Expression of the chicken peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma gene is influenced by aging, nutrition, and agonist administration.

Peroxisome proliferatior-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a transcription factor that modulates lipid and glucose metabolism in mammals. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chicken PPARgamma is expressed in tissues in a similar manner to mammalian PPAR and whether it is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism, particularly in the regulation of fat accumulation in adipose tissue and ovaries. In 30-wk-old chickens, PPARgamma mRNA was detected in most tissues that were examined. Of those tissues expressing chicken PPARgamma mRNA, the lowest expression levels were found in adipose tissue, the tissue that in mammals was shown to express the highest levels of PPARgamma mRNA. Chicken PPARgamma mRNA expression in abdominal adipose tissue tended to increase with age, as shown by higher expression levels at 6 wk than at 1 and 2 wk of age. With regard to nutritional modulation, PPARgamma mRNA levels in abdominal adipose tissue were significantly higher in broiler chickens fed for 7 d a diet containing 8% safflower oil (18:2-rich) or linseed oil (18:3-rich) compared with chickens fed a diet containing olive oil (18:1-rich). In contrast, feeding a 3% cholesterol-supplemented diet for 7 d resulted in no changes to adipose PPARgamma mRNA expression. In broiler chickens orally administered troglitazone, a PPARgamma ligand, abdominal fat pad weight and PPARgamma and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA levels were significantly increased relative to those of control chickens. Levels of PPARgamma mRNA in liver, skeletal muscle, and ovaries were increased with the onset of egg laying, whereas in adipose tissue the level of PPARgamma mRNA was decreased. These findings suggest that PPARgamma plays an important role in the regulation of fat deposition and egg production and the characteristic pattern of PPARgamma mRNA expression may be indicative of specific differences in the lipid and glucose metabolism of chickens compared with mammals.

Treatment of advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma with weekly high-dose l-leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil.

We report the results of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with high-dose l-folinic acid (leucovorin) therapy for patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. In each treatment course, the patients weekly received both 5-FU (600 mg/m2 by intravenous 15 min infusion) and l-folinic acid (250 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion over a period of 2 h). A total of six treatments were administered with a 14-day interval to the next course of six treatments. Forty-eight patients were evaluated for toxicity and 32 for response. The combined complete and partial response rate was 25% in 32 patients. Toxicity was within acceptable limits without grade 4 toxicity. Although the response rate was slightly lower than those reported in phase II trials in Japan, the result was satisfactory. This therapy can be the standard chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients, even in Japan.

Enteral vitamin B12 supplements reverse postgastrectomy B12 deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the development of chemical and clinical vitamin B12 deficiency after total gastrectomy, and to evaluate the efficacy of supplemental oral B12 administration. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Postgastrectomy anemia is due to deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12, and parenteral B12 administration is the only appropriate treatment. However, no guidelines exist for the prophylactic use of B12 in patients who undergo total gastrectomy, the clinical presentation of B12 deficiency in this context has not been defined, and the question of whether oral B12 administration can be used to prevent and treat B12 deficiency has not been examined. METHODS: Serum B12 concentrations were measured in 31 patients who had undergone total gastrectomy. Symptoms related to B12 deficiency were surveyed in detail. Serum B12 concentrations were measured every 6 months after total gastrectomy in 10 patients. Thirty one patients received supplemental B12: 18 patients orally and 13 by intramuscular injection. RESULTS: The B12 concentration dropped below the lower limit of normal (200 pg/mL) for the first time in two patients at 1 year, in four patients at 2 years, in three patients at 3 years, and in one patient at 4 years. Seventy-eight percent of patients reported some symptoms related to B12 deficiency. The serum B12 concentration in patients who received supplemental B12 orally increased rapidly and all symptoms resolved with oral therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: B12 deficiency can develop as early as 1 year after total gastrectomy and causes symptoms. Because enteral B12 treatment increases the serum B12 concentration and leads to rapid resolution of symptoms, it should be prescribed routinely to patients undergoing total gastrectomy.

A new device for barium-enema examination following colostomy.

The authors developed a colostomy appliance for use during barium-enema examinations. It is 8 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, and is made of acrylic resins. With the use of this device, 21 patients were fluoroscopically examined through the stoma; good contrast views of the lower intestinal tract were obtained in all cases without leakage of barium or air.