Colorectal Oncogenesis and Inflammation in a Rat Model Based on Chronic Inflammation due to Cycling DSS Treatments

Inflammation is known to be linked with development of colorectal cancer, and the aim was to assess the malignant potential and degree of inflammation in a dextran-sulphate-sodium-(DSS-) induced cyclic colonic tumour model (CTM) in rats and to compare it with the azoxymethane-(AOM-) induced CTM model. Tumours developed in both groups, although, in the DSS group, the colonic mucosa appeared edematous and the number of haemorrhagic erosions and quantity of dysplastic lesions were higher as well as the mucosal concentration of myeloperoxidase and faecal viable count of Enterobacteriaceae. The livers were affected as evaluated by steatosis, parenchymal loss, haemorrhage, and inflammatory infiltrations, and higher proportions of acetate and lower proportions of butyrate in colonic content were found. The DSS model seems to mimic the clinical situation and may be valuable for investigation of inflammation-related dysplasia and colon cancer, as well as for altered liver function by endogenous inflammatory mediators

Blueberry Husks and Probiotics Attenuate Colorectal Inflammation and Oncogenesis, and Liver Injuries in Rats Exposed to Cycling DSS-Treatment.

Long-term colonic inflammation promotes carcinogenesis and histological abnormalities of the liver, and colorectal tumours frequently arise in a background of dysplasia, a precursor of adenomas. Altered colonic microbiota with an increased proportion of bacteria with pro-inflammatory characteristics, have been implicated in neoplastic progression. The composition of the microbiota can be modified by dietary components such as probiotics, polyphenols and dietary fibres. In the present study, the influence of probiotics in combination with blueberry husks on colorectal carcinogenesis and subsequent liver damage was evaluated.Colorectal tumours were induced in rats by cyclic treatment with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). Blueberry husks and a mixture of three probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium infantis DSM 15159, Lactobacillus gasseri, DSM 16737 and Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 15313) supplemented a basic diet fortified with oats. The condition of the rats was monitored using a disease activity index (DAI). A qualitative and quantitative histological judgement was performed on segments of distal colon and rectum and the caudate lobe of the liver. The formation of short-chain fatty acids, bacterial translocation, the inflammatory reaction and viable count of lactobacilli and Enterobaceriaceae were addressed.Blueberry husks with or without probiotics significantly decreased DAI, and significantly reduced the number of colonic ulcers and dysplastic lesions. With a decreased proportion of blueberry husk in the diet, the probiotic supplement was needed to achieve a significant decrease in numbers of dysplastic lesions. Probiotics decreased faecal viable count of Enterobacteriaceae and increased that of lactobacilli. Blueberry husks with or without probiotics lowered the proportion of butyric acid in distal colon, and decreased the haptoglobin levels. Probiotics mitigated hepatic injuries by decreasing parenchymal infiltration and the incidence of stasis and translocation. The results demonstrate a dietary option for use of blueberry husks and probiotics to delay colonic carcinogenesis and hepatic injuries in the rat model

Malt in Combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus Increases Concentrations of Butyric Acid in the Distal Colon and Serum in Rats Compared with Other Barley Products but Decreases Viable Counts of Cecal Bifidobacteria123

Several substances, including glutamine and propionic acid but in particular butyric acid, have been proposed to be important for colonic health. β-Glucans lead to the formation of comparatively high amounts of butyric acid, and germinated barley foodstuff obtained from brewer’s spent grain (BSG), containing high amounts of β-glucans and glutamine, has been reported to reduce the inflammatory response in the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis. The present study examines how 3 barley products, whole grain barley, malt, and BSG, affect SCFA in the hindgut and serum of rats and whether the addition of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 271 to each of these diets would have further effects. Amino acids in plasma and the cecal composition of the microbiota were also analyzed. The butyric acid concentration in the distal colon and serum was higher in the malt groups than in the other groups as was the serum concentration of propionic acid. The concentrations of propionic and butyric acids were higher in the cecum and serum of rats given L. rhamnosus than in those not given this strain. The proportion of plasma glutamine and the cecal number of bifidobacteria were lower in the malt groups than in the other groups. L. rhamnosus decreased the number of cecal bifidobacteria, whereas plasma glutamine was unaffected. We conclude that malt together with L. rhamnosus 271 had greater effects on propionic and butyric acid concentrations in rats than the other barley products. This is interesting when developing food with effects on colonic health

Effects of Dietary Fibre and Probiotics on Hindgut Fermentation in Healthy Rats and in Rats with Dextran Sulphate Sodium-Induced Colitis and Colon Cancer

The importance of colonic fermentation has been realised during recent years as it has been found to be associated with colonic health and thus the overall health of the individual. The fermentation of dietary fibre and the addition of probiotics can have positive effects on the luminal environment and the colonic microbiota. Short-chain fatty acids, formed by the fermentation of dietary fibre, have also been found to have health-promoting effects, especially butyric acid has attracted much interest in relation to colonic health. This thesis describes investigations of hindgut fermentation in rat experimental models during normal and inflammatory conditions. Different cereals and blueberry husks were used alone or together with probiotics to study their effect on fermentation, and also their potential influence on the inflammatory process. Dietary fibre in blueberry husks was found to be very resistant to hindgut fermentation and this, together with the high excretion of fat and protein, contributed to a high faecal bulk. Blueberry husks yielded a high caecal proportion of acetic acid compared with other fibre materials and the fibre-free diet using the same rat model. Lower bacterial counts indicated that blueberry husks also have antimicrobial activity. The addition of probiotics resulted in lower amounts of carboxylic acids (CA) in the caecum and higher amounts in serum. Bifidobacterium spp. were able to lower the ammonia level in the serum, regardless of diet. A diet containing malt yielded higher levels of butyric acid in the hindgut and in the portal blood, where higher levels of propionic acid were also found, compared with diets containing whole-grain barley and brewer’s spent grain. The bifidobacteria counts were lower with malt than the other two barley fractions. The addition of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 271 resulted in higher proportions of butyric acid and higher levels of ammonia. The highest levels of butyric acid were found when L. rhamnosus 271 was given together with whole-grain barley. Rye bran, blueberry husks and probiotics all reduced the degree of inflammation in rats with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, as evidenced by the lower disease activity index (DAI) and levels of inflammatory markers. The levels of CA in the distal colon were higher in rats given rye bran than in those given blueberry husks, indicating that the fermentation of rye bran was slower. The addition of probiotics to the rye bran diet shifted the site of fermentation to the caecum. Supplementing the blueberry husks with probiotics changed the pattern of CA in the group given blueberry husks; reducing the proportion of acetic acid and increasing that of propionic acid. The caecal counts of Enterobacteriaceae were also reduced in the groups given diets containing fibre and probiotics, and a positive correlation was found between Enterobacteriaceae and the DAI, while the DAI was negatively correlated with several CA, including butyric acid. Only rye bran increased the caecal counts of lactobacilli, while the addition of probiotics to blueberry husks increased the lactobacilli caecal counts compared with blueberry husks alone. Blueberry husks and, to some extent, the combination of oat bran and blueberry husks, had the ability to ameliorate the inflammatory response, as evidenced by the lower DAI, lower numbers of colon wounds, and lower levels of haptoglobin and IL-18. Oat bran and the combination of oat bran and blueberry husks yielded larger caecal pool sizes and distal levels of CA than blueberry husks alone. Adding probiotics to blueberry husks resulted in higher distal levels of butyric acid. Blueberry husks reduced the Enterobacteriaceae counts, while the addition of probiotics to all fibre diets yielded higher levels of lactobacilli. In conclusion, blueberry husks, rye bran and the combination of oat bran and blueberry husks were able to attenuate the DSS-induced colonic inflammation, although blueberry husks seemed to have the strongest attenuating effect, which could be due to its specific dietary fibre composition or possibly the polyphenol content. The addition of probiotics improved the effects in the hindgut

Non-Fermented Compositions Comprising A Cereal Based Fraction And A Probiotic And Uses Thereof

The present invention relates to a non-fermented composition having the ability to increase the formation of butyric acid in the colon and comprising at least one cereal based fraction and at least one isolated probiotic strain of Lactobacillus as well as the use of said non-fermented composition as a synbiotic and for treatment of the metabolic syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The non-fermented composition of the invention is useful for the maintenance of a healthy gut-mucosa and/or for the provision of an increased barrier function of the gut-mucosa

Relationship between somatic cell count, individual leukocyte populations and milk components in bovine udder quarter milk

The somatic cell count (SCC) in bovine milk is an indicator of udder health and milk quality. Individual cell populations, i.e., macrophages, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils, were identified and their relationship to milk components such as acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A (SAA) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein), lactic acid and lactoferrin (LF), as well as protein, fat and lactose, were studied in foremilk from separate udder quarters. The whey proteins and peptides were studied using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, which was shown in the present study to be a useful method of assessing udder health and milk quality. The growth of a starter culture was evaluated using a conductance method as a simulation of fermentation processes relevant for cheese production. The investigation showed that LF, SAA, L-lactate and lactose are reliable indicators of milk quality on udder quarter level. The correlations between SCC, or the individual cell populations, and the potential indicators were highly significant. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Counterworking Male Takeover during Class Room Activities in Superior Technical Education

An increase in student activity is the goal of various pedagogic approaches and highly valued in most teaching situations. The benefits of student activation are widely discussed in literature (Fox, 1983), but possible drawbacks of such techniques need to be identified and compensations need to be found. This paper discusses a case study concerning one particular course moment, a seminar, held over a two-year period in a program with a strong underrepresentation of female students. The study shows how changes in the pedagogic approach can lead to an increased student activity, although accompanied by a total male takeover of the class room activity. It seems like traditional social structures tend to take over the class room activities, determining the roles that different gender groups may play (Parker, 1996; Olevard, 1997). At the same time, seminars are an important factor in the socialization of students, affecting the following cultural and structural development in the academia. “Hence, besides the content of the course, students attending seminars learn social structures as well, determining who may or may not speak” (Gunnarsson, 1995). The tools presented in this paper are applicable in any LTH classroom and also in future work places. To counterwork male takeover, without suppressing the overall student activity, is the topic of this paper. Different pedagogic measures are analyzed in this context and discussed in the paper

Blueberry husks and multi-strain probiotics affect colonic fermentation in rats.

The aim was to investigate how blueberry husks and/or mixtures of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus crispatus DSM16743, L. gasseri DSM16737 and L. plantarum DSM15313 (LABmix), or Bifidobacterium infantis DSM15159 and DSM15161 (BIFmix)) affect colonic fermentation, caecal counts of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, body weight gain, and blood concentrations of carboxylic acids (CA) and ammonia in rats. Dietary fibres in blueberry husks were fermented to 61 % in colon, and the elevated faecal excretion of fibre and protein contributed to the high faecal bulking capacity (1.3). The caecal pool of CA was higher in rats fed blueberry husks than the fibre-free control (P < 0.05), and the propionic acid proportion was higher in the distal colon than in the control group (P < 0.05). Probiotics lowered the caecal amount of CA when added to blueberry husks (P < 0.001), while the propionic acid proportion was higher with LABmix (P < 0.01) than blueberry husks only. The propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations in blood were higher in rats fed blueberry husks and probiotics than those fed blueberry husks only (P < 0.01), implying that the absorption of these acids was facilitated by the bacteria. The caecal counts of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were lower in rats fed blueberry husks than the control diet (P < 0.05). The body weight gain was partly influenced by the caecal tissue and contents weights, and BIFmix decreased the ammonia concentration in blood (P < 0.05). We conclude that colonic fermentation is differentially affected by dietary fibre and probiotics, which may be of importance when developing foods with certain health effects