Lactic acid bacteria have a wide range of applications in fermented food industry that can ferment carbohydrates to produce lactic acid. These bacteria have the particularity of having in their ...enzymatic baggage a particular enzyme, which is β-galactosidase, capable of degrading lactose and splitting it into galactose and glucose. The aim of present research was to select and investigate through some Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from camel milks from the Algerian Sahara, those most active in the degradation of lactose contained in whey from local manufacturing plant soft cheeses called camembert (Sidi Saada Relizane, Algeria). Results showed that among the eight isolated strains, four strains showed an interesting rates of consumption of lactose contained in whey, and which are in decreasing order P3, P8, P6 and P5, corresponding respectively to the percentages of 29.12, 28.82, 25.72 and 21.19%. Kinetic behaviors of five Lactobacillus strains were investigated with Contois model, data showed that the highest biomass production was obtained with the strain Lactobacillus P3 with 0.09 g g−1, followed by P2 and P6 with 0.08 g g−1, then followed by P8 and P5 with 0.07 g g−1. Whereas the rest of the strains, they appears to have a lower biomass production compared to others in decreasing order: P1 (0.06 g g−1), P4 and P7 (0.05 g g−1). These results reflect the capacity of these strains as well as their strong lactose degradation activity, this property would be important in particular for the use and possible exploitation of its strains in food industry, in particular dairy products, in order to in the recovery of whey which constitute a major waste from the dairy industry, which minimizes the risk of pollution. These strains can also be used in food products containing a low level of lactose, which will be intended for consumer suffering from lactose intolerance.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Cat eye syndrome is a rare developmental defect associated with duplication of chromosome 22q11. The patients demonstrate specific abnormalities of heart, kidney, and eye. Here we attempted to ...produce a model for this defect by expressing CECR1 adenosine deaminase, a gene duplicated in cat eye syndrome patients, in mice. The transgenic mice expressed CECR1 under the control of either beta-actin promoter for ubiquitous expression or myosin heavy chain for heart-specific expression. The transgenics expressing CECR1 in the heart demonstrated high rate of embryonic and neonatal lethality. The mice from all the lines examined showed enlargement of the heart. Abnormalities of the kidney and eye were also detected in mice expressing CECR1 under control of the actin promoter.
Background
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. Neuroinflammation has been now recognized as an important player in the pathogenesis of AD. We conducted a ...clinical trial to measure whether boswellic acids (K‐Vie™, an enriched Boswellia extract) can improve cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms while reducing inflammation in patients with AD.
Method
We conducted a placebo‐controlled clinical trial including a total of 85 patients with mild‐to‐moderate (based on MMSE) Alzheimer’s disease randomized to Boswellia (n = 43) and placebo (n = 42) groups. The treatment doses were 400 mg K‐Vie™ capsule, thrice a day (1200 mg/day), versus matching placebo.
Result
Of 85 patients, 43 were assigned to Boswellia and 42 to the placebo group. There were 8 dropouts. The median age of study participants was ∼71 (range, 63‐85) for the Boswellia and ∼70 (range, 61‐81) for the placebo group with 54.5% females and 45.5% males. After 6 months of treatment, there was a significant increase of the MMSE scores with a 1.7 (df = 39, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.1) unit in the Boswellia group compared to ‐1.4 (df = 36, 95% CI ‐2.0 to ‐0.9) unit decrease in the placebo group. There was also a significant decrease of the CDR‐SOB scores in the boswellia group with ‐0.8 (df = 39, 95% CI ‐1.1 to ‐0.6) unit difference, whereas the placebo group saw a 0.8 (df = 36, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.2) unit increase from baseline to 6 months. The analysis of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI‐Q) revealed a significant ‐3.4 (df = 27, 95% CI ‐6.1 to ‐0.8) unit decrease, whereas the placebo group did not show a significant change (p = 0.08) (df = 23, 95% CI ‐0.4 to 6.9). Patients receiving Boswellia showed a significant decrease as compared to placebo in plasma levels of several key pro‐inflammatory cytokines including IL‐6 (F(1,38) = 71.1, p<0.0001), TNF‐α (F(1,35) = 14.8, p = 0.0005), and IL‐1α (F(1,38) = 33.4, p<0.0001) as well as a significant increase in the plasma level of amyloid‐β42/amyloid‐β40 ratio (F(1,36) = 19.3, p<0.0001). No serious adverse events were observed during the trial.
Conclusion
This study suggests that a reduction of systemic inflammatory biomarkers correlates with improvement in brain and cognitive function. Decreasing inflammation may represent a novel avenue to effectively treat AD.
The development of biodegradable edible films/food packaging is in the core of the new management strategies of food handling. The great challenge facing the food industry today is innovation in ...terms of ecological and effec-tive edible coatings, with improved mechanical and sensory qualities but at lower cost. The current study intends to develop and characterize edible films by combining crude and pure Opuntia cladode mucilage and Locust Bean Gum (LBG), then evaluate their coating effect on stored strawberry fruits. The films were formulated using the two polymers at the same con-centration (2% mucilage / 2% LBG) and glycerol as plasticizer, and they were compared for their physicochemical and mechanical properties like thick-ness, moisture content, water vapor transmission and transparency. The pH, weight loss and sensorial qualities of coated strawberries stored at 4°C were assessed during 14 days. The obtained results have shown that for the crude composite films CM-CLBG the thickness, moisture and water solubility were higher compared to those of PM-PLBG where water vapor permeability (WVP), transparency and surface contact angle (hydrophobicity) displayed the highest values. Weight loss and drop in pH of strawberries soaked in the CM-CLBG and PM-PLBG coating solutions and stored at 4°C were less signifi-cant than those of uncoated strawberries. Otherwise, coated fruits pre-served a marketable visual appearance and texture, but lost their redness and gloss after the storage period. Despite the promising potential of Opun-tia mucilage/LBG formulated films, some improvements are still needed to solve the problem of fruit appearance and meet marketing standards.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background Sleep has confirmed physical, psychological, and behavioral benefits, and disruptions can result in disturbances in these states. Moreover, it can be linked bidirectionally with ...susceptibility to and the subsequent status of brain tumors. The current study examined mood disorders and sleep quality before and after surgery for hemangioblastoma brain tumors.
Methods Thirty-two patients diagnosed with hemangioblastoma brain tumors between 2017 and 2023 underwent surgical treatment. The Karnofsky Performance Status and ECOG performance status scales, the Brunel Mood Scale, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, and the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire were employed to assess the patients.
Results The findings indicate that after surgery, sleep quality and mood disorders, including tension, vigor, and depression, did not exhibit significant differences in these patients (p>0.05). However, tension, vigor, depression, and sleep quality did have a significant impact on their functional status post-surgery (p<0.05).
Conclusion Depression is the significant mood factor in patients with brain tumors that impact their functional status. In this context, it is recommended that psychological therapies be considered for them, alongside conducting more comprehensive and in-depth studies on psychological disorders in patients with brain tumors.
This paper investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Origanum floribundum Munby. by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and evaluated its antimicrobial ...activity. The compositional analysis identified 33 compounds representing 97.26% of the total composition, of which the majority component was carvacrol at 41.092%. The antimicrobial activity evaluated deduced that O. floribundum EO affects all tested strains, of which the most susceptible were Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, with growth inhibition zones of 25.83 mm and 23.25 mm, respectively. A bactericidal effect was recorded on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus at 1.56 mg/mL and 3.125 mg/mL EO, respectively, and a fungistatic effect on Candida albicans at 1.56 mg/mL of EO. The intestinal microbiota strains, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LbRE-LSAS, were not affected by O. floribundum EO.
Summary
The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of microencapsulation in calcium alginate‐resistant starch mixed gel of a new human isolated strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ...LBRE‐LSAS compared with the probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12. Influence of microencapsulation was tested under deleterious digestive environment, when challenged to salivary α‐amylase, to simulated gastric fluid and to simulated intestinal fluid. Bacterial survival, post‐acidifying activity and exopolysaccharides (EPS) content in stored mix yogurt were assessed. Integrity of the beads was acceptable under α‐amylase levels largely higher than those found in human saliva. Under simulated gastrointestinal model, viable cell counts of encapsulated cells were significantly higher than those observed with free cells and remained at the recommended levels. Additionally, microencapsulation allowed an improved viability of bacteria and generated higher EPS amounts in mix yogurt stored at 4 °C. Our results indicate that calcium alginate‐resistant starch beads extend survival under digestive conditions and in yogurt and could be used as an efficient delivery system for probiotics.
Sleep has confirmed physical, psychological, and behavioral benefits, and disruptions can result in disturbances in these states. Moreover, it can be linked bidirectionally with susceptibility to and ...the subsequent status of brain tumors. The current study examined mood disorders and sleep quality before and after surgery for hemangioblastoma brain tumors.
Thirty-two patients diagnosed with hemangioblastoma brain tumors between 2017 and 2023 underwent surgical treatment. The Karnofsky Performance Status and ECOG performance status scales, the Brunel Mood Scale, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, and the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire were employed to assess the patients.
The findings indicate that after surgery, sleep quality and mood disorders, including tension, vigor, and depression, did not exhibit significant differences in these patients (
>0.05). However, tension, vigor, depression, and sleep quality did have a significant impact on their functional status post-surgery (
<0.05).
Depression is the significant mood factor in patients with brain tumors that impact their functional status. In this context, it is recommended that psychological therapies be considered for them, alongside conducting more comprehensive and in-depth studies on psychological disorders in patients with brain tumors.
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Propolis is a natural substance, produced by honeybees from the resin of various plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the ...hepatoprotective effect of ethyl acetate extract of propolis from Tigzirt, against the toxicity induced by epirubicin which is a anticancer agent, and belongs to the family of antracyclines. The study included thirty male Wistar albino rats divided into five groups. The rats received the extraction of propolis or the quercetin orally for 15 days. The hepatotoxicity was promoted by injection epirubicin (i.v.) with a cumulative dose of 9mg/kg. Several biological parameters were measured. Oxidative status was also assessed by evaluating antioxidant enzyme and histological study of some organs. Epirubicin caused oxidative stress by a significant decrease in hepatic antioxidant enzymes (gluthation peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase), increased malondialdehyde and liver parameters (ASAT, ALAT, γGT, ALP) compared to the control. The histological study revealed major damage to the liver. Perturbations in this liver function, antioxidant status and damage to the liver by epirubicin have been repaired by the administration of propolis. Furthermore, epirubicin showed inflammatory effects induced by an increase in TNF-α and PGE2. Pretreatment with propolis to rats restored these inflammatory parameters. The chemical identification of extract of propolis by HPLC/UV shows the presence of polyphenolic compounds and many flavonoids. The propolis extract showed a significant reduction in oxidative damage from oxidative stress and a very important protective effect against epirubicin-induced hepatotoxicity.
Antimicrobial effects of six Algerian propolis extracts Boufadi, Yasmina Mokhtaria; Soubhye, Jalal; Nève, Jean ...
International journal of food science & technology,
December 2016, Letnik:
51, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Summary
This study aimed to study the antimicrobial effect of propolis and determine the essential compounds which give it the antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial effect was investigated for ...six ethyl acetate extracts of propolis (EAPs) collected from different regions of Algeria on four pathogenic strains (Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and two benefit strains (Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus). The results obtained in this study indicated that the different EAPs showed potential inhibitory effects on tested pathogenic strains with variable minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.3 and 9 mg ml−1, while the beneficial bacteria showed resistance against EAPs of propolis. The results demonstrated also that the flavonoid compounds have very low MIC values, while phenolic acid compounds have variables MIC values of 1–10 mg ml−1. These results indicated that propolis contains proven substances with antimicrobial activity and are a prelude to the investigations aimed at empowerment of the bee substance as a potential source of antimicrobial agents with multiple outlets.
This study has demonstrated that propolis has good antimicrobial effects against pathogenic strains (but not beneficial bacteria). Polyphenol compounds give this natural product the antimicrobial effects.