RESUMEN
UNLABELLED: á : Starch requires six enzymes for digestion to free glucose: two amylases (salivary and pancreatic) and four mucosal maltase activities; sucrase-isomaltase and maltase-glucoamylase. All are deficient in suckling rodents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to test (13)C-starch digestion before weaning by measuring enrichment of blood (13)C-glucose in maltase-glucoamylase-null and wild-type mice. METHODS: Maltase-glucoamylase gene was ablated at the N-terminal. Dams were fed low (13)C-diet and litters kept on low (13)C-diet. Pups were weaned at 21 days. Digestion was tested at 13 and 25 days by intragastric feeding of amylase predigested (13)C-α-limit dextrins. Blood (13)C-glucose enrichment was measured by gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCRMS) using penta-acetate derivatives. RESULTS: Four hours after feeding, blood (13)C-glucose was enriched by 26 × 10(3) in null and 18 × 10(3) in wild-type mice at 13 days and 0.3 × 10(3) and 0.2 × 103 at 25 days (vs. fasting p = 0.045 and p = 0.045). By jejunal enzyme assay, immunohistochemistry, or Western blots, there was no maltase activity or brush border staining with maltase-glucoamylase antibodies at 13 days, but these were fully developed in the wild-type mice by 25 days. In 13-day null mice, luminal contents were stained by maltase-glucoamylase antibodies. Lactating the mammary gland revealed maltase-glucoamylase antibody staining of alveolar cells. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) of lactating glands revealed a secreted form of maltase-glucoamylase. CONCLUSIONS: (1) (13)C-α-limit dextrins were rapidly digested to (13)C-glucose in 13-day mice independent of maltase-glucoamylase genotype or mucosal maltase activity. (2) This experiment demonstrates that a soluble maltase activity is secreted in mouse mother's milk which enables suckling pup starch digestion well before brush border enzyme development. (3) This experiment with (13)C-α-limit dextrins needs to be repeated in human breast fed infants.
RESUMEN
The relationship between type 2 diabetes, antioxidant-enzyme serum ceruloplasmin, pro-inflammatory blood fibrinogen and antioxidant activity (AOA) was investigated in 40 diabetics and 47 non-diabetics hailing from South India as a preliminary study aspiring to be a crucial stepping stone for a large study. Serum AOA was lower (p<0.01) in diabetics (0.68+/-0.03 mmol/L) than controls (0.92+/-0.07 mmol/L) and ceruloplasmin more (p<0.001) in diabetics (983.20+/-52.18 mg/L) than controls (470.79+/-39.20 mg/L). Plasma fibrinogen was higher (p<0.001) in diabetics (480.23+/-19.52 mg/dl) than controls (313.94+/-13.42 mg/dl). Males had more AOA. Fibrinogen increased with age. These significant findings point strongly to augmented oxidative stress and inflammatory states in South Indian diabetics.
