Edward S. West

Digestion and absorption in a man with three feet of small intestine

Digestion and absorption in a man with three feet of small intestine has been studied over a seven day period.

Digestion and absorption in a man with all but three feet of the small intestine removed surgically

Metabolic studies were conducted on a case of regional ileitis possessing only three feet of small intestine. Balance experiments on carbohydrate, protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus were carried out. Caloric utilization was calculated from the data obtained.

Resistance of guinea pigs to action of alloxan.

Summary Both the normal and scorbutic guinea pig have been found highly resistant to the production of the diabetic state by alloxan as judged by blood sugar levels and urinary sugar excretion.

Some effects of magnesium trisilicate ingestion upon blood, urine, and feces of human subjects.

1. The effect of ingesting 6 grams of hydrated magnesium trisilicate daily for periods of several days upon urine and blood magnesium and calcium, urine pH and titratable acidity, feces pH, and the absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in humans has been studied. 2. Serum calcium was slightly decreased, and urinary calcium was unchanged. 3. Serum magnesium levels were generally definitely, and in some cases markedly increased, with resultant drowsiness. Urinary magnesium was increased an average of 56 percent. 4. Urinary pH was increased an average of about 8 percent, and titratable acidity was decreased 34 percent. Feces pH was increased 5.5 percent. 5. The utilization of carbohydrates and fats was essentially unchanged. Protein absorption was decreased and represented the loss of 6-10 percent of dietary protein. 6. An average of about 6.5 percent of the magnesium content of trisilicate ingested was absorbed and excreted in the urine. This was markedly increased by increased acidification of the gastro-intestinal tract.

Destruction of Tooth Enamel by Acidified Candies

Miller and Neuwirth (1) have recently reported a series of cases of acute dental caries in which the sudden incidence of the condition was attributed to excessive indulgence in hard candies with resultant acid formation through bacterial decomposition. This explanation is in accord with current theories (2) as to the mechanism by which carbohydrates participate in dental decay. It seemed to the writers that possibly another factor, apparently little considered, may be of importance, namely, the presence of citric acid in many hard candies. According to Neuwirth2 the candies concerned in their observations were not of the acidified variety. Citric acid is one of the stronger organic acids and forms soluble, poorly ionized complexes with calcium. It would appear therefore that citric acid contained in candies may be of far more importance in tooth destruction than the acid produced from the sugar by bacterial decomposition in the mouth. Experimental evidence is here presented which seems to give support to this idea. The results of our in vitro experiments suggest that the action of citric acid solutions upon tooth enamel proceeds in two ways. There is the action due to the acidity of the solution leading to the formation of soluble calcium citrate complexes. There is also a destruction of the enamel due to the citrate ion of the solution replacing the phosphate ion in the surface of the enamel, thereby changing its chemical composition and crystal structure.

Fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis rates in the intact rat.

Abstract An approach to the determination of lipide synthesis rates in the individual intact rat using single tracer injection, short-term experiments is described. Use is made of respiratory C 14 O 2 data to evaluate the carbon flux through the precursor stages. Fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis rates determined in this manner are reported as mg. lipide synthesized/ hr./100 g. animal weight for total animal, liver, and carcass of normal, chow-fed Sprague-Dawley rats in the postprandial, postabsorptive, and 18-hr. fasted states.

EFFECT OF TOTAL BODY X-IRRADIATION ON GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN RATS

Summary A study has been made of blood and liver glutathione after 500 r total body x-irradiation. The data show first, that irradiation generally causes a decrease in blood glutathione; and second, in some cases, a decrease in liver glutathione.

In vivo synthesis of ascorbic acid by the alloxan diabetic rat.

Summary Synthesis of ascorbic acid is not impaired in the alloxan diabetic rat, indicating that the hexokinase reaction is not necessary for this synthesis. Ascorbic acid excretion by the alloxan diabetic rat and the alloxan-treated but nondiabetic rat is greater than for the normal rat while on evaporated milk only.

The effect of aluminum hydroxide upon food utilization in human subjects.

Administration of aluminum hydroxide to a normal subject did not interfere with the utilization of carbohydrate, fats, or proteins of the diet. Apparently there was no interference with carbohydrate and fat utilization in a gastric ulcer subject, but results on protein utilization were inconclusive.

The effect of glycocyamine on the high-energy phosphate fractions in rat muscle

Abstract A single dose of glycocyamine and betaine increased the creatine phosphate levels in the skeletal muscles of adult rats to a slight but statistically significant extent. The creatine phosphate returned to control values between 6 and 12 days. Daily ingestion of glycocyamine over a 98-day period produced the same, but no greater increase, in creatine phosphate.