A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of XP-828L (800 mg) on the quality of life and clinical symptoms of patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis.

In a placebo-controlled clinical trial, the dietary supplement XP-828L (commercialized as Dermylex) demonstrated potential to reduce symptoms associated with mild-to-moderate psoriasis at a dose regimen of 5 g daily for 56 days. However, recent in vivo data in humans and animals suggest a daily dose of 800 mg could be more efficient than a 5-g dose. However, no well-structured clinical study has confirmed this hypothesis. The goal of the present study is to examine the effect of XP-828L at a daily dose of 800 mg on the quality of life and disease severity in patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis. XP-828L at 800 mg per day (n=16) or placebo (n=10) was given orally for 56 days. Efficacy was measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and itching sensation scores at day 1 and day 56. The DLQI and PASI scores and itching sensation decreased significantly by day 56 in subjects taking XP-828L compared to placebo (p less than 0.05). In summary, daily administration of 800 mg XP-828L for 56 days is adequate to improve the quality of life and decrease disease severity in patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis.

Inactivation of adhesion and invasion of food-borne Listeria monocytogenes by bacteriocin-producing Bifidobacterium strains of human origin.

Three bacteriocin-producing bifidobacterial isolates from newborns were identified as Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum (two strains) and B. thermophilum (one strain). This study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of these strains to compete with food-borne Listeria monocytogenes for adhesion and invasion sites on Caco-2 and HT-29 cells. The bifidobacteria adhered at levels ranging from 4% to 10% of the CFU added, but none of the bifidobacteria were able to invade cells. The abilities of Listeria to adhere to and to invade cells varied widely depending on the strain tested. Three groups of Listeria were identified based on invasiveness: weakly invasive, moderately invasive, and highly invasive strains. One strain from each group was tested in competition with bifidobacteria. B. thermacidophilum RBL70 was the most effective in blocking invasion of Listeria, and the decreases in invasion ranged from 38% to 90%. For all three bifidobacterial strains, contact between the cell monolayer and the bifidobacteria for 1 h before exposure to Listeria increased the degree of inhibition. Finally, visualization of competition for adhesion sites on cells by fluorescent in situ hybridization suggested that the two bacteria tended to adhere in close proximity.