First Steps towards the Pharmaceutical Development of Ovules Containing Lactobacillus Strains: Viability and Antimicrobial Activity as Basic First Parameters in Vaginal Formulations.

In the majority of Latin-American countries, including Argentina, there is a limited availability of vaginal bioproducts containing probiotics in the market. In addition, the conventional treatments of genital tract infections in women represent a high cost to the public health systems. The future development of this type of bioproducts that employ specific lactobacilli strains would not only have a meaningful impact on women's health but would also represent a significant challenge to the pharmaceutical industry. The aims of the work described in this paper were (i) to study different pharmaceutical formulations of vaginal ovules containing Lactobacillus fermentum L23 and L. rhamnosus L60, to determine in which formulation lactobacilli viability was sustained for longer time and (ii) to evaluate if probiotic strains maintained both the antimicrobial activity and biofilm-producing ability after being recovered from the ovules. In this study, we developed and characterized three pharmaceutical formulations containing different glycerol amounts and specific lactobacilli strains. Three relevant parameters, cell viability, antimicrobial activity, and biofilm production, by lactobacilli recovered from the ovules were tested. Although the viability of L23 and L60 strains was mainly influenced by high ovule's glycerol proportion, they survived at 4 °C during the 180 days. Both lactobacilli's antimicrobial activity and biofilm-producing ability were maintained for all treatments. In conclusion, employing a much reduced number of components, we were able to select the most suitable pharmaceutical formulation which maintained not only lactobacilli viability for a long period of time but also their antimicrobial activity and biofilm-producing ability.

Results of a home-based training program for patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVES: To have a group of COPD patients undergo a simple program of home-based exercise training, using the shuttle walking test (SWT) to standardize the intensity of training. METHODS: Sixty patients participated, randomly distributed into two groups (rehabilitation and control) of 30 patients each. The following evaluations were carried out at baseline and at 12 weeks: (1) pulmonary function studies; (2) SWT; (3) submaximal intensity resistance test; (4) cycle ergometer test; (5) quality of life; and (6) dyspnea. The rehabilitation group underwent a lower-extremity training program. Walking was selected as the type of exercise. The intensity of training was set at 70% of the maximum speed attained on the SWT. Divided sessions were held, lasting 1 h, 6 days/wk, at home, with a checkup every 2 weeks. The duration of the program was 12 weeks. RESULTS: The following patients completed the study: 20 patients (66.6%) from the rehabilitation group (mean [+/- SD]) age, 64.3 +/- 8.3 years; mean FEV(1), 41.7 +/- 15.6% of predicted); and 17 patients (56.6%) from the control group (mean age, 63.1 +/- 6.9 years; mean FEV(1), 40 +/- 16.4% of predicted). We found no changes in pulmonary function or effort parameters (SWT or cycle ergometer) in the rehabilitation group at 12 weeks. A twofold increase (1,274 +/- 980 to 2,651 +/- 2,056 m; p < 0.001) was achieved in the submaximal intensity resistance test, with less dyspnea at the conclusion of the test (p = 0.05). Significant improvement also was achieved in basal dyspnea and, both statistically and clinically, in the quality of life. Significant changes were not achieved in the control group patients. CONCLUSIONS: A simple home-based program of exercise training achieved improvement in exercise tolerance, posteffort dyspnea, basal dyspnea, and quality of life in COPD patients.