Eur J Clin Nutr, 2002 Dec, 56 Suppl 4, S16 - 20 The role of fermented milk in complementary feeding of young children: lessons from transition countries; Branca F et al.; Probiotic bacteria are used for production of fermented dairy products . The use of probiotic bacteria has the potential to replenish the natural intestinal flora of the body . These bacteria competitively inhibit the growth and colonization of pathogenic bacteria . Breastmilk is the best food for babies, also from a probiotic point of view . Human milk, in fact, contains many substances that stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria in vitro and in the small intestine of infants . Improvement of lactose digestion and avoidance of symptoms of intolerance in lactose malabsorbers are the most profoundly studied health-relevant effects of fermented milk . In fact fermented milks are nutritionally similar to unfermented milk, except that some of lactose is broken down to glucose and galactose . The role of fermented milk in complementary feeding and in particular for the prevention of anaemia is an innovative theme, recently focused . Iron deficiency in infants and young children is widespread and has serious consequences for child health . Prevention of iron deficiency should therefore be given high priority . The too-early introduction of unmodified cow's milk and milk products is an important nutritional risk factors for the development of iron-deficiency anaemia . Fermented milks represent an excellent source of nutrients such as calcium, protein, phosphorus and riboflavin . During the fermentation of milk, lactic acid and other organic acids are produced and these increase the absorption of iron . If fermented milk is consumed at mealtimes, these acids are likely to have a positive effect on the absorption of iron from other foods. Eur J Clin Nutr, 2002 Dec, 56 Suppl 4, S2 - S15 Fermented milks: a historical food with modern applications--a review; Tamime AY; BACKGROUND:: This paper was presented at the symposium which was organized by Instituto Danone Mexico in May 2001, and it provides an overview of the current scientific knowledge on fermented milks concerning the historical developments, manufacturing stages, classification of such products, and nutritional aspects . Particular attention has been paid to the human health benefits associated with the consumption of these products, the use of probiotic starter cultures and their industrial applications, and the significance of using a trained sensory panel for the evaluation of probiotic fermented milks made with different commercial blends of starter cultures . The paper also highlights the future research areas for the exploitation of starter microflora (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus species) in fermented milk products . CONCLUSION:: This review indicates that the complex metabolism of the starter cultures is well established; however, more information is still needed on specific microbial metabolites such as polymerization of milk sugars for the production of exopolysaccharides and the modification of the milk peptides and secretion of bacteriocins . More clinical studies are still required to establish the 'functional' health benefits of probiotic fermented milks to humans. Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao, 1998 Oct, 38(5), 341 - 7 {Numerical taxonomy of bifidobacteria and homology analysis of some representative strains}; Ling D et al.; Fifty five strains of bifidobacteria belonging to Bifidobacterium from various sources were studied by using numerical taxonomic techniques . These organisms included 13 reference strains and 42 newly isolated strains (19 strains of human sources, 25 strains of animal sources and 11 strains obtained from sewage) . Several strains isolated from the animals weren't isolated before . Overall similarities of the strains for 75 characters contained morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and antibacterial susceptibility were determined . Dendrogram of numerical analysis based on unweighted pair cluster average linkage were achieved . Five clusters were defined at 70% Sm level . The relationships of these strains among five clusters were analysed . The strains of human sources were basically separated from the animal strains, and the sewage strains were distributed between the animal clusters and the human clusters . On the basis of the numerical analysis, the G + C content of DNA of some representative strains among these clusters were measured . Biotin-labeled DNA segments, complementary to variable regions of 16S rRNA, were amplified using PCR as probes . In the dot-blot hybridization the relationships of DNA segments among some strains were discussed . The test results showed that the homologies among the strains in same species and various species were different . The studies are valuable for further research in the relationships of some species among bifidobacteria of various sources. Cancer Gene Ther, 2003 Feb, 10(2), 105 - 11 Bifidobacterium adolescentis as a delivery system of endostatin for cancer gene therapy: selective inhibitor of angiogenesis and hypoxic tumor growth; Li X et al.; In order to overcome difficulties that hampered widespread application of antiangiogenesis in cancer therapy, a highly specific delivery system may be engaged in vivo to deliver and express antiangiogenic genes . We selected a strain of Bifidobacterium adolescentis (B . adolescentis) as the delivery system to transport endostatin gene to solid tumors . B . adolescentis with endostatin gene were injected into tumor-bearing mice through the tail vein . After the mice were sacrificed, the tumor and some normal tissues of the mice were examined . B . adolescentis were only found in the tumors and no bacilli were found in other normal tissues . Also, a strong inhibition of angiogenesis had been shown to inhibit local tumor growth in the administrated group . These results suggested that B . adolescentis only germinated and proliferated in solid tumors and might be a highly specific and efficient vector for transporting anticancer genes into target tumor in cancer gene therapy. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2002 Sep-Oct, (5), 98 - 104 {Characteristics of microorganisms colonizing human intestine}; Efimov BA et al.; Introduction of novel methods of microbial diagnostics has considerably broadened our conceptions on the qualitative and quantitative variety of microorganisms inhabiting human gastrointestinal tract . In this review morphological and functional properties of obligate anaerobic bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, eubacteria, peptostreptococci, clostridia, bacteroids, fusobacteria) and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (enterobacteria, staphylococci, streptococci, yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida) capable of colonizing human intestine are briefly characterized. Microbiol Immunol, 2002, 46(11), 781 - 5 Stimulation of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Bifidobacterium strains; He F et al.; To characterize the ability of bifidobacteria to affect the production of macrophage-derived cytokines, a murine macrophage-like cell line, J774.1, was cultured in the presence of 27 strains of heat-inactivated bifidobacteria . Bifidobacterium adolescentis and B . longum, known as adult-type bifidobacteria, induced significantly more pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, IL-12 and TNF-alpha, by J774.1 cells, than did the infant-type bifidobacteria, B . bifidum, B . breve, and B . infantis (P<0.01) . In contrast, B . adolescentis did not stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory IL-10 from J774.1 cells as the other tested bacteria did . The results suggest that the adult-type bifidobacteria, especially B . adolescentis, may be more potent to amplify but less able to down-regulate the inflammatory response. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2003 Jan, 69(1), 24 - 32 Induction of sucrose utilization genes from Bifidobacterium lactis by sucrose and raffinose; Trindade MI et al.; The probiotic organism Bifidobacterium lactis was isolated from a yoghurt starter culture with the aim of analyzing its use of carbohydrates for the development of prebiotics . A sucrose utilization gene cluster of B . lactis was identified by complementation of a gene library in Escherichia coli . Three genes, encoding a sucrose phosphorylase (ScrP), a GalR-LacI-type transcriptional regulator (ScrR), and a sucrose transporter (ScrT), were identified by sequence analysis . The scrP gene was expressed constitutively from its own promoter in E . coli grown in complete medium, and the strain hydrolyzed sucrose in a reaction that was dependent on the presence of phosphates . Primer extension experiments with scrP performed by using RNA isolated from B . lactis identified the transcriptional start site 102 bp upstream of the ATG start codon, immediately adjacent to a palindromic sequence resembling a regulator binding site . In B . lactis, total sucrase activity was induced by the presence of sucrose, raffinose, or oligofructose in the culture medium and was repressed by glucose . RNA analysis of the scrP, scrR, and scrT genes in B . lactis indicated that expression of these genes was influenced by transcriptional regulation and that all three genes were similarly induced by sucrose and raffinose and repressed by glucose . Analysis of the sucrase activities of deletion constructs in heterologous E . coli indicated that ScrR functions as a positive regulator. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2002 Nov, 52(Pt 6), 1945 - 51 Unification of Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium suis as Bifidobacterium longum; Sakata S et al.; The relationships between Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium suis were examined by means of carbohydrate fermentation, DNA-DNA hybridization, ribotyping and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) . The levels of DNA-DNA hybridization among the strains of B . infantis, B . longum and B . suis used in this study were 67-81% under optimal conditions (42 degrees C) and 63-85% under stringent conditions (52 degrees C) . Although the strains showed varied carbohydrate-fermentation patterns, the three species were divided into three types, namely the infantis type, the longum type and the suis type, by ribotyping and RAPD-PCR . On the basis of these results, strains of B . infantis, B . longum and B . suis were recognized as distinct groups within a single species . It is concluded that B . infantis and B . suis should be unified as B . longum, the latter species being divided into three biotypes, the infantis type, the longum type and the suis type, by molecular methods. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2002 Nov, 66(11), 2362 - 6 Cloned cytosine deaminase gene expression of Bifidobacterium longum and application to enzyme/pro-drug therapy of hypoxic solid tumors; Nakamura T et al.; Bifidobacterium longum is a nonpathogenic anaerobic bacterium among normal bacterial flora . Recently, it was reported that B . longum accumulated in hypoxic solid tumors . The gene of interest was expressed in transfected B . longum by the shuttle vector pBLES100 in solid tumors . In this report, we constructed pBLES100-S-eCD, which included the cytosine deaminase gene . We confirmed by western blotting that transfected B . longum produced cytosine deaminase . In addition, transfected B . longum produced cytosine deaminase that converted 5-fluorocytosine into 5-fluorouracil . B . longum could be useful for enzyme/pro-drug therapy of hypoxic solid tumors. Int J Food Microbiol, 2003 Jan 26, 82(1), 59 - 70 Bacterial composition of commercial probiotic products as evaluated by PCR-DGGE analysis; Fasoli S et al.; The use of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) technique in identifying the microorganisms present in commercial probiotic yoghurts and lyophilised products was evaluated . Two reference ladders were assembled constituted by PCR-amplified V2-V3 regions of 16S rDNA from bacterial species generally used as probiotics . Identification was achieved comparing the PCR-DGGE patterns obtained from the analysed products with the ladder bands . Bands from members of the same species showed the same migration distance in denaturing gel, hence supporting the identificative value of the method . The validity of the technique was also proven confirming the PCR-DGGE identification results by sequence data analysis and by species-specific PCR . General congruence between microorganisms declared on the label and those revealed by PCR-DGGE was found for probiotic yoghurts . Conversely, some discrepancies were observed for probiotic lyophilised preparations, i.e . the incorrect identification of some Bifidobacterium and Bacillus species and the presence of not declared microorganisms . PCR-DGGE turned out to be an appropriate culture-independent approach for a rapid detection of the predominant species in mixed probiotic cultures. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2002, 47(5), 477 - 80 Specific growth rate of bifidobacteria cultured on different sugars; Rada V et al.; The ability of six bifidobacterial strains (3 of human origin and 3 isolates from fermented milk products) to utilize glucose, lactose, melezitose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose was determined . Dairy-related bifidobacterial strains were identified as Bifidobacterium animalis (2 strains) or as B . pseudolongum (1 strain) . Human strains included B . longum (2 strains) and B . breve (1 strain) . All strains fermented lactose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose . Melezitose was utilized only by B . longum . B . pseudolongum did not ferment either glucose or melezitose . All isolates had a higher specific growth rate on raffinose and stachyose than on glucose . Dairy strain grew slowly on glucose compared to human strains. J Gen Appl Microbiol, 1998 Dec, 44(6), 375 - 380 A comparison of features and the microbial constitution of the fresh feces of pigs fed diets supplemented with or without dietary microbes; Nagamine I et al.; The features and the constitution of the microbial population of fresh feces were compared between pigs fed a diet supplemented with dietary microbes and pigs given nonsupplemented diets . The former were reared on farm C and the latter on farms A and B . The concentrations of ammonia-N, indole, and skatole of fresh feces were not significantly different between pigs reared on farm C and those raised on farms A and B, but the concentrations of ammonia-N and the skatole of fresh feces were significantly different between pigs reared on farms A and B . The total VFA (volatile fatty acids) concentration of fresh feces in pigs on farm C was slightly lower than in those on farms A and B . Moreover, the molar proportion of the acetic acid in feces in pigs on farm C was lower; inversely, that of propionic and butyric acids was higher in comparison with those on farms A and B . No differences were evident in the total viable counts of feces among pigs reared on the three different farms . Clostridium perfringens was abundant in feces of pigs raised on farms A and B, but it was not detected in pigs reared on farm C . Megasphaerae, bifidobacteria, and clostridia except for C . perfringens were more abundant in the feces of pigs fed a diet supplemented with dietary microbes on farm C, compared with pigs given the nonsupplemented diets on farms A and B. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 2003 Jan, 6(1), 49 - 54 Gut changes attributed to ageing: effects on intestinal microflora; Hebuterne X; PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is increased evidence of several impaired gastrointestinal functions with ageing . In the elderly, however, most gastrointestinal functions remain relatively intact because of the large reserve capacity of the intestine and the great secretion capacity of the pancreas . This review will focus on changes in gut microflora observed in the elderly and on the potential benefit of probiotics in this population . RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies suggest that age affects the intestinal microflora with a decrease in anaerobes and bifidobacteria population and an increase in enterobacteria . These changes and the reduced intestinal immunity of the aged may favour gastrointestinal infections that are frequent in the elderly . Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea, one of the most common nosocomial infections in the elderly, has a profound effect on morbidity, mortality and health costs . Probiotics may have interesting positive effects on intestinal function, and the efficacy of treatment with Lactobacilli and Saccharomyces boulardii in Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea has been well established in a recent meta-analysis . Studies performed in healthy elderly patients suggest that diet supplementation with probiotics may reduce the impaired immunity associated with ageing . SUMMARY: Important changes in intestinal microflora of the elderly have recently been demonstrated and may have important clinical consequences . Further studies should be conducted to determine if the consumption of probiotics is associated with a lower infection rate and a higher effectiveness of vaccines. J Appl Microbiol, 2003, 94(1), 138 - 45 Conjugated linoleic acid biosynthesis by human-derived Bifidobacterium species; Coakley M et al.; AIMS: To assess strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus and Bifidobacterium for their ability to produce the health-promoting fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from free linoleic acid . METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus and Bifidobacterium were grown in medium containing free linoleic acid . Growth of the bacteria in linoleic acid and conversion of the linoleic acid to CLA was assessed . Of the bacteria assessed, nine strains of Bifidobacterium produced the c9, t11 CLA isomer from free linoleic acid . The t9, t11 CLA isomer was also produced by some strains, but at much lower concentrations . CONCLUSIONS: The production of CLA by bifidobacteria exhibited considerable interspecies variation . Bifidobacterium breve and B . dentium were the most efficient CLA producers among the range of strains tested, with B . breve converting up to 65% linoleic acid to c9, t11 CLA when grown in 0.55 mg ml(-1) linoleic acid . Strains also varied considerably with respect to their sensitivity to linoleic acid . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The production of CLA by probiotic bifidobacteria offers a possible mechanism for some health-enhancing properties of bifidobacteria and provides novel opportunities for the development of functional foods. Vet Microbiol, 2003 Mar 20, 92(1-2), 111 - 9 Interaction between probiotic lactic acid bacteria and canine enteric pathogens: a risk factor for intestinal Enterococcus faecium colonization? Rinkinen M, Jalava K, Westermarck E, Salminen S, Ouwehand AC. Selected probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been shown to elicit positive health effects particularly in humans . Competitive exclusion of pathogens is one of the most important beneficial health claims of probiotic bacteria . The effect of probiotic LAB on competitive exclusion of pathogens has been demonstrated in humans, chicken and pigs . In this study we evaluated the ability of certain LAB strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, Lactobacillus pentosus UK1A, L . pentosus SK2A, Enterococcus faecium M74 and E . faecium SF273) to inhibit the adhesion of selected canine and zoonotic pathogens (Staphylococcus intermedius, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter jejuni) to immobilised mucus isolated from canine jejunal chyme in vitro . Adhesion of C . perfringens was reduced significantly by all tested LAB strains, between 53.7 and 79.1% of the control without LAB, the LAB of canine origin yielding the best reduction . The adhesion of S . Typhimurium and S . intermedius were not significantly altered by any of the LAB included in the study . Both enterococci tested significantly enhanced the adhesion of C . jejuni, to 134.6 and 205.5% of the control without LAB . E . faecium may thus favor the adhesion and colonization of C . jejuni in the dog's intestine, making it a potential carrier and possibly a source for human infection . Enhanced C . jejuni adhesion is a new potential risk factor of enterococci . Our results further emphasize the importance of safety guidelines to be established for the probiotics intended for animal use. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 2002 Dec, 17(6), 344 - 53 Cytokine production in response to endodontic infection in germ-free mice; Ribeiro Sobrinho AP et al.; This study evaluated the cytokine profiles (type 1 or type 2) that are triggered by and modulate endodontic periapical infections in the root canal system of germ-free mice . Microorganisms isolated from two patients with pulpal necrosis were inoculated into two groups of experimental animals: group I (Gemella morbillorum) and group II (Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Clostridium butyricum) . In vitro, G . morbillorum induced type 1 cytokine synthesis, while the modulation processed in vivo seemed to have the opposite effect, with a reduction in the basal levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma, IL-4-independent down-modulation . In vitro, microorganisms from group II, in poly-infection, induced a reduction of type 1 cytokine levels from day 10 to day 20, which seemed to be modulated via IL-4 . In vivo, however, a predominance of the immune response to one species over the others occurred. Cell Immunol, 2002 Sep, 219(1), 22 - 7 Encapsulated Bifidobacterium bifidum potentiates intestinal IgA production; Park JH et al.; We asked whether Bifidobacterium bifidum regulates the synthesis of IgA by mucosal lymphoid cells . B . bifidum alone, but not Clostridium perfringens, significantly induced total IgA and IgM synthesis by both mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and Peyer's patch (PP) cells . We, further, investigated the mucosal antibody production following peroral administration of B . bifidum to mice . Ingested B . bifidum significantly increased the number of Ig (IgM, IgG, and IgA) secreting cells in the culture of both MLN and spleen cells . Nonetheless, B . bifidum itself does not induce the own specific antibody responses, implying that B . bifidum does not provoke unnecessary immune reaction . Subsequently, it was found that encapsulation of B . bifidum further augments the total IgA production in the culture of both MLN and spleen cells . Finally, we found that the immuno-stimulating activity of B . bifidum is due to its cellular components but not due to any actively secreting component(s) from bacteria. Clin Nutr, 2002 Dec, 21(6), 527 - 30 A novel synbiotic therapy dramatically improved the intestinal function of a pediatric patient with laryngotracheo-esophageal cleft (LTEC) in the intensive care unit; Kanamori Y et al.; To demonstrate the beneficial effects of synbiotic therapy (combined use of probiotics and prebiotics) in critically ill patients, we designed a new protocol for such therapy.Three agents were used as synbiotics: Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus casei, and galactooligosaccharides . More than 1 x 10(9) of probiotic bacteria were contained in each 1.0 g pack . We administered 3.0 g per day of each agent to the patient.A critically ill 9-month-old girl with laryngotracho-esophageal cleft (type IV) was treated by our new synbiotic therapy . Abundant amounts of synbiotic bacteria were detected in the feces which suggests that these administered bacteria affected intestinal function in situ . Bowel movements resumed soon after the commencement of synbiotic therapy and considerable amounts of short chain fatty acids were detected in the feces . Growth of the patient was satisfactory under this treatment.Our new synbiotic therapy had a beneficial effect to improve intestinal function . We recommend synbiotic therapy for critically ill patients in intensive care units as an important immunonutritional therapy. Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi, 2002 Aug, 18(4), 216 - 9 {A preliminary study of the postburn intestinal biological barrier injury in severely burned rats}; Chen J et al.; OBJECTIVE: To investigate the postburn change in the intestinal biological barrier in severely burned rats . METHODS: Wistar rats inflicted by 30% TBSA III degree scalding on the back were employed as the model . The samples were harvested at 24, 48, 72 and 96 postburn hours (PBHs), respectively with the employment of microorganism analysis, biochemical and radio-immune methods for the study . The membranous flora in cecum, the mucin and sIgA in intestinal content, the intestinal endotoxin and bacterial translocation rate and quantification analysis and the endotoxin content in cava vein were observed . RESULTS: The total intestinal membranous flora amount decreased, especially and obviously did the anaerobic bacteria such as bifidobacteria . But aerobic ones increased . In addition, The fungus and enterobacteria exhibited rapid overgrowth . This lead to evident imbalance between anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and to the destruction of intestinal biological barrier and the decrease of colonization resistance . As a result, the intestinal bacterial translocation rate increased markedly . The endotoxin content in the cava and intestinal containing increased, while the mucin and sIgA contents decreased . CONCLUSION: Intestinal biological barrier could be severely damaged after major burn, which might be one of the causes of postburn intestinal infection. Lett Appl Microbiol, 2002, 35(6), 462 - 7 Characterization of a purified beta-fructofuranosidase from Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 15697; Warchol M et al.; AIMS: To characterize the beta-fructofuranosidase of Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 15697 and to compare it with other bacterial beta-fructofuranosidases . METHODS AND RESULTS: The beta-fructofuranosidase of B . infantis ATCC 15697 was purified 46.8 times over the crude extract by anion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and gel filtration . The sequence of 15 amino acid residues of the NH2 terminal was determined . This enzyme was a monomeric protein (Mr 70 kDa) with beta-fructofuranosidase and invertase activities . The isoelectric point was pH 4.3, the optimum pH 6.0 and pKas (4.5 and 7.2) of two active groups were obtained . The activities were inhibited by Hg2+ and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB) . The optimal temperature was 37 degrees C and activities were unstable at 55 degrees C . beta-fructofuranosidase activity was more efficient than that of invertase with Vm/Km ratios of 0.65 and 0.025 x 10-3 l min(-1) mg(-1), respectively . The enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of fructo-oligosaccharides, sucrose and inulin at relative velocities of 100, 10 and 6, respectively . CONCLUSIONS: The enzyme of B . infantis ATCC 15697 is an exo-inulinase which has beta-fructofuranosidase and invertase activities . This protein was different from the beta-fructofuranosidase of another strain of B . infantis (B . infantis JCM no . 7007) . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A better knowledge of bacterial beta-fructofuranosidases, especially from bifidobacteria, has been gained. Int J Food Microbiol, 2003 Mar 15, 81(2), 131 - 6 Evaluation of Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult-fermented soymilk as a probiotic food; Shimakawa Y et al.; We evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium breve-fermented soymilk on probiotic function . An administered strain of B . breve strain Yakult was capable of growing in soymilk with no additives as high as 10(9) CFU/ml . During storage of the fermented soymilk at 10 degrees C for 20 days, viable counts of the strain did not change . The growth inhibition of the strain in a bile-containing medium was lessened by the addition of soy protein . In human feeding experiments, the administered B . breve was recovered at a level of over 10(9) CFU/g faeces, accompanied by an increase in the total number of bifidobacteria . These results indicate that fermented soymilk with B . breve strain Yakult could be a novel type of probiotic food. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Dec, 68(12), 6429 - 34 Rapid identification, differentiation, and proposed new taxonomic classification of Bifidobacterium lactis; Ventura M et al.; Identification of Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium animalis is problematic because of phenotypic and genetic homogeneities and has raised the question of whether they belong to one unique taxon . Analysis of the 16S-23S internally transcribed spacer region of B . lactis DSM10140(T), B . animalis ATCC 25527(T), and six potential B . lactis strains suggested two distinct clusters . Two specific 16S-23S spacer rRNA gene-targeted primers have been developed for specific detection of B . animalis . All of the molecular techniques used (B . lactis or B . animalis PCR primers, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR) demonstrated that B . lactis and B . animalis form two main groups and suggest a revision of the strains assigned to B . animalis . We propose that B . lactis should be separated from B . animalis at the subspecies level. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2002 Jul-Aug, (4), 72 - 8 {Modern methods for the evaluation of qualitative and quantitative changes in the characteristics of intestinal and vaginal microflora}; Efimov BA et al.; Disturbances in normal intestinal and vaginal microflora in women have recently become quite frequent . This accounts for the need of bacteriological laboratories for introduction of reliable methods for the diagnosis of such disturbances . Correct methodological approaches to objective evaluation of the state of intestinal and vaginal microflora are described . The methods used in the study of anaerobic microflora (lacto- and bifidobacteria, eubacteria, peptostreptococci, clostridia, bacteriods, fusobacteria) and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (enterobacteria, staphylococci, streptococci, Gardnerella, fungi of the genus Candida) have been analyzed . All stages of the study are described in consecutive order: the transportation of the material under study, its treatment in a laboratory, the spectrum of selective nutrient media for the isolation of microorganisms, methods of their identification. Arch Pharm Res, 2002 Oct, 25(5), 681 - 4 Hypocholesterolemic activity of Bifidobacteria isolated from a healthy Korean; Rhee YK et al.; This study was undertaken to investigate the hypocholesterolemic activity of Bifidobacteria (B . breve K-110, B . breve K-111, and B . infantis K-525) isolated from a healthy Korean . The administration of B . breve K-110 and K-111 with a high cholesterol diet significantly protected the increase of serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol relative to that of a high cholesterol diet alone . Such a diet supplemented with 0.5% B . breve K-111 decreased serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol to 57 and 55%, respectively . The administration of Bifidobacteria also significantly inhibited the lipid-deposited surface in the aorta . The normalizing activity of serum cholesterol level in cholesterolemic rats was accelerated by Bifidobacteria . The normalizing activity of B . breve K-111 on serum cholesterol level was superior to that of B . breve K-110 . These results suggest that Bifidobacteria in the human intestine play a role in the prophylactics of arteriosclerosis. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2002 Nov, 20(5), 313 - 9 The place of probiotics in human intestinal infections; Sullivan A et al.; A number of studies have been carried out on the effect of several probiotic species on treatment and prevention of intestinal infections . The most commonly used microorganisms are lactic-acid producing bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria belonging to the human normal microflora . In vitro and animal studies have shown that probiotic microorganisms interfere with the colonisation of Helicobacter pylori and of enteropathogenic microorganisms . In humans the significance is more uncertain . Clinically significant benefits of probiotics have been demonstrated in the treatment of rotavirus induced diarrhoea and of Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) . In patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, several probiotic strains have been shown to be as effective as traditional medication in preventing relapses . Standardised and well performed studies are needed to elucidate further the mechanisms of action and the clinical significance of probiotics. Avian Pathol, 2002 Feb, 31(1), 49 - 58 Dietary mannan-oligosaccharides and their effect on chicken caecal microflora in relation to Salmonella Enteritidis colonization; Fernandez F et al.; This study first investigates the effects of mash diet, or mash supplemented with either 2.5% mannose-oligosaccharide (MOS) or palm kernel meal (PKM), on the microflora of the hen caecal contents . Second, it investigates the effect of caecal contents of hens (HCC) fed mash or mash supplemented with MOS or PKM on the major microflora groups of chicks, and their inhibitory effect on Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (PT4) colonization . Finally, this study investigates the effect over time of diets supplemented with MOS or PKM on S . Enteritidis colonization and the microflora of chicks . In hens, supplemented diets increased Bifidobacterium spp., while decreasing members of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp., compared with the mash diet . Chicks dosed with the HCC showed, on average, increased numbers of anaerobes, while the numbers of aerobes decreased including coliforms and S . Enteritidis compared with controls without HCC . In chicks fed the MOS-supplemented or PKM-supplemented diets, S . Enteritidis colonization decreased over time, compared with mash alone . Four-week-old PKM birds showed an increase in Bifidobacterium spp . and Lactobacillus spp., with a decrease in S . Enteritidis compared with week 2 . Generally, the HCC and diets supplemented with MOS or PKM affected the birds intestinal microflora by increasing the Bifidobacterium spp . and Lactobacillus spp., while decreasing the Enterobacteriaceae groups . They also reduced susceptibility in young chickens to colonization by S . Enteritidis. Pediatr Dev Pathol, 2003 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 6 - 23 Epub 2002 Nov 11. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: clinical considerations and pathogenetic concepts; Hsueh W et al.; Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease affecting predominantly premature infants, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units . Although several predisposing factors have been identified, such as prematurity, enteral feeding, and infection, its pathogenesis remains elusive . In the past 20 years, we have established several animal models of NEC in rats and found several endogenous mediators, especially platelet-activating factor (PAF), which may play a pivotal role in NEC . Injection of PAF induces intestinal necrosis, and PAF antagonists prevent the bowel injury induced by bacterial endotoxin, hypoxia, or challenge with tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) plus endotoxin in adult rats . The same is true for lesions induced by hypoxia and enteral feeding in neonatal animals . Human patients with NEC show high levels of PAF and decreased plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase, the enzyme degrading PAF . The initial event in our experimental models of NEC is probably polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation and adhesion to venules in the intestine, which initiates a local inflammatory reaction involving proinflammatory mediators including TNF, complement, prostaglandins, and leukotriene C4 . Subsequent norepinephrine release and mesenteric vasoconstriction result in splanchnic ischemia and reperfusion . Bacterial products (e.g., endotoxin) enter the intestinal tissue during local mucosal barrier breakdown, and endotoxin synergizes with PAF to amplify the inflammation . Reactive oxygen species produced by the activated leukocytes and by intestinal epithelial xanthine oxidase may be the final pathway for tissue injury . Protective mechanisms include nitric oxide produced by the constitutive (mainly neuronal) nitric oxide synthase, and indigenous probiotics such as Bifidobacteria infantis . The former maintains intestinal perfusion and the integrity of the mucosal barrier, and the latter keep virulent bacteria in check . The development of tissue injury depends on the balance between injurious and protective mechanisms. Eur J Nutr, 2002 Nov, 41 Suppl 1, I32 - 7 The role of the intestinal microflora for the development of the immune system in early childhood; Ouwehand A et al.; The intestinal tract performs many different functions; in addition to absorption and digestion it is also the body's largest organ of host defence . Part of the intestinal mucosal barrier function is formed by a common mucosal immune system which provides communication between the different mucosal surfaces of the body . The intestine also contains a microbial ecosystem with a large body of microbes, 1-11/2 kg in an adult . The microbes and their activity have a major impact on the development and functioning of the intestinal immune system and vice versa . This mutual influence also affects the host beyond the intestine.The intestinal colonisation with a balanced microflora is of main importance for the correct development of the immune system . The importance of the intestinal microflora is most clearly seen in germfree animals, but also diseases like atopy are associated with disturbances in the intestinal microflora . This often manifests itself in a low number of bifidobacteria . The use of probiotics or prebiotics to correct this imbalance and modulate the immune activity has received increasing scientific documentation . The precise mechanisms behind these immune modulatory activities are not well understood and require further investigation. Eur J Nutr, 2002 Nov, 41 Suppl 1, I11 - 6 Relationship of prebiotics and food to intestinal microflora; Blaut M; Dietary carbohydrates that escape digestion in the small intestine, undergo bacterial fermentation in the colon . This process affects the microbial ecology of the gastrointestinal tract and influences gut metabolism and function . Prebiotics are non-digestible but fermentable oligosaccharides that are specifically designed to change the composition and activity of the intestinal microbiota with the prospect to promote the health of the host . Dietary fiber and non-digestible oligosaccharides are the main growth substrates of gut microorganisms . Their fermentation results in the acidification of the colonic contents and the formation of short chain fatty acids which serve as fuels in different tissues and may play a role in the regulation of cellular processes . Prebiotics specifically stimulate the growth of endogenous microbial population groups such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli which are perceived as being beneficial to human health . In spite of the interesting nutritional properties of prebiotics it is questionable whether a wholesome diet rich in fruit and vegetables needs to be supplemented with prebiotics for optimal health effects. Carcinogenesis, 2002 Nov, 23(11), 1953 - 60 Antitumorigenic activity of the prebiotic inulin enriched with oligofructose in combination with the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats; Femia AP et al.; Prebiotics such as fructans, and probiotics such as Lactobacilli or Bifidobacteria, or a combination of prebiotics and probiotics (synbiotics) are thought to be protective against colon cancer . Therefore, we studied whether the prebiotic inulin enriched with oligofructose (Raftilose-Synergy1, briefly, Synergy1, 10% of the diet), probiotics {Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb12) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG), each at 5x10(8) c.f.u./g diet} or synbiotics (a combination of the two) protect rats against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer . Male F344 rats were divided into: Controls; PRE, which were fed a diet containing Synergy1; PRO, fed a diet containing LGG and Bb12; PREPRO, fed a diet containing Synergy1, LGG and BB12 . Ten days after beginning the diets, rats were treated with AOM (15 mg/kg s.c . two times); dietary treatments were continued for the entire experiment . Thirty-one weeks after AOM, rats treated with Synergy1 (PRE and PREPRO groups) had a significantly lower (P < 0.001) number of tumours (adenomas and cancers) than rats without Synergy1 (colorectal tumours/rat were 1.9 +/- 1.7, 1.1 +/- 1.1, 2.2 +/- 1.4 and 0.9 +/- 1.2 in Controls, PRE, PRO and PREPRO groups, respectively, means +/- SD) . A slight, not significant effect of probiotics in reducing malignant tumours was also observed (P = 0.079) . Caecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were higher (P < 0.001) in the groups treated with Synergy1 . Apoptosis was increased in the normal mucosa of the PRO group, while no variation was observed in the tumours . Colonic proliferation was lower in the PRE group as compared with Controls . Glutathione S-transferase placental enzyme pi type expression, and to a lesser extent, inducible NO synthase were depressed in the tumours from rats in the PRE and PREPRO groups . Cycloxygenase-2 expression was increased in the tumours of control rats but not in those from PRE, PRO or PREPRO rats . In conclusion, prebiotic administration in the diet decreases AOM-induced carcinogenesis in rats. Dig Liver Dis, 2002 Sep, 34 Suppl 2, S124 - 8 Prebiotics in infant formulas: biochemical characterisation by thin layer chromatography and high performance anion exchange chromatography; Coppa GV et al.; BACKGROUND: Breast-fed infants, unlike bottle-fed babies, have a microbic intestinal flora characterised by a marked predominance of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria . This is essentially due to the prebiotic effect of oligosaccharides in human milk . Recently, oligosaccharides with a prebiotic effect have been added to formulas . Aim . To characterise the mixture of oligosaccharides contained in these new formulas . MATERIALS AND METHODS: The characterisation of oligosaccharides was performed using thin layer chromatography as well as high performance anion exchange chromatography . RESULTS: The mixture of oligosaccharides used in the formulas analysed was made up of oligosaccharides with low molecular weight (transgalactosylated oligosaccharides) and polysaccharides with high molecular weight (inulin) . CONCLUSION: With the methods employed, it was possible to characterise the mixture of oligosaccharides used as prebiotics in the formulas now available on the market. Dig Liver Dis, 2002 Sep, 34 Suppl 2, S105 - 10 Functional food concept and its application to prebiotics; Roberfroid M; A food can be regarded as functional if it is satisfactorily demonstrated to affect beneficially one or more target functions in the body, beyond adequate nutritional effects, in a way which is relevant to either the state of wellbeing and health or the reduction of the risk of a disease . A food can be made functional by increasing the concentration, adding or improving the bioavailability of a particular component . Functional food science will serve to establish claims based either on enhanced function or disease risk reduction . Inulin and oligofructose are functional food ingredients present in miscellaneous edible plants . They are non-digestible oligosaccharides classified as dietary fibres . The target for their functional effects is the colonic microflora that ferment them and for which they serve as selective "fertilizers"; the gastrointestinal physiology; the immune functions; the bioavailability of minerals; the metabolism of lipids; and colonic carcinogenesis . The scientific data available on the nutritional effects of inulin and oligofructose provide strong evidence for a prebiotic effect (i.e., selective stimulation of growth of bifidobacteria in colonic microbiota), improvement of bowel habit (both stool frequency and stool weight) and improved calcium bioavailability. Dig Liver Dis, 2002 Sep, 34 Suppl 2, S78 - 80 Probiotics in antibiotic-associated diarrhoea; Cremonini F et al.; Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea is a common event . In some cases, it could represent a life-threatening event . Clostridium difficile colitis is a further distinct complication of antibiotic administration . Treatment options for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile colitis include supplementation with several types of probiotics, as overviewed in this paper . Three randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trials show a therapeutic effect of Saccharomyces boulardii in antibiotic-associated diarrhoea . The efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus and bulgaricus has also been ascertained in two double-blind controlled studies . Other studies focusing on Lactobacillus as a new preventive agent for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea are not double-blind . Among these, a positive effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium longum and Enterococcus faecium SF68 has been reported . Effectiveness of probiotics in antibiotic-associated diarrhoea has, therefore, a consistent scientific rationale, however few studies have performed an assessment of bacterial recovery in stools, and this approach may be helpful in deciding a more rigorous dose standardisation. Dig Liver Dis, 2002 Sep, 34 Suppl 2, S25 - 8 Novel probiotics for the management of allergic inflammation; von der Weid T et al.; Several pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly food allergy, are due to an exaggerated and imbalanced response of the gut mucosal immune system . The intestinal microflora is an important constituent of the gut mucosal barrier against food allergens and there is increasing evidence that one important acquired factor predisposing to food allergy in infants is the gut microflora . Indeed, the balance of bifidobacteria versus Clostridia in the neonatal flora appears to determine the allergic status in infants . In earlier studies, it was shown that the higher prevalence of allergies in infants fed standard formulas, compared to breast-fed infants, correlated with lower frequencies of bifidobacteria in their faeces . Certain Lactobacillus probiotic strains can have an inhibitory impact on allergic inflammation . The mechanisms implicated are still unclear, but it seems that they can involve both proteolytic and/or immunomodulatory functions . One challenge will be to find a probiotic strain that elicits all these functions and that fulfills all safety criteria. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Nov, 29(5), 281 - 5 Optimization of galacto-oligosaccharide production by Bifidobacterium infantis RW-8120 using response surface methodology; Roy D et al.; Oligosaccharide (OS) production, cell concentration (2 x 10(9) colony-forming unit/ml), lactose concentration (25% wt/vol), reaction time (6 h), and temperature (50 degrees C) were chosen as the central condition of the central composite design (CCD) for optimizing the production process using Bifidobacterium infantis RW-8120 in skim milk . Statistical analysis (P<0.01) revealed that the most relevant variable concerning OS production and yield was the lactose concentration . The coefficient of determination (R(2)) is good for the second-order OS production model (0.92) and fairly good for the second-order nonlinear OS yield model (0.816) . An increase of lactose concentration and temperature resulted in a higher OS production . The optimal values for OS production appear to be near the area associated with the central points of the modeling design except for the lactose concentration, which was 40% (wt/vol) of the final volume. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Nov, 68(11), 5209 - 16 Multiparametric flow cytometry and cell sorting for the assessment of viable, injured, and dead bifidobacterium cells during bile salt stress; Amor KB et al.; Using a flow cytometry-based approach, we assessed the viability of Bifidobacterium lactis DSM 10140 and Bifidobacterium adolescentis DSM 20083 during exposure to bile salt stress . Carboxyfluorescein diacetate (cFDA), propidium iodide (PI), and oxonol {DiBAC4(3)} were used to monitor esterase activity, membrane integrity, and membrane potential, respectively, as indicators of bacterial viability . Single staining with these probes rapidly and noticeably reflected the behavior of the two strains during stress exposure . However, the flow cytometry results tended to overestimate the viability of the two strains compared to plate counts, which appeared to be related to the nonculturability of a fraction of the population as a result of sublethal injury caused by bile salts . When the cells were simultaneously stained with cFDA and PI, flow cytometry and cell sorting revealed a striking physiological heterogeneity within the stressed bifidobacterium population . Three subpopulations could be identified based on their differential uptake of the probes: cF-stained, cF and PI double-stained, and PI-stained subpopulations, representing viable, injured, and dead cells, respectively . Following sorting and recovery, a significant fraction of the double-stained subpopulation (40%) could resume growth on agar plates . Our results show that in situ assessment of the physiological activity of stressed bifidobacteria using multiparameter flow cytometry and cell sorting may provide a powerful and sensitive tool for assessment of the viability and stability of probiotics. J Microencapsul, 2002 Jul-Aug, 19(4), 485 - 94 Microencapsulation of L . acidophilus (La-05) and B . lactis (Bb-12) and evaluation of their survival at the pH values of the stomach and in bile; Favaro-Trindade CS et al.; Microcapsules were prepared using the probiotic microorganisms Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-05) and Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb-12) and the spray drying technique and cellulose acetate phthalate as the wall material . This study evaluated the resistance of these microorganisms to drying at three temperatures and also the in vitro tolerance of the free and microencapsulated form to pH values and bile concentrations similar to those found in the human stomach and intestine . With an air entry temperature of 130 degrees C and exit temperature of 75 degrees C, the number of viable cells of B . lactis was practically unaltered, whereas the population of L . acidophilus was reduced by two logarithmic cycles . B . lactis was more resistant to the drying process than L . acidophilus under all conditions tested . The morphology of the microcapsules was determined by scanning electron microscopy and the microcapsules presented a rounded external surface containing concavities, a continuous wall with no apparent porosity, average size of 22 microm, moisture content varying from 5.3 to 3.2% and water activity between 0.230 and 0.204 . After inoculation into HCl solutions with pH values adjusted to 1 and 2, incubated anaerobically at 37 degrees C, and plated after 0, 1 and 2 h of incubation, microcapsules were effective in protecting the microorganisms, while the populations of both free microorganisms were eliminated after only 1 h at the acidic conditions . Microencapsulated B . lactis and L . acidophilus, both free and microencapsulated, were also resistant after 12h to bile solutions. J Appl Microbiol, 2002, 93(5), 794 - 9 Effect of bile on the lipid composition and surface properties of bifidobacteria; Gomez Zavaglia A et al.; AIM: The changes produced on the bacterial surface of Bifidobacteria cells when they are grown in bile were compared with those provoked by bile added to bacteria grown in the absence of bile . METHODS AND RESULTS: The adhesive properties, the zeta potential and the lipid composition of Bifidobacterial strains, isolated from human faeces and grown in MRS medium, were determined . Bacteria grown in MRS with bile showed a loss of adherence and autoaggregation in correlation with a decrease in the surface hydrophobicity in comparison to those grown in MRS without bile, concomitant with the absence of two glycolipids, the increase of sugar content and minor changes in fatty acid composition . The surface changes caused by bile shock on bacteria grown in bile-free medium were much less pronounced and, in addition, no effect on the lipid composition was apparent . CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of the results indicates that bile action on surface properties is related to metabolic changes . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Long-term exposure of bacteria to bile may cause metabolic changes affecting their adhesive properties irreversibly . This may be taken as a criterion to define the probiotic properties of different strains. Nutr Rev, 2002 Oct, 60(10 Pt 1), 326 - 34 Immune-stimulating and gut health-promoting properties of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides; Bornet FR et al.; Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides are a group of linear fructose oligomers with a degree of polymerization ranging from one up to five (oligosaccharides) . Recent observations in animal models demonstrate that prebiotics and probiotics may exert beneficial effects on gut health by enhancing gut-associated lymphoid tissue responses either directly or indirectly through the production of short-chain fatty acids and the enhanced growth of lactic bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli . Demonstration of the potential health benefits of short-chain fructooligosaccharides on colon cancer risk is an active field of research in animal and human nutrition. Prim Care, 2002 Jun, 29(2), 231 - 61 Respiratory and allergic diseases: from upper respiratory tract infections to asthma; Jaber R; Patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis may benefit from hydration and a diet low in sodium, omega-6 fatty acids, and transfatty acids, but high in omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., fish, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin, and flax seeds), onions, and fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day) . Physicians may need to be more cautious when prescribing antibiotics to children in their first year of life when they are born to families with a history of atopy . More research is needed to establish whether supplementation with probiotics (lactobacillus and bifidobacterium) during the first year of life or after antibiotic use decreases the risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis . Despite a theoretic basis for the use of vitamin C supplements in asthmatic patients, the evidence is still equivocal, and long-term studies are needed . The evidence is stronger for exercise-induced asthma, in which the use of vitamin C supplementation at a dosage of 1 to 2 g per day may be helpful . It is also possible that fish oil supplements, administered in a dosage of 1 to 1.2 g of EPA and DHA per day, also may be helpful to some patients with asthma . Long-term studies of fish oil and vitamin C are needed for more definite answers . For the patient interested in incorporating nutritional approaches, vitamin C and fish oils have a safe profile . However, aspirin-sensitive individuals should avoid fish oils, and red blood cell magnesium levels may help in making the decision whether to use additional magnesium supplements . Combination herbal formulas should be used in the treatment of asthma with medical supervision and in collaboration with an experienced herbalist or practitioner of TCM . Safe herbs, such as Boswellia and gingko, may be used singly as adjuncts to a comprehensive plan of care if the patient and practitioner have an interest in trying them while staying alert for drug-herb interactions . No data on the long-term use of these single herbs in asthma exist . For the motivated patient, mind-body interventions such as yoga, hypnosis, and biofeedback-assisted relaxation and breathing exercises are beneficial for stress reduction in general and may be helpful in further controlling asthma . Encouraging parents to learn how to massage their asthmatic children may appeal to some parents and provide benefits for parents and children alike . Acupuncture and chiropractic treatment cannot be recommended at this time, although some patients may derive benefit because of the placebo effect . For patients with allergic rhinitis, there are no good clinical research data on the use of quercetin and vitamin C . Similarly, freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves may be tried, but the applicable research evidence also is poor . Further studies are needed to assess the efficacy of these supplements and herbs . Homeopathic remedies based on extreme dilutions of the allergen may be beneficial in allergic rhinitis but require collaboration with an experienced homeopath . There are no research data on constitutional homeopathic approaches to asthma and allergic rhinitis . Patients with COPD are helped by exercise, pulmonary rehabilitation, and increased caloric protein and fat intake . Vitamin C and n-3 supplements are safe and reasonable; however, studies are needed to establish their efficacy in COPD . On the other hand, there are convincing data in favor of N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation for the patient with COPD at doses ranging between 400 and 1200 mg daily . Red blood cell magnesium levels may guide the use of magnesium replacement . The use of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 in patients with COPD needs further study . The addition of essential oils to the dietary regimen of patients with chronic bronchitis is worth exploring . Patients with upper respiratory tract infections can expect a shorter duration of symptoms by taking high doses of vitamin C (2 g) with zinc supplements, preferably the nasal zinc gel, at the onset of their symptoms . Adding an herb such as echinacea or Andrographis shortens the duration of the common cold . The one study on Elderberry's use for the flu was encouraging, and the data on the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum interesting, but more studies should be performed . Saline washes may be helpful to patients with allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis . Patients also may try the German combination (available in the United States) of elderberry, vervain, gentian, primrose, and sorrel that has been tested in randomized clinical trials . Bromelain is safe to try; the trials of bromelain supplementation were promising but were never repeated . The preceding suggestions need to be grounded in a program based on optimal medical management . Patients need to be well educated in the proper medical management of their disease and skilled at monitoring disease stability and progress . Asthmatic patients need to monitor their bronchodilator usage and peak flow meter measurements to step up their medical treatment in a timely manner, if needed . Patients welcome physician guidance when exploring the breadth of treatments available today . A true patient-physician partnership is always empowering to patients who are serious about regaining their function and health. Int J Food Microbiol, 2002 Nov 15, 79(1-2), 131 - 41 Application of cereals and cereal components in functional foods: a review; Charalampopoulos D et al.; The food industry is directing new product development towards the area of functional foods and functional food ingredients due to consumers' demand for healthier foods . In this respect, probiotic dairy foods containing human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species and prebiotic food formulations containing ingredients that cannot be digested by the human host in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can selectively stimulate the growth of one or a limited number of colonic bacteria have been recently introduced into the market . The aim of these products is to affect beneficially the gut microbial composition and activities . Cereals offer another alternative for the production of functional foods . The multiple beneficial effects of cereals can be exploited in different ways leading to the design of novel cereal foods or cereal ingredients that can target specific populations . Cereals can be used as fermentable substrates for the growth of probiotic microorganisms . The main parameters that have to be considered are the composition and processing of the cereal grains, the substrate formulation, the growth capability and productivity of the starter culture, the stability of the probiotic strain during storage, the organoleptic properties and the nutritional value of the final product . Additionally, cereals can be used as sources of nondigestible carbohydrates that besides promoting several beneficial physiological effects can also selectively stimulate the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria present in the colon and act as prebiotics . Cereals contain water-soluble fibre, such as beta-glucan and arabinoxylan, oilgosaccharides, such as galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant starch, which have been suggested to fulfil the prebiotic concept . Separation of specific fractions of fibre from different cereal varieties or cereal by-products, according to the knowledge of fibre distribution in cereal grains, could be achieved through processing technologies, such as milling, sieving, and debranning or pearling . Finally, cereal constituents, such as starch, can be used as encapsulation materials for probiotics in order to improve their stability during storage and enhance their viability during their passage through the adverse conditions of the gastrointestinal tract . It could be concluded that functional foods based on cereals is a challenging perspective, however, the development of new technologies of cereal processing that enhance their health potential and the acceptability of the food product are of primary importance. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Oct, 60(1-2), 168 - 73 Epub 2002 Aug 21. Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 cell production during free- and immobilized-cell cultures in MRS-whey permeate medium; Doleyres Y et al.; Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 cell production was studied in MRS medium supplemented with whey permeate (MRS-WP) during free-cell batch fermentations and continuous immobilized-cell cultures . Very high populations were measured after 12 h batch cultures in MRS-WP medium controlled at pH 5.5 (1.7+/-0.5x10(10) cfu/ml), approximately 2-fold higher than in non-supplemented MRS . Our study showed that WP is a low-cost source of lactose and other components that can be used to increase bifidobacteria cell production in MRS medium . Continuous fermentation in MRS-WP of B . longum immobilized in gellan gum gel beads produced the highest cell concentrations in the effluent (4.9+/-0.9x10(9) cfu/ml) at a dilution rate (D) of 0.5 h(-1) . However, maximal volumetric productivity (6.9+/-0.4x10(9) cfu ml(-1)h(-1)) during continuous cultures was obtained at D =2.0 h(-1), and was approximately 9.5-fold higher than during free-cell batch cultures at an optimal pH of 5.5 (7.2x10(8) cfu ml(-1)h(-1)). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2002 Oct 29, 99(22), 14422 - 7 Epub 2002 Oct 15. The genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum reflects its adaptation to the human gastrointestinal tract; Schell MA et al.; Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive prokaryotes that naturally colonize the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and vagina . Although not numerically dominant in the complex intestinal microflora, they are considered as key commensals that promote a healthy GIT . We determined the 2.26-Mb genome sequence of an infant-derived strain of Bifidobacterium longum, and identified 1,730 possible coding sequences organized in a 60%-GC circular chromosome . Bioinformatic analysis revealed several physiological traits that could partially explain the successful adaptation of this bacteria to the colon . An unexpectedly large number of the predicted proteins appeared to be specialized for catabolism of a variety of oligosaccharides, some possibly released by rare or novel glycosyl hydrolases acting on "nondigestible" plant polymers or host-derived glycoproteins and glycoconjugates . This ability to scavenge from a large variety of nutrients likely contributes to the competitiveness and persistence of bifidobacteria in the colon . Many genes for oligosaccharide metabolism were found in self-regulated modules that appear to have arisen in part from gene duplication or horizontal acquisition . Complete pathways for all amino acids, nucleotides, and some key vitamins were identified; however, routes for Asp and Cys were atypical . More importantly, genome analysis provided insights into the reciprocal interactions of bifidobacteria with their hosts . We identified polypeptides that showed homology to most major proteins needed for production of glycoprotein-binding fimbriae, structures that could possibly be important for adhesion and persistence in the GIT . We also found a eukaryotic-type serine protease inhibitor (serpin) possibly involved in the reported immunomodulatory activity of bifidobacteria. Can J Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 48(8), 759 - 63 Fermentation of chicory fructo-oligosaccharides in mixtures of different degrees of polymerization by three strains of bifidobacteria; Perrin S et al.; We estimated and compared the action of three selected strains of bifidobacteria in a semi-synthetic medium for different degrees of polymerization of fructo-oligosaccharides contained in three commercial products derived from chicory inulin: Fibrulose F97 (shorter chains), Fibruline Instant (native chains), Fibruline LC (longer chains) . Biomass and production of lactate and acetate were greater when the substrate contained mostly shorter chain fructo-oligosaccharides . Shorter chains were first to be consumed, and one strain could use longer chains . As the degree of polymerization increased, residual fructo-oligosaccharides increased after growth of the strains, and the rate of consumption of fructo-oligosaccharides decreased. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 2002 Aug, 82(1-4), 341 - 52 The intestinal LABs; Vaughan EE et al.; The complete gastrointestinal (GI) tract of humans is colonised soon after birth by a myriad of microbial species with a characteristic distribution depending on the location . GI-tract ecology has been experiencing a revival due to the development of molecular techniques, especially those based on 16S RNA (zRNA) genes . A richer ecosystem than previously imagined of novel species is being discovered that is significantly influenced by our host genotype . Special attention has been focused on the bifidobacteria and the lactic acid bacterial (LAB) populations, both those that are naturally present within this complex ecosystem and those that are ingested as probiotics in functional foods . Overall this interest stems from a increasing awareness of interplay between microflora, diet and the health of the host, and is further stimulated by an increasing incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses, and atopy . Substantial documentation of benefits to host health has especially distinguished the LAB for multidisciplinary research aimed to determine the molecular mechanisms involved . Recent advances in molecular technologies, including high-throughput genomics-based approaches, can significantly advance our understanding of the microbe--diet--host interactions and offer valuable information for design and application of health-targeted microbes. Antibiot Khimioter, 2002, 47(4), 16 - 9 {Oral administration of pectins for prophylaxis and treatment of purulent septic complications in patients with burns}; Lazareva EB et al.; Clinical and laboratory evaluation of pectins application efficacy demonstrated that the patients treated with pectines has lower frequency of bacteriemia, intoxication, infectious complications and lethality . Pectins use per os resulted by acceleration of burns wounds healing and by lower microbial dissemination . Frequency of coagulase-positive staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci isolation was also lower in the treated group of patients when compared to the control group . Feces microbial profile also demonstrated positive trend--normal microflora (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) enhanced, opportunistic bacteria diminished . Pectins application provided normalization of leucocytes, lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, immunoglobulins A and G . The results of investigation demonstrated pectins efficacy at the complex treatment regimes of the patients with burns. Microbiol Immunol, 2002, 46(8), 535 - 48 Phylogenetic analysis of the human gut microbiota using 16S rDNA clone libraries and strictly anaerobic culture-based methods; Hayashi H et al.; The human gut microbiota from three healthy subjects were compared by the use of a sequence analysis of 16S rDNA libraries and a culture-based method . Direct counts ranged from 1.9 X 10" to 4.0 X 10" cells/g (wet weight), and plate counts totaled 6.6 X 10(10) to 1.2 X 10(11) CFU/g (wet weight) . Sixty to seventy percent of the bacteria in the human intestinal tract cannot be cultured with currently available methods . The 16S rDNA libraries from three subjects were generated from total community DNA in the intestinal tract with universal primer sets . Randomly selected clones were partially sequenced . All purified colonies detected from the surface of the agar plate were used for a partial sequencing of 16S rDNA . On the basis of sequence similarities, the clones and colonies were classified into several clusters corresponding to the major phylum of the domain Bacteria . Among a total of 744 clones obtained, approximately 25% of them belonged to 31 known species . About 75% of the remaining clones were novel "phylotypes" (at least 98% similarity of clone sequence) . The predominant intestinal microbial community consisted of 130 species or phylotypes according to the sequence data in this study . The 16S rDNA libraries and colonies included the Bacteroides group, Streptococcus group, Bifidobacterium group, and Clostridium rRNA clusters IV, IX, XIVa, and XVIII . Moreover, several previously uncharacterized and uncultured microorganisms were recognized in clone libraries and colonies . Our results also showed marked individual differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Oct, 29(4), 196 - 9 Glucooligosaccharides from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-742 (ATCC 13146): a potential prebiotic; Chung CH et al.; There is an emerging market for functional oligosaccharides for use in foods . Currently, technology for the production of oligosaccharides is limited to extraction from plant sources, acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of polysaccharides or synthesis by transglycosylation reactions . Oligosaccharides can also be produced using a Leuconostoc fermentation and restricting the polymer size by addition of maltose . Maltose limits the dextransucrase reaction, yielding high concentrations of alpha-glucooligosaccharides . Branched oligomers produced by this process were readily catabolized by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli but were not readily utilized by either Salmonella sp . or Escherichia coli, pointing toward their use in intestinal microflora modification. Syst Appl Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 25(2), 241 - 8 PCR-ELISA I: Application to simultaneous analysis of mixed bacterial samples composed of intestinal species; Laitinen R et al.; Sixteen oligonucleotide identification probes, designed in this study or adapted from literature, were tested for a PCR-ELISA application to simultaneously detect under standardised conditions selected intestinal bacteria, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria . The level of specificity obtained with most of the probes fulfilled the set criteria . The lack of efficiency of PCR performed with the primers, proposed to be specific for the entire eubacteria domain, and compromises made in hybridisation conditions due to simultaneous usage of multiple probes reduced the sensitivity of the PCR-ELISA test . The method was, however, found to be suitable for detecting predominant members of the intestinal flora . Applicability of the PCR-ELISA test could be further widened using primers with a more restricted specificity in the PCR step, as was demonstrated for the detection of Bifidobacterium with genus-specific primers . Advantages of the PCR-ELISA method include convenient performance and the possibility to test rapidly large amounts of samples with a multitude of probes. J Urol, 2002 Oct, 168(4 Pt 1), 1512 - 7 The potential role of probiotics in pediatric urology; Reid G; PURPOSE: The application of select microbial strains to increase the host population of good bacteria is called probiotics, a term defined as "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host." This review was done to evaluate the potential role that probiotic therapy may have in pediatric urology . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Many children around the world die of diseases, such as gastrointestinal infection and HIV, while many have urinary tract infections that subsequently recur frequently in adulthood . Until recently the role of intestinal and urogenital (vaginal, urethral and perineal) microflora in health and disease has received scant attention . The data available in the literature on this topic were examined and a personal viewpoint is presented on how they may relate to urology . RESULTS: There is mounting evidence that certain strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria have a major part in the maintenance and restoration of health in children and adults . CONCLUSIONS: Implications for pediatric urology include a decreased risk of infection and stone disease as well as possible positive effects on preventing and managing inflammatory and some carcinogenic diseases. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Oct, 68(10), 4986 - 95 Culture-independent microbial community analysis reveals that inulin in the diet primarily affects previously unknown bacteria in the mouse cecum; Apajalahti JH et al.; Inulin is a well-known fructose-based prebiotic which has been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, a bacterial group generally considered beneficial for intestinal health . In the present study, we analyzed inulin-associated shifts in the total bacterial community of wild-type mice and mice carrying a genetically inactivated adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor gene by using DNA-based approaches independent of bacterial culturability . Mice were fed a high-fat, nonfiber diet with or without inulin inclusion at a 10% (wt/wt) concentration . Cecal contents were analyzed after 0, 3, and 9 weeks on the experimental diets . Inulin inclusion significantly affected the total bacterial community structure of the cecum as determined by both a nonselective percent-guanine-plus-cytosine-based profiling analysis and a more specific 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis . The shifts included stimulation of bifidobacteria and suppression of clostridia, but sequence comparison revealed that the major shifts were within previously unknown bacterial taxa . Concomitantly, significantly higher bacterial densities, determined by flow cytometry, were observed with the inulin-amended diet, and the metabolism of the cecal bacterial community was altered, as indicated by higher levels of residual short-chain fatty acids, particularly lactic acid . With regard to all of the microbiological parameters measured, the wild-type mice and mice carrying a genetically inactivated adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor gene were essentially identical . Studies of the implications of pre- and probiotics may need to be expanded to include careful analysis of their effects on the entire microbial community, rather than just a few well-known species . Further studies are needed to increase our understanding of the possible roles of currently unknown gastrointestinal bacteria in health and disease. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi, 1998 Dec, 23(12), 743 - 5, back cover {Influence of alum on intestinal flora in mice}; Yan M et al.; OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of alum on the intestinal microecological balance in normal microorganisms . METHOD: The mice were administered orally with alum of a small dosage(0.25/kg) and a large dosage(1 g/kg) for half a month, two months and three months, and a micro flora analysis of the mice was carried out at intervals of the above mentioned administrations . RESULT: The intestinal flora in the animals administered with alum was imbalanced . The counts of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli closely related to human physiological activities were decreased . The counts of pathogenic E . Coli significantly increased; and the longer the animals were treated with alum, the stronger the microecological balance was influenced . CONCLUSION: Alum could induce imbalance of the normal intestinal flora in mice. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol, 2002, 37(4), 259 - 81 Effects of consumption of probiotics and prebiotics on serum lipid levels in humans; Pereira DI et al.; The objective of this article is to review existing studies concerning the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on serum cholesterol concentrations, with particular attention on the possible mechanisms of their action . Although not without exception, results from animal and human studies suggest a moderate cholesterol-lowering action of dairy products fermented with appropriate strain(s) of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria . Mechanistically, probiotic bacteria ferment food-derived indigestible carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which can then cause a decrease in the systemic levels of blood lipids by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis and/or redistributing cholesterol from plasma to the liver . Furthermore, some bacteria may interfere with cholesterol absorption from the gut by deconjugating bile salts and therefore affecting the metabolism of cholesterol, or by directly assimilating cholesterol . For prebiotic substances, the majority of studies have been done with the fructooligosaccharides inulin and oligofructose, and although convincing lipid-lowering effects have been observed in animals, high dose levels had to be used . Reports in humans are few in number . In studies conducted in normal-lipidemic subjects, two reported no effect of inulin or oligofructose on serum lipids, whereas two others reported a significant reduction in serum triglycerides (19 and 27%, respectively) with more modest changes in serum total and LDL cholesterol . At present, data suggest that in hyperlipidemic subjects, any effects that do occur result primarily in reductions in cholesterol, whereas in normal lipidemic subjects, effects on serum triglycerides are the dominant feature. J Dairy Res, 2002 May, 69(2), 293 - 302 Effect of bile components on the surface properties of bifidobacteria; Kociubinski G et al.; The action of bile on bifidobacteria was studied by measuring changes in zeta potential . hydrophobicity and adherence to enterocyte-like cells in vitro . Highly hydrophobic strains shocked with bile displayed more negative zeta potential values and a decrease in adherence . When a non-hydrophobic non-adherent strain (CIDCA 5324) was shocked with bile, an increase in hydrophobicity was observed . However, no changes of zeta potential or adherence properties were apparent . The action of the bile components was different from the action of whole bile . Cholate and deoxycholate produced a decrease in the negativity of zeta potential values of all strains studied whereas taurocholate displayed a shift in zeta potential of hydrophobic strains to more negative values, thus explaining the decrease in the autoaggregation by charge repulsion . However, the decrease in zeta potential caused by cholate and deoxycholate did not increase autoaggregation in a hydrophobic non-adherent strain (CIDCA 531) . This suggests that other forces are contributing to autoaggregation. Space Med Med Eng (Beijing), 2002 Jun, 15(3), 186 - 8 {Effects of head down bed rest or drinking water containing electrolytic silver-ion on intestinal bifidobacteria}; Li ZX et al.; Objective . To investigate the effect of head down bed rest (HDBR) or electrolytic silver-ion on intestinal bifidobacteria in men and mice . Method . Three tests were conducted . Counts of bifidobacteria in feces were made in: 1) 5 male healthy volunteers after 21 d -6 degrees HDBR . 2) 4 groups of mice drank water containing no Ag+, 0.20, 0.40 and 0.60 mg/ L of Ag+ respectively for 1 month . 3) Seven male healthy volunteers drank water containing 0.20 mg/L of silver-ion for 16 days . Result . 1) The count of bifidobacteria after HDBR {8.08 +/- 0.82 (lgn/g)} was significantly decreased as compared with the control group {8.72 +/- 0.82 (lgn/g)} (P<0.01) . It suggests that HDT -6 degrees bed-rest might reduce the number of bifidobacteria in the human colon . 2) The count of bifidobacteria in feces was negatively correlated with the silver-ion concentration in the water (r= -0.992, P<0.01) . 3) The count of bifidobacteria in feces after test {7.83 +/- 0.71(lgn/g)} was significantly decreased as compared with that before the test (8.91 +/- 0.84) (P<0.05) . Conclusion . It demonstrates that HDT -6 degrees bed-rest and electrolytic silver-ion all might reduce the count of bifidobacteria in feces. Br J Nutr, 2002 Sep, 88 Suppl 1, S95 - 9 Improvement of the probiotic effect of micro-organisms by their combination with maltodextrins, fructo-oligosaccharides and polyunsaturated fatty acids; Bomba A et al.; Probiotics could represent an effective alternative to the use of synthetic substances in nutrition and medicine . The data concerning the efficacy of probiotics are often contradictory . This paper focuses on the enhancement of the efficacy of probiotics by their combination with synergistically acting components of natural origin . Maltodextrins can be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of starch and are suitable for consumption . Administration of Lactobacillus paracasei together with maltodextrin decreased the number of Escherichia coli colonising the jejunal mucosa of gnotobiotic piglets by 1 logarithm compared to the control group . Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally occurring oligosaccharides, mainly of plant origin . L . paracasei administered in combination with FOS significantly increased counts of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., total anaerobes and total aerobes compared to the control group as well as the L . paracasei group . It also significantly decreased Clostridium and Enterobacterium counts in the faeces of the weanling piglets compared with the control group . Dietary lipids influence the gastrointestinal microbiota and specifically the population of lactic acid bacteria . In gnotobiotic piglets the oral administration of an oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) significantly increased the number of L . paracasei adhering to jejunal mucosa compared to the control group . Our results showed that maltodextrin KMS X-70 and PUFA can be used to enhance the effect of probiotic micro-organisms in the small intestine, and similarly FOS enhance the effect of probiotic micro-organisms in the large intestine. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2002 Sep, 16(9), 1669 - 75 Impact of supplement with Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt on triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication; Sheu BS et al.; AIM: To test whether supplements of Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt (AB-Yogurt) affect the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication . METHODS: One hundred and sixty H . pylori-infected patients were randomized into a triple-plus-yogurt group or a triple-only group, receiving 1 week of triple therapy with and without supplements of AB-Yogurt, respectively . In the triple-plus-yogurt group, AB-Yogurt was continued for 4 weeks after triple therapy . Eight weeks later, patients were assessed for the success of H . pylori eradication . The stool samples of 22 randomly selected patients, 11 from each group, were provided on enrolment, at the first week and at the fifth week for evaluation of the percentage of Bifidobacterium in anaerobes . RESULTS: By intention-to-treat analysis, the triple-plus-yogurt group had a higher H . pylori eradication rate than the triple-only group (91% vs . 78%, P < 0.05) . The per protocol H . pylori eradication rates were similar for both groups (93.5% vs . 89%, P = N.S.) . Only patients supplemented with AB-Yogurt showed restoration of the percentage of Bifidobacterium in the anaerobes of stools at the fifth week to the level in the stools on enrolment . CONCLUSIONS: Supplement with AB-Yogurt can improve the intention-to-treat eradication rates of H . pylori, and can restore the depletion of Bifidobacterium in stools after triple therapy. Int Endod J, 2002 Aug, 35(8), 698 - 702 Combinations of bacterial species in endodontic infections; Peters LB et al.; AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate combinations of bacteria found in root-canal infections of teeth with periapical bone destruction without clinical signs and symptoms . METHODOLOGY: Endodontic samples from 58 root canals were cultured anaerobically and microorganisms were counted and identified . Eighty-one combinations of microorganisms were found and tested for a symbiotic relationship using the Fisher's exact test and Odds ratio calculation . RESULTS: All samples contained microorganisms with a median CFU mL(-1) of 8x10(4) per sample . Strict anaerobic species accounted for 87% of the microflora . The most prevalent bacteria were Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros and Actinomyces odontolyticus, present in 33, 29 and 19%, respectively, of the cultured canals . A significant relationship (P<0.05) and an Odds ratio >2 were found between P . intermedia and P . micros, P . intermedia and P . oralis, A . odontolyticus and P . micros, Bifidobacterium spp . and Veillonella spp . Conclusions: These results indicate that endodontic pathogens do not occur at random but are found in specific combinations. J Appl Microbiol, 2002, 93(3), 390 - 7 Manipulation of colonic bacteria and volatile fatty acid production by dietary high amylose maize (amylomaize) starch granules; Wang X et al.; AIMS: To study the effects of amylomaize starch and modified (carboxymethylated and acetylated) amylomaize starches on the composition of colonic bacteria and the production of volatile fatty acids, in mice . METHODS AND RESULTS: Balb/c mice were fed with experimental diets containing various amount of amylomaize and modified amylomaize starches . Colonic bacterial populations and short-chain fatty acids were monitored . Results showed that the increases in indigenous bifidobacteria were detected in mice fed all starches tested; however, the highest numbers were observed in the group fed with 40% unmodified amylomaize starch . The starch type influenced the populations of indigenous Lactobacillus, Bacteroides and coliforms . High Lactobacillus numbers were achieved in the colon of mice fed with high concentration of amylomaize starch . Acetylated amylomaize starch significantly reduced the population of coliforms . In addition, orally dosed amylomaize utilizing bifidobacteria reached their highest levels when fed together with amylomaize or carboxymethylated amylomaize starch and in both cases butyrate levels were markedly increased . CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that different amylomaize starches could generate desirable variation in gut microflora and that particular starches may be used to selectively modify gut function . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Amylomaize starch appeared to enhance the desirable composition of colonic bacteria in mice, and suggested it possessed the potential prebiotic properties . Therefore, resistant starch and its chemical derivatives may exert beneficial impacts to the human colon. J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2002 Aug, 17(8), 818 - 24 A new prebiotic from germinated barley for nutraceutical treatment of ulcerative colitis; Bamba T et al.; A germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) containing glutamine-rich protein and hemicellulose-rich fiber was made from brewer's spent grain, by physical isolation . Our previous studies demonstrated that GBF supported maintenance of epithelial cell populations, facilitated epithelial repair, and suppressed epithelial nuclear factor kappaB-DNA-binding activity through generating increased short-chain fatty acid (especially butyrate) production by luminal microflora, which includes Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium, thereby preventing experimental colonic injury . The fiber fraction also modulates stool water content because of its high water-holding capacity . The patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis who had been unresponsive to or intolerant of standard treatment received 20-30 g GBF, feeding daily in a non-randomized, open-label fashion . At 4 weeks, this treatment resulted in a significant clinical and endoscopic improvement . The improvement was associated with an increase in stool butyrate concentrations . These results indicate that GBF feeding is a potentially new, attractive prebiotic treatment in patients with ulcerative colitis . The potency of GBF on modulating microflora, as well as the high water-holding capacity, may play an important role in treatment and prolongation of remission in ulcerative colitis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2002 Jun, 66(6), 1419 - 22 Two novel oligosaccharides formed by 1F-fructosyltransferase purified from roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.); Yamamori A et al.; Two novel oligosaccharides, tetra-and penta-saccharides were synthesized by fructosyl transfer from 1-kestose to 4G-beta-D-galactopyranosylsucrose with a purified 1F-fructosyltransferase of asparagus roots and identified as 1F-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4G-beta-D-galactopyranosylsucrose, O-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2-->1)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-O-{beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)}-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and 1F(1-beta-D-fructofuranosyl)2-4G-beta-D-galactopyranosylsucrose, {O-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2-->1)}2-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-O-{beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)}-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, respectively . Both oligosaccharides were scarcely hydrolyzed by carbohydrase from rat small intestine . Human intestinal bacterial growth by 1F-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4G-beta-D-galactopyranosylsucrose was compared with that by the tetrasaccharides, stachyose and nystose . Bifidobacteria utilized 1F-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4G-beta-D-galactopyranosylsucrose to the same extent as stachyose or nystose . On the other hand, the unfavorable bacteria, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Enterococcusfaecalis, that produce mutagenic substances did not use the synthetic oligosaccharide. J Dairy Sci, 2002 Jun, 85(6), 1383 - 9 Partial characterization of bifidobacterium breve C50 cell-free whey compounds inducing modifications to the intestinal microflora; Mullie C et al.; Cell-free whey obtained from milk fermented with Bifidobacterium breve C50 (Bb C50) has been shown to modify the intestinal flora in humans and mice . Previous work showed that no antibiotic-like or barrier effect due to overgrowing bifidobacteria was implied in the microbial modifications . The present study was focused on characterizing the compounds and mechanisms involved . Protein, sugar, and enzymatic profiles of Bb C50 whey were therefore determined and compared to those of a whey unable to modify the intestinal flora of humans and mice . No remarkable difference was noted except for a higher lactosidase activity in Bb C50 whey . Various physical treatments were then applied to fractions of Bb C50 whey . Activity was assessed in C3H mice by analyzing changes in the intestinal flora balance throughout a 15-d administration of each treated whey . Heating at 80 degrees C and aerobic storage for 2 wk completely abolished Bb C50 whey activities . In contrast, the addition of a reducing agent (cysteine hydrochloride), either at the beginning of a 15-d aerobic storage or prior to administration, as well as preserved these activities . Susceptibility to heating and oxidation suggested that an enzyme might play a role in the induced microbial changes . Since the Bb C50 lactosidase was partly inactivated by the oxidative treatment, it could support the in vivo activity . The enzyme might reach the intestinal lumen and partly degrade substrates, such as mucins, usually used by the intestinal flora . The released molecules might then favor the development of a new microbial balance. Eur J Clin Nutr, 2002 Aug, 56 Suppl 3, S60 - 4 Interactions between the microbiota and the intestinal mucosa; Schiffrin EJ et al.; The intestinal microflora can be considered as a postnatally aquired organ composed of a large diversity of bacterial cells that can perform different functions for the host . This organ is highly exposed to environmental influences and thus modulated in its composition and functions by external factors, such as nutrition . Specific components of the intestinal microflora, including lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, have been associated with beneficial effects on the host, such as promotion of gut maturation and integrity, antagonisms against pathogens and immune modulation . In addition, the microflora seem to play a significant role in the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and prevention of inflammation . At the present time, the contribution of intestinal epithlial cell in the first line of defence against pathogenic bacteria and microbial antigens has been recognized, in contrast, the interactions of intestinal epithelial cells with commensal bacteria are less understood . The present work summarizes the increasing scientific attention for mechanisms of the innate immune response of the host to different components of the autochthonous microflora and suggests a potential role for selected probiotic bacteria in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. Surg Today, 2002, 32(7), 581 - 6 Changes in the intestinal flora after the administration of prophylactic antibiotics to patients undergoing a gastrectomy; Takesue Y et al.; PURPOSE: Changes in the intestinal flora were investigated in patients administered antibiotics for 4 days after a gastrectomy . METHODS: Twenty-four patients were divided into each of the following groups: cefazolin, 1 g every 8 h; cefozopran, 0.5 g every 8 h; flomoxef, 1 g every 8 h . All drugs were administered intravenously for a 4-day period . RESULTS: Antibiotic prophylaxis caused no major change in the total number of anaerobes because of the preservation of the Bacteroides fragilis group . However, the number of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, and Veillonella spp . decreased by an average of 100-fold . These changes were accompanied by an overgrowth of Enterococcus spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . CONCLUSIONS: Four days of antibiotic prophylaxis after surgery caused a suppression of colonization resistance in the intestinal flora . Certain genera of anaerobes may thus play an important role in preventing overgrowth of antibiotic-resistant organisms after surgery . Surgeons should decide the duration of antibiotic use after carefully considering its influence on the intestinal flora. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jul, 59(2-3), 297 - 302 Epub 2002 Apr 20. Quantitative determination of the spatial distribution of pure- and mixed-strain immobilized cells in gel beads by immunofluorescence; Doleyres Y et al.; A new method was developed to detect and quantify two strains, Lactococcus lactis subsp . lactis biovar . diacetylactis MD and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707, immobilized separately and co-immobilized in gel beads, using specific polyclonal antibodies and confocal laser-scanning microscopy . The establishment of biomass concentration profiles for each strain was measured during colonization of beads using successive pH-controlled batch fermentations . Growth occurred preferentially in 200- and 300-microm peripheral layers of the beads for L . diacetylactis and B . longum, respectively . Repeated-batch cultures with immobilized cells permitted the production of a mixed culture containing a non-competitive strain of bifidobacteria, as a result of immobilized-cell growth and high cell-release activity from the beads . During co-immobilized fermentations, there were no apparent interactions between the strains. Lett Appl Microbiol, 2002, 35(2), 126 - 30 Fermentation of pectin and glucose, and activity of pectin-degrading enzymes in the rabbit caecal bacterium Bifidobacterium pseudolongum; Slovakova L et al.; AIMS: In a rabbit caecal bacterium Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, metabolites of pectin and glucose, and activities of enzymes involved in the degradation of pectin were assayed . Simultaneously, activities of these enzymes were assayed in a rumen pectinolytic strain of Streptococcus bovis . METHODS AND RESULTS: A strain B . pseudolongum P6 which grew best on pectin was selected among bifidobacteria isolated from the rabbit caecum . Cultures of B . pseudolongum P6 grown on pectin produced significantly less formate, lactate and ethanol, and more acetate and succinate than cultures grown on glucose . No CO2 production on pectin was observed . Pectin macromolecule was degraded by extracellular pectinase (EC 3.2.1.15) . Cell extracts possessed the activity of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase (EC 4.1.2.14) . Streptococcus bovis X4, possessed activity of exopectate lyase and pectinase, but not that of KDPG aldolase . CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the assumption that in B . pseudolongum P6 acidic products of pectin degradation are catabolized via a modified Entner-Doudoroff pathway, as shown previously in rumen pectin-utilizing bacteria . The missing KDPG aldolase activity in Strep . bovis X4 seems to be the reason for the absence of growth of this bacterium on pectin . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Information on polysaccharide metabolism in bifidobacteria is fragmentary . This study extends the knowledge on pectin metabolism in intestinal bacteria. J Nutr, 2002 Jul, 132(7), 2048 - 54 A combination of dietary fructooligosaccharides and isoflavone conjugates increases femoral bone mineral density and equol production in ovariectomized mice; Ohta A et al.; Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, which cleave isoflavone conjugates to yield the corresponding aglycones and metabolites . In a previous study, FOS modified the absorption and enterohepatic recirculation of isoflavones in rats . In the present study, we determined the effect of the combination of dietary FOS and isoflavone conjugates on bone mass in ovariectomized (OVX) and surgical control mice . After undergoing OVX or sham operation, female ddY mice (8 wk old, n = 64) were randomly assigned to four groups: a purified control diet (AIN-93G) group, a FOS diet (AIN-93G + 5% FOS) group, an isoflavone diet (AIN-93G + 0.2% isoflavone conjugates) group, or a FOS and isoflavone diet (AIN-93G + 5% FOS + 0.2% isoflavone conjugates) group . After 6 wk, the mice were killed and the blood and femora were sampled immediately . In OVX mice, both isoflavone conjugates and FOS prevented femoral bone loss . An additive effect of dietary isoflavone conjugates and FOS was observed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the distal part of the femur and in trabecular bone, by peripheral quantitative computed tomography . Moreover, FOS increased cecal beta-glucosidase activity and equol production from daidzein in both OVX and surgical control mice fed isoflavone conjugates . These results suggest that FOS increase the bioavailability of isoflavones, leading to cooperative effects in the prevention of osteopenia in OVX mice. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med, 2002, 13(2), 171 - 83 Invasion of dentinal tubules by oral bacteria; Love RM et al.; Bacterial invasion of dentinal tubules commonly occurs when dentin is exposed following a breach in the integrity of the overlying enamel or cementum . Bacterial products diffuse through the dentinal tubule toward the pulp and evoke inflammatory changes in the pulpo-dentin complex . These may eliminate the bacterial insult and block the route of infection . Unchecked, invasion results in pulpitis and pulp necrosis, infection of the root canal system, and periapical disease . While several hundred bacterial species are known to inhabit the oral cavity, a relatively small and select group of bacteria is involved in the invasion of dentinal tubules and subsequent infection of the root canal space . Gram-positive organisms dominate the tubule microflora in both carious and non-carious dentin . The relatively high numbers of obligate anaerobes present-such as Eubacterium spp., Propionibacterium spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus micros, and Veillonella spp.-suggest that the environment favors growth of these bacteria . Gram-negative obligate anaerobic rods, e.g., Porphyromonas spp., are less frequently recovered . Streptococci are among the most commonly identified bacteria that invade dentin . Recent evidence suggests that streptococci may recognize components present within dentinal tubules, such as collagen type I, which stimulate bacterial adhesion and intra-tubular growth . Specific interactions of other oral bacteria with invading streptococci may then facilitate the invasion of dentin by select bacterial groupings . An understanding the mechanisms involved in dentinal tubule invasion by bacteria should allow for the development of new control strategies, such as inhibitory compounds incorporated into oral health care products or dental materials, which would assist in the practice of endodontics. J Nutr Biochem, 2002 Jun, 13(6), 364 - 369 Influence of probiotic supplemented infant formula on composition of plasma lipids in atopic infants; Kankaanpaa PE et al.; Probiotic therapy is a new, successful approach to alleviating allergic symptoms . In this study, our aim was to investigate whether the positive results obtained with probiotic therapy would be associated with the differential absorption and utilization of dietary PUFA . 15 infants referred to a pediatric clinic on the basis of atopic eczema were weaned to Bifidobacterium Bb-12 or Lactobacillus GG supplemented infant formula, or to the same formula without probiotics (randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study design) . In plasma neutral lipids, alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) proportions were reduced by the probiotic supplementation . In phospholipids, Lactobacillus GG supplemented formula did not influence alpha-linolenic acid proportions, while Bifidobacterium Bb-12 supplemented formula increased the proportion of alpha-linolenic acid; from 0.13 +/- 0.03 to 0.24 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SEM) (P = 0.002) . These results show that some physiological effects of probiotics may be associated with physiological interactions between probiotics and dietary PUFA. Br J Nutr, 2002 May, 87 Suppl 2, S293 - 6 Oligosaccharides in infant formula; Vandenplas Y; Breast-feeding is the golden standard for infant feeding . However, the majority of a few week old infants are fed with a second choice infant feeding, cow's milk based formula . Amongst the multiple differences between human and cow's milk regards the development of the gastro-intestinal flora: the flora of the breast-fed infant being richer in bifidobacteria and lactobacilli . Both species are known to be potentially beneficial for the health of the host . The absence of oligosaccharides, the third largest component in human milk, in cow's milk is likely to account for the differences in colonic flora . The oligosaccharide content and concentration in breast milk is - just as for the other macronutrients - a dynamic process, making it impossible for industry to mimic nature . However, if the composition cannot be mimicked, the effect and function can be imitated . The addition of two oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides and inulin, to cow's milk based infant formula has been shown to have a bifidogenic effect, and to stimulate the growth of bifidi and lactobacilli . In conclusion, the addition of oligosaccharides to cow's milk based infant formula brings this alternative, second choice infant feeding one step closer to the golden standard of human milk . But, prolonged breast-feeding should still be promoted with maximum effort. Br J Nutr, 2002 May, 87 Suppl 2, S273 - 81 Experimental evidences on the potential of prebiotic fructans to reduce the risk of colon cancer; Pool-Zobel B et al.; Inulin is extracted from the chicory root . It is a set of fructans with its monomers linked by means of beta(2-1) bonds . This linkage cannot be hydrolysed by either pancreatic or by brush border digestive enzymes in the upper intestinal tract of humans . As such the carbohydrates arrive in the colon, where they are fermented by bifidobacteria and other lactic acid producing bacteria, thus enhancing their relative populations in the gut . Recent research in experimental animal models revealed that inulin has significant anticarcinogenic properties . It acts chemopreventively by reducing the incidence of azoxymethane (AOM) - induced aberrant crypt foci and tumours in the colon . These effects may be due to the stimulation of bifidobacteria, which themselves have been shown to act as antigenotoxic in the colon and to reduce AOM-induced tumours . Also fermentation products, including the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, could contribute to the protective effects . In this case a mechanism may be the induction of apoptosis of already transformed cells . The experimental evidence from animal studies and from studies elucidating potential mechanisms strongly supports the possibility that inulin will contribute to reducing risks for colon cancer in humans . In order to obtain more insight into this possibility, human dietary intervention studies relating biomarkers of reduced risk to inulin consumption are needed. Br J Nutr, 2002 May, 87 Suppl 2, S213 - 9 Oligofructose and experimental model of neonatal necrotising enterocolitis; Butel MJ et al.; The gut of preterm neonates is colonised with a paucity of bacterial species originating more from the environment than from the mother . Furthermore, a delayed colonisation by bifidobacteria promotes colonisation by potentially pathogenic bacteria . This may contribute towards the development of neonatal necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) . The physiopathology of NEC is still unclear but immaturity of the gut, enteral feeding and bacterial colonisation are all thought to be involved . None of the current preventive treatments are considered satisfactory . Modulating the autochthonous microflora by probiotics or prebiotics could be a more reliable approach to prevention . Using gnotobiotic quails as an experimental model of NEC we have shown that onset of intestinal lesions requires a combination of low endogenous lactase activity, lactose in diet, and colonisation by lactose-fermenting bacteria such as the clostridia . The protective role of bifidobacteria was demonstrated in this model through a decrease in clostridial populations and in butyric acid . Oligofructose dietary supplementation was shown to enhance this effect with an increase in the bifidobacterial level and consequently a greater decrease in clostridia . However, oligofructose was unable to promote a bifidobacterial acquisition when the microflora was initially deprived of this group . Nevertheless, oligofructose can act as an anti-infective agent and decrease the occurrence or severity of the lesions depending on the bacteria involved . According to these results and to the fact that oligosaccharides are a major component of breast milk, the addition of oligofructose in formula milks may be a nutritional approach to favouring colonisation by a beneficial flora. J Dairy Sci, 2002 May, 85(5), 1058 - 69 Production of oligosaccharides in yogurt containing bifidobacteria and yogurt cultures; Lamoureux L et al.; Yogurts were prepared by using yogurt cultures combined to mixed cultures of bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum) and by adding a preincubation step (1.5 h at 50 degrees C) with bifidobacteria to the conventional method of manufacture in order to produce oligosaccharides . The survival of bifidobacteria was drastically affected during storage of yogurts, except for products containing B . animalis, in which viable counts remained at >10(6) cfu/g after 28 d of storage at 4 degrees C . Oligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of 3 were produced during the preincubation step (0.31 to 0.68%), and the amount in the final products varied according to the species of bifidobacteria inoculated during the preincubation step or the concentration of bifidobacteria used as second inoculum during the fermentation process . In fact, the higher concentration of oligosaccharides measured at the end of the fermentation process (0.72%) and the 28 d-storage period (0.67%) was obtained for yogurts containing B . infantis . However, yogurts containing B . breve showed higher beta-galactosidase activities and had lower lactose concentrations after the fermentation process and the storage period than the other yogurts . The use of a mixed cultures of bifidobacteria (B . animalis, B . infantis, or B . breve) thus allows the production of yogurts in which bifidobacteria can survive in relatively high cell numbers and contain appreciable amount of oligosaccharides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jun, 59(1), 72 - 8 Epub 2002 Apr 12. 2-Amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone affects the end-product profile of bifidobacteria through the mediated oxidation of NAD(P)H; Yamazaki S et al.; Glucose metabolism of bifidobacteria in the presence of 2-amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (ACNQ), a specific growth stimulator for bifidobacteria, and ferricyanide (Fe(CN)(6)(3-)) as an extracellular electron acceptor was examined using resting cells of Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve . NAD(P)H in the cells is oxidized by ACNQ with the aid of diaphorase activity, and reduced ACNQ donates the electron to Fe(CN)(6)(3-) . Exogenous oxidation of NADH by the ACNQ/Fe(CN)(6)(3-) system suppresses the endogenous lactate dehydrogenase reaction competitively, which results in the remarkable generation of pyruvate and a decrease in lactate production . In addition, a decrease in acetate generation is also observed in the presence of ACNQ an