Maternal antibiotic prophylaxis affects Bifidobacterium spp. counts in the human milk, during the first week after delivery.

Human milk is an important source of microorganisms for infant gut colonisation. Although the maternal antibiotic prophylaxis is an important strategy to prevent maternal/neonatal sepsis, it has to be investigated how it may affect the human milk microbiota, especially the genus Bifidobacterium, which has been associated to health benefits. Here, we investigated the impact of the maternal antibiotic prophylaxis on the human milk Bifidobacterium spp. and total bacteria counts, in the first week (short-term) and first month (medium-term) after delivery. Human milk samples were collected from 55 healthy lactating women recruited from the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo at days 7±3 and 30±4 after vaginal delivery. Twenty one volunteers had received maternal antibiotic prophylaxis (MAP group) and 34 had not received MAP (no-MAP group) during or after labour. Total DNA was isolated from milk samples, and the bacterial counts were estimated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). We found lower levels of Bifidobacterium in the MAP group in the first week after delivery (median = 2.1 vs 2.4 log of equivalent cells/ml of human milk, for MAP and no-MAP groups, respectively; P=0.01), although there were no statistical differences in total bacteria count. However, no differences were found in Bifidobacterium counts between the groups at day 30±4 (median = 2.5 vs 2.2 log of equivalent cells/ml of human milk, for MAP and no-MAP groups, respectively; P=0.50). Our results suggest that MAP has a significant impact on Bifidobacterium counts in human milk, reducing this population in the first week after delivery. However, throughout the first month after delivery, the Bifidobacterium counts tend to recover, reaching similar counts to those found in no-MAP group at day 30±4 after delivery.

Saccharomyces boulardii Tht 500101 changes gut microbiota and ameliorates hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and liver inflammation in streptozotocin-diabetic mice.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a disorder resulting from chronic autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic ß-cells, lack of insulin production and hyperglycaemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that streptozotocin-diabetic mice treated with Saccharomyces boulardii THT 500101 strain present improvement of glucose and triglycerides metabolism, reduction of liver inflammation concomitant with a beneficial impact in the gut microbiota profile. C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned into three groups: Control, Diabetes, Diabetes+Probiotic, and were euthanised 8 weeks after probiotic chronic administration. Mice submitted to treatment presented reduced glycemia in comparison with the diabetic group, which was correlated with an increase in C-peptide level and in hepatic glycogen content. Fat metabolism was significantly altered in streptozotocin-induced diabetic group, and S. boulardii treatment regulated it, leading to a decrease in serum triglycerides secretion, increase in hepatic triglycerides storage and modulation of inflammatory profile. The phenotypic changes seen from chronic S. boulardii treatment were found to be broadly associated with the changes in microbioma of diabetic animals, with increased proportion in Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Deferribacteres, and a decreased proportion of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia phylum. Thus, the data presented here show up a novel potential therapeutic role of S. boulardii for the treatment and attenuation of diabetes-induced complications.

Antibody response of children with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection to the bundle-forming pilus and locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded virulence determinants.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) express a plasmid-encoded type IV pilus termed bundle-forming pilus, which is associated with the formation of bacterial microcolonies on cultured epithelial cells. Bacterial attachment and effacement of the enterocyte brush border membrane is attributed to a surface outer membrane protein adhesin termed intimin and EPEC-secreted proteins EspA, EspB, and EspD. Except for intimin, production in vivo or antibody response against these virulence determinants during natural EPEC infections in young children has not been demonstrated. Antibody responses against BfpA, intimin, EspA, and EspB were investigated in Brazilian children naturally infected with EPEC. Generally, IgG antibodies against BfpA and EspB were the most commonly found, followed by anti-EspA and intimin antibodies. Thus, bundle-forming pilus and locus of enterocyte attachment-encoded products are produced in vivo during natural EPEC infections and elicit an immune response against heterologous EPEC virulence determinants. These findings have important implications in the immunoprophylaxis against EPEC infections.

Compatibility and stability of labetalol hydrochloride in commonly used intravenous solutions.

Compatibility and stability of labetalol hydrochloride when mixed with commonly used large-volume parenterals (LVPs) were tested. Labetalol hydrochloride injection was added to 11 LVPs at concentrations of 1.25, 2.50, and 3.75 mg/ml. After initial samples were obtained, the admixtures were divided equally and stored for 72 hours at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C. The initial samples and aliquots withdrawn at 6, 24, and 72 hours were frozen until analysis. The initial and 72-hour samples were analyzed for drug concentration, pH, osmolarity, and visual changes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the assay, and the American Public Health Association color-testing procedure was used in evaluating color. In the admixture with 5% sodium bicarbonate injection, a white precipitate formed within six hours. At both storage temperatures, the drug concentration in all other LVP solutions was not appreciably different from the initial concentration. No additional HPLC peaks were noted, and no measurable change in pH or osmolarity occurred. No haze, precipitate, or color change occurred in the 10 admixtures. Labetalol hydrochloride was stable for 72 hours at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C in all i.v. solutions studied except 5% sodium bicarbonate injection.

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of clotrimazole in pharmaceutical formulations.

A simple stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed which separates clotrimazole from impurities and decomposition products in bulk drugs, creams, tablets, and solutions. Average recovery data for drug substance added to placebos were: tablet, 99.8%; solution, 99.5%; and cream, 100.0%. Average reproducibilities (RSD) on drug substance and formulations were: drug substance, 1.3%; tablets, 1.8%; solutions, 1.1%; and creams, 0.6%. HPLC assay results for both fresh and degraded samples agree with USP XX titration assay results. The method allows for the simultaneous determination of (o-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethanol hydrolysis product impurity.