Culture-independent analysis of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer and polyposis.

A role for the intestinal microbiota is routinely cited as a potential aetiological factor in colorectal cancer initiation and progression. As the majority of bacteria in the gut are refractory to culture we investigated this ecosystem in subjects with colorectal cancer and with adenomatous polyposis who are at high risk of developing colorectal cancer, using culture-independent methods. Twenty colorectal cancer and 20 polypectomized volunteers were chosen for this analysis.

Fecal water as a non-invasive biomarker in nutritional intervention: comparison of preparation methods and refinement of different endpoints.

The assessment of cellular effects by the aqueous phase of human feces (fecal water, FW) is a useful biomarker approach to study cancer risks and protective activities of food. In order to refine and develop the biomarker, different protocols of preparing FW were compared. Fecal waters were prepared by 3 methods: (A) direct centrifugation; (B) extraction of feces in PBS before centrifugation; and (C) centrifugation of lyophilized and reconstituted feces.

Dietary synbiotics reduce cancer risk factors in polypectomized and colon cancer patients.

Background: Animal studies suggest that prebiotics and probiotics exert protective effects against tumor development in the colon, but human data supporting this suggestion are weak.

Objective: The objective was to verify whether the prebiotic concept (selective interaction with colonic flora of nondigested carbohydrates) as induced by a synbiotic preparation-oligofructose-enriched inulin (SYN1) + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 (BB12)-is able to reduce the risk of colon cancer in humans.

Design: The 12-wk randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a synbiotic food composed of the prebiotic SYN1 and probiotics LGG and BB12 was conducted in 37 colon cancer patients and 43 polypectomized patients.

Differential cytokine response from dendritic cells to commensal and pathogenic bacteria in different lymphoid compartments in humans.

Resident host microflora condition and prime the immune system. However, systemic and mucosal immune responses to bacteria may be divergent. Our aim was to compare, in vitro, cytokine production by human mononuclear and dendritic cells (DCs) from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to defined microbial stimuli.

The SYNCAN project: goals, set-up, first results and settings of the human intervention study.

Experimental evidence on the anticancer properties of dietary prebiotics such as chicory inulin and oligofructose and dietary probiotics has accumulated in recent years. Various experimental models ranging from chemoprevention studies, tumour implantation models to genetically modified mice models, etc. have systematically shown the protective effects of these food ingredients.

Application of magnetohydrodynamic actuation to continuous flow chemistry.

Continuous flow microreactors with an annular microchannel for cyclical chemical reactions were fabricated by either bulk micromachining in silicon or by rapid prototyping using EPON SU-8. Fluid propulsion in these unusual microchannels was achieved using AC magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) actuation. This integrated micropumping mechanism obviates the use of moving parts by acting locally on the electrolyte, exploiting its inherent conductive nature.

Elimination of Coliphages and Escherichia coli from Mussels During Depuration Under Varying Conditions of Temperature, Salinity, and Food Availability.

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of temperature, salinity, and food availability on the efficiencies of elimination of Escherichia coli and a 22-nm icosahedral coliphage from experimentally contaminated mussels. Test temperatures (5.5, 10, 16.