Influence of whey-based fruit juice containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus on intestinal well-being and humoral immune response in healthy adults

The ability of probiotics to balance intestinal microbes and to modulate gut immune system has been reported for several probiotic strains. In the present study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain VTT E-97800 (E800) or L. rhamnosus Lc705 (the latter in combination with Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS) were separately administered to healthy adult volunteers (n=11 in both study groups) in a whey-based fruit juice. Survival of the potentially probiotic L. rhamnosus strains in the GI-tract and their effect on intestinal well-being and peripheral immune parameters were assessed. Both L. rhamnosus strains were recovered in high numbers in faecal samples during the consumption period and with few exceptions they were not detected after the 2 weeks follow-up period. Consumption of the juice supplemented with either of the L. rhamnosus strains did not have significant effect on faecal consistency or defecation frequency. No changes were observed in the immunological parameters (number or immunoglobulin A-, G- and M-secreting cells, expression of Fcα-receptor or complement receptors 1 and 3), except for a slight decrease in the number of IgA secreting cells during ingestion of the juice supplemented with L. rhamnosus Lc705 and P. freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS. The results indicate that L. rhamnosus strains E800 and Lc705 had good survival ability in the GI-tract when administered in a whey-based fruit juice matrix. No adverse effects on intestinal function or on studied immunological parameters were observed during consumption of the whey based juice drink supplemented with the potential probiotic strains.     

Evaluation of Substituted 1,2,3‐Dithiazoles as Inhibitors of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Nucleocapsid Protein via a Proposed Zinc Ejection Mechanism

A diverse library of 5‐thieno‐, 5‐oxo‐, and 5‐imino‐1,2,3‐dithiazole derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for efficacy against the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as a model for HIV in cells. Several diverse compounds from this series displayed nanomolar activity and low toxicity, representing a potential new class of compounds for the treatment of FIV and HIV.     

Transition-Edge Sensors for Particle Induced X-ray Emission Measurements

In this paper we present a new measurement setup, where a transition-edge sensor detector array is used to detect X-rays in particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) measurements with a 2 MeV proton beam. Transition-edge sensors offer orders of magnitude improvement in energy resolution compared to conventional silicon or germanium detectors, making it possible to recognize spectral lines in materials analysis that have previously been impossible to resolve, and to get chemical information from the elements. Our sensors are cooled to the operation temperature ( \(\sim \) 65 mK) with a cryogen-free adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator, which houses a specially designed X-ray snout that has a vacuum tight window to couple in the radiation. For the best pixel, the measured instrumental energy resolution was 3.06 eV full width at half maximum at 5.9 keV. We discuss the current status of the project, benefits of transition-edge sensors when used in PIXE spectroscopy, and the results from the first measurements.     

Mutagenesis of human Mel1a melatonin receptor expressed in yeast reveals domains important for receptor function

Mechanisms of organization of the striatal compartments are poorly understood, although involvement of cell adhesion molecules in the compartmentalization has been suggested. Cadherin-8 distribution in the neonatal rat striatum was immunohistochemically studied using a rabbit anti-cadherin-8 antiserum. Intensity of cadherin-8 immunolabeling in the striatum was heterogeneous from postnatal day 0 to postnatal day 7. At postnatal day 9, cadherin-8 immunoreactivity was so weak that heterogeneity was no longer clearly seen. Cadherin-8 immunoreactivity was not detectable at postnatal day 14. Cadherin-8-rich and cadherin-8-poor areas were identical to calbindin-rich areas and tyrosine hydroxylase-rich patches, respectively, in allocation, indicating that cadherin-8 was predominantly expressed in the striatal matrix. These results suggest that cadherin-8 is involved in formation of the striatal compartmentalized structures during brain development.     

A mixed-conduction model for oxide films on Fe, Cr and Fe-Cr alloys in high-temperature aqueous electrolytes—II. Adaptation and justification of the model

The aim of this two-part work is to propose a model for the corrosion mechanism of ferrous alloys in high-temperature aqueous environments. In this second part, the modifications to the mixed-conduction model (MCM) are discussed on the basis of experimental data presented in the first part for Fe, Cr and two Fe-Cr alloys (12 and 25 wt% Cr) in an aqueous solution at 200 °C. Application of the MCM to fit and predict experimental behaviour both at room temperature and at 200 °C is demonstrated. The major difference between the behaviour of films at room temperature and at 200 °C is that the mobility of ionic defects is much higher at the higher temperature. Estimates show that the ratio of the electronic and ionic diffusion coefficients (D_e/D_i) is of the order of 10⁵ at room temperature and ≈30 at 200 °C for pure Fe. Such a large difference explains the higher growth rate and thickness of films formed on Fe at the higher temperature. It is also in agreement with the higher defect content and lower field strengths in high-temperature films. The application of the MCM to Fe-Cr alloys indicates that the diffusion coefficient of major ionic current carriers is smaller for the alloys than for pure Fe. Alloying with Cr thus lowers the ionic mobility in the passive film on a ferrous alloy also at 200 °C.     

The association between dental arch dimensions and occurrence of Finnish dental consonant misarticulations in cleft lip/palate children

The evaluation of cortical evoked potentials after stimulation of the vesicourethral junction shows accurate and reproducible results and offers an elegant technique for evaluation of the viscerosensory pathways in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction. The results must be considered in context with the results of simultaneously investigated pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials and the clinical symptomatology. They are of great help (1) in differentiating between intraspinal and extraspinal lesions of the afferent pathways of the detrusor if the etiology is unknown, (2) in differentiating between neurogenic and myogenic damage to the urinary bladder, and (3) in selecting patients not suitable for intravesical electrotherapy for bladder rehabilitation.     

Spherical measurement system for determination of complex radiation patterns of mobile terminals

A prototype of a 'real-time' 64-channel spherical measurement system for determining the complex radiated far fields of active mobile terminals is presented. The system does not require any RF feed cables to be connected to the mobile terminal. Test measurements show that the complex far field can be determined with an acceptable accuracy. The system thus provides, together with the radio-channel data, a basis for realistic and fast estimation of MIMO performance of a mobile terminal.     

Effects of detraining subsequent to strength training on neuromuscular function in patients with inflammatory arthritis

The effects of detraining subsequent to strength training on neuromuscular function were examined in 39 recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Eighteen age- and sex-matched healthy people (H) served as controls. Patients were randomly allocated either to the experimental group (PE), who carried out progressive strength training for 6 months, or to the control group (PC), who maintained only their habitual physical activities. After 6 months, PE returned to their earlier physical activities and strength training was terminated. At baseline, the maximal strength of the trunk extensors (not significant), grip strength and maximal dynamic strength and the shape of the force-time curve of the knee extensors were lower in PE and PC (P < 0.05-0.001) than in H. Strength training in PE led to remarkable increases (P < 0.05-0.001) in the maximal strength of all muscle groups without changes in the shape of the force-time curve. The increases in muscle strength in PE obtained by strength training were lost to a great degree during the detraining period for the isometric trunk extension (P < 0.01) and flexion (P < 0.01) strength and for the dynamic knee extension strength (P < 0.05), but not for the grip strength. In PC, trunk extension and flexion strength decreased significantly throughout the study period. At the post-test, all the strength values in both patient groups were much lower than in H. RA is a chronic disease which seems to need continuous physical exercise with sufficient intensity to minimize/prevent the loss of muscle strength and functional capacity.