Tumor-host responses to various nutritional feeding procedures in rats. (17/626)

Parenteral and enteral nutrition are being used as adjuncts to cancer therapy. A liquid diet formulation containing a 27% solution of glucose and 3.9% crystalline amino acids with electrolytes and vitamins was given continuously for a week via parenteral (iv), and via intragastric (ig) routes and also was given ad libitum via the oral or per os (po) route to groups of Buffalo rats with and without a Morris No. 7777 transplantable hepatoma to find out how these feeding procedures affect tumor-host interactions. Other groups of rats with and without the hepatoma were given solid food ad libitum. The following parameters were examined: mortality, carcass and organ weights, body and tumor growth, nitrogen balance, energy intake, fluid balance, urinalysis, hematology values, and serum protein levels. The results are considered with respect to the influence of the tumor on the host and the influence of the feeding procedure on the animal with and without a tumor. The presence of the hepatoma was associated with: higher mortality, a decrease in carcass mass, leucocytosis, anemia, a decrease in serum IgG, transferrin and albumin, and an increase in serum alpha fetoprotein. The iv and ig feeding procedures alone resulted in some mortality which was exacerbated by the presence of the tumor. Mortality was especially high in the tumorous rats on the ig feeding procedure. The degree of positive nitrogen balance and carcass mass was similar in non-tumorous rats fed the same liquid diet formula when given iv, ig, or po. Tumorous rats fed the liquid diet ad libitum showed anorexia and a significantly lower nitrogen balance. The iv and ig feeding of tumorous rats at a level which was well above those of the tumorous rats given solid or liquid diet ad libitum maintained the same degree of positive nitrogen balance as non-tumorous rats. Even though the iv feeding of tumorous rats maintained about the same degree of positive nitrogen balance as non-tumorous rats, these tumorous rats still suffered loss of carcass mass. It appears that the large rapidly growing hepatoma has priority for available nutrition over the host. It is further suggested that the rapidly growing hepatoma places an ever increasing demand on the available nutrients. Thus, a point is eventually reached where even supplemental nutritional support can no longer meet the needs of the growing hepatoma and the host.  (+info)

Mucosal healing and a fall in mucosal pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA induced by a specific oral polymeric diet in paediatric Crohn's disease. (18/626)

BACKGROUND: Although enteral nutrition is a recognized form of treatment for intestinal Crohn's disease, there are persisting problems with feed palatability and only limited data as to its mode of action. AIM: To assess the effects of a specific oral polymeric diet (CT3211; Nestle, Vevey, Switzerland), which is rich in transforming growth factor beta2, on the mucosal inflammatory process. METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutive children with active intestinal Crohn's disease were treated with CT3211 as the sole source of nutrition for 8 weeks. Patients were assessed clinically, and endoscopically, whilst cytokine mRNA was measured in mucosal biopsies before and after treatment by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: After 8 weeks 79% of children were in complete clinical remission. Macroscopic and histological healing in the terminal ileum and colon was associated with a decline in ileal and colonic interleukin-1beta mRNA (pre-treatment to post-treatment ratio 0.008 and 0.06: P < 0.001, P = 0.006). In the ileum there was also a fall in interferon gamma mRNA (ratio 0.15, P < 0.001) with a rise in transforming growth factor beta1 mRNA (ratio 10, P = 0.04), whilst in the colon interleukin-8 mRNA fell with treatment (ratio 0.06, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical response to oral polymeric diet CT3211 is associated with mucosal healing and a down regulation of mucosal pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA in both the terminal ileum and colon. In the ileum there was also an increase in transforming growth factor beta1 mRNA.  (+info)

Growth performance, metabolic and endocrine traits, and absorptive capacity in neonatal calves fed either colostrum or milk replacer at two levels. (19/626)

Colostrum (CO) contains high amounts, whereas whole milk and milk replacer (MR) contain small amounts, of bioactive and growth-promoting substances, such as IGF-I. An experiment was designed to study the effects of feeding CO or MR on the first 3 d to neonatal calves, followed by whole milk up to d 7, at low and high density. Intestinal absorptive capacity, plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations, and growth performance were measured during the 1st wk of life. Body weight increased (P < .05) similarly in calves fed low or high amounts of CO but did not rise in MR-fed calves. Loose feces were more frequent (P < .05) and absorption of xylose on d 5 was lower (P < .01) in MR- than in CO-fed calves, but there were no effects of feeding density within CO-fed or within MR-fed groups. However, high feeding density within CO-fed groups enhanced (P < .05) total protein, globulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and insulin concentrations, whereas in the initially high and low MR-fed groups only plasma glucose and insulin after the first meal and plasma NEFA on d 2 were modified (P < .05) by different feeding density. Thus, feeding different amounts of CO partly influenced protein and fat metabolism in calves during the 1st wk of life, but it did not measurably affect intestinal function. However, feeding different amounts of MR, in the absence of CO, barely affected metabolic and endocrine traits and absorptive capacity. Thus, high density CO feeding, and therefore a high supply of nutrients, together with greater amounts of bioactive and growth-promoting substances influenced neonatal metabolism and growth more than a high density of MR feeding containing only small amounts of bioactive and growth-promoting substances. Factors in addition to nutrient density seem to be important for the development of neonatal calves.  (+info)

Nasogastric hyperalimentation through a polyethylene catheter: an alternative to central venous hyperalimentation. (20/626)

We performed nasogastric hyperalimentation with polyethylene catheters and appropriate feeding solutions in 12 cachectic patients who had been referred as candidates for central venous hyperalimentation. Most patients had primary gastrointestinal disease. The duration of hyperalimentation averaged 31 days. Seven patients obtained rapid weight gain (average 0.3 kg/day) with the nasogastric hyperalimentation alone. An additional two were successfully repleted with the addition of parenteral fluids via peripheral veins. In the nine repleted patients, serum albumin rose by average 19%, 24-hr urine creatinine by average 21%, and triceps skinfold by average 46%. The nature of the weight gain in the nine successful cases was analyzed by the metabolic balance study technique. Average composition of the increment in weight was: 50% protoplasm, 48% extracellular fluid, 19% adipose tissue, and less than 1% bone. We conclude that nasogastric hyperalimentation can replace central venous hyperalimentation in a substantial proportion of patients now receiving the latter type of treatment.  (+info)

Regulation of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in chronic experimental alcoholism: effects of vitamin E-supplemented and -deficient diets. (21/626)

In order to investigate the pathogenic mechanism responsible for liver injury associated with chronic alcoholism, we studied the effects of different dietary vitamin E levels in chronically ethanol (EtOH)-fed rats on the activity and mRNA regulation of the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzyme. Evidence is accumulating that intermediates of oxygen reduction may in fact be associated with the development of alcoholic liver disease. Since low vitamin E liver content seems to potentiate EtOH-linked oxidative stress, we studied the effect of EtOH treatment in livers from rats fed a diet deficient or supplemented with vitamin E. Chronic EtOH feeding enhanced hepatic consumption of vitamin E in both groups of EtOH-treated animals, irrespectively of the vitamin E level of the basal diet and the effect was observed in both the microsomal and mitochondrial fractions. Both EtOH-fed groups exhibited increased MnSOD gene expression, while the enzyme activity was enhanced only in the vitamin E-deprived group of EtOH-treated animals. The significant increase in manganese liver content found only in this last group could explain the rise of enzyme activity. In fact, in the absence of a parallel increase of the prosthetic ion manganese, MnSOD mRNA induction was not accompanied by a higher enzymatic activity. These findings support the role of oxidative alteration in the EtOH-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in which MnSOD response might represent a primary defence mechanism against the damaging effect of oxygen radical species.  (+info)

Proliferation and differentiation of stromal-vascular cells in primary culture differ between neonatal pigs consuming maternal or formula milk. (22/626)

Proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes from 7-d-old pigs consuming maternal or formula milk were examined in primary culture of stromal-vascular (s-v) cells derived from subcutaneous adipose tissue. Unsuckled pigs were bottle-fed isoenergetically with colostrum and then sow's milk (SM) or with formula milk alone (F) from birth to 7 d. Isolated cells were exposed to serum-supplemented medium and serum-free medium to determine proliferation and differentiation, respectively. Proliferation estimated between d 3 and 4 of culture was higher (P<0.05) in cells from F than SM pigs. In addition, the number of s-v cells isolated from 1 g of adipose tissue was higher (P<0.01) in F than SM pigs. Variables assessing differentiation were also affected. The percentage of differentiating cells and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were lower (P<0.05) in F than SM pigs, whereas malic enzyme (ME) activity did not differ significantly between the two groups. In conclusion, formula milk increased the number of s-v cells and their capacity for proliferation, whereas the potential for cell differentiation was lower compared with cells from the maternal milk group. Further studies are required to identify the growth and/or nutritional factors that are implicated in the observed differences and to determine whether subsequent development of adipose tissue is affected.  (+info)

Minimal enteral nutrient requirements for intestinal growth in neonatal piglets: how much is enough? (23/626)

BACKGROUND: Parenterally nourished preterm infants commonly receive minimal enteral feedings, the aim being to enhance intestinal function. Whether this regimen increases intestinal growth has not been established. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the minimal enteral nutrient intakes necessary to stimulate and to normalize neonatal intestinal growth. METHODS: Intestinal growth and cell proliferation were quantified in neonatal pigs given equal amounts of an elemental nutrient solution for 7 d. Different groups (n = 5-7 per group) received 0%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100% of total nutrient intake enterally, with the remainder given parenterally. RESULTS: In the jejunum, wet weight, protein mass, and villus height were significantly greater at enteral intakes >40%. Stimulation of ileal protein mass required a higher enteral intake (60%). In both segments, abrupt increases in DNA mass, crypt depth, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and crypt cells in S-phase occurred between enteral intakes of 40% and 60%. Circulating concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-2 and peptide YY, but not gastrin, increased significantly between enteral intakes of 40% and 60% and closely paralleled indexes of cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: The minimal enteral nutrient intake necessary to increase mucosal mass was 40% of total nutrient intake, whereas 60% enteral nutrition was necessary to sustain normal mucosal proliferation and growth. Our results imply that providing <40% of the total nutrient intake enterally does not have significant intestinal trophic effects.  (+info)

Plasma insulin responses after ingestion of different amino acid or protein mixtures with carbohydrate. (24/626)

BACKGROUND: Protein induces an increase in insulin concentrations when ingested in combination with carbohydrate. Increases in plasma insulin concentrations have been observed after the infusion of free amino acids. However, the insulinotropic properties of different amino acids or protein (hydrolysates) when co-ingested with carbohydrate have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define an amino acid and protein (hydrolysate) mixture with a maximal insulinotropic effect when co-ingested with carbohydrate. DESIGN: Eight healthy, nonobese male subjects visited our laboratory, after an overnight fast, on 10 occasions on which different beverage compositions were tested for 2 h. During those trials the subjects ingested 0.8 g*kg(-)(1)*h(-)(1) carbohydrate and 0.4 g*kg(-)(1)*h(-)(1) of an amino acid and protein (hydrolysate) mixture. RESULTS: A strong initial increase in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations was observed in all trials, after which large differences in insulin response between drinks became apparent. After we expressed the insulin response as area under the curve during the second hour, ingestion of the drinks containing free leucine, phenylalanine, and arginine and the drinks with free leucine, phenylalanine, and wheat protein hydrolysate were followed by the largest insulin response (101% and 103% greater, respectively, than with the carbohydrate-only drink; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Insulin responses are positively correlated with plasma leucine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine concentrations. A mixture of wheat protein hydrolysate, free leucine, phenylalanine, and carbohydrate can be applied as a nutritional supplement to strongly elevate insulin concentrations.  (+info)