A 2-strain mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In the absence of a well-established therapeutic approach, patients with irritable bowel syndrome seek alternative strategies such as probiotics. AIMS: The current trial named LAPIBSS aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of a 2-strain mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus to improve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. METHODS: Eighty patients diagnosed for irritable bowel syndrome were recruited to a multicentre, double-blinded, in parallel groups, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Patients were provided with a daily dose of two capsules containing either probiotics (5 × 109 cfu/capsule) or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was abdominal pain score assessed with a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included scores of bloating, flatus and rumbling assessed with a 100-mm visual analogue scale, a composite score and bowel habits. RESULTS: Abdominal pain score was significantly improved in both groups at weeks 4 and 8 (P < 0.0001), but no significant differences were found between groups at week 8 (19.0 ±â€¯2.5 vs 25.1 ±â€¯2.6, respectively; LS Means differences = 6.0 ±â€¯3.2; P = 0.06). Significant differences between groups were observed for flatus score at week 4 (P = 0.04) and week 8 (P = 0.03) and composite score (P = 0.04) at week 8. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of the 2-strain mixture of L. acidophilus over 8 weeks is safe and decreases significantly flatus and composite scores. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EudraCT No 2008 A00844-51.

Effect of a glyphosate-based herbicide on gene expressions of the cytokines interleukin-1ß and interleukin-10 and of heme oxygenase-1 in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L.

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most frequently used herbicides in the world. We evaluated the effect of Roundup 360 SL on the expression of interleukin-1ß (il-1ß), interleukin-10 (il-10) and heme-oxygenase-1 (ho-1) in the gills, intestines and spleen of young European sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax L.), aged 8 mo. A group of fish was exposed to 647 mg/L of Roundup for 96 h. This treatment did not alter gene expression levels of il-1ß and il-10 cytokine in the intestines, but significantly lowered both levels in the gills (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04 respectively). Expression levels of ho-1 were increased significantly in the three organs of fish from the treated group (the gills p = 0.04, the intestines p = 0.004 and the spleen p < 0.001). These changes may in turn negatively impact the immune system of European sea bass exposed to Roundup.

Characterization of catechol glucuronidation in rat liver.

Catechols are a class of substances from natural or synthetic origin that contain a 1,2-dihydroxybenzene group. We have characterized the glucuronidation by rat liver microsomes and by the rat liver recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms UGT1A6 and UGT2B1 of a series of 42 structurally diverse catechols, including neurotransmitters, polyphenols, drugs, and catechol estrogens. Small catechols (4-nitrocatechol, 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-methylcatechol, and tetrachlorocatechol), tyrphostine A23, and octylgallate were glucuronidated at the highest rate by rat liver microsomes and the recombinant enzymes. By contrast, polyphenols from green tea (catechin and related compounds), 3,5-dinitrocatechol, the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor drugs (entacapone, nitecapone, and tolcapone), the carboxyl catechols (gallic acid and dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives), and the neurotransmitters and dopaminergic drugs, except dobutamine, were glucuronidated at low rate. Glucuronidation of most catechols was increased upon treatment of rats by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or Aroclor 1254. No induction was observed after administration of phenobarbital and clofibrate or treatment with catechols. Partial least-squares modeling was carried out to explain the variations of glucuronidation activity by liver microsomes of nontreated and 3-MC-treated rats. The model developed explained 82% and predicted 61% of the variations of glucuronidation activities. Among the 17 electronic and substructure parameters used that characterize the catechols, the hydrophobicity/molar volume ratio of catechols showed a strong positive correlation with the glucuronidation rate. The effect of the pK(a) of the catechol group was modeled to be nonlinear, the optimal pK(a) value for glucuronidation being between 8 and 9. Hydrogen bonding and steric effects also were important to account for to predict the glucuronidation rates.