[Autochthonous pulmonary dirofilariasis in Europe]

Comparative antioxidant potential of kefir and yogurt of bovine and non-bovine origins

The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant potential of the yogurt and kefir produced from ewe, camel, goat, and cow milk. The antioxidant activity of the samples was assessed by measuring total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical reducing capacity during 20-day storage at 4 ºC. Kefir and yogurt prepared from ewe and camel milk had significantly higher antioxidative potential than samples made from goat and cow milk (P < 0.05). Ewe kefir (74.55-80.11 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) showed the highest TPC followed by cow kefir (65-73.15 mg GAE 100 mL^-1), camel kefir (61.2-69.91 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) and goat kefir (58.31-73.5 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) (P < 0.05). Camel yogurt possesses the highest TPC (56.5-68.25 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) followed by ewe (40.32-46.5 mg GAE 100 mL^-1), cow (29.5-35.5 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) and goat (20.03-26.85 mg GAE 100 mL^-1) yogurt (P < 0.05). According to DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS results, the antioxidant activity of samples was as follows in descending order: ewe kefir, camel kefir, ewe yogurt, camel yogurt, cow kefir, goat kefir, goat yogurt, cow yogurt.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05139-9.

Kefir metabolites in a fly model for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among elderly individuals worldwide, leading to a strong motor-cognitive decline and consequent emotional distress and codependence. It is traditionally characterized by amyloidogenic pathway formation of senile plaques, and recent studies indicate that dysbiosis is also an important factor in AD's pathology. To overcome dysbiosis, probiotics-as kefir-have shown to be a great therapeutic alternative for Alzheimer's disease. In this present work, we explored kefir as a probiotic and a metabolite source as a modulator of microbiome and amyloidogenic pathway, using a Drosophila melanogaster model for AD (AD-like flies). Kefir microbiota composition was determined through 16S rRNA sequencing, and the metabolome of each fraction (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) was investigated. After treatment, flies had their survival, climbing ability, and vacuolar lesions accessed. Kefir and fraction treated flies improved their climbing ability survival rate and neurodegeneration index. In conclusion, we show that kefir in natura, as well as its fractions may be promising therapeutic source against AD, modulating amyloidogenic related pathways.

Dairy products and colorectal cancer in middle eastern and north African countries: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review was conducted to explain the association between dairy products and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in Middle Eastern and North African countries (MENA).

METHODS

The database consulted were PubMed, Clinical Trials, and Cochrane to extract the relevant studies published till the 31stof December 2016, using inclusion and exclusion criteria according to Prisma Protocol. The characteristics of these studies comprised the consumption of all types of dairy products in relation to CRC risk.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included in this review. For dairy products overall, no significant association was found. Regarding modern dairy products, included studies found controversial results with OR = 9.88 (95% CI: 3.80-24.65) and OR_a = 0.14 (95% CI: 0.02-0.71). A positive association was reported between traditional dairy products and CRC risk, to OR = 18.66 (95% CI: 3.06-113.86) to OR = 24 (95% CI: 1.74-330.82) to ORa = 1.42 (95% CI: 0.62-3.25), p_trend = 0.03. Calcium was inversely associated with the CRC risk with OR_a = 0.08 (95% CI: 0.04-0.17).

CONCLUSION

This is the first systematic review which illustrated the association between dairy consumption and CRC risk in MENA region. The results were inconsistent and not always homogeneous. Further specified studies may be warranted to address the questions about the association between CRC and dairy products in a specific context of MENA region.

Review: functional properties of kefir

Kefir is a unique cultured dairy product due to combined lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation of lactose in milk. Kefir is produced by microbial activity of "kefir grains" which have a relatively stable and specific balance of lactic acid bacteria and yeast. Due to the claimed health benefits of kefir which include reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms, stimulation of the immune system, lowering cholesterol, and antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties, kefir has become an important functional dairy food and consequently, research on kefir has increased in the past decade. In the following review, recent studies on the functional properties of kefir are reviewed.

Chlorogenic acid differentially alters hepatic and small intestinal thiol redox status without protecting against azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Epidemiological data have suggested that coffee consumption is inversely related to CRC risk, which may be attributed to chlorogenic acid (CGA), an ester of caffeic acid (CA) and quinic acid. This study was conducted to determine whether chronic dietary CGA supplementation would attenuate tumorigenesis and oxidative stress in a mouse model of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer. Mice (4-wk old; n = 15/group) were fed CGA (0%, 0.01%, or 0.1%) for 20 wk and received 6 weekly intraperitoneal AOM injections (10 mg/kg). CGA and CA dose-dependently accumulated in the small intestinal mucosa. AOM induced (P < 0.05) colonic aberrant crypt foci (14.2 +/- 1.9/field) and tumors (14.6 +/- 1.1/colon), which were correlated (r = .677; P < 0.05), and CGA at either dose did not reduce tumorigenesis. Hepatic GSH/GSSG and Cys/CySS ratios were unaffected by AOM, but CGA at 0.1% increased these ratios by decreasing GSSG and CySS. CGA did not affect the ratios of small intestinal GSH/GSSG or Cys/CySS, which were decreased in response to AOM treatment. Collectively, these data indicated that CGA did not protect against AOM-induced tumorigenesis but affected hepatic thiol redox status in this colon cancer model.

Detection of Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens DNA by polymerase chain reaction in embedded paraffin tissues from two human pulmonary locations

We here report two new cases of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in men aged 62 and 64 from Northern and Central Italy, respectively. Both were asymptomatic and the infections were discovered incidentally when chest radiographs taken for another reason revealed the presence of a coin lesion. The initial clinical diagnosis was oriented towards a lung tumour, and an excisional lung biopsy after thoracotomy was necessary for the final diagnosis. Pathologically, the lesion consisted of a roundish subpleural infarct with a central thrombotic artery containing sections of an immature nematode: Dirofilaria repens was diagnosed histologically in one case, the necrotic condition of the worm allowing only genus identification, Dirofilaria, in the other case. In both samples, PCR analysis amplified a 246 bp product, specific for the IpS insert 11 of D. repens. The authors stress the role of PCR in the diagnosis of this parasite from paraffin samples, also in cases in which identification of the species was not possible by conventional morphology due to poor conservation of the worm. These cases represent the first PCR-based diagnosis of D. repens in a human pulmonary dirofilariasis on samples embedded in paraffin.

Subcutaneous infection caused by Dirofilaria repens imported to Slovenia

A case of human subcutaneous dirofilariasis is presented. A complete nematode removed from the tumour in the occipital region of a 61-year-old woman was identified, on the basis of its anatomical and histological characteristics, as a nongravid adult female of the species Dirofilaria repens. The patient had probably been infected on the Canary Islands, Spain, 7 months previously. In the future, the clinical and laboratory staff in Slovenia will have to be more alert to the possibility of dirofilariasis in patients with subcutaneous tumours, particularly in individuals who had travelled to endemic areas several months or years before the tumour was detected.

Human dirofilariasis

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous and pulmonary dirofilariasis in humans appears to be a frequent disease in endemic areas, notably the Mediterranean region. Following increased air travel in recent years, the incidence of human dirofilariasis has increased in tourists as well.

METHODS

The clinical and parasitologic aspects in a series of six patients with cutaneous and pulmonary dirofilariasis, seen in a German unit for infectious and tropical diseases, are reviewed.

RESULTS

Four patients presented with subcutaneous tumors due to infection with Dirofilaria repens, whereas two patients had pulmonary infiltrates due to the canine heartworm, D, immitis. All infections were acquired in the Mediterranean region. Symptoms were only slight and nonspecific. Eosinophilia in the blood was absent in all patients. The serum IgE levels were normal and signs of a specific humoral response to antigens of Dirofilaria spp. were absent, although slightly elevated antibody levels to antigens of Onchocerca volvulus could be demonstrated in all patients. The diagnosis was established in all patients by the surgical removal of adult worms from the lesions. Oral treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) (2 mg per kg t.i.d.) over a period of 4 weeks was added to the surgical treatment in all patients. In one patient this therapy was preceded by oral ivermectine (150 mg per kg).

CONCLUSIONS

Dirofilariasis has to be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with subcutaneous or pulmonary tumors after travels to endemic areas within the last few years. Effective therapy is possible by surgical removal of the adult worms and oral ivermectine plus diethylcarbamazine.