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Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and macrophage cholesterol accumulation are both involved in atherogenesis. Recently it was shown that feeding rabbits or humans with an oleic-acid-rich diet reduced the susceptibility of their LDL to in vitro oxidation. Since olive oil is highly enriched with oleic acid, we tested the effect of olive oil supplementation (50 g/day) to the diet of 10 healthy male subjects, during a 2-week period, on macrophage uptake of their LDL and on the propensity of their LDL to oxidation (with copper ions). Olive oil supplementation to the diet resulted in LDL enrichment with oleic acid (C18:l) and sitosterol. No effect on plasma cholesterol levels was found, but the LDL cholesteryl ester content was reduced (16%) whereas its unesterified cholesterol was increased (41 %). Even after 1 week of the olive oil diet, the LDL susceptibility to in vitro oxidation was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). Macrophage uptake of LDL was studied by analysis of cellular cholesterol content and by analysis of the macrophage cholesterol esterification rates. LDL obtained after 1 and 2 weeks of the olive oil diet demonstrated reduced cellular uptake in comparison with LDL obtained before the supplementation of olive oil, by 50 and 61 %, respectively. The LDL resistance to oxidation was shown by a reduction in its peroxide, malondialdehyde and conjugated diene content by 73, 28 and 32%, respectively. LDL incubation with oleic acid for the period of its oxidation with copper ions demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation by up to 72% as opposed to linoleic and arachidonic acids (50 µM) which increased LDL oxidation by 22 and 72%, respectively. Sitosterol, in a similar incubation system, inhibited LDL oxidation by up to 26%. We conclude that olive oil supplementation to the diet modifies LDL lipid composition and enriches the lipoprotein with oleic acid and sitosterol. The antiatherogenic properties of this modified lipoprotein may be related to its resistance to in vitro peroxidation and its reduced uptake by macrophages.

BackgroundBacterial and viral enteric pathogens are the leading cause of diarrhea in infants and children. We aimed to identify and characterize the main human diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) in stool samples obtained from children less than 5 years of age, hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis in Israel, and to examine the hypothesis that co-infection with DEC and other enteropathogens is associated with the severity of symptoms.MethodsStool specimens obtained from 307 patients were tested by multiplex PCR (mPCR) to identify enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Specimens were also examined for the presence of rotavirus by immunochromatography, and of Shigella, Salmonella and Campylobacter by stool culture; clinical information was also obtained.ResultsFifty nine (19%) children tested positive for DEC; EAEC and atypical EPEC were most common, each detected in 27 (46%), followed by ETEC (n = 3; 5%), EHEC and typical EPEC (each in 1 child; 1.5%). Most EAEC isolates were resistant to cephalexin, cefixime, cephalothin and ampicillin, and genotypic characterization of EAEC isolates by O-typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed possible clonal relatedness among some. The likelihood of having > 10 loose/watery stools on the most severe day of illness was significantly increased among patients with EAEC and rotavirus co-infection compared to children who tested negative for both pathogens: adjusted odds ratio 7.0 (95% CI 1.45-33.71, P = 0.015).ConclusionDEC was common in this pediatric population, in a high-income country, and mixed EAEC and rotavirus infection was characterized by especially severe diarrhea.

BackgroundThe human ACTN3 gene encodes α-actinin-3, an actin-binding protein with a pivotal role in muscle structure and metabolism. A common genetic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 577 of the ACTN3 results in the replacement of an arginine (R) with a stop codon (X). The R allele is a normal functional version of the gene, whereas the X allele contains a sequence change that completely stops production of functional α-actinin-3 protein. The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was found to be associated with power athletic performance especially among track and field athletes. The aim of the current study was to compare allelic and genotype frequencies of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism among runners and swimmers specializing in different distances, and >non-athletic controls.MethodsOne hundred and thirty-seven runners, 91 swimmers and 217 controls, participated in the study. Runners were assigned to two subgroups according to their event specialty—long-distance runners (LDR) and short-distance runners (SDR). Swimmers were also assigned to two subgroups according to their main swimming event—long-distance swimmers (LDS) and short-distance swimmers (SDS). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral EDTA-treated anti-coagulated blood using a standard protocol. Genotypes were determined using the Taqman allelic discrimination assay.ResultsRunners’ genotype and allele differed significantly between LDR, SDR, and controls, with the lowest prevalence of RR genotype and R allele among LDR. XX genotype and X allele prevalence was significantly higher among LDR compared to the other groups (p < 0.01 for all). On the other hand, swimmers’ genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly between subgroups (LDS and SDS). Yet, LDS had significantly higher RR genotype and R allele frequencies compared to LDR.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that while ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is a genetic polymorphism that may distinguish between SDR and LDR, it cannot differentiate significantly between SDS and LDS.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01319032Key PointsACTN3 R577X polymorphism is largely associated with running events specialization, with high prevalence of RR genotype and R allele frequency among short-distance runners compare to long-distance runners.Unlike in running, ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is not associated with swimming specialization.The inability of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism to distinguish between swimmers specializing in different events, presumably since other factors such as body physique, technique, tactics, etc., are more likely to determine such a distinction.