Reducing Immunoreactivity of Gluten Peptides by Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria for Dietary Management of Gluten-Related Diseases.

Immunoreactive gluten peptides that are not digested by peptidases produced by humans can trigger celiac disease, allergy and non-celiac gluten hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of selected probiotic strains to hydrolyze immunoreactive gliadin peptides and to identify peptidase-encoding genes in the genomes of the most efficient strains. Residual gliadin immunoreactivity was measured after one- or two-step hydrolysis using commercial enzymes and bacterial peptidase preparations by G12 and R5 immunoenzymatic assays. Peptidase preparations from Lacticaseibacillus casei LC130, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LPC100 and Streptococcus thermophilus ST250 strains significantly reduced the immunoreactivity of gliadin peptides, including 33-mer, and this effect was markedly higher when a mixture of these strains was used. In silico genome analyses of L. casei LC130 and L. paracasei LPC100 revealed the presence of genes encoding peptidases with the potential to hydrolyze bonds in proline-rich peptides. This suggests that L. casei LC130, L. paracasei LPC100 and S. thermophilus ST250, especially when used as a mixture, have the ability to hydrolyze immunoreactive gliadin peptides and could be administered to patients on a restricted gluten-free diet to help treat gluten-related diseases.

Response to stress and allergen production caused by metal ions (Ni, Cu and Zn) in oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) plants.

Heavy metals are the cause of one of the most significant biosphere contamination problems worldwide, as they can be highly reactive and toxic according to their oxidation levels. Their toxic effects are correlated with the elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative cellular damage occurring in plants. The aim of the present study was the investigation of the effects of three heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Zn) applied to the soil in biochemical defense-related responses and allergen production in the aromatic plant oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) from the Lamiaceae family. The concentrations of the three heavy metals used, were based on the 2002 Regulation of the Polish Ministry of the Environment on Soil Quality Standards [(i) agricultural land (group B): Ni 100 ppm, Ni 210 ppm, Cu 200 ppm, Cu 500 ppm, Zn 720 ppm and (ii) industrial land (group C): Ni 500 ppm, Cu 1000 ppm, Zn 1500 ppm, Zn 3000 ppm]. The investigated plants accumulated heavy metal ions in aerial parts to a variable extent. For plants grown in soil contaminated with Zn, phenotypic representation of the growth and development were strongly limited and dependent on zinc concentration. Phenotypic representation of plants grown in soil contaminated with Ni and Cu were characterized by normal growth, slightly lower or equal to that of the control plants. All tested metals (Ni, Cu, Zn) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in photosynthetic pigments especially in total chlorophyll content. Highest cellular damage levels were observed in plants treated with Cu and Zn. Increasing concentration of these metals (especially Zn) caused a further increase in cellular damage. 3000 ppm Zn caused highest increase in the concentration of proline compared with control plants, suggesting osmotic stress imposition. Treatment with 1000 ppm Cu led to increased concentration of the allergenic protein profilin in relation to control plants by profilin ELISA analysis, while increasing concentrations of Cu and Zn led to a decrease in the concentration of phenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity. On the basis of these findings, Ni stress in oregano plants appears to be less damaging (in relation to Cu and Zn) and with lower allergenic potential, compared with 1000 ppm Cu. The present study provides novel biochemical insight in the defense and allergenic response of aromatic plants to metal ions present in the rhizosphere; however, more comprehensive research under realistic field conditions is needed to fully decipher this interaction.

New allergens from spices in the Apiaceae family: anise Pimpinella anisum L. and caraway Carum carvi L.

Spices are gaining popularity in individual consumption, food industry, and medicine. While the incidence of allergies is constantly rising, those caused by consumption of herbs and spices are relatively rare. The allergic potential of spices added to many dishes and products is dangerous, as consumers may ingest them unknowingly. At particular risk are persons allergic to both birch and mugwort pollen because of cross-reactivity to proteins similar to birch allergen, Bet v 1 and profilins, who often exhibit a clinical condition termed "mugwort-celery-spice syndrome". The aim of our research was to analyze the extracts of anise and caraway for the presence of major pan-allergens, such as Bet v 1 analogues and profilins. Secondly, we analyzed the prevalence of reactions towards these pan-allergens among patients sensitive to spices. Finally, we tried to identify some of the previously unidentified allergenic proteins in these spices. In order to identify Bet v 1 analogues and profilins in anise and caraway, we conducted immunoblotting of the proteins extracted from the spices with anti-Bet v 1 and anti-profilin antibodies. The identification of new allergens was performed by initial selection of proteins through immunoblotting with sera of patients sensitive to spices. The proteins were subsequently characterized with LC-MS/MS. The presence of Bet v 1 analogues and profilins in anise was confirmed and a new allergen, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was identified. Moreover, new caraway allergens were found, including Bet v 1 analogue, profilin, and elongation factor α.

Stability studies of two compounded solutions potentially used in tumor lysis syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the stability of two non-commercially produced solutions: 1.68% sodium bicarbonate in 5% glucose (BIC solution) and 1.6% calcium chloride in 0.9% sodium chloride (CAL solution), which can be used to treat tumor lysis syndrome. One of the ways to treat the tumor lysis syndrome is to irrigate patients, alkalinize the urine through the supply of BIC solution or continuous hemodialysis with regional citrate anticoagulation, using a CAL solution. METHOD: The study took place in two independent hospital pharmacies. Fifty samples of each solution were prepared under aseptic conditions, then the concentration of sodium and calcium ions was determined and microbiological purity tests were carried out. The tests were performed on the day of sample preparation and after seven days of storage at 4 ± 1℃. RESULTS: The obtained results showed that applied preparation method was precise and accuracy. The average concentration of sodium ions in BIC solutions ranged from 187.7 to 185.26 mmol/L on 1st and 7th day, respectively. The average concentration of calcium ions in CAL solution ranged from 68.92 to 68.80 mmol/L on 1st and 7th day, respectively. None of the samples were microbiologically contaminated. CONCLUSION: Studied solutions for infusion were characterized by good chemical and microbiological stability when prepared in a clean room and stored at 4 ± 1℃.

The home health care routing and scheduling problem with interdependent services.

This paper presents a model for the daily planning of health care services carried out at patients' homes by staff members of a home care company. The planning takes into account individual service requirements of the patients, individual qualifications of the staff and possible interdependencies between different service operations. Interdependencies of services can include, for example, a temporal separation of two services as is required if drugs have to be administered a certain time before providing a meal. Other services like handling a disabled patient may require two staff members working together at a patient's home. The time preferences of patients are included in terms of given time windows. In this paper, we propose a planning approach for the described problem, which can be used for optimizing economical and service oriented measures of performance. A mathematical model formulation is proposed together with a powerful heuristic based on a sophisticated solution representation.