Prison Chaplaincy from a Scandinavian Perspective

The Lutheran churches of Denmark and Norway retain strong ties to the State and the Lutheran prison chaplaincy exists within the framework of the State churches in similar ways in both countries. The situation of Muslim chaplaincies is however very different in the two countries. In Denmark where general policies are not multicultural and where the relationship between State and church remains strong, the prison service has several prison imams employed and plans are to increase this further. In Norway where the relationship between church and State are moving towards a looser relationship and support for multicultural policies are stronger there are no Muslim prison chaplains.Les Églises luthériennes du Danemark et de la Norvège sont fortement liées avec leur État respectif et les aumôneries de prison sont organisées de manière similaire au sein des Églises d'État des deux pays. En revanche, la situation de l'assistance spirituelle musulmane est très différente dans les deux États. Au Danemark – où les politiques publiques générales ne sont pas multiculturelles et où les relations Église-État demeurent étroites – les services pénitentiaires emploient plusieurs imams en tant qu'aumôniers de prison et prévoient d'en engager davantage. En Norvège, où l'Église et l'État se dirigent vers une relation plus souple et où le soutien aux politiques multiculturelles est plus fort, il n'y a pas d'aumôniers de prison musulmans.Las iglesias luteranas de Dinamarca y de Noruega están fuertemente ligadas a su Estado en cada país y las capellanías de prisión se organizan de manera similar en el seno de las iglesias de Estado de sus países. Por el contrario, la situación de la asistencia espiritual musulmana es muy diferente en los dos estados. En Dinamarca –donde las políticas públicas generales no son multiculturales y donde las relaciones Iglesia- Estado siguen siendo estrechas- los servicios penitenciaros emplean a varios imanes en tanto que capellanes de la prisión y prevén incluso emplear aún más. En Noruega, donde la Iglesia y el Estado se dirigen hacia una relación más flexible y donde el sostén a las políticas multiculturales es más fuerte, no hay capellanes de prisión musulmanes

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-3799 and reducing gastrointestinal discomfort pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

<p>Following an application from Lesaffre International/Lesaffre Human Care, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> var. <em>boulardii</em> CNCM I-3799 and reducing gastro-intestinal discomfort. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim, <em>S. cerevisiae</em> var. <em>boulardii</em> CNCM I-3799, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect, reduction of gastro-intestinal discomfort, is a beneficial physiological effect. The target population proposed by the applicant is subjects from 18 to 74 years old with bowel discomfort. The Panel notes that none of the studies provided for the substantiation of the claim was conducted with the strain which is the subject of the claim (<em>S. cerevisiae </em>var<em>. boulardii </em>CNCM I-3799), except for two animal studies and one <em>in vitro</em> study. Upon an EFSA request, the applicant indicated that the rest of the studies provided were conducted with the strain produced by Biocodex Laboratories (<em>S. cerevisiae </em>var. <em>boulardii </em>HANSEN CBS 5926). The applicant also stated that the strain, which is the subject of the claim, <em>S. cerevisiae </em>var<em>. boulardii </em>CNCM I-3799, is equivalent to <em>S. cerevisiae </em>var<em>. boulardii </em>HANSEN CBS 5926, based on a comparative PCR inter-delta element analysis of both strains provided in the application. The Panel considered that the evidence provided was insufficient to establish that the strains <em>S. cerevisiae</em> var. <em>boulardii</em> CNCM I-3799 and HANSEN CBS 5926 are identical and, upon EFSA request for further information, additional evidence was not provided by the applicant. A cause and effect relationship cannot be established between the consumption of <em>S. cerevisiae</em> var. <em>boulardii</em> CNCM I-3799 and reducing gastro-intestinal discomfort.</p&gt

Comparison of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains of clinical and nonclinical origin by molecular typing and determination of putative virulence traits

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains of clinical and nonclinical origin were compared by pulse field gel electrophoresis. Complete separation between strains of clinical origin and food strains by their chromosome length polymorphism was not obtained even though there was a tendency for the clinical and food strains to cluster separately. All the investigated strains, except for one food strain, were able to grow at temperatures ≥37 °C but not at 42 °C. Great strain variations were observed in pseudohyphal growth and invasiveness, but the characters were not linked to strains of clinical origin. The adhesion capacities of the yeast strains to a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2) in response to different nutritional availabilities were determined, as were the effects of the strains on the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) across polarized monolayers of Caco-2 cells. The yeast strains displayed very low adhesion capacities to Caco-2 cells (0.6–6.2%), and no significant difference was observed between the strains of clinical and nonclinical origin. Both S. cerevisiae strains of clinical and non-clinical origin increased the TER of polarized monolayers of Caco-2 cells. Based on the results obtained in this study, no specific virulence factor was found that clearly separated the strains of clinical origin from the strains of nonclinical origin. On the contrary, all investigated strains of S. cerevisiae were found to strengthen the epithelial barrier function

Isolation, identification and characterization of yeasts from fermented goat milk of the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan

The geographically isolated region of the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, has allowed its inhabitants to maintain a unique culture and lifestyle. Their fermented goat milk constitutes one of the staple foods for the Yaghnob population, and is produced by backslopping, i.e., using the previous fermentation batch to inoculate the new one. This study addresses the yeast composition of the fermented milk, assessing genotypic, and phenotypic properties. The 52 isolates included in this study revealed small species diversity, belonging to Kluyveromyces marxianus, Pichia fermentans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and one Kazachstania unispora. The K. marxianus strains showed two different genotypes, one of which never described previously. The two genetically different groups also differed significantly in several phenotypic characteristics, such as tolerance toward high temperatures, low pH, and presence of acid. Microsatellite analysis of the S. cerevisiae strains from this study, compared to 350 previously described strains, attributed the Yaghnobi S. cerevisiae to two different ancestry origins, both distinct from the wine and beer strains, and similar to strains isolated from human and insects feces, suggesting a peculiar origin of these strains, and the existence of a gut reservoir for S. cerevisiae. Our work constitutes a foundation for strain selection for future applications as starter cultures in food fermentations. This work is the first ever on yeast diversity from fermented milk of the previously unexplored area of the Yaghnob Valley

Edible films and coatings as carriers of living microorganisms: a new strategy towards biopreservation and healthier foods

Edible films and coatings have been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique properties and advantages over more traditional conservation techniques. Edible films and coatings improve shelf life and food quality, by providing a protective barrier against physical and mechanical damage, and by creating a controlled atmosphere and acting as a semipermeable barrier for gases, vapor, and water. Edible films and coatings are produced using naturally derived materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, or a mixture of these materials. These films and coatings also offer the possibility of incorporating different functional ingredients such as nutraceuticals, antioxidants, antimicrobials, flavoring, and coloring agents. Films and coatings are also able to incorporate living microorganisms. In the last decade, several works reported the incorporation of bacteria to confer probiotic or antimicrobial properties to these films and coatings. The incorporation of probiotic bacteria in films and coatings allows them to reach the consumers gut in adequate amounts to confer health benefits to the host, thus creating an added value to the food product. Also, other microorganisms, either bacteria or yeast, can be incorporated into edible films in a biocontrol approach to extend the shelf life of food products. The incorporation of yeasts in films and coatings has been suggested primarily for the control of the postharvest disease. This work provides a comprehensive review of the use of edible films and coatings for the incorporation of living microorganisms, aiming at the biopreservation and probiotic ability of food products.Ana Guimaraes received support through grant SFRH/BD/ 103245/2014 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Luís Abrunhosa was supported by grant UMINHO/BPD/51/2015 from project UID/BIO/04469/2013 financed by FCT/MEC (OE). This study was supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684), and of BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER000004) funded by European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Vectors used in Figure were designed by Freepik.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio