Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 attenuates allergy development in a pig model.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have been studied as immunomodulatory agents of allergy. Several human probiotic trials tracking the development of eczema and other forms of allergy have yielded inconsistent results. A recent infant study demonstrated that pre and postnatal Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) supplementation decreased the prevalence of eczema and IgE associated eczema. However, the influence of HN001 on the incidence of wheeze, asthma, and/or other allergic manifestations has yet to be reported. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of the probiotic HN001 on the development of allergic lung disease in a pig model. METHODS: Allergy was induced by a series of subcutaneous and intratracheal sensitizations with Ascaris suum allergen (ASA) during a six week time frame in post-weanling pigs supplemented daily with HN001, or without supplementation. One week following final sensitization intradermal skin tests and respiratory challenges were conducted. RESULTS: In response to intradermal and respiratory challenges, ASA-sensitized pigs fed HN001 had less severe skin flare reactions, smaller increases in pleural pressure, and trends towards lower changes in arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure levels compared to control pigs. The frequency of ASA-specific IFN-γ-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as the amount of IL-10 produced by ASA-specific cells, was of greater magnitude in probiotic-fed pigs compared to control animals. These observations suggest that differences in clinical responses to the allergen challenges may be related to probiotic-induced modulation of Th1 (IFN-γ) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokine expression. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic supplementation decreased the severity of allergic skin and lung responses in allergen-sensitized pigs with a corresponding increase in IFN-γ expression. A similar correlation between certain allergic responses and increased IFN-γ expression has been reported in human clinical studies of allergy; this pig model of allergy may be indicative of potential probiotic modulation of allergic lung disease in humans.

The effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on test-taking anxiety among graduate nursing students.

Test taking in nursing school can produce stress that affects the ability of students to realize their goals of graduation. In this study, the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress in graduate nursing students as evidenced by lower scores on test anxiety measure, personal statements, and pulse rates.

Functional recovery of muscles after minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty.

Whether mini-incision total hip arthroplasty is associated with accelerated postoperative recovery is a subject of considerable controversy. A study was conducted to compare objective outcomes using gait analysis as a measure for recovery of function in patients treated with three different minimally invasive surgical approaches and the traditional posterior approach. Sixty-nine patients underwent instrumented gait analysis at self-selected and fast velocities preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Four surgical groups were studied-30 treated with posterior mini-incisions, 11 anterolateral, 10 anterior Judet, and 18 traditional posterior long incisions. Overall, gait velocity increased slightly at 6 weeks and significantly at 3 months. However, there were no significant differences between groups for velocity, cadence, stride length, single-limb support time, or double-limb support time at 6 weeks or 3 months postoperatively. These data indicate that patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty with any of these surgical approaches recover muscle function, as measured by gait analysis, to preoperative levels within 6 weeks postoperatively. No advantage was shown with the use of any of the three different small-incision approaches. This finding suggests that the amount of muscle, or the particular muscle cut, does not have a significant effect on the recovery of postoperative gait function.

Nutritional formula improved immune profiles of seniors living in nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether an experimental nutritional formula (EXP) supports immune function in seniors living in long-term care facilities. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial conducted September 2002 through January 2003. SETTING: North central Florida nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects aged 65 and older (n = 157). INTERVENTION: Subjects received 240 mL/d of EXP or standard liquid nutrition (CON) for 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after an influenza vaccination. MEASUREMENTS: Influenza vaccine antibody responses, immunophenotyping, lymphocyte activation, cytokines, and clinical measures (fever, number of prescribed antibiotics). RESULTS: Ninety-two subjects (n = 40, CON; n = 52, EXP) completed the study. Geometric mean antibody titers were similar between groups, yet the percentage of subjects with H1N1 antibody titers greater than 100 postvaccination was higher in the EXP group than in the CON group (43% vs 23%, P=.047). Similar trends were found for the percentage of subjects (intent to treat) with fourfold increases against the B/Hong Kong component (64% vs 46%, P = .09) or with H3N2 antibody titers of 40 or more (97% vs 89%, P=.06). EXP subjects had higher levels of influenza-activated lymphocytes (CD69+ and CD25+). Cytokine production after mitogen activation was lower in EXP than CON subjects (interleukin (IL)-6: 20+/-3 vs 29+/-3 ng/mL, P = .045; IL-10: 310+/-60 vs 603+/-140 pg/mL, P = .06). Fewer EXP subjects were treated for fever (5% vs 16%, P = .02) or prescribed antibiotics (7 vs 11 new antibiotics/100 days of study, P = .06). CONCLUSION: Seniors consuming the EXP formula demonstrated enhanced immune function, indicated by increased influenza vaccine response and lymphocyte activation, less fever, and fewer newly prescribed antibiotics than those consuming a standard ready-to-drink nutritional supplement.

Nutritional formula enhanced immune function and reduced days of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in seniors.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether an experimental nutritional formula, given as a supplement, would reduce days of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and affect antibody and lymphocyte proliferative responses to influenza vaccine. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted between October 1999 and April 2000. SETTING: Assisted- and independent-living facilities in North Central Florida. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-six individuals, aged 65 and older. INTERVENTION: Subjects received 8 oz/d of an experimental formula containing antioxidants, zinc, selenium, fermentable oligosaccharides, and structured triacylglycerol or an isoenergetic, isonitrogenous control formula for 183 days. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects recorded daily symptoms of URTI. Antibody titers and lymphocyte proliferation to three influenza vaccine components were measured on Days 57 and 183. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects in the control group and 16 subjects in the experimental group consumed an average of 7 ounces of formula daily and completed the 183-day study. Median days of symptoms of URTI were 3 (range 0-69, total days=156) and 0 (range 0-49, total days=78) for the control and experimental groups, respectively (P=.049). On Day 57, seven of 17 (41%) subjects in the control group and 13 of 15 (87%) subjects in the experimental group achieved a fourfold or greater increase in serum antibody titer to A/Beijing (P=.012). Lymphocyte proliferation to influenza vaccine components was greater in the experimental (median=1,365 cpm, range=0-14,955 cpm) than the control group (median=136 cpm, range=0-4,270 cpm) (P=.013). CONCLUSION: Subjects consuming an experimental nutritional formula experienced enhanced immune function and fewer days of URTI symptoms.

Immune status of infants fed soy-based formulas with or without added nucleotides for 1 year: part 1: vaccine responses, and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Immunologic development of soy-fed infants has not been extensively studied. Early studies of soy flour-based formulas showed decreased immunoglobulin production when soy protein intake was limited. However, there were no significant differences in rotavirus vaccine responses between breast-fed and soy protein isolate-based formula-fed infants. Nucleotides added to milk-based formula benefit infant immune status, but reports of the immunologic effects of adding nucleotides to soy-based formula are not available. This study evaluated immune status and morbidity of infants fed soy protein isolate formulas with and without added nucleotides for 1 year. METHODS: Newborn, term infants enrolled in a masked 12-month feeding trial were assigned randomly to groups fed soy formula with or without added nucleotides (n = 94, n = 92). A nonrandomized human milk/formula cohort (n = 81) was concurrently enrolled. Recommended immunizations were administered at 2, 4, and 6 months. Immune status was determined from antibody responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b, tetanus, diphtheria, and poliovirus vaccines at 6, 7, and 12 months. Parents and physicians reported morbidity data. RESULTS: All vaccine responses were within normal ranges. No response differences were observed between infants fed soy formula and those fed nucleotide-supplemented soy. However, antibody to H. influenzae type b at 7 and 12 months was higher in infants fed nucleotide-supplemented soy than in infants fed human milk/formula ( P = 0.007, P = 0.008, respectively). Human milk/formula-fed infants had higher poliovirus neutralizing antibody at 12 months than did soy-fed infants ( P = 0.016). Morbidity analyses showed that only physician-reported diarrhea was different among groups (groups fed human milk/formula had less diarrhea than did soy groups, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Term infants fed soy protein isolate-based formulas have normal immune development as measured by antibody responses to childhood immunizations.

Immune status of infants fed soy-based formulas with or without added nucleotides for 1 year: part 2: immune cell populations.

BACKGROUND: Infants fed a soy protein isolate-based formula have immunization responses similar to breast-fed infants. However, cellular aspects of the immunologic development of soy-fed infants have not been studied extensively. Nucleotides added to milk-based formula benefit infant immune status, but reports of the immunologic effects of adding nucleotides to soy-based formula are not available. This study examines immune cell populations of infants fed soy protein isolate formulas with and without added nucleotides for 1 year. METHODS: Newborn, term infants studied in a masked 12-month feeding trial were assigned randomly to soy formula groups with and without added nucleotides (n = 94, n = 92). A nonrandomized human milk/formula-fed cohort (n = 81), was concurrently enrolled. Blood samples were collected at 6, 7, and 12 months. Thirty-two immune cell populations were characterized using three-color flow cytometry. Cellular markers were chosen to assess general pediatric immune status, emphasizing maturation and activation of B, T, and NK lymphocytes. RESULTS: All cell populations, number and percentages, were within age-related normal ranges. The only significant difference found between soy formula and human milk/formula-fed infants was the percentage of CD57 + NK T cells at 12 months (human milk/formula > soy formula, P = 0.034). There were significant differences at some time points between human milk/formula-fed and nucleotide-supplemented soy formula-fed infants in populations of lymphocytes, eosinophils, total T, helper T, naive helper, memory/effector helper, CD57 - T, and CD11b + CD8 + NK cells. None of the cell populations differed between infants fed soy formula versus soy plus nucleotides. CONCLUSIONS: Infants fed this commercial soy formula demonstrated immune cell status similar to human milk/formula-fed infants, consistent with normal immune system development. The addition of nucleotides to soy formula did not significantly change specific individual immune cell populations but tended to increase numbers and percentages of T cells and decreased numbers and percentages of NK cells.