisms can be responsible, including abnormal regulation of coagulation activity, disturbances of fibrinolysis, inflammatory reactions and thrombocytosis. The aim of this study was to assess hemostatic alterations in these parameters during exacerbation of disease.