The results confirm a protective role of preformed n-3 LCPs in the development of atopic disease. Moreover, this is the first study in humans confirming results from animal studies of protective effects of ruminant fatty acids against the development of atopic manifestations.

The aim of the present study was to find out whether the incorporation of organic dairy and meat products in the maternal diet affects the contents of the conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) and trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) in human breast milk. To this purpose, milk samples from 312 breastfeeding mothers participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study have been analysed. The participants had documented varying lifestyles in relation to the use of conventional or organic products. Breast milk samples were collected 1 month postpartum and analysed for fatty acid composition. The content of rumenic acid (the main CLA) increased in a statistically significant way while going from a conventional diet (no organic dairy/meat products, 0·25 weight % (wt%), n 186) to a moderately organic diet (50-90 % organic dairy/meat, 0·29 wt%, n 33, P¼ 0·02) and to a strict organic diet (. 90 % organic dairy/meat, 0·34 wt%, n 37, P# 0·001). The levels of TVA were augmented among the participants with a moderately organic diet (0·54 wt%) and those with a strict organic diet (0·59 wt%, P#0·001), in comparison with the conventional group (0·48 wt%). After adjusting for covariables (recruitment group, maternal age, maternal education, use of supplements and season), statistical significance was retained in the group of the strict organic dairy users (P, 0·001 for rumenic acid). Hence, the levels of CLA and TVA in human milk can be modulated if breastfeeding mothers replace conventional dairy and/or meat products by organic ones. A potential contribution of CLA and TVA to health improvement is briefly discussed.

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To characterise the phytotherapeutic tocolytic Bryophyllum pinnatum in vitro versus the conventional betamimetic, fenoterol, in human myometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Contractility (endpoints: area under the curve (AUC), amplitude and frequency of isometric force development) was measured in strips of term myometrium biopsied at caesarean section in 14 women and exposed to increasing concentrations of B. pinnatum versus +/-oxytocin 1 U/l. RESULTS: Inhibition of spontaneous contraction by B. pinnatum was concentration-dependent: 16% at maximum concentration (10(4) mg/l), or 53% that with fenoterol 5 x 10(-8)mol/l. B. pinnatum increased contraction frequency by 91% at constant amplitude and inhibited oxytocin-stimulated contractions by 20% (AUC) at constant amplitude with slightly decreased frequency. Fenoterol decreased contraction AUC by 50% with a significant decrease in frequency. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro data confirm the tocolytic activity of B. pinnatum observed in alternative medicine centres and may justify further clinical studies. Effect of AbstractObjective: To characterise the phytotherapeutic tocolytic Bryophyllum pinnatum in vitro versus the conventional betamimetic, fenoterol, in human myometrium. Study design: Contractility (endpoints: area under the curve (AUC), amplitude and frequency of isometric force development) was measured in strips of term myometrium biopsied at caesarean section in 14 women and exposed to increasing concentrations of B. pinnatum versus fenoterol AE oxytocin 1 U/l. Results: Inhibition of spontaneous contraction by B. pinnatum was concentration-dependent: 16% at maximum concentration (10 4 mg/l), or 53% that with fenoterol 5 Â 10 À8 mol/l. B. pinnatum increased contraction frequency by 91% at constant amplitude and inhibited oxytocin-stimulated contractions by 20% (AUC) at constant amplitude with slightly decreased frequency. Fenoterol decreased contraction AUC by 50% with a significant decrease in frequency. Conclusion: Our in vitro data confirm the tocolytic activity of B. pinnatum observed in alternative medicine centres and may justify further clinical studies. #

BackgroundPreparations of mistletoe (Viscum album) are the form of cancer treatment that is most frequently used in the complementary medicine. Previous work has shown that these preparations are able to exert cytotoxic effects on carcinoma cells, the extent of which might be influenced by the host tree species and by the content of mistletoe lectin.MethodsUsing colorimetric assays, we have now compared the cytotoxic effects of Viscum album preparations (VAPs) obtained from mistletoe growing on oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea, VAP-Qu), apple tree (Malus domestica,, VAP-M), pine (Pinus sylvestris, VAP-P) or white fir (Abies pectinata, VAP-A), on the in vitro growth of breast and bladder carcinoma cell lines. While MFM-223, KPL-1, MCF-7 and HCC-1937 were the breast carcinoma cell lines chosen, the panel of tested bladder carcinoma cells comprised the T-24, TCC-SUP, UM-UC-3 and J-82 cell lines.ResultsEach of the VAPs inhibited cell growth, but the extent of this inhibition differed with the preparation and with the cell line. The concentrations of VAP-Qu, VAP-M and VAP-A which led to a 50 % reduction of cell growth (IC50) varied between 0.6 and 0.03 mg/ml. Higher concentrations of VAP-P were required to obtain a comparable effect. Purified mistletoe lectin I (MLI) led to an inhibition of breast carcinoma cell growth at concentrations lower than those of VAPs, but the sensitivity towards purified MLI did not parallel that towards VAPs. Bladder carcinoma cells were in most cases more sensitive to VAPs treatment than breast carcinoma cells. The total mistletoe lectin content was very high in VAP-Qu (54 ng/mg extract), intermediate in VAP-M (25 ng/mg extract), and very low in VAP-P (1.3 ng/mg extract) and in VAP-A (1 ng/mg extract). As to be expected from the low content of mistletoe lectin, VAP-P led to relatively weak cytotoxic effects. Most remarkably, however, the lectin-poor VAP-A revealed a cytotoxic effect comparable to, or even stronger than, that of the lectin-rich VAP-Qu, on all tested bladder and breast carcinoma cell lines.ConclusionThe results suggest the existence of cytotoxic components other than mistletoe lectin in VAP-A and reveal an unexpected potential of this preparation for the treatment of breast and bladder cancer.