Research on the anti-aging efficacy of fermented lysate VHProbi® MixA as the functional skincare ingredient.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a cream containing VHProbi® MixA for improving skin aging. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro studies demonstrated that the lysate produced from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei E12 (E12) exhibited immunoregulatory effects in a 3D skin model, with significant reductions in levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, and IL-8 (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. In addition, the lysate of E12 mitigated the hydrogen peroxide-induced mortality of 3D skin cells and enhanced the transepithelial electrical resistance to show significant differences in comparison with control (P < 0.05), suggesting favorable antioxidant effects. The antioxidant capacity of the lysate of E12 was also confirmed using the Caenorhabditis elegans N2 model. C. elegans N2 fed the E12 strain showed a significantly higher % survival than those fed Escherichia coli OP50 (P < 0.05). Subsequently, VHProbi® MixA was formulated using the fermented lysates of E12, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum E15, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri E18. In a clinical study to ascertain if a cream containing VHProbi® MixA could improve the skin aging trends, participants were asked to use the investigational products for 60 days, and six indicators, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, elasticity, wrinkles, skin texture (roughness), and pores were measured at baseline and the endpoint of the study. A self-evaluation questionnaire analysis was also provided. TEWL, wrinkles, skin texture, and thickness of pores decreased significantly after treatment with the cream for 60 days (P < 0.01), whereas hydration and elasticity increased significantly (P < 0.01), in comparison to the baseline measurements. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the use of the cream containing VHProbi® MixA could be favorable for skin anti-aging management.

Complete genome sequence of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain VHProbi F20, isolated from a healthy adult.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain VHProbi F20 is a strain isolated as part of a search for probiotics to prevent and help fight against respiratory tract infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Here, we investigate the whole-genome sequence of this strain. The whole genome contains a chromosome and a plasmid.

Complete genome sequence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain VHProbi P06, isolated from kimchi.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain VHProbi P06 is a probiotic that was isolated from kimchi soup. Here, we investigate the whole-genome sequence of this strain, which contains a chromosome and seven plasmids.

Complete genome analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VHProbi P06, a novel probiotic that resists Streptococcus pneumoniae in the upper respiratory tract.

The purpose of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria active against Streptococcus pneumoniae and to analyze the genetic basis of their probiotic functions from the genome. We isolated a novel Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VHProbi P06 from pickles, which showed strong antibacterial activity against S. pneumoniae, adhesion to 5-8F cells, and inhibition of S. pneumoniae colonization in the respiratory tract. Genome of VHProbi P06 was analyzed, we found one class II bacteriocin synthesis gene cluster. Genome of the strain contained 42 adhesion-related protein-coding genes, and implicated three exopolysaccharide biosynthesis gene clusters with low homologous to L. plantarum WCFS1. Moreover, VHProbi P06 possessed 3 intact phage regions and 117 Carbohydrate Active Enzyme genes. By comparing the genomes of five L. plantarum, 275 unique genes were found in VHProbi P06. Finally, the gene prediction was verified, the bacteriocin PlnJK produced by P06 was identified by LC-MS/MS, and the laminar exopolysaccharide with a weight-averaged molecular of 125.37 KDa was also found. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of VHProbi P06 to the upper respiratory tract to resist pathogenic bacteria.

Complete genome sequence of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain VHProbi M56, isolated from yogurt.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain VHProbi M56 is a probiotic strain that was isolated from yogurt. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of this bacterium. The whole genome contains a chromosome and a plasmid.

Complete Genome Sequence of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strain VHProbi O44, Isolated from Feces from a Healthy Baby.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain VHProbi O44 is a Chinese commercial lactic acid bacterium with several probiotic functions. The whole genome contains a chromosome and three plasmids.

Positive effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis VHProbi YB11 in improving gastrointestinal movement of mice having constipation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis VHProbi® YB11 (YB11) on attenuating sucralfate-induced constipation in BALB/c mice. The strain of YB11 exhibited favorable tolerance of simulated gastrointestinal (GI) juice. Only 0.42 Log value declined when the live cells of YB11 were co-incubated with simulated GI juice. Meanwhile, this strain also displayed perfect ability to adhere the intestinal epithelium Caco-2 cells with adhesion index of 18.5. 24 of female mice were randomized into four groups. Methods: The normal group (NOR) was fed with a normal diet, whereas the placebo group (PLA), positive group (POS), and probiotic group (PRO) were fed with sucralfate to induce constipation. After first successfully establishing the constipation model, groups NOR and PLA received the oral administration of saline solutions. Meanwhile, the POS and PRO groups were orally administered phenolphthalein and YB11 suspensions, respectively. Several indices, including fecal water content, GI transit time, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), intestinal neuropeptides level, and histopathology of colonic tissues, were investigated. Results and Discussion: Compared with PLA, YB11 had a positive effect in increasing the fecal water content and intestinal peristalsis. Some positive trends, including the acetic and total acids level of fecal samples, and the colonic tissue histopathology, were also observed. Furthermore, YB11 had an ability to upregulate the levels of gut excitatory neuropeptides including motilin, gastrin, and substance P, whereas it downregulated the levels of inhibitory neuropeptides including endothelin-1, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. We conclude that the strain YB11 has a positive impact on improving gastrointestinal mobility and reducing the severity of constipation.

A pilot study on the efficacy of topical lotion containing anti-acne postbiotic in subjects with mild -to -moderate acne.

Introduction: Acne can compromise facial esthetics and become a mental burden, especially when it occurs in puberty. Skincare cosmetics with anti-acne efficiency is more convenient than other treatment modalities, such as dietary supplements, in certain circumstances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an anti-acne lotion in alleviating acne. Methods: In our study, an anti-acne lotion containing ferment lysate produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VHProbi® E15 were applied to subjects with mild -to -moderate acne over 4 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated based on instrumental measurements using Visia®-CR and CK-MPA® system. Results and discussion: The anti-acne lotion exhibited favorable safety, meeting the stringent criteria for the detection of microbes, heavy metals, toxicity, and irritation. After 2 weeks of treatment, a statistically significant improvement in acne lesions was observed compared to baseline (P < 0.01), and this continued to the end of the study. After 4 weeks of treatment, the transepidermal water loss (P < 0.05) and sebum production (P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in subjects compared to baseline. In addition, the pore/area of interest (AOI) and stratum corneum hydration displayed slightly positive changes throughout treatment. Thus, we conclude that applying topical anti-acne lotion may be safe and confer effective benefits in people with mild -to -moderate acne and represents a promising therapeutic option for acne.

Isolation, characterization and anti-UVB irradiation activity of an extracellular polysaccharide produced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus VHPriobi O17.

The purpose of this study was to isolate exopolysaccharides (EPS) from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and evaluate EPS anti-UVB viability. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus VHPriobi O17 with high EPS production was screened from 34 strains of LAB. The EPS (OP-2) produced by L. rhamnosus VHPriobi O17 was purified by alcohol precipitation and DEAE-µSphere anion exchange chromatography. By ion chromatography, FT-IR spectrum and gel column chromatography, EPS (OP-2) was a novel Man-like polysaccharide with the weight-averaged molecular of 84.2 kDa. The EPS (OP-2) can effectively alleviate HaCaT cells apoptosis and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by UVB. The results also showed that it inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8); and suppressed the phosphorylation cascade of JNK and p38 MAPK to reduce the expression level of active-caspase3, ultimately prevented cell apoptosis. Thus, the EPS produced by L. rhamnosus VHPriobi O17 have the potential to be used for human anti-UVB irradiation.

Complete Genome Sequence of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strain VHProbi F22, Isolated from Cheese.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain VHProbi F22 is a proprietary probiotic strain that can be found in the Chinese market. Here, we investigate the whole-genome sequence of this bacterium. The whole genome contains a chromosome and a plasmid.

Development of Novel Topical Anti-Acne Cream Containing Postbiotics for Mild-to-Moderate Acne: An Observational Study to Evaluate Its Efficacy.

Background: Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in adolescents and results in high healthcare costs and psychological burdens severely affecting individuals. Treatments other than contraceptives, antibiotics, and photodynamic therapies are needed to prevent and/or improve acne's onset and evolution. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a fermentation lysate of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VHProbi® V22 in ameliorating acne. Methods: An anti-acne skincare cream containing fermentation culture lysate was applied to subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris for 4 weeks. The assessments were evaluated based on instrumental measurements using Visia®-CR and CK-MPA® systems. Results and Conclusions: The anti-acne skincare cream was found to be safe and not cause any irritation. Significant improvements in the acne lesion proportion (P < 0.01), transepidermal water loss (P < 0.001), and sebum secretion (P < 0.05) were observed in comparison to the baseline in the subjects. The analysis of the statistical data after 4 weeks of treatment showed a positive decrease in skin tone, stratum corneum hydration, and superficial pH without statistical significance, compared with the baseline. The results of this study suggest that the topical application of the anti-acne skincare cream was effective and safe in subjects with mild-to-moderate acne and could represent an optional complement for acne treatments.

Design, Fabrication and Mass-spectrometric Studies of a Micro Ion Source for High-Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

A needle-to-cylinder electrode, adopted as an ion source for high-field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), is designed and fabricated by lithographie, galvanoformung and abformung (LIGA) technology. The needle, with a tip diameter of 20 µm and thickness of 20 µm, and a cylinder, with a diameter of 400 µm, were connected to the negative high voltage and ground, respectively. A negative corona and glow discharge were realized. For acetone with a density of 99.7 ppm, ethanol with a density of 300 ppm, and acetic ether with a density of 99.3 ppm, the sample gas was ionized by the needle-to-cylinder chip and the ions were detected by an LTQ XL™ (Thermo Scientific Corp.) mass spectrometer. The mass spectra show that the ions are mainly the protonated monomer, the proton bound dimer, and an ion-H2O molecule cluster. In tandem with a FAIMS system, the FAIMS spectra show that the resolving power increases with an increase in the RF voltage. The obtained experimental results showed that the micro needle-to-cylinder chip may serve as a miniature, low cost and non-radioactive ion source for FAIMS.

Analysis of Radiation Effects in Digital Subtraction Angiography of Intracranial Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial artery stenosis (IAS) is the most common cause for acute cerebral accidents. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard to detect IAS and usually brings excess radiation exposure to examinees and examiners. The artery pathology might influence the interventional procedure, causing prolonged radiation effects. However, no studies on the association between IAS pathology and operational parameters are available. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 93 patients with first-ever stroke/transient ischemic attack, who received DSA examination within 3 months from onset in this single center. Comparison of baseline characteristics was determined by 2-tailed Student's t-test or the chi-square test between subjects with and without IAS. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between IAS pathology and the items with a P value <0.05 in Student's t-test or chi-square test. RESULTS: There were 93 candidates (42 with IAS and 51 without IAS) in this study. The 2 groups shared no significance of the baseline characteristics (P > 0.05). We found a significantly higher total time, higher kerma area product, greater total dose, and greater DSA dose in the IAS group than in those without IAS (P < 0.05). A binary logistic regression analysis indicated the significant association between total time and IAS pathology (P < 0.05) but no significance in kerma area product, radiation dose, and DSA dose (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IAS pathology would indicate a prolonged total time of DSA procedure in clinical practice. However, the radiation effects would not change with pathologic changes.

An Integrated Microfabricated Chip with Double Functions as an Ion Source and Air Pump Based on LIGA Technology.

The injection and ionization of volatile organic compounds (VOA) by an integrated chip is experimentally analyzed in this paper. The integrated chip consists of a needle-to-cylinder electrode mounting on the Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) substrate. The needle-to-cylinder electrode is designed and fabricated by Lithographie, Galvanoformung and Abformung (LIGA) technology. In this paper, the needle is connected to a negative power supply of -5 kV and used as the cathode; the cylinder electrodes are composed of two arrays of cylinders and serve as the anode. The ionic wind is produced based on corona and glow discharges of needle-to-cylinder electrodes. The experimental setup is designed to observe the properties of the needle-to-cylinder discharge and prove its functions as an ion source and air pump. In summary, the main results are as follows: (1) the ionic wind velocity produced by the chip is about 0.79 m/s at an applied voltage of -3300 V; (2) acetic acid and ammonia water can be injected through the chip, which is proved by pH test paper; and (3) the current measured by a Faraday cup is about 10 pA for acetic acid and ammonia with an applied voltage of -3185 V. The integrated chip is promising for portable analytical instruments, such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), and mass spectrometry (MS).

Directed chromosomal integration and expression of porcine rotavirus outer capsid protein VP4 in Lactobacillus casei ATCC393.

Using two-step plasmid integration in the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), we developed a stable and markerless Lactobacillus casei strain for vaccine antigen expression. The upp of L. casei, which encodes uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase), was used as a counterselection marker. We employed the Δupp isogenic mutant, which is resistant to 5-FU, as host and a temperature-sensitive suicide plasmid bearing upp expression cassette as counterselectable integration vector. Extrachromosomal expression of UPRTase complemented the mutated chromosomal upp allele and restored sensitivity to 5-FU. The resultant genotype can either be wild type or recombinant. The efficacy of the system was demonstrated by insertion and expression of porcine rotavirus (PRV) VP4. To improve VP4 expression, we analyzed L. casei transcriptional profiles and selected the constitutive highly expressed enolase gene (eno). The VP4 inserted after the eno termination codon were screened in the presence of 5-FU. Using genomic PCR amplification, we confirmed that VP4 was successfully integrated and stably inherited for at least 50 generations. Western blot demonstrated that VP4 was steadily expressed in medium with different carbohydrates. RT-qPCR and ELISA analysis showed that VP4 expression from the chromosomal location was similar to that achieved by a plasmid expression system. Applying the recombinant strain to immunize BALB/c mice via oral administration revealed that the VP4-expressing L. casei could induce both specific local and systemic humoral immune responses in mice. Overall, the improved gene replacement system represents an efficient method for chromosome recombination in L. casei and provides a safe tool for vaccine production.

A cost-effective and practical polybenzanthrone-based fluorescent sensor for efficient determination of palladium (II) ion and its application in agricultural crops and environment.

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent chemosensor suitable for practical measurement of palladium ion (Pd(2+)) in agricultural crops and environment samples has been successfully fabricated using polybenzanthrone (PBA). PBA was facilely electrosynthesized in the mixed electrolyte of acetonitrile and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate. The fluorescence intensity of PBA showed a linear response to Pd(2+) in the concentration range of 5 nM-0.12 mM with a detection limit of 0.277 nM and quantification limit of 0.925 nM. Different compounds existing in agricultural crops and environment such as common metal ions, anions, natural amino acids, carbohydrates, and organic acids were used to examine the selectivity of the as-fabricated sensor, and no obvious fluorescence change could be observed in these interferents and their mixtures. A possible mechanism was proposed that the coordination of PBA and Pd(2+) enhance the aggregation of polymer chains, which led to a significant quenching of PBA emission, and this was further confirmed by absorption spectra monitoring and transmission electron microscopy. The excellent performance of the proposed sensor and satisfactory results of the Pd(2+) determination in practical samples suggested that the PBA-based fluorescent sensor for the determination of Pd(2+) will be a good candidate for application in agriculture and environment.

Efficient fluorescent recognition of carboxylates in aqueous media using facilely electrosynthesized poly(9-aminofluorene).

A variety of carboxylates were recognized using poly(9-aminofluorene) (P9AF) in the HEPES buffer (pH 7.4), and a proposed possible mechanism was proposed as following. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions resulted in electron transfer between P9AF and carboxylates. P9AF was facilely electrosynthesized in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate and could be used as an efficient fluorescent sensing material for the detection of AcO(-). On binding to AcO(-), fluorescence quenching of P9AF was demonstrated by a maximum 80% reduction in the fluorescence intensity, while no obvious fluorescence change could be observed in the presence of some other common anions. Some different carboxylates could be recognized at different levels by P9AF. Substituent groups in carboxylates could affect the intermolecular interaction between carboxylates and P9AF. These could be explained by a possible mechanism that hydrogen bonding was the main way of intermolecular interactions between P9AF and carboxylates, which was further confirmed by absorption spectra monitoring and density functional calculations. The significant advantage of this strategy is that it does not require a prequenching procedure and the polymer can be used directly for analyte detection.