Degradation of ß-casomorphin-7 through in vitro gastrointestinal and jejunal brush border membrane digestion.

This work aimed to study the opioid peptide ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM7) degradation or stability during digestion using human gastrointestinal (GI) juices and porcine jejunal brush border membrane (BBM) peptidases. Synthetic BCM7 was subjected to in vitro digestion by GI fluids obtained from human volunteers for 180 min, and to downstream degradation with porcine BBM vesicles. The BCM7 was sampled at 4 time points over 24 h after BBM addition. The digests were profiled by HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) to monitor BCM7 during GI digestion, and intact BCM7 through BBM digestion was quantified by reverse-phase (RP)-HPLC. We found that BCM7 was partly digested with human GI enzymes, as 3 proteolytic fragments in addition to f(60-66) YPFPGPI were detected: f(62-66) FPGPI, f(60-65) YPFPGP and f(61-66) PFPGPI. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed that 42% of the initial peptide was degraded after only 2 h of BBM digestion, and as much as 79% was degraded after 4-h digestion with supplementation of BBM. In conclusion, this study showed that most of BCM7 was degraded during GI and BBM digestion, although a small amount (5%) was still detected after 24-h digestion. It remains to be studied whether the small amount of intact BCM7 detected after in vitro digestion is transported via active transceptors in the human intestinal epithelial cells and enters blood circulation.

BAC-based upgrading and physical integration of a genetic SNP map in Atlantic salmon.

A better understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of Atlantic salmon is of key importance for a whole range of production, life history and conservation biology issues attached to this species. High-density linkage maps integrated with physical maps and covering the complete genome are needed to identify economically important genes and to study the genome architecture. Linkage maps of moderate density and a physical bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) fingerprint map for the Atlantic salmon have already been generated. Here, we describe a strategy to combine the linkage mapping with the physical integration of newly identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We resequenced 284 BAC-ends by PCR in 14 individuals and detected 180 putative SNPs. After successful validation of 152 sequence variations, genotyping and genetic mapping were performed in eight salmon families comprising 376 individuals. Among these, 110 SNPs were positioned on a previously constructed linkage map containing SNPs derived from expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. Tracing the SNP markers back to the BACs enabled the integration of the genetic and physical maps by assigning 73 BAC contigs to Atlantic salmon linkage groups.

Construction of a dense SNP map for bovine chromosome 6 to assist the assembly of the bovine genome sequence.

A linkage map was constructed for bovine chromosome 6 (BTA6), using 399 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected primarily from PCR-resequencing. The efficiency of SNP detection was highly dependent on the source of sequence information chosen for primer design (BAC-end sequences, introns or promoters). The SNPs were used to build a linkage map comprising 104 cM on BTA6. The SNP order in the linkage map corresponded very well with radiation hybrid (RH) maps available for BTA6 as well as with expected positions in the human comparative map, but diverged significantly from the current assembly of the bovine genome (Btau_3.1). When performing linkage analysis with the marker order suggested from the Btau_3.1 we observed an expansion of the genetic map from 104 cM to 137 cM, strongly suggesting a reordering of scaffolds in the current version of the bovine genome assembly. The extent of LD on BTA6 was evaluated by calculating the average r(2) for SNP pairs separated by given distances. The decline of LD was rapid with distance, such that r(2) was 0.1 at 100 kb. Our results indicate that linkage mapping will be a valuable source of information for correcting errors in the current bovine assembly. These errors were sufficiently frequent to be of concern for the accuracy of mapping QTL with panels of SNPs whose positions are based on the current assembly.

Forensic ancestry analysis with two capillary electrophoresis ancestry informative marker (AIM) panels: Results of a collaborative EDNAP exercise.

There is increasing interest in forensic ancestry tests, which are part of a growing number of DNA analyses that can enhance routine profiling by obtaining additional genetic information about unidentified DNA donors. Nearly all ancestry tests use single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), but these currently rely on SNaPshot single base extension chemistry that can fail to detect mixed DNA. Insertion-deletion polymorphism (Indel) tests have been developed using dye-labeled primers that allow direct capillary electrophoresis detection of PCR products (PCR-to-CE). PCR-to-CE maintains the direct relationship between input DNA and signal strength as each marker is detected with a single dye, so mixed DNA is more reliably detected. We report the results of a collaborative inter-laboratory exercise of 19 participants (15 from the EDNAP European DNA Profiling group) that assessed a 34-plex SNP test using SNaPshot and a 46-plex Indel test using PCR-to-CE. Laboratories were asked to type five samples with different ancestries and detect an additional mixed DNA sample. Statistical inference of ancestry was made by participants using the Snipper online Bayes analysis portal plus an optional PCA module that analyzes the genotype data alongside calculation of Bayes likelihood ratios. Exercise results indicated consistent genotyping performance from both tests, reaching a particularly high level of reliability for the Indel test. SNP genotyping gave 93.5% concordance (compared to the organizing laboratory's data) that rose to 97.3% excluding one laboratory with a large number of miscalled genotypes. Indel genotyping gave a higher concordance rate of 99.8% and a reduced no-call rate compared to SNP analysis. All participants detected the mixture from their Indel peak height data and successfully assigned the correct ancestry to the other samples using Snipper, with the exception of one laboratory with SNP miscalls that incorrectly assigned ancestry of two samples and did not obtain informative likelihood ratios for a third. Therefore, successful ancestry assignments were achieved by participants in 92 of 95 Snipper analyses. This exercise demonstrates that ancestry inference tests based on binary marker sets can be readily adopted by laboratories that already have well-established CE regimes in place. The Indel test proved to be easy to use and allowed all exercise participants to detect the DNA mixture as well as achieving complete and concordant profiles in nearly all cases. Lastly, two participants successfully ran parallel next-generation sequencing analyses (each using different systems) and achieved high levels of genotyping concordance using the exercise PCR primer mixes unmodified.

NO-naproxen vs. naproxen: ulcerogenic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

BACKGROUND: A novel class of nitric oxide-releasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NO-NSAID) derivatives has recently been described which exert anti-inflammatory activities but produce significantly less gastrointestinal injury than the parent NSAID from which they are derived. The present studies were performed to determine if a nitroxybutylester derivative of naproxen was less ulcerogenic to the gastrointestinal tract than its parent NSAID, and if it exerted comparable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to the parent NSAID. METHODS: The two drugs were compared in an acute gastric injury model, an antral ulcer model and after twice-daily administration for 18 days (small intestinal damage model). Anti-inflammatory activity was examined in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, while analgesia was examined in the acetic acid-induced writhing model. The pharmacokinetic profiles of naproxen vs. NO-naproxen were compared by HPLC analysis. RESULTS: NO-naproxen was found to produce significantly less gastric damage despite inducing similar increases in plasma TNF alpha to naproxen. With chronic administration, small intestinal damage was markedly less with NO-naproxen than with the parent NSAID. However, NO-naproxen exerted superior analgesic and comparable anti-inflammatory effects to naproxen. NO-naproxen was not completely converted to naproxen, but the reduced plasma levels of the latter was not the underlying reason for reduced gastrointestinal toxicity of NO-naproxen. CONCLUSION: NO-naproxen represents a novel, gastrointestinal-sparing NSAID derivative with superior analgesic and comparable anti-inflammatory properties to naproxen.

Uncoupling of intestinal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and inhibition of cyclooxygenase are required for the development of NSAID-enteropathy in the rat.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal damage is believed to involve a nonprostaglandin dependent effect as well as prostaglandin dependent effects. One suggestion is that the nonprostaglandin mechanism involves uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. AIMS: To assess the role of uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of small intestinal damage in the rat. METHODS: We compared key pathophysiologic events in the small bowel following (i) dinitrophenol, an uncoupling agent (ii) parenteral aspirin, to inhibit cyclooxygenase without causing a 'topical' effect and (iii) the two together, using (iv) indomethacin as a positive control. RESULTS: Dinitrophenol altered intestinal mitochondrial morphology, increased intestinal permeability and caused inflammation without affecting gastric permeability or intestinal prostanoid levels. Parenteral aspirin decreased mucosal prostanoids without affecting intestinal mitochondria in vivo, gastric or intestinal permeability. Aspirin caused no inflammation or ulcers. When dinitrophenol and aspirin were given together the changes in intestinal mitochondrial morphology, permeability, inflammation and prostanoid levels and the macro- and microscopic appearances of intestinal ulcers were similar to indomethacin. CONCLUSIONS: These studies allow dissociation of the contribution and consequences of uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase inhibition in the pathophysiology of NSAID enteropathy. While uncoupling of enterocyte mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation leads to increased intestinal permeability and low grade inflammation, concurrent decreases in mucosal prostanoids appear to be important in the development of ulcers.

Chimeric honeybees (Apis mellifera) produced by transplantation of embryonic cells into pre-gastrula stage embryos and detection of chimerism by use of microsatellite markers.

The production of chimeras, by use of cell transplantation, has proved to be highly valuable in studies of development by providing insights into cell fate, differentiation, and developmental potential. So far, chimeric honeybees have been created by nuclear transfer technologies. We have developed protocols to produce chimeric honeybees by use of cell transplantation. Embryonic cells were transplanted between pre-gastrula stage embryos (32-34 hr after oviposition) and hatched larvae were reared in vitro for 4 days. Chimeric individuals were detected by use of microsatellite analysis and a conservative estimation approach. 4.8% of embryos, posteriorly injected with embryonic cells, developed into chimeric honeybee larvae. By injection of cells pre-stained with fluorescent cell tracer dye, we studied the integration of transplanted cells in the developing embryos. Number of injected cells varied from 0 to 50 and cells remained and multiplied mainly in the area of injection.

[Prolonged half-life of digitoxin in the elderly]. / Forlenget halveringstid for digitoksin hos de eldste.

Digitoxin is frequently used in Norway in the treatment of cardiac failure. Digitalis glycosides may give rise to a number of side effects difficult to separate from disease in the elderly. Six patients aged 77-93 years, treated with digitoxin 0.05 mg/day, were hospitalized due to digitalis intoxication. Mean digitoxin half-life was 25.2 days. This is significantly more than reported in other studies on younger patients. The symptoms of digitoxin intoxication disappeared on discontinuation of medication. The slow elimination of digitoxin may be related to reduced serum albumin concentration. When digitoxin is used in the treatment of heart failure in the very elderly patients, one should be aware of the possibility of digitoxin intoxication, even at a low dose.

Prolonged digitoxin half-life in very elderly patients.

The digitoxin half-life in elderly patients in the eight and ninth decade was more prolonged (mean +/- SD: 25 +/- 9 days) than in younger people (6.7 +/- 1.7). These elderly patients accumulated digitoxin even on a dose of 0.05 mg/ day. The symptoms of digitoxin intoxication disappeared on discontinuation of medication. When digitoxin is used in the treatment for heart failure in the very elderly patients, one should be aware of the possibility of digitoxin intoxication, even on a low dose.

Free protein S deficiency in patients with Crohn's disease.

Multifocal intestinal infarctions, due to thrombosis in small vessels, might be a pathogenetic mechanism for Crohn's disease (CD). Deficiency of free protein S may contribute to the development of such thrombotic occlusions. In the present study free protein S was measured in 54 patients with CD. In 31 patients (57.4%) the plasma concentrations of free protein S were below the lower normal range. The mean value of free protein S in CD patients was 72.2%, as compared with 97.5% in healthy subjects (p < 0.01). The concentrations of C4b-binding protein and protein C were similar in the two groups. Free protein S levels were not correlated to disease activity, previous surgery or complications, extraintestinal manifestations, or current medical therapy. The impairment of the protein S/protein C/thrombomodulin system found in patients with CD favours coagulation and might be of importance for both the development of CD and its thromboembolic complications.

Free protein S deficiency in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Free protein S, protein C, and C4b-binding protein (C4b-BP) were measured in randomly selected outpatients: 22 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 16 with ulcerative colitis (UC). Active disease was recorded in 10 patients with CD and 4 with UC. Fourteen patients (63.6%) with CD and 4 (25%) with UC had free protein S values below the normal range, with mean values of 62% and 78% of that found in healthy control subjects (p < 0.01). The C4b-BP level was 127% in patients with CD as compared with 89% in both healthy subjects and UC patients (p < 0.01). The protein C levels were similar in the three groups. The present results add to the factors already known favouring thromboembolic complications in inflammatory bowel disease and which might play a major role both for the pathogenesis and for the increased tendency to venous thromboembolism in these diseases.

Faecal calprotectin shedding after short-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

BACKGROUND: Increased faecal calprotectin shedding indicates gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation. METHODS: We studied the effect of short-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on faecal calprotectin shedding in two randomized crossover studies, with treatment regimens of indomethacin or naproxen for 14 days in the first study (n = 16) and lornoxicam or naproxen for 7 days in the second study (n = 18). RESULTS: The method's reproducibility and stability were satisfactory. Indomethacin and naproxen increased the faecal calprotectin significantly from a base line of 4.7 mg/l to 9.0 mg/l and 8.0 mg/l, respectively. Lornoxicam failed to increase the faecal calprotectin. Shedding after 7 days of naproxen treatment was positively correlated to gastroduodenal mucosal inflammation assessed by endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Although seemingly influenced by concurrent upper airway infections, the study indicates that the calprotectin test may be useful for monitoring the inflammatory response to NSAID treatment, even in short-term setting.

Assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis by faecal calprotectin, a novel granulocyte marker protein.

This study comprised 62 outpatients with ulcerative colitis who underwent 64 colonoscopies. The disease activity was evaluated according to endoscopic and histological criteria. The results revealed a significant correlation between both the endoscopic as well as the histological gradings of disease activity and faecal calprotectin. The median faecal calprotectin levels in the control group (6 mg/l) and in the patients with no or low disease activity (11.5 mg/l) were significantly different (p < 0.0001). The median calprotectin level among patients with active disease was 68 mg/l which was significantly different from the latter group (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, we suggest that the degree of inflammation rather than the extent of the disease determined the faecal calprotectin levels. In conclusion, assessment of faecal calprotectin seems to be a marker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Correlation between faecal excretion of indium-111-labelled granulocytes and calprotectin, a granulocyte marker protein, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that clinical indices of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not adequately reflect the degree of inflammation in most such patients. Faecal excretion of indium-111-labelled neutrophilic granulocytes has been suggested as the gold standard of disease activity, but its complexity and high cost and the exposure of patients to ionizing irradiation have limited the use of this technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the faecal excretion of the granulocyte marker protein calprotectin and that of 111In-labelled granulocytes. METHODS: Calprotectin in stool extracts from 19 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 10 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 9 presumably healthy controls was assessed with a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Simultaneously, the faecal excretion of autologous 111In-labelled granulocytes was measured. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between the average daily excretion of calprotectin and that of the total 3-day excretion of 111In-labelled granulocytes (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the concentration of calprotectin, assessed in a small stool sample on day 1, also correlated well with the excretion 111In-labelled granulocytes (r = 0.80, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that faecal calprotectin reflects the granulocyte migration through the gut wall in patients with IBD and hence might serve as a simple, inexpensive alternative to the indium-111 technique.

Bioavailability of oral magnesium supplementation in female students evaluated from elimination of magnesium in 24-hour urine.

The bioavailability of Mg from different preparations after oral intake has been evaluated by measuring the Mg elimination in 24-hour urine during placebo and treatment periods in 18 normal female students receiving 15-20.6 mmol/day. The urine elimination was increased 0.9-1.3 mmol/24 h by (a) tablets containing Mg citrate/Mg lactate 5 mmol three times a day; (b) tablets containing Mg citrate/Mg lactate and Mg hydroxide, 5 mmol three times a day; (c) tablets containing Mg hydroxide (Emgesan 10.3 mmol) twice a day; (d) solutions with Mg chloride (0.5 mmol/ml) 10 ml three times a day. There was no statistical difference in urine elimination after intake of the different preparations. The differences in Mg elimination/24 h discriminated between control and treatment groups just as well as or better than differences calculated on the basis of Mg/creatinine ratios.

Assessment of the neutrophil dominating protein calprotectin in feces. A methodologic study.

This study describes methods for extraction and quantification of calprotectin (L1 protein) in feces by enzyme immunoassay. This protein is a prominent antimicrobial component of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and squamous epithelia. Calprotectin was stable in feces during storage for 7 days at room temperature. Small fecal samples taken from a 24-h feces collection gave a reliable estimate of calprotectin. Within-assay precision was 1.9%, and between-assay precision 14.8%. In healthy subjects (n = 33) median fecal calprotectin was 2025 micrograms/l and in hospital controls (n = 40) 10,500 micrograms/l. Median values in patients with Crohn's disease (n = 21) was 43,000 micrograms/l and in ulcerative colitis (n = 17) 40,000 micrograms/l. Fecal calprotectin was significantly correlated to fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin in the patients with Crohn's disease. Ten of 11 patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas had calprotectin level above the suggested reference limit of 6740 micrograms/l.

[Skiing over Greenland--physical and psychological changes]. / På ski over Grønland--fysiske og psykiske forandringer.

Three Norwegian physicians crossed the inland glacier of Greenland on skis without any support. Body weight, fat and lean body mass was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry scanning. Maximal oxygen uptake, lung capacity measurements, and various blood tests were recorded. Subjective health-related well-being and four transistory arousal states were also recorded (GHQ-30 and AD ACL, short form). One participant lost 1 kilo body weight, while the others gained 1 and 4 kilos, respectively, during the trip. Overall, lean body mass increased (1.2-4.0 kg), while body fat was reduced (0.4-2.7 kg). These changes reversed after four weeks. Bone mass, lung function and blood tests did not vary throughout the study period. The level of energy and calmness were high at baseline and even higher towards the end of the expedition, while the scores were low and stable for tiredness and tension. Subjective well-being increased for all participants towards the second half of the trip. We conclude that expeditions involving physical and mental strain can produce positive psychological changes. Catabolic conditions are avoidable. Changes in body mass composition revert quickly.

Faecal calprotectin: a novel test for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer?

Calprotectin, a prominent cytosol protein in neutrophil granulocytes, was present in increased concentrations in stools from 50 of 53 patients with colorectal cancer, 32 of 40 patients with colorectal polyps, and all of 18 patients with gastric cancer. After radical surgery, faecal calprotectin levels reverted to the normal range in all but one patient with colorectal cancer. Calprotectin determinations are simplified by the stability of this protein in stools. Reliable estimates can be obtained in samples of only 5 g. On the basis of data from the literature, the test for calprotectin seems better than that for occult blood for the detection of gastrointestinal neoplasms.

Fine mapping of milk production QTL on BTA6 by combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis.

Combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis were used to refine the position of a previously detected QTL affecting milk production traits on bovine chromosome 6. Through a series of single- and multitrait and single- and multipoint QTL analyses, the QTL could be positioned to a 7.5-cM interval surrounded by the markers BMS2508 and FBN12. The most significant results were found for fat percentage and protein percentage. This effect seemed to be caused by a QTL allele embedded in one specific marker haplotype that caused a reduction in fat and protein yields and a concomitant increase of milk yield, thus resulting in a marked reduction of fat and protein percentages.