Effect of daily consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on cholesterol reduction in hypercholesterolemic subjects

The effect of daily consumption of a yogurt containing Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects was evaluated by performing a prospective, randomized, double-blind, cross-over placebo Controlled clinical study. Participants consumed daily a yogurt containing L. reuteri CRL 1098 or a placebo for four weeks, separated by a wash-out period. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoprotein levels were assessed at the beginning and at the end of each period. We found a statistically significant reduction of total (-7.86 g/dl) and LDL (-7.02 g/dl) cholesterol in absolute changes (before-after) as well as a decreasing trend in the group receiving the yogurt containing L. reuteri with respect to the placebo group, without detecting changes in HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. Our results suggest that low amounts of yogurt (125 g/day) and low doses of the CRL 1098 strain (106 CFU) are sufficient to reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.Fil: Malpeli, Agustina. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Taranto, Maria Pia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Cravero, Ricardo C.. Sancor Cooperativas Unidas Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Tavella, Marina. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Fasano, Maria Victoria. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vicentin, Dimas. Sancor Cooperativas Unidas Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari, Guillermina. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Magrini, Graciano. Sancor Cooperativas Unidas Limitada.; ArgentinaFil: Hebert, Elvira Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Font, Graciela Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Varea, Ana María. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Tavella, Julio Marcelo. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: González, Horacio F.. Ministerio de Salud. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri”. Hospital de Niños de La Plata; Argentin

Effect of Daily Consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on Cholesterol Reduction in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects

The effect of daily consumption of a yogurt containing Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects was evaluated by performing a prospective, randomized, double-blind, cross-over placebo controlled clinical study. Participants consumed daily a yogurt containing L. reuteri CRL 1098 or a placebo for four weeks, separated by a wash-out period. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoprotein levels were assessed at the beginning and at the end of each period. We found a statistically significant reduction of total (−7.86 g/dl) and LDL (−7.02 g/dl) cholesterol in absolute changes (before-after) as well as a decreasing trend in the group receiving the yogurt containing L. reuteri with respect to the placebo group, without detecting changes in HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. Our results suggest that low amounts of yogurt (125 g/day) and low doses of the CRL 1098 strain (106 CFU) are sufficient to reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Effect of probiotic supplementation on immunoglobulins, isoagglutinins and antibody response in children of low socio-economic status

Background: Antigen exposure is one of the major exogenous factors modulating human immunocompetence acquisition. Decline in family size and improvements in public health and hygiene in developed countries, may deprive the immune system of appropriate antigen input by diminishing infectious stimuli. Probiotics are a large group of microorganisms defined by their beneficial effects on human health and with stimulating effects on different functions of the immune system. Aim of the study: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine if probiotics maintain their immune-stimulating effects in a population of 162 children with a high index of natural exposure to microorganisms. Children were to ingest for at least 4 months one of two products, low-fat milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus (control product) or low-fat milk fermented by S. thermophilus and Lactobacillus casei, with Lactobacillus acidophilus, oligofructose and inulin added after the fermentation process (test product). According to their age, children were vaccinated with DTP-Hib vaccine or a 23-valent anti-pneumococcal vaccine. Results: Final analysis of results was done in 70 children in each group, showing that the rate of immunoglobulin and isoagglutinin acquisition was similar in both groups. There was no difference between groups in antibody levels neither before nor after vaccination. Days of fever and number of episodes of infection were not statistically different in either group. Conclusions: Supplementation of standard fermented milk with additional probiotics was not of benefit. The high natural rate of early microbial exposure in infants and children from a population of low socio-economic status living in a "less hygienic environment" may account for the absence of an additional immune-stimulating effect by supplementary probiotics.Fil: Pérez, Néstor. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Iannicelli, Juan C.. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Girard-Bosch, Cecilia. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Silvia Nelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Varea, Ana. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Disalvo, Liliana. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Apezteguia, María. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Pernas, Juan. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Niños de la Plata. Unidad de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Vicentin, Dimas. Sancor CUL. Departamento de Investigación, Innovación y Desarrollo; ArgentinaFil: Cravero, Ricardo. Sancor CUL. Departamento de Investigación, Innovación y Desarrollo; Argentin

If You're Not Confused, You're Not Paying Attention: Ochrobactrum Is Not Brucella

Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged the brucellae with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related Ochrobactrum spp. in the genus Brucella. This change, founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic Ochrobactrum spp. from medically compromised patients, has been automatically included in culture collections and databases. We argue that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and we advise against its use because (i) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; (ii) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or Ochrobactrum; (iii) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and (iv) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, we urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella and Ochrobactrum genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.Las bacterias del género Brucella son parásitos intracelulares facultativos causantes de la brucelosis, una grave enfermedad animal y humana. Recientemente, un grupo de taxónomos fusionó las brucelas con las Ochrobactrum spp., principalmente de vida libre y filogenéticamente emparentadas, en el género Brucella. Este cambio, fundado únicamente en análisis genómicos globales y en el aislamiento fortuito de algunas Ochrobactrum spp. oportunistas de pacientes médicamente comprometidos, se ha incluido automáticamente en colecciones de cultivos y bases de datos. Sostenemos que los microbiólogos clínicos y ambientales no deberían aceptar esta nomenclatura, y desaconsejamos su uso porque (i) se presentó sin análisis filogenéticos en profundidad y no consideró soluciones taxonómicas alternativas; (ii) se lanzó sin la aportación de expertos en brucelosis u Ochrobactrum; (iii) aplica un concepto de género no consensuado que ignora las diferencias taxonómicamente relevantes en estructura, fisiología, estructura poblacional, ensamblajes del núcleo-pangenoma, estructura genómica, rasgos genómicos, características clínicas, tratamiento, prevención, diagnóstico, reglas de descripción del género y, sobre todo, patogenicidad; y (iv) colocar estos dos grupos bacterianos en el mismo género crea riesgos para veterinarios, médicos, laboratorios clínicos, autoridades sanitarias y legisladores que se ocupan de la brucelosis, una enfermedad especialmente relevante en países de renta baja y media. Basándonos en toda esta información, instamos a los microbiólogos, las colecciones bacterianas, las bases de datos genómicos, las revistas y los consejos de salud pública a mantener separados los géneros Brucella y Ochrobactrum para evitar más desconcierto y perjuicios.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Medicina Veterinari

A survey of the global impact of COVID‐19 on the practice of pediatric anesthesia: A study from the pediatric anesthesia COVID‐19 Collaborative Group

BackgroundPediatric anesthesiology has been greatly impacted by COVID-19 in the delivery of care to patients and to the individual providers. With this study, we sought to survey pediatric centers and highlight the variations in care related to perioperative medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the availability of protective equipment, the practice of pediatric anesthesia, and economic impact.AimThe aim of the survey was to determine how COVID-19 directly impacted pediatric anesthesia practices during the study period.MethodsA survey concerning four major domains (testing, safety, clinical management/policy, economics) was developed. It was pilot tested for clarity and content by members of the Pediatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative. The survey was administered by email to all Pediatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative members on September 1, 2020. Respondents had six weeks to complete the survey and were instructed to answer the questions based on their institution's practice during September 1 - October 13, 2020.ResultsSixty-three institutions (100% response rate) participated in the COVID-19 Pediatric Anesthesia Survey. Forty-one hospitals (65%) were from the United States, and 35% included other countries. N95 masks were available to anesthesia teams at 91% of institutions (n = 57) (95% CI: 80%-96%). COVID-19 testing criteria of anesthesia staff and guidelines to return to work varied by institution. Structured simulation training aimed at improving COVID-19 safety and patient care occurred at 62% of institutions (n = 39). Pediatric anesthesiologists were economically affected by a reduction in their employer benefits and restriction of travel due to employer imposed quarantine regulations.ConclusionOur data indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the testing, safety, clinical management, and economics of pediatric anesthesia practice. Further investigation into the long-term consequences for the specialty is indicated

Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care