Effects of glutamine supplementation on gut barrier, glutathione content and acute phase response in malnourished rats during inflammatory shock.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of glutamine on intestinal mucosa integrity, glutathione stores and acute phase response in protein-depleted rats during an inflammatory shock.

Methods: Plasma acute phase proteins (APP), jejunal APP mRNA levels, liver and jejunal glutathione concentrations were measured before and one, three and seven days after turpentine injection in 4 groups of control, protein-restricted, protein-restricted rats supplemented with glutamine or protein powder. Bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal morphology were also assessed.

Survival of Lactobacillus casei in the human digestive tract after consumption of fermented milk.

A human trial was carried out to assess the ileal and fecal survival of Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 ingested in fermented milk. Survival rates were up to 51.2% in the ileum and 28.

Effects of orally administered Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 on the composition or activities of the dominant faecal microbiota in healthy humans.

The composition and activities of the faecal microbiota in twelve healthy subjects analysed in a single open study were monitored before (1-week baseline step), during (10 d supplementation step) and after (10 d follow-up step) the ingestion of a fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation with group-specific DNA probes, real-time PCR using L. paracasei group-specific primers and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) using group-specific primers were carried out, together with bacterial enzyme activity and metabolite analyses to monitor the structure and activities of the faecal microbiota.

Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 inhibits the ability of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli isolated from Crohn's disease patients to adhere to and to invade intestinal epithelial cells.

Ileal lesions in 36.4% of patients with Crohn's disease are colonized by pathogenic adherent-invasive Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro inhibitory effects of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001, on adhesion to and invasion of human intestinal epithelial cells by adherent-invasive E.

Cytokine-stimulated nitric oxide production and inducible NO-synthase mRNA level in human intestinal cells: lack of modulation by glutamine.

Background & Aims: Excess NO production has been reported during intestinal inflammation. Modulation of the inflammatory response with nutrients in critically ill patients has gained increasing interest. Glutamine has beneficial effects on gut mucosa but its effects on human intestinal NO production during an inflammatory response are not known.