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Taiwanese aborigines have a high prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout. Uric acid levels and urate excretion have correlated with dopamine-induced glomerular filtration response. MAOs represent one of the major renal dopamine metabolic pathways. We aimed to identify the monoamine oxidase A ( MAOA, Xp11.3) gene variants and MAO-A enzyme activity associated with gout risk. This study was to investigate the association between gout and the MAOA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs5953210, rs2283725, and rs1137070 as well as between gout and the COMT SNPs rs4680 Val158Met for 374 gout cases and 604 controls. MAO-A activity was also measured. All three MAOA SNPs were significantly associated with gout. A synonymous MAOA SNP, rs1137070 Asp470Asp, located in exon 14, was associated with the risk of having gout ( P = 4.0 × 10−5, adjusted odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.11–1.91). We also showed that, when compared to individuals with the MAOA GAT haplotype, carriers of the AGC haplotype had a 1.67-fold (95% CI: 1.28–2.17) higher risk of gout. Moreover, we found that MAOA enzyme activity correlated positively with hyperuricemia and gout ( P for trend = 2.00 × 10−3 vs. normal control). We also found that MAOA enzyme activity by rs1137070 allele was associated with hyperuricemia and gout ( P for trend = 1.53 × 10−6 vs. wild-type allele). Thus, our results show that some MAOA alleles, which have a higher enzyme activity, predispose to the development of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background/Purpose  The outcome analysis of obese patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Asia–Pacific countries is rarely reported. This study examined associations between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes of elective LC in Taiwan. Methods  A total of 627 patients with gallbladder disease due to gallstones undergoing LC were divided into three groups based on BMI: 2 (normal, NO; n = 310), 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 (overweight, OW; n = 252), and >30 kg/m2 (obese, OB; n = 65). Results  Both overweight and obesity were not associated with conversion and complication rates. The conversion rates of the three groups were 5.5 (NO), 6.0 (OW), and 4.6% (OB), and the complication rates were 3.2 (NO), 2.4% (OW), and 4.6% (OB), respectively. However, overweight and obesity were related to a trend toward longer operating time (NO 67.4 ± 31.8; OW 77.8 ± 35.6; OB 79.0 ± 37.9 min) (P trend 2) was due to septic complications. In the multivariable logistic analysis, only acute cholecystitis, but not BMI, was a predictor for conversion and complications. Conclusions  Based on these results, it appears that BMI was not associated with clinical outcomes and that LC is a safe procedure in obese patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Addition of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids to infant formulas raises the possibility of increased lipid peroxidation. Aim of the study We determined the effects of increasing levels of dietary docosahexaenoic acid DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on lipid peroxidation and peroxidative potential in piglet tissues. Methods Four groups of piglets (n=6) were bottle-fed a formula containing one of four treatments: no long chain fatty acid (Diet 0) and three different levels of DHA/AA at 1-fold (0.3%/0.6% FA; Diet 1) 2-fold (0.6%/1.2% FA; Diet 2) and 5-fold (1.5%/3% FA; Diet 5) concentration used in some human infant formulas, and all with equal amount of vitamin E (5.7 IU/ 100 kcal formula) for four weeks. Results There were no significant differences between the groups in conjugated diene and glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) in plasma. TBARS levels of the erythrocyte membranes increased in a dose-dependent manner when in vitro oxidation was induced with 10 mM hydrogen peroxide (H[sub2]O[sub2]) for 30 minutes. The TBARS levels of the liver homogenates of the Diet 5 and Diet 2 groups were significantly different than those of the membranes of the Diet 0 group when the in vitro oxidation was induced with H[sub2]O[sub2]. Conclusion The results show that dietary vitamin E effectively prevented lipid peroxidation at the LCP concentrations investigated and suggest that levels presently in infant formulas are sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]