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Biomedical subjects

M Faber

Publications and source records attributed to M Faber.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Dietary patterns and nutritional status in free-living older white men with established vascular disease.

Thirty-nine white men aged 51-84 years with established vascular disease were studied to investigate the effect of fish oil capsules on the regression of these lesions. This article deals with the baseline data of the study. The subjects completed a 7-day dietary record, weight and height were measured and a fasting blood sample was analysed for proteins, haematological values and certain vitamins. Dietary analysis indicated that the mean energy intake was 8,552 kJ (SD = 2,095). The energy distribution was 15.5% protein, 33.6% fat and 46.4% carbohydrate. In the light of the recommended dietary allowances the diet was lacking in zinc, vitamin B6 and folic acid, which suggests that the subjects might be deficient in these micronutrients. Although the diets were lacking in these nutrients, no clinical stigmata were observed. The subjects averaged a body mass index of 26.1 and could therefore be classified as overweight. The mean haematological values as well as the plasma vitamins were within the normal range. In conclusion it can be said that the men consumed a diet that was too high in fat and that the diet lacked certain micronutrients.

Aged↗

Use of bioelectrical impedance for the nutritional assessment of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Although malnutrition poses a significant risk to the well-being of chronic hemodialysis patients, their nutritional assessment is usually empirical. We studied body composition by bioelectrical impedance (BEI) prospectively in 39 patients followed for 5-12 months. BEI correctly discriminated between underweight and overweight patients in terms of fat mass (21 +/- 5 vs. 34 +/- 10%; p = 0.002), lean body mass (78 +/- 4 vs. 67 +/- 10%; p = 0.004) and total body water (57 +/- 3 vs. 49 +/- 7%; p = 0.002), respectively. Serial body weights did not correlate with changes in lean body mass (LBM) as measured by BEI. While 28% of patients lost weight, 41% lost LBM. Most striking is the contrast between the patients who showed no change in LBM by BEI and those whose body weight remained neutral (3 vs. 28%). BEI is a most sensitive clinical tool for assessing changes in LBM in hemodialysis patients.

Body Composition↗

Mineral and vitamin intake in field athletes (discus-, hammer-, javelin-throwers and shotputters).

Thirty field athletes (discus-, hammer-, javelin-throwers and shotputters) were studied. Dietary intake was determined by using the seven-day estimated dietary record. Analysis of the dietary intake indicated that on average, the males (n = 20) consumed adequate amounts of micro-nutrients. The mean intake for the females (n = 10) were adequate for phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. Some of the females did not consume adequate amounts of calcium, iron, and magnesium. These dietary deficiencies can be corrected through proper food choices and by consuming a great variety of food. Athletes (especially the females) should be educated on their nutritional needs, good dietary practices, and planning adequate diets for training and performance.

Adolescent↗

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone for the CCAAT transcription factor EFIA reveals a novel structural motif.

Enhancer factor I (EFI) is a trans-acting factor which binds to the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat enhancer and promoter at two inverted CCAAT-box motifs. We demonstrate that two forms of EFI DNA binding activity exist in nuclear extracts of avian cells. One form requires two heterologous components (EFIA)(EFIB) for high affinity, specific DNA binding activity, whereas a second form is not dependent on EFIB for binding and may be composed solely of EFIA, perhaps as a multimer. Both forms give rise to the same mobility shift in gel retardation assays, but the two forms can be separated chromatographically under buffer conditions which stabilize the two DNA binding activities. A cDNA for EFIA has been isolated from a rat liver cDNA expression library. The 1489-base pair EFIA cDNA encodes a 322-amino acid protein which is nearly identical to two previously described human DNA binding proteins. These are dbpB, a DNA binding protein of unknown specificity which binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor enhancer and c-erbB-2 gene promoter (Sakura, H., Maekawa, T., Imamoto, F., Yasuda, K., and Ishii, S. (1988) Gene (Amst.) 73, 499-507), and YB-1, a protein which recognizes the Y-box (inverted CCAAT motif) of the HLA-DR alpha chain gene (Didier, D. K., Schiffenbauer, J., Woulfe, S. L., Zacheis, M., and Schwartz, B. D. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85, 7322-7326). EFIA/dbpB/YB-1 share a highly conserved region of 100 amino acids with dbpA, another protein identified by Sakura et al. (1988) which binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor enhancer and c-erbB-2 gene promoter, and with two Xenopus CCAAT binding proteins, FRG Y1 and FRG Y2 (Tafuri, S. R., and Wolffe, A. P. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., in press). This highly conserved domain among all six proteins is presumed to represent or contain a DNA binding domain for the CCAAT motif. In addition, we note that the EFIA/dbpB/YB-1 polypeptide contains a novel arrangement of alternating clusters of positively and negatively charged amino acids not yet reported for any trans-acting factor. The functional significance of this novel structural motif, which is also conserved in dbpA, FRG Y1, and FRG Y2, will be discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rous sarcoma virus enhancer factor I is a ubiquitous CCAAT transcription factor highly related to CBF and NF-Y.

We have characterized enhancer factor I (EFI), a trans-acting factor present in avian nuclear extracts which binds to the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat enhancer and promoter. Through deletion and point mutagenesis, we show that EFI is a member of the CCAAT family of transcription factors. Although the CCAAT motif is essential for protein-DNA recognition, EFI shows surprising latitude in the nucleotide sequences flanking the CCAAT motif to which it will bind with high affinity. EFI will cross-bind to the binding sites of a number of previously described CCAAT factors, including CBF, NF-Y, CP2, CP1, CTF/NF-1, and c/EBP, with a range of affinities that is at most 10-fold lower than the high affinity binding site for EFI in the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. We present evidence, however, that EFI is probably identical or very closely related to CBF and NF-Y. This is based on the fact that EFI in avian nuclear extracts binds with equal or 2-fold greater affinity to the binding sites of NF-Y and CBF, despite less than 50% homology (outside the CCAAT motif) between the EFI, NF-Y, and CBF recognition sequences. Moreover, radiolabeled EFI, NF-Y, or CBF DNAs give rise to identical gel retardation patterns in extracts from a variety of different cell types. EFI, CBF, and NF-Y appear to fractionate identically upon ion exchange chromatography, separating into two heterologous components (A and B) which must be recombined to recover substantial DNA binding activity. Molecular weight estimates for the two heterologous components of EFI, CBF, and a Y-box binding protein (Celada, A., and Maki, R.A. (1989) Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 3097-3100) are very similar. EFI DNA binding activity has recently been shown to be induced by serum and the oncogene v-src (Dutta, A., Stoeckle, M.Y., and Hanafusa, H. (1990) Genes & Dev. 4, 243-254). The close relationship or identity between EFI, CBF, and NF-Y, thus has important implications regarding the mechanisms by which serum or the oncogene v-src may affect changes in gene expression.

Animals↗

Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and plasma lipid levels in throwing field athletes.

Since little descriptive data for field athletes is available, the anthropometric measurement, dietary intake and plasma lipid levels of 22 male and 15 female field athletes (throwers) are reported. Percentage body fat was calculated by using four skinfold thicknesses. Using this measurement as criterion, 53% of the females were obese. Percentage body fat and body mass index showed a positive correlation with total plasma cholesterol and plasma triacyglycerol and a negative correlation with percentage HDL cholesterol for males and females. Five of the males and three of the females were hypercholesterolaemic. The seven day estimated dietary record was used to determine their dietary intake. The males as well as the females consumed a diet that was high in fat and cholesterol content. Their diets were low in carbohydrate. It is recommended that these athletes increase their carbohydrate intake and lower their total fat intake. It is also recommended that the obese subjects should lose weight.

Adipose Tissue↗

Clinical experiences with fusidic acid in cystic fibrosis patients.

A survey of Staphylococcus aureus lung infection in 243 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was conducted between 1986 and 1988. A total of 217 patients (89%) received 1605 courses of anti-staphylococcal therapy given during this period. The majority of courses comprised combined therapy with two anti-staphylococcal drugs. The combination of dicloxacillin and fusidic acid was employed most frequently. Some patients were given other anti-staphylococcal regimens, because of penicillin allergy (14 cases) or dyspeptic side effects with fusidic acid (21 patients). A small but significant increase in precipitins against S. aureus was observed during the study period. Bacterial resistance to the anti-staphylococcal drugs used remained at a low level (strains resistant to methicillin less than 0.1%, strains resistant to fusidic acid 1.2%). When the isolates were compared with 56,140 strains of S. aureus isolated from non-CF patients hospitalized in Denmark over the same period, no differences in phagetypes or in antibiotic resistance were seen, indicating that selection of strains and cross infection do not seem to be a major problem in CF patients.

Bacteriophage Typing↗

Susceptibility to fusidic acid among Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains and fusidic acid consumption.

A total of 8176 Danish Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cases of bacteraemia during the years 1963 to 1987 were investigated for resistance to fusidic acid. During the whole period 1% of the strains or less were resistant (MIC of 2 mg/l or more). The total Danish consumption of fusidic acid during the same period increased from 0.008 to 0.029 defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day. The resistant strains were mainly sporadic isolates with the phage-types and antibiotic-resistance patterns predominant in Denmark at the time of their isolation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Nutrient intake and dietary supplementation in body-builders.

The micronutrient intake of a group of 76 body-builders was studied. Sixty-three per cent of the subjects supplemented their diets with vitamin and mineral pills. The highest pill consumption was 87 pills per day. Fifty-nine per cent of the subjects used high-protein powders. The benefits of these powders is open to question, since the diet already supplied a high 2.2 g protein per kilogram of body weight. Thirty-nine per cent of the subjects used vitamin/mineral pills as well as protein powders. Because of the use of dietary supplements, the food in the diet supplied only a small fraction of the total intake of most of the micronutrients. The food supplied adequate amounts of nutrients according to the US Recommended Dietary Allowances, and the use of dietary supplements can therefore not be justified.

Adolescent↗

Diets realistic for westernized people significantly effect lipoproteins, calcium, zinc, vitamins C, E, B6 and haematology in vervet monkeys.

This report describes measurements of 50 variables in adult, female, reproductively inactive Vervet monkeys during prolonged nutrition realistic for westernized people. Dietary treatments consisted of an atherogenic Western diet (WD) and a prudent Western diet (PD). Ingredients were normal foods for man and no extra cholesterol was added. Fortification of both diets with vitamin C after cooking was necessary to prevent deficiency. Randomised groups of Vervet monkeys received either the PD or WD for 47 months, while a third group was fed WD for 20 months and then PD for 27 months (WD-PD). Before the dietary treatments nourishment was by a high carbohydrate diet (HCD) and baseline and reference values (RV) apply to this nutritional status. Plasma total cholesterol (mg/dl) was increased from 147 (HCD) to 174 (PD) and 376 (WD). Individual cholesterolaemio response ranged from mild to severe and was stable (PD and WD). Dietary reversal (WD-PD) reduced cholesterolaemia promptly. Statistically significant increases in calcium, zinc and vitamin E and decreased vitamin B6 were associated with the WD relative to the PD (in serum and plasma). Two cholesterol metabolising microsomal enzymes in liver were notably increased and one unchanged (WD). There were no dietary effects on triglycerides, vitamin A and glucose in plasma; insulin, glucagon, electrolytes, copper, magnesium or enzymes reflecting liver, muscle or brain cell damage in serum. Red blood cells, platelets and directly associated parameters increased (WD), haemoglobin was the same and haemoglobin per red cell decreased. Bleeding time was not affected. Bivariate correlations across the diets confirmed that Western nutrition promoted inherent individual susceptibility to cholesterolaemia. There were notable differences from RVs in total cholesterol, calcium, packed cell volume and haemoglobin, which emphasise excesses and deficiencies of the WD and PD.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

[Corticoid allergy].

A 50-year-old female patient developed maculopapular exanthema after administration of corticoids on account of a cervical syndrome. Under topical therapy with different corticoids because of an allergic contact eczema, the skin lesions worsened and consecutive oral corticoid therapy again induced maculopapular exanthema. Skin tests revealed an eczematous contact allergy to the stereoisomeric corticoids dexamethasone and beta-methasone, as well as to two salts of these substances. Furthermore, allergies to other ingredients of the vehicles were detected. The various allergic clinical manifestations, the allergologically important corticoids, the test procedures and sensitization conditions are discussed in correlation with the literature.

Administration, Topical↗

Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake and biochemical data of South African lacto-ovovegetarians.

A group of South African lacto-ovovegetarians were studied. They did not differ from a group of control subjects in respect of height, weight, Quetelet index or percentage body fat. Dietary analysis indicated that the vegetarians had significantly higher intakes of folic acid and ascorbic acid, and significantly lower intakes of vitamin B12 and zinc compared with the controls. Vegetarians should give special attention to the intake of certain nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12 and zinc, which may be in a less available form or in lower concentrations in plant foods. Vegetarians had lower serum vitamin B12 levels (not significant in males) and ferritin levels (not significant in females) than the controls. Plasma levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ between the two groups.

Adult↗

Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and blood lipid values in weight training athletes (body builders).

Dietary intake, plasma lipid levels, and anthropometric measurements were studied in 76 weight trained athletes (body builders) who had been following a consistent eating and training program for at least 2 years prior to the study. Dietary data were collected using the 7-day diet record. Nutrient analysis indicated that these athletes followed an atherogenic diet, characterized by a high-fat, high-cholesterol intake. The high-cholesterol intake was due to a high egg intake, which varied from 0 to 81 eggs per week. Although those athletes with a high egg intake consumed significantly more fat and cholesterol than those with a low egg intake, plasma total cholesterol levels (mean = 182.9 +/- 25.7) did not differ over the range of egg intakes. Plasma HDL-cholesterol levels were higher and plasma triacylglycerol levels were lower at a high egg intake compared with that at a low egg intake. Plasma uric acid was not affected by the high animal protein intake. Despite the unfavorable intake of macronutrients, food alone supplied adequate amounts of micronutrients as compared with the RDA. Using different measurements of obesity, it was difficult to classify this group of athletes as overweight or obese, due to increased muscle development.

Adolescent↗