Utilization of dietary urea nitrogen is stimulated by D-mannitol feeding in rabbits.

The effect of D-mannitol as an indigestible sugar on apparent digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen (N) utilization and growth performance, have been investigated in growing rabbits fed a urea-containing diet. In experiment 1, 40-day-old male rabbits were fed a commercial diet with urea 10 g/kg with added glucose or D-mannitol 60 g/kg each. Thereafter, in experiment 2 the rabbits aged 55 days were fed a commercial diet with or without urea 10 g/kg.

Determination of asymmetric dimethylarginine, an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, in umbilical blood.

Endothelial cells produce nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase. Little is known about the potential physiological roles of ADMA in a perinatal setting.

High levels of growth factors in human breast milk.

We found very high concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatic growth factor, and epidermal growth factor in early breast milk samples obtained from healthy mothers of term infants. This is the first report of simultaneous measurements of three major gastrointestinal trophic substances in human milk.

Leukotriene D(4) enhances the function of endothelin-1-primed fibroblasts.

Airway inflammation is accompanied by structural changes, termed remodeling, that lead to lung dysfunction over the long term. Although both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) appear to be involved in airway remodeling in several lung diseases, how these molecules interact remains largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of leukotriene (LT) D(4) on the function of ET-1-primed fibroblasts.

Changes of plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in early infancy.

Rapid perfusion of oxygen in infants at birth may increase oxidative stress which has been incriminated in serious diseases including neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, chronic lung disease, and retinopathy of prematurity. Elucidating the antioxidant defense systems of neonates in clinical practice is important. Coenzyme Q(10) is a widely distributed, redox-active quinoid compound originally discovered as an essential part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in mammals.

Concentrations of pentosidine, an advanced glycation end-product, in umbilical cord blood.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are formed over several weeks to months by non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation ("glycoxidation") reactions between carbohydrate-derived carbonyl groups and protein amino groups, known as the Maillard reaction. Pentosidine is one of the best-characterized AGEs and is accepted as a satisfactory marker for glycoxidation in vivo. The present study was intended to measure pentosidine concentrations in umbilical cord blood from newborns with various gestational ages using our recently established high-performance liquid chromatography method [Tsukahara, H.

Oxidative stress in neonates: evaluation using specific biomarkers.

Increased oxidative stress has been implicated in pathogenesis of serious diseases in neonates. We measured urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a marker of oxidative DNA damage), acrolein-lysine adduct (a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative protein damage), and nitrite/nitrate (a marker of endogenous nitric oxide formation) in one-month-old neonates to examine the status of oxidative stress and its relationship to the degree of prematurity and clinical condition in neonates. Study subjects comprised three groups: healthy term neonates, clinically stable preterm neonates requiring no supplemental oxygen, and clinically sick preterm neonates requiring supplemental oxygen and ventilator support.

Nitric oxide metabolites and adrenomedullin in human breast milk.

We found high concentrations of nitrite/nitrate (166-1460 micromol/l) in 43 milk samples obtained from 32 women during postpartum days 1-8, which indicates enhanced mammary nitric oxide (NO) secretion. We detected adrenomedullin (AM) (2.7-20.

High levels of urinary pentosidine, an advanced glycation end product, in children with acute exacerbation of atopic dermatitis: relationship with oxidative stress.

Pentosidine is an advanced glycation end product formed by sequential glycation and oxidation. The formation of pentosidine is increased in diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as inflammatory conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine the urinary concentration of pentosidine in atopic dermatitis (AD) and its relationship to the inflammatory status of AD.

Oxidative stress and altered antioxidant defenses in children with acute exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.

The underlying mechanisms of skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis (AD) are not completely understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine the involvement of oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in children with acute exacerbation of AD. We studied 13 children who were hospitalized for acute exacerbation of AD with purulent skin infection by Staphylococcal aureus (age, 1.