Blood coagulation, platelets and haematocrit 1n male, female, and pregnant Göttlngen rmmplgs

Pigs are commonly used animals for research. Information on the coagulation system of an experimental animal is essential for scholars to select an appropriate model. We present information on coagulation and haematological parametersin Giittingen breed minipigs (male, female, and pregnant). Factor activities are expressed as percentage of human activity to facilitate interspecies comparison.Protein C was significantly higher, fibrinogen and platelets were significantly lower in pregnant compared to male pigs (p < 0.001 without Bonferroni-correction, p < 0.03 with Bonferroni-correction applied). As pregnant sows were older (30 +/- 11 months) than female non-pregnant animals (age 11+/- 8 months) and boars (8 +/- 2 months) an influence of age on the observed differences can’t be excluded.The Göttingen minipig is an animal suited for studies involving coagulation Iiieasurements. It should be noted, however, that compared to normal human values factor V (about 400% human) and Factor VIII (about 300% human) are higher inGöttingen breed minipigs and that haematocrit (33% absolute) is lower

Bestimmung der ernährungsphysiologischen Qualität von Öko-Produkten anhand des antioxidativen Potentials der Lebensmittel

Problemstellung: Die Diskussionen über sichere Lebensmittel (u.a. Rückstände von Pestiziden) im letzten Jahrzehnt hat das Verbraucherverhalten verändert. Viele Verbraucher bevorzugen ökologisch erzeugte Lebensmittel. Allerdings gibt es bis heute noch nicht ausreichende wissenschaftliche Daten dazu, ob ökologisch erzeugte Lebensmittel tatsächlich ernährungsphysiologisch hochwertiger sind als konventionell produzierte. Sekundären Pflanzenstoffen aus Obst und Gemüse (Carotinoiden, Polyphenole) kommt im Allgemeinen eine hohe gesundheitliche Bedeutung zu. Die in der Literatur beschriebenen protektiven Effekte auf entzündliche, atherosklerotische und tumorigene Prozesse werden u.a. auf ihr antioxidatives Potenzial zurückgeführt. Ziel der Studie war es daher zu untersuchen, ob sich der Gehalt an Carotinoiden und Polyphenolen und die antioxidative Kapazität in Lebensmitteln aus konventionellem und ökologischem Anbau unterscheidet. Darüber hinaus wurden drei humane Interventionsstudien durchgeführt, die klären sollten, ob die unterschiedlichen Anbauvarianten (ökologisch/konventionell) Einfluss auf die Bioverfügbarkeit der sekundären Pflanzenstoffe und den antioxidativen Status in vivo haben. Methodik: Im Rahmen des Projektes wurden Äpfel, Karotten und Weizenvollkorn der Erntejahre 2004, 2005 und 2006 aus kontrollierten Anbauversuchen untersucht. Die Gehalte an sekundären Pflanzenstoffen in vitro und in vivo wurden mittels HPLC/DAD/MS quantifiziert. Die antioxidativen Kapazitäten in vivo und in vitro wurden mit drei unterschiedlichen Testsystemen analysiert. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Anbauweise (ökologisch/konventionell) die Bildung von sekundären Pflanzenstoffen und das antioxidatives Potenzial in den untersuchten Lebensmitteln beeinflussen kann. Für die Öko-Produkte kann ein leicht höherer Gehalt und antioxidatives Potenzial bestimmt werden. In den durchgeführten Humanstudien, konnten keine Unterschiede in der Bioverfügbarkeit von Carotinoiden und Polyphenolen zwischen ökologisch und konventionell angebauten Äpfeln bzw. Karotten gezeigt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Die beobachteten Unterschiede im Gehalt an sekundären Pflanzenstoffen sowie im antioxidativen Potenzial zwischen den Anbauweisen sind klein und besitzen geringe ernährungsphysiologische Relevanz

Sind Bio-Äpfel gesünder?

Viele Verbraucher, die sich beim Kauf von Lebensmitteln für Bioprodukte entscheiden, erhoffen sich davon gesundheitsfördernde Effekte. Allerdings liegen bis heute noch nicht genügend wissenschaftliche Daten vor, um ökologisch und konventionell erzeugte Lebensmittel vergleichend ernährungsphysiologisch bewerten zu können. Am Institut für Ernährungsphysiologie der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung und Lebensmittel (BfEL) wird zurzeit untersucht, ob sich verschiedene pflanzliche Lebensmittel aus ökologischer und konventioneller Anbauweise hinsichtlich ihres Gehaltes an sekundären Pflanzenstoffen und deren ernährungsphysiologischer Wirkung am Menschen unterscheiden

Real-world impact of primary immune thrombocytopenia and treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists on quality of life based on patient-reported experience: Results from a questionnaire conducted in Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium.

AIMS OF THE STUDY Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are approved for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains poorly investigated in clinical practice. This observational study aimed to gain insight into real-world patient-reported experiences of the burden of ITP and TPO-RAs. METHOD An online questionnaire of closed questions was used to collect views of patients with primary ITP from Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium, between September 2018 and April 2020. RESULTS Of 46 patients who completed the questionnaire (total cohort), 41% were receiving TPO-RAs. A numerically higher proportion of patients reported being free from symptoms at the time of the questionnaire (54%) than at diagnosis (24%), irrespective of treatment type. Bleeding, the most frequently reported symptom at diagnosis (59%), was reduced at the time of the questionnaire (7%). Conversely, fatigue was reported by approximately 40% of patients at both diagnosis and the time of the questionnaire. Having a normal life and their disease under control was reported by 83% and 76%, respectively, but 41% were worried/anxious about their condition. Nearly 50% reported that ITP impaired their engagement in hobbies/sport or energy levels and 63% reported no impact on employment. When stratified by TPO-RA use, bleeding was better controlled in those receiving TPO-RAs than not (0% vs 11%). A numerically lower proportion receiving TPO-RAs than not reported worry/anxiety about their condition (16% vs 59%) and shifting from full-time to part-time employment (11% vs 22%). Similar proportions were satisfied with their therapy whether they were receiving TPO-RAs or not (89% vs 85%). CONCLUSIONS Many factors affect HRQoL in patients with ITP. Of patients receiving TPO-RAs, none experienced bleeding at the time of the questionnaire; they also showed a more positive perspective for some outcomes than those not using TPO-RAs. However, fatigue was not reduced by any treatment

Immunomodulation with romiplostim as a second-line strategy in primary immune thrombocytopenia: The iROM study.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) stimulate platelet production, which might restore immunological tolerance in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The iROM study investigated romiplostim's immunomodulatory effects. Thirteen patients (median age, 31 years) who previously received first-line treatment received romiplostim for 22 weeks, followed by monitoring until week 52. In addition to immunological data, secondary end-points included the sustained remission off-treatment (SROT) rate at 1 year, romiplostim dose, platelet count and bleedings. Scheduled discontinuation of romiplostim and SROT were achieved in six patients with newly diagnosed ITP, whereas the remaining seven patients relapsed. Romiplostim dose titration was lower and platelet count response was stronger in patients with SROT than in relapsed patients. In all patients, regulatory T lymphocyte (Treg) counts increased until study completion and the counts were higher in patients with SROT. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-9 and IL-17F levels decreased significantly in all patients. FOXP3 (Treg), GATA3 (Th2) mRNA expression and transforming growth factor-β levels increased in patients with SROT. Treatment with romiplostim modulates the immune system and possibly influences ITP prognosis. A rapid increase in platelet counts is likely important for inducing immune tolerance. Better outcomes might be achieved at an early stage of autoimmunity, but clinical studies are needed for confirmation

Astaxanthin in Exercise Metabolism, Performance and Recovery: A Review

During periods of heavy exercise training and competition, lipid, protein and nucleic molecules can become damaged due to an overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species within the exercising organism. As antioxidants can prevent and delay cellular oxidative damage through removing, deactivating and preventing the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, supplementation with exogenous antioxidant compounds has become a commercialised nutritional strategy commonly adopted by recreationally active individuals and athletes. The following review is written as a critical appraisal of the current literature surrounding astaxanthin and its potential application as a dietary supplement in exercising humans. Astaxanthin is a lipid-soluble antioxidant carotenoid available to supplement through the intake of Haematococcus pluvialis-derived antioxidant products. Based upon in vitro and in vivo research conducted in mice exercise models, evidence would suggest that astaxanthin supplementation could potentially improve indices of exercise metabolism, performance and recovery because of its potent antioxidant capacity. In exercising humans, however, these observations have yet to be consistently realised, with equivocal data reported. Implicated, in part, by the scarcity of well-controlled, scientifically rigorous research, future investigation is necessary to enable a more robust conclusion in regard to the efficacy of astaxanthin supplementation and its potential role in substrate utilisation, endurance performance and acute recovery in exercising humans