Pyridoxamine reduces methylglyoxal and markers of glycation and endothelial dysfunction, but does not improve insulin sensitivity or vascular function in abdominally obese individuals: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Aim: To investigate the effects of pyridoxamine (PM), a B6 vitamer and dicarbonyl scavenger, on glycation and a large panel of metabolic and vascular measurements in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in abdominally obese individuals.

Materials And Methods: Individuals (54% female; mean age 50 years; mean body mass index 32 kg/m ) were randomized to an 8-week intervention with either placebo (n = 36), 25 mg PM (n = 36) or 200 mg PM (n = 36). We assessed insulin sensitivity, β-cell function, insulin-mediated microvascular recruitment, skin microvascular function, flow-mediated dilation, and plasma inflammation and endothelial function markers.

Diet-induced weight loss reduces postprandial dicarbonyl stress in abdominally obese men: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: Dicarbonyl compounds contribute to the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and the development of insulin resistance and vascular complications. Dicarbonyl stress may already be detrimental in obesity. We evaluated whether diet-induced weight loss can effectively reverse dicarbonyl stress in abdominally obese men.

Urinary Excretion of -Methylnicotinamide and -Methyl-2-Pyridone-5-Carboxamide and Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

It is unclear whether niacin nutritional status is a target for improvement of long-term outcome after renal transplantation. The 24-h urinary excretion of -methylnicotinamide (-MN), as a biomarker of niacin status, has previously been shown to be negatively associated with premature mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). However, recent evidence implies higher enzymatic conversion of -MN to -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2Py) in KTR, therefore the need exists for interpretation of both -MN and 2Py excretion for niacin status assessment.

Effects of diet-induced weight loss on postprandial vascular function after consumption of a mixed meal: Results of a randomized controlled trial with abdominally obese men.

Background: Effects of weight loss on postprandial vascular function have not been studied so far. We therefore examined (i) effects of diet-induced weight loss on postprandial changes in various vascular function markers after consumption of a mixed meal and (ii) differences between normal-weight and abdominally obese men of comparable age at baseline and after weight loss.

Methods: Fifty-four apparently healthy abdominally obese (waist circumference: 102-110 cm) and 25 normal-weight men (waist circumference: <94 cm) participated.

Independent tissue contributors to obesity-associated insulin resistance.

Background: Induction of insulin resistance is a key pathway through which obesity increases risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular events. Although the detrimental effects of obesity on insulin sensitivity are incompletely understood, accumulation of visceral, subcutaneous, and liver fat and impairment of insulin-induced muscle microvascular recruitment (MVR) may be involved. As these phenotypic changes often coincide in obesity, we aimed to unravel whether they independently contribute to insulin resistance and thus constitute separate targets for intervention.

Effects of long-term magnesium supplementation on endothelial function and cardiometabolic risk markers: A randomized controlled trial in overweight/obese adults.

Long-term magnesium supplementation improves arterial stiffness, a cardiovascular disease risk marker. Effects on endothelial function may be another mechanism whereby increased magnesium intakes affect cardiovascular risk. Therefore, a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to examine effects of magnesium supplementation on endothelial function and cardiometabolic risk markers.

Characterization of the starch-acting MaAmyB enzyme from Microbacterium aurum B8.A representing the novel subfamily GH13_42 with an unusual, multi-domain organization.

The bacterium Microbacterium aurum strain B8.A degrades granular starches, using the multi-domain MaAmyA α-amylase to initiate granule degradation through pore formation. This paper reports the characterization of the M.

Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 RpoN (Sigma 54) Is a Pleiotropic Regulator of Growth, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Motility, Biofilm Formation and Toxin Production.

Sigma 54 is a transcriptional regulator predicted to play a role in physical interaction of bacteria with their environment, including virulence and biofilm formation. In order to study the role of Sigma 54 in Bacillus cereus, a comparative transcriptome and phenotypic study was performed using B. cereus ATCC 14579 WT, a markerless rpoN deletion mutant, and its complemented strain.

Resveratrol does not influence metabolic risk markers related to cardiovascular health in overweight and slightly obese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Background: In vitro and animal studies have shown positive effects of resveratrol on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, but human studies specifically designed to examine these effects are lacking.

Objective: The primary outcome parameter of this study in overweight and slightly obese subjects was the effect of resveratrol on apoA-I concentrations. Secondary outcome parameters were effects on other markers of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, glucose metabolism, and markers for inflammation and endothelial function.

Effects of supplementation with the fat-soluble vitamins E and D on fasting flow-mediated vasodilation in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The effects of fat-soluble vitamin supplementation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are not clear. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to quantify effects of fat-soluble vitamin supplements on fasting flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, a validated marker to assess CVD risk. Randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by a systematic search till July 2014.

Comparative analysis of biofilm formation by Bacillus cereus reference strains and undomesticated food isolates and the effect of free iron.

Biofilm formation of Bacillus cereus reference strains ATCC 14579 and ATCC 10987 and 21 undomesticated food isolates was studied on polystyrene and stainless steel as contact surfaces. For all strains, the biofilm forming capacity was significantly enhanced when in contact with stainless steel (SS) as a surface as compared to polystyrene (PS). For a selection of strains, the total CFU and spore counts in biofilms were determined and showed a good correlation between CFU counts and total biomass of these biofilms.

Weight loss improves fasting flow-mediated vasodilation in adults: a meta-analysis of intervention studies.

Background: Obesity is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. Effects of weight loss on endothelial function are however not clear. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to quantify effects of weight loss on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, a measurement of endothelial function.

Beetroot juice improves in overweight and slightly obese men postprandial endothelial function after consumption of a mixed meal.

Background: Through effects on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, endothelial function is improved after the intake of beetroot juice-which is rich in inorganic nitrate-, but decreased after the intake of a meal.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine if beetroot juice could counteract the impairment of endothelial function associated with the ingestion of a mixed meal.

Methods: Twenty healthy overweight and slightly obese men with a BMI between 28 and 35 kg/m(2) received in random order a mixed meal providing 56.