Lactoferrin (LF) is a whey protein with various and valuable biological activities. For this reason, LF has been used as a supplement in formula milk and functional products. However, it must be ...considered that the properties of LF can be affected by technological treatments and gastrointestinal conditions. In this article, we have revised the literature published on the research done during the last decades on the development of various technologies, such as encapsulation or composite materials, to protect LF and avoid its degradation. Multiple compounds can be used to conduct this protective function, such as proteins, including those from milk, or polysaccharides, like alginate or chitosan. Furthermore, LF can be used as a component in complexes, nanoparticles, hydrogels and emulsions, to encapsulate, protect and deliver other bioactive compounds, such as essential oils or probiotics. Additionally, LF can be part of systems to deliver drugs or to apply certain therapies to target cells expressing LF receptors. These systems also allow improving the detection of gliomas and have also been used for treating some pathologies, such as different types of tumours. Finally, the application of LF in edible and active films can be effective against some contaminants and limit the increase of the natural microbiota present in meat, for example, becoming one of the most interesting research topics in food technology.
Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional protein that exerts important activities in the neonate through its presence in milk, and also in other external mucosas, acting as a defense protein of innate ...immunity. The addition of bovine LF to infant formula and also to other functional products and cosmetics has increased during the last decades. Consequently, it is essential to know the effect that the technological processes, necessary to elaborate those products, have on LF activity. In this study, we have revised the effect of classical treatments on lactoferrin structure and activity, such as heat treatment or drying, and also of emerging technologies, like high pressure or pulsed electric field. The results of the studies included in this review indicate that LF stability is dependent on its level of iron-saturation and on the characteristics of the treatment media. Furthermore, the studies revised here reveal that the non-thermal treatments are interesting alternatives to the traditional ones, as they protect better the structure and activity of lactoferrin. It is also clear the need for research on LF encapsulation by different ways, to protect its properties before it reaches the intestine. All this knowledge would allow designing processes less harmful for LF, thus maintaining all its functionality.
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•Lactoferrin has great potential to be used in functional products.•Some heat treatments have great impact on the structure and activity of lactoferrin.•Non-thermal treatments are an alternative to heating for products with lactoferrin.•PEF changes on lactoferrin are lower compared with those produced by heating.
Adipose tissue has recently been recognized as an important endocrine organ that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and in the immune response in many metabolic tissues. With this regard, ...emerging evidence indicates that an important crosstalk exists between the adipose tissue and the brain. However, the contribution of adipose tissue to the development of age‐related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, remains poorly defined. New studies suggest that the adipose tissue modulates brain function through a range of endogenous biologically active factors known as adipokines, which can cross the blood–brain barrier to reach the target areas in the brain or to regulate the function of the blood–brain barrier. In this review, we discuss the effects of several adipokines on the physiology of the blood–brain barrier, their contribution to the development of Alzheimer's disease and their therapeutic potential.
LINKED ARTICLES
This article is part of a themed issue From Alzheimer's Disease to Vascular Dementia: Different Roads Leading to Cognitive Decline. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.6/issuetoc
Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex disease that shares clinical features with other dementias. It is important to establish a specific and reliable diagnosis. Nowadays, AD diagnosis is ...based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. However, the corresponding cut‐offs differ amongst studies. This study aims to evaluate the CSF biomarkers in the AD differential diagnosis.
Methods
Clinical relevant biomarkers (amyloid β42 (Aβ42), t‐Tau, p‐Tau, amyloid β40 (Aβ40), neurofilament light chain (NfL)) were determined in CSF samples from participants classified as AD (n = 124) and non‐AD (n = 148) patients from the Neurology Unit. They were included and evaluated consecutively (August 2018–October 2020). The clinical utility of these biomarkers was evaluated by AUC‐ROC curves and the corresponding cut‐off points were defined.
Results
The results showed satisfactory accuracy (AUC‐ROC 0.91 for Aβ42, 0.890 for t‐Tau and 0.933 for p‐Tau); whilst Aβ40 and NfL did not show good discriminatory capacity (AUC‐ROC 0.557 and 0.738, respectively). The ratios Aβ42/Aβ40 and t‐Tau/Aβ42 improved the diagnosis indices of each individual biomarker, with AUC‐ROC of 0.980 and 0.971, respectively. Also, elevated levels of NfL were found in the frontotemporal dementia group compared with the other participant groups.
Conclusions
The ratio Aβ42/Aβ40 showed the highest discriminating capacity between AD and non‐AD patients and might be useful in clinical practice. Regarding NfL, it is not a specific biomarker for AD; however, it might be helpful for the differential diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. Nevertheless, further analysis in an external cohort is required in order to validate these results.
There are limited data available to indicate whether oncological outcomes might be influenced by the uterine manipulator, which is used at the time of hysterectomy for minimally invasive surgery in ...patients with endometrial cancer. The current evidence derives from retrospective studies with limited sample sizes. Without substantial evidence to support its use, surgeons are required to make decisions about its use based only on their personal choice and surgical experience.
To evaluate the use of the uterine manipulator on oncological outcomes after minimally invasive surgery, for apparent early-stage endometrial cancer.
We performed a retrospective multicentric study to assess the oncological safety of uterine manipulator use in patients with apparent early-stage endometrial cancer, treated with minimally invasive surgery. The type of manipulator, surgical staging, histology, lymphovascular space invasion, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, adjuvant treatment, recurrence, and pattern of recurrence were evaluated. The primary objective was to determine the relapse rate. The secondary objective was to determine recurrence-free survival, overall survival, and the pattern of recurrence.
A total of 2661 women from 15 centers were included; 1756 patients underwent hysterectomy with a uterine manipulator and 905 without it. Both groups were balanced with respect to histology, tumor grade, myometrial invasion, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, and adjuvant therapy. The rate of recurrence was 11.69% in the uterine manipulator group and 7.4% in the no-manipulator group (P<.001). The use of the uterine manipulator was associated with a higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–4.20; P=.006). The use of uterine manipulator in uterus-confined endometrial cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics FIGO I–II) was associated with lower disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.97; P=.027) and higher risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.83; P=.026). No differences were found regarding the pattern of recurrence between both groups (chi-square statistic, 1.74; P=.63).
In this study, the use of a uterine manipulator was associated with a worse oncological outcome in patients with uterus-confined endometrial cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics I–II) who underwent minimally invasive surgery. Prospective trials are essential to confirm these results.
The fastidious requirement of the zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni contrasts with its ability to overcome harsh conditions. Different strategies might be involved in the survival and ...persistence of C. jejuni through the poultry food chain. Therefore, the aims of this study were to get insights in the survival strategies in the poultry slaughterhouse environment by (i) characterizing factors such as biofilm formation, virulence and antimicrobial resistance in environmental isolates and (ii) understanding the possible link between the phenotypic and genetic characterization using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results have shown that three STs: ST 443 (PFGE A), ST 904 (PFGE C) and ST 3769 (PFGE G), out of the six studied, formed biofilms with variable intensity according to different conditions (temperatures −37 °C, 30 °C, 25°C— and materials —stainless steel and plastic—). High levels of antimicrobial resistance were found in isolates to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and tetracycline as well as to two common detergents used in the slaughterhouse. A combination of several changes in the genome of ST 904 (PFGE C) including mutations, insertions in antimicrobial resistance genes, the presence of T6SS and a set of genes related to virulence factors might explain its ability to form biofilm and persist longer in the environment. However, the complexity of the survival strategies adopted by the different strains of C. jejuni suggests that multiple mechanisms may exist that allow these organisms to persist and ultimately cause disease in humans.
•Some C. jejuni strains can survive harsh slaughterhouse environmental conditions.•Biofilm formation is a strategy to overcome harsh environmental conditions.•A combination of several changes in the genome might explain biofilm formation and longer persistence.•C. jejuni strains show multiple solutions to persist and survive along the chicken food chain.
Summary Objectives 1) To determine whether severe exacerbation of COPD is a BODE index independent risk factor for death; 2) whether the combined application of exacerbations and BODE (e-BODE index), ...offers greater predictive capacity than BODE alone or can simplify the model, by replacing the exercise capacity (BODEx index). Methods A prospective study was made of a cohort of COPD patients. In addition to calculation of the BODE index we register frequency of exacerbations. An analysis was made of all-cause mortality, evaluating the predictive capacity of the exacerbations after adjusting for the BODE. These variables were also used to construct two new indexes: e-BODE and BODEx. Results The study included 185 patients with a mean age of 71 ± 9 years, and FEV1 % 47 ± 17%. Severe exacerbation appeared as an independent adverse prognostic variable of BODE index. For each new exacerbation the adjusted mortality risk increased 1.14-fold (95% CI: 1.04–1.25). However, the e-BODE index (C statistic: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67–0.86) didn't improve prognostic capacity of BODE index (C statistic: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66–0.84) ( p = NS). An interesting finding was that BODEx index (C statistic: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.65–0.83) had similar prognostic capacity than BODE index. Conclusions Severe exacerbations of COPD imply an increased mortality risk that is independent of baseline severity of the disease as measured by the BODE index. The combined application of both parameters (e-BODE index) didn't improve the predictive capacity, but on replacing exacerbation with exercise capacity the multidimensional grading system is simplified without loss of predictive capacity.
The intestine represents one of the first barriers where microorganisms and environmental antigens come into tight contact with the host immune system. A healthy intestine is essential for the ...well-being of humans and animals. The period after birth is a very important phase of development, as the infant moves from a protected environment in the uterus to one with many of unknown antigens and pathogens. In that period, mother's milk plays an important role, as it contains an abundance of biologically active components. Among these components, the iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin (LF), has demonstrated a variety of important benefits in infants and adults, including the promotion of intestinal health. This review article aims to provide a compilation of all the information related to LF and intestinal health, in infants and adults.
Scope
Diet is one of the main factors that modifies intestinal microbiota composition. The search for foods that can reverse situations of intestinal dysbiosis such as that induced by antibiotics is ...of great interest. Buttermilk and whey are the main by‐products produced by the dairy industry containing bioactive compounds. The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of whey and buttermilk‐based formulas supplemented with lactoferrin and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) to modulate the effects of clindamycin on mouse intestinal microbiota.
Methods and results
Male C57BL/6 mice are treated with saline (control), clindamycin (Clin), a formula containing whey (F1) or buttermilk (F2), Clin+F1 or Clin+F2, and their fecal microbiota profiles are analyzed by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene using the MinION device. Clin induces alterations in both the composition and metabolic functions of the mice intestinal microbiota. The treatment with F1 or F2 reverses the effects of clindamycin, restoring the levels of Rikenellaceae and Lactobacillaceae families and certain pathways related to short‐chain fatty acids production and tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis.
Conclusion
Whey and buttermilk supplemented with lactoferrin and MFGM may be a bioactive formula for functional foods to prevent or restore microbiota alterations induced by antibiotic administration.
Whey and buttermilk may be good ingredients to add in functional foods to prevent or restore microbiota alterations induced by antibiotic administration.
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in neonates representing a global health burden. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles EVs have emerged as potential antivirals, offering a ...promising avenue for intervention. The present study evaluated the antiviral activity of EVs sourced from bovine, human, and caprine milk against the infection of the human Wa and bovine WC3 rotavirus strains. EVs induced an endogenous effect in Caco-2 cells, resulting in a significant reduction of rotaviral infection. The antiviral properties of the milk EVs, were found to be associated with synergistic interactions at pre- and post-attachment stages of the infection. Finally, the effect of milk processing on bovine milk EVs efficacy was assessed. It was found that after high-temperature short-time pasteurization EVs retained their activity, while homogenization resulted in no antiviral effect at all. Overall, our findings demonstrate a significant reduction in rotavirus infection in cultured Caco-2 cells when treated with milk EVs.
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