Anchoring of proteins to lactic acid bacteria

The anchoring of proteins to the cell surface of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) using genetic techniques is an exciting and emerging research area that holds great promise for a wide variety of biotechnological applications. This paper reviews five different types of anchoring domains that have been explored for their efficiency in attaching hybrid proteins to the cell membrane or cell wall of LAB. The most exploited anchoring regions are those with the LPXTG box that bind the proteins in a covalent way to the cell wall. In recent years, two new modes of cell wall protein anchoring have been studied and these may provide new approaches in surface display. The important progress that is being made with cell surface display of chimaeric proteins in the areas of vaccine development and enzyme- or whole-cell immobilisation is highlighted.

Seaweed intake and blood pressure levels in healthy pre-school Japanese children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have examined whether dietary factors might affect blood pressure in children. We purposed to investigate whether seaweed intake is associated with blood pressure level among Japanese preschool children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The design of the study was cross-sectional and it was conducted in autumn 2006. Subjects were healthy preschoolers aged 3-6 years in Aichi, Japan. Blood pressure and pulse were measured once by an automated sphygmomanometer, which uses oscillometric methods. Dietary data, including seaweed intake, were assessed using 3-day dietary records covering 2 consecutive weekdays and 1 weekend day. Of a total of 533 children, 459 (86.1 percent) agreed to be enrolled in our study. Finally, blood pressure measurement, complete dietary records and parent-reported height and weight were obtained for 223 boys and 194 girls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When we examined Spearman's correlation coefficients, seaweed intake was significantly negatively related to systolic blood pressure in girls (<it>P </it>= 0.008). In the one-way analysis of covariance for blood pressure and pulse after adjustments for age and BMI, the boys with the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of seaweed intake had diastolic blood pressure readings of 62.8, 59.3 and 59.6 mmHg, respectively (<it>P </it>= 0.11, trend <it>P </it>= 0.038). Girls with higher seaweed intake had significantly lower systolic blood pressure readings (102.4, 99.2 and 96.9 mmHg for girls with the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of seaweed intake, respectively; <it>P </it>= 0.037, trend <it>P </it>= 0.030).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study showed that seaweed intake was negatively related to diastolic blood pressure in boys and to systolic blood pressure in girls. This suggests that seaweed might have beneficial effects on blood pressure among children.</p

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe

Prevalence of and changes in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases over the period 1987-1991. Final report of the Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors 1987-1991

The Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors has been carried out between 1987-1991. In this period over 36,000 men and women aged 20-59 years have been examined for cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 16% in men and 13% in women, a low HDL-cholesterol was present in 21% of all men and 6% of all women. Prevalence of hypertension was 8% in men and 6% in women, and prevalence of obesity was 7% in men and 9% in women. Forty percent of all men and women smoked cigarettes, and 10% of the men and 3% of the women were heavy drinkers. One-third of all men and women were physically inactive. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia decreased by 3% in men and 2% in women, prevalence of low HDL increased by 9% in men and 1% in women. Prevalence of hypertension did not change, but treatment of hypertension decreased. Prevalence of obesity and physical activity showed an increase only when the data were corrected for changes in educational status over the study period. Prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased by 3% in men and 4% in women, while the percentage of heavy drinkers decreased by 3% in men and women.Het Peilstationsproject Hart- en Vaatziekten is uitgevoerd van 1987-1991. In deze periode zijn ruim 36.000 mannen en vrouwen in de leeftijd van 20-59 jaar onderzocht op risicofactoren voor hart- en vaatziekten. Prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie was 16% voor mannen en 13% voor vrouwen, 21% van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte. Acht procent van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had hypertensie en 7% van de mannen en 9% van de vrouwen had overgewicht. Veertig procent van de mannen en vrouwen rookte sigaretten, 10% van de mannen en 3% van de vrouwen waren zware drinkers. Ongeveer 1/3 deel van alle mannen en vrouwen was lichamelijk inactief. De prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie daalde over de studieperiode met 3% bij mannen en 2% bij vrouwen, de prevalentie van een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte nam toe met 9% bij mannen en 1% bij vrouwen. De prevalentie van hypertensie veranderde niet, maar de medicamenteuze behandeling van hypertensie daalde. De prevalentie van overgewicht en lichamelijke inactiviteit steeg wanneer werd gecorrigeerd voor veranderingen in opleidingsniveau over de studieperiode. Het percentage sigaretten rokers daalde met 3% bij mannen en 4% bij vrouwen, het percentage zware drinkers nam af met 3% bij mannen en vrouwen

Prevalence of and changes in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases over the period 1987-1991. Final report of the Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors 1987-1991

Het Peilstationsproject Hart- en Vaatziekten is uitgevoerd van 1987-1991. In deze periode zijn ruim 36.000 mannen en vrouwen in de leeftijd van 20-59 jaar onderzocht op risicofactoren voor hart- en vaatziekten. Prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie was 16% voor mannen en 13% voor vrouwen, 21% van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte. Acht procent van de mannen en 6% van de vrouwen had hypertensie en 7% van de mannen en 9% van de vrouwen had overgewicht. Veertig procent van de mannen en vrouwen rookte sigaretten, 10% van de mannen en 3% van de vrouwen waren zware drinkers. Ongeveer 1/3 deel van alle mannen en vrouwen was lichamelijk inactief. De prevalentie van hypercholesterolemie daalde over de studieperiode met 3% bij mannen en 2% bij vrouwen, de prevalentie van een verlaagd HDL-cholesterolgehalte nam toe met 9% bij mannen en 1% bij vrouwen. De prevalentie van hypertensie veranderde niet, maar de medicamenteuze behandeling van hypertensie daalde. De prevalentie van overgewicht en lichamelijke inactiviteit steeg wanneer werd gecorrigeerd voor veranderingen in opleidingsniveau over de studieperiode. Het percentage sigaretten rokers daalde met 3% bij mannen en 4% bij vrouwen, het percentage zware drinkers nam af met 3% bij mannen en vrouwen.The Monitoring Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors has been carried out between 1987-1991. In this period over 36,000 men and women aged 20-59 years have been examined for cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 16% in men and 13% in women, a low HDL-cholesterol was present in 21% of all men and 6% of all women. Prevalence of hypertension was 8% in men and 6% in women, and prevalence of obesity was 7% in men and 9% in women. Forty percent of all men and women smoked cigarettes, and 10% of the men and 3% of the women were heavy drinkers. One-third of all men and women were physically inactive. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia decreased by 3% in men and 2% in women, prevalence of low HDL increased by 9% in men and 1% in women. Prevalence of hypertension did not change, but treatment of hypertension decreased. Prevalence of obesity and physical activity showed an increase only when the data were corrected for changes in educational status over the study period. Prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased by 3% in men and 4% in women, while the percentage of heavy drinkers decreased by 3% in men and women.DGVGZ/PA