Probiotic caprine Coalho cheese naturally enriched in conjugated linoleic acid as a vehicle for Lactobacillus acidophilus and beneficial fatty acids

To obtain a probiotic caprine Coalho cheese naturally enriched in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), goats' diet was supplemented with soybean oil to produce CLA-enhanced milk, and Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 was incorporated into cheeses. CLA concentration and probiotic viability were evaluated during 60 days. Four pilot-scale cheese-making trials were manufactured, in triplicates. Cheeses T1 and T2 were produced with control milk, and T3 and T4 with CLA-enhanced milk. L. acidophilus was added to cheeses T2 and T4 during processing. The CLA content (isomer C18:2 cis-9, trans-11) in T3 and T4 was 246% to 291% higher than in T1 and T2 (P < 0.01). Populations of L. acidophilus were around 7.5 log cfu g(-1) in T2 and T4 during the study, and the highest CLA content in T4 did not influence the probiotic viability (P > 0.01). The CLA-enriched probiotic caprine Coalho cheese obtained is proposed as a vehicle for beneficial microorganisms and fatty acids. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.EmbrapaEMBRAPACNPqCNPqFUNCAPFUNCA

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)