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Increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables can be achieved by creating new products. A promising method seems to be the directed fermentation of vegetables. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment (US; 25 kHz; 5 min) and the lactic acid bacteria strain (LAB; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG) on the quality of fermented pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo L.). The pumpkin was inoculated with 5 log CFU/g of specific LAB strain. Fermentation was carried out for 7 days at 35 °C. Some samples were US treated at the washing stage. During fermentation, there was an increase in the LAB count of 3 logarithmic cycles compared to the initial inoculum. For L. rhamnosus , preceding fermentation by US treatment contributed to an increased bacteria count of 4 logarithmic cycles. In the case of fermentation with L. rhamnosus , the lactic acid content was significantly higher than for L. plantarum . These samples are also characterized by higher sensory properties, desirability of taste, and overall desirability. Fermentation contributed to a decrease in carotenoid and phenolic compounds content and an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the pumpkins, regardless of the bacterial strain.

Menopause marks a critical life stage characterized by hormonal changes that significantly impact bone health, leading to a heightened susceptibility to bone fractures. This research seeks to elucidate the impact of daidzein and tempeh on calcium status, calcium transporters, and bone metabolism in an ovariectomized rat model. Forty female Wistar rats, aged 3 months, participated in a two-phase experiment. The initial phase involved inducing a calcium deficit, while the second phase comprised dietary interventions across five groups: Sham (S) and Ovariectomy (O) with a standard diet, O with bisphosphonate (OB), O with pure daidzein (OD), and O with tempeh (OT). Multiple parameters, encompassing calcium levels, calcium transporters, bone histopathology, and serum bone metabolism markers, were evaluated. The findings revealed that the OT group showcased heightened levels of bone turnover markers, such as pyridinoline, C-telopeptide of type I collagen, bone alkaline phosphatase, and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, in contrast to S and O groups, with statistical significance ( p < 0.05). Histopathologically, both the OD and OT groups exhibited effects akin to the OB group, indicating a decrease in the surface area occupied by adipocytes in the femoral bone structure, although statistically non-equivalent, supporting the directionally similar trends. Although TRPV5 and TRPV6 mRNA expression levels in the jejunum and duodenum did not display statistically significant differences ( p > 0.05), the OD and OT groups exhibited increased expression compared to the O group. We hypothesized that obtained results may be related to the effect of isoflavones on estrogen pathways because of their structurally similar to endogenous estrogen and weak estrogenic properties. In conclusion, the daily consumption of pure daidzein and tempeh could potentially improve and reinstate calcium status, calcium transport, and bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Additionally, isoflavone products demonstrate effects similar to bisphosphonate drugs on these parameters in ovariectomized rats.

Isoflavones and probiotics are promising nutrients for bone health, and magnesium (Mg) is essential for bone metabolism. This study aimed to determine the effects of daidzein, genistein and Lactobacillus acidophilus on the Mg status of healthy female rats. Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned to six groups, with the control group receiving a standard diet (AIN 93M). The remaining groups were fed the same diet with added ingredients such as tempeh flour; soy flour; pure daidzein and genistein; L. acidophilus or a combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus . Tissue samples were collected after the eight-week intervention, and Mg concentrations were analysed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Myeloid and erythroid cells were determined using the haematoxylin and eosin bone staining method. Statistical analyses were conducted using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The threshold for significance was p < 0.05. Compared with the control group, adding tempeh to the diet of rats resulted in significant changes in Mg concentrations in various tissues, with a decrease in the kidneys and an increase in the fur. Although not statistically significant compared to the control group, the tempeh group showed increased Mg concentrations in the femur and spleen. The myeloid-to-erythroid cell ratio did not differ significantly among groups, but all intervention groups showed higher ratios than the control group. A strong negative correlation was observed between Mg concentrations in the kidneys and fur. Conversely, a positive correlation was identified between Mg concentrations in the pancreas and fur. Daily consumption of tempeh may improve Mg status in the organism. Intake of pure daidzein, genistein, or probiotic seems to have no effect on Mg concentrations in healthy rats.

Calcium is essential for maintaining bone health as it contributes to bone formation, remodeling, strength, and density. This study investigated the effect of isoflavones and probiotics on calcium transporters' gene expression, serum calcium levels, and bone metabolism biomarkers in healthy female rats. Forty-eight female Wistar rats were classified into six groups. Bone metabolism biomarkers (pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, parathyroid hormone, and osteocalcin) and serum calcium levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), respectively. Gene expression of calcium transporters (Trpv5 and Trpv6) was evaluated in duodenum and jejunum tissue samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Trpv5 and Trpv6, epithelial calcium channels, play a crucial role in calcium transport and homeostasis in the body. The study consisted of a1-week adaptation period for the rats to adjust to the controlled conditions, followed by an 8-week intervention phase. The daidzein and genistein group showed a significant increase in the gene expression of the Trpv6 transporter in the duodenum and a marked decrease in serum pyridinoline levels compared to the control group. The tempeh and soybean groups showed a significant decrease in the gene expression of the Trpv5 calcium transporter in the jejunum. However, no significant influence of the Lactobacillus acidophilus diet on calcium transport and bone metabolism biomarkers was observed in the L. acidophilus group. The correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between serum calcium, bone metabolism biomarkers, and calcium transporters. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the daidzein and genistein diet improves calcium transport in the duodenum and reduces pyridinoline serum concentrations, while tempeh and soybean diets reduce calcium transport in the jejunum. However, the combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus did not demonstrate a synergistic effect on calcium transport and bone metabolism, suggesting that further investigations are needed to elucidate their potential interactions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Isoflavones and probiotics are two major factors involved in bone health. Osteoporosis and disturbances in iron (Fe) levels are common health problems in aging women. This study aimed to analyze how soybean products, daidzein, genistein, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) affect Fe status and blood morphological parameters in healthy female rats., Methods: A total of 48 Wistar rats aged 3 months were randomly divided into six groups. The control group (K) received a standard diet (AIN 93 M). The remaining five groups received a standard diet supplemented with the following: tempeh flour (TP); soy flour (RS); daidzein and genistein (DG); Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM20079 (LA); as well as a combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus DSM20079 (DGLA). After 8 weeks of intervention, blood samples of the rats were collected for morphological analysis, whereas tissue samples were collected and kept at -80 °C until Fe analysis. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets (PLTs), red cell distribution width, white blood cells, neutrophils (NEUT), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes, eosinophils (EOS), and basophils were measured for blood morphological analysis. Fe concentrations were determined using flame atomic spectrometry. For statistical analysis, an ANOVA test for significance at the 5 % level was used. The relationship between tissue Fe levels and blood morphological parameters was determined using Pearson's correlation., Results: Although no significant differences were observed in the Fe content between all diets, the TP group showed significantly higher levels of NEUT and lower levels of LYM than the control group. Compared with the DG and DGLA groups, the TP group showed a dramatically higher PLT level. In addition, the RS group showed significantly higher Fe concentrations in the spleen compared with the standard diet. Compared with the DG, LA, and DGLA groups, the RS group also showed significantly higher Fe concentrations in the liver. Compared with the TP, DG, LA, and DGLA groups, the RS group showed dramatically higher Fe concentrations in the femur. Pearson's correlations between blood morphological parameters and Fe levels in tissues were observed, especially a negative correlation between the Fe level in the femur and the NEUT concentration (-0.465) and a strong positive correlation between the Fe level in the femur and the LYM concentration (0.533)., Conclusion: Soybean flour was found to increase Fe levels in rats, whereas tempeh may alter anti-inflammatory blood parameters. Isoflavones and probiotics did not affect Fe status in healthy female rats., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Isoflavones and probiotics have shown the therapeutic potential to alter calcium absorption and bone cell metabolism. This study sought to ascertain the effect of isoflavones and probiotics on calcium status and bone health in healthy female rats. Forty-eight adult female Wistar rats were grouped and fed: a standard diet (control); and standard diets with tempeh; soy; daidzein and genistein; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; and a combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus . The biochemical serum parameters, such as alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, glucose, and triacylglycerol concentrations, were measured, and calcium contents in tissues were determined. After staining the bone with hematoxylin and eosin, the number of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and the percentage of bone marrow adipocytes were counted. Compared with the control group, the soy group showed a significantly lower triacylglycerol concentration. The L. acidophilus group considerably increased the calcium content in the femoral bone. The daidzein and genistein, L. acidophilus , and a combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus groups showed significantly lower calcium contents in the heart and kidneys. The daidzein and genistein group significantly enhanced the number of osteoblasts and osteocytes. A substantial inverse correlation was observed between calcium contents in kidneys and osteoblasts. In conclusion, the combination of daidzein, genistein, and L. acidophilus may improve bone calcium concentrations and bone cells. However, no synergistic effect between isoflavones and probiotics was detected in this study., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Routine examination of entire histological slides at cellular resolution poses a significant if not insurmountable challenge to human observers. However, high-resolution data such as the cellular distribution of proteins in tissues, e.g., those obtained following immunochemical staining, are highly desirable. Our present study extends the applicability of the PathoFusion framework to the cellular level. We illustrate our approach using the detection of CD276 immunoreactive cells in glioblastoma as an example. Following automatic identification by means of PathoFusion's bifocal convolutional neural network (BCNN) model, individual cells are automatically profiled and counted. Only discriminable cells selected through data filtering and thresholding were segmented for cell-level analysis. Subsequently, we converted the detection signals into the corresponding heatmaps visualizing the distribution of the detected cells in entire whole-slide images of adjacent H&E-stained sections using the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). Our results demonstrate that PathoFusion is capable of autonomously detecting and counting individual immunochemically labelled cells with a high prediction performance of 0.992 AUC and 97.7% accuracy. The data can be used for whole-slide cross-modality analyses, e.g., relationships between immunochemical signals and anaplastic histological features. PathoFusion has the potential to be applied to additional problems that seek to correlate heterogeneous data streams and to serve as a clinically applicable, weakly supervised system for histological image analyses in (neuro)pathology.

Background: Non-diary beverages with probiotic properties are of great interest nowadays. In this research, we evaluated the suitability of carob kibbles in the manufacture of kvass. Kvass is a low-alcohol drink popular in Central and Eastern Europe and indicated as a potential non-diary beverage with probiotic properties. Therefore, the viability of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii during 4 weeks' storage in manufactured beverages was tested., Results: Carob kibbles introduced significant amounts of phenolic compounds into kvasses, especially gallic acid (up to 117.45 ± 10.56 mg L -1 ), and improved antiradical activity up to 78% after fermentation. Moreover, fermentation efficiently reduced furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural content in samples up to 12.9% and 29.9%, respectively. Kvasses with rye malt extract possessed coffee-like, chocolate-like, roasted and caramel-like odours and a more bitter taste. Whereas kvass with carob kibbles was characterized by fruit-like odour and sweeter taste. Fermentation contributed to a creation as well as degradation of volatiles. L. plantarum exhibited higher general mortality during storage, whereas, in the case of S. boulardii, the viability was significantly higher regardless of the sample composition., Conclusion: This is the first study reporting the use of carob kibbles for kvass production. The obtained results showed that carob kibbles can replace rye malt extract, at least partially, in the production of kvass, giving to the product added health benefits. Moreover, S. boulardii is a better choice for production of kvass with probiotic properties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Pulque bread is a traditional Mexican product obtained by fermentation using microflora present only in pulque. In this study, the possibility of creating a pulque microbial consortium under laboratory conditions and its applications were evaluated. A laboratory-made consortium was compared with a consortium originating in Mexico in bread and pulque production. They were tested in various growth medium systems: pulque made from agave sap and malt extract, Mexican wheat and rye pulque bread, and European wheat and rye bread., Results: Depending on the growth medium, consortiums showed differing influence on many factors, such as specific volume, weight loss after baking, soluble proteins, and crust and crumb color. Indigenous starters increased sensorial acceptance of pulque and Mexican rye bread, decreased pH, and increased titratable acidity of the breads at the highest level whereas laboratory consortia improved sensory acceptance of wheat breads. The laboratory-prepared starter in some cases improved antiradical activity. All pulques received similar consumer evaluations. However, malt pulque was the least appreciated beverage., Conclusion: The results show the possibility of creating a pulque microbial consortium under laboratory conditions. Depending on the flour type and the breadmaking technique, the use of a particular microbial consortium allowed modification of certain physicochemical parameters. In conclusion, it is feasible to modify bread parameters to obtain features corresponding to consumer demands by using an appropriate microflora, pulque, or flour type. Moreover, this research describes, for the first time, the use of rye malt for pulque and rye flour for pulque bread preparation as raw materials. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) is a medically relevant compound in Parkinson's disease therapy. Several extraction methods of l-DOPA from beans, including velvet and faba beans, have been described in the literature. However, these methods require the use of strong acids, long extraction times, or complex downstream processing, which makes the extraction of l-DOPA expensive and energy-demanding, limiting its industrial application. In addition, the stability of l-DOPA during the extraction process is critical, further complicating the extraction of adequate amounts of this amino acid. This work is the first report on a simple, rapid, greener, and robust extraction method of l-DOPA. The developed method consists of a quick homogenization step followed by a double extraction with 0.2% v / v acetic acid for 20 min and was applied to faba bean at a ratio of 1:25 with respect to the extracting solvent. This study also investigated the stability of l-DOPA during extraction and thermal treatment. The proposed method demonstrated to be robust and extraordinarily efficient for numerous cultivars of faba bean, velvet bean, and food products containing faba beans.

The increasing demand for cocoa and search for ingredients rich in bioactive compounds encouraged us to investigate the possibility of replacing it by carob powder in the muffins containing soy beans, sesame oil and flaxseeds. There was 5% addition of carob or cocoa powder to the individual doughs. The muffins with the addition of carob were characterized by improved antiradical activity (by 36% - 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, by 83% - 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method), higher content of genistein (18%) and total phytosterols (17%) in the dry mass. The color differences in the carob muffins crusts were not perceptible by consumers (ΔE = 0.70 for crust, ΔE = 5.6 for crumb) and their taste was found to be less bitter and sweeter than the taste of cocoa muffins. Moreover, the addition of carob powder as well as cocoa powder resulted in good sensory quality. The high content of phytosterols, genistein and improved antiradical properties proved carob to be a source of bioactive compounds. The results show that carob powder may be used as valuable alternative muffin ingredient to cocoa.

Background: High resolution neuronal information is extraordinarily useful in understanding the brain's functionality. The development of the Golgi-Cox stain allowed observation of the neuron in its entirety with unrivalled detail. Tissue clearing techniques, e.g., CLARITY and CUBIC, provide the potential to observe entire neuronal circuits intact within tissue and without previous restrictions with regard to section thickness., New Method: Here we describe an improved Golgi-Cox stain method, optimised for use with CLARITY and CUBIC that can be used in both fresh and fixed tissue., Results: Using this method, we were able to observe neurons in their entirety within a fraction of the time traditionally taken to clear tissue (48h). We were also able to show for the first-time that Golgi stained tissue is fluorescent when visualized using a multi-photon microscope, allowing us to image synaptic spines with a detail previously unachievable., Comparison With Existing Methods: These novel methods provide cheap and easy to use techniques to investigate the morphology of cellular processes in the brain at a new-found depth, speed, utility and detail, without previous restrictions of time, tissue type and section thickness., Conclusions: This is the first application of a Golgi-Cox stain to cleared brain tissue, it is investigated and discussed in detail, describing different methodologies that may be used, a comparison between the different clearing techniques and lastly the novel interaction of these techniques with this ultra-rapid stain., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cannabis use increases rates of psychotic relapse and treatment failure in schizophrenia patients. Clinical studies suggest that cannabis use reduces the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs, but there has been no direct demonstration of this in a controlled study. The present study demonstrates that exposure to the principal phytocannabinoid, Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), reverses the neurobehavioral effects of the antipsychotic drug risperidone in mice. THC exposure did not influence D 2 and 5-HT 2A receptor binding, the major targets of antipsychotic action, but it lowered the brain concentrations of risperidone and its active metabolite, 9-hydroxy risperidone. As risperidone and its active metabolite are excellent substrates of the ABC transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp), we hypothesized that THC might increase P-gp expression at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and thus enhance efflux of risperidone and its metabolite from brain tissue. We confirmed that the brain disposition of risperidone and 9-hydroxy risperidone is strongly influenced by P-gp, as P-gp knockout mice displayed greater brain concentrations of these drugs than wild-type mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that THC exposure increased P-gp expression in various brain regions important to risperidone's antipsychotic action. We then showed that THC exposure did not influence the neurobehavioral effects of clozapine. Clozapine shares a very similar antipsychotic mode of action to risperidone, but unlike risperidone is not a P-gp substrate. Our results imply that clozapine or non-P-gp substrate antipsychotic drugs may be better first-line treatments for schizophrenia patients with a history of cannabis use.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ABC transporter expressed at the blood brain barrier and regulates the brain uptake of various xenobiotics and endogenous mediators including glucocorticoid hormones which are critically important to the stress response. Moreover, P-gp is expressed on microglia, the brain's immune cells, which are activated by stressors and have an emerging role in psychiatric disorders. We therefore hypothesised that germline P-gp deletion in mice might alter the behavioral and microglial response to stressors. Female P-gp knockout mice displayed an unusual, frantic anxiety response to intraperitoneal injection stress in the light-dark test. They also tended to display reduced conditioned fear responses compared to wild-type (WT) mice in a paradigm where a single electric foot-shock stressor was paired to a context. Foot-shock stress reduced social interaction and decreased microglia cell density in the amygdala which was not varied by P-gp genotype. Independently of stressor exposure, female P-gp deficient mice displayed increased depression-like behavior, idiosyncratic darting behavior, age-related social withdrawal and hyperactivity, facilitated sensorimotor gating and altered startle reactivity. In addition, P-gp deletion increased microglia cell density in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, and the microglial cells exhibited a reactive, hypo-ramified morphology. Further, female P-gp KO mice displayed increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in the hippocampus. In conclusion, this research shows that germline P-gp deletion affected various behaviors of relevance to psychiatric conditions, and that altered microglial cell activity and enhanced GR expression in the hippocampus may play a role in mediating these behaviors., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tinea corporis is fungal infection of body surfaces other than the feet, groin, scalp, or beard. Naftifine hydrochloride is a topical antifungal of the allylamine class used to treat tinea corporis, displaying fungicidal activity and clinically significant anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
, Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two-weeks once daily application of naftifine cream 2% in the treatment of tinea corporis among pediatric subjects.
, Methods: At baseline, 231 subjects were randomly assigned 1:1 to naftifine cream 2% (n=116) and vehicle (n=115). Treatment effect consisting of mycologic determination (KOH and dermatophyte cultures) and scoring of clinical symptom severity was evaluated at baseline, week 2 (end of treatment) and week 3. Efficacy was analyzed in 181 subjects (n=88, naftifine; n=93, vehicle) with a positive baseline dermatophyte culture and KOH for whom week 3 assessments were available. Safety was evaluated by adverse events (AE) and laboratory values in 231 subjects (n=116, naftifine; n=115, vehicle).
, Results: Children with tinea corporis treated with naftifine cream 2% demonstrated significantly greater improvements from baseline over vehicle for mycological cure (P&lt;0.0001) and treatment effectiveness (P=0.003) as early as 2 weeks (end of treatment). Response rates continued to increase post-treatment and were the highest 1-week after completion of the therapy (P=0.003 for complete cure; and P&lt;0.001 for mycological cure and treatment effectiveness). Treatment related adverse events were minimal.
, Conclusions: Treatment with naftifine cream 2% applied once daily for two weeks was well-tolerated and was effective in treating tinea corporis in children. Further improvement was observed 1-week after treatment completion for all key outcome measures (complete cure, mycological cure, treatment effectiveness, clinical cure, and clinical success) and clinical signs and symptoms (erythema, induration, and pruritus). , , J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(6):743-748.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of penile cancer is usually associated with mutilation; alterations in self-esteem and body image; affecting sexual and urinary functions; and declined health-related quality of life. Recently, organ sparing treatment has appeared and led to limiting these complications., Material and Methods: An extensive review of the literature concerning penile-preserving strategies was conducted. The focus was put on indications, general principles of management, surgical options and reconstructive techniques, the most common complications, as well as functional and oncological outcomes., Results: Analyzed methods, e.g.: topical chemotherapy, laser ablation therapy, radiotherapy, Moh's microscopic surgery, circumcision, wide local excision, glans resurfacing and glansectomy are indicated in low-stage tumors (Tis, Ta-T2). After glansectomy, reconstruction is also possible., Conclusions: Organ sparing techniques may achieve good anatomical, functional, and psychological outcomes without compromising local cancer control, which depends on early diagnosis and treatment. Penile sparing strategies are acceptable treatment approaches in selected patients with low-stage penile cancer after establishing disease-risk and should be considered in this population., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Tempeh is a fermented food, popular mainly in south-east Asia, but also among vegetarians worldwide. It is produced by fermenting soybean or other beans with Rhizopus strains and usually eaten deep-fried, steamed or roasted. The flavour of tempeh depends upon the fermentation time, beans used and the (eventual) frying process. Our goal was to identify compounds responsible for the unique aroma of fermented and fried soy tempeh. Gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) with the aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) approach, was used to determine key odorants after 1 and 5 days of fermentation and subsequent frying. Comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC×GC-ToF-MS) was used for their quantitation using stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) or standard addition (SA) methods. Odour activity values (OAV) were calculated for 19 out of 21 key odorants. Tempeh was fermented for 5 days and fried, and the main aroma compounds were found to be the following: 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, (FD=1024, OAV 1380), 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine (FD=512, OAV 338), dimethyl trisulfide, (FD=512, OAV 900), methional (FD=512, OAV 930), 2-methylpropanal (FD=512, OAV 311) and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (FD=512, OAV 455). The frying process induced the increase or appearance of the main key odorants in tempeh., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study the effect of bean tempeh on the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei bacteria was investigated. Antibacterial activity was observed only in relation to the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. The effect of tempeh products on human intestinal microflora was also assessed. Bean and soy tempeh were culinarily processed and next digested in conditions simulating the human digestive tract (one of the digestive tracts was equipped with a mechanism simulating absorption). Soy tempeh stimulated most the growth of bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium, while bean tempeh that of Escherichia coli. Using simulation of absorption for the digestion of fried soy tempeh resulted in a higher rise in the bacteria count of the genus Lactobacillus, while after digestion of fried bean tempeh the highest increase was recorded for Bifidobacterium and E. coli.

To initiate adaptive immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) move from parenchymal tissues to lymphoid organs by migrating along stromal scaffolds that display the glycoprotein podoplanin (PDPN). PDPN is expressed by lymphatic endothelial and fibroblastic reticular cells and promotes blood-lymph separation during development by activating the C-type lectin receptor, CLEC-2, on platelets. Here, we describe a role for CLEC-2 in the morphodynamic behavior and motility of DCs. CLEC-2 deficiency in DCs impaired their entry into lymphatics and trafficking to and within lymph nodes, thereby reducing T cell priming. CLEC-2 engagement of PDPN was necessary for DCs to spread and migrate along stromal surfaces and sufficient to induce membrane protrusions. CLEC-2 activation triggered cell spreading via downregulation of RhoA activity and myosin light-chain phosphorylation and triggered F-actin-rich protrusions via Vav signaling and Rac1 activation. Thus, activation of CLEC-2 by PDPN rearranges the actin cytoskeleton in DCs to promote efficient motility along stromal surfaces., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

During injury to the nervous system, innate immune cells mediate phagocytosis of debris, cytokine production, and axon regeneration. In the neuro-degenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), innate immune cells in the CNS are activated. However, the role of innate immunity in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has not been well defined. In this study, we characterized robust activation of CD169/CD68/Iba1+ macrophages throughout the PNS in mutant SOD1(G93A) and SOD1(G37R) transgenic mouse models of ALS. Macrophage activation occurred pre-symptomatically, and expanded from focal arrays within nerve bundles to a tissue-wide distribution following symptom onset. We found a striking dichotomy for immune cells within the spinal cord and PNS. Flow cytometry and GFP bone marrow chimeras showed that spinal cord microglia were mainly tissue resident derived, dendritic-like cells, whereas in peripheral nerves, the majority of activated macrophages infiltrated from the circulation. Humoral antibodies and complement localized to PNS tissue in tandem with macrophage recruitment, and deficiency in complement C4 led to decreased macrophage activation. Therefore, cross-talk between nervous and immune systems occurs throughout the PNS during ALS disease progression. These data reveal a progressive innate and humoral immune response in peripheral nerves that is separate and distinct from spinal cord immune activation in ALS transgenic mice.

Human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G at a concentration of 10(-6) M were found to attack various substrates when normal skin biopsy specimens were incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h with either of these enzymes. Elastase damaged primarily hemidesmosomes, leading to the epidermal cleavage from the dermis, whereas cathepsin G damaged the membrane structures. Both these neutral proteinases were highly specific to basal lamina of blood vessels. This indicates that neutrophil elastase and neutrophil cathepsin G may play different roles in various skin diseases related to enhanced activity and infiltration of neutrophils.

A 20-year-old female patient is reported with urticaria pigmentosa and coexisting nodules (mastocytoma) resembling clinically lesions of the type of xanthoma tuberosum. An analysis of microscopic image and ultrastructural changes was carried out and modern views on treatment of cutaneous mastocytosis are discussed.

The first Polish report of a case of the limited variety of the Woringer-Kolopp disease (pagetoid reticulosis) is presented. The diagnosis was based on histological examination. Numerous pagetoid cells were found in the epidermis and only few in the dermis. In ultramicroscopy two types of mononuclear cells were disclosed, one with large nucleus and scattered chromatin, and other with smaller nucleus and nuclear chromatin condensed at the periphery. The immunopathological examination of isolated pagetoid cells with monoclonal antibodies showed on their surface a slight prevalence of suppressor T-cell receptors. Radiotherapy was applied with a very good result.