http://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/food-function/ Related Conferences: International Probiotic Conference 2010 - IPC 2010, The Scientific Conference on Probiotics and Prebiotics Date: 15-17th June 2010 Place: Kosice, Slovakia Webpage: www.probiotic-conference.net Contact: Maria Kasmanova, Organizing Secretariat - International Probiotic Conference 2010 Phone: +421 918 707 371 Fax: +421 41 4000 123 E-Mail: info@probiotic-conference.net The conference programme will focus on current advances in the science and research of probiotics, prebiotics and their present and future role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. IPC 2010 aims to highlight evidence-based benefits as proven in clinical trials and scientific experiments. Further to the health effect of probiotics and prebiotics new developments in their selection, identification, production, application and delivery will be discussed. Topical subjects as safety, regulatory issues and claim substantiation will be also addressed by internationally renowned experts from industry and academia. It is the goal of IPC 2010 to further explore the potential of already used and novel probiotics by disseminating latest results and new ways of probiotic research. In addition novel strains, controversial but scientifically solid ideas, approaches, visions will be presented, and worldwide co-operation between scientists and institutions acilitated. Keywords: probiotics; prebiotics; health claims; gastroenterology; intestinal microbiota Food and Function 2009 - International Scientific Conference on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Date: 9-11th June 2009 Place: Zilina, Slovakia - Holiday Inn Webpage: http://www.foodandfunction.com/ The conference program will focus on the current advances in the research of nutraceuticals, functional foods and their present and future role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. The conference is a scientific forum for all stakeholders of nutraceuticals, functional foods and enable the interactive exchange of related state-of-the-art knowledge. The pre- and post-conference satellite symposia will be dedicated to the role of fermented foods in maintaining health and the role of probiotics in maintaining gastro-intestinal health. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/340/ Equol, one of the main metabolites of daidzein, is a chiral compound with pleiotropic effects on cellular signaling. This property may induce activation/inhibition of the estrogen receptors (ER) a or b, and therefore, explain the beneficial/deleterious effects of equol on estrogen-dependent diseases. With its asymmetric centre at position C-3, equol can exist in two enantiomeric forms (R- and S-equol). To elucidate the yet unclear mechanisms of ER activation/inhibition by equol, we performed a comprehensive analysis of ERa and ERb transactivation by racemic equol, as well as by enantiomerically pure forms. Racemic equol was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation from daidzein and separated into enantiomers by chiral HPLC. The configuration assignment was performed by optical rotatory power measurements. The ER-induced transactivation by R- and S-equol (0.1–10 µM) and 17b-estradiol (E2, 10 nM) was studied using transient transfections of ERa and ERb in CHO, HepG2 and HeLa cell lines. R- and S-equol induce ER transactivation in an opposite fashion according to the cellular context. R-equol and S-equol are more potent in inducing ERa in an AF-2 and AF-1 permissive cell line, respectively. Involvement of ERa transactivation functions (AF-1 and AF-2) in these effects has been examined. Both AF-1 and AF-2 are involved in racemic equol, R-equol and S-equol induced ERa transcriptional activity. These results could be of interest to find a specific ligand modulating ER transactivation and could contribute to explaining the diversity of equol actions in vivo. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/340/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Nutrients 2010-03-15 2 3 Communication 340 354 2072-6643 Comparative Effects of R- and S-equol and Implication of Transactivation Functions (AF-1 and AF-2) in Estrogen Receptor-Induced Transcriptional Activity 2010-03-15 doi: 10.3390/nu2030340 Shinkaruk Carreau Flouriot Bennetau-Pelissero Potier http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/330/ The functional food industry requires an improvement of probiotic strain stability during storage, especially when they are stored at room temperature. In this study, the viability of freeze-dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502® using different protective agents (i.e., glycerine, mannitol, sorbitol, inulin, dextrin, Crystalean®) was determined and compared with semi skimmed milk (SSM) control. No significant differences were observed between the tested protectants and the control (SSM) during storage at refrigerated conditions. During storage at room temperature, only glycerine was found to stabilize viability better than other tested substances. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/330/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Nutrients 2010-03-11 2 3 Article 330 339 2072-6643 Pilot-scale Production and Viability Analysis of Freeze-Dried Probiotic Bacteria Using Different Protective Agents 2010-03-11 doi: 10.3390/nu2030330 Michele Savini Cinzia Cecchini Maria Cristina Verdenelli Stefania Silvi Carla Orpianesi Alberto Cresci http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/290/ Dental caries and dental plaque are among the most common diseases worldwide, and are caused by a mixture of microorganisms and food debris. Specific types of acid-producing bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans, colonize the dental surface and cause damage to the hard tooth structure in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates e.g., sucrose and fructose. This paper reviews the link between S. mutans and caries, as well as different simulation models that are available for studying caries. These models offer a valuable approach to study cariogenicity of different substrates as well as colonization of S. mutans. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/3/290/ Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Nutrients 2010-03-02 2 3 Review 290 298 2072-6643 Streptococcus mutans, Caries and Simulation Models 2010-03-02 doi: 10.3390/nu2030290 Sofia D. Forssten Marika Björklund Arthur C. Ouwehand