Prebiotic oligosaccharides in early life alter gut microbiome development in male mice while supporting influenza vaccination responses.

Beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota is an attractive therapeutic approach to improve the efficacy of vaccine-induced immunity. In this study, mice were supplemented with the prebiotic milk oligosaccharide 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL) as well as a complex mixture of immune modulatory prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) from different stages in early life. Adult mice were vaccinated with trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) and both development of the gut microbiota and antibody-mediated vaccine responses were followed over time. Within the control group, female mice demonstrated a larger antibody response to TIV vaccination than male mice, which was accompanied by enhanced cytokine production by splenocytes and a higher percentage of plasma cells in skin draining lymph nodes. In addition, the prebiotic diet improved vaccine-specific antibody responses in male mice. Introduction of prebiotics into the diet modulated the gut microbiota composition and at the genus level several bacterial groups showed a significant interaction effect which potentially contributed to the immunological effects observed. This study provides insight in the effect of scGOS/lcFOS/2'FL in influenza vaccination antibody production.

Dietary long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevent allergic sensitization to cow's milk protein in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children and no treatment is available. Dietary lipid composition may affect the susceptibility to develop allergic disease. OBJECTIVE: Assess whether dietary supplementation with long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) prevents the establishment of food allergy. METHODS: Mice were fed a control or fish oil diet before and during oral sensitization with whey. Acute allergic skin response, serum immunoglobulins as well as dendritic cell (DC) and T cell subsets in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleen and/or small intestine were assessed. RESULTS: The acute allergic skin response was reduced by more than 50% in sensitized mice fed the fish oil diet compared to the control diet. In addition, anti-whey-IgE and anti-whey-IgG1 levels were decreased in the fish oil group. Serum transfer confirmed that the Th2-type humoral response was suppressed since sera of fish oil fed sensitized mice had a diminished capacity to induce an allergic effector response in naïve recipient mice compared to control sera. Furthermore, the acute skin response was diminished upon passive sensitization in fish oil fed naïve recipient mice. In addition, the percentage of activated Th1 cells was reduced by fish oil in spleen and MLN of sham mice. The percentage of activated Th2 cells was reduced in both sham- and whey-sensitized mice. In contrast, whey-sensitized mice showed an increased percentage of CD11b+CD103+CD8α- DC in MLN in association with enhanced FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in spleen and intestine of fish oil fed whey-sensitized mice compared to sham mice. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dietary n-3 LCPUFA largely prevented allergic sensitization in a murine model for cow's milk allergy by suppressing the humoral response, enhancing local intestinal and systemic Treg and reducing acute allergic symptoms, suggesting future applications for the primary prevention of food allergy.

CD25+ regulatory T cells transfer n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids-induced tolerance in mice allergic to cow's milk protein.

BACKGROUND: Recently, we have shown that dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) largely prevent allergic sensitization in a murine model for cow's milk allergy. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of regulatory T cells (Treg) in the prevention of food allergy by n-3 LCPUFA. METHODS: C3H/HeOuJ female donor mice were fed a control or fish oil diet before and during oral sensitization with cow's milk protein whey. Acute allergic skin response (ASR), anaphylaxis, body temperature, serum immunoglobulins, and mouse mast cell protease-1 (mmcp-1) were assessed. Splenocytes of sham- or whey-sensitized donor mice fed either control or fish oil diet were adoptively transferred to naïve recipient mice. Recipient mice received a whole splenocyte suspension, splenocytes ex vivo depleted of CD25+ cells, or MACS-isolated CD4+ CD25+ Treg. Recipient mice were sham- or whey-sensitized and fed control diet. RESULTS: The ASR as well as whey-specific IgE and whey-specific IgG1 levels were reduced in whey-sensitized donor mice fed the fish oil diet as compared to the control diet. Splenocytes of control-diet-fed whey-sensitized donors transferred immunologic memory. By contrast, splenocytes of fish-oil-fed whey-sensitized - but not sham-sensitized - donors transferred tolerance to recipients as shown by a reduction in ASR and serum mmcp-1, and depletion of CD25+ Treg abrogated this. Transfer of CD25+ Treg confirmed the involvement of Treg in the suppression of allergic sensitization. CONCLUSIONS: CD25+ Treg are crucial in whey allergy prevention by n-3 LCPUFA.

In-training assessment using direct observation of single-patient encounters: a literature review.

We reviewed the literature on instruments for work-based assessment in single clinical encounters, such as the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX), and examined differences between these instruments in characteristics and feasibility, reliability, validity and educational effect. A PubMed search of the literature published before 8 January 2009 yielded 39 articles dealing with 18 different assessment instruments. One researcher extracted data on the characteristics of the instruments and two researchers extracted data on feasibility, reliability, validity and educational effect. Instruments are predominantly formative. Feasibility is generally deemed good and assessor training occurs sparsely but is considered crucial for successful implementation. Acceptable reliability can be achieved with 10 encounters. The validity of many instruments is not investigated, but the validity of the mini-CEX and the 'clinical evaluation exercise' is supported by strong and significant correlations with other valid assessment instruments. The evidence from the few studies on educational effects is not very convincing. The reports on clinical assessment instruments for single work-based encounters are generally positive, but supporting evidence is sparse. Feasibility of instruments seems to be good and reliability requires a minimum of 10 encounters, but no clear conclusions emerge on other aspects. Studies on assessor and learner training and studies examining effects beyond 'happiness data' are badly needed.

[Embryonic odontogenesis in vertebrates. A mini-review]. / De embryonale odontogenese bij vertebraten. Een kort overzicht.

Although the molecular cascades that control craniofacial development are still largely unknown, the generation of mutant animal models and the identification of gene mutations that cause human craniofacial syndromes have recently given significant insight into how the unique structure of the head develops. Craniofacial structures are formed from the prechordal mesoderm, the craniofacial ectoderm as well as the neural crest cells which develop on the dorsal side of the neural tube. Normal craniofacial morphology as well as normal (in number and in morphology) tooth organs develop as a consequence of complex interactions between these embryonic tissues. A series of inductive and reciprocal signals between the epithelium and mesenchyme determine the growth, the form and the ultimate differentiation of tissues and organs. Genetic research has shown the involvement of numerous developmental genes encoding a variety of transcription factors, growth factors and receptors. Mutations have been associated with, among others, non-syndromal forms of cleft palate, agenesis of tooth organs and abnormalities in the cranial bones.

[The role of the psychiatric nurse in an emergency service]. / La place de l'infirmière psychiatrique dans un service des urgences.

Since september 1989, 3 psychiatric nurses have been working with the crisis and psychiatric emergencies unit of the emergency service of Saint-Luc Hospital in Brussels (Belgium). In this paper, the authors examine the specific functions of psychiatric nurses in the taking in charge of psychiatric emergencies and functional somatic complaints, as well as their role in relation with the nursing team as a whole.