Abstract: A therapeutically effective amount of L-arginine, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, is orally administered, preferably as a food supplement in combination with a meal approved by the American Diabetes Association Inc. ("ADA"), to a person having Type II diabetes mellitus but who is not on either insulin or other medication for glycemic control. When 3 g to 15 g of L-arginine is ingested concurrently with a meal, or immediately prior to eating a meal, the L-arginine decreases the concentration of insulin generated, compared to that generated after the same meal without the L-arginine; at the same time, concentration of glucose in the person's blood is decreased, indicating that available insulin sensitizes cells so as to nearly mimic the effectiveness of normal cells in a non-diabetic person; from 3 g to 15 g of orally ingested L-arginine, by itself, produces no measurable increase in insulin secretion in a diabetic.

Abstract: A method for the use of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine and serine, or the physiologically acceptable salts thereof (component (a)), in the preparation of a medicament or nutritional formulation for the prophylaxis and/or therapy of renal dysfunction induced by cyclosporins or ascomycins.

Abstract: A method for treating a human having elevated tumor necrosis factor levels by administrating an effective amount of one of the amino acids glycine, alanine, or serine.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved ostomy fluid tube and method for its use comprising a collapsible retention bolster for securing the tube to the inner stomach wall and fascia. The retention means comprise several resilient leaf or petal-shaped flanges circumferentially arranged about the feeding tube at a distal point thereon. The otherwise flat, circumferentially arranged flanges possess notches or grooves which facilitate collapse or folding of the retention means for easier removal through an ostomy or other internal cavity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of endotoxic shock comprising administering to a human or other mammal in need of such a treatment an effective amount of choline for reducing endotoxin-induced injury and mortality and a nutritional composition comprising choline, whereby the composition provides a daily dosage of at least 1.5 g choline, the upper limit being 20 g of choline per day.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved jejunal feeding tube comprising semi rigid tubing attached to the distal end of a percutaneous endoscopic feeding tube. The tubing further contains equidistantly spaced bushing grips on the jejunal feeding tube for ease of placement and securing the jejunal feeding tube to the small intestine.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, use of L-arginine, a precursor of L-arginine and/or physilogically acceptable salts thereof, or of (i) a nitric oxide donor, and/or (ii) a substrate of the nitric oxide synthetase, and/or (iii) a precursor of the said substrate, in the preparation of a medicament or nutritional formulation for the amelioration of micro-circulatory hypo-perfusion, and/or the treatment or prophylaxis of hypoperfusion-reperfusion injury, in patients which have undergone elective surgery, characterized in that the medicament or nutritional formulation is pre-operatively administered to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a means for the manual placement of a jejunal feeding tube within the small intestine comprising the insertion of a single lumen tube within the jejunal feeding tube. The placement tube has an inflatable stylet located at the distal end thereof. Once the tube is placed in the stomach of the patient by way an ostomy, the placement device is passed through until the inflatable stylet exits the distal end of the feeding tube. A syringe is attached to the placement device using a luer hub stopcock and the inflatable stylet is inflated like a balloon with air, water or other suitable material. The surgeon may then manually grasp the inflated stylet and by moving it place the end of the feeding tube at the desired position in the small intestine. The stylet may then be deflated and the placement device withdrawn from the feeding tube once the tube is properly placed.

Abstract: A whey protein hydrolysate is described which is free of allergenics while preserving the structures susceptible of exerting anticipatory regulations to maximize the tolerance and protein metabolism, and mixtures thereof with casein and/or soy protein hydrolysates. Whey protein hydrolysates according to the invention have an amino acid composition comprising at least 2% by weight of tryptophan, less than 5% by weight of threonine, less than 2.8% by weight of methionine whereby 40 to 60% by weight of the amino acids are in the form of tetra- to decapeptides.

Abstract: An orally-ingestible nutrition composition having improved taste comprises a low pH (<7.0) form of an amino acid selected from arginine, valine and compounds associated with the synthesis of polyamines. Preferred low pH forms are salts such as arginine phosphate and mixtures thereof with arginine citrate. Preferred nutrition composition also comprise encapsulated polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and method is provided for a fluid delivery system of the type including a fluid delivery pump delivering fluid in pulses through a fluid delivery tube. The non-invasive monitoring system and method includes a sensor which is brought into engagement with an outer surface of the fluid delivery tube. The sensor is adapted for being calibrated at an initial temperature and is responsive to the fluid when passing through the fluid delivery tube. In particular, the present system and method is adapted to monitor the sensor and receives data corresponding to the changes in the initial temperature of the sensor as influenced by the temperature of the fluid when passing through the fluid delivery tube. The non-invasive monitoring system and method is further adapted to process the data from the sensor indicative of both the initial and changed temperatures for determining the status of the fluid in the fluid delivery tube.

Abstract: A dietary composition comprising, based on total caloric content of the composition,a) a carbohydrate component which comprises from 50 to 65% of the total caloric content;b) a lipid component which comprises from 20 to 35% of the total caloric content; andc) an amino acid component which comprises from 10 to 20% of the total caloric content and which comprises specified amino acids and amounts thereof is useful providing nutrition to human adolescents.

Abstract: A dietary composition comprising, based on total caloric content of the composition,a) a carbohydrate component which comprises from 50 to 65% of the total caloric content;b) a lipid component which comprises from 20 to 35% of the total caloric content; andc) an amino acid component which comprises from 10 to 20% of the total caloric content and which comprises specified amino acids and amounts thereof is useful providing nutrition to human adolescents.