The Proper Motion of the Globular Cluster NGC 6553 and of Bulge Stars with HST

WFPC2 images obtained with the Hubble Space telescope 4.16 years apart have allowed us to measure the proper motion of the metal rich globular cluster NGC 6553 with respect to the background bulge stars. With a space velocity of (${\Pi}, {\Theta}, W$) = (-3.5, 230, -3) km s$^{-1}$, NGC 6553 follows the mean rotation of both disk and bulge stars at a Galactocentric distance of 2.7 kpc. While the kinematics of the cluster is consistent with either a bulge or a disk membership, the virtual identity of its stellar population with that of the bulge cluster NGC6528 makes its bulge membership more likely. The astrometric accuracy is high enough for providing a measure of the bulge proper motion dispersion and confirming its rotation. A selection of stars based on the proper motions produced an extremely well defined cluster color-magnitude diagram (CMD), essencially free of bulge stars. The improved turnoff definition in the decontaminated CMD confirms an old age for the cluster (~13 Gyr) indicating that the bulge underwent a rapid chemical enrichment while being built up at in the early Universe. An additional interesting feature of the cluster color-magnitude diagram is a significant number of blue stragglers stars, whose membership in the cluster is firmly established from their proper motions.Comment: version with full-page figure

Alpha-lactalbumin combined with a regular diet increases plasma Trp-LNAA ratio

Brain serotonin influences food intake and mood. It is synthesised from tryptophan (Trp) of which uptake in the brain is dependent on plasma ratio of tryptophan to the sum of other large neutral amino acids (Trp-LNAA). A carbohydrate-rich diet increases this ratio, whereas a protein-rich diet decreases it. Yet, if the protein source is α-lactalbumin the ratio increases. It is, however, unknown whether this also happens in the context of a regular diet (15% protein). We studied the effect of an α-lactalbumin supplement combined with regular diet on plasma Trp-LNAA ratio, serum prolactin (marker of serotonin synthesis), food intake, appetite, macronutrient preference and mood. Eighteen healthy males participated in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study. One hour after breakfast they received a drink containing α-lactalbumin and carbohydrates (AS) or carbohydrates (PS) only. Plasma Trp-LNAA ratio, serum prolactin, food intake, appetite, macronutrient preference and mood were assessed before and 90 min after consumption of the supplement. Changes of plasma Trp-LNAA ratio differed (P<.001) between both supplements, increasing by 16% after AS and decreasing by 17% after PS. Decrease of serum prolactin was slightly smaller after AS than after PS (P=.083). Appetite, food intake, macronutrient preference or mood did not differ between supplements. We conclude that an α-lactalbumin-enriched supplement combined with a regular diet increases plasma Trp-LNAA ratio and may influence serum prolactin, but we could not demonstrate effects on appetite, food intake, macronutrient preference and mood

A Dietary Fiber Mixture versus Lactulose in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Constipation is a common problem in children. As first-line treatment, increased dietary fiber is often advocated. To our knowledge. however, no large Studies evaluating the effect of dietary fibers in childhood constipation have been published. Patients and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, prospective controlled Study was performed. Patients received either a fiber mixture or lactulose in a yogurt drink. After a baseline period of a week, patients were treated for 8 weeks followed by 4 weeks of weaning. Polyethylene glycol 3350 was added if no clinical improvement was observed after 3 weeks. Using a standardized bowel diary. parents recorded defecation frequency during the treatment period. In addition, incontinence frequency. stool consistency. presence of abdominal pain and flatulence. necessity for step-up medication, and dry weight of feces were recorded, as were adverse effects. Results: A total of 147 children were eligible 12 children wished not to participate. Of the remaining children, 65 were randomized to treatment with fiber Mixture and 70 to treatment with lactulose. In ally 97 children completed the study. No difference was found between the groups after the treatment period concerning defecation frequency (P=0.481) and fecal incontinence frequency (P=0.084). However, consistency of stools was softer in the lactulose group (P = 0.01). Abdominal pain and flatulence scores were comparable (P=0.395 and P = 0.739. respectively). The necessity of step-up medication during the treatment period was comparable (P=0.996), as were taste scores (P=0.657). No serious adverse effects were registered. Conclusions: A fluid fiber mixture and lactulose give Comparable results in the treatment of childhood constipation. JPGN 47:592-597, 200

Effect of enteral IGF-1 supplementation on feeding tolerance, growth, and gut permeability in enterally fed premature neonates

The gastrointestinal tract of the premature newborn functions suboptimally with regard to digestion, absorption, and feeding tolerance. Human milk contains trophic factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), that are believed to stimulate gut growth and function. The objective of this double blind, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the effects of enteral IGF-1 supplementation on whole body growth measured by weight gain (in grams per kilogram per day), days to regain birth weight, and anthropometrical characteristics, and gut maturation and permeability (measured by sugar absorption tests). The study included 60 premature infants (birth weight 750-1250 g) during the first month of life. Patients received either standard infant formula or standard infant formula supplemented with IGF-1 in a concentration twice that of human colostrum (10 microg/100 mL of formula). Primary endpoints were days to full enteral feeding, days to regain birth weight, and growth rate. Sugar absorption tests were performed weekly to assess the secondary endpoints gut permeability and maturation. None of the primary endpoints differed to statistical significance between groups at any point. However, gut permeability was significantly lower in the IGF-1 supplement group on day 14 compared with the control group. At day 21, lactulose/mannitol excretion ratios were (again) comparable between the groups. Although gut permeability showed a faster decrease in the IGF-1 supplement group, our data do not support IGF-1 supplementation to infant formul

Bifidogenic Effects of Solid Weaning Foods With Added Prebiotic Oligosaccharides: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.

Item does not contain fulltex