Potentiality of Food-Isolated Lentilactobacillus kefiri Strains as Probiotics: State-of-Art and Perspectives.

Lentilactobacillus kefiri is one of the main lactic acid bacteria species in kefir and it was also isolated from other fermented foods. Numerous strains have been isolated and characterized regarding its potential as probiotics for the development of novel functional foods. To our knowledge this is the first review focused on highlighting safety aspects and health beneficial effects reported for L. kefiri strains. Several L. kefiri strains lack of transmissible antibiotic resistance genes, are tolerant to the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal environment, and could resist different preservation procedures. Moreover, many of the isolated strains have shown antimicrobial activity against pathogens and their toxins, exhibited immunomodulatory activity as well as induced some beneficial effects at metabolic level. Regarding all the scientific evidence, certain L. kefiri strains emerge as excellent candidates to be applied to the development of both food supplements and new fermented foods with health-promoting properties. However, the availability of genomic information is still very limited, so much more work must be done in order to explore the potentiality of L. kefiri as a probiotic and a source of bioactive metabolites.

A comparison of nocturnal penile tumescence and penile response to erotic stimulation during waking states in comprehensively diagnosed groups of males experiencing erectile difficulties.

The erectile responses of 13 nondysfunctional males and 48 dysfunctional males were compared during Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) and during exposure to erotic videotapes. The results showed distinct patterns of NPT and daytime responding that could differentiate the various subgroups: those displaying (i) no dysfunction; (ii) vasculogenic erectile dysfunction; (iii) high risk for erectile dysfunction (organic and psychogenic); (iv) psychogenic dysfunction; reactive to erotica; and (v) psychogenic dysfunction; nonreactive to erotica. Subjects participating in this study underwent a comprehensive medical and psychological screening to place them in each subgroup. The penile circumference response to erotic stimuli used in conjunction with NPT response appeared useful in differentiating subgroups of erectile dysfunction and suggested the need for further diagnostic refinement in this area. The majority of vasculogenic dysfunctional subjects experienced greater erection responses during exposure to erotic stimulation than during NPT; several of these subjects achieved almost full erections in waking states but were practically flaccid at night. The discussion covers diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

[Alcoholism as an adaptation-disadaptation factor in the district of La Matanza]. / El alcoholismo como factor de adaptación-desadaptación en el partido de La Matanza.

This paper is concerned with the use of alcohol and folkloric medicine in migratory populations. Some field-research was undertaken as a systemic approach to reality in the district of La Matanza (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Considering a previous contribution presented by the author in reference to alcoholic families (Prize 1981, Journal of Family Therapy) findings highlight that alcoholism and folkloric medicine persist and increase insomuch as the possibilities for adjustment to a new culture decrease. Thus, social segregation of migratory populations increases. Finally, an interdisciplinary psychotherapeutic model is outlined.

Effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on subjective arousal, arousal to erotic stimulation, and nocturnal penile tumescence in male sex offenders.

Three chronic pedophiliac sex offenders were treated individually with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) over a minimum of 3 months. Genital and subjective response to erotic stimulation, nocturnal penile tumescence, self-reporting of sexual urges, and testosterone levels were recorded repeatedly throughout the study. A single-subject reversal design was used and medication was administered through a double-blind procedure. The results showed that self-report of arousal outside of a laboratory setting was unreliable as a measure of the drug effect. In a laboratory setting, however, there appeared to be a significant reduction in the report of arousal to erotic stimuli while genital arousal decreased only slightly. Reversal of these responses occurred in only one subject during a final placebo phase. Nocturnal penile tumescence was significantly decreased during MPA administration and appeared to be related to decreases in total testosterone.

El alcoholismo como factor de adaptación-desadaptación en el partido de La Matanza. / [Alcoholism as an adaptation-disadaptation factor in the district of La Matanza]

This paper is concerned with the use of alcohol and folkloric medicine in migratory populations. Some field-research was undertaken as a systemic approach to reality in the district of La Matanza (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Considering a previous contribution presented by the author in reference to alcoholic families (Prize 1981, Journal of Family Therapy) findings highlight that alcoholism and folkloric medicine persist and increase insomuch as the possibilities for adjustment to a new culture decrease. Thus, social segregation of migratory populations increases. Finally, an interdisciplinary psychotherapeutic model is outlined.