Probiotics reduce symptoms of antibiotic use in a hospital setting: a randomized dose response study.

Probiotics are known to reduce antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) risk in a strain-specific manner. The aim of this study was to determine the dose-response effect of a four strain probiotic combination (HOWARU(®) Restore) on the incidence of AAD and CDAD and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in adult in-patients requiring antibiotic therapy. Patients (n=503) were randomized among three study groups: HOWARU(®) Restore probiotic 1.

Ginseng panaxoside Rb1 reduces body weight in diet-induced obese mice.

Crude extracts from ginseng demonstrated anti-obesity properties. Ginsenoside Rb1 is the main component of ginseng, however, there are only few studies examining its effects in obesity. In the present study, we evaluated its potential anti-obesity effects in the murine model of diet-induced obesity.

Effect of zymosan on antioxidant and immune function of S180 tumor-bearing mice.

The objective is to study the effect of zymosan on antioxidant and immune function of S(180) tumor-bearing mice. Seventy Kunming mice were randomly divided into seven groups: a normal control group (NC), a tumor control group (TC), three dose groups of zymosan (low, medium, high), a cyclophosphamide (Cy) group, and a combination of zymosan and Cy group. The S(180) tumor-bearing mice model was established by the inoculation of cancer cell suspension subcutaneously in the mouse's right anterior limb.

[Protective effects of salidroside on oxidative damage in fatigue mice].

Objective: To study the protective effects of salidroside on oxidative damage in fatigue mice.

Methods: Thirty-two male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups based on body weight: normal control group, salidroside group, training group and salidroside plus training group. The mice in the normal control group and the training group were given distilled water and mice in the salidroside group and the salidroside plus training group were given 180 mg/ (kg * d) salidroside for 15 days.

Effect of lycopene on the vascular endothelial function and expression of inflammatory agents in hyperhomocysteinemic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene on the vascular endothelial function and the expression of inflammatory agents in hyperhomocysteinemic rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighed 145- 155g were on a commercial rat chow diet for seven days, and then were randomized into five groups: normal control group (NC) fed with AOAC diet and four hyperhomocysteinemic groups fed with AOAC diet plus 3% L-methionine. Four hyperhomocysteinemic groups were daily supplemented with 0 (HC), 10 mg/kg (HL1), 15 mg/kg (HL2), 20 mg/kg (HL3) lycopene dissolved in corn oil respectively by intragastric administration for 12 weeks.

Gene expression profiles in the liver of mice irradiated with (60)Co gamma rays and treated with soybean isoflavone.

Purpose: To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the radio-protective effect of soybean isoflavone that we observed in our recent animal experiments.

Materials And Methods: We utilized a cDNA microarray to investigate the expression profiles of 4,096 known genes in the livers of irradiated-mice with or without soybean isoflavone treatment. Dye swap approach was employed to control for gene-specific dye bias and quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed on several genes to validate the cDNA microarray data.

Protective effects of soybean isoflavone against gamma-irradiation induced damages in mice.

In the present work, we investigated the radioprotective efficacy of soybean isoflavone (SI) in mitigating gamma-irradiation-induced oxidative damage to the livers and blood systems of adult Swiss albino mice. We administered various doses of SI (50 mg/kg b.wt, 100 mg/kg b.