An overview of the recent developments on fructooligosaccharide production and applications

Over the past years, many researchers have suggested that deficiencies in the diet can lead to disease states and that some diseases can be avoided through an adequate intake of relevant dietary components. Recently, a great interest in dietary modulation of the human gut has been registered. Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), play a key role in the improvement of gut microbiota balance and in individual health. FOS are generally used as components of functional foods, are generally regarded as safe (generally recognized as safe status—from the Food and Drug Administration, USA), and worth about 150€ per kilogram. Due to their nutrition- and health-relevant properties, such as moderate sweetness, low carcinogenicity, low calorimetric value, and low glycemic index, FOS have been increasingly used by the food industry. Conventionally, FOS are produced through a two-stage process that requires an enzyme production and purification step in order to proceed with the chemical reaction itself. Several studies have been conducted on the production of FOS, aiming its optimization toward the development of more efficient production processes and their potential as food ingredients. The improvement of FOS yield and productivity can be achieved by the use of different fermentative methods and different microbial sources of FOS producing enzymes and the optimization of nutritional and culture parameter; therefore, this review focuses on the latest progresses in FOS research such as its production, functional properties, and market data.Agencia de Inovacao (AdI)-Project BIOLIFE reference PRIME 03/347. Ana Dominguez acknowledges Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal, for her PhD grant reference SFRH/BD/23083/2005

Relationship between drug-induced interstitial lung diseases and cytochrome P450 polymorphisms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Interstitial lung disease and especially drug-induced interstitial lung disease can occur as a cause of drug(s) or drug-drug interactions. In this review we summarize the possible role of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in drug-induced interstitial lung disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The CYP enzyme family plays an important role in the metabolism of all sorts of ingested, injected or inhaled xenobiotic substances. Although the liver is considered to be the major metabolism site of CYP enzymes, in recent years more CYP isoforms have been detected in lung tissue. Polymorphisms in these CYP genes can influence the metabolic activity of the subsequent enzymes, which in turn may lead to localized (toxic) reactions and tissue damage. SUMMARY: Drug toxicity can be the consequence of no or very poor enzyme activity, especially if no other metabolic route is available. In the case of reduced enzyme activity, dose reduction or prescribing an alternative drug metabolized by a different, unaffected CYP enzyme is recommended to prevent toxic side effects. Therefore, knowing a patient's CYP profile before drug prescription could be a way to prevent drug-induced interstitial lung disease. Moreover, it might be helpful in explaining serious adverse effects from inhaled, injected or ingested xenobiotic substances

Development of Cocaine-Induced Interstitial Lung Damage in Two CYP2C and VKORC1 Variant Allele Carriers

Background: Often, the connection between drug use and the development of related inflammatory damage or idiosyncratic toxicities is hard to recognize and objectify. The presence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) variant genotypes appears to be a substantial susceptibility risk factor in the development of drug-induced pulmonary adverse events. We hypothesized that the presence of variant alleles may be associated with serious complications of illicit drug use. Case Report: We report the cases of two cocaine users who developed a 'flu-like' syndrome with diffuse interstitial infiltrates after cocaine abuse. Genotyping for CYP (CYP2C9, CYP2C19) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1) allelic variants (-1639G/A and 1173C/T) was performed in these two patients. Both cases were heterozygous for VKORC1 variant alleles, and both possessed a CYP2C polymorphism (case 1: CYP2C19*1/*2; case 2: CYP2C9*1/*3). Conclusions: The described drug abuse cases suggest that an association between the presence of CYP2C and VKORC1 allelic variants and cocaine-induced interstitial lung damage is highly likely. It is assumed that these polymorphisms contribute to intra-individual variability in drug response and toxicity, including cocaine response and toxicity. Moreover, the importance of including pharmacogenomics in the work-up of patients with suspected drug-induced (lung) toxicity, such as alveolar hemorrhage, is highlighted by these cases

C-reactive protein and procalcitonin concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as a predictor of ventilator-associated pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is difficult. The usefulness of high-sensitivity procalcitonin (ProCa-S) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRPH) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum in the prediction of VAP was determined. METHODS: The study was conducted over a 28-month period (November 1999-June 2002) at the University Hospital Maastricht. BAL fluid samples were collected from patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Differential cell count and quantitative culture of BAL fluid were performed. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) on BAL fluid were determined by means of two high-sensitivity kits (CRPH and ProCa-S, respectively). Since both kits were designed for use on serum, validation for use on BAL fluid was performed. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients were included. 43.6% (51/117) had microbiologically confirmed VAP. Both CRPH and ProCa-S showed good matrix effect, linearity and intra- and inter-assay variation. No significant differences in PCT and CRP concentrations in serum and BAL fluid were found between the VAP and the non-VAP group. CONCLUSIONS: Both the ProCa-S and the CRPH kits can be used for assessing the concentration of PCT and CRP in BAL fluid, respectively. PCT and CRP concentrations in BAL fluid appeared to be of no additional value in the diagnosis of VAP

Gelofusine (R) affects the quality control performance of QuickVue (R) point-of-care human chorionic gonadotropin test devices

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the influence of Gelofusine (succinylated gelatin) on the performance of point-of-care testing (POCT) for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) devices. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three brands of urine and urine/serum hCG POCT devices were verified. RESULTS: Succinylated gelatin affected the performance of the control band in the QuickVue hCG POCT devices. Alternative devices were not affected. The hCG test performance is not influenced. CONCLUSIONS: Gelofusine affects specifically the quality control performance of the QuickVue hCG POCT devices