In vitro evaluation of the prebiotic effect of red and white grape polyphenolic extracts.

Nowadays, the strong relationship between diet and health is well known. Although the primary role of diet is to provide nutrients to fulfill metabolic requirements, the use of foods to improve health and the state of well-being is an idea increasingly accepted by society in the last three decades. During the last years, an important number of scientific advances have been achieved in this field and, although in some situations, it is difficult to establish a distinction between "harmful" and "good" bacteria, experts agree in classifying the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus as beneficial bacteria. Thus, several strategies can be used to stimulate the proliferation of these beneficial intestinal bacteria, being one of them the consumption of prebiotics. The development of new prebiotics, with added functionality, is one of the most serious challenges shared not only by the scientific community but also by the food industry. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential prebiotic effect of red and white grape residues, both obtained during the winemaking process. For such purpose, an in vitro study with pure cultures of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium was first conducted. Secondly, a study with mixed cultures using human fecal inocula was carried out in a simulator of the distal part of the colon. The obtained results showed an increase in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium population, indicating that these ingredients are serious candidates to be considered as prebiotics.

Assessment of food safety using a new real-time PCR assay for detection and quantification of virulence factors of enterococci in food samples.

AIMS: Development of Taqman MGB real-time PCR (q-PCR) assays for the quantitative detection of virulence factor genes in pure culture and food samples with regard to food safety assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: New Taqman primers and probes were designed for the ace, esp and gelE genes based on the determinants of virulence profiles of enterococcal strains from GenBank. The high specificity and accuracy of the Taqman probe assay was confirmed. The limit of detection for the different virulence genes was 102  CFU ml-1 or CFU g-1 for pure culture and meat samples, and 103  CFU g-1 for cheese samples. CONCLUSION: This method provides the specific and rapid detection and quantification of ace, esp and gelE genes compared to conventional PCR assays, thus allowing the rapid and direct safety assessment of Enterococcus genus in food samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study presents efficient methods that can be used directly on food products for the rapid quantification and tracing of virulence genes, regarding food safety assessment. Moreover, this is the first study to quantify these virulence factors using a specific Taqman q-PCR assay in food samples.

[Magnetic resonance imaging in long-term assessment after surgery for aortic coarctation]. / Valoración a largo plazo con resonancia magnética en pacientes corregidos de coartación de aorta.

OBJECTIVES: Spin echo or gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging provides enough information to plan patient management and can be completed with the use of three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography to evaluate the need for reintervention, assess follow-up, or discharge the patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1990-2003, we evaluated 101 patients after initial corrective surgery for aortic coarctation at the age of 3.1 +/- 3 years, with subsequent postoperative assessment at 1 year and again 12.4 +/- 4.2 years later. No mortality was registered during the follow-up. Corrective surgery was performed in 32 patients (31.6 %) before the first month of life. All the patients were evaluated with spin-echo and echo gradient and 34 were evaluated with magnetic resonance angiography. The patients were classified into two groups: group A consisted of 68 patients (11 < 1 month old) with no complications. End-to-end anastomosis was performed in 55, the Alvarez technique in five, the Waldhausen technique in six, and conduit in two. Group B consisted of 33 patients complicated with early aortic recoarctation (21 corrected before the age of 1 month). End-to-end anastomosis was performed in 29, the Alvarez technique in two, and grafting in two. During the follow-up, 43 reinterventions were performed. Isthmus diameter/descending aorta diameter at the diaphragmatic level and repaired site diameter/descending aorta diameter at the diaphragmatic level were measured. RESULTS: Group A: the isthmus diameter/descending aorta diameter at the diaphragmatic level index was 0.92 +/- 0.08 and the repaired site diameter/ descending aorta diameter at diaphragmatic level index was 0.90 +/- 0.05. Twenty-three patients were assessed by means of three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography, which revealed two late stenosis (one in a 10-year-old patient with an end-to-end anastomosis performed previously, and another in an 18-year-old patient with a proximal and distal obstructed conduit). Group B: the isthmus diameter/descending aorta diameter index was 0.84 +/- 0.1 and the repaired site diameter/ descending aorta diameter index was 0.82 +/- 0.11. Eleven patients were assessed by means of three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography, which revealed five stenosis indexes (0.53-0.73) surgically corrected before the age of 2 months, four with an initial technique based on end-to-end anastomosis and one with a graft. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the influence of young age, the use of end-to-end anastomosis and grafts in recoarctation and their late influence on recurrent recoarctation. The patients in group A were discharged in childhood or adulthood after periodic follow-up every 5 years with magnetic resonance angiography for 18 years with results within the normal range, while patients in group B required longer follow-up.

Internal assessment of a novel islet isolation facility in Spain.

UNLABELLED: Islet transplantation is a promising therapy in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Herein we present the result from the first series of islet isolations carried out in our new islet isolation facility. The aims of study were to analyze the influence of various donor characteristics on the success of islet isolation and compare these outcomes with other European and American groups. Data from 22 completed islet isolation were used to compare donor and isolation variables among successful (>300,000 IEQs) versus unsuccessful isolations. The successful isolation rate from our laboratory was 31.8%. We did not see any significant differences between successful and unsuccessful groups according to donor characteristics, although age was close to significance (38.57 +/- 10.29 versus 48.33 +/- 12.39; P = .08). Donor age (1.12 [1.23; 0.99]) and body mass index (0.065 [1.32; 3.08]) were associated with isolation success in a logistic regression model. We did not find differences among intraprocedure variables with the exception of IEQ prepurification (409,073 +/- 115,041 versus 263,776 +/- 128,988; P < .05). IEQpre and IEQpost were positively correlated (P < .05). In comparison with other groups, we observed differences in some cases related to islet yield prepurification (P < .05) but not postpurification. Purity from our islet preparations was the highest from all considered groups (P < .05). Recovery was similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, donor characteristics have no influence on the success rate. The digestion step is a critical factor for success. Our results with respect to IE yield were close to that of experienced groups.