Analysis of lipase activity in duodenal juice. Comparison of an automated spectrophotometric assay to a fluorometric microplate assay, and factors affecting sample stability.

Background: Direct pancreas function testing (DPFT) has been regarded as gold standard for assessment of exocrine pancreas function. One of the outcomes from DPFT is pancreatic lipase activity in duodenal juice, but no standard assay for measuring pancreas lipase activity in duodenal juice exists.

Aims: To optimize and evaluate an autoanalyzer assay for measuring lipase activity in duodenal juice.

Analysis of amylase in duodenal juice - Automated kinetic spectrophotometric analysis versus manual colorimetric endpoint assay.

Objective: The measurement of duodenal amylase by a colorimetric end-point assay has been the most used method for amylase activity analyses. The method is manual, time consuming and dependent on specialized equipment. In this study, we compare an automated kinetic spectrophotometric method for pancreatic amylase measurement in duodenal juice with a standardized colorimetric end-point assay.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Short Endoscopic Secretin Test in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Objective: Short endoscopic secretin tests for exocrine pancreatic function are not properly evaluated in cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: Patients with CF and healthy controls (HCs) underwent endoscopic collection of duodenal juice between 30 and 45 minutes after secretin stimulation. Duodenal juice was analyzed for HCO3 concentration and pancreatic enzyme activities.

Vitamin D levels and dietary intake among patients with benign soft tissue tumors and sarcomas.

Background: Calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D] is hypothesized to lower the risk of cancer via binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDRs are also found in benign and malignant cells of mesenchymal origin. To our knowledge, vitamin D levels and dietary intake have not been previously evaluated in patients newly diagnosed with benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors.

Vitamin D status and PUFA ratios in a national representative cross-section of healthy, middle-aged Norwegian women—the Norwegian Women and Cancer Post-Genome Cohort.

Aims: Vitamin D and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are derived from partially overlapping sources. Vitamin D is produced in the skin after sun exposure, but is also derived from fatty fish and fish oils. Dietary PUFAs are mainly derived from plant oils that are rich in n-6 PUFAs, but fatty fish provides high amounts of the marine n-3 PUFAs.