Vitamin D and pancreatic cancer: a pooled analysis from the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium.

BACKGROUND: The potential role of vitamin D in the aetiology of pancreatic cancer is unclear, with recent studies suggesting both positive and negative associations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used data from nine case-control studies from the International Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium (PanC4) to examine associations between pancreatic cancer risk and dietary vitamin D intake. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression, and ORs were then pooled using a random-effects model. From a subset of four studies, we also calculated pooled estimates of association for supplementary and total vitamin D intake. RESULTS: Risk of pancreatic cancer increased with dietary intake of vitamin D [per 100 international units (IU)/day: OR = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.19, P = 7.4 × 10(-6), P-heterogeneity = 0.52; ≥230 versus <110 IU/day: OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.10-1.55, P = 2.4 × 10(-3), P-heterogeneity = 0.81], with the association possibly stronger in people with low retinol/vitamin A intake. CONCLUSION: Increased risk of pancreatic cancer was observed with higher levels of dietary vitamin D intake. Additional studies are required to determine whether or not our finding has a causal basis.

Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in inorganic phosphorus sources fed to growing pigs.

The relative bioavailability of P in 5 sources of inorganic P was determined using growing pigs. The 5 sources of inorganic P were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP) containing 50% MCP (MCP50), MCP containing 70% MCP (MCP70), MCP containing 100% MCP (MCP100), and monosodium phosphate (MSP). A total of 11 diets were formulated. The basal diet was formulated to contain 0.10% P, and 10 additional diets were formulated by adding 0.07 or 0.14% P from each of the 5 P sources to the basal diet. Growing pigs (n = 44; initial BW: 16.8 ± 4.3 kg) were individually housed and randomly allotted to the 11 experimental diets. Feed was provided on an ad libitum basis throughout the 28-d experimental period. At the conclusion of the experiment, all pigs were killed, and 4 bones (i.e., the third and fourth metacarpals on both front feet) were harvested. Bone-breaking strength, bone ash, and Ca and P concentrations were determined. The concentration of bone ash increased (P < 0.05) as MCP50, MCP70, MCP100, or MSP were added to the basal diet, and the concentration of bone P also increased (P < 0.05) as MCP70, MCP100, or MSP were added to the basal diet. The relative bioavailability of P in each of the feed phosphates was determined using slope ratio methodologies based on breaking strength, and expressed relative to MSP. The slope of the regression line for diets containing MSP or MCP100 was steeper (P < 0.05) than the slope for pigs fed the diet containing DCP, but not different (P > 0.05) from that of pigs fed diets supplemented with MCP50 or MCP70. In conclusion, P in MSP and MCP100 is more bioavailable than P in DCP, but there were no differences within MCP sources.

Amino acid digestibility and energy concentration in a novel source of high-protein distillers dried grains and their effects on growth performance of pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate a novel source of high-protein distillers dried grains produced by Buhler Inc. (HP-DDG(Buhler)) and fed to growing pigs. The standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in HP-DDG(Buhler) and in soybean meal (SBM) was determined in Exp. 1. Nine pigs (109.8 +/- 2.78 kg of BW) were fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to a triplicated 3 x 3 Latin square design with 3 diets and 3 periods per square. Diets containing HP-DDG(Buhler) or SBM as the only source of AA and an N-free diet were formulated. The SID of indispensable AA was less (P < 0.01) in HP-DDG(Buhler) than in SBM (Arg, 87.5 vs. 93.9%; His, 76.7 vs. 88.7%; Ile, 76.4 vs. 87.5%; Leu, 77.8 vs. 86.8%; Lys, 75.4 vs. 88.4%; Met, 82.8 vs. 88.4%; Phe, 77.9 vs. 87.3%; Thr, 72.5 vs. 83.5%; Trp, 85.1 vs. 91.0%; Val, 73.3 vs. 84.3%). The DE and ME in HP-DDG(Buhler) and in corn were measured in Exp. 2 using 16 growing barrows (24.6 +/- 1.66 kg of BW). A corn-based diet and a diet containing 50% corn and 48.2% HP-DDG(Buhler) were formulated. The total collection method and the difference procedures were used. The concentrations of DE and ME in HP-DDG(Buhler) were greater (P < 0.001) than in corn (5,043 vs. 4,002 kcal/kg of DM and 4,690 vs. 3,921 kcal/kg of DM, respectively). Experiment 3 was a 9-wk growth assay using 40 pigs (initial BW: 58.2 +/- 2.28 kg) allotted to 5 dietary treatments, with 8 replicates of individually housed pigs per treatment. Treatments included a control diet based on corn and SBM and 4 diets in which HP-DDG(Buhler) replaced 33, 66, 66, or 100% of the SBM in the control diet. All HP-DDG(Buhler) diets contained supplemental Lys and Thr to provide similar concentrations of SID Lys and Thr in all diets; one of the diets in which HP-DDG(Buhler) replaced 66% of the SBM and the diet in which HP-DDG(Buhler) replaced 100% of the SBM also contained crystalline Trp. Dietary treatments had no effect on ADG (1.15, 1.13, 1.16, 1.12, and 1.14 kg), ADFI (3.33, 3.35, 3.39, 3.30, and 3.33 kg), or G:F (0.35, 0.34, 0.34, 0.34, and 0.34 kg/kg). Carcass traits of pigs fed the diet in which HP-DDG(Buhler) replaced 100% of the SBM were not different from those of pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, HP-DDG(Buhler) contains more DE and ME than corn, but has decreased SID values for AA compared with SBM. Soybean meal can be replaced by HP-DDG(Buhler) in diets fed to finishing pigs without any effect on growth performance or carcass characteristics, provided that diets are adequate in indispensable AA.

Differential gene expression and biomarkers in zebrafish (Danio rerio) following exposure to produced water components.

The main effluent from oil and gas production is produced water (PW), a waste that contains low to moderate concentrations of oil-derived substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylphenols (APs). PW components may be present in seawater at low concentrations over large areas in the vicinity of oil and gas production facilities. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to control and three treatments (high-, pulsed-, low-dose) of a synthetic PW mixture for 1, 7 and 13 weeks. The aim was to investigate the development of transcriptome and biomarker responses as well as relationships between early responses and population-relevant effects. The synthetic PW contained a mixture of low-molecular-weight PAHs (<5 ring) and short-chain APs (C1-C4). The water-borne exposure levels (sum PAH) ranged from 0.54 ppb (low dose) to 5.4 ppb (high dose). Bile pyrene metabolites ranged from 17-133 ng g(-1) bile in the control group to 23-1081 ng g(-1) bile in the high exposure group. Similar levels have been observed in wild fish, confirming an environmentally relevant exposure. The expression of mRNAs of hepatic genes was investigated in the high exposure group using the Zebrafish OligoLibrary from Compugen. Functional clustering analysis revealed effects in the reproductive system, the nervous system, the respiratory system, the immune system, lipid metabolism, connective tissue and in a range of functional categories related to cell cycle and cancer. The majority of differentially expressed mRNAs of genes were down-regulated, suggesting reduction in gene transcription to be as relevant as up-regulation or induction when assessing biological responses to PW exposure. Biomarkers for effects of PAHs (cytochrome P450 1A) and environmental estrogens (vitellogenin) did not appear to be affected by the chronic exposure to low concentration of PW components. Effects at the population level included a reduction in condition factor in male fish from all exposed groups and spinal column deformations in the F1 generation of exposed groups. The different exposure regimes did not produce any significant differences in reproduction or recruitment. The results from this study demonstrate that environmentally relevant concentrations of PW affect gene expression and population-relevant endpoints in zebrafish, although links between the two were not obvious.

Hydrolysis and fermentation of activated sludge to enhance biological phosphorus removal.

The conventional mainstream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process depends on the quality of the raw incoming wastewater. An alternative sidestream EBPR process is presented, where the substrates for storage by the polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) instead come from hydrolysis of the return activated sludge. This process is studied in full-scale at two treatment plants and quantified by means of phosphorus release rates and readily biodegradable COD (RBCOD) accumulation rates. It was seen that not only was a significant amount of RBCOD stored by PAOs but an approximately equal amount was accumulated in the sidestream hydrolysis tank and made available for the subsequent nitrogen removal process. The phosphorus release of the sludge with and without addition of different substrates was furthermore studied in laboratory scale. The study showed that the process is promising and in a number of cases will have significant advantages compared with the conventional mainstream EBPR

Novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses and measurement of apparent and true digestibility of phosphorus by growing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate a novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses of P and for measuring the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of P in 5 inorganic P sources fed to growing pigs. The P sources were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with 50% purity (MCP50), MCP with 70% purity (MCP70), MCP with 100% purity (MCP100), and monosodium phosphate (MSP). A gelatin-based, P-free basal diet was formulated and used to estimate endogenous losses of P. Five P-containing diets were formulated by adding 0.20% total P from each of the inorganic P sources to the basal diet. A seventh diet was formulated by adding 0.16% P from MCP70 to the basal diet. All diets were fed to 7 growing pigs in a 7 x 7 Latin square design, and urine and feces were collected during 5 d of each period. The endogenous loss of P was estimated as 139 +/- 18 mg/kg of DMI. The ATTD of P in MSP was greater (P < 0.05) than in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (91.9 vs. 81.5, 82.6, and 81.7%, respectively). In MSP, the TTTD of P was 98.2%. This value was greater (P < 0.05) than the TTTD of P in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (88.4, 89.5, and 88.6%, respectively). The ATTD and the TTTD for MCP70 were similar in diets formulated to contain 0.16 and 0.20% total P. Results from the current experiment demonstrate that a P-free diet may be used to measure endogenous losses of P in pigs. By adding inorganic P sources to this diet, the ATTD of P can be directly measured and the TTTD of P may be calculated for each source of P.

Bioavailability of escin after administration of two oral formulations containing aesculus extract.

In a steady-state cross-over study in 18 healthy volunteers, the relative bioavailability of beta-escin (CAS 11072-93-8) after oral administration of a new immediate release enteric-coated test formulation containing aesculus extract was evaluated in comparison with a prolonged-release reference preparation. The subject received the test and the reference preparation in randomised sequence for 7 days each with no washout period in between. The daily dose was 50 mg escin b.i.d. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic profiling were taken on the 7th treatment day of each period over a full 24-h cycle of two successive dosing intervals. For the determination of beta-escin serum concentrations, a highly specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used. Generally, escin serum concentrations were lower during the second dosing interval (night) than during the first interval, probably indicating a drug by food interaction. (The morning dose was given after overnight fasting whereas the evening dose was given between meals). Test and reference demonstrated bioequivalence with regard to the extent of absorption; for the AUC (0-24 h p.a.), the 90% confidence interval ranged from 84% to 114% (point estimate: 98%). The differences observed for rate parameters can be disregarded due to the generally slow elimination and the wide therapeutic concentration range of escin.

PCR and sequencing from a single pollen grain.

In order to eliminate the laborious step of DNA extraction preceding all studies within the field of plant molecular biology we attempted to do PCR amplifications directly on pollen grains. Successful PCR amplification was obtained in reactions including a single pollen grain from Hordeum vulgare or Secale strictum. Both the plastid gene encoding ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL) and the nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and the 5.8S rDNA region were amplified and sequenced to verify PCR amplification.

[Pantothenic acid levels in blood of athletes at rest and after aerobic exercise]. / Pantothensäurekonzentrationen im Blut von Leistungssportlern in Ruhe und unter aerober Ausdauerbelastung.

Ninety-six high-performance athletes of various disciplines were available for this investigation. All athletes had many years of training and competition experience. The pantothenic acid contents in the blood were determined by means of microbiological measurements. In addition to the pantothenic acid level at rest, measurements were made resp. physical exertion in 14 marathon runners and nine body builders. Blood was collected for determination of pantothenic acid before (a), after (b) and 2 h after exercise. Compared to the reference values for untrained persons (1.34 +/- 0.13 nmol/mL), the marathon runners with 0.76 (0.31-0.94) nmol/mL and soccer players with 1.19 (0.37-2.64) nmol/mL were below the reference values. According to relative frequencies, more than 30% of all athletes were below the lower limit (< 1.20 nmol/mL). The values in body builders/racing cyclists differed significantly from those in marathon racers (p < 0.001), which is presumably due to unallowed supplementation. During exercise, there was a significant increase in the pantothenic acid level in marathon runners (p < 0.01).