Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum with Improved Survivability Using Pufferfish Skin Gelatin-Based Wall Materials.

To improve the survivability of probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum was microencapsulated using pufferfish skin gelatin (PSG)-based wall materials by spray-drying. This work investigated the protective effect of three different pH-dependent proteins (sodium caseinate (SC), soy protein isolate (SPI), and whey protein isolate (WPI)) combined with PSG on L. plantarum. The experimental results of spray-drying with an inlet temperature of 120 °C and an outlet temperature of 80 °C, storage at 4 °C for 6 months, simulated digestion, and turbidity indicated that PSG/SC had better stability and encapsulation effects and was more suitable to encapsulate L. plantarum than PSG/SPI and PSG/WPI. The optimum preparation conditions for L. plantarum microcapsules were a PSG/SC mass ratio of 2:1, an SC concentration of 20 g/L, and a cell concentration of 10 g/L. The encapsulation efficiency of the obtained microcapsules was 95.0%, and the survival rate was 94.2% in simulated gastric fluid for 2 h and 98.0% in simulated intestinal fluid for 2 h. Amino acid composition analysis exhibited that the imino acid and aspartic acid contents of PSG were 27.98 and 26.16 g/100 g protein, respectively, which was much higher than commercial bovine gelatin. This characteristic was favorable to the high encapsulation efficiency and stability of microcapsules. In vitro release experiments showed that the PSG/SC microcapsules did not disintegrate in simulated gastric fluid for 2 h but could completely release in simulated intestinal fluid for 2 h, which can maintain the high survivability of L. plantarum in simulated digestion. In general, this study demonstrated that microcapsules using PSG/SC as wall materials can effectively improve the survivability of probiotics and have great potential for application in probiotic products.

Protective Effects of Laminaria japonica Polysaccharide Composite Microcapsules on the Survival of Lactobacillus plantarum during Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion and Heat Treatment.

To improve probiotics' survivability during gastrointestinal digestion and heat treatment, Lactobacillus plantarum was microencapsulated by spray-drying using Laminaria japonica polysaccharide/sodium caseinate/gelatin (LJP/SC/GE) composites. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry results revealed that the denaturation of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules requires higher thermal energy than that of SC/GE microcapsules, and the addition of LJP may improve thermal stability. Zeta potential measurements indicated that, at low pH of the gastric fluid, the negatively charged LJP attracted the positively charged SC/GE, helping to maintain an intact microstructure without disintegration. The encapsulation efficiency of L. plantarum-loaded LJP/SC/GE microcapsules reached about 93.4%, and the survival rate was 46.9% in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) for 2 h and 96.0% in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) for 2 h. In vitro release experiments showed that the LJP/SC/GE microcapsules could protect the viability of L. plantarum in SGF and release probiotics slowly in SIF. The cell survival of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules was significantly improved during the heat treatment compared to SC/GE microcapsules and free cells. LJP/SC/GE microcapsules can increase the survival of L. plantarum by maintaining the lactate dehydrogenase and Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Overall, this study demonstrates the great potential of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules to protect and deliver probiotics in food and pharmaceutical systems.

Gender Differences in the Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support.

There is evidence for the lower use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) in women. We aimed to determine (1) whether gender differences exist regarding in-hospital mortality, hospital course, and procedures; (2) whether socio-demographic and treatment-related factors were associated with these differences. Using the National Inpatient Sample, we collected the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for cardiogenic shock (CS) because of acute myocardial infarction AMI or acutely decompensated advanced heart failure and included intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella or Tandem Heart percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Demographics, co-morbidities, in-hospital course and procedures were recorded, and the Charlson Co-morbidity Index was calculated. Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analysis and additional sensitivity analyses were performed. We identified 376,116 cases of CS because of acute myocardial infarction or acutely decompensated advanced heart failure, of which 113,305 required pMCS. Women were more likely to be older, non-White, insured by Medicare, and have a higher burden of co-morbidities and higher Charlson Co-morbidity Index. pMCS devices were inserted in 35,516 women (24.9%) and 77,789 men (33.3%). Women were less likely to receive pVAD or pulmonary artery (PA) catheters. Blood transfusions and acute respiratory failure were more common in women than men. Women had 15% higher in-hospital mortality and in a multivariate analysis, women, older age, having no insurance, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, longer time to pMCS insertion, receiving PA catheter, pVAD or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and having cardiac arrest were associated with higher in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, women requiring pMCS support had a higher co-morbidity load, in-hospital mortality, acute respiratory failure, blood transfusions, and lower PA catheter use. Studies addressing early gender-specific interventions in CS are needed to reduce these differences.