The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of dietary diacylglycerol (DAG) oil with triacylglycerol (TAG) oil with a similar fatty acid composition (fatty acid chain range: ...C14–C22, C18 fatty acid chain: >90%) on protein kinase C (PKC) activation and on 1,2-DAG levels. Using male Wistar rats, no differences in cytosolic and membrane PKC activities in the lingual, esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, cecal, proximal colonic, and distal colonic mucosa were found between the 5% DAG and TAG oil groups, or between the 23% DAG and TAG oil groups after 1
month of feeding. The 1,2-DAG levels in the cecum and colon contents and in the feces and serum in male Wistar rats after a diet containing either 10% DAG or TAG oil feeding were similar between the groups. Moreover, exposure of Caco-2 cells to DAG and TAG oils had no effect on PKC activity in the membrane fraction, but 1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol composed of short-chain fatty acids (C8) did, suggesting the absence of an influence on PKC activity in DAG and TAG oils composed of long-chain fatty acids. In summary, the effects of DAG oil ingestion on PKC activity in the digestive tract and lingual mucosa, and on 1,2-DAG levels in the cecum and colon contents and in the feces and serum were similar to those observed for TAG oil ingestion.
Heart failure is important in determining the prognosis of cardiomyopathy caused by mitochondrial gene abnormalities. We report herein the case of a patient with pericardial effusion and heart ...failure in whom mitochondrial cardiomyopathy was definitively diagnosed. A 56-year-old woman consulted her primary physician with exertional dyspnea. Examination revealed edema and pericardial effusion, and diuretics were prescribed. However, after marked left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was noted, she was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation. Further examination revealed short stature, ptosis, generalized muscle atrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss. Echocardiography showed LVH, a global decrease in wall motion, and pericardial effusion. Physical and laboratory findings, including glucose intolerance and elevated serum lactate, suggested mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. Genetic testing confirmed cardiomyopathy due to a mitochondrial a3243g mutation. After treatment to improve heart failure, marked washout was shown on
99m
Tc-MIBI (methoxyisobutylisonitrile) myocardial scintigraphy, suggesting a correlation with mitochondrial dysfunction.
The effects of the concurrent ingestion of 2 dietary fibers of different fermentabilities on fecal excretion and cecal fermentation were examined in rats. Poorly fermentable, low-molecular-weight ...sodium alginate supplementation of a fiber-free diet increased fecal excretion and the water content dose-dependently but did not affect cecal pH. Highly fermentable guar gum hydrolysate supplementation decreased cecal pH dose-dependently, whereas there was only a slight increase in fecal excretion. The concurrent ingestion of both fibers increased fecal excretion, lowered cecal pH, and increased the fecal water content and cecal short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate. The increases in both fecal excretion and cecal fermentation were not achieved by excessive ingestion of the respective fibers alone and were also observed in loperamide-induced constipation. In conclusion, the concurrent ingestion of low-molecular-weight sodium alginate and guar gum hydrolysate increases both fecal excretion and cecal fermentation as a consequence of each fiber compensating for their respective dietary disadvantages in a complementary manner.
Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare condition. Rupture of BAA can cause critical hemorrhage, and intervention for BAA is thus recommended. A 69-year-old woman presented with BAA 70 mm in ...diameter in the right hilum of the lung. Transcatheter arterial embolization for afferent arteries of the BAA was performed and the BAA has subsequently been shrinking as observed by radiography. We present this case and a brief review of management of BAA based on the literature.
This report describes a case of traumatic incomplete rupture of the ventricular septum, a rare complication caused by blunt chest trauma. Although a serial ECG progressed its course similar to acute ...anteroseptal myocardial infarction in this case, there was little clinical clue of septal tear. The diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography. The authors chose a conservative line of management rather than surgical repair for incomplete septal rupture because of the patent’s stable clinical course and hemodynamic status. A sequence of echocardiography during a 32-day stay in the hospital showed no change in the extent of incomplete septal rupture, septal structure, systolic function, and shape of left ventricle and also obtained no evidence of shunting through the rupture. In conclusion, echocardiography is a useful investigation to make a diagnosis as well as for follow-up in case of incomplete ventricular septal rupture. A close follow-up of incomplete septal rupture with serial echocardiography should be performed, because several cases of delayed ventricular septal rupture following blunt chest trauma have been reported.
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