Ingestion of difructose anhydride III partially suppresses the deconjugation and 7α-dehydroxylation of bile acids in rats fed with a cholic acid-supplemented diet.

Difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) is a prebiotic involved in the reduction of secondary bile acids (BAs). We investigated whether DFAIII modulates BA metabolism, including enterohepatic circulation, in the rats fed with a diet supplemented with cholic acid (CA), one of the 12α-hydroxylated BAs. After acclimation, the rats were fed with a control diet or a diet supplemented with DFAIII. After 2 weeks, each group was further divided into two groups and was fed diet with or without CA supplementation at 0.5 g/kg diet. BA levels were analyzed in aortic and portal plasma, liver, intestinal content, and feces. As a result, DFAIII ingestion reduced the fecal deoxycholic acid level via the partial suppression of deconjugation and 7α-dehydroxylation of BAs following CA supplementation. These results suggest that DFAIII suppresses production of deoxycholic acid in conditions of high concentrations of 12α-hydroxylated BAs in enterohepatic circulation, such as obesity or excess energy intake. Abbreviation: BA: bile acid; BSH: bile salt hydrolase; CA: cholic acid; DCA: deoxycholic acid; DFAIII: difructose anhydride III; MCA: muricholic acid; MS: mass spectrometry; NCDs: non-communicable diseases; LC: liquid chromatography; SCFA: short-chain fatty acid; TCA: taurocholic acid; TCDCA: taurochenodeoxycholic acid; TDCA: taurodeoxycholic acid; TUDCA: tauroursodeoxychlic acid; TαMCA: tauro-α-muricholic acid; TßMCA: tauro-ß-muricholic acid; TωMCA: tauro-ω-muricholic acid.

Myositis ossificans in the paraspinal muscles of the neck after acupuncture: a case report.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although traumatic myositis ossificans (MO) has been reported occasionally, MO of paraspinal muscles has been rarely seen in the cervical spine after minor injury. This is difficult to distinguish from benign and malignant soft lesions in cases of a lack of definite trauma history. PURPOSE: We report a case of MO in the cervical paraspinal muscle after acupuncture and describe methods for diagnosis and proper treatment, including classification, etiology, and radiologic and histologic features. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A 26-year-old woman complained of posterior neck pain that had began 2 months earlier and neck swelling after acupuncture. No abnormal finding existed on the X-ray except soft tissue swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated because of constant neck pain. To obtain more accurate assessment, computed tomography-guided biopsy was performed and a diagnosis of MO was made. RESULTS: The patient was conservatively treated through rest and analgesics. Posterior neck pain and swelling improved for a several months. The hyperdensity was comparable with the bony density, and the size of the calcified lesion on X-ray diminished until the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Myositis ossificans that can occur after acupuncture should be recognized as a possible cause of persistent neck pain and swelling despite no definite trauma after thorough evaluation of the neoplasm and infection.