Aims: Microencapsulation has been used to protect the viability of probiotics in harsh environments such as gastrointestinal conditions and food composition. The present study aimed to optimize the microencapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v) using co-extrusion by varying two parameters (calcium chloride (CaCl2) and oligofructose (FOS) concentrations) and storage stability of the beads produced in ambarella juice at refrigerated and room temperature. Methodology and results: Chitosan coated-alginate microcapsule prepared with 4.0% (w/v) FOS and 2.5% (w/v) CaCl2 showed highest microencapsulation efficiency (93%). The microcapsules were subjected to gastrointestinal treatment and storage test in ambarella juice. Both encapsulated Lp299v with and without FOS showed higher viabilities compared with free cells after incubated in simulated gastric juice (SGJ) and simulated intestinal juice (SIJ). After 5 h of incubation in SIJ, the viabilities of both encapsulated probiotic with and without FOS were more than 107 CFU/mL. The Lp299v were stored in ambarella juice under refrigerated (4 °C) and room temperature (25 °C) for 4 weeks. At 25 °C, all forms of Lp299v lost their viabilities after one week. On the other hand, at 4 °C, viable cells count of both encapsulated Lp299v with and without FOS were reported to be more than 107 CFU/mL after 4 weeks of storage. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Microencapsulation with FOS was able to improve Lp299v’s viability during storage in low pH fruit juices compared to those without FOS. The microencapsulated probiotics could be applied in ambarella juice for the development of functional food.

BACKGROUNDMorbidity and mortality of advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) have declined in Western industrialized countries since the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It is unclear if this has also happened in Hong Kong.

METHODSWe studied a retrospective cohort of patients with advanced HIV disease in Hong Kong, China. First, the mortality of advanced HIV disease per year was calculated for the decade 1993 to 2002, both annually and according to patient observation before and after 1997. Second, the event rates were estimated for the clinical end points of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and death. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed to identify associated factors.

RESULTSThe crude mortality of advanced HIV disease declined from 10.8-30.4 per 100 patients during 1993-1996, to 0.8-6.9 per 100 patients during 1997-2002. A rate ratio of 4.04 (95% CI, 2.52-6.47) was evident for those observed in 1993-1996, compared to those in 1997-2002. In a multivariate analysis where calendar period was adjusted, use of highly active antiretroviral therapy was associated with rate ratios of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.05-0.33) for death after AIDS, 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04-0.19) for AIDS after a CD4 cell count < 200/microl, and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.07-0.67) for death after CD4 cell count < 200/microl. In the same analysis, calendar period ceased to be a significant factor after adjustment for use of HAART.

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality and morbidity of advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease have declined in Hong Kong. This improved prognosis was attributable to the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morbidity ; Retrospective Studies

The capability of the central vestibular system in utilizing cues arising from the inner ear determines the ability of animals to acquire the sense of head orientations in the three-dimensional space and to shape postural movements. During development, neurons in the vestibular nucleus (VN) show significant changes in their electrophysiological properties. An age-dependent enhancement of membrane excitability is accompanied by a progressive increase in firing rate and discharge regularity. The coding of horizontal and vertical linear motions also exhibits developmental refinement in VN neurons. Further, modification of cell surface receptors, such as glutamate receptors, of developing VN neurons are well-orchestrated in the course of maturation, thereby regulating synaptic efficacy and spatial coding capacity of these neurons in local circuits. Taken together, these characteristic features of VN neurons contribute to developmental establishment of space-centered coordinates within the brain.
Animals ; Ear, Inner ; physiology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Movement ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; physiology ; Vestibular Nuclei ; physiology

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to validate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of flow-diverter treatment through Doppler ultrasonography measurements in patient-specific models of intracranial bifurcation and side-wall aneurysms. METHODS: Computational and physical models of patient-specific bifurcation and sidewall aneurysms were constructed from computed tomography angiography with use of stereolithography, a three-dimensional printing technology. Flow dynamics parameters before and after flow-diverter treatment were measured with pulse-wave and color Doppler ultrasonography, and then compared with CFD simulations. RESULTS: CFD simulations showed drastic flow reduction after flow-diverter treatment in both aneurysms. The mean volume flow rate decreased by 90% and 85% for the bifurcation aneurysm and the side-wall aneurysm, respectively. Velocity contour plots from computer simulations before and after flow diversion closely resembled the patterns obtained by color Doppler ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: The CFD estimation of flow reduction in aneurysms treated with a flow-diverting stent was verified by Doppler ultrasonography in patient-specific phantom models of bifurcation and side-wall aneurysms. The combination of CFD and ultrasonography may constitute a feasible and reliable technique in studying the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with flow-diverting stents.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Computer Simulation ; Endovascular Procedures ; Hydrodynamics ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Stents ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Aims: Probiotics are living microorganism, when administrated in sufficient quantity can exert beneficial effect to the host. This study focused on the microencapsulation by co-extrusion to increase the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v) in gastrointestinal conditions, and its storage stability in kuini juice at refrigerated (4 °C) and ambient temperature (25 °C). Methodology and results: Lp99v was encapsulated with 1.5% w/v sodium alginate and chitosan coating (0.1% w/v) and yielded a microencapsulation efficiency of 97.71%. The Lp299v microbeads produced were spherical in shape and exhibited a mean microbeads size of 618.75 ± 25.85 µm. Acid and bile tolerance of both free and encapsulated Lp299v were tested in simulated gastric juice (SGJ) for 2 h and in simulated intestinal juice (SIJ) for 4 h, respectively. The encapsulated Lp299v maintained above 108 CFU/mL after exposure to artificial gastrointestinal juice, whereas a significant loss of viability was observed in the free cells. The storage stability of encapsulated Lp299v in kuini juice was determined during 4 weeks of storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. Results showed that encapsulated Lp299v was capable to remain viable (107 CFU/mL) for at least 4 weeks in a refrigerated condition. However, free Lp299v did not survived under both refrigerated and ambient temperature as the storage period extended. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Lp299v entrapped in chitosan-coated alginate microbeads produced by co-extrusion method is able to enhance the viability of Lp299v above the minimum recommended level in harsh environment (gastrointestinal conditions and low pH of kuini juice).
Cell Encapsulation ; Lactobacillus plantarum

Aged ; Asian People ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging/methods* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Rectum/diagnostic imaging* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Ultrasonography