Effects of High Amylose-Resistant Starch on Gut Microbiota and Uremic Toxin Levels in Patients With Stage-G3a-G4 Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the effect of 16 weeks of supplementation with Hi-maize 260 resistant starch (RS) on the gut microbiota, uremic toxins (indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate [PCS]), markers of inflammation, and oxidative stress along with vascular function in patients with stage G3a-G4 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design And Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial. Sixty-eight patients with stage-G3a-G4 CKD were randomized to either RS with usual care or placebo and usual care.

Software Defined Radio-Based Wireless Sensing System.

In this paper, we investigate the application of using software-defined radio (SDR) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for wireless measurement of the response of in situ sensors. SDR uses software to realize different communication functions. After collecting the magnitude and phase of the response at discrete frequencies, we apply inverse Fourier transform to analyze the time domain responses which, in turn, allows for monitoring the changes of the response of the in situ sensor.

The effects of 16-weeks of prebiotic supplementation and aerobic exercise training on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, uremic toxins, and the microbiota in pre-dialysis kidney patients: a randomized controlled trial-protocol paper.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by dysbiosis, elevated levels of uremic toxins, systemic inflammation, and increased markers of oxidative stress. These factors lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is common among CKD patients. Supplementation with high amylose maize resistant starch type 2 (RS-2) can change the composition of the gut microbiota, and reduce markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Hepatic Stellate Cells and Hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a significant component of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment (TME). Activated HSCs transform into myofibroblast-like cells to promote fibrosis in response to liver injury or chronic inflammation, leading to cirrhosis and HCC. The hepatic TME is comprised of cellular components, including activated HSCs, tumor-associated macrophages, endothelial cells, immune cells, and non-cellular components, such as growth factors, proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors, and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

Men's Perceptions of Pregnancy-Related Weight Gain: A Psychosocial Firestorm (Upheaval) Intertwined With Supportive Intentions.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 men who had a significant other who had given birth within the last 5 years. Men were asked about their perceptions of pregnancy-related weight gain, and content analysis was used to identify themes from the interviews. Men described nine themes related to perinatal weight gain: (a) negative perceptions, (b) eating behaviors, (c) exercise habits, (d) health impact, (e) body changes, (f) weight-loss success, (g) "it bothered her more than me," (h) "the weight gain wasn't a problem," and (i) intimacy.

Reversal of bropirimine developmental toxicity with progesterone.

Bropirimine is an immunomodulator with experimental antiviral and antitumor activities. This pyrimidinone has been found to be embryolethal at doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) that produce only transient maternal toxicity, when administered to pregnant Upj:TUC(SD)spf rats on specific days of gestation. Serum analyses carried out in previous studies have shown marked decreases in progesterone levels in the 24 hr following bropirimine administration.

Variability in the developmental toxicity of bropirimine with the day of administration.

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism by which bropirimine exerts its developmental toxicity. This drug is an immunomodulator and interferon inducer with antiviral and antitumor activities in experimental models. Timed-pregnant Upj:TUC(SD)spf (Sprague-Dawley) rats were given a single oral (gastric intubation) dose of bropirimine at 200 or 400 mg/kg (doses as high as 100 mg/kg/day have been employed in human cancer trials) on days 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 of gestation and in a second experiment on day 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 of gestation.

Contraceptive efficacy of testosterone-estradiol implants in male rhesus monkeys.

Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were treated with testosterone (100 micrograms/kg/day) plus estradiol (0.5 micrograms/kg/day) via subcutaneous polydimethylsiloxane (PDS, Silastic) implants. This treatment caused a striking reversible sterility.

Hypophysectomized male rats treated with polydimethylsiloxane capsules containing testosterone: effects on spermatogenesis, fertility, and reproductive tract concentrations of androgens.

Spermatogenesis, reproductive luminal contents and androgen concentrations were examined in hypophysectomized male rats treated with 1 of 3 testosterone (T) dosages for 60-64 days and in sham-operated controls. Hypophysectomized rats treated with 2 cm long T implants showed normal mating but reduced fertility, while normal fertility was maintained in animals given 8 or 3 x 8 cm T. Spermatogenesis in the hypophysectomized groups treated with 2 cm T for 10 days was generally arrested at the spermatocyte stage, while in the hypophysectomized animals treated with 2 cm T for 64 days spermatogenesis was halted at the spermatid stage.

Plasma concentrations of 9-deoxo-16-dimethyl-9-methylene-PGE2 in rhesus monkeys after administration by various routes.

A method is described for the estimation of 9-deoxo-16, 16-dimethyl-9-methylene-PGE2 by double antibody radioimmunoassay. Plasma samples obtained from animals treated with 9-methylene-16, 16-dimethyl-PGE2, 1-adamantanamic salt were extracted with diethyl ether to recover the prostaglandin. The validation of sample preparation and assay procedure are presented.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) effects on anterior pituitary hormones in the rat in vivo.

Intravenous injection of 600 microgram PGE2 or PGI2 significantly increased serum LH and prolactin levels in estradiol treated ovariectomized rats. There was no effect on serum FSH concentration. PGE2 and PGI2 stimulated LH release in a non-dose dependent manner, while prolactin levels were positively correlated with the dose administered following PGI2 treatment.

Serum FSH, LH and testosterone in the male rhesus following prostaglandin injection.

Adult male rhesus were treated with PGE2, PGF2 alpha or the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolite of PGE2 in a randomized crossover design. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were determined and compared to the respective values in the same uninjected animals. No significant changes were noted in controls or following the metabolite injection.

Mammary tumors and serum hormones in the bitch treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate or progesterone for four years.

After 4 years of a long-term contraceptive steroid safety study, the incidence and the histologic types of mammary dysplasia produced are shown to be similar in beagles treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (medroxyprogesterone) or progesterone. Serum insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine, growth hormone, prolactin, 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay on samples collected after 45 months of treatment. Serum growth hormone and insulin concentrations were elevated in a dose-related manner in both treatment groups.

Characterization of the exfoliative antispermatogenic agent 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid in the rhesus monkey.

The effects of oral doses of 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid (DICA) on spermatogenesis in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was studied. Four animals given five daily 50 mg/kg doses or three or five daily 500 mg/kg doses showed that DICA was an exfoliating antispermatogenic compound. The inhibition of spermatogenesis was only partially reversible following 500 mg/kg doses of DICA.

Measurement of (15S)-15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha by radioimmunoassay.

Antibodies against (15s)-15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha (15-MF) were produced in rabbits immunized with a 15-MF bovine serum albumin conjugate. Tritium labeled 15-MF was prepared from (15S)-15-methyl prostaglandin E2 by reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride. Antiserum specificity and label specific activity (12 Ci/mM) were sfficient to enable development of a sensitive, accurate and relatively specific radioimmunoassay for this prostaglandin analog.

Prostaglandin E1 specific binding in rhesus myometrium.

Myometrial low speed supernatant prepared from non-pregnant rhesus uteri was incubated with 3H-Prostaglandin (PG)E1 with or without addition of unlabelled prostaglandins. The uptake of 3H-PGE1 was inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by PGE2greater thanPGE1greater thanPGA1greater thanpgf2alpha=PGA1greater thanPGB1=PGB2greater than or equal toPGD2. PGE1 metabolites inhibited 3H-PGE1 binding in the following order: 13, 14-dihydro-PGE1greater than13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE1=15-keto-PGE1.

Preparation and quantitation of urinary metabolites of prostaglandin F2alpha by radioimmunoassay.

Radioimmunoassay systems are described which have been developed to quantitate two principle urinary metabolites of PGF2alpha; 9alpha,11alpha-dihydroxy-15-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetranorprostanoic acid (I) and 9alpha,11alpha-dihydroxy-15-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetranorprosta-1,20-dioic acid (II). Preparation of the required metabolites was achieved by total synthesis (I) or by bioconversion (isolation from urine of animals treated with 15-keto-PGF2alpha, II). These metabolites were used to prepare conjugates for immunization.

Biological activities of 17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinorprostaglandins.

In a number of assay systems, some 17-phenyl-trinor-prostaglandins were similar in activity and potency to the corresponding parent prostaglandin. In others, the 17-phenyl analogs appeared several times more potent. In the hamster antifertility assay, which is considered to measure luteolytic activity, 17-phenyl-18,19,20-trinor prostaglandin F2alpha was about 90-times PGF2alpha in potency.