Fermentation profile, cholesterol-reducing properties and chemopreventive potential of ß-glucans from Levilactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus claussenii - a comparative study with ß-glucans from different sources.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ß-glucans obtained from the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Levilactobacillus (L.) brevis and Pediococcus (P.) claussenii exhibit similar physiological effects such as cholesterol-binding capacity (CBC) as the structurally different ß-glucans from oat, barley, and yeast as well as curdlan. After in vitro fermentation, fermentation supernatants (FSs) and/or -pellets (FPs) were analyzed regarding the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), ammonia, bile acids, the relative abundance of bacterial taxa and chemopreventive effects (growth inhibition, apoptosis, genotoxicity) in LT97 colon adenoma cells. Compared to other glucans, the highest CBC was determined for oat ß-glucan (65.9 ± 8.8 mg g-1, p < 0.05). Concentrations of SCFA were increased in FSs of all ß-glucans (up to 2.7-fold). The lowest concentrations of ammonia (down to 0.8 ± 0.3 mmol L-1) and bile acids (2.5-5.2 µg mL-1) were detected in FSs of the ß-glucans from oat, barley, yeast, and curdlan. The various ß-glucans differentially modulated the relative abundance of bacteria families and reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Treatment of LT97 cells with the FSs led to a significant dose-dependent growth reduction and increase in caspase-3 activity without exhibiting genotoxic effects. Though the different ß-glucans show different fermentation profiles as well as cholesterol- and bile acid-reducing properties, they exhibit comparable chemopreventive effects.

Evaluating the applicability of a two-dimensional liquid chromatography system for a pesticide multi-screening method.

In this study, a fully automated two-dimensional liquid chromatography system was evaluated for pesticide analysis. The first dimension was a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column for matrix separation. The analytes were collected on a trap column and transferred to the second dimension with a reversed phase column. This separation system was coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Investigations were started to elucidate, whether this system is useful for screening purposes. Therefore, analytes with different masses, pKa and log Kow values were chosen. The aim was to test, if broadening the scope of this method, without a time-intensive adjustment of the valve switching times is possible. All in all, the limits of the system were determined. It is important that the analytes elute from the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column within a small window. It could be deduced that the window within which the analytes elute expanded too far with the chosen analytes. Therefore, optimization with different buffers, columns, column temperatures, and flow rates was started to minimise the window. Furthermore, differences in the analytes' elution behavior during hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography separation were elucidated.

Aggrecan, link protein and tenascin-R are essential components of the perineuronal net to protect neurons against iron-induced oxidative stress.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), different types of neurons and different brain areas show differential patterns of vulnerability towards neurofibrillary degeneration, which provides the basis for a highly predictive profile of disease progression throughout the brain that now is widely accepted for neuropathological staging. In previous studies we could demonstrate that in AD cortical and subcortical neurons are constantly less frequently affected by neurofibrillary degeneration if they are enwrapped by a specialized form of the hyaluronan-based extracellular matrix (ECM), the so called 'perineuronal net' (PN). PNs are basically composed of large aggregating chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans connected to a hyaluronan backbone, stabilized by link proteins and cross-linked via tenascin-R (TN-R). Under experimental conditions in mice, PN-ensheathed neurons are better protected against iron-induced neurodegeneration than neurons without PN. Still, it remains unclear whether these neuroprotective effects are directly mediated by the PNs or are associated with some other mechanism in these neurons unrelated to PNs. To identify molecular components that essentially mediate the neuroprotective aspect on PN-ensheathed neurons, we comparatively analysed neuronal degeneration induced by a single injection of FeCl3 on four different mice knockout strains, each being deficient for a different component of PNs. Aggrecan, link protein and TN-R were identified to be essential for the neuroprotective properties of PN, whereas the contribution of brevican was negligible. Our findings indicate that the protection of PN-ensheathed neurons is directly mediated by the net structure and that both the high negative charge and the correct interaction of net components are essential for their neuroprotective function.

Enhancement of skin radical scavenging activity and stratum corneum lipids after the application of a hyperforin-rich cream.

Hyperforin is well-known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. The application of a hyperforin-rich verum cream could strengthen the skin barrier function by reducing radical formation and stabilizing stratum corneum lipids. Here, it was investigated whether topical treatment with a hyperforin-rich cream increases the radical protection of the skin during VIS/NIR irradiation. Skin lipid profile was investigated applying HPTLC on skin lipid extracts. Furthermore, the absorption- and scattering coefficients, which influence radical formation, were determined. 11 volunteers were included in this study. After a single cream application, VIS/NIR-induced radical formation could be completely inhibited by both verum and placebo showing an immediate protection. After an application period of 4weeks, radical formation could be significantly reduced by 45% following placebo application and 78% after verum application showing a long-term protection. Furthermore, the skin lipids in both verum and placebo groups increased directly after a single cream application but only significantly for ceramide [AP], [NP1], and squalene. After long-term cream application, concentration of cholesterol and the ceramides increased, but no significance was observed. These results indicate that regular application of the hyperforin-rich cream can reduce radical formation and can stabilize skin lipids, which are responsible for the barrier function.

Influence of dietary carotenoids on radical scavenging capacity of the skin and skin lipids.

Nutrition rich in carotenoids is well known to prevent cell damage, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Cutaneous carotenoids can be enriched in the skin by nutrition and topically applied antioxidants have shown an increase in radical protection after VIS/NIR irradiation. In this paper, it was investigated whether orally administered carotenoids increase the radical scavenging activity and the radical protection of the skin using in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and the skin lipid profile was investigated applying HPTLC on skin lipid extracts. Furthermore, in vivo Raman resonance spectroscopy was used to measure the cutaneous carotenoid concentration. A double blind placebo controlled clinical study was performed with 24 healthy volunteers, who have shown a slow but significant and effective increase in cutaneous carotenoids in the verum group. The enhancement in carotenoids increases the radical scavenging activity of the skin and provides a significant protection against stress induced radical formation. Furthermore, the skin lipids in the verum group increased compared to the placebo group but only significantly for ceramide [NS]. These results indicate that a supplementation with dietary products containing carotenoids in physiological concentrations can protect the skin against reactive oxygen species and could avoid premature skin aging and other radical associated skin diseases.

Interactions of glycinin with plant phenols--influence on chemical properties and proteolytic degradation of the proteins.

Soya glycinin was derivatized with different phenolic substances (caffeic-, chlorogenic-, gallic acid and quercetin). The protein derivatives formed have been characterized in terms of their properties where they showed changes in the content of free epsilon-amino groups, tryptophan and thiol groups. The derivatives have also been characterized in terms of their solubility at different pH-values to document the influence on the functional properties. Another objective of this paper was to demonstrate the influence on the digestibility of the proteins with one of the main enzymes of the gastro-intestinal tract (pancreatin) on the basis of in vitro experiments after derivatization with phenolic substances. The enzymatic digestion of the derivatized proteins was promoted.

The use of clinical scales in depicting cerebrovascular complications in bacterial meningitis.

To evaluate the utility of different scales for clinical assessment, over time, in acute bacterial meningitis, the authors investigated 53 consecutive patients (mean age 53 +/- 17 years). Clinical status on days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 14 after admission was determined by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Hunt and Hess Scale (HH), and, on day 21, by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Transcranial Doppler examinations were performed serially to assess for disease-related arterial narrowing. This was observed in 27 patients (51%) within 2 weeks of admission. All scales were observed to correlate with the 21-day GOS. Patients with cerebral arterial narrowing had significantly decreased SSS scores between days 1 and 8 and worse GCS and HH scores between days 3 and 5. Mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery on days 5 and 8 significantly correlated with GOS (r = 0.268, P < .008; r = -0.324, P < .003, respectively). The use of such clinical scales allows standardized assessment of patients with bacterial meningitis and provides prognostic information. Cerebral arterial narrowing was observed to correlate with neurologic impairment.

Usefulness of clinical scores to predict outcome in bacterial meningitis.

The predictive usefulness of clinical scores in patients with acute bacterial meningitis was investigated. Fifty-one consecutive patients with acute bacterial meningitis were scored on days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 14 after admission according to the Sandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS), Glasgow Coma-Scale (GCS) and Hunt & Hess Scale (HH). As an index of their usefulness to predict the outcome, the scales were correlated with short-term outcome on day 21 assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). The scores of all three scales correlated highly significantly with short-term outcome. Depending on the day of assessment, Spearman correlation coefficients ranged between 0.52 and 0.88 for SSS, between 0.50 and 0.84 for GCS, and between -0.47 and -0.82 for HH. The scales differed in their ability to predict outcome on and after day 1: mortality was best predicted by GCS, and complete recovery was best predicted by SSS. The use of scales in bacterial meningitis provides a rational quantitative basis to predict outcome more graduated than in dead or alive. Because the scales accentuate different aspects of outcome (e.g. mortality, restitution), the selection of a scale to be used in clinical trials should take into consideration the main focus of the study.

Clinical and microbiologic effects of chemical versus mechanical cleansing in professional supportive implant therapy.

The aim of the present study was to compare the cleansing properties of mechanical supportive care for dental implants with the use of an etching gel. Sixteen patients underwent a 5-month clinical trial with monthly recalls. These patients, wearing maxillary complete dentures and mandibular overdentures supported by a bar device on 4 implants, were treated in a split-mouth study design. Test and control therapy were randomly assigned to left and right sides of the mandible. At the test side, 35% phosphoric etching gel (pH 1) was applied in the peri-implant sulcus. After 1 minute, the sulcus was thoroughly rinsed with a water spray for approximately 15 seconds per implants. Control therapy consisted of supra- and subgingival debridement using carbon fiber curettes and a rubber cup. Plaque, calculus, probing pocket depth, and modified Gingival Index were determined before each treatment. Microbiologic evaluation was performed at baseline, 1 month later, and 5 months later, just before and immediately after each treatment. Per treatment and per assessment, the mean scores of all clinical parameters were calculated for each patient. The number of colony-forming units was used as the primary efficacy variable in the analysis of microbiologic data. At baseline, no differences between test and control sites were observed for any of the clinical parameters. The mean Gingival Index and the mean probing pocket depth were reduced over the 5-month period. The mean reduction in Gingival Index at the test sites proved to be significantly larger at the control sites (P = .03). Both treatment modalities resulted in an instant reduction of the number of colony-forming units, where the reduction by chemical cleaning was larger (P < .05). This short-term study employing a high recall frequency indicates that local application of 35% phosphoric acid gel can be as effective as conventional mechanical supportive therapy.