High-fat diet impact on intestinal cholesterol conversion by the microbiota and serum cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol-to-coprostanol conversion by the intestinal microbiota has been suggested to reduce intestinal and serum cholesterol availability, but the relationship between intestinal cholesterol conversion and the gut microbiota, dietary habits, and serum lipids has not been characterized in detail. We measured conserved proportions of cholesterol high and low-converter types in individuals with and without obesity from two distinct, independent low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) dietary intervention studies. Across both cohorts, cholesterol conversion increased in previous low-converters after LCHF diet and was positively correlated with the fecal relative abundance of .

Effects of a Non-Energy-Restricted Ketogenic Diet on Clinical Oral Parameters. An Exploratory Pilot Trial.

Ketogenic diets (KDs) may be a helpful complement in the prevention of and therapy for several diseases. Apart from their non-cariogenic properties, it is still unclear how KDs affect oral parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a KD on clinical periodontal parameters.

Correction to: The Procedureless Elipse Gastric Balloon Program: Multicenter Experience in 1770 Consecutive Patients.

This article was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal on May 5, 2020 without open access.

Impact of modified short-term fasting and its combination with a fasting supportive diet during chemotherapy on the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced toxicities in cancer patients - a controlled cross-over pilot study.

Background: This pilot trial aimed to investigate whether modified short-term fasting (mSTF) reduces the incidence of chemotherapy-induced toxicities and whether an initial ketogenic diet (KD) as fasting supportive diet reduces fasting-related discomfort and improves the compliance.

Methods: In this controlled cross-over trial, gynaecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with a minimum of 4 cycles fasted for 96 h during half of their chemotherapy cycles and consumed a normocaloric diet during the other chemotherapy cycles. The caloric intake during mSTF was restricted to 25% of each patient's daily requirement.

Correction to: The Procedureless Elipse Gastric Balloon Program: Multicenter Experience in 1770 Consecutive Patients.

An author name was incorrectly indicated in the Conflict of Interest Statement.

The Procedureless Elipse Gastric Balloon Program: Multicenter Experience in 1770 Consecutive Patients.

Purpose: The Elipse balloon is a novel, non-endoscopic option for weight loss. It is swallowed and filled with fluid. After 4 months, the balloon self-empties and is excreted naturally.

In Vivo Fat Quantification: Monitoring Effects of a 6-Week Non-Energy-Restricted Ketogenic Diet in Healthy Adults Using MRI, ADP and BIA.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and adequate-protein diet that induces many metabolic adaptations when calorie intake is not limited. Its therapeutic use in a range of diseases including cancer is currently being investigated. Our objective was to firstly assess the impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted KD on the abdominal fat distribution and the hepatic fat composition in healthy adults.

Impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted ketogenic diet on physical fitness, body composition and biochemical parameters in healthy adults.

Background: The ketogenic diet (KD) is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat and adequate-protein diet that without limiting calories induces different metabolic adaptations, eg, increased levels of circulating ketone bodies and a shift to lipid metabolism. Our objective was to assess the impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted KD in healthy adults beyond cohorts of athletes on physical performance, body composition, and blood parameters.

Methods: Our single arm, before-and-after comparison study consisted of a 6-week KD with a previous preparation period including detailed instructions during classes and individual counselling by a dietitian.

Monitoring for compliance with a ketogenic diet: what is the best time of day to test for urinary ketosis?

Background: The ketogenic diet (KD) is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat and adequate-protein diet with no calorie limit that induces a metabolic condition called "physiological ketosis". It was first introduced to treat epilepsy in the 1920s and has become quite popular recently as weight-loss and performance-enhancing diet. Its therapeutic use in a range of diseases is under investigation.

Impact on Vitamin D2, Vitamin D4 and Agaritine in Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms after Artificial and Natural Solar UV Light Exposure.

Commercial mushroom production can expose mushrooms post-harvest to UV light for purposes of vitamin D2 enrichment by converting the naturally occurring provitamin D2 (ergosterol). The objectives of the present study were to artificially simulate solar UV-B doses occurring naturally in Central Europe and to investigate vitamin D2 and vitamin D4 production in sliced Agaricus bisporus (button mushrooms) and to analyse and compare the agaritine content of naturally and artificially UV-irradiated mushrooms. Agaritine was measured for safety aspects even though there is no rationale for a link between UV light exposure and agaritine content.

Effect of Ultraviolet Light-Exposed Mushrooms on Vitamin D Status: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Reanalysis of Biobanked Sera from a Randomized Controlled Trial and a Systematic Review plus Meta-Analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on the response of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in healthy participants consuming UV light-exposed edible mushrooms are limited and mixed.

Objective: The objective was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of responses of serum 25(OH)D [and serum 25-hydroxyergocalciferol, 25(OH)D2, and serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25(OH)D3, if available] to consumption of UV-exposed mushrooms by healthy participants. Biobanked sera from one RCT (originally analyzed by immunoassay) were reanalyzed by LC-MS/MS to generate serum 25(OH)D2 and serum 25(OH)D3 data.

Dose-Response Effect of Sunlight on Vitamin D2 Production in Agaricus bisporus Mushrooms.

The dose response effect of UV-B irradiation from sunlight on vitamin D2 content of sliced Agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom) during the process of sun-drying was investigated.Real-time UV-B and UV-A data were obtained using a high-performance spectroradiometer. During the first hour of sunlight exposure, the vitamin D2 content of the mushrooms increased in a linear manner, with concentrations increasing from 0.

Body mass index and bioelectrical impedance phase angle as potentially modifiable nutritional markers are independent risk factors for outcome in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Beside many risk factors in patients considered for alloHCT, only body mass index (BMI) as a broad marker of nutritional status has prognostic value in these patients. This is the first prospective study to investigate the validity of further nutritional markers: adjusted BMI, normalized for gender and age; Subjective Global Assessment questionnaire and standardized phase angle, normalized for gender, age and BMI in 105 patients as independent risk factors for outcomes [overall survival (OS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse mortality (RM), progression-free survival (PFS)] until 2 years after alloHCT. In Cox proportional-hazards regression models, we included a variety of accepted risk factors.

Longitudinal follow-up of nutritional status and its influencing factors in adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

There are few longitudinal data on nutritional status and body composition of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). We assessed nutritional status of 105 patients before alloHCT and its course during the early post-transplant period to day +30 and day +100 via weight history, body mass index (BMI) normalized for gender and age, Subjective Global Assessment, phase angle normalized for gender, age, and BMI, and fat-free and body fat masses. Furthermore, we present a multivariate regression model investigating the impact of factors on body weight.

Course of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) status and its influencing factors in adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Hypovitaminosis D (<30 ng/ml) is highly prevalent in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), but the relevance of influencing factors for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D(3)] status in adult patients remains unknown. We are the first to have prospectively assessed 25(OH)D(3) status and its influencing factors in 102 patients before and at days +30 and +100 after alloHCT. Among others, we evaluated age, gender, weight, fat mass, season, sun exposure habits, and dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake as factors potentially influencing baseline vitamin D status in uni- and multivariate linear regression analysis.

Role of antioxidants in buccal mucosa cells and plasma on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) is known to be a significant complication of chemotherapy preceding haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Antioxidants (AOX) scavenge free radicals, which play a major role in the initiation of OM and may reduce the OM risk.

Study Design: The primary objective of this prospective study was to investigate the association between the incidence and severity of OM (WHO oral toxicity scale) and the AOX status in buccal mucosa cells (BMC) and plasma.

Bioavailability of vitamin D₂ from UV-B-irradiated button mushrooms in healthy adults deficient in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/objectives: Mushrooms contain very little or any vitamin D(2) but are abundant in ergosterol, which can be converted into vitamin D(2) by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Our objective was to investigate the bioavailability of vitamin D(2) from vitamin D(2)-enhanced mushrooms by UV-B in humans, and comparing it with a vitamin D(2) supplement.

Subjects/methods: Fresh mushrooms were irradiated with an UV-B dose of 1.

Cell dynamics and immune response to BLV infection: a unifying model.

Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) is the natural etiological agent of a lymphoproliferative disease in cattle. BLV can also be transmitted experimentally to a related ruminant species, sheep, in which the pathogenesis is more acute. Although both susceptible species develop a strong anti-viral immune response, the virus persists indefinitely throughout life, apparently at a transcriptionally silent stage, at least in a proportion of infected cells.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 Tax oncoprotein regulates G-protein signaling.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and neurological syndromes. HTLV-1 encodes the oncoprotein Tax-1, which modulates viral and cellular gene expression leading to T-cell transformation. Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of membrane proteins known and are involved in the regulation of most biological functions.

Valproate activates bovine leukemia virus gene expression, triggers apoptosis, and induces leukemia/lymphoma regression in vivo.

Leukemogenic viruses like human T-lymphotropic virus and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) presumably persist in the host partly by latent integration of the provirus in a fraction of infected cells, leading to accumulative increase in the outgrowth of transformed cells. Furthermore, viral infection also correlates with a blockade of the apoptotic mechanisms concomitant with an apparent latency of the host cell. Conceptually, induction of viral or cellular gene expression could thus also be used as a therapeutic strategy against retroviral-associated leukemia.

The homeobox protein MSX2 interacts with tax oncoproteins and represses their transactivation activity.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) tax is an essential gene involved in the transcriptional activation of viral expression. Tax is also believed to be implicated in leukemogenesis because of its ability to immortalize primary cells in vitro. To gain insight into the molecular pathways mediating the activities of this important gene, we identified cellular proteins interacting with Tax.

The Proring-Band: a new device in the field of restrictive surgery: preliminary experience.

Background: We have an 11-year experience with Silastic ring vertical gastroplasy (SRVG) by laparotomy (1991-1994), followed by SRVG by mini-laparotomy (1995-2002), giving a total of 1,286 patients up to May 31, 2002. Searching for optimal results, we have utilized a new device; the Silastic ring has been replaced by the Proring-Band.

Methods: 174 mini-laparotomy SRVGs (mini-SRVG) were carried out with the Proring-Band from July 16, 2001 to May 31, 2002.

Small intestine gastric balloon impaction treated by laparoscopic surgery.

Background: The BioEnterics intragastric balloon device (BIB) is being used as an adjunct for treatment of obesity. This procedure may have complications, mainly related to the migration of the balloon in the bowel, with abdominal cramping before anal extrusion.

Methods: We report a case of migration of a deflated BIB in the small bowel with obstruction.

Six years experience with minilaparotomy silastic ring vertical gastroplasty.

Background: In 1994, we modified the silastic ring vertical gastroplasty (SRVG) procedure to be able to perform it through a small incision. We expected this MiniSRVG to reduce postoperative pain and discomfort, shorten hospital stay and cost, and reduce scars and overall morbidities.

Methods: From October 1991 to December 1999, 893 patients were operated for morbid obesity.