Fatty Acid-binding Protein Content Research Articles

Palmitate interaction with physiological states of myoglobin

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that palmitate (PA) can bind specifically and non-specifically to Fe(III) MbCN. The present study has observed PA interaction with physiological states of Fe(II) Mb, and the observations support the hypothesis that Mb may have a potential role in facilitating intracellular fatty acid transport. Methods1H NMR spectra measurements of the Mb signal during PA titration show signal changes consistent with specific and non-specific binding. ResultsPalmitate (PA) interacts differently with physiological states of Mb. Deoxy Mb does not interact specifically or non-specifically with PA, while the carbonmonoxy myoglobin (MbCO) interaction with PA decreases the intensity of selective signals and produces a 0.15ppm upfield shift of the PA methylene peak. The selective signal change upon PA titration provides a basis to determine an apparent PA binding constant, which serves to create a model comparing the competitive PA binding and facilitated fatty acid transport of Mb and fatty acid binding protein (FABP). ConclusionsGiven contrasting PA interaction of ligated vs. unligated Mb, the cellular fatty acid binding protein (FABP) and Mb concentration in the cell, the reported cellular diffusion coefficients, the PA dissociation constants from ligated Mb and FABP, a fatty acid flux model suggests that Mb can compete with FABP transporting cellular fatty acid. General significanceUnder oxygenated conditions and continuous energy demand, Mb dependent fatty acid transport could influence the cell's preference for carbohydrate or fatty acid as a fuel source and regulate fatty acid metabolism.

Enterocyte Damage in Critically Ill Patients Is Associated With Shock Condition and 28-Day Mortality*

Small bowel dysfunction in critically ill patients is frequent, underdiagnosed, and associated with poor prognosis. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein is a marker of enterocyte damage, and plasma citrulline concentration is a marker of functional enterocyte mass. Primary objective was to identify factors associated with intestinal fatty acid-binding protein in critically ill patients. Secondary objectives were to study factors associated with plasma citrulline concentration and its correlation with intestinal fatty acid-binding protein. Prospective observational study. ICU in a University Hospital Critically ill patients 18 years old or older with an expected length of ICU stay 48 hours or more, without pregnancy, chronic small bowel disease, or chronic renal failure. None. Plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and citrulline concentrations, and variables relating to prognosis and treatment, were measured at admission to the ICU. One hundred and three patients were included. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein elevation at admission to the ICU was associated with catecholamine support, higher lactate concentration, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and higher international normalized ratio (all p≤0.001). Plasma citrulline concentration less than or equal to 10 μmol/L at admission to the ICU was associated with higher intra-abdominal pressure, higher plasma C reactive protein concentration, and more frequent antibiotic use (all p≤0.005). There was no correlation between plasma levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and citrulline. At ICU admission, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score≥12, plasma citrulline≤12.2 μmol/L, and plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein concentration≥355 pg/mL were all independently associated with 28-day mortality (odds ratio, 4.39 [1.48-13.03]; odds ratio, 5.17 [1.59-16.86]; and odds ratio, 4.46 [1.35-14.74], respectively). In critically ill patients, enterocyte damage is frequent, and it is significantly associated with shock and 28-day mortality. The link between intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and plasma citrulline concentrations in critically ill patients needs to be further evaluated.

Neither Microbial Translocation Nor TLR Responsiveness Are Likely Explanations for Preexisting Immune Activation in Women Who Subsequently Acquired HIV in CAPRISA 004

Innate immune activation was a strong predictor of HIV acquisition in women at risk for HIV in CAPRISA 004. Identifying the cause(s) of activation could enable targeted prevention interventions. In this study, plasma concentrations of lipopolysaccharide, soluble CD14, and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein did not differ between subjects who did or did not subsequently acquire HIV nor were these levels correlated with plasma cytokines or natural killer cell activation. There was no difference between HIV acquirers and non-acquirers in the chemokine and cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with TLR2, 4, or 7/8 agonists. Further studies are required.

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein and vascular endothelial growth factor: cerebrospinal fluid biomarker candidates for Alzheimer’s disease

The main objective of the study was to validate the findings of previous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteomic studies for the differentiation between Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and physiological ageing. The most consistently significant proteins in the separation between AD dementia versus normal controls using CSF proteomics were identified in the literature. The classification performance of the four pre-selected proteins was explored in 92 controls, 149 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 69 patients with AD dementia. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) CSF concentrations distinguished between healthy controls and patients with AD dementia with a sensitivity and specificity of 57 and 35%, and 76 and 84%, respectively. The optimal classification was achieved by a combination of the two additional CSF biomarker candidates in conjunction with the three established markers Amyloid-β (Aβ)1-42, total-Tau (tTau), and phosphorylated-Tau (pTau)181, which resulted in a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 86%. hFABP also predicted the progression from MCI to AD dementia. The present study provides evidence in support of hFABP and VEGF in CSF as AD biomarker candidates to be used in combination with the established markers Aβ1-42, tTau, and pTau181.

Elevated cardiac markers are associated with higher mortality in patients after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPSs) have become a widely accepted tool in the treatment of patients with symptomatic portal hypertension. The aim of our study was to assess the value of cardiac markers before and after TIPS insertion for the prediction of one-year mortality in cirrhotic patients. The study population consisted of 55 patients (38 men and 17 women, aged 55.6 ± 8.9 y, range 37-74) with liver cirrhosis treated with transjugular portosystemic shunting. Biochemical markers were measured before and 24 h after TIPS. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) was tested by high-sensitivity immunoassay for Elecsys analyser (Roche Diagnostics). Concentrations of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme, myoglobin (MYO), glycogenphosphorylase BB isoenzyme (GPBB) and heart type of fatty acid binding protein (FABP) were measured by the Evidence Investigator protein biochip system (Randox Laboratories). In patients before TIPS insertion, hs-cTnT was increased above the cut-off (0.014 μg/L) in 39.2% of patients. Higher hs-cTnT and FABP concentrations were associated with poor survival in patients before TIPS (hs-cTnT: P = 0.018; FABP: P = 0.016). Twenty-four hours after the TIPS procedure, we found a significant elevation in serum GPBB in comparison with preprocedural values (P < 0.001). There was an association between postprocedural concentrations of cardiac markers (MYO, hs-cTnT, FABP) and overall survival. Measurement of cardiac markers, mainly hs-cTnT and FABP, may be useful for mortality prediction in cirrhotic patients after TIPS. Cardiac markers are better mortality predictors than other risk factors such as age, gender or Child-Pugh score.

Ultrasensitive Multianalyte Electrochemical Immunoassay Based on Metal Ion Functionalized Titanium Phosphate Nanospheres

A novel multianalyte electrochemical immunoassay was developed for ultrasensitive detection of human cardiopathy biomarkers cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and human heart-type fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) using metal ion functionalized titanium phosphate nanospheres (TiP-metal ion) as labels. The metal ions could be detected directly through square wave voltammetry (SWV) without metal preconcentration, and the distinct voltammetric peaks had a close relationship with each sandwich-type immunoreaction. The position and size of the peaks reflected the identity and level of the corresponding antigen. The large amount of metal ions loading on the TiP nanospheres greatly amplified the detection signals, and the good biocompatibility of graphene nanoribbons (GONRs) retained good stability for the sandwich-type immunoassay. The proposed immunoassay exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of cTnI and FABP. The linear relationships between electrochemical signals and the concentrations of cTnI and FABP were obtained in the range of 0.05 pg/mL-50 ng/mL and 0.05 pg/mL-50 ng/mL, respectively. The detection limits of cTnI and HIgG were 1 and 3 fg/mL (S/N = 3), respectively. Moreover, the immunoassay accurately detected the concentrations of cTnI and FABP in human serum samples, which were demonstrated to have excellent correlations with the standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The results suggested that the electrochemical immunoassay would be promising in the point-of-care diagnostics application of clinical screening of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) biomarkers.

Cord blood intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) in full-term intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies

Objective: To prospectively investigate cord blood concentrations of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein-[I-FABP, a useful marker in the early detection of necrotizing enterocolitis-(NEC)] in full-term intrauterine-growth-restricted-(IUGR, associated with NEC, regardless of gestational age) and appropriate-for-gestational-age-(AGA) pregnancies. We also aimed to determine cord blood I-FABP concentrations in IUGR cases with abnormal versus normal antenatal Doppler results and investigate a possible association with feeding intolerance or NEC.Methods: I-FABP concentrations were determined by ELISA in 154 mixed arteriovenous cord blood samples from IUGR (n = 50) and AGA (n = 104) singleton full-term infants.Results: Cord blood I-FABP concentrations did not differ between IUGR and AGA groups, as well as between IUGR infants with normal versus abnormal(however, lacking absent/ reversed end-diastolic umbilical artery flow) antenatal Doppler results. No infant presented with feeding intolerance or NEC. Customized centiles were lower in IUGR infants with abnormal versus normal antenatal Doppler results (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Full-term IUGR infants present with normal cord blood I-FABP concentrations and do not seem to be at higher risk for developing feeding intolerance or NEC, including those with compromised fetal perfusion.

Elevated serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein concentrations are independently associated with renal dysfunction in patients with stable angina pectoris

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cardiovascular events. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma A-FABP is involved in renal function in patients with stable angina pectoris.MethodsA total of 221 patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were enrolled after coronary angiography. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The severity of coronary stenosis was assessed using a modified Gensini score and coronary angiography. Serum A-FABP levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSerum A-FABP levels were significantly correlated with both eGFR (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis (r = 0.16, p = 0.02), and these relationships remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. The prevalence of CKD and multi-vessel disease was significantly higher among patients with serum A-FABP levels above the median value of 20.3 ng/ml than among patients with serum A-FABP levels below the median value (57% vs. 27%, p < 0.01 and 64% vs. 48%, p = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of three-vessel disease in comparison with single-vessel disease was independently associated with the higher A-FABP (per doubling) (odds ratio; 2.26, 95% confidential interval; 1.28-3.98, p < 0.01) and tended to be associated with the lower eGFR (p = 0.06).ConclusionSerum A-FABP may have a significant role in the interplay between renal dysfunction and coronary atherosclerosis.

A composite urine biomarker reflects interstitial inflammation in lupus nephritis kidney biopsies

The initial treatment of lupus nephritis is usually based on a renal biopsy. Subsequent disease flares, however, are often treated without the benefit of kidney pathology because repeat biopsies are infrequent. A noninvasive, real-time method to assess renal pathology would be useful to adjust treatment and improve outcome. To develop such a method we collected urine samples at or close to the time of 64 biopsies from 61 patients with lupus nephritis to identify potential biomarkers of tubulointerstitial inflammation and correlated these to biopsy parameters scored by a renal pathologist using a semiquantitative scale. Linear discriminant analysis was used to weight variables and derive composite biomarkers that identified the level of tubulointerstitial inflammation based on urine concentrations of monocyte chemotactic protein-1, hepcidin (a marker of active lupus), and liver fatty acid-binding protein. The discriminant function that described the most accurate composite biomarkers included urine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and serum creatinine as the independent variables. This composite had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100, 81, 67, and 100%, respectively. Only 14% of the biopsies were misclassified. Thus, specific renal pathologic lesions can be modeled by composite biomarkers to noninvasively follow and adjust the treatment of lupus nephritis reflecting renal injury.

Effects of Different High Fat Diets on FABP Content in Rat Skeletal Muscles

Long-term feeding of high fat diet increases both oxidative enzymes in skeletal muscle and endurance capacity in rats, whereas it is well-known to cause obesity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high fat diet containing long-chain diacylglycerol (DAG), medium-chain triacylglycerol (MTG) or long-chain triacylglycerol (TAG) on oxidative enzyme activities and fatty acid binding protein (FABP) contents in rat skeletal muscles. METHODS: Male Wistar rats, 5 weeks old, were assigned to 4 groups; low fat diet (LF; n=6, 12% calories as fat), TAG high fat diet (n=6, 60% calories as fat), DAG high fat diet (n=6, 60% calories as fat) and MTG high fat diet (n=7, 60% calories as fat) groups. Animals were fed their diets and water ad libitum for 5 weeks. Citrate synthase (CS) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric assay, and FABP content was measured with an ELISA kit. RESULTS: Epidydimal fat pad was much smaller in MTG group than in HTG and DAG groups (P<0.05). TAG and MTG groups were increased CS activity (TAG, 40±2.5 mol·min-1·g-1; MTG, 44±2.8 mol·min-1·g-1) in soleus muscle (Sol) compared with LF (35±4.1 mol·min-1·g-1) group (p < 0.01). FABP contents of Sol and red gastrocnemius muscle (Gas) were significantly higher in TAG (Sol, 62 ±7.3; red Gas, 59±21.8 ng/ml) and DAG (Sol, 58±9.1; red Gas, 51±5.8 ng/ml) groups than in MTG (Sol, 28±2.8; red Gas, 28±6.2 ng/ml) group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, FABP contents of white Gas were, albeit small, significantly higher in TAG (1.8±0.3 ng/ml), DAG (2.4±0.3 ng/ml) and MTG (1.5±0.2 ng/ml) groups than in LF (0.3±0.1 ng/ml) group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thus, the 5-week-feeding of DAG high fat diet increased FABP content in Sol and red/white Gas, and also the MTG high fat diet increased both FABP content in white Gas and oxidative enzymes without fat accumulation, suggesting that "MTG plus DAG" high fat diet may enhance fat metabolism and exercise performance without obesity.

Cryptic genetic gluten intolerance revealed by intestinal antitransglutaminase antibodies and response to gluten-free diet

Background and objectiveAntitransglutaminase (anti-TG2) antibodies are synthesised in the intestine and their presence seems predictive of future coeliac disease (CD). This study investigates whether mucosal antibodies represent an early stage...

Heart fatty acid-binding protein may not be an early biomarker for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using serum heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) concentrations as an early biomarker for doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage. Forty-four male rabbits were randomly divided into a control (8 rabbits) or one of four doxorubicin groups (8 rabbits in each group). Rabbits in the control group received saline, whereas rabbits in the doxorubicin group received 2 mg/kg doxorubicin weekly for 1-8 weeks. Rabbits in the doxorubicin groups received doxorubicin 2 mg/kg for one (Group 1, 8 rabbits), two (Group 2, 8 rabbits), four (Group 3, 9 rabbits), or eight (Group 4, 11 rabbits) weeks. Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), shortening fraction (FS), and E/A ratio. Cardiotoxicity scores were assessed by light microscopy using Billingham's method and also by electron microscopy. Serum H-FABP concentrations were quantified by a rabbit-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Decreased LVEF, FS, and E/A ratio were detected in Group 4 (P < 0.05). Billingham cardiomyopathy scores of the rabbits in Group 3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of rabbits in the control group or Groups 1 or 2. Billingham cardiomyopathy scores in Group 4 were the highest of all groups (P < 0.05). Myocardial injury was demonstrable by electron microscopy in rabbits in Groups 2, 3, and 4. Compared with the control group, serum H-FABP concentrations increased only in Group 4 (P < 0.05). Serum H-FABP concentrations may not be a sensitive method for assessing early cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin.

Serum Concentration of Heart-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein in Children and Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease

Serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is widely applied as a marker of cardiac myocyte injury. Recently, it has been reported that levels of H-FABP are elevated in adult patients with chronic heart failure and thus provide useful prognostic information. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between serum H-FABP levels and pathophysiological characteristics in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Serum H-FABP levels were preoperatively and postoperatively measured in 238 consecutive patients with CHD aged 1-31 years. The relationships between H-FABP levels and severity of heart failure, circulatory status and laboratory data were cross-sectionally analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that serum H-FABP levels are independently affected by age, New York Heart Association functional class, creatine kinase MB, creatinine and arterial oxygen saturation (standard regression coefficients, -0.378, 0.237, 0.422, 0.615, and -0.210, respectively). Neither left ventricular ejection fraction nor B-type natriuretic peptide correlated with H-FABP levels. H-FABP could serve as a new monitoring tool to provide information that will guide the optimal therapy and management of CHD patients.

Development of a High-specificity Sandwich ELISA System for the Quantification of Human Intestinal Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (I-FABP) Concentrations

Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), a low molecular mass (approximately 15 kDa) cytoplasmic protein, is specifically located in epithelial cells of small bowel mucosal layer. This protein is rapidly released into the circulation after injury and/or destruction of these cells due to poor mesenteric blood flow and necrosis. Therefore, it can be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for small bowel disease. In the present study, we have succeeded in developing a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for quantification of human I-FABP. The range of sandwich ELISA system was 0.1–50 ng/mL of I-FABP in serum, and showed excellent quantitative characteristics such as reproducibility, dilution linearity, and recovery. No cross-reactivities were detected with other types of FABPs. As measured with this ELISA system, the serum I-FABP concentration was 1.1 ± 0.9 ng/mL in 61 healthy individuals, indicating that the reference value was below 2.0 ng/mL regardless of gender and age. Furthermore, mild abdominal pain or diarrhea before blood sampling did not affect I-FABP levels. Thus, this ELISA system could be used to accurately quantify human I-FABP concentrations in serum samples. These results suggest that it could be used as a new biomarker for the diagnosis of small bowel disease.

The effects of methylene blue infusion on gastric tonometry and intestinal fatty acid binding protein levels in septic shock patients

Objective We prospectively studied the effect of methylene blue (MB) infusion on gastric mucosal metabolism perfusion ratio, assessed by gastric tonometry, and on mucosal cell damage, assessed by urinary levels of intestinal fatty acid binding protein, in septic shock patients. Methods Methylene blue (MB) infusion (1 mg/kg per hour) during 4 hours in 10 consecutive patients with a proven or suspected bacterial infection and with severe vasodilatory shock, defined as a mean arterial pressure 70 mm Hg or lower for at least 1 hour despite adequate volume resuscitation and norepinephrine infusion at a rate ≥0.2 μg/kg per minute. Results Methylene blue infusion did not significantly change the P(g-a)CO 2 gradient ( P = .16). Post hoc analysis of the subgroup of patients with an elevated baseline P(g-a)CO 2 gradient, defined as ≥20 mm Hg, showed that the median P(g-a)CO 2 gradient (interquartile range [IQR]) decreased from 45 (41-56) mm Hg before infusion to 41 (28-52) at the end of the 4-hour infusion and decreased further to 32 (26-36) mm Hg 2 hours after cessation of MB infusion ( P = .012). The median urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein concentration at baseline was elevated (210 [79-437] pg/ μmol creatinine) and did not change significantly after 24 hours (116 [53-601] pg/ μmol creatinine, P = .15). The median mean arterial blood pressure (IQR) increased from 70 (69-71) mm Hg at baseline to 77 (67-83) mm Hg after 1 hour ( P = .04), the norepinephrine dose did not change significantly. The median (IQR) cardiac index decreased from 4.4 (3.2-5.5) L min -1 m -2 at baseline to 3.6 (3.3-4.7) L min -1 m -2 after 2 h, returning back to baseline values after cessation of MB infusion P = .02). Conclusion Although MB infusion in patients with septic shock and advanced multi-organ failure increases mean arterial blood pressure and decreases cardiac index, it does not compromise the gastric mucosal perfusion metabolism ratio as indicated by tonometry, and by the release of a mucosal cellular injury marker.

Urinary intestinal fatty acid–binding protein concentration predicts extent of disease in necrotizing enterocolitis

Purpose Urinary intestinal fatty acid–binding protein (i-FABP), a marker of intestinal mucosal cell damage, has recently been proposed as a clinically useful measure in the early detection of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). However, there are no data on urinary i-FABP in more advanced (Bell stage II /III) NEC. The aim of this study was to test the use of urinary i-FABP in surgical NEC. Methods Urine was collected every 24 hours from infants with Bell stage II/III NEC admitted to a surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Clinical, laboratory, and surgical data were collected concurrently. Urinary i-FABP was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and expressed as picograms per nanomole creatinine (median [range]). Results are presented as median (range) and compared by Mann-Whitney test and by linear regression. Results There was a trend toward an increase in i-FABP:Cr in infants with NEC (controls, 1.0 [0.4-1.3], vs NEC, 2.1 [0.39-35.1], P = .055). Urinary i-FABP:Cr was significantly higher in infants with extensive disease (7.4 pg/mmol [2.1-35.0 pg/mmol]) than in those with focal disease (1.1 pg/mmol [0.3-1.7 pg/mmol]), P = .002. In addition, i-FABP:Cr was less than the previously suggested 2 pg/mmol cutoff in 6 of 16 infants with NEC, 5 of whom had focal disease. Urinary i-FABP:Cr decreased during both successful nonoperative management ( P < .0001) and after surgery in the operated group. Conclusions In this pilot study, urinary i-FABP was associated with extensive disease in infants with NEC requiring surgery. Further work, in a larger number of patients, is required to investigate the applicability of urinary i-FABP as a marker of intestinal damage and as an adjunct to current indications for surgical intervention in infants with NEC.

Increasing weaning age of piglets from 4 to 7 weeks reduces stress, increases post-weaning feed intake but does not improve intestinal functionality

This study tested the hypothesis that late weaning and the availability of creep feed during the suckling period compared with early weaning, improves feed intake, decreases stress and improves the integrity of the intestinal tract. In this study with 160 piglets of 16 litters, late weaning at 7 weeks of age was compared with early weaning at 4 weeks, with or without creep feeding during the suckling period, on post-weaning feed intake, plasma cortisol (as an indicator of stress) and plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP; a marker for mild intestinal injury) concentrations, intestinal morphology, intestinal (macro)molecular permeability and intestinal fluid absorption as indicators of small intestinal integrity. Post-weaning feed intake was similar in piglets weaned at 4 weeks and offered creep feed or not, but higher (P < 0.001) in piglets weaned at 7 weeks with a higher (P < 0.05) intake for piglets offered creep feed compared with piglets from whom creep feed was witheld. Plasma cortisol response at the day of weaning was lower in piglets weaned at 7 weeks compared with piglets weaned at 4 weeks, and creep feed did not affect cortisol concentration. Plasma I-FABP concentration was not affected by the age of weaning and creep feeding. Intestinal (macro)molecular permeability was not affected by the age of weaning and creep feeding. Both in uninfected and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-infected small intestinal segments net fluid absorption was not affected by the age of weaning or creep feeding. Creep feeding, but not the age of weaning, resulted in higher villi and increased crypt depth. In conclusion, weaning at 7 weeks of age in combination with creep feeding improves post-weaning feed intake and reduces weaning stress but does not improve functional characteristics of the small intestinal mucosa.

Plasma concentrations of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein in patients with Cushing's syndrome

Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP-4) concentrations are linked to human obesity and other features of metabolic syndrome. Patients with Cushing´s syndrome (CS) develop numerous features of metabolic syndrome due to chronic cortisol excess. Here we tested the hypothesis that chronically increased cortisol levels in CS patients may alter circulating levels of FABP-4. Fourteen patients with CS, 19 patients with simple obesity (OB) and 36 healthy control subjects (C) were included in the study. Serum FABP-4 concentrations were significantly higher in both CS and OB patients relative to C group, but they did not differ between CS and OB groups. In a combined population of all groups, serum FABP-4 levels correlated positively with BMI, body fat content, serum glucose, triglycerides, HbA1c and HOMA index and were inversely related to HDL-cholesterol, resting energy expenditure and freeT3 levels. We conclude that FABP-4 levels are significantly increased in both patients with simple obesity and obese patients with Cushing´s syndrome. We suggest that increased FABP-4 concentrations in CS patients are rather due to their excessive fat accumulation and related metabolic abnormalities than due to a direct effect of cortisol on FABP-4 production.

Gene expression and protein content in relation to intramuscular fat content in Muscovy and Pekin ducks

Independent of their nutritional condition, Pekin ducks always exhibit higher i.m. fat content than Muscovy ducks. To understand this difference between species, the expression level of genes involved in lipid metabolism was analyzed in the pectoralis major muscle of Pekin and Muscovy ducks ad libitum-fed or overfed. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression was not different between species and not influenced by overfeeding. The protein content for LPL was higher in Pekin ducks than in Muscovy ducks when birds were ad libitum-fed, whereas in overfed ducks, we found no difference between species. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) gene expression and protein content were higher in Pekin ducks than in Muscovy ducks for each nutritional condition (suggesting a higher intracellular transport within i.m. adipocytes of fatty acids mainly provided by liver for this species). Overfeeding did not affect the expression of genes involved in oxidation [carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A), cytochrome-c oxidase 4 (COX4), succinyl-coenzyme A:3-ketoacid coenzyme A transferase (SCOT)] but increased the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) involved in lipogenesis. For all nutritional conditions, Pekin duck exhibited higher expression levels of CPT1A, COX4, SCOT, and FAS than Muscovy ducks. Results for mRNA SCOT suggested that the muscles of Pekin ducks use ketone bodies as an energy source. In conclusion, i.m. lipogenesis could contribute to the i.m. fat, particularly in Pekin ducks.

A study of urine lactulose/mannitol ratio and intestinal fatty acid binding protein as the indexes of intestinal damage in sepsis

To assess urine lactulose/mannitol ratio (LMR), and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) concentration as the indexes of intestinal damage in septic patients, and to evaluate the clinical severity and mortality of septic patients by use of these indexes. Thirty-eight patients with sepsis were consecutively selected in Beijing Friendship Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) from June 2007 to February 2008, according to the inclusions and exclusions criteria. Urine samples were taken in 72 hours after ICU admission. Urine LMR was determined by high performance liquid chromatography by use of pulsed electrochemical detection (HPLC-PED), and urine IFABP concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results of LMR and IFABP were analyzed with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) or not and outcome on day 28. The relationship between the two indexes and the patients' gastrointestinal function score was analyzed. Thirty-eight patients included had significantly higher urine level of IFABP concentration and LMR. Urine LMR were higher in patients with APACHE II score > 20 than in patients with APACHE II score < or =20 (P = 0.056), and the values were significantly higher in patients who with MODS and in nonsurvivors than those in patients who without MODS and in survivors (both P < 0.05). Urine IFABP concentration was not found significantly difference in patients with APACHE II score > 20, those with MODS and nonsurvivors, compared with patients with APACHE II score < or = 20, those without MODS and survivors. Patients with stress ulcer had higher urine IFABP concentration than patients without stress ulcer (P < 0.05). There was no correlation among LMR, IFABP and gastrointestinal function score. This study reveals that patients with sepsis have intestinal mucosal damage and increased intestinal permeability. Increased LMR in urine is associated with clinical severity and prognosis; urine IFABP concentration is not associated with clinical severity and prognosis. Patients with stress ulcer have higher urine IFABP concentration. There is no correlation among IFABP, LMR and gastrointestinal function score.