Probiotic is a preparation containing microorganisms that confers beneficial effect to the host. This work assessed whether oral treatment with viable or heat-killed yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain UFMG 905 prevents bacterial translocation (BT), intestinal barrier integrity, and stimulates the immunity, in a murine intestinal obstruction (IO) model. Four groups of mice were used: mice undergoing only laparotomy (CTL), undergoing intestinal obstruction (IO) and undergoing intestinal obstruction after previous treatment with viable or heat-killed yeast. BT, determined as uptake of (99m)Tc-E. coli in blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen and lungs, was significantly higher in IO group than in CTL group. Treatments with both yeasts reduced BT in blood and all organs investigated. The treatment with both yeasts also reduced intestinal permeability as determined by blood uptake of (99m)Tc-DTPA. Immunological data demonstrated that both treatments were able to significantly increase IL-10 levels, but only viable yeast had the same effect on sIgA levels. Intestinal lesions were more severe in IO group when compared to CTL and yeasts groups. Concluding, both viable and heat-killed cells of yeast prevent BT, probably by immunomodulation and by maintaining gut barrier integrity. Only the stimulation of IgA production seems to depend on the yeast viability.

Oral treatment with viable or heat-killed cells of S. boulardii maintained intestinal integrity and modulated the immune system in a murine IO model, preventing bacterial translocation and intestinal lesions.

Pretreatment with citrulline was able to preserve barrier integrity and also modulated the immune response that might have affected BT decrease.

Objective: To evaluate inflammatory, oxidizing, and reducing responses during the progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in patients without chronic complications. Subjects and methods: Plasma antioxidant status, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in 42 patients with T1DM and in 24 healthy subjects. Results: Significant increases were detected in the median values of ROS and IL-6 in patients with T1DM compared with healthy subjects (ROS ~ 4,836 vs. 2,036 RLU/min, respectively; P < .05: IL-6 ~ 14.2 vs. 9.7 pg/mL, respectively; P = .002). No significant between-group differences (P > 0.05) were observed in oxidizing responses or in IL-6 concentrations when diabetic patients were grouped according to time after diagnosis (0 -10, 10 -20 and > 20 years). Plasma antioxidant responses were similar in patients with T1DM and in healthy subjects. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that oxidizing and inflammatory responses are increased at the onset of T1DM, but remain unchanged during disease progression. These findings suggest that functional changes involved in diabetic complications may commence in the first years after diagnosis. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab.2012;56(7):441-8 Keywords Type 1 diabetes; disease progression; oxidative stress; plasma antioxidant status RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as respostas inflamatória, oxidativa e redutora na progressão do diabetes melito tipo 1 (DM1) em pacientes sem complicações crônicas. Sujeitos e métodos: Capacidade antioxidante do plasma, espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) e interleucina-6 (IL-6) foram avaliadas em 42 pacientes com DM1 e 24 indivíduos saudáveis. Resultados: Aumentos significativos foram detectados nas medianas de ROS e IL-6 em pacientes com DM1 comparados com indiví-duos saudáveis (ROS ~ 4.836 vs. 2.036 RLU/min, respectivamente, P < 0,05: IL-6 ~ 14,2 vs. 9,7 pg/ mL, respectivamente, P = 0,002). Diferenças não significativas (P > 0,05) foram observadas na resposta oxidante e IL-6 quando os diabéticos foram agrupados de acordo com o tempo após o diagnóstico (0-10, 10-20 e > 20 anos). A resposta antioxidante do plasma foi semelhante em pacientes com DM1 e em indivíduos saudáveis. Conclusões: Nossos resultados demonstram que as respostas oxidante e inflamatória estão aumentadas desde o início do DM1, mas mantêm-se inalteradas durante a progressão da doença, sugerindo que as mudanças funcionais envolvidas nas complicações diabéticas podem começar nos primeiros anos após o diagnóstico. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(7):441-8 Descritores Diabetes tipo 1; progressão da doença; estresse oxidativo; capacidade oxidante do plasma

Cancer is associated with immunodeficiency, while allergies result from immune system hyperactivity mediated by cytokines and immunoglobulins. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between immune environment of specific cancers and allergies, emphasizing cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 responses associated with IgE. 80 adults were distributed into two groups: control (n = 20) and cancer (n = 60), distributed in three subgroups (n = 20), head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers. This study compared Th1 (IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4) parameters, anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, or regulatory profile regarding both IgE levels and reported allergies, by means of clinical manifestations and IgE, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-β serum concentration. Clinically allergies were observed in 50% of the control group and in 20% of the cancer group (p = 0.009). IL-2 cytokine and TGF-β concentrations were higher in the patients with cancer as compared to the control (p < 0.005). However, there were IL-4, IL-17, and IL-1β decreases in the patients with cancer (p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between the cytokines studied and IgE and clinically proven allergies in both investigated groups. There was an inverse association between cancer and clinical allergy manifestations. In head and neck, stomach, and prostate cancers, an immunosuppressive serum tumor environment was predominant. There was no difference in cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 parameters in relation to IgE. No correlation was found between clinically proved allergies and immunity markers related to the same allergens.