AIM: To develop a new formulation with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose and Shellac coating for extended and selective delivery of butyrate in the ileo-caecal region and colon. METHODS: One-gram sodium butyrate coated ...AIM: To develop a new formulation with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose and Shellac coating for extended and selective delivery of butyrate in the ileo-caecal region and colon. METHODS: One-gram sodium butyrate coated tablets containing 13C-butyrate were orally administered to 12 healthy subjects and 12 Crohn's disease patients and the rate of 13C-butyrate absorption was evaluated by 13CO2 breath test analysis for eight hours. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (500 mg) was co-administered as a biomarker of oro-ileal transit time to determine also the site of release and absorption of butyrate by the time of its serum maximum concentration. RESULTS: The coated formulation delayed the 13C-butyrate release by 2-3 h with respect to the uncoated tablets. Sodium butyrate was delivered in the intestine of all subjects and a more variable transit time was found in Crohn's disease patients than in healthy subjects. The variability of the peak 13CO2 in the kinetic release of butyrate was explained by the inter-subject variability in transit time. However, the coating chosen ensured an efficient release of the active compound even in patients with a short transit time. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous evaluation of breath 13CO2 and tauroursodeoxycholic acid concentration- time curves has shown that the new oral formulation consistently releases sodium butyrate in the ileo-cecal region and colon both in healthy subjects and Crohn's disease patients with variable intestinal transit time. This formulation may be of therapeutic value in inflammatory bowel disease patients due to the appropriate release of the active compound.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the effect of drinking sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium thermal water (TW) on risk factors for atherosclerosis and cholesterol gallstone disease.METHODS:Postmenopausal women with functional dy-spepsia a...AIM:To investigate the effect of drinking sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium thermal water (TW) on risk factors for atherosclerosis and cholesterol gallstone disease.METHODS:Postmenopausal women with functional dy-spepsia and/or constipation underwent a 12 d cycle of thermal (n=20) or tap (n=20) water controlled drinking.Gallbladder fasting volume at ultrasound,blood vitamin E,oxysterols (7-β-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol),bile acid (BA),triglycerides,total/low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at the end of the study.Food consumption,stool frequency and body weight were recorded daily.RESULTS:Blood lipids,oxysterols and vitamin E were not affected by either thermal or tap water consumption.Fasting gallbladder volume was significantly (P<0.005) smaller at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (15.7±1.1 mL vs 20.1±1.7 mL) but not in the tap water group (19.0±1.4 mL vs 19.4±1.5 mL).Total serum BA concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (5.83±1.24μmol vs 4.25±1.00μmol) but not in the tap water group (3.41±0.46μmol vs 2.91±0.56μmol).The increased BA concentration after TW consumption was mainly accounted for by glycochenodeoxycholic acid.The number of pasta (P<0.001),meat (P<0.001) and vegetable (P<0.005) portions consumed during the study and of bowel movements per day (P<0.05) were significantly higher in the TW than in the tap water group.Body weight did not change at the end of the study as compared to baseline in both groups.CONCLUSION:Sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water consumption has a positive effect on lithogenic risk and intestinal transit and allows maintenance of a stable body weight despite a high food intake.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the effect of a new oral preparation,highly concentrated in fish cartilage,in a group of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)patients with chronic iron deficient anemia.METHODS:In an open label pilot st...AIM:To investigate the effect of a new oral preparation,highly concentrated in fish cartilage,in a group of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)patients with chronic iron deficient anemia.METHODS:In an open label pilot study,we supple-mented a group of 25 patients(11 with Crohn's disease and 14 with ulcerative colitis)in stable clinical conditions and chronic anemia with a food supplement which does not contain iron but contains a standardized fraction of fish cartilage glycosaminoglycans and a mixture of antioxidants(Captafer Medestea,Turin,Italy).Patients received 500 mg,twice a day during meals,for at least 4 mo.Patients were suggested to maintain their alimentary habit.At time 0 and after 2 and 4 mo,emocrome,sideremia and ferritin were examined.Paired data were analyzed with Student's t test.RESULTS:Three patients relapsed during the study(2 in the 3rd mo,1 in the 4th mo),two patients were lost to follow up and two patients dropped out(1 for orticaria,1 for gastric burning).Of the remaining 18 patients,levels of serum iron started to rapidly increase within the 2nd mo of treatment,P < 0.05),whereas serum ferritin and hemoglobin needed a longer period to significantly improve their serum levels(mo 4)P < 0.05.The product was safe,easy to administer and well tolerated by patients.CONCLUSION:These data suggest a potential new treatment for IBD patients with iron deficiency chronic anemia and warrant further larger controlled studies.展开更多
AIM:To develop an integrated approach for monitoring gastrointestinal motility and inflammation state suitable for application in long-term spaceflights.METHODS:Breath tests based on the oral administration of 13 C-la...AIM:To develop an integrated approach for monitoring gastrointestinal motility and inflammation state suitable for application in long-term spaceflights.METHODS:Breath tests based on the oral administration of 13 C-labeled or hydrogen-producing substrates followed by the detection of their metabolites(13 CO 2 or H 2) in breath were used to measure gastrointestinal motility parameters during the 520-d spaceflight ground simulation within the MARS-500 Project.In particular,the gastric emptying rates of solid and liquid contents were evaluated by 13 C-octanoic acid and 13 Cacetate breath tests,respectively,whereas the orocecal transit time was assessed by an inulin H 2-breath test,which was performed simultaneously with the 13 C-octanoic acid breath test.A ready-to-eat,standardized pre-packaged muffin containing 100 mg of 13 C-octanoic acid was used in the 13 C-octanoic acid breath test to avoid the extemporaneous preparation of solid meals.In addition,a cassette-type lateral flow immunoassay was employed to detect fecal calprotectin,a biomarker of intestinal inflammation.Because no items could be introduced into the simulator during the experiment,all materials and instrumentation required for test performance during the entire mission simulation had to be provided at the beginning of the experiment.RESULTS:The experiments planned during the simulation of a manned flight to Mars could be successfully performed by the crewmembers without any external assistance.No evident alterations(i.e.,increasing or decreasing trends) in the gastric emptying rates were detected using the 13 C-breath tests during the mission simulation,as the gastric emptying half-times were in the range of those reported for healthy subjects.In contrast to the 13 C-breath tests,the results of the inulin H 2-breath test were difficult to interpret because of the high variability of the H 2 concentration in the breath samples,even within the same subject.This variability suggested that the H 2-breath test was strongly affected by external factors,which may have been related to the diet of the crewmembers or to environmental conditions(e.g.,the accumulation of hydrogen in the simulator microenvironment).At least in closed microenvironments such as the MARS-500 simulator,13 C-breath tests should therefore be preferred to H 2-breath tests.Finally,the fecal calprotectin test showed significant alterations during the mission simulation:all of the crewmembers were negative for the test at the beginning of the simulation but showed various degrees of positivity in at least one of the subsequent tests,thus indicating the onset of an intestinal inflammation.CONCLUSION:Breath tests,especially those 13 Cbased,proved suitable for monitoring gastrointestinal motility in the 520-d isolation experiment withinMARS-500 project and can be applied in long-term spaceflights.展开更多
文摘AIM: To develop a new formulation with hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose and Shellac coating for extended and selective delivery of butyrate in the ileo-caecal region and colon. METHODS: One-gram sodium butyrate coated tablets containing 13C-butyrate were orally administered to 12 healthy subjects and 12 Crohn's disease patients and the rate of 13C-butyrate absorption was evaluated by 13CO2 breath test analysis for eight hours. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (500 mg) was co-administered as a biomarker of oro-ileal transit time to determine also the site of release and absorption of butyrate by the time of its serum maximum concentration. RESULTS: The coated formulation delayed the 13C-butyrate release by 2-3 h with respect to the uncoated tablets. Sodium butyrate was delivered in the intestine of all subjects and a more variable transit time was found in Crohn's disease patients than in healthy subjects. The variability of the peak 13CO2 in the kinetic release of butyrate was explained by the inter-subject variability in transit time. However, the coating chosen ensured an efficient release of the active compound even in patients with a short transit time. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous evaluation of breath 13CO2 and tauroursodeoxycholic acid concentration- time curves has shown that the new oral formulation consistently releases sodium butyrate in the ileo-cecal region and colon both in healthy subjects and Crohn's disease patients with variable intestinal transit time. This formulation may be of therapeutic value in inflammatory bowel disease patients due to the appropriate release of the active compound.
基金Supported by The Italian Thermal Scientific Research Foundation and the Italian Ministry of Instruction University and Research
文摘AIM:To investigate the effect of drinking sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium thermal water (TW) on risk factors for atherosclerosis and cholesterol gallstone disease.METHODS:Postmenopausal women with functional dy-spepsia and/or constipation underwent a 12 d cycle of thermal (n=20) or tap (n=20) water controlled drinking.Gallbladder fasting volume at ultrasound,blood vitamin E,oxysterols (7-β-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol),bile acid (BA),triglycerides,total/low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at the end of the study.Food consumption,stool frequency and body weight were recorded daily.RESULTS:Blood lipids,oxysterols and vitamin E were not affected by either thermal or tap water consumption.Fasting gallbladder volume was significantly (P<0.005) smaller at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (15.7±1.1 mL vs 20.1±1.7 mL) but not in the tap water group (19.0±1.4 mL vs 19.4±1.5 mL).Total serum BA concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher at the end of the study than at baseline in the TW (5.83±1.24μmol vs 4.25±1.00μmol) but not in the tap water group (3.41±0.46μmol vs 2.91±0.56μmol).The increased BA concentration after TW consumption was mainly accounted for by glycochenodeoxycholic acid.The number of pasta (P<0.001),meat (P<0.001) and vegetable (P<0.005) portions consumed during the study and of bowel movements per day (P<0.05) were significantly higher in the TW than in the tap water group.Body weight did not change at the end of the study as compared to baseline in both groups.CONCLUSION:Sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water consumption has a positive effect on lithogenic risk and intestinal transit and allows maintenance of a stable body weight despite a high food intake.
文摘AIM:To investigate the effect of a new oral preparation,highly concentrated in fish cartilage,in a group of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)patients with chronic iron deficient anemia.METHODS:In an open label pilot study,we supple-mented a group of 25 patients(11 with Crohn's disease and 14 with ulcerative colitis)in stable clinical conditions and chronic anemia with a food supplement which does not contain iron but contains a standardized fraction of fish cartilage glycosaminoglycans and a mixture of antioxidants(Captafer Medestea,Turin,Italy).Patients received 500 mg,twice a day during meals,for at least 4 mo.Patients were suggested to maintain their alimentary habit.At time 0 and after 2 and 4 mo,emocrome,sideremia and ferritin were examined.Paired data were analyzed with Student's t test.RESULTS:Three patients relapsed during the study(2 in the 3rd mo,1 in the 4th mo),two patients were lost to follow up and two patients dropped out(1 for orticaria,1 for gastric burning).Of the remaining 18 patients,levels of serum iron started to rapidly increase within the 2nd mo of treatment,P < 0.05),whereas serum ferritin and hemoglobin needed a longer period to significantly improve their serum levels(mo 4)P < 0.05.The product was safe,easy to administer and well tolerated by patients.CONCLUSION:These data suggest a potential new treatment for IBD patients with iron deficiency chronic anemia and warrant further larger controlled studies.
文摘AIM:To develop an integrated approach for monitoring gastrointestinal motility and inflammation state suitable for application in long-term spaceflights.METHODS:Breath tests based on the oral administration of 13 C-labeled or hydrogen-producing substrates followed by the detection of their metabolites(13 CO 2 or H 2) in breath were used to measure gastrointestinal motility parameters during the 520-d spaceflight ground simulation within the MARS-500 Project.In particular,the gastric emptying rates of solid and liquid contents were evaluated by 13 C-octanoic acid and 13 Cacetate breath tests,respectively,whereas the orocecal transit time was assessed by an inulin H 2-breath test,which was performed simultaneously with the 13 C-octanoic acid breath test.A ready-to-eat,standardized pre-packaged muffin containing 100 mg of 13 C-octanoic acid was used in the 13 C-octanoic acid breath test to avoid the extemporaneous preparation of solid meals.In addition,a cassette-type lateral flow immunoassay was employed to detect fecal calprotectin,a biomarker of intestinal inflammation.Because no items could be introduced into the simulator during the experiment,all materials and instrumentation required for test performance during the entire mission simulation had to be provided at the beginning of the experiment.RESULTS:The experiments planned during the simulation of a manned flight to Mars could be successfully performed by the crewmembers without any external assistance.No evident alterations(i.e.,increasing or decreasing trends) in the gastric emptying rates were detected using the 13 C-breath tests during the mission simulation,as the gastric emptying half-times were in the range of those reported for healthy subjects.In contrast to the 13 C-breath tests,the results of the inulin H 2-breath test were difficult to interpret because of the high variability of the H 2 concentration in the breath samples,even within the same subject.This variability suggested that the H 2-breath test was strongly affected by external factors,which may have been related to the diet of the crewmembers or to environmental conditions(e.g.,the accumulation of hydrogen in the simulator microenvironment).At least in closed microenvironments such as the MARS-500 simulator,13 C-breath tests should therefore be preferred to H 2-breath tests.Finally,the fecal calprotectin test showed significant alterations during the mission simulation:all of the crewmembers were negative for the test at the beginning of the simulation but showed various degrees of positivity in at least one of the subsequent tests,thus indicating the onset of an intestinal inflammation.CONCLUSION:Breath tests,especially those 13 Cbased,proved suitable for monitoring gastrointestinal motility in the 520-d isolation experiment withinMARS-500 project and can be applied in long-term spaceflights.