University of Turku

About: University of Turku is a education organization based out in Turku, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 16296 authors who have published 45124 publications receiving 1505428 citations. The organization is also known as: Turun yliopisto & Åbo universitet.

Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract: The perinatal nutritional environment impacts upon the health and well-being of mother and child also in the long term. The aim of the present study was to determine the safety and efficacy of perinatal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling by evaluating pregnancy outcome and fetal and infant growth during the 24 months' follow-up. Altogether, 256 women were randomised at their first trimester of pregnancy into a control and a dietary intervention group. The intervention group received intensive dietary counselling provided by a nutritionist and were further randomised, double-blind to receive probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12; diet/probiotics) or placebo (diet/placebo). Firstly, probiotic intervention reduced the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); 13 % (diet/probiotics) v. 36 % (diet/placebo) and 34 % (control); P = 0.003. Secondly, the safety of this approach was attested by normal duration of pregnancies with no adverse events in mothers or children. No significant differences in prenatal or postnatal growth rates among the study groups were detected. Thirdly, distinctive effects of the two interventions were detected; probiotic intervention reduced the risk of GDM and dietary intervention diminished the risk of larger birth size in affected cases; P = 0.035 for birth weight and P = 0.028 for birth length. The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counselling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable.

The ability of probiotic bacteria to bind to human intestinal mucus

Abstract: Human mucus was isolated from faecal samples of newborns, two and six month old infants and adults. The adhesion to this mucus by the bacteria mentioned below was assessed in vitro. Depending on the age group: 44–46% of the applied Lactobacillus GG, 23–30% of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12, 9–14% of Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ-1, 3–10% of Lactobacillus salivarius LM2-118, Lactobacillus crispatus M247, Lactobacillus paracasei F19 and 2% of L. crispatus Mu5 adhered. All the strains adhered better to the mucus of adults than to that of infants. With some of the strains significant differences between the infant age groups were also observed. In conclusion, the age of the target group may be worthy of consideration when planning a schedule for probiotic or functional food therapy.

Liquid chromatographic determination of biogenic amines in dry sausages

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of biogenic amines found in dry sausages: tryptamine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, serotonin, tyramine, spermidine, and spermine. Amines were extracted with perchloric acid solution and derivatized with dansyl chloride. After derivatization, ammonia was added to remove an interfering peak near cadaverine. Liquid chromatographic separations were performed by using a Spherisorb ODS2 column and an ammonium acetate-acetonitrile gradient elution program. The limits of determination of the individual amines were 1-5 mg/kg. This method is also applicable to detection of amines in other food samples.

Meta‐analysis of Trade‐offs among Plant Antiherbivore Defenses: Are Plants Jacks‐of‐All‐Trades, Masters of All?

Abstract: On the basis of physiological and ecological costs of defense allocation, most plant defense theories predict the occurrence of trade‐offs between resource investment in different types of antiherbivore defenses. To test this prediction, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 31 studies published in 1976–2002 that provided data on covariation of different defensive traits in plant genotypes. We found no overall negative association between different defensive traits in plants; instead, the relationship between defensive traits varied from positive to negative depending on the types of co‐occurring defenses. Evidence of trade‐off was found only between constitutive and induced defenses. Therefore, to a large extent, plants appear to be jacks‐of‐all‐trades, masters of all and may successfully produce several types of defense without paying considerable trade‐offs. Our survey thus provides little evidence that genetic trade‐offs between defensive traits significantly constrain the evolution of multiple de...