The relation between dietary polysaccharide intake and urinary excretion of tetraglucoside.

The urinary metabolite tetraglucoside (Glc4) is a potential biomarker for hepatic glycogen storage diseases (GSDs). Glc4 is believed to reflect body glycogen content and/or turnover. However, dietary polysaccharide intake may influence Glc4 excretion, potentially limiting the utility of Glc4 as a monitoring biomarker in hepatic GSDs.

Regional variations in human milk oligosaccharides in Vietnam suggest FucTx activity besides FucT2 and FucT3.

Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development (WHO). Human milk oligosaccharides (hMOS) constitute a highly important class of nutrients that are attracting strong attention in recent years. Several studies have indicated that hMOS have prebiotic properties, but also are effective in anti-adhesion of pathogens, modulating the immune system and providing nutrients for brain growth and development.

Higher Prevalence of "Low T3 Syndrome" in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a heterogeneous disease with unknown cause(s). CFS symptoms resemble a hypothyroid state, possibly secondary to chronic (low-grade) (metabolic) inflammation. We studied 98 CFS patients (21-69 years, 21 males) and 99 age- and sex-matched controls (19-65 years, 23 males).

Variability of biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure and healthy controls.

Aims: Biomarkers can be used for diagnosis, risk stratification, or management of patients with heart failure (HF). Knowledge about the biological variation is needed for proper interpretation of serial measurements. Therefore, we aimed to determine and compare the biological variation of a large panel of biomarkers in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic HF.

Changes in winter depression phenotype correlate with white blood cell gene expression profiles: a combined metagene and gene ontology approach.

In the present study we evaluate the feasibility of gene expression in white blood cells as a peripheral marker for winter depression. Sixteen patients with winter type seasonal affective disorder were included in the study. Blood was taken by venous puncture at three time points; in winter prior and following bright light therapy and in summer.

Intrauterine, postpartum and adult relationships between arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Erythrocyte (RBC) fatty acid compositions from populations with stable dietary habits but large variations in RBC-arachidonic (AA) and RBC-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) provided us with insight into relationships between DHA and AA. It also enabled us to estimate the maternal RBC-DHA (mRBC-DHA) status that corresponded with no decrease in mRBC-DHA during pregnancy, or in infant (i) RBC-DHA or mRBC-DHA during the first 3 months postpartum (DHA-equilibrium) while exclusively breastfeeding. At delivery, iRBC-AA is uniformly high and independent of mRBC-AA.

HDL cholesterol response to GH replacement is associated with common cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene variation (-629C>A) and modified by glucocorticoid treatment.

Objective: GH replacement lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in GH-deficient adults, but effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) are variable. Both GH and glucocorticoids decrease cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity, which is important in HDL metabolism. We determined the extent to which the changes in HDL-C in response to GH replacement are predicted by the -629C>A CETP promoter polymorphism, and questioned whether this association is modified by concomitant glucocorticoid treatment.

Low plasma tryptophan in carcinoid patients is associated with increased urinary cortisol excretion.

Background: Previously we observed in patients suffering from a metastatic carcinoid tumor that irritability, aggression and lack of impulse control are associated with low levels of plasma tryptophan and presumably with low brain serotonin function. In rats we showed that a diet of low tryptophan resulted in higher stress responses and higher corticosterone production. Here we tested in carcinoid patients whether tryptophan depletion due to tumor 5-HT overproduction is associated with high cortisol production.

Milk in the island of Chole [Tanzania] is high in lauric, myristic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, and low in linoleic acid reconstructed diet of infants born to our ancestors living in tropical coastal regions.

Background: We need information on the diet on which our genes evolved.

Objective: We studied the milk fatty acid [FA] composition of mothers living in the island of Chole [Tanzania, Indian Ocean]. These mothers have high intakes of boiled marine fish and coconut, and consume plenty amount of fruits and vegetables.

Neurologic condition of healthy term infants at 18 months: positive association with venous umbilical DHA status and negative association with umbilical trans-fatty acids.

Prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and trans-fatty acids may affect neurodevelopment. In healthy term children, we determined relationships between relative fatty acid contents of umbilical arteries and veins and neurodevelopment at 18 mo. The study comprised a mixed group of 317 breast-fed, formula-fed, and LCPUFA formula-fed children.