BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compar...BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.展开更多
Raw goat milk cheeses are known for their natural microflora linked to many biodiversity factors such as the use of raw milk. That microflora serves probiotic attribution conferring a beneficial health impact on the c...Raw goat milk cheeses are known for their natural microflora linked to many biodiversity factors such as the use of raw milk. That microflora serves probiotic attribution conferring a beneficial health impact on the consumer. Darfiyeh is an artisanal raw goat milk cheese manufactured traditionally in Northern Lebanese Mountains. To emphasize its clinical significance in both digestive and immune system, and to provide health remunerations to the consumer, the cheese microbiota will be investigated. To serve that purpose, the presence of the two potent probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB): Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum will be investigated. For bacterial identification, selection and isolation: culture-dependent techniques that imply the use of laboratory media will be implemented, and culture independent techniques: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) will be applied for further validation. Both bacteria were further verified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum by implementing specie-specific primers for the qualitative PCR.展开更多
Osmotic conditions play an important role in the cell properties of human red blood cells(RBCs),which are crucial for the pathological analysis of some blood diseases such as malaria.Over the past decades,numerous eff...Osmotic conditions play an important role in the cell properties of human red blood cells(RBCs),which are crucial for the pathological analysis of some blood diseases such as malaria.Over the past decades,numerous efforts have mainly focused on the study of the RBC biomechanical properties that arise from the unique deformability of erythrocytes.Here,we demonstrate nonlinear optical effects from human RBCs suspended in different osmotic solutions.Specifically,we observe self-trapping and scattering-resistant nonlinear propagation of a laser beam through RBC suspensions under all three osmotic conditions,where the strength of the optical nonlinearity increases with osmotic pressure on the cells.This tunable nonlinearity is attributed to optical forces,particularly the forward-scattering and gradient forces.Interestingly,in aged blood samples(with lysed cells),a notably different nonlinear behavior is observed due to the presence of free hemoglobin.We use a theoretical model with an optical force-mediated nonlocal nonlinearity to explain the experimental observations.Our work on light self-guiding through scattering biosoft-matter may introduce new photonic tools for noninvasive biomedical imaging and medical diagnosis.展开更多
基金Supported by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund(Ratchadapiseksomphot Endowment Fund)Ratchadapiseksompotch Funds,Graduate Affairs,Faculty of Medicine,Chulalongkorn University,Bangkok,Thailand,No.GA68/028.
文摘BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.
文摘Raw goat milk cheeses are known for their natural microflora linked to many biodiversity factors such as the use of raw milk. That microflora serves probiotic attribution conferring a beneficial health impact on the consumer. Darfiyeh is an artisanal raw goat milk cheese manufactured traditionally in Northern Lebanese Mountains. To emphasize its clinical significance in both digestive and immune system, and to provide health remunerations to the consumer, the cheese microbiota will be investigated. To serve that purpose, the presence of the two potent probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB): Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum will be investigated. For bacterial identification, selection and isolation: culture-dependent techniques that imply the use of laboratory media will be implemented, and culture independent techniques: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) will be applied for further validation. Both bacteria were further verified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum by implementing specie-specific primers for the qualitative PCR.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFA0303800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91750204,11504184,11604058)+3 种基金the NSERC through the Steacie,Strategic,Discovery and Acceleration Grants Schemesthe Canada Research Chair Program(Canada)additional support by the Government of the Russian Federation through the ITMO Fellowship and Professorship Program(grant 074-U 01)the 1000 Talents Sichuan Program in China.
文摘Osmotic conditions play an important role in the cell properties of human red blood cells(RBCs),which are crucial for the pathological analysis of some blood diseases such as malaria.Over the past decades,numerous efforts have mainly focused on the study of the RBC biomechanical properties that arise from the unique deformability of erythrocytes.Here,we demonstrate nonlinear optical effects from human RBCs suspended in different osmotic solutions.Specifically,we observe self-trapping and scattering-resistant nonlinear propagation of a laser beam through RBC suspensions under all three osmotic conditions,where the strength of the optical nonlinearity increases with osmotic pressure on the cells.This tunable nonlinearity is attributed to optical forces,particularly the forward-scattering and gradient forces.Interestingly,in aged blood samples(with lysed cells),a notably different nonlinear behavior is observed due to the presence of free hemoglobin.We use a theoretical model with an optical force-mediated nonlocal nonlinearity to explain the experimental observations.Our work on light self-guiding through scattering biosoft-matter may introduce new photonic tools for noninvasive biomedical imaging and medical diagnosis.
