Characterization of Lactococcus lactis 11/19-B1 Isolated from Kiwi Fruit as a Potential Probiotic and Paraprobiotic.

Probiotics are live bacteria used as food additives that are beneficial to human health. Lactococcus lactis 11/19-B1 strain isolated from kiwi fruit stimulates innate immunity in silkworms. Intake of yogurt containing the living 11/19-B1 strain significantly decreases the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in high-LDL volunteers and improves atopic dermatitis in humans. In this study, the probiotic properties of the 11/19-B1 strain, such as sensitivity to antimicrobial compounds, biogenic amine production, some virulence genes for human health, antimicrobial activity, tolerance to gastric acid and bile acids, and ability to adhere to the intestinal mucosa, were evaluated. The 11/19-B1 strain did not show resistance to the tested antimicrobial compounds except cefoxitin and fosfomycin. In addition, no production of amines that can harm humans, the antimicrobial activity required for probiotics, and the absence of adhesion to Caco-2 cells suggest that it is unlikely to attach to the intestinal epithelium. The 11/19-B1 strain grew in 0.3% but not in 1% bile salt. In the presence of 2% skim milk, the survival rate of the 11/19-B1 strain under simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions was 67% even after 4 h. These results indicate that the 11/19-B1 strain may function as a probiotic or paraprobiotic to be utilized in the food industry.

Characteristics of Helicase-Primase Inhibitor Amenamevir-Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus.

The antiherpetic drug amenamevir (AMNV) inhibits the helicase-primase complex of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus directly as well as inhibiting the replication of these viruses. Although several mutated HSV viruses resistant to helicase-primase inhibitors have been reported, the mutations contributing to the resistance remain unclear, as recombinant viruses containing a single mutation have not been analyzed. We obtained AMNV-resistant viruses with amino acid substitutions by several passages under AMNV treatment. Twenty HSV-1 and 19 HSV-2 mutants with mutation(s) in UL5 helicase and/or UL52 primase, but not in cofactor UL8, were isolated. The mutations in UL5 were located downstream of motif IV, with UL5 K356N in HSV-1 and K355N in HSV-2, in particular, identified as having the highest frequency, which was 9/20 and 9/19, respectively. We generated recombinant AMNV-resistant HSV-1 with a single amino acid substitution using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) mutagenesis. As a result, G352C in UL5 helicase and F360C/V and N902T in UL52 primase were identified as novel mutations. The virus with K356N in UL5 showed 10-fold higher AMNV resistance than did other mutants and showed equivalent viral growth in vitro and virulence in vivo as the parent HSV-1, although other mutants showed attenuated virulence. All recombinant viruses were susceptible to the other antiherpetic drugs, acyclovir and foscarnet. In conclusion, based on BAC mutagenesis, this study identified, for the first time, mutations in UL5 and UL52 that contributed to AMNV resistance and found that a mutant with the most frequent K356N mutation in HSV-1 maintained viral growth and virulence equivalent to the parent virus.

Protection of Fatty Liver by the Intake of Fermented Soybean Paste, Miso, and Its Pre-Fermented Mixture.

Soybeans and fermented soy-derived foodstuffs contain many functional components and demonstrate various beneficial effects. In this report, we demonstrate the anti-fatty liver effect of miso, a traditional fermented product made from soybeans and rice molded in Aspergillus oryzae and forming a common part of the Japanese diet. After acclimation for 2 weeks, male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal diet (ND), a high-fat diet (HFD), a HFD containing 5% miso (HFD+M), or a HFD containing 5% pre-fermented miso (HFD+PFM) for 20 weeks. Although mice in the HFD group developed typical fatty liver, the consumption of miso or PFM significantly ameliorated the progression of fatty liver in female mice. The liver weight and the average nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) were significantly reduced in the HFD+M and HFD+PFM groups. In addition, leptin and resistin levels in the serum were decreased in the HFD+M and HFD+PFM groups. The progression of fatty liver was also prevented by the consumption of miso or PFM in male mice, although there were no decreases in NAS. Therefore, miso appears to be a potential food to prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome.

Blueberry Prevents the Bladder Dysfunction in Bladder Outlet Obstruction Rats by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Suppressing Bladder Remodeling.

Various berries demonstrate antioxidant activity, and this effect is expected to prevent chronic diseases. We examined whether a diet containing blueberry powder could prevent the development of bladder dysfunction secondary to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Eighteen 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham (sham operated + normal diet), N-BOO (BOO operated + normal diet) and B-BOO (BOO operated + blueberry diet). Four weeks after BOO surgery, the N-BOO group developed bladder dysfunction with detrusor overactivity. The B-BOO group showed significantly improved micturition volume and micturition interval. The urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as oxidative stress markers. In the N-BOO group, 8-OHdG increased 1.6-fold and MDA increased 1.3-fold at 4 weeks after surgery, whereas the increase in 8-OHdG was significantly reduced by 1.1-fold, despite a similar increase in MDA, in the B-BOO group. Bladder remodeling was confirmed due to bladder hypertrophy, fibrosis and increased connexin43 expression in the N-BOO group, but these histological changes were reduced in the B-BOO group. The intake of blueberries prevented the development of bladder dysfunction secondary to BOO. This effect seems to be related to antioxidation and the inhibition of bladder remodeling.

A Double-Blind Controlled Study to Evaluate the Effects of Yogurt Enriched with Lactococcus lactis 11/19-B1 and Bifidobacterium lactis on Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Level and Antigen-Specific Interferon-γ Releasing Ability.

In order to clarify the effects of the Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) 11/19-B1 strain, a double-blind controlled study of yogurt fermented with the strain was carried out. For the study, two kinds of yogurt, the control and test yogurt, were prepared; the control yogurt was fermented with Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and the test yogurt was enriched with L. lactis 11/19-B1 and Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) BB-12 strains. Seventy-six volunteers who had not received treatment with pharmaceuticals were randomly divided into two groups with each group ingesting 80 g of either the test or control yogurt every day for 8 weeks. Before and after yogurt intake, fasting blood was taken and blood sugar, blood lipids, and anti-cytomegalovirus cellular immunity were estimated. In the test yogurt group, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was significantly decreased (159.1 ± 25.7 to 149.3 ± 24.4; p = 0.02), but this effect was not observed in the control yogurt group. When the test yogurt group was divided into two groups based on LDL levels of over or under 120 mg/dL, this effect was only observed in the high LDL group. No LDL-lowering effect of B. lactis BB-12 strain was previously reported; therefore, the hypocholesterolemic effects observed in this study are thought to be caused by the L. lactis 11/19-B1 strain alone or its combination with the B. lactis BB-12 strain.

Preventive Effect of Hydrogen Water on the Development of Detrusor Overactivity in a Rat Model of Bladder Outlet Obstruction.

PURPOSE: Bladder ischemia and oxidative stress contribute to the pathogenesis of bladder dysfunction caused by bladder outlet obstruction. H2 reportedly acts as an effective antioxidant. We investigated whether oral ingestion of H2 water would have a beneficial effect on bladder function in a rat model of bladder outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: H2 water was made by dissolving H2 gas in ordinary drinking water using a hydrogen water producing apparatus. The bladder outlet obstruction model was surgically induced in male rats. Rats with obstruction were fed H2 water or ordinary drinking water. On week 4 postoperatively cystometry was performed. Oxidative stress markers and the bladder nerve growth factor level were determined. Bladder tissues were processed for pharmacological studies and histological analysis. RESULTS: The micturition interval and micturition volume significantly decreased in obstructed rats given ordinary drinking water. These decreases were significantly suppressed by oral ingestion of H2 water. Increased post-void residual volume in obstructed rats was significantly reduced by H2 water. Obstruction led to a significant increase in bladder weight, oxidative stress markers and nerve growth factor. H2 water significantly suppressed these increases without affecting bladder weight. There was no significant difference in histological findings between rats with bladder obstruction given H2 water and ordinary drinking water. Decreased responses of detrusor muscle strips from obstructed bladders to KCl, carbachol and electrical field stimulation were reversed by H2 water ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that H2 water could ameliorate bladder dysfunction secondary to bladder outlet obstruction by attenuating oxidative stress.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of nadolol with itraconazole, rifampicin and grapefruit juice in healthy volunteers.

To evaluate effects of itraconazole, rifampicin and grapefruit juice on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a hydrophilic non-selective ß-adrenoceptor blocker nadolol, we conducted an open-label, four-way crossover study in 10 healthy male volunteers. A single oral dose of 30 mg nadolol was administered with water (control), itraconazole (100 mg), or grapefruit juice (300 mL), or after a 6-day pretreatment with rifampicin (450 mg/day). Plasma concentrations and urinary excretions of nadolol were measured over 48 hours after its dosing. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate were periodically recorded after nadolol administration as pharmacodynamic parameters. Itraconazole increased the peak plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞ ) of nadolol by 468% and 224% of control, respectively (P < .001). A slight, but not statistically significant, decrease in AUC0-∞ of nadolol was observed in rifampicin and grapefruit juice phases as compared to control. Elimination half-life for nadolol did not differ among the four phases. During itraconazole phase, nadolol reduced pharmacodynamic parameters to a greater extent than the other phases. These results suggest that itraconazole substantially increases the oral availability of nadolol possibly by the inhibition of intestinal P-glycoprotein, whereas grapefruit juice has little effect on nadolol pharmacokinetics.

Effects of itraconazole, dexamethasone and naringin on the pharmacokinetics of nadolol in rats.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the involvement of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp) 1a5 in the pharmacokinetics of nadolol (NDL), a non-metabolized hydrophilic ß-adrenoceptor blocker, in rats. Pretreatment with itraconazole (ICZ, P-gp inhibitor, 50 mg/kg) for 30 min before oral administration of NDL (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0₋∞)of NDL by 1.7-fold compared with control. Intragastric administration of dexamethasone (DEX, 8 mg/kg) for 4 consecutive days increased P-gp level in the intestine and the liver. In line with this, DEX pre-treatment decreased maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) of NDL by 28% of control. To inhibit the intestinal Oatp1a5, naringin (NRG, 0.145 mg/kg) was preadministered orally for 30 min before the oral administrations of NDL or celiprolol (CEL, 10 mg/kg, Oatp1a5 substrate). Although NRG markedly reduced C(max) and AUC0₋∞ of CEL by 60% and 65% of control, respectively, little difference was observed in the plasma concentration of NDL between NRG and control. These results suggest that P-gp is greatly involved in the pharmacokinetics of NDL, while the involvement of Oatp1a5 in the pharmacokinetics of NDL may be less than that of celiprolol in rats.