Synergistic Effect of Bifidobacterium Pseudocatenulatum and Fructooligosaccharides Against Escherichia Coli

8 wild type strains of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and 4 commercial strains (B. pseudocatenulatum JCM 1200, B. infantis ATCC 15698, B. breve ATCC 26720 and B. longum BB536) were screened for inulinase activity on modified PY-0 and PY-I agar. Wild type B. pseudocatenulatum F117 and reference B. pseudocatenulatum JCM 1200 were determined to have the highest inulinase activity. This activity was apparently higher on PY-0 agar in comparison to PY-I agar. In batch cultivation, growth of B. pseudocatenulatum F 1 17 was enhanced in PY-0 medium (0.38 h-' and 2.64 x lo8 cfulrnL), compared to PY-G (0.48 h-' and 5.45 x lo8 cfulrnL) and PY-I medium (0.20 h" and 1.70 x lo8 cfulmL) from the respective, initial specific growth rate and maximum growth. Acetic, lactic and formic acid production was also found to be relatively higher in PY-0 medium (38.60 mM; 37.48 mM; 7.37 mM) compared to PY-G medium (11.95 mM; 22.77 mM; 5.91 mM) or PY-I medium (12.34 mM; 19.73 mM; 0 mM). In therapeutic study, the antagonistic effect against E. coli V157 by B. pseudocatenulatum F117 was contributed by pH lowering of the growth medium. This effect was especially intensified at pH below 5.0. Antagonistic effect found in PY-0 medium was greater compared to that of PY-G medium. The kinetics of antagonistic effect could be divided into two apparent phases. It was the condition before (first phase) and after (second phase) B. pseudocatenulatum F117 to achieve the maximum growth (lo9 cfu/mL), with relatively intense antagonistic effect at second phase. Organic acid was highly produced at second phase (PY-G medium: 45.5728.99 mM; PY-0 medium: 61.542 1 1.92 mM) rather than first phase (PY-G medium: 25.59k3.16; PY- 0 medium: 30.46k7.21 rnM) implicative of the importance of probiotic concentration for effective antagonism. Oligohctose was found to be able to stimulate the growth of B. pseudocatenulatum F117 and consequently shorten the time for the maximum growth to achieve, from 18 hr in PY-G medium to 12 hr in PY-0 medium. Besides, lactic acid production was initiated 6 hr earlier in PY-0 medium than to PY-G medium, which could be an added inhibitory advantage. With low bifidobacteria dose (10' cfu/mL), the antagonistic effect displayed was quite identical to a higher dose (lo8 cWmL) employed. B. pseudocatenulatum F1l7 was found to obtain the maximum growth in 18 hr for the both trial doses in either growth medium. In prophylactic study, PY-0 medium could not be observed to further enhance the antagonistic effect in PY-G medium. E. coli V157 (1 o8 cfu/mL) was unable to sustain and multiply to a higher population but decreased in numbers in either growth mediums. Finally, a higher oligofructose concentration (1.0 %) was shown to dramatically improve the antagonistic effect as compared to the lower concentration (0.5 %) used, in both therapeutic and prophylactic study. This effect was again due to an even higher amount of organic acids produced

Development of Software for Dielectric Analysis

A software was developed using Visual Basic 6.0 for the study and analyzing of the experimental data for the dielectric laboratory. For this purpose, a numerical computation of Kramers-Kronig relations, fitting various dielectric functions and plotting dielectric graphical representations were created and was found to achieve high level of accuracy when compared with the simple non-interacting Debye model. The software was used to analyze the experimental data of rose extract diluted in water. The experimental data of rose extract diluted in water shows that the polarisation consists of two different mechanisms, represented by a characteristic loss peak and a strong low frequency dispersion. The mechanisms were in consistent with the Kramers-Kronig relations and equivalent circuits were proposed for the material under study

Unintended targeting of Dmp1-Cre reveals a critical role for Bmpr1a signaling in the gastrointestinal mesenchyme of adult mice

Cre/loxP technology has been widely used to study cell type-specific functions of genes. Proper interpretation of such data critically depends on a clear understanding of the tissue specificity of Cre expression. The Dmp1-Cre mouse, expressing Cre from a 14-kb DNA fragment of the mouse Dmp1 gene, has become a common tool for studying gene function in osteocytes, but the presumed cell specificity is yet to be fully established. By using the Ai9 reporter line that expresses a red fluorescent protein upon Cre recombination, we find that in 2-month-old mice, Dmp1-Cre targets not only osteocytes within the bone matrix but also osteoblasts on the bone surface and preosteoblasts at the metaphyseal chondro-osseous junction. In the bone marrow, Cre activity is evident in certain stromal cells adjacent to the blood vessels, but not in adipocytes. Outside the skeleton, Dmp1-Cre marks not only the skeletal muscle fibers, certain cells in the cerebellum and the hindbrain but also gastric and intestinal mesenchymal cells that express Pdgfra. Confirming the utility of Dmp1-Cre in the gastrointestinal mesenchyme, deletion of Bmpr1a with Dmp1-Cre causes numerous large polyps along the gastrointestinal tract, consistent with prior work involving inhibition of BMP signaling. Thus, caution needs to be exercised when using Dmp1-Cre because it targets not only the osteoblast lineage at an earlier stage than previously appreciated, but also a number of non-skeletal cell types

A Case Study on BHL Bank at the Cross Roads

'In 27 July 1997, " Thailand market crashes" this was quoted in the New Straits Times. The paper reported that the crash in 1JJaiJand has ca.used panic to foreign fund managers in the ASEAN region. Paul Sager, one of the Investment Manager ca/ls, Datuk Goh requesting some insight as to the recent turmoil happening in the region. "We are getting jittery and the sentiment seems to be fear of a domino effect on the local KLSE" said Paul. "There were reports by large hedge fund managers speculating that there are fundamental weakness in ASEAN and Malaysian economy" adds Paul. Datuk Goh asked Paul's opinion how he and the rest of the fund manager view the Malaysian economy. Paul Sager indicated that the region would be heading for a tough time as the foreign investment community feels there are fundamental weakness especially in the financial system which have yet to be rectified. There were heavy selling on Malaysian currency causing the exchange rates to be devalued by at least 60% as concerns on the Malaysian property sector bursting. There are worries of the Malaysian economy overheating" explains Paul. Paul suggested to Datuk Goh whether he has any plans to to cope with the impending pressures. 1JJe next morning on the 28 July 1997, Datuk called for an emergency Board meeting to discuss on the report he receives. Datuk Goh was especially interested with the figures relating to the loans made to large conglomerates, which have heavy interests in properties. He also wanted to know the actual loans made and the details of the any substantial project the banks are involved directly or jointly finance. Neoh Choo Kean the General Manager of the Bank, reported that BHl Bank has no large loans more than 10 million exposures to any one corporate and they have always finance projects that are near Klang Valley and Urban 81'Cas. Datuk Goh was also interested in the exposure on sh81'C financing. Datuk directed Mr. Neoh to cut down on the lending and imposed on other forms of collateral. "There is need for a clear direction and evaluate our strengths and weakness for us to understand what the chal1enges facing our bank and industry Said Datuk Goh after the reporting. "BHL Bank needs to chart its path clearly and this requires participation by the top management and every employee of the bank. Continue Datuk Goh. independent consultant to be appointed analyzing BHL Banks current situation and identify the possible alternatives as to how best BHL Bank to grow in the board meeting." mooted Datuk The meeting was adjourned On the 5th December 1997, after a detail screening process, the Board decided to engage Mr. Joshua lim as the independent consultant. On 15th January 1998, Bank Negara Malaysia announced that there was three financial institution needing re-capitalization. It was also reported that Sime Bank had suffered RM1.18 billion. On the 2nd February 1998, Bank Negara identified anchor companies for consolidation of the finance companies quoted the Investor Digest February issue. It was reported in that issued Bank Negara Directives was for the finance companies to merger in view of the crisis hitting the banking sector. With an environment of tight liquidity, the banks have to form larger and stronger finance companies. "Said the editor of the Investor Digest February's issue. On the 20th Febrary 1998, Datuk Goh summon Joshua Lim and asked me to begin work immediately taking into account the current scenario and come out with a strategic paper for the Bank. Chairman directives was to study the feasibility of these alternatives and select the best option available to the bank taking into consideration of the internal and external factors surrounding BHL Bank

Differential involvement of Wnt signaling in Bmp regulation of cancellous versus periosteal bone growth

Bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) are well-known to induce bone formation following chondrogenesis, but the direct role of Bmp signaling in the osteoblast lineage is not completely understood. We have recently shown that deletion of the receptor Bmpr1a in the osteoblast lineage with Dmp1-Cre reduces osteoblast activity in general but stimulates proliferation of preosteoblasts specifically in the cancellous bone region, resulting in diminished periosteal bone growth juxtaposed with excessive cancellous bone formation. Because expression of sclerostin (SOST), a secreted Wnt antagonist, is notably reduced in the Bmpr1a-deficient osteocytes, we have genetically tested the hypothesis that increased Wnt signaling might mediate the increase in cancellous bone formation in response to Bmpr1a deletion. Forced expression of human SOST from a Dmp1 promoter fragment partially rescues preosteoblast hyperproliferation and cancellous bone overgrowth in the Bmpr1a mutant mice, demonstrating functional interaction between Bmp and Wnt signaling in the cancellous bone compartment. To test whether increased Wnt signaling can compensate for the defect in periosteal growth caused by Bmpr1a deletion, we have generated compound mutants harboring a hyperactive mutation (A214V) in the Wnt receptor Lrp5. However, the mutant Lrp5 does not restore periosteal bone growth in the Bmpr1a-deficient mice. Thus, Bmp signaling restricts cancellous bone accrual partly through induction of SOST that limits preosteoblast proliferation, but promotes periosteal bone growth apparently independently of Wnt activation

Examination of a novel proteinaceous extract from winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Musketeer)

A gel is a cross-linked polymer network that spans an entire liquid medium; its properties depend strongly on the interaction of the polymer and the liquid medium. There are various ways to induce gelation in different systems such as altering temperature or pH. In this study, phenol extracted protein fractions from non-acclimated (NA) and cold-acclimated (CA) winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Musketeer) leaf tissue were subjected to freeze-thaw treatment. Gelation was induced in the NA and CA extracts after repeated freeze-thaw treatments, accompanied by a change in sample rheological properties. Further experimentation revealed that gel formation only occurred at high pH (pH 12.0) and that a minimum of 3 to 4 freeze-thaw cycles were required. The viscosity of the protein gel increased 5.7- to 9.5-fold in the NA and CA extracts respectively upon freeze-thaw. Experiments optimizing the extraction conditions and protein concentration were also performed. The gel was stable and only a specific combination of chaotropic agent, anionic surfactant and reducing agent such as urea, sodium docecyl sulfate (SDS) and â-mercaptoethanol (â-ME) with heating could disrupt the gel network. The gel was composed of several proteins in the extracts as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Based on SDS-PAGE analysis, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) was identified as the major protein component in the gel. Various experiments were performed to assess the role of Rubisco in gel formation; however, the results were inconclusive. It is suggested that these extracts may contain antifreeze proteins (AFPs) that have been demonstrated to form amyloid gels upon freeze-thaw. Further studies examining the composition and mechanism of gel formation may result in a future role for this material in the food industry

Preliminary findings for Pulau Jerejak Leper Settlement: reconstructing the built and living environment of Camp 5

The purpose of this paper is to share the historical development of Camp 5, a leper camp on Pulau Jerejak. Pulau Jerejak Leper Settlement was operated from 1871 until 1969. The settlement has been an important collection center for leprosy patients in British Malaya before Sungai Buloh Leper Settlement was built in 1930s. During this period, six camps were built scattered around the island. One of the most important camps was Camp 5, completed in 1936. The camp was planned against the conservative idea of strict segregation where leprosy patients were segregated rigidly in prison-like environment. Camp 5 was planned in such ways where leprosy patients could freely conduct social-cultural events, practice their faiths, establish their own families, appointed as inmate workers, and etc. The houses were planned in clustered manner with well-planned agriculture plots and socio-cultural facilities. The planning layout of Camp 5 is an important historical clue to suggest how leprosy patients could have been segregated more humanely. Today, most of the structures in Camp 5 are in semi-ruined conditions. The available information is insufficient to support the current research. Therefore, this research had to rely on three methods; archival researches, interview and field works. Archival materials such as governmental annual reports and old illustrations will help to reconstruct its chronological developments, and the indexed remnants from the field works will be used to analysis and overlay with its chronological developments. Interviews are crucial to obtain deliberate information to reconstruct the previous living and built environment of Camp 5. By understanding the segregation idea implemented in Camp 5, researchers may be able to interpret and argue the theoretical discourse of modern segregations in dealing with diseases and suggest some historical lessons