Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024523 (malabsorption)
 7,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A randomized study was performed in advanced cancer to test the effectiveness of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in maintaining and improving nutrition, to examine the effects of TPN on tumor growth, and to determine if TPN altered chemotherapy response rates, treatment tolerance, and survival. Forty-five patients on identical chemotherapy were randomized to TPN versus ad libitum feeding. TPN was well tolerated. No clinical or tumor marker evidence suggesting neoplastic growth stimulation was obtained. Chemotherapy-related complications and chemotherapy responses did not differ between the two groups. TPN had little effect on performance status. TPN patients gained an average of 2.8 kg before chemotherapy, but triceps skinfold and mid-arm muscle area did not change significantly during TPN. Survival did not improve with TPN. We conclude that current techniques of TPN are of limited benefit in advanced colon cancer. A small subset of patients with short-gut malabsorption may be helped. Further study is needed to determine the mechanisms of cancer undernutrition and to refine nutritional supplementation techniques on the basis of these mechanisms.
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PMID:Total parenteral nutrition as an adjunct to chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer. 680 21

The ingestion of probiotics is associated with various beneficial effects on human health and modifies the physiological homeostasis of the intestinal flora. Probiotics are microorganisms with some particular characteristics: human origin, safety in human use, bile and acid resistance, survival in the intestine, at least temporary colonization of the human gut, adhesion to the mucosa and bacteriocine production. Thanks to these characteristics, probiotics block the invasion of human intestinal cells by the enteroinvasive bacteria. Furthermore, they should be able to stimulate and modulate the intestinal immune response, and to protect and stabilize the mucosal barrier. Finally, the efficacy of probiotics should be evident and documented with valid studies. All their properties should be maintained during processing and storage. Probiotics are usually used to protect the host from pathogens. With regard to this, they are useful in the prevention of antibiotic and traveler's diarrhea and they may play a role in the management of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection. Furthermore, their efficacy in the treatment of infectious diarrhea, in inflammatory bowel diseases, in pouchitis and in food allergy has been shown. Probiotics can improve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and of lactose malabsorption. Finally, it has been suggested that such microorganisms may play a role in the prevention of carcinogenesis and of tumor growth.
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PMID:[Probiotics: history, definition, requirements and possible therapeutic applications]. 1240 63

Milk and colostrum is a rich source of proteins/peptides which have crucial roles in both neonates and adults. Milk bioactive proteins and peptides are potential health-enhancing nutraceuticals for food. Many bioactive peptides/proteins may be used as nutraceuticals, for example, in the treatment of cancer, asthma, diarrhea, hypertension, thrombosis, dental diseases, as well as mineral malabsorption, and immunodeficiency. The following components of milk are of particular interest in the recent years: 1) Lactoferrin [Lf] has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasite and antitumor activities and accelerates immunomodulatory properties. Lf is a potent inhibitor for several enveloped and naked viruses, such as rotavirus, enterovirus and adenovirus. Lf is resistant to tryptic digestion and breast-fed infants excrete high levels of faecal Lf, so that its effect on viruses replicating in the gastrointestinal tract is of great interest. 2) Casein has been protective in experimental bacteremia by eliciting myelopoiesis. Casein hydrolyzates were also protective in diabetic animals, reduced the tumor growth and diminished colicky symptoms in infants. 3) A Proline rich polypeptide [PRP] revealed variety of immunotropic functions, including promotion of T-cell activation and inhibition of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. 4) alpha-Lactalbumin [LA] demonstrates antiviral, antitumor and anti-stress properties. 5) Lactoperoxidase shows antibacterial properties. 6) Lysozyme is effective in treatment of periodentitis and prevention of tooth decay. Taken together, milk-derived proteins and peptides are bio-available and safe for the prevention and treatment of various disorders in humans and may play a complementary [natural agents] rather than a substitutional role to the toxic synthetic pharmacological drugs.
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PMID:Molecular and biotechnological advances in milk proteins in relation to human health. 1968 55

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a deadly cancer that resists efforts to identify better chemotherapeutics. PDA is associated with chronic pancreatitis and acinar cell dedifferentiation. This reduces enzyme production by the exocrine pancreas, resulting in digestive insufficiencies. Malabsorption of partially digested food causes bloating, overfilled intestines, abdominal pain, excessive feces, steatorrhea, and malnutrition. These maladies affect quality of life and restrict treatment options for pancreatitis and PDA. Here, we characterize health benefits and risks of dietary pancreatic enzymes in three mouse models of PDA-KC, KCR8-16, and KIC. KC expresses oncogenic KrasG12D in pancreatic tissue whereas KCR8-16 also has deletions of the Rgs8 and Rgs16 genes. Rgs proteins inhibit the release of digestive enzymes evoked by G-protein-coupled-receptor agonists. KC and KCR8-16 mice developed dedifferentiated exocrine pancreata within 2 months of age and became malnourished, underweight, hypoglycemic, and hypothermic. KC mice adapted but KCR8-16 mice rapidly transitioned to starvation after mild metabolic challenges. Dietary pancreatic enzyme supplements reversed these symptoms in KC and KCR8-16 animals, and extended survival. Therefore, we tested the benefits of pancreatic enzymes in an aggressive mouse model of PDA (KIC). Median survival improved with dietary pancreatic enzyme supplements and was extended further when combined with warfarin and gemcitabine chemotherapy. However, dietary pancreatic enzymes stimulated tumor growth in the terminal stages of disease progression in KIC mice.
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PMID:Malnutrition in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA): Dietary Pancreatic Enzymes Improve Short-Term Health but Stimulate Tumor Growth. 2924 57