New susceptibility locus for coronary artery disease on chromosome 3q22.3

We present a three-stage analysis of genome-wide SNP data in 1,222 German individuals with myocardial infarction and 1,298 controls, in silico replication in three additional genome-wide datasets of coronary artery disease (CAD) and subsequent replication in approximately 25,000 subjects. We identified one new CAD risk locus on 3q22.3 in MRAS (P = 7.44 x 10(-13); OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.11-1.19), and suggestive association with a locus on 12q24.31 near HNF1A-C12orf43 (P = 4.81 x 10(-7); OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.05-1.11).

Improved yield and functionality of parathyroid cells separated by using collagenase-digestion with cold pre-incubation.

Preparation of cells from solid organs often induces a functional impairment due to the proteolytic cell damage by the applied digestive enzyme like collagenase, trypsin or dispase. To preserve the tissue and to enhance the yield of cells, Laue et al. reported an islet cell isolation with pre-incubation at 4 C permitting the enzyme to diffuse into the tissue and explicite activity equally throughout the whole particle. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this procedure can be applied to parathyroid glands. Therefore porcine parathyroid glands were dissected into 1 mm3 pieces. Subsequently one group of these pieces was incubated 22 h at 4 C in 2 mg/ml collagenase before activati…

Xenotransplantation of parathyroids in rats using barium-alginate and polyacrylic acid multilayer microcapsules

The integrity and function of encapsulated parathyroid tissue following xenotransplantation is limited by oxygen and nutrition supply and capsule fibrosis. Since some of these factors depend on stability and biocompatibility of the coating material, multilayer microcapsules have been developed. Parathyroid tissue pieces and digested single cells from pigs were encapsulated in barium-alginate and in polyacrylic acid (PAA) multilayer capsules. After 7 days of culture the function of the encapsulated cells were assessed. Subsequently, in a part of the cultured microcapsules the viability was directly assessed whereas the other part was transplanted in dark animal [DA] rats for 30 days. After e…

Immobilization of enzymes by multilayer microcapsules

A method is described to obtain a new type of microcapsules for immobilization of enzymes or living cells. The wall of these capsules consists of several layers of poly(ethyleneimine) and poly(acrylic acid). The idea is that diverging properties of the whole assembly can be better controlled when the membrane is built up by several consecutive steps, each being optimized with respect to a special property, for example, permeability or mechanical strength. The encapsulation of acidic phosphatase and the cleavage of p-nitrophenyl phosphate was used as a model system. The charged capsules were characterized by their enzymatic activity, as a function of membrane composition (number and sequence…

EFFECT OF MICROENCAPSULATION ON OXYGEN DISTRIBUTION IN ISLETS ORGANS

In islet transplantation, limitation of oxygen supply may restrict graft function, particularly when encapsulated tissue is used. Therefore, oxygen tensions (PO2) in isolated islet organs (Brockmann bodies) of Osphronemus gorami were measured. In a thermostatically (37 degrees C) controlled measuring chamber, PO2 values were recorded at subsequent microelectrode positions on a radial track toward the center of the organ. In 2 independent groups, we studied the effect of fluid convection (n = 12) and microencapsulation (n = 12). In both groups, sigmoidal PO2 profiles were found, which permit differentiation in an oxygen-depleted zone surrounding the surface, a steep decline inside the tissue…

Impact of bacterial probiotics on obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related variables: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of oral intake of bacterial probiotics on 15 variables related to obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesMedline, EMBASE and COCHRANE from 1990 to June 2018.Eligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials (≥14 days) excluding hypercholesterolaemia, alcoholic liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome and children <3 years.ResultsOne hundred and five articles met inclusion criteria, representing 6826 subjects. In overweight but not obese subjects, probiotics induced improvements in: body weight (k=25 trials, d=−0.94 kg mean difference, 95% CI −1.17 to −0.70, I²=0.0%), body ma…

Probiotics as a Dietary Intervention for Reducing the Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by an increase in triglyceride fat content of liver cells without excessive consumption of alcohol. It is the most predominant liver disease among different age groups including children and adults. Unhealthy foods such as high fructose and high trans-fatty acids in saturated fat seem to be associated with the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Different clusters of gut microbiota, e.g., Firmicutes, could regulate the energy balance and fat storage. Furthermore, different metabolites of gut microbiota, for example, endogenous short chain fatty acids and ethanol, are associated with increased levels of lipogenesis. Additionally, metabolism of end…

The influence of different generations of computer algorithms on diabetes control

With all control schedules, the management of diabetes is possible using Skyler's algorithm. In general, those control algorithms which do not allow the individual adaptation to changing conditions lead to overinsulinisation. So-called meal-related algorithms do usually minimise the fluctuations in blood sugar. The introduction of self-adapting algorithms, detecting peripheral insulin resistance, may further improve metabolic diabetes control.

Plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction: a mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND: High plasma HDL cholesterol is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction, but whether this association is causal is unclear. Exploiting the fact that genotypes are randomly assigned at meiosis, are independent of non-genetic confounding, and are unmodified by disease processes, mendelian randomisation can be used to test the hypothesis that the association of a plasma biomarker with disease is causal. METHODS: We performed two mendelian randomisation analyses. First, we used as an instrument a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the endothelial lipase gene (LIPG Asn396Ser) and tested this SNP in 20 studies (20,913 myocardial infarction cases, 95,407 controls). Se…

40(th) EASD Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes : Munich, Germany, 5-9 September 2004

Effect of media composition on long-term in vitro stability of barium alginate and polyacrylic acid multilayer microcapsules.

For a number of applications stability of microcapsules is a critical factor. Since the maintenance of polyelectrolyte complexes depends considerably on the ion composition we tested the physical properties of barium alginate capsules and searched for conditions to improve stability by a multilayer coating with polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA). Mechanical stability and diameters were determined in barium alginate capsules and compared with multilayer capsules. Multilayer coating resulted in smaller capsules than barium complexing alone. The difference was more pronounced when CaCl2 was used instead of NaCl during coating. Barium alginate capsules and application of CaCl2 du…