Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus paracasei LAFTI® L26 by extrusion in an alginate matrix

Probiotic bacteria are currently used in the development of functional food products, yet sometimes face technological challenges when incorporated in food matrices with more aggressive environments – salt, acid or oxygen concentrations. Encapsulation is an efficient technique to overcome such difficulties since encapsulation microcapsules help in their protection from both the product intrinsic properties and the gastrointestinal tract. Among the many factors influencing encapsulation efficiency, capsule size is an important issue since it can affect the textural and sensorial properties of the food product to which they are added. In this research work the microencapsulation efficiency and stability throughout storage of calcium alginate capsules (produced by extrusion) of Lactobacillus paracasei LAFTI® L26 was studied. Initially, extrusion by coaxial flow was used for encapsulation. Storage in Ringer solution at 4 ºC in a 1:9 (g/mL) racio – and the effect of a protecting agent – lactose, were assessed (samples collected at 0, 3, 5, 7 and 14d). In order to reduce the capsules’ size, extrusion by aerodynamically assisted flow was also tested and two different rupture solutions (sodium citrate 2 %(w/v) and phosphate buffer (0.5 M; pH 7)) were assessed. The capsules obtained via extrusion by coaxial flow presented dimensions superior to 200 µm. The incorporation method was shown to be effective. Suspension of the L. paracasei LAFTI® L26 alginate capsules in Ringer solution and storage at 4 ºC was shown to be a good preservation method and lactose did not present a protective effect. Such encapsulation increased survival of bacteria under storage at 4 ºC for two months (samples collected at 0, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60d), reducing the decline of viable cell numbers when in comparison with free cells (3 log cycles versus 4 log cycles). The size of the capsules obtained using extrusion by aerodynamically assisted flow was smaller than 100 µm which allows the capsules to be incorporated in food products without a negative sensorial perception. The encapsulation method was also shown to be effective and no difference between rupture solutions was observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relevance of brain lesion location to cognition in relapsing multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between cognition and brain white matter (WM) lesion distribution and frequency in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS). METHODS: MRI-based T2 lesion probability map (LPM) was used to assess the relevance of brain lesion location for cognitive impairment in a group of 142 consecutive patients with RRMS. Significance of voxelwise analyses was p<0.05, cluster-corrected for multiple comparisons. The Rao Brief Repeatable Battery was administered at the time of brain MRI to categorize the MS population into cognitively preserved (CP) and cognitively impaired (CI). RESULTS: Out of 142 RRMS, 106 were classified as CP and 36 as CI. Although the CI group had greater WM lesion volume than the CP group (p = 0.001), T2 lesions tended to be less widespread across the WM. The peak of lesion frequency was almost twice higher in CI (61% in the forceps major) than in CP patients (37% in the posterior corona radiata). The voxelwise analysis confirmed that lesion frequency was higher in CI than in CP patients with significant bilateral clusters in the forceps major and in the splenium of the corpus callosum (p<0.05, corrected). Low scores of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test correlated with higher lesion frequency in these WM regions. CONCLUSIONS: Overall these results suggest that in MS patients, areas relevant for cognition lie mostly in the commissural fiber tracts. This supports the notion of a functional (multiple) disconnection between grey matter structures, secondary to damage located in specific WM areas, as one of the most important mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment in MS

Desempenho de uma população brasileira no teste de alfabetização funcional para adultos na área de saúde

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the scoring obtained by an instrument, which evaluates the ability to read and understand items in the health care setting, according to education and age. METHODS: The short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults was administered to 312 healthy participants of different ages and years of schooling. The study was conducted between 2006 and 2007, in the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. The test includes actual materials such as pill bottles and appointment slips and measures reading comprehension, assessing the ability to read and correctly pronounce a list of words and understand both prose passages and numerical information. Pearson partial correlations and a multiple regression model were used to verify the association between its scores and education and age. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 47.3 years(sd=16.8) and the mean education was 9.7 years(sd=5; range: 1 - 17). A total of 32.4% of the sample showed literacy/numeracy deficits, scoring in the inadequate and marginal functional health literacy ranges. Among the elderly (65 years or older) this rate increased to 51.6%. There was a positive correlation between schooling and scores (r=0.74; pOBJETIVO: Analizar los escores de instrumento que evalúa habilidad de lectura y comprensión de materiales del área de salud según escolaridad y edad. MÉTODOS: Fueron evaluados 312 participantes saludables de diferentes edades por medio de la versión reducida del instrumento Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. El estudio fue realizado entre 2006 y 2007 en la ciudad de Sao Paulo (Sureste de Brasil). El instrumento incluye materiales como frascos de medicamentos y cartones de para marcar consultas, evaluando la comprensión de lectura y de conceptos numéricos. Las pruebas de correlación parcial y de Pearson y un modelo de regresión múltiple fueron usados para verificar la asociación entre los escores en el instrumento, escolaridad y edad. RESULTADOS: Los promedios de edad y de escolaridad de la muestra fueron respectivamente 47,3 (dp=16,8) y 9,7 (dp=5; de uno a 17 años de estudio). El total de 32,4% de la muestra mostraron déficit de alfabetización funcional/uso de conceptos numéricos en el área de salud, con desempeño inadecuado o limítrofe en el instrumento. Entre ancianos (65 años o más) esta tasa afectó 51,6%. Se encontró correlación positiva entre años de estudio y escores en el instrumento (r=0,740; p< 0,01) y correlación negativa entre edad y escores en el instrumento (r=-0,259; p< 0,01).La correlación entre escores en el instrumento y edad no fue significativa cuando los efectos de la escolaridad fueron controlados (r=-0,031, p=0,584). Una asociación significativa (B=3,877, Beta=0,733; p< 0,001) fue encontrada entre años de estudio y escores en el instrumento. La edad no fue una variable predictiva en el modelo (B=-0,035, Beta=-0,22; p=0,584). CONCLUSIONES: El instrumento es adecuado para evaluar la alfabetización funcional en salud en la población brasilera. El elevado número de individuos clasificados como analfabetos funcionales indica la importancia de adopción de medidas especiales para ayudar estos individuos a comprender correctamente las orientaciones para cuidados de salud.OBJETIVO: Analisar os escores de instrumento que avalia habilidade de leitura e compreensão de materiais da área da saúde segundo escolaridade e idade. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 312 participantes saudáveis de diferentes idades por meio da versão reduzida do instrumento Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. O estudo foi realizado entre 2006 e 2007 na cidade de São Paulo (SP). O instrumento envolve materiais como frascos de medicamentos e cartões de agendamento de consultas, avaliando a compreensão de leitura e de conceitos numéricos. Os testes de correlação parcial e de Pearson e um modelo de regressão múltipla foram usados para verificar a associação entre os escores no instrumento, escolaridade e idade. RESULTADOS: As médias de idade e de escolaridade da amostra foram respectivamente 47,3 (dp=16,8 ) e 9,7 (dp=5; de um a 17 anos de estudo). O total de 32,4% da amostra mostraram déficits de alfabetização funcional/ uso de conceitos numéricos na área de saúde, com desempenho inadequado ou limítrofe no instrumento. Entre idosos (65 anos ou mais) esta taxa atingiu 51,6%. Encontrou-se correlação positiva entre anos de estudo e escores no instrumento (r=0,740;

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets

Improving the Characterization of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To improve the characterization of asymptomatic subjects with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities highly suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition named as "radiologically isolated syndrome" (RIS). METHODS: Quantitative MRI metrics such as brain volumes and magnetization transfer (MT) were assessed in 19 subjects previously classified as RIS, 20 demographically-matched relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC). Specific measures were: white matter (WM) lesion volumes (LV), total and regional brain volumes, and MT ratio (MTr) in lesions, normal-appearing WM (NAWM) and cortex. RESULTS: LV was similar in RIS and RRMS, without differences in distribution and frequency at lesion mapping. Brain volumes were similarly lower in RRMS and RIS than in HC (p<0.001). Lesional-MTr was lower in RRMS than in RIS (p = 0.048); NAWM-MTr and cortical-MTr were similar in RIS and HC and lower (p<0.01) in RRMS. These values were particularly lower in RRMS than in RIS in the sensorimotor and memory networks. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 13/19 RIS had ≥70% probability of being classified as RRMS on the basis of their brain volume and lesional-MTr values. CONCLUSIONS: Macroscopic brain damage was similar in RIS and RRMS. However, the subtle tissue damage detected by MTr was milder in RIS than in RRMS in clinically relevant brain regions, suggesting an explanation for the lack of clinical manifestations of subjects with RIS. This new approach could be useful for narrowing down the RIS individuals with a high risk of progression to MS

Impact of a Citywide Sanitation Program in Northeast Brazil on Intestinal Parasites Infection in Young Children

BACKGROUND: Sanitation affects health, especially that of young children. Residents of Salvador, in Northeast Brazil, have had a high prevalence of intestinal parasites. A citywide sanitation intervention started in 1996 aimed to raise the level of sewer coverage from 26% to 80% of households. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the impact of this intervention on the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria, and Giardia duodenalis infections in preschool children. METHODS: The evaluation was composed of two cross-sectional studies (1998 and 2003-2004), each of a sample of 681 and 976 children 1-4 years of age, respectively. Children were sampled from 24 sentinel areas chosen to represent the range of environmental conditions in the study site. Data were collected using an individual/household questionnaire, and an environmental survey was conducted in each area before and after the intervention to assess basic household and neighborhood sanitation conditions. Stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. The effect of the intervention was estimated by hierarchical modeling, fitting a sequence of multivariate regression models. FINDINGS: The prevalence ofA. lumbricoides infection was reduced from 24.4% to 12.0%, T. trichuria from 18.0% to 5.0%, and G. duodenalis from 14.1% to 5.3%. Most of this reduction appeared to be explained by the increased coverage in each neighborhood by the sewage system constructed during the intervention. The key explanatory variable was thus an ecological measure of exposure and not household-based, suggesting that the parasite transmission prevented by the program was mainly in the public (vs. the domestic) domain. CONCLUSION: This study, using advanced statistical modeling to control for individual and ecological potential confounders, demonstrates the impact on intestinal parasites of sanitation improvements implemented at the scale of a large population