Survival of freeze-dried probiotics in soy protein powder

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 21, 2007)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Food science.A series of well diffusion assays determined that Bifidobacterium longum B6 (B6) and Lactobacillus paracasei ATCC 25598 (LP) best inhibited pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria were freeze-dried in the presence of sucrose, trehalose and soymilk to determine the best conditions for survival. Cultures were anaerobically grown overnight and centrifuged. Cell pellets were resuspended in 10 mL of 4% sucrose + 18% soymilk (SS), 4% trehalose + 18% soymilk (TS) or 4% sucrose + 4% trehalose + 18% soymilk (STS). Suspensions were freeze dried and stored at room temperature in the dark. Statistical analysis found that at 24 days, treatments SS and STS were shown to be significantly better than TS (P [lesser than or equal to] 0.05). Bacteria were then freeze-dried with 4% sucrose + 4% trehalose + 18% soymilk (STS). Freeze dried bacteria were added to isolated soy protein powder. Samples were vacuum packaged and stored in the dark at room temperature or 4oC. The product was prepared for sampling on days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90. Statistical analysis of percent reduction of bacterial counts (P [lesser than or equal to] 0.05) showed significant differences for bacteria, bacteria and treatment, and time. Actual counts and log reduction suggest that bacteria freeze-dried with the cryoprotectant solution STS and stored at 4oC best support bacterial growth in soy protein isolate powder

Targeting RyR Activity Boosts Antisense Exon 44 and 45 Skipping in Human DMD Skeletal or Cardiac Muscle Culture Models.

Systemic delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (AO) for DMD exon skipping has proven effective for reframing DMD mRNA, rescuing dystrophin expression, and slowing disease progression in animal models. In humans with Duchenne muscular dystrophy treated with AOs, low levels of dystrophin have been induced, and modest slowing of disease progression has been observed, highlighting the need for improved efficiency of human skipping drugs. Here, we demonstrate that dantrolene and Rycals S107 and ARM210 potentiate AO-mediated exon skipping of exon 44 or exon 45 in patient-derived myotube cultures with appropriate mutations. Further, dantrolene is shown to boost AO-mediated exon skipping in patient-derived, induced cardiomyocyte cultures. Our findings further validate the ryanodine receptors (RyR) as the likely target responsible for exon skip boosting and demonstrate potential applicability beyond exon 51 skipping. These data provide preclinical support of dantrolene trial as an adjuvant to AO-mediated exon-skipping therapy in humans and identify a novel Rycal, ARM210, for development as a potential exon-skipping booster. Further, they highlight the value of mutation-specific DMD culture models for basic discovery, preclinical drug screening and translation of personalized genetic medicines

Magnetic order in the frustrated Ising-like chain compound Sr3_3NiIrO6_6

We have studied the field and temperature dependence of the magnetization of single crystals of Sr3NiIrO6. These measurements evidence the presence of an easy axis of anisotropy and two anomalies in the magnetic susceptibility. Neutron powder diffraction realized on a polycrystalline sample reveals the emergence of magnetic reflections below 75 K with magnetic propagation vector k ~ (0, 0, 1), undetected in previous neutron studies [T.N. Nguyen and H.-C zur Loye, J. Solid State Chem., 117, 300 (1995)]. The nature of the magnetic ground state, and the presence of two anomalies common to this family of material, are discussed on the basis of the results obtained by neutron diffraction, magnetization measurements, and symmetry arguments