On December 2006, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a residential-care facility for the elderly in northern Italy. Thirty-five of 61 individuals interviewed (attack rate, 57.4%) fell ill. In ...94.3% of cases, the onset of illness was within 48 h of a Christmas party at the facility. Norovirus (NoV) was detected by RT-PCR in 24 of 31 individuals examined, including three asymptomatic food-handlers, in whom there was evidence of long-lasting excretion of viral particles. The identification of a sequence referring to the ‘2006a GII.4 NoV variant’ in all examined strains supported the hypothesis of a common point source. This retrospective cohort study is the first report on an outbreak of NoV gastroenteritis in an Italian residential-care facility for the elderly.
Acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory/analgesic drug, which may cause gastritis or stomach ulcers if intensively employed. Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid ...bacteria have been claimed to induce immunostimulatory/antiulcer effects in the host. This study investigated the potential preventive effect of fermented milks (FM) with EPS-producing Streptococcus thermophilus strains (CRL 1190 and CRL 804) on an in vivo model of chronic gastritis. Fermented milks (2 EPS+ and 1 EPS−, separately) were fed to BALB/c mice for 7 d before inducing gastritis with ASA (400mg/kg of body weight per day for 10 d; gastritis group, n=5). Appropriate control groups (ASA administered but not given FM, n=5; and ASA not administered but given FM) were included in this study. Gastric inflammatory activity was evaluated through the stomach's histology and the number of IFNγ+ and IL-10+ cytokine-producing cells in the gastric mucosa. Only mice preventively treated with the EPS-producing Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 FM and later administered ASA did not develop gastritis, showing a conserved gastric mucosa structure similar to those of healthy mice. A marked decrease of IFNγ+- and increase of IL-10+-producing cells compared with the gastritis group mice were observed. Purified EPS from Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 resuspended in autoclaved milk was also effective for gastritis prevention. The EPS-protein interaction might be responsible for the observed gastroprotective effect; such interactions may be affected by industrial manufacturing conditions. The results indicate that the FM with Strep. thermophilus CRL 1190 or its EPS could be used in novel functional foods for preventing chronic gastritis.
The induction of a mucosal immune response is not easy due to the development of oral tolerance, but under some conditions, bacteria can activate this immune system. Antigens administered orally can ...interact with M cells of Peyer's patches or bind to the epithelial cells. We have demonstrated that certain lactic acid bacteria are able to induce specific secretory immunity, and others will enhance the gut inflammatory immune response. The aim of this work was to establish the reason for these different behaviors and to define possible mechanisms involved in the interaction of lactic acid bacteria at the intestinal level. We studied IgA+ and IgM+ B cells comparatively in bronchus and intestine and CD4+ T cells and IgA anti-lactic acid bacteria antibodies in the intestinal fluid, induced by oral administration of Lactobacillus casei, Lb. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lb. acidophilus, Lb. plantarum, Lb. rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis, and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus. The increase in the IgA+ B cells in the bronchus means that these lactic acid bacteria were able to induce the IgA cycle by interaction with M cells from Peyer's patches or intestinal epithelial cells. The IgM+ cells increased when the stimulus did not induce the switch from IgM+ to IgA+. The increase in the CD4+ cells suggests interaction of Peyer's patches and enhancement of the B- and T-cell migration. The anti-lactic acid bacteria antibody is related to the processing and presentation of the microorganisms to the immune cells. We demonstrated that Lb. casei and Lb. plantarum were able to interact with Peyer's patch cells and showed an increase in IgA+, CD4+ cells, and antibodies specific for the stimulating strain. Lactobacillus acidophilus induced gut mucosal activation by interaction with the epithelial cells without increase in the immune cells associated with the bronchus. Although Lb. rhamnosus and Strep. salivarius ssp. thermophilus interact with epithelial cells, they also induced an immune response against their epitopes. Lactococcus lactis and Lb. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus induced an increase of IgA+ cells entering the IgA cycle but not CD4+ cells; thus, these bacteria would have been bound to epithelial cells that activated B lymphocytes without processing and presenting of their epitopes. We did not determine specific antibodies against Lc. lactis or Lb. bulgaricus.
In this work, an assessment of the effect of distribution uniformity over water use efficiency is shown. The experimental study took place in Sebha region, southern Libya, characterized by arid ...climate and interested a barley field. The results of water irrigation in the sprinkler irrigation system with respect to the operating pressure (P) and raiser height of sprinkler (H) are reported with respect to distribution uniformity and water use efficiency. The main objective of irrigation is to apply the optimum amount of water to the crop root zone that is needed for its growth and maturation, and it is, hence, important for to check the uniformity of irrigation systems in order to adjust the operating parameters involved. To assess uniformity, the coefficient of uniformity (CU), the low quarter distribution uniformity (DU), and the coefficient of variation (CV) were considered, while the grain yield (GY), the crop height (CH) and the water use efficiency (WUE) weremeasured in order to find the best solution in terms of operating conditions. The highest values reached by the uniformity parameters with varying the operating conditions defined the best operating practices under which the irrigation system works efficiently: the results demonstrated that the maximum values for CU and DU, 91.37% and 0.85, respectively, were obtained at the highest P and H, and under the same conditions, also grain yield, plants height and WUE recorded the highest values: 5.50 t·ha
−1
, 63.49 cm and 0.75 kg·m
−3
, respectively. The results emerged in this work can be useful for similar arid regions like Sebha region, in order to solve the problems related to water scarcity and water use efficiency.
Aims: To investigate whether there is a relationship between interaction sites in the gut, hydrophobicity, mucosal immunomodulating capacities and cell wall protein profiles in lactobacilli, ...bifidobacteria and enterococci.
Methods and Results: Hydrophobicity, cell wall protein profiles and sites of interaction in the gut (by using fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labelled bacteria) were determined for Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. animalis and Enterococcus faecalis. We also determined the number of immunoglobulin (Ig)A+, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α+, interleukin (IL)‐6+ and IL‐10+ cells after oral administration of the above bacteria to BALB/c mice. All strains assessed were found to interact with the sites of induction of the immune response in the gut. No correlation with hydrophobicity was observed. When some strains at certain doses were administered to mice, bacterial translocation to liver was observed. The oral administration of indigenous (104 cells day−1) and exogenous (107 cells day−1) bifidobacteria and lactobacilli for 5 consecutive days activated the systemic and intestinal mucosal immune response in a strain‐specific way, independently whether the strain was indigenous or exogenous in relation to the host. The differences in the immunopotentiating capacity of the various strains might be related to the differences in their cell wall protein profiles.
Conclusions: Indigenous bacteria activated the mucosal immune response at a dose significantly smaller than the one required for probiotic exogenous bacteria. However, probiotic exogenous bacteria can be used at high concentrations in fermented dairy products with a great impact on the immune system, favouring its immunomodulation.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The immunomodulation capacity of probiotic bacteria is strain specific and independent of the specificity of the host. The ability of certain strains to down‐regulate the production and release of IL‐6 by IL‐10 may have potential implications in their use in cases in which cytokine deregulation or excessive production at the mucosal level can be the cause of tissue damage.
To determine the incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the Republic of Uruguay.
The study was performed in Uruguay (3,241,003 inhabitants) during a 2-year period ...(2002-2003). To ensure complete case ascertainment, multiple sources of information were used, including all the neurologists, other medical specialties, general physicians, neurophysiology laboratories, hospital medical records and death certificates. ALS diagnosis was based on El Escorial criteria. Although all patients with motor neuron disease were enrolled in the follow-up, only probable and definite cases are included in the study.
Between January 1st, 2002, and December 31st, 2003, 89 new patients were diagnosed with probable or definite ALS. The mean annual incidence rate was 1.37 per 100,000 persons. The incidence was higher for men (1.95) than for women (0.84) with a male to female ratio of 2:1. For both, the incidence increased throughout the years showing a peak in the 65-74 age group among men and the 55-64 age group among women. Mean age at onset of ALS disease was 58.7 years. The estimated mean annual incidence for ALS calculated by the capture recapture method was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.13-1.72). On December 31st, 2002, the crude prevalence was 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
ALS incidence is within a narrow range across countries despite the genetic, environmental and socioeconomic differences when similar prospective design, diagnosis criteria and data analyses are applied.
This work correlates the resistance of concrete cores with the physical properties of the granular material forming it. A basic physical characterization is conducted, taking into account the origin ...of the grains involved in the concrete mixture; that is, if they come from natural degradation (natural granular aggregates) or from a grinding process (crushed granular aggregates). Apparent and real densities, shape factors, packing densities, and specific surface areas of the grains are measured. The results are discussed as a function of size and origin of the grains. Several mixtures are prepared following a standard protocol and using different ratios of natural and crushed aggregates. For each ratio, six cores are prepared and uniaxial compression tests are performed. A non-monotonic relation between the resistance of concrete and the percentage of crushed aggregate present in it is obtained, with an optimum ratio depending on the physical properties of the grains.
► We present experimental results on granular systems. ► We give a physical characterization of grains used in concrete production. ► We determine the packing density and specific surface area for different mixtures of grains. ► We study the behavior of the strength of concrete cores as a function of the grain mixtures. ► We present a description of the two competing effects intervening in the strength response.
We present here experimental results on the flow and stability conditions for a granular system as a function of the moisture percentage present inside the sample. The granular material used in all ...the experiments was a pozzolanic ash frequently used in cement production. Water was added to the sample in order to obtain different moisture percentages measured in water weight over dry sample weight. We studied values up to 6%. Firstly, different stability angles were measured as a function of the moisture of the material. Secondly, we related these angles to some parameters of the flow of the material through a silo with different geometries and obtain a basic phase diagram for the flow. This phase diagram is of great help to set appropriate funnel and hopper conditions in silo devices often used in cement industries. Finally, some of our results are compared with basic theories and with our own simulation models in order to understand the behavior of wet granular systems.
Probiotic Fresh Cheese (PFC) is a suitable vehicle for the oral administration of
Streptococcus thermophilus,
Lactococcus lactis (lactic acid starter bacteria),
Bifidobacterium bifidum,
Lactobacillus ...acidophilus and
L. paracasei (probiotic bacteria). PFC warrants adequate viability of the bacteria (60 days after manufacture) and protects against acidity in vitro. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of PFC on the mucosal immune response in vivo.
BALB/c mice were fed for 2, 5 or 7 consecutive days with PFC (10
8
cells/day/mouse). Mice fed with conventional balanced diet or with Control Fresh Cheese (CFC) were used as controls. The immune response (phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, number of IgA
+ producing cells in the small and large intestine and ratio of CD4
+ and CD8
+ T lymphocytes in the small intestine) was evaluated at the end of each feeding period. The presence of each probiotic bacterium and total PFC microflora as bacterial antigens in Peyer's patches or in immune cells associated with the villi of the small intestine or in nodules and crypts of the large intestine was determined by using fluorescein isothiocianate (FITC)-labelled bacteria. Histological preparations of the small and large intestine were performed 30
min after the administration of FITC-labelled bacteria. A significant increase in the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, in the number of IgA
+ producing cells and in the CD4
+/CD8
+ ratio was observed in the small intestine after 5 days treatment with PFC whereas no significant differences were observed in the large intestine. These values returned to control values 8
d following PFC withdrawal. In the large intestine, no significant differences were observed respect to controls. FITC-labelled pure cultures of
B. bifidum and
L. paracasei were identified mainly in Peyer's patches (small intestine) whereas
L. acidophilus was mainly located in the large intestine. CFC microflora was found in lower levels than PFC microflora.
This study demonstrates that PFC is a dairy product that enables
Bifidobacterium bifidum,
Lactobacillus acidophilus and
L. paracasei to exert important immunomodulating effects in the gut.
The main goal of our phantom study was to compare the precision of adjustable periurethral balloons positioning depending whether the guidance was obtained by retrovision or rigid cystoscopy.
A ...navigation guidance system was used to localize the introduction mandrel which was equipped with tracking targets. Two ideal sites of implantation were predefined and recorded into the navigation system. The two points were placed symmetrically to the phantom reproducing the urethra. Four different users were asked to position the tip of the introduction mandrel as close as possible to the ideal site of implantation with the help of each method of guidance. For each attempt, the distance (mm) between the tip of the introduction mandrel and the ideal position was recorded by the navigation system.
For each method of guidance, a total of 20 attempts on each side were made by direct puncture on one side and a symmetrical contralateral puncture. For direct puncture, the median distances were 5.20 (±3.96) and 4.38 (±1.55) mm with rigid cystoscopy and retrovision respectively (P=0.29). For symmetrical contralateral puncture, the median distance were 7,19 (±3,78) and 6,86 (±2,76) mm with rigid cystoscopy and retrovision respectively (P=0,32) CONCLUSION: This study could not demonstrate any significant difference between the two guidance systems. Nevertheless, it showed that navigation guidance system could be used to compare the precision of surgical interventions.
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