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Most studies of soy and cholesterol have tested foods made from purified soy proteins containing mainly isoflavone glycosides. Fermented soy foods have mainly isoflavone aglycons and account for a high proportion of the soy protein source in Asia, where there is an inverse relationship between soy intake and serum cholesterol. The aim of this study was to compare a novel soy germ pasta, naturally enriched in isoflavone aglycons as a result of the manufacturing process, with conventional pasta for effects on serum lipids and other cardiovascular risk markers. In this randomized, controlled, parallel study design of 62 adults with hypercholesterolemia who consumed a Step II diet that included one 80-g serving/d of pasta, we measured serum lipids, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), urinary isoprostanes, and brachial artery flow- mediated vasodilatation at baseline and after 4 and 8 wk. The pasta delivered 33 mg of isoflavones and negligible soy protein and led to a serum isoflavone concentration of 222 [+ or -] 21 nmol/L; 69% of subjects were equol producers. Soy germ pasta reduced serum total and LDL cholesterol by 0.47 [+ or -] 0.13 mmol/L (P = 0.001) and 0.36 [+ or -] 0.10 mmol/L (P = 0.002) more than conventional pasta, representing reductions from baseline of 7.3% (P = 0.001) and 8.6% (P = 0.002), respectively. Arterial stiffness (P = 0.003) and hsCRP (P = 0.03) decreased and improvements in all the above risk markers were greatest in equol producers. All measures returned to baseline when patients were switched to conventional pasta. In conclusion, pasta naturally enriched with isoflavone aglycons and lacking soy protein had a significant hypocholesterolemic effect beyond a Step II diet and improved other cardiovascular risk markers.

Pregnancy complicated by pancreatitis is a rare and difficultly managed clinical situation. Gallstones are the most frequent cause of pancreatitis in pregnancy. Non-gallstone pancreatitis in pregnancy has been shown to be significantly more prone to premature delivery and pseudocyst formation. Cystic lesions as a cause of pancreatitis in pregnancy have not, to our knowledge, been observed. Pancreatic cystic lesions in general are rare, but are difficult to treat given problems in clarifying their malignancy. Mucinous cystic neoplasms are considered premalignant lesions and resection is recommended. Receptors for estrogen and progesterone receptors in these cysts may cause cystic growth during pregnancy. Treatment recommendations for pancreatitis in pregnancy are not well defined; this applies as well to treatment protocols for cystic lesions. In this case report we describe a new potential cause of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy due to compression of the principal pancreatic duct by a mucinous cystoadenoma.

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is chemoprotective in animal models of colon cancer but results from clinical trials have been less impressive probably because UDCA is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and little reaches the colon. UDCA-glutamate (Glu), a novel bile acid, was synthesized with the objective of utilizing peptide bond cleavage by brush border enzymes to enhance delivery of UDCA to the colon., Materials and Methods: Qualitative and quantitative intestinal intraluminal and fecal bile acid composition measured by mass spectrometry was determined in Fisher rats after intragastric administration of UDCA, or UDCA-Glu for 5 days. The effect of UDCA and UDCA-Glu on bile flow was studied after bile duct canulation., Results: In the small intestine, UDCA was found in higher amounts when UDCA was administered compared with UDCA-Glu (1.50 + or - 0.32 vs. 0.75 + or - 0.12 mg). By contrast, UDCA-Glu administration resulted in a greater delivery of UDCA to the colon. The fecal bile acid composition resembled that of the intraluminal colonic composition and a higher mass of UDCA (unconjugated 3.39 + or - 0.30 mg; conjugated 6.40 + or - 1.03 mg) was found in rats treated with UDCA-Glu compared to those treated with UDCA (2.27 + or - 0.11 and. 0.04 + or - 0.01 mg, respectively), establishing increased delivery of UDCA to the colon. Both bile acids similarly increased bile flow but the initial effect of UDCA was greater than that of UDCA-Glu., Conclusion: Conjugation of UDCA to glutamic acid reduces its intestinal absorption and biotransformation resulting in increased colonic delivery of UDCA. UDCA-Glu may have potential application as a pro-drug for enhancing the action of UDCA in the treatment of colonic diseases.