Increased anti-Helicobacter pylori effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C strain encapsulated in carrageenan evaluated in gastric simulations under fasting conditions.

Helicobacter pylori, a gastric carcinogenic pathogen, colonizes the stomach of 50% of the human population and is considered as a WHO priority 2 due to its antibiotics resistance. Therefore, research should aim to avoid H. pylori infection. Probiotics are an emerging alternative to handle this pathogen, making it necessary to have means to evaluate their effectiveness. This work evaluated the effect of a carrageenan encapsulated probiotic, Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C strain, against the pathogenic H. pylori SS1 strain under simulated gastric conditions (fasting or standard diet, pH 3.0 under microaerophilic condition and agitation). Samples were obtained from simulators up to 2.5 h after adding the probiotic, either planktonic or carrageenan encapsulated, and H. pylori were counted using enriched Columbia agar. Gastric simulations under fasting or standard diet showed collaboration between L. fermentum and carrageenan against the pathogen, it is undetectable at 1.5 or 2.5 h, respectively, allowing to conclude that the administration of the probiotic under fasting (harsher acid environment) provides a better anti-H. pylori effect that administering it associated with the diet. Thus, it can be suggested to consume low pH resistant probiotics under fasting.

Human intestinal mucus proteins isolated by transanal irrigation and proctosigmoidoscopy / Proteínas del moco intestinal humano aislado por irrigación transanal y rectosigmoidoscopia / Proteinas do muco intestinal humano isolado por irrigação transanal e retossigmoidoscopia

Human intestinal mucus essentially consists of a network of Mucin2 glycoproteins embedded in many lower molecular weight proteins. This paper contributes to the proteomic study of human intestinal mucus by comparing two sample collection methods (transanal irrigation and brush cytology during proctosigmoidoscopy) and analysis techniques (electrophoresis and digestion in solution). The entire sample collection and treatment process is explained, including protein extraction, digestion and desalination and peptide characterisation using a nanoAcquity UPLC chromatograph coupled to an HDMS spectrometer equipped with a nanoESI source. Collecting mucus via transanal irrigation provided a larger sample volume and protein concentration from a single patient. The proctosigmoidoscopy sample could be analysed via digestion in solution after depleting albumin. The analysis indicates that a simple mucus lysis method can evaluate the electrophoresis and digestion in solution techniques. Studying human intestinal mucus complexes is important because they perform two essential survival functions for humans as the first biochemical and physical defences for the gastrointestinal tract and a habitat for intestinal microbiota, which are primarily hosted in the colon and exceeds the human genetic information and cell number 100- and 10-fold (1).

El moco intestinal humano está formado, esencialmente, por una red de la glicoproteína Mucina2, en la cual se encuentran inmersas muchas otras proteínas de menor peso molecular. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo es realizar una contribución al estudio proteómico del moco intestinal humano, mediante la comparación de dos métodos de recolección de muestra (irrigación transanal y cepillos de citología durante rectosigmoidoscopia) y de dos técnicas de análisis (electroforesis y digestión en solución). Se explica todo el proceso de recolección y tratamiento de la muestra para extraer las proteínas, la digestión y desalinización de las mismas, hasta llegar a la caracterización de los péptidos en un cromatógrafo nanoAcquity UPLC acoplado a un espectrómetro HDMS, equipado con una fuente nanoESI. La recolección del moco por irrigación transanal aportó mayor volumen de muestra de un solo paciente y mayor concentración de proteínas. La muestra obtenida por rectosigmoidoscopia se pudo analizar por digestión en solución, previa depleción de albúmina. El análisis indica que una metodología sencilla de lisis del moco puede ser utilizada para evaluación por las técnicas de electroforesis y de digestión en solución. El estudio del complejo moco intestinal humano es importante por las dos funciones primordiales que cumple para la supervivencia del ser humano: como la primera línea de defensa bioquímica y física del tracto gastrointestinal, y como el hábitat de la microbiota intestinal, la cual se hospeda principalmente en el colon, y supera en información genética hasta 100x la del humano y en 10x su número de células (1).

O muco intestinal humano está formado essencialmente por uma rede da glicoproteína Mucin2, constituída por outras proteínas de menor massa molecular. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é contribuir ao estudo proteômico do muco mediante a comparação de dois métodos de amostragem (irrigação transanal e escovas de citologia durante retossigmoidoscopia) e dois técnicas de análise (e digestão em solução). São descritos os processos de amostragem, extração, digestão e dessalinização de proteínas até chegar na caracterização dos peptídeos digeridos em um cromatógrafo nanoAcquity UPLC acoplado a um espectrómetro HDMS, equipado com uma fonte nanoESI. A coleta do muco por irrigação transanal forneceu um volume maior de amostra por pessoa e maior concentração de proteínas. As amostras obtidas por retossigmoidoscopia foram analisadas por digestão em solução, após a depleção de albumina. As análises mostraram que uma metodologia simples de lise do muco pode ser utilizada para avaliação mediante as técnicas eletroforese e digestão em solução. O estudo do complexo MIH é importante pelas suas duas funções fundamentais na sobrevivência humana, sendo a primeira linha de defesa bioquimica e física do trato gastrointestinal, e o habitat da microbiota intestinal, hospedada principalmente no cólon e que contem informação genética até 100 X superior à do humano e 10 X seu número de células (1).

Investigación en la Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud,Universidad de Caldas (Colombia), en el contexto Iberoamericano / Pesquisa na Facultade de Ciencias para a Saúde, Universidade de Caldas (Colômbia), no contexto Iberoamericano / Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Caldas (Colombia) in the Ibero-american context

Objetivo: Analizar la producción científica en la Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud de la Universidad de Caldas (Manizales, Colombia) entre los años 1996-2009, a la luz de indicadores internacionales. Materiales y métodos: Se utilizaron los indicadores definidos en la plataforma SCIMAGO: Índice h, Producción Científica, Colaboración Internacional, Calidad Científica Promedio y Porcentaje de Publicaciones en Revistas del Primer Cuartil SJR. Resultados: De acuerdo a la producción científica y el Producto Interno Bruto, Colombia ocupa el lugar 55 en el mundo y 35 en Latinoamérica. La Universidad de Caldas se encuentra en el puesto 11 entre las universidades colombianas, con 158 de los productos en SCOPUS, de los cuales 105 son de la Facultad de Ciencias para la Salud. De ellos, 40% fue publicado en inglés, 59% en español y 1% en portugués. Los mayores índices h fueron de 5 para un individuo, 7 para un departamento, y 8 para un grupo. Sin embargo, al parecer, no hay una buena correlación entre el índice nativo de Colombia utilizado por COLCIENCIAS (Scienticol) para la clasificación de grupos y los índices internacionales cienciométricos comprobados y bien documentados. Conclusión: La posición de Colombia en el ámbito mundial y latinoamericano puede considerarse como aceptable, aunque su producción científica, en cuanto a número de documentos, está muy por debajo de la de otros países, incluidos los latinoamericanos. Los esfuerzos realizados por la Universidad de Caldas son positivos, pero deben intensificarse para responder al reto social e histórico de la Institución

Objective: To analyze the scientific research at the Faculty for Health Sciences at Universidad de Caldas (Manizales, Colombia) between 1996-2009, in the light of international indicators. Materials and Methods: The following indicators defined in the platform SCIMAGO were used: h index, Scientific Production, International Collaboration, Quality and Percent Average, Scientific Journal Publications of the First Quartile SJR. Results: According to scientific production and GDP, Colombia is ranked 55 in the world and 35 in Latin America. Universidad de Caldas is in the 11th place among Colombian Universities, with 158 products in SCOPUS, from which 105 belongs to the Faculty for Health Sciences. Forty percent was published in English, 59% in Spanish and 1% in Portuguese. The highest h indexes were 5 for an individual, 7 for a department, and 8 for a group. However, apparently, there is not a good correlation between the Colombian native index used by COLCIENCIAS (Scienticol) for classification of groups and the international scientometric scores verified and well documented. Conclusion: The position of Colombia in the global and Latin America environment may be considered acceptable, although its scientific production, in terms of number of documents, is well below other countries. The efforts made by Universidad de Caldas are positive, but should be intensified in order to meet the social and historical challenge of this institution

Objetivo: Analisar a produção científica na Faculdade de Ciências para a Saúde da Universidade de Caldas (Manizales, Colômbia) entre os anos 1996-2009, à luz de indicadores internacionais. Materiais e Métodos: Utilizaram se os indicadores definidos na plataforma SCIMAGO: índice h, Produção Cientifica, Colaboração Internacional, Qualidade Cientifica Media e Porcentagem de publicações em Revistas do Primeiro Cuartil SJR. Resultados: De acordo à produção cientifica e o Produto Interno Bruto; Colômbia ocupa o lugar 55 no mundo e 35 em latino-américa. A Universidade de Caldas se encontra no posto 11 entre as universidades colombianas, com 158 dos produtos em SCOPUS, dos quais 105 são da Faculdade de Ciências para a Saúde. Deles, 40% foi publicado em inglês, 59% em espanhol e 1% em português. Os maiores índices h foram de 5 para um individuo, 7 para um departamento, e 8 para um grupo. Porém, ao parecer, não há uma boa correlação entre o índice nativo de Colômbia utilizado por COLCIENCIAS (Scienticol) para a classificação de grupos e os índices internacionais ciencio - métricos comprovados e bem documentados. Conclusão: A posição de Colômbia no âmbito mundial e latino-americano pode considerar se como aceitável, embora sua produção científica, em quanto ao numero de documentos, esta muito abaixo da de outros países, incluídos os latino-americanos. Os esforços realizados pela Universidade de Caldas são positivos, mas devem intensificar se para responder ao reto social e histórico da Instituição

Globesidad y su posible componente infeccioso / Globesity and its possible infectious component

La hiperadiposidad o exceso de grasa corporal, usualmente clasificada como sobrepeso u obesidad, se ha constituido en una pandemia a la cual algunos autores han dado el nombre de Globesidad (obesidad global). Este enorme problema de salud pública afecta no sólo al mundo desarrollado, sino, igualmente, al mundo en vías de desarrollo. Tradicionalmente se ha pensado que el exceso de grasa se debe a un resultado positivo de la simple ecuación “Balance energético = consumo energético – gasto energético”. Es decir que si las personas no gastan toda su ingesta energética, la parte no consumida se acumula bajo la forma de grasa. Esto, a su vez, estaría favorecido, en algunos casos y en cierta medida, por un componenteenético. No obstante, investigaciones recientes han demostrado que la microbiota intestinal (virus y bacterias, especialmente del colon) juega un papel importante en la génesis del sobrepeso y la obesidad. Aunque los mecanismos específicos mediante los cuales se da esta relación aún están por definir, se proponen dos hasta ahora: a) aumento de la absorción de monosacáridos debido a un incremento de la actividad de glicosilhidrolasas, b) aumento de la absorción de ácidos grasos libres por inhibición de la fiaf (fasting induced adipocite factor). Lo anterior abre la puerta a la posibilidad de que la manipulación de la microbiota colónica mediante prebióticos, probióticos, simbióticos y antibióticos se constituya en una alternativa terapéutica para el exceso de grasa. El presente artículo es una revisión de los aspectos más importantes relacionados con esta problemática, de interés para todo el personal de salud.

Hyperadiposity or excess of body fat, usually classified as overweight or obesity, has become a pandemic, named by some authors as “Globesity” (a blend of Global Obesity”). This huge public health problem affects not only the developed world but also developing countries. It has been customary to consider that excess fat originates from a positive result in the simple equation “energy balance = caloric intake – caloric expenditure”. In other words, if a person does not use up all their calorie intake, this will be stored as fat tissue. This may be also favored by a genetic component. Recent research, however, has shown that the intestinal microbiota (virus and bacteria manly located in the colon), plays an important role in the genesis of overweight and obesity. Although the exact mechanisms underlying this relationship are still to be clarified, there are at least two proposed ways: a) an increase in the intestinal absorption of monosaccharides due to an increased glocosilhydrolase activity, and b) an increase in free fatty acids intestinal absorption due to Fiaf (fasting induced adipocite factor) inhibition. These facts open the possibility of manipulating the colonic microbiota through prebiotics, probiotics, simbiotics and antibiotics as a therapeutic alternative to the treatment of hyperadiposity. The present paper reviews the main issues involved in this problem, considered to be of interest for everybody involved in health care.

Prevalencia de Helicobacter pylori y de genes asociados a virulencia en biopsias gástricas / Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori virulence genes in gastric biopsies in Chilean patients over a 10-year period

Introducción: La detección de genes asociados a virulencia en Helicobacter pylori constituye un buen marcadorgenético para predecir riesgo de enfermedades asociadas a la persistencia del patógeno. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de cagA, vacA, babA2, iceA y dupA en pacientes chilenos, durante 10 años de seguimiento. Métodos: Se analizaron las biopsias gástricas de 1 577 pacientes (183 niños) obtenidas entre enero de 2003 y diciembre de 2007, mediante PCR convencional y cultivo bacteriano. En 374 individuos positivos se investigó la prevalencia de cagA, vacA (s1a, s1b, s2, m1, m2, i1 e i2), babA2, iceA (1 y 2) y dupA. Resultados: La prevalenciade H. pylori en adultos fue 48.7% y un 23.7% de los pacientes presentó más de un cepa bacteriana. La prevalenciapor genes fue: cagA 29.4%, vacAm1 52.7%, vacAm2 61.8%, vacAs1a 46.5%, vacAs1b 28.3%, vacAs2 41.7%, vacAi1 30.9%, vacAi2 12.0%, babA23.5%, iceA1 30.5%, iceA2 61.2% y dupA 28.9%. Se observó un 90% de concordancia en la prevalencia delos genes hpy, cagA, babA2, iceA e iceA2, y un 67.6% para vacAs1a, cuando se comparó biopsia y cultivo como fuente de ADN. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los genes de virulencia han mantenido su prevalencia en el tiempo,excepto vacAm1 y babA2 que la han aumentado. Sin embargo, la prevalencia de babA2 continúa siendo muy baja.

Background: Genes associated with virulence in Helicobacter pylori are good markers for prediction of risk of developing diseases due to persistent infection. Aim: To establish the prevalence of cagA, vacA, babA2,iceA and dupA among Chilean patients over a 10-year period. Methods: 1 577 gastric biopsies (183 children), collected from January 2003 to December 2007, were analyzed by conventional PCR and bacteriological culture. The prevalence of the genes cagA, vacA (s1a, s1b, s2, m1, m2, i1 and i2), babA2, iceA (1 and 2) and dupA were investigated in 374 positive individuals. Results: Prevalence of H. pylori in adults was 48.7%, with 23.7% of them presenting more than one infecting strain. Prevalence of genes was as follows: cagA 29.4%, vacAm152.7%, vacAm2 61.8%, vacAs1a 46.5%, vacAs1b 28.3%, vacAs2 41.7%, vacAi1 30.9%, vacAi2 12.0%, babA2 3.5%, iceA1 30.5%, iceA2 61.2% and dupA 28.9%. Ninety percent of agreement was observed in the prevalence of genes hpy, cagA, babA2, iceA and iceA2, by using DNA from both sources, but was only 67.6% for vacAs1a gene. Conclusion: The results suggest that all the genes conserved their prevalence in this period with the exception of vacAm1 and babA2, in which there was increased prevalence. Nonetheless, the prevalence of the gene babA2 continues to be very low.

Impedance spectral measurements made through a membrane infection barrier.

Impedance spectra of superficial tissues can be used to detect pre-malignant changes in the cervix but require electrical contact to be made between a probe and the tissue. Using a membrane which is permeable to ions but forms a barrier to agents of infection should enable impedance spectra to be measured without causing an infection risk to the patient. The properties required of such a membrane are considered and measurements on two suitable membranes are presented. It is shown that impedance spectra can be measured through a thin natural cellulose based membrane (Cuprophan) and that these are not significantly different from directly measured spectra. The ability of the membranes to block a virus is tested using expired polio virus vaccine.

Toward a binary interpretation of acupuncture theory: principles and practical consequences.

There is an argument that the universe functions according to binary principles. This paper applies such a system of evaluation to the interpretation of acupuncture principles, the t'ai chi symbol and the I Ching. As a result, it can be shown that a coherent and interesting ordering of some earthly phenomena can be reached. When these same principles are applied to acupuncture theory, a grouping and ordering of the meridians and associated organs and their respective functions are obtained. A suggestion is also presented about how, using a digital device, diagnosis and treatment could be reached in the future if this approach is deepened and proves successful. I call this binary medicine, something that would have some similarities as to how electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) works. Basically, diagnosis would be done in terms of excess, balance or deficit (+1, 0 or -1, respectively) and treatment would be done in terms of draining for +1 or filling for -1; 0 means a balanced state that does not need any treatment.

Helicobacter pylori: análisis de cagA y genotipificación de vacA en Chile: detección de una cepa s2/m1 / Helicobacter pylori: cagA status and vacA genotyping in Chile, detection of a s2/m1 strain

Background: The genes cagA and vacA encode H pylori virulence factors. Aim: To genotype these genes in H pylori strains isolated from patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Material and methods: We studied 50 patients who underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, with positive culture for H pylori. Detection of cagA and vacA gerotyping was done using polymerase chain reactions. Results: The gene cagA was detected in 19 samples (38 per cent). Signal sequences s1 and s2 of vacA gene were detected in 16 samples each (32 per cent). There was simultaneous amplification of s1 and s2 in 6 samples and they were not detected in 9 samples. The middle region of vacA was m1 in 9 samples, m2 in 29 samples and there was simultaneous amplification of m1 and m2 in 12 samples. In 16 samples (32 per cent), more than one type of signal sequence or medial region was detected. Of those patients in whom vacA was the only genotype detected, 15 were s2/m2, 7 were s1/m1, 4 were s1/m2 and 1 was s2/m1. Conclusions: In these patients, the infection with cagA- H pylori strains, predominates, the prevalence of infection with s1 or s2 strains is similar and the predominant medial region is m2

Susceptibilidad in vitro de cepas de helicobacter pylori: aislamiento de cepas resistentes a claritromicina / In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of helicobacter pylori strains isolated in Chile

Background: Our laboratory has carried out an epidemiological surveillance of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial susceptibility since 1997. Aim: To report the antimicrobial susceptibility of H pylori strains, isolated in Chile from August 1997 to August 2000. Material and methods: Ninety one H pylori strains, obtained from antral gastric biopsies during upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were studied. Susceptibility towards clarithromycin, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate and metronidazole was studied by an agar diffusion technique. Results: All strains were susceptible to amoxicillin and two strains were resistant to clarithromycin. Forty two percent of strains were resistant to metronidazole and 13 per cent were resistant to bismuth subcitrate. Conclusions: These results underscore the need to maintain an epidemiological surveillance of H pylori antimicrobial susceptibility, to modify its eradication therapy accordingly