Amino acid supplementation is anabolic during the acute phase of endotoxin-induced inflammation: A human randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inflammation is catabolic and causes muscle loss. It is unknown if amino acid supplementation reverses these effects during the acute phase of inflammation. The aim was to test whether amino acid supplementation counteracts endotoxin-induced catabolism. METHODS: Eight young, healthy, lean males were investigated three times in randomized order: (i) normal conditions (Placebo), (ii) endotoxemia (LPS), and (iii) endotoxemia with amino acid supplementation (LPS + A). Protein kinetics were determined using phenylalanine, tyrosine, and urea tracers. Each study day consisted of a four-hour non-insulin stimulated period and a two-hour hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp period. Muscle biopsies were collected once each period. RESULTS: Endotoxin administration created a significant inflammatory response (cytokines, hormones, and vital parameters) without significant differences between LPS and LPS + A. Whole body protein breakdown was elevated during LPS compared with Placebo and LPS + A (p < 0.05). Whole body protein synthesis was higher during LPS + A than both Placebo and LPS (p < 0.003). Furthermore, protein synthesis was higher during LPS than during Placebo (p < 0.02). Net muscle phenylalanine release was markedly decreased during LPS + A (p < 0.004), even though muscle protein synthesis and breakdown rates did not differ significantly between interventions. LPS + A increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation (p < 0.05) and eukaryotic translation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1) phosphorylation (p = 0.007) without activating AMPK or affecting insulin signaling through Akt. During insulin stimulation net muscle phenylalanine release and protein degradation were further reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Amino acid supplementation in the acute phase of inflammation reduces whole body and muscle protein loss, and this effect is associated with activation of mTOR and downstream signaling to protein synthesis through mTORC1, suggesting a therapeutic role for intravenous amino acids in inflammatory states. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: The Central Denmark Region Ethics Commitee (1-10-71-410-12) www.clinicaltrials.gov (identification number NCT01705782).

[Surgical treatment of dumping by the Lygidakis' method]. / Operativ behandling af dumping ad modum Lygidakis.

Dumping is a common adverse effect of gastrectomy and severe dumping is one of the most intractable conditions in gastroenterology. When medical treatment and diet are insufficient, different operative techniques have been tried, all with an unsatisfactory rate of success. The Lygidakis technique for operative treatment of postgastrectomy-dumping is presented, and results from operations on four patients presented. The results obtained are promising, and Lygidakis operation may be considered as an important alternative to wellknown operative techniques when medical treatment or diet is without effect on severe dumping.

The influence of mechanically deboned meat and pH on the water-holding capacity and texture of emulsion type meat products.

The influence of the amount of mechanically deboned pork meat (MDM) on the quality of model 'Frankfurters' was studied, and the relationship between the pH of the blends versus the texture and water-holding capacity (WHC) of the finished products was investigated. In the experiments 2·9%, 5·8% and 11·6% pork loin were exchanged with MDM. It was found that addition of MDM increased the pH and the WHC, and that moderate addition of MDM resulted in greater yield stress and elasticity modulus, while higher concentrations of MDM resulted in very soft texture. The pH of the meat blends was very important for the functional properties of the pasteurized products. It made no difference whether pH was determined by the meat raw materials alone or adjusted through addition of NaOH or MDM.

Subcutaneous emphysema caused by perforating perisigmoiditis.

A case of subcutaneous emphysema of the abdominal and thoracic wall is presented. The cause was perisigmoiditis with a perforation into the abdominal wall. There was no concomitant pneumoperitoneum.

Placers of cosmic dust in the blue ice lakes of greenland.

A concentration process occurring in the melt zone of the Greenland ice cap has produced the richest known deposit of cosmic dust on the surface of the earth. Extraterrestrial particles collected from this region are well preserved and are collectable in large quantities. The collected particles are generally identical to cosmic spheres found on the ocean floor, but a pure glass type was discovered that has not been seen in deep-sea samples. Iron-rich spheres are conspicuously rare in the collected material.