Psychosocial Stress, Cortisol Levels, and Maintenance of Vaginal Health

Stress stimuli are ubiquitous and women do not enjoy any exemptions. The physiologic “fight-or-flight” response may be deleterious to the female lower genital tract microbiome if the stress stimuli persist for longer than necessary. Persistent exposure to psychosocial stress and stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axes, and associated hormones are risk factors for several infections including genitourinary tract infections. Though this could be due to a dysregulated immune response, a cortisol-induced inhibition of vaginal glycogen deposition may be involved especially in the instance of vaginal infection. The estrogen-related increased vaginal glycogen and epithelial maturation are required for the maintenance of a healthy vaginal ecosystem (eubiosis). The ability of cortisol to disrupt this process as indicated in animal models is important in the pathogenesis of vaginal dysbiosis and the subsequent development of infection and inflammation. This phenomenon may be more crucial in pregnancy where a healthy Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota is sacrosanct, and there is local production of more corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the decidua, fetal membranes and placenta. To highlight the relationship between the stress hormone cortisol and the vaginal microbiomial architecture and function, the potential role of cortisol in the maintenance of vaginal health is examined

A preliminary study of the synbiotic effects of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) and lactobacilli on the growth of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of synbiotic combination of lactobacilli with konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (GMH) to reduce Streptococcus mutans growth in vitro with the intention of characterising its efficacy as a new approach for oral hygiene.Design/methodology/approachStrains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and S. mutans were grown individually or in combination in modified Columbia base broth supplemented with 2 per cent GMH. Following incubation, the samples were plated on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe and Columbia blood agar and growth of both strains was assessed.FindingsThe probiotic bacteria L. acidophilus was able to “out grow” S. mutans in the presence of konjac glucomannan in the mixed cultures.Originality/valueThe results indicate that consumption of prebiotic and probiotic combinations may play a role as potential prophylactic or therapeutic agents for reducing the presence of organisms in the mouth associated with tooth decay. In order to confirm a beneficial effect of GMH further in vivo in this concept, studies involving healthy human volunteers should be considered.</jats:sec

A preliminary study of the synbiotic effects of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) and lactobacilli on the growth of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans

Det har gjennom de senere årene vært store endringen innenfor arbeids- og velferdsetaten, det har vært stor utvikling på den teknologiske siden hvor det har kommet stadig nye tilskudd, en av de siste var innføringen av den digitale aktivitetsplanen. Denne skal gjøre det mulig for arbeidssøkere å få muligheten til å være mer aktive, men fører innføringen av den digitale aktivitetsplanen til økt brukermedvirkning? Jeg har gjort en undersøkelse blant NAV-veiledere om deres opplevelser av brukernes medvirkning i utformingen av tjenestetilbudet. Det er tatt utgangpunkt i teori som tar for seg kontakten mellom bruker og byråkratiet på ulike måter. Teknologi i velferdstjenester er med på å styre både relasjonen mellom bruker og veileder samt praksisen til veilederen. Ulike praksislogikker har ulikt fokus og kommer til uttrykk på ulike måter. Teori om mål på grad av deltakelse gir en pekepinn på deltakelsenivået i brukerne medvirkning. Undersøkelsen har vist at innføringen av digital aktivitetsplan gir de digitale brukerne en økt brukermedvirkning. Samtidig er det et poeng at dette kun gjelder for de digitale brukerne. De brukerne som ikke er digitale møtet på ulike hindringer som reduserer deres muligheter for deltakelse og brukermedvirkning. Disse hindringene kommer både i form av systemtekniske begrensninger, ufullstendig informasjon og veiledning om bruk av den digitale aktivitetsplanen og egen ressursmangel

Role of Glucomannans in Immunology

Glucomannans play a much broader role in human health then providing dietary fibre. They are biologically active molecules and can when added to the body imitate innate molecules found in different organs including surface carbohydrates on cells. This review considers the immunological role of exogenous glucomannans within animals and man.   This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page

The potential use of hydrolysed konjac glucomannan as a prebiotic

Konjac glucomannan hydrolysate was derived enzymatically from konjac flour under optimal conditions. A number of culture strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria were grown on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) media supplemented with the hydrolysate. This hydrolysate stimulated the growth of all strains examined. Colony sizes of those strains grown on konjac hydrolysate were significantly (P = 0.001) bigger than those grown on pectin or xylan hydrolysates. Bacterial growth profiles were also conducted on nutrient agar (MRS or modified MRS agar containing konjac hydrolysate) using single strains of lactobacilli or bifidobacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei or Bifidobacterium adolescentis), single pathogen cultures (Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes) or mixed bacterial cultures (from chicken breast extract). Although the growth of lactobacilli inhibited the growth of pathogens (single or mixed culture) the pathogens could not grow on the konjac hydrolysate as a sole carbon source. Microbial growth profiles using konjac hydrolysate or inulin in UHT milk were also investigated. The results showed that the numbers of colony forming units (cfu) obtained from milk containing the konjac hydrolysate were significantly (P = 0.01) higher than those containing inulin. It is suggested that the unique properties of konjac hydrolysate make it universally valuable as a prebiotic which can be applied to a wide range of foods, feeds and healthcare/pharmaceutical products