"Physicochemical, immunomodulatory and safety aspects of milks fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei isolated from kefir".

The use of Lactobacillus paracasei strains isolated from kefir grains as starters for the development of functional dairy products was evaluated. The physicochemical and immunomodulatory properties of milks fermented with L. paracasei CIDCA8339, CIDCA83123 and CIDCA83124 were analyzed. The three strains produced bioactive metabolites during fermentation, since the fermented milk supernatants were able to downregulate >75% of the induced innate immune response in vitro. Although all strains presented absence of hemolytic activity and susceptibility to antibiotics, L. paracasei CIDCA8339 presented more attractive probiotic and technological properties. Mice consuming the fermented milk with L. paracasei CIDCA 8339 did not present significant modifications in sIgA levels or TNF-α, TGF-ß and IL-10 mRNA expression in ileum. Additionally, a decrease of INF-γ level in ileum and no microbiological translocation to liver and spleen was observed. These results demonstrate that L. paracasei CIDCA8339 represents a safe promising potential probiotic strain for the development of functional foods.

Consensus statement: Oral health and elite sport performance.

While the research base is limited, studies have consistently reported poor oral health in elite athletes since the first report from the 1968 Olympic Games. The finding is consistent both across selected samples attending dental clinics at major competitions and more representative sampling of teams and has led to calls from the International Olympic Committee for more accurate data on oral health. Poor oral health is an important issue directly as it can cause pain, negative effects on appearance and psychosocial effects on confidence and quality of life and may have long-term consequences for treatment burden. Self-reported evidence also suggests an impact on training and performance of athletes. There are many potential challenges to the oral health of athletes including nutritional, oral dehydration, exercise-induced immune suppression, lack of awareness, negative health behaviours and lack of prioritisation. However, in theory, oral diseases are preventable by simple interventions with good evidence of efficacy. The consensus statement aims to raise awareness of the issues of oral health in elite sport and recommends strategies for prevention and health promotion in addition to future research strategies.

RER(+) phenotype in prostate intra-epithelial neoplasia associated with human prostate-carcinoma development.

The mutator (RER(+)) phenotype has been shown to be a mutational mechanism for tumour-suppressor-gene inactivation in colorectal cancer. A group of 60 prostate-carcinoma patients was studied to determine the frequency, intratumour distribution and timing of mutator phenotype in this cancer. Ten microsatellite loci were analyzed in 172 carcinoma foci (CF) and in 57 associated non-cancerous prostate tissues, including 31 areas of prostate intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 26 non-dysplastic areas with glandular hyperplasia (HP). We detected lesions with the RER(+) phenotype in 42% (25/60) of the prostate tumours. Clonal foci with RER(+) phenotype were detected at similar frequencies in pre-cancereous PIN (16%, 5/31) as in associated carcinoma foci (22%, 37/172), but were detected in only one of the 26 non-dysplastic prostate tissues studied (4%). Thus, clonal RER(+) foci were significantly more frequent in CF than in HP (p < 0.05). MI itself was significantly more frequent in CF (53%, p < 0.0001) and in PIN (35%, p < 0.05) than in HP (12%). Furthermore, 5 PIN harboured microsatellite mutations also detected in the associated cancer. Our overall results therefore strongly suggest that the mutator phenotype may occur as an early event in prostate tumorigenesis.

Identification of p74, a gene essential for virulence of baculovirus occlusion bodies.

DNA sequencing of the HindIII-P fragment of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus downstream of a major late protein, p10, revealed the presence of an open reading frame (ORF) 1935 nucleotides in length and in opposite polarity to p10. The gene product is considered essential for virus virulence in Trichoplusia ni larvae since infection with occlusion bodies from a mutant, Ac228z, in which portions of adjacent carboxy-termini from peptides p74 and p10 were deleted, failed to kill larvae, whereas virus with deletions in p10 alone were as infectious to larvae as wild-type virus. The ORF has the potential to code for a polypeptide of 645 amino acid residues (Mr 73,819) and was designated p74. Time course analysis of RNA from infected cells using primer extension assays suggested that the gene's promoter was weak and was most active at 16-20 hr postinfection. The transcription initiation site of the RNA was located at -90/-91 bases upstream of the start codon. The p74 gene was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector and a recombinant virus was produced which overexpressed the p74 protein.

Pharmacological properties of diclofenac sodium and its metabolites.

Diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent of a new chemical structure, which is animal experiments shows a high degree of anti inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity in various pharmacological models. It inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo, and this inhibitory effect at least partly explains the mechanism of action of the preparation. In animal experiments diclofenac sodium is characterised by a broad therapeutic range. Also, its gastrointestinal tolerability is better than that of other highly effective non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents. Two of the metabolites produced during the biotransformation of diclofenac sodium in man are also biologically active. The activity of these two metabolites, however, is very much weaker than that of unchanged diclofenac sodium and is comparable to that of phenylbutazone.

Modification of Trichoplusia ni nuclear polyhedrosis virus passaged in vivo.

A designated strain of plaque-purified Trichoplusia ni nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) was used to initiate a serial passage series in vivo. The virulence of polyhedra inclusion bodies (PIB) and the distribution of MP (many PIB) and FP (few PIB) strains in hemolymph were monitored. When virus was passaged per os as PIB, there was no major change in virulence after 15 passes in insects. Plaque analysis of hemolymph from the infected insects indicated that there was no selection for the FP strain of virus. There was little overall change in the infectivity of nonoccluded virus (NOV) after 16 passes by injection into T. ni larvae; however, plaque analysis of the hemolymph from the infected insects indicated progressive selection of FP virus. It is postulated that when PIB are the vehicles of virus transmission, there is no progressive accumulation of noninfectious FP PIB; however, when NOV are the vehicles of virus transmission, FP NOV production displaces MP virus synthesis. This may result from a growth advantage of the FP NOV over the MP NOV as shown in vitro and from the noninfectious nature of FP PIB.

Inhibitory effect of enkephalins on contractions of the guinea-pig ileum elicited by PGE1.

Methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin (m-enk and 1-enk) as well as D-Ala2-methionine-enkephalin amide have been shown to antagonize contractions of the isolated guinea-pig intestine elicited by PGE1, the last mentioned being the most potent of the three. The inhibitory effect of these pentapeptides is abolished by naloxone.

[Photoinhibition of chlamydosporulation of Candida albicans]. / Photoinhibition de la chlamydosporulation de Candida albicans.

Candida albicans produced chlamydospores after 24 h in the dark at 27 degrees C, but the process was inhibited under adequate irradiation of light. The in vivo absorption spectra showed a main peak at 414 nm, and less important peaks at 430, 446, 477, 519, 549 and 560 nm. No bands were detected beyond 600 nm. A total inhibition of chlamydosporulation occurred at 414 nm (monochromatic light) for an initial energy of 2,000 ergs cm-2 s-1. A 4,000 ergs cm-2 s-1 irradiation energy was necessary to observe a marked inhibition at 460, 500 and 530 nm (les chlamydospores and/or immaturity); this energy must be raised to 300,000 ergs cm-2 s-1 to observe a similar effect at 575 and 630 nm. Biological activity spectra were in full concordance with absorption spectra at 414 nm; no interpretation of absorption band at 460 nm is given, but total or partial inhibition could be explained by modulation of protoporphyrin activity.

The pharmacological activity of tribenoside.

Ethyl-3,5,6-tri-O-benzyl-D-glucofuranoside (RBGF) the active substance of Glyvenol displays a unique spectrum of activities. It possesses anti-inflammatory, mild analgesic, antitoxic, wound-healing, fibrinolysis-promoting, anti-arthrotic, amine-release-inhibitory, membrane-stabilizing and venotropic properties. Unlike corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, TBGF dose not exert untoward effects on the gastrointestinal system, the connective tissue or the body's defence systems. In addition, TBGF does not affect the prostaglandin-synthetase system. TBGF thus seems to share the positive pharmacological properties ascribed to glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, yet is free from the undesirable effects of both.

Antagonism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic analgesics against ethacrynic acid induced writhing.

Thiol-group reactive agents [alloxan, N-ethyimaleimide (NEM), ethacrynic acid, p-chlormercuribenzoate (PCMB)] were shown to induce a writhing syndrome in mice and rats when injected i.p. in appropriate dosage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, narcotic analgesics and also psychotropic drugs inhibit the syndrome elicited in rats by ethacrynic acid. Rats pretreated with cysteine i.p. show a greatly reduced nociceptive response to ethacrynic acid or alloxan.

Histamine-releasing effect of a corticotrophin derivative. I. Histamine-releasing effect of a nonadecapeptide in comparison with that of other histamine liberators.

The histamine-liberating properties of a synthetic polypeptide (an a synthetic polypeptide (an alkylprolyl derivative of beta1-19-corticotrophin) were investigated under a variety of experimental conditions. It was found to be more potent in this respect than Compound 48/80, Melittin and Triton X-100. The degree of cell destruction observed in conjunction with the release of histamine induced by C 44 680-Ba suggests that the mode of action of the substance more closely resembles that of Compound 48/80 than that of Triton.

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents as potent antagonists of mescaline-induced contractions in the rat uterus.

In the isolated rat uterus, mescaline induces contractions that are notably antagonized by catecholamines, by beta-adrenergic stimulants and certain beta-adrenergic blocking agents as well as by chlorpromazine, amitriptyline and methysergide.