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Studies have shown fibers to be effective in reducing the appearance of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rodents. Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and inulin prebiotics on the appearance of ACF in mice. Materials and Methods: The techniques used were: RT-PCR to evaluate the gene expression of pl6, p21, p54, cyclin D1 and cyclin E in the distal colon; the quantification of Number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and measurement of catalase activity in the liver and distal colon. The animals were divided into five treatments (n=8); C-: AIN93M diet without fibers + DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine); INL: AIN93M diet with inulin; INLCA: AIN93M diet with inulin + DMH; FOS: AIN93M diet with FOS; FOSCA: AIN93M diet with FOS + DMH, during 15 weeks. Results: Inulin prevented the appearance of ACF in the proximal, middle and distal colon, compared to the control without fibers. In the middle and distal colon, FOS was also effective in preventing the incidence of ACF. This effectiveness may be attributed to the increased gene expression of pl6 following FOS treatment. Both prebiotics also decreased catalase activity in the distal colon, thus suggesting an antioxidant effect. Conclusion: These results suggesting an antioxidant effect prebiotics that may be attributed to the increased gene expression of p 16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigated the impact of resistance exercise with aerobic component (REAC) on anthropometric and functional parameters in HIV-infected patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It was found that body circumferences and waist-hip ratio changed after 24 weeks of REAC in both exercised group. The study concluded that 24 weeks of REAC prevented the manifestation of changes arising from HIV lipodystrophy syndrome (HIVLDS).

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Streptococcus thermophilus is considered one of the most important species for the dairy industry. Due to their diffusion in dairy environments, bacteriophages can represent a threat to this widely used bacterial species. Despite the presence of a CRISPR-Cas system in the S. thermophilus genome, some lysogenic strains harbor cryptic prophages that can increase the phage-host resistance defense. This characteristic was identified in the dairy strain S. thermophilus M17PTZA496, which contains two integrated prophages 51.8 and 28.3 Kb long, respectively. In the present study, defense mechanisms, such as a lipoprotein-encoding gene and Siphovirus Gp157, the last associated to the presence of a noncoding viral DNA element, were identified in the prophage M17PTZA496 genome. The ability to overexpress genes involved in these defense mechanisms under specific stressful conditions, such as phage attack, has been demonstrated. Despite the addition of increasing amounts of Mitomycin C, M17PTZA496 was found to be non-inducible. However, the transcriptional activity of the phage terminase large subunit was detected in the presence of the antagonist phage vB_SthS-VA460 and of Mitomycin C. The discovery of an additional immune mechanism, associated with bacteriophage-insensitive strains, is of utmost importance, for technological applications and industrial processes. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the capability of a prophage integrated into the S. thermophilus genome expressing different phage defense mechanisms. Bacteriophages are widespread entities that constantly threaten starter cultures in the dairy industry. In cheese and yogurt manufacturing, the lysis of Streptococcus thermophilus cultures by viral attacks can lead to huge economic losses. Nowadays S. thermophilus is considered a well-stablished model organism for the study of natural adaptive immunity (CRISPR-Cas) against phage and plasmids, however, the identification of novel bacteriophage-resistance mechanisms, in this species, is strongly desirable. Here, we demonstrated that the presence of a non-inducible prophage confers phage-immunity to an S. thermophilus strain, by the presence of ltp and a viral noncoding region. S. thermophilus M17PTZA496 arises as an unconventional model to study phage resistance and potentially represents an alternative starter strain for dairy productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of defatted flaxseed meal on the appearance of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in mice treated with 1,2-dimethyIhydrazine (DMH). Materials and Methods: ACF were induced by intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg body weight of DMH for 8 weeks. The animals were divided into three treatments (n=8): AIN93M diet without fibers + DMH (C-); AIN93M diet with defatted flaxseed meal (LIN); and AIN93M diet with defatted flaxseed meal + DMH (LINCA), for 15 weeks. The technique RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of p16, p21, p53, cyclin D1, and cyclin E in the distal colon. In addition, flow cytometric analysis of CD4 and CD8 spleen cells, the quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in stool, the quantification of Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium spp. in feces. Results: LIN and LINCA showed increased Bifidobacterium spp. compared with control (C-). In relation to the weight of the organs, the groups LIN and LINCA showed higher values for the liver and kidney compared with control (C-). Regarding ACF, the group LINCA presented fewer ACF in the middle and distal colon compared with control (C-). When we analyzed ACF with more than three crypts the group LIN and LINCA did not present ACF in the middle and distal segments. LINCA presented increased p53 gene expression. Conclusion: This finding suggests that defatted flaxseed meal reduces ACF by increasing the expression of p53 and increase Bifidobacterium spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevention strategy of breast cancer is still the key factor for early diagnosis and the most effective method for tracking the disease.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association vitamin D level with breast cancer in women.Methods: This hospital case-control study was conducted with 181 women with breast cancer and 197 healthy controls. Vitamin D status, calcium, phosphorus and PTH serum dosage and data collection related to lifestyle and patient's history, besides anthropometric measurements were performed. Univariate analysis (Chi-square and raw odds ratio) and multivariate analysis were performed through multivariate logistic regression.Results: This study shows a higher value of vitamin D in health controls (26.9 mg/dL) than in breast cancer women (24.8 mg/dL). Higher numbers of women with sufficient vitamin D status (34.85%) were found in control group than cancer group. Using the multiple logistic regression model, the family history of breast cancer (OR 36.37, 95%CI 4.75-278.50) and menopause (OR 5.17, 95% CI 2.72-9.80) had a direct association with breast cancer, while the level of vitamin D (OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.91-0.99) and moderate physical activity (OR 0.31, 95%CI 0.10-0.93) maintained the inverse associations with the disease.Conclusion: Vitamin D status and the practice of moderate physical activity were considered protective factors for breast cancer. However, menopause and family history of breast cancer were considered a risk factor for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]