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The identification of molecular biomarkers that can be used to quantitatively link dietary intake to phenotypic traits in humans is a key theme in modern nutritional research. Although dairy products (with and without fermentation) represent a major food group, the identification of markers of their intake lags behind that of other food groups. Here, we report the results from an analysis of the metabolites in postprandial serum and urine samples from a randomized crossover study with 14 healthy men who ingested acidified milk, yogurt, and a non-dairy meal. Our study confirms the potential of lactose and its metabolites as markers of lactose-containing dairy foods and the dependence of their combined profiles on the fermentation status of the consumed products. Furthermore, indole-3-lactic acid and 3-phenyllactic acid are two products of fermentation whose postprandial behaviour strongly discriminates yogurt from milk intake. Our study also provides evidence of the ability of milk fermentation to increase the acute delivery of free amino acids to humans. Notably, 3,5-dimethyloctan-2-one also proves to be a specific marker for milk and yogurt consumption, as well as for cheese consumption (previously published data). These molecules deserve future characterisation in human interventional and observational studies.

Purpose To report age-specific serum estradiol concentration in nonsmoking, lean US men without comorbidities. We provide concentrations from 30 and 15 to 20 years ago given previously described declines in serum estradiol in US men over time. Methods We used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III; 1988 to 1991) and continuous NHANES (1999 to 2004). Serum estradiol and SHBG were previously measured by competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Free estradiol was estimated from estradiol, SHBG, and albumin. By age, we calculated median concentrations overall and for nonsmoking, lean (body mass index Results Overall, respective total estradiol medians for men ages 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and ≥60 years old were 37.0, 33.9, and 33.5 pg/mL in NHANES III and 31.3, 30.5, and 27.0 pg/mL in continuous NHANES. In nonsmoking, lean men without comorbidities, respective total estradiol medians were 32.0, 32.1, and 32.0 pg/mL in NHANES III and 29.1, 22.7, and 26.1 pg/mL in continuous NHANES. Overall, respective free estradiol medians were 0.82, 0.72, and 0.64 pg/mL in NHANES III and 0.67, 0.61, and 0.47 pg/mL in continuous NHANES. In nonsmoking, lean men without comorbidities, respective free estradiol medians were 0.64, 0.67, and 0.62 pg/mL in NHANES III and 0.58, 0.42, and 0.40 pg/mL continuous NHANES. Conclusion We report US nationally representative serum estradiol concentrations in healthy men, which could be used for targeting estradiol during testosterone supplementation and for general good health.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the most common polymorphisms in the IL-6 and HSP70 genes affect the circulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), as well as inflammatory and prooxidant-antioxidant parameters in healthy men undergoing chronic endurance training. The subjects were randomly assigned to a 12-week swimming training (ST group) or control group (CON). Fasting blood samples were collected pre- and post-study period to assessment: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, serum levels of lipid hydroperoxides (LHs), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and HSP70. Subjects were genotyped for IL-6-174G/C, HSPA1A + 190 G/C and HSPA1B + 1538 A/G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by real-time PCR. After a 12-week study period, a decrease in TNFα, HSP70, and GPx was observed in the ST group, but not the CON group. IL-6 SNP affected serum TNFα levels (main effect of genotype). Higher TNFα levels (pre- and post-study period) was observed in CC CON than in other IL-6 genotypes of CON and ST groups. However, a post-training decrease in TNFα was observed in both GG and CC IL-6 genotypes of ST group. In turn, only GG IL-6 genotype of the ST group was related to a post-training decrease in HSP70 (main time and genotype interaction). Moreover, pre- and post-training LHs were lower in GG than GC/CC HSPA1A genotypes of the ST group (main genotype effect). In conclusion, polymorphisms within the IL-6 and HSPA1A genes seem to affect baseline levels of some inflammatory parameters and prooxidant-antioxidant status and/or their changes after chronic swimming training. However, the results should be confirmed in a study with a larger sample size, one that includes individuals with sedentary lifestyles.

Background and objectives: Hyzetimibe is a candidate drug being investigated as the second-in-class cholesterol absorption inhibitor; it lowers plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by blocking the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein, a transporter mainly expressed in the intestine that allows dietary cholesterol to enter the body from the intestinal lumen. Previous studies on the metabolism of hyzetimibe in healthy volunteers were not enough to show the biotransformation and excretion pathway; in particular, whether hyzetimibe maintains pharmacological action for duration sufficient to pass through the hepatic-intestinal circulation remains unknown. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the differences between the chemical structures of ezetimibe and hyzetimibe would result in different pharmacokinetic characteristics. Given that the molecular target is in the intestine and the substantial hepatic-intestinal circulation is a metabolic characteristic of the drug, a study of hyzetimibe as an oral 14C-radiolabeled drug, compared with routinely metabolized drugs, would play an important role in uncovering pharmacokinetic details.Methods: After an overnight fast and before taking medication, six healthy male volunteers swallowed an investigational product suspension containing 20 mg/∼100 μCi of 14C-labeled hyzetimibe as a single dose. Whole-blood, plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected, and hyzetimibe and its metabolites were measured. Pharmacokinetic variables of hyzetimibe and its metabolites were calculated and statistically analyzed according to obtained concentration data. Safety data were collected throughout the study.Results: The major metabolite detected in plasma was hyzetimibe-glucuronide, which accounted for 97.2% of the total plasma radioactivity. The mean cumulative excretion of total radioactivity of the dose was 16.39% in urine and 76.90% in feces. Unchanged drug and hyzetimibe-glucuronide were identified as the major components in the feces and the urine, respectively. The main metabolic conversions of hyzetimibe were glucuronidation (M1), mono-oxidation (M4), and mono-oxidation with additional sulfonation (M7). Hyzetimibe was considered generally safe and well tolerated.Conclusion: This study of 14C-radiolabeled hyzetimibe provides a full profile of the biotransformation and excretion routes of hyzetimibe to improve the understanding of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of hyzetimibe. The changed hydroxyl group in the hyzetimibe structure made it easier for that drug, compared with ezetimibe, to combine with glucuronic acid and subsequently increased the urinary excretion of hyzetimibe vs. ezetimibe. These differences highlight the need to investigate in more detail the different pharmacokinetic impacts on the efficacy and safety of hyzetimibe and ezetimibe.

Exercise on a whole body vibration (WBV) platform, namely WBV exercise (WBVE), has long-term beneficial effects on glucose metabolism, similarly to conventional moderate-intensity exercise. Conventional moderate-intensity exercise reduces post-load plasma glucose levels at the acute phase. This study aimed to reveal acute effects of WBVE on post-load glucose metabolism. This randomized crossover trial enrolled 18 healthy men. They completed the following three interventions in a random order: (1) a 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) without WBVE (OGTT-alone), (2) 20-minute WBVE before an OGTT (WBVE → OGTT), and (3) 20-minute WBVE during an OGTT (OGTT → WBVE). Post-load glucose metabolism in the WBVE → OGTT and OGTT → WBVE interventions were compared with that in the OGTT-alone intervention. Plasma glucose levels in the WBVE → OGTT and OGTT → WBVE interventions were not significantly different from those in the OGTT-alone intervention at any time point except 15 min, wherein the WBVE → OGTT intervention had higher glucose levels (111 [interquartile range, 102–122] mg/dL vs 122 [111–134] mg/dL, P = 0.026). Higher plasma glucagon levels were observed at 0 min in the WBVE → OGTT intervention and at 60 min in the OGTT → WBVE intervention (P = 0.010 and 0.015). Cortisol, Growth hormone, and adrenaline levels were significantly increased after WBVE, whereas noradrenaline levels were not. Serum insulin levels in the WBVE → OGTT intervention were significantly higher than those in the OGTT-alone intervention at 0 min (P = 0.008). WBVE did not decrease post-load plasma glucose levels at the acute phase. Acute effects of WBVE on post-load glucose metabolism would not be identical to those of conventional exercise. The unique trial number and the name of the registry: UMIN000036520, www.umin.ac.jp , date of registration, June 12, 2019.

Objectives To the best of our knowledge, no study has examined the reliability of assessment methods for male pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the reliability of manometry with an anal sensor (Peritron cat 9300A) to assess PFM function in healthy men. Methods Healthy male subjects (n = 21) without urinary leakage underwent testing to assess PFM function, and intra‐ and interrater reliability tests among examiners were performed. The PFM function included maximal anorectal squeeze pressure, endurance, mean anorectal squeeze pressure, gradient, and area under the curve during PFM voluntary contraction. Results Participants had a median age of 38 years (range 26‐51), and a mean BMI of 23.2 ± 2.0 kg/m2. Satisfactory intra‐ and interrater reliability scores were found for resting pressure, anorectal squeeze pressure, and endurance. The intra‐rater reliability of resting pressure, anorectal squeeze pressure, and endurance were 0.71, 0.89, and 0.75 for examiner 1 and 0.72, 0.89, and 0.87 for examiner 2. The interrater reliability for resting pressure, anorectal squeeze pressure, and endurance were 0.58, 0.93, and 0.61, respectively. Conclusions This is the first prospective study showing the favorable intra‐ and interrater reliability of manometry for PFM function in healthy men. Our findings demonstrated that manometry can provide both reliable and reproducible data regarding PFM function in continent men, suggesting Peritron cat 9300A can be used to evaluate the PFM function in men.

Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) may contribute to cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether functional sugars with low compared to high glycemic index (GI) have beneficial effects on arterial stiffness during a period of low-physical activity. In a controlled cross-over dietary intervention (55% CHO, 30% fat, 15% protein), 13 healthy men (age: 23.7 +/- 2.2 years, body mass index: 23.6 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) completed 2 x 1 week of low physical activity following 1 week of normal physical activity (2363 +/- 900 vs. 11,375 +/- 3124 steps/day). During inactive phases participants consumed either low-GI (isomaltulose) or high-GI SSB (maltodextrin-sucrose), providing 20% of energy requirements. Postprandial vasodilatation (augmentation index, AIx), insulin sensitivity (IS) and Glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) responses were measured during a meal test before and after SSB-intervention. Compared to maltodextrin-sucrose-SSB, postprandial vasodilatation was prolonged (AIx after 120 min: 9.9% +/- 4.3% vs. 11.4% +/- 3.7%, p < 0.05) and GLP-1 secretion was higher with isomaltulose-SSB (total area under the GLP-1 curve (tAUC(GLP))-1: 8.0 +/- 4.4 vs. 5.4 +/- 3.4 pM +/- 3 h; p < 0.05). One week of low-physical activity led to impaired IS that was attenuated with low-GI SSB consumption, but did not affect arterial stiffness (p > 0.05). Higher postprandial GLP-1 secretion after intake of low compared to high-GI beverages may contribute to improved postprandial vasodilatation. Although one week of low-physical activity led to marked impairment in IS, it had no effect on arterial stiffness in healthy men.

Background. Whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) is the therapeutic exposure of the total human body (without underwear) to a very low temperature (below –100°C) for 120–180 s. Currently, WBC is used more frequently not only in the treatment of patients suffering from various diseases, but also by healthy people as a wellness method. Objectives. The aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of WBC procedures on oxidative stress parameters in healthy men. Material and Methods. The study involved 32 healthy male subjects who were randomly divided into 2 groups: 16 men exposed to WBC procedures with subsequent kinesiotherapy (WBC group) and 16 men exposed only to kinesiotherapy procedures (KT group). Depending on the group, the subjects were exposed to 10 daily WBC procedures lasting 3 min, with a subsequent 60-min of kinesiotherapy, or exclusively to kinesiotherapy. In subjects from both groups, a day before the beginning of a cycle of treatment and a day after its completion, the level of selected indicators of oxidative stress and non-enzymatic antioxidants, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes in serum, plasma and erythrocyte lysates were determined. Results. In the WBC group subjects, we recorded a statistically significant decrease in the concentrations of most of the parameters of oxidative stress with an accompanying increase in plasma concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidants (total antioxidant status and uric acid). We recorded no significant changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (plasma total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its isoenzymes SOD-Mn and SOD-ZnCu, erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase). Conclusions. The results we obtained confirmed that WBC decreases oxidative stress in healthy men (Adv Clin Exp Med 2016, 25, 6, 1281–1291).

The present study aims to analyze sperm concentration trends among young and healthy Chinese adults in Wuhan, Central China, from 2010 to 2015. Semen analysis data from 9357 participants were collected and analyzed using a general linear model and the Cochran–Armitage trend test. A significant decline was observed in sperm concentration (β [standard deviation]: −1.53 [0.16]; P < 0.001). In addition, a decline in sperm density was observed by stratifying student versus nonstudent sperm donors and by analyzing the year of birth or birth year cohort of the participants. Furthermore, the percentage of participants with sperm densities of over 40 × 106 ml−1 significantly decreased with year. Notably, a dramatic decline in sperm density was recorded over the first 5 years of study. This research reported a decline in sperm concentration among young adults in Wuhan, Central China, in 2010–2015.

A precise assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition can be performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Values of body composition for males would be useful to evaluate the occurrence of alterations in body composition in a number of diseases. The objectives of this study were to establish BMD and body composition values in healthy men and to analyze age-related changes. BMD and body composition of total body and subareas were determined in 116 healthy men (aged 20e79 yr) using DXA. Comparison between 20e29- and 70e79-yr-old men showed that older subjects were shorter ( p!0.03), and had a higher body mass index ( p!0.01). Fat mass increased (þ46.7%; p!0.001) especially in the trunk. Lean mass (LM) decreased (9.4%; p!0.05) mainly in the arms and legs. Bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD decreased (15.3% [p!0.001], 6.3% [p!0.05], respectively). Correlation was observed between BMC and LM (r50.7, p!0.01). Values of BMD and body composition in healthy men were obtained. A relation was observed between bone mass and body composition, suggesting that the age-related decrease in LM may be associated to bone mass loss. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the role of body composition in the occurrence of osteoporosis in men. Fil: Seijo, Mariana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina Fil: Deferrari, Juan M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina Fil: Bagur, Alicia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina Fil: Fernandez, Maria C.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina Fil: Mastaglia, Silvina Rosana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina Fil: Parisi, Muriel Solange. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina Fil: Oliveri, María Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín. División Osteopatías; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina

De nombreux événements cardiovasculaires se déroulent au cours du sommeil(13).Divers auteurs ont étudié la variabilité du rythme cardiaque durant les différentes phases du sommeil chez le sujet sain (2) ou souffrant de diverses pathologies (3,5). Seules quelques publications décrivent le lien entre le sommeil et la variabilité du rythme cardiaque (4). L’interaction entre la variabilité du rythme cardiaque et les spectres de puissance du signal EEG de sommeil peut être étudiée par une analyse de cohérence (12). Cette méthode donne les fonctions de cohérence, de gain et de décalage de phases entre deux signaux à une fréquence déterminée. Les signaux principaux utilisés pour cette analyse de cohérence sont la bande de puissance de haute fréquence (HF) de la variabilité de l’intervalle RR, reflet de l’activité cardiaque vagale (14), et la bande de puissance de fréquence delta du signal EEG, associée au sommeil lent profond (1), à la fréquence du maximum de cross-spectrum entre ces bandes de puissances. Dans le but de mieux comprendre cette interaction, diverses questions se posent : • Existe-t-il, chez l’homme jeune en bonne santé, une interaction entre les spectres de puissance de l’intervalle RR et du signal EEG ? • Quelle bande de fréquence des puissances du signal EEG est la plus liée à la bande de puissance de haute fréquence de la variabilité de l’intervalle RR au cours du sommeil ? • Quel est l’impact du vieillissement sur ce lien ? • Existe-t-il une altération complète (cohérence, gain, décalage de phase) de l’interaction entre la bande de puissance de HF de l’intervalle RR et la bande de puissance de fréquence delta de sommeil chez l’individu souffrant d’un syndrome d’apnées-hypopnées de sommeil (SAHS) modéré ou sévère ? • Y a-t-il une diminution des valeurs de la cohérence et une modification du décalage de phase entre les signaux de puissance des bandes de HF du signal ECG et de la fréquence delta de l’EEG au cours du sommeil de la personne souffrant d’insomnie chronique primaire? • Les valeurs du gain pourraient-elles être les seules à être altérées chez le patient souffrant d’un trouble dépressif majeur (TDM)? Pour répondre à ces questions, plusieurs groupes ont été constitués :8 adultes jeunes (18-23 ans)(11), 19 hommes d’âge moyen (36-54 ans) vs. 16 adultes jeunes (16-28 ans)(10), 12 patients souffrant d’un SAHS sévère vs. 12 patients souffrant d’un SAHS modéré à sévère vs. 12 hommes contrôles (9), 14 hommes souffrant d’insomnie chronique primaire vs. 12 adultes contrôles (8), 10 hommes souffrant de TDM vs. 10 hommes contrôles(7). Aucun patient ne présente une autre pathologie que celle décrite et tous ont été sevrés d’éventuelles médications psychotropes. De ces analyses, il apparaît que, chez l’homme jeune en bonne santé, de toutes les bandes de puissance du signal EEG de sommeil, les modifications de la bande de puissance delta est la plus liée aux modifications de la bande de puissance de haute fréquence de la variabilité du rythme cardiaque (11); et que le lien entre les modifications observées entre les bandes de puissance delta et HF est stable malgré l’effet du vieillissement observé dans l’architecture du sommeil et le contrôle de l’activité cardiaque (10). Les patients souffrant de SAHS présentent une perte du contrôle du lien entre le sommeil et la variabilité du rythme cardiaque, avant même l’apparition des symptômes cliniques cardiaques (9). Les personnes souffrant d’insomnie chronique primaire montrent une diminution de la force, voire une instabilité, du lien dynamique entre l’activité cérébrale de sommeil et la variabilité du rythme cardiaque(8). Les patients souffrant de trouble dépressif majeur démontrent une diminution de l’efficacité du lien entre les structures impliquées dans le contrôle du sommeil et les centres cardiovasculaires, mais pas de la force de ce lien (7), comme suggéré par les observations d’une neuroplasticité altérée chez les personnes dépressives (6). L’étude de la relation entre l’activité cérébrale et la variabilité du rythme cardiaque au cours du sommeil pourrait donc permettre une meilleure compréhension des processus neuro-cérébraux impliqués dans le développement des maladies cardiovasculaires mais également des pathologies de sommeil et des maladies psychiatriques. Elle pourrait peut-être, à l’aide d’une technique simple comprenant des enregistrements ECG et EEG au cours du sommeil, anticiper l’apparition de maladies graves cardiovasculaires, bien avant les premiers signes de la pathologie et permettre ainsi l’application de mesures préventives plutôt que curatives. Références. 1. Aeschbach D, Borbély AA. All-night dynamics of the human sleep EEG. J Sleep Res 1993; 2:70-81. 2. Bonnet MH, Arand DL. Heart rate variability: sleep stage, time of night, and arousal influences. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1997; 102(5):390-396. 3. Bonnet MH, Arand DL. Heart rate variability in insomniacs and matched normal sleepers. Psychosom Med. 1998 Sep-Oct;60(5):610-5. 4. Brandenberger G, Viola AU, Ehrhart J, Charloux A, Geny B, Piquard F, Simon C. Age-related changes in cardiac autonomic control during sleep. J Sleep Res. 2003; 12(3):173-80. 5. Dingli K, Assimakopoulos T, Wraith PK, Fietze I, Witt C, Douglas NJ. Spectral oscillations of RR intervals in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome patients. Eur Respir J. 2003; 22: 943-50. 6. Fossati P, Radtchenko A, Boyer P. Neuroplasticity: from MRI to depressive symptoms. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2004; 14 Suppl 5:S503-10. 7. Jurysta F, Kempenaers C; Lancini J; Lanquart JP; van de Borne P; Linkowski P. Altered interaction between cardiac vagal influence and delta sleep EEG suggests an altered neuroplasticity in patients suffering from major depressive disorder. Acta Psych Scand (in press) 8. Jurysta F, Lanquart J, Sputaels V, Dumont M, Migeotte PF, Leistedt S, Linkowski P, van de Borne P. The Impact of Chronic Primary Insomnia on the Heart Rate - EEG Variability Link. Clin. Neurophysiol. 2009; 120(6):1054-60. 9. Jurysta F, Lanquart JP, van de Borne P, Migeotte PF, Dumont M, Degaute JP, Linkowski P. The link between cardiac autonomic activity and sleep delta power is altered in men with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006; 291(4):R1165-71. 10. Jurysta F, van de Borne P, Lanquart JP, Migeotte PF, Degaute JP, Dumont M, Linkowski P. Progressive aging does not alter the interaction between autonomic cardiac activity and delta EEG power. Clin Neurophysiol. 2005; 116(4):871-7. 11. Jurysta F, van de Borne P, Migeotte PF, Dumont M, Lanquart JP, Degaute JP, Linkowski P. A study of the dynamic interactions between sleep EEG and heart rate variability in healthy young men. Clin. Neurophysiol. 2003; 114(11):2146-55. 12. Koopmans LH. The Spectral Analysis of Time Series. Academic Press. New York and London, 1974. 13. Lavery CE, Mittleman MA, Cohen MC, Muller JE, Verrier RL. Nonuniform nighttime distribution of acute cardiac events: a possible effect of sleep states. Circulation. 1997; 96(10):3321-7. 14. Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Heart rate variability. Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation, and clinical use. Eur Heart J 1996; 17: 354-381., Doctorat en Sciences médicales, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The effects of 100 mg ibopamine, an orally active aselective dopamine (DA) agonist, on plasma catecholamines was evaluated in 8 healthy men during sympathetic stimulation by graded exercise in a single-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. The exercise consisted of progressive cycling activity ≤90% of the previously determined VO2max. Graded exercise resulted in an increase in systolic and mean blood pressure (SBP, MBP), heart rate, norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine level, with a decrease in diastolic BP (DBP). The increase in NE was significantly blunted by ibopamine as compared with placebo. No differences for BP, heart rate (HR), or epinephrine between placebo- and ibopamine study day were noted. In previous studies, ibopamine decreased resting plasma NE in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), whereas plasma NE was not altered by ibopamine in healthy volunteers. This different outcome in both categories might therefore be explained by the absence of substantial sympathetic stimulation in normal humans at rest. Because it is reasonable to assume that the effect of ibopamine on systemic and local hemodynamics is negligible as compared with the effect of exercise in the healthy volunteers, the plasma decrease caused by ibopamine is probably related to stimulation of DA2-receptors. In conclusion, ibopamine blunts the increase of plasma NE during graded exercise in healthy men.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: Cafestol is a diterpene in unfiltered coffee that raises plasma triacylglycerol in humans. OBJECTIVE: We studied whether cafestol increases plasma triacylglycerol by increasing the production rate or by decreasing the fractional catabolic rate of VLDL(1) [Svedberg flotation unit (S(f)) 60-400] apolipoprotein (apo) B. In addition, we studied the effect of cafestol on the composition of VLDL(1) and VLDL(2) (S(f) 20-60). DESIGN: Eight healthy normolipidemic men were administered a daily dose of 75 mg cafestol for 2 wk. A bolus injection of 7 mg L-[5,5,5-(2)H(3)]leucine/kg body wt was given after a baseline period with no cafestol and again after treatment with cafestol. We derived kinetic constants to describe the metabolism of VLDL(1) apo B by using a multicompartmental model. RESULTS: Cafestol significantly increased plasma triacylglycerol by 31% or 0.32 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.03, 0.61); the increase was due mainly to a nonsignificant rise in VLDL(1) triacylglycerol of 57% or 0.23 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.02, 0.48). Cafestol significantly increased the mean rate of VLDL(1) apo B production by 80% or 755 mg/d (95% CI: 0.2, 5353), whereas it did not significantly change the mean fractional catabolic rate of VLDL(1) apo B (mean increase of 3 pools/d; 95% CI: -4, 10]). Cafestol did not change the composition of VLDL(1). A significant increase in the ratio of VLDL(2) cholesteryl ester to triacylglycerol indicates that VLDL(2) became enriched with cholesteryl esters at the cost of triacylglycerol. CONCLUSION: Cafestol increases plasma triacylglycerol by increasing the production rate of VLDL(1) apo B, probably via increased assembly of VLDL(1) in the liver.

The aim of this study was to find correlations between folate and vitamin B₁₂ on baseline damage in white blood cells and their association with smoking, alcohol consumption and ageing. Thirty-six healthy vitamin non-deficient male subjects were selected in a randomized study. Comet assay (SCGE) and micronucleus (MN) assay were used as biomarkers of DNA damage. The amount of DNA damage was correlated with vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid concentration. Positive, but non-significant correlation (canonical R = 0.61 ; χ²=28.97 ; P=0.253) was found between micronucleus (MN) frequency or comet assay parameters (SCGE) and five covariates (age, smoking, alcohol consumption, vitamin B₁₂ and folate blood serum concentration). The highest MN frequency was observed in the group with the lowest vitamin B₁₂ concentration (F=3.59 ; P=0.024). The SCGE assay failed to show significant correlation with vitamin B₁₂ or folic acid concentration. Concentration of vitamin B₁₂ was significantly correlated with incidence of micronuclei. Our results present background data that could be valuable for future genotoxicological monitoring.