Fate of anthocyanins in the presence of inactivated yeasts and yeast cell walls during simulation of wine aging.

In the present research, two inactivated yeast strains (W13 and BM45) and a commercial yeast cell wall preparation (YCW) already tested for their ability to removal ochratoxin A were used to simulate the wine aging. During the simulated aging, the concentrations of the main 4 anthocyanins decreased in both the control wine and the wines added with yeasts, although at rates depending on the type of yeast and on the nature of anthocyanins. Peonidin-3-O-glucoside decreased by about 20% in the control wine and by ~ 50% in the wines added with yeast strains or the commercial yeast preparation. Malvidin-3-O-glucoside decreased by about 80% in the control wine and in the wine added with YCW and by about 96% in the wines added with W13 and BM45 strains. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside decreased by 47% in the control wine, by 65-66% in the wines added with W13 and BM45 strains, and by 73% in the wine added with YCW. Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside decreased by 100% already after 21-28 days of aging in all the wines.

Biochemical, physiological and clinical effects of l-methylfolate in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.

Folic acid supplementation confers modest benefit in schizophrenia, but its effectiveness is influenced by common genetic variants in the folate pathway that hinder conversion to its active form. We examined physiological and clinical effects of l-methylfolate, the fully reduced and bioactive form of folate, in schizophrenia. In this randomized, double-blind trial, outpatients with schizophrenia (n=55) received l-methylfolate 15 mg or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients were maintained on stable doses of antipsychotic medications. The pre-defined primary outcome was change in plasma methylfolate at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included change in symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia), cognition (Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia composite) and three complementary magnetic resonance imaging measures (working memory-related activation, resting connectivity, cortical thickness). Primary, mixed model, intent-to-treat analyses covaried for six genetic variants in the folate pathway previously associated with symptom severity and/or response to folate supplementation. Analyses were repeated without covariates to evaluate dependence on genotype. Compared with placebo, l-methylfolate increased plasma methylfolate levels (d=1.00, P=0.0009) and improved PANSS Total (d=0.61, P=0.03) as well as PANSS Negative and General Psychopathology subscales. Although PANSS Total and General Psychopathology changes were influenced by genotype, significant PANSS Negative changes occurred regardless of genotype. No treatment differences were seen in other symptom rating scales or cognitive composite scores. Patients receiving l-methylfolate exhibited convergent changes in ventromedial prefrontal physiology, including increased task-induced deactivation, altered limbic connectivity and increased cortical thickness. In conclusion, l-methylfolate supplementation was associated with salutary physiological changes and selective symptomatic improvement in this study of schizophrenia patients, warranting larger clinical trials. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01091506.

In vitro removal of ochratoxin A by two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their performances under fermentative and stressing conditions.

AIMS: The aim of this research was to study the effect of time, temperature, sugar content and addition of diammonium phosphate (DAP) on ochratoxin A (OTA) removal by two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a completely randomized design. METHODS AND RESULTS: The strains were grown in a medium containing OTA (2 µg l(-1)), two sugar levels (200 and 250 g l(-1)), with or without DAP (300 mg l(-1)), and incubated at 25-30°C. The yeasts were able to decrease the toxin amount by c. 70%, with the highest removing effect observed after 3 days at 30°C in the presence of 250 g l(-1) of sugars and with DAP; after 10 days, the toxin was partially released into the medium. The strains produced high ethanol and glycerol contents, showed high tolerance to single/combined stress conditions and possessed ß-d-glucosidase, pectinase and xylanase activities. CONCLUSIONS: Ochratoxin A removal was affected by time, temperature, sugar and addition of DAP. Moreover, the phenomenon was reversible. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Ochratoxin A removal could be an interesting trait for the selection of promising strains; however, the strains removing efficiently the toxin could release it back; thus, the selection of the starter should take into account both the removal and the binding ability of OTA.