Aims: The aim of this work was to identify and select new probiotic strains among majority intestinal bifidobacterial species from healthy Spaniards. Methods and Results: One hundred and eighty isolates belonging to seven Bifidobacterium species were subjected to a subtractive system of in vitro analysis addressing beneficial and undesirable traits. Approx. 45% of the isolates were able to grow in 2% bovine bile, and about 20% of these grew at pH 3·5. Undesirable enzymatic activities, such as α‐chymotrypsin, β‐glucuronidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase were not detected. Atypical antibiotic resistances were not observed, except for tetracycline resistance in a single strain. Intestinal pathogens were inhibited to some extent by all analysed strains. All selected strains adhered to human epithelial cells in a strain‐dependent manner, and none was able to degrade pig mucin. Conclusions: Based on these in vitro analyses, strains of Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum are here proposed as new probiotic candidates. Significance and Impact of the Study: Although in vivo analyses are still needed, these strains belonging to unusual species in the portfolio of probiotic suppliers are thought to be more appropriated than those currently in use, as they show desirable properties and are preponderant among human intestinal populations.
annual age-adjusted breast cancer death rates for women in the United States remained remarkably constant, oscillating around 32 deaths per 100,000 over 60 years.During this long timeframe, the surgical treatment of breast cancer evolved from radical mastectomy with mandatory lymph node dissection to lumpectomy coupled with radiation therapy.With this new paradigm, lymph node dissection was reserved for women with tumor-invaded axillary lymph nodes.Beginning in the 1970s, chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvant) and before surgery (neoadjuvant) was added to surgical treatment.The radical diminution in the scope of breast surgery did not alter the national breast cancer death rate.Doing less surgery was neither harmful nor beneficial to long-term survival from breast cancer.In the 1980s two events changed this static picture: the addition of tamoxifen to adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the introduction of mammography.Beginning in 1990 annual breast cancer death rates in the United States began to fall, and have continued to fall each year since then.In 2001, the last year of published statistics, the breast cancer death rate was 26 deaths per 100,000.Best estimates for where to credit this dramatic drop in death rate place approximately 50% of the credit with improved adjuvant chemotherapy and 50% with mammography.Abnormal mammograms demand a breast biopsy since only one in five abnormal mammograms is actually a breast cancer.Consequently, widespread adoption of mammography has produced an image-guided breast biopsy industry in the United States.Open, surgical breast biopsy has been replaced with image-guided breast biopsy because improved breast biopsy tools have made image-guided breast biopsy equivalent in accuracy to open, surgical breast biopsy.These tools, in turn, have changed the professional lives of surgeons, pathologists, and mammographers, leading to the development of dedicated breast surgeons, breast pathologists, and interventional breast radiologists. Evaluation of digital mammography: update on the UK position
This paper reviews the demographic, academic and professional profile of Irish dental school faculty members. Faculty duties are explored.Custom-designed questionnaires were distributed to faculty members for self-completion, adopting a 'mixed-method' approach with quantitative and qualitative components. Response rate was 64.60%.Demographic profile reveals a male-dominated regime (64%). Males also occupy a disproportionate number of senior academic positions. The age profile mirrors international trends with 75% of staff over 40 and c.33% over 50, including 78% of professorial staff (p < 0.001). Dental school faculties are comprised of highly educated professionals with the following qualifications: 89% BDS, 43% FDS, 39% Masters, 16% Doctorates. Most (77%) have 10+ years of clinical experience, while 47% have over 20 years' experience. Clinical experience varied by age, rank (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.05). A review of contractual agreements and duties confirms the major role of part-time clinical staff in dental education, comprising the largest single group (48%) delivering the bulk of the clinical teaching. However, 54% of part-time clinical staff have less than five years teaching experience. This study also explores staff views of various faculty roles.This report provides a benchmark profile of Irish dental school faculty members. It reflects on the heavily skewed age groups of our current dental educators and the impending retirement of many senior academics. Educational organisations need to explore ways to make a career in dental education financially and sociologically attractive and provide adequate support for existing faculty to ensure their development during these challenging times.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is of interest because of its putative role in stress and psychiatric disorders. Maternal separation is used as an animal model of early-life stress and of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Animals exposed to the paradigm show altered gut function together with heightened levels of arousal and corticosterone. Some probiotic organisms have been shown to be of benefit in IBS and influence the brain-gut axis. Our objective was to investigate the effects of maternal separation on BDNF under basal conditions and in response to the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve 6330. The study implemented the maternal separation model which we have previously described. Polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation were performed to measure the effect of maternal separation on both BDNF total variants and BDNF splice variant (exon) IV in the hippocampus. Maternally separated and non-separated rats were treated with B. breve 6330, to investigate the effect of this probiotic on BDNF total variant and BDNF exon IV expression. Maternal separation increased BDNF total variants (P<0.01), whilst having no effect on BDNF exon IV. B. breve 6330 increased BDNF total variants (P<0.01), and decreased BDNF splice variant IV, in non-separated rats (P<0.01). B. breve 6330 did not alter BDNF levels in the maternally separated rats. Maternal separation caused a marked increase in BDNF in the hippocampus. While B. breve 6330 influenced BDNF in normal animals, it had no significant effect on BDNF in those which were maternally separated. We have demonstrated that an orally administered probiotic can influence hippocampal BDNF.
Four cases of concomitant animal and human Salmonellosis were investigated. Liaison took place between veterinary, public health medical and environmental health professionals. An epidemiological association between veterinary and medical disease outbreaks was established following cases in a dairy unit, a poultry unit, a calf rearing unit and one pig and dairy unit (on the same farm). In three cases clinical disease in animals preceded clinical disease in humans while in the fourth case, the poultry unit, salmonella isolations from poultry carcasses coincided with clinical salmonellosis in a human working with the live poultry. Important epidemiological factors are identified. The problems of delay in seeking veterinary advice, compartmentalisation of veterinary and medical practices, and the benefits of direct collaboration between veterinary and medical professionals in the event of a diagnosis of salmonellosis in animals and/or humans are highlighted. A collaborative reporting and liaison model is proposed.
An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
'/%3e%3cpath d='M200 752.362h200v300H200z' style='fill:%23fff;fill-opacity:1;stroke:none' transform='translate(0 -752.362)'/%3e%3cpath d='M400 752.362h200v300H400z' style='fill:%23ff883e;fill-opacity:1;stroke:none' transform='translate(0 -752.362)'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)