Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C strongly inhibited Helicobacter pylori SS1 in Meriones unguiculatus

Searching for bacterial probiotics active upon Helicobacter pylori continue to be an important clinical challenge because of the increased prevalence of this highly priority pathogen in humans. In this work, we assess the in vivo anti-H. pylori SS1 (cagA+/vacAs2m2+) properties of a previously isolated human gastric probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C by using a Meriones unguiculatus (Mongolian gerbil) model. Animals were administered with a saline suspension of L. fermentum UCO-979C or H. pylori SS1 as negative and positive control for H. pylori colonisation controls, prior to assayed the challenge group that was administered with these two species per animal for detecting protective activity of the probiotic strain against colonisation. The results showed that L. fermentum UCO-979C strongly inhibited the colonisation of H. pylori decreasing up to 87% of the colonisation in the antrum by the pathogen, suggesting that this probiotic strain has a strong probiotic activity against H. pylori in the most valuable animal model for in vivo assays nowadays.

In vitro antibacterial activity of Chilean red wines against Helicobacter pylori

The antibacterial activity of sixteen Chilean red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Organic and Pinot Noir), and the active extracts of two randomly selected wines were assayed for their antibacterial activity on six strains of Helicobacter pylori isolated from gastric biopsies. The active fraction of the wines was obtained by dichloromethane extraction, and the antibacterial activity of the wines and extracts was evaluated by an agar diffusion method. All the red wines studied showed some antibacterial activity on the six strains of H. pylori, although the strains were heterogeneous in their susceptibility to each particular wine. The active fraction of the two wines selected also showed good activity against the strains tested. The main active compound was identified as resveratrol. The results presented indicate that Chilean red wines have antibacterial activity against H. pylori, which depends mainly on the presence of resveratrol.

Acute quadriplegia in a 34-year-old man

A 34-year-old man of Native American descent had flaccid paralysis of the extremities 2 days after a camping trip. He had no respiratory difficulty, sensory deficit, or abnormal reflexes. He was subsequently found to have a serum potassium level of 1.6 mEq/L, a thyrotropin level of <0.06 microIU/L, and a free thyroxin level of 5.30 ng/dL. Thyroid uptake and scan were consistent with those of Graves' disease. Symptoms rapidly resolved with potassium chloride, propranolol, prednisone, and antithyroid therapy. No further episodes occurred.

Differential participation of the NBM in the acquisition and retrieval of conditioned taste aversion and Morris water maze

Deficits in both learning and memory after lesions of the cholinergic basal forebrain, in particular the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), have been widely reported. However, the participation of the cholinergic system in either acquisition or retrieval of memory process is still unclear. In this study, we tested the possibility that excitotoxic lesions of the NBM affect either acquisition or retrieval of two tasks. In the first experiment, animals were trained for two conditioned taste aversion tasks using different flavors, saccharine and saline. The acquisition of the first task was before NBM lesions (to test retrieval) and the acquisition of the second task was after the lesions (to test acquisition). Accordingly, in the first part of the second experiment, animals were trained in the Morris water maze (MWM), lesioned and finally tested. In the final part of this experiment, another set of animals was lesioned, then trained in the MWM and finally tested. All animals were able to retrieve conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and MWM when learned before NBM lesions; however, lesions disrupted the acquisition of CTA and MWM. The results suggest that the NBM and cholinergic system may play an important role in acquisition but not during retrieval of aversive memories.