Transformation of lactulose trihydrate into anhydrous lactulose by fluidized bed drying and its characterization

Stable anhydrous lactulose was produced from lactulose trihydrate by stepwise heating on a fluidized bed. The processes were performed on stable powder forms. The anhydrous lactulose was characterized by an opaque white appearance, a coarse surface structure with random cracks and indentations, a high degree of crystallization, stability under humid conditions, and by X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and differential thermogravimetry. Those characteristics were different from those of the original trihydrate, which was transparent, had a smooth surface and a higher degree of crystallization, was stable under humid conditions and had different X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric characteristics. The transformation was enhanced when the inlet temperature was 45-55 degrees C or when the temperature of the fluidized bed was over 40 degrees C. At these cutoff temperatures, both crystalline forms were observed.     

Lactulose: production, purification and potential applications

Lactulose a “bifidus factor” is composed of galactose and fructose, which can be produced by the isomerization of lactose. It is a prebiotic carbohydrate which stimulates the growth of health-promoting bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and at the same time inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella. It can also be used for the treatment of constipation, hepatic encephalopathy, tumour prevention, and to maintain blood glucose and insulin level. This review provides comprehensive information on the different techniques used for the production of lactulose, purification and analysis. Besides this mechanism of action and its potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries have also been discussed.     

微生态调节剂－乳果糖对肝损伤和内毒素血症防护效果的研究

本文研究了乳果糖口服对急性肝损害的防治效果。发现：（１）乳果糖灌服可迅速减少正常大白鼠门脉血中的内毒素。（２）给用Ｄ－氨基半乳糖破坏肝脏,乳果糖做预防性及治疗性口服,可明显地保护肝细胞及减轻内毒素血症并减轻肝组织损害。（３）首创了一种暴发性肝衰竭模型,即用内毒素叠加Ｄ－氨基半乳糖致小鼠肝衰竭模型。其肝脏损害速度与程度及２４小时死亡率远大于单用上述二种中毒成分之一。用乳果糖口服可明显预防此种暴发性肝坏死之发生,但用乳果糖腹腔注射则毫无保护作用。乳果糖只经口服通过对肠道菌群的调整才有降低内毒素血症效果。（４）用ｓｈｗａｒｔｚｍａｎ反应证明乳果糖对内毒素的生物活性没有阻断或抑制作用。本文证明乳果糖对Ｇａｌ－Ｎ致肝坏死的保护作用,并经临床观察证明对肝脏病人内毒素血症的治疗效果。     

门冬氨酸鸟氨酸注射液联合乳果糖对肝性脑病患者肝功能和炎性因子水平的影响

目的:探讨门冬氨酸鸟氨酸注射液联合乳果糖对肝性脑病(HE)患者肝功能和炎性因子水平的影响。方法:选取2014年1月～2018年1月期间广西医科大学附属柳铁中心医院收治的HE患者120例为研究对象。根据数字表法将患者随机分为对照组(n=60)和研究组(n=60),对照组给予乳果糖治疗,研究组在对照组基础上联合门冬氨酸鸟氨酸注射液治疗,两组患者均持续治疗14 d。比较两组患者治疗后临床疗效,以及两组患者治疗前后肝功能、炎性因子水平、血尿淀粉酶(AMY)、血氨浓度。记录两组患者治疗期间不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组患者治疗后总有效率为91.67%(55/60),显著高于对照组患者的63.33%(38/60)(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、总胆红素(TBIL)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)水平均较治疗前降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后血清白介素-6(IL-6)、白介素-8(IL-8)、白介素-1(IL-1)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平均较治疗前降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后血AMY、尿AMY、血氨浓度均较治疗前降低,且研究组血氨浓度低于对照组(P0.05),但研究组血AMY、尿AMY与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗期间不良反应率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:门冬氨酸鸟氨酸注射液联合乳果糖治疗HE患者安全有效,可有效改善患者肝功能,减轻炎性应激,降低血尿AMY、血氨浓度,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

乳果糖口服液联合聚乙二醇电解质散剂在便秘患者行结肠镜检查前肠道准备中的应用研究

目的:探讨便秘患者行结肠镜检查前联合应用乳果糖口服液联合聚乙二醇电解质散剂的临床效果。方法:将90例接受结肠镜检查的便秘患者分为实验组和对照组,每组各45例,实验组肠镜检查前1天口服乳果糖口服液及聚乙二醇电解质散剂,对照组检查前1天口服聚乙二醇电解质散剂,比较两组患者的首次大便时间(开始服药至初次大便时间)、排便次数、大便清澈时间(初次大便至大便清澈时间)、肠道准备清洁度和不良反应情况。结果:实验组首次大便时间、大便清澈时间均短于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组完成肠道准备的排便次数较对照组次数增多,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组肠道准备清洁度优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率无明显差异(P0.05)。结论:便秘患者结肠镜检查前肠道准备中联合应用乳果糖口服液联合聚乙二醇电解质散剂可提高肠道清洁度,增加排便次数,缩短大便清澈时间,达到理想的清肠效果,有助于发现微小病变,降低肠镜检查的漏诊率。     

乳果糖序贯微生态制剂对重症急性胰腺炎患者的作用

目的 探讨乳果糖序贯微生态制剂对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)患者的疗效及对其血清指标和生活质量的影响.方法 选择武汉同济医院2016年5月至2019年11月收治的85例SAP患者,根据治疗方式的不同分为研究组(42例)及对照组(43例).研究组患者在常规治疗基础上联合乳果糖序贯微生态制剂治疗.对照组患者采用常规治疗.比较2...     

Physiological effects of lactulose and inulin in the caecum of rats

A model experiment was performed on rats to evaluate the effect of partial or total substitution of saccharose (S) and cellulose (C) by preparations of lactulose and inulin on the development and metabolism of the caecum. In the experimental diets given to rats for 4 weeks, the examined preparations were administered either with an equivalent amount of cellulose (each at 4% of the diet) or as sole source of dietary fibre at 8% of the diet. Compared to the saccharose group cellulose had no effect, and low doses of lactulose and inulin in the diet increased to a medium extent the weight of the caecum wall and caecal digesta. The addition of lactulose and inulin at 8% increased significantly the content of caecal digesta (4.62 and 4.11?g/100g BW, respectively) and the weight of the caecal wall (1.10 and 0.86?g/100g BW, respectively), compared to the groups with saccharose and cellulose (0.73, 0.90 and 0.24, 0.28?g/100g BW, respectively). Cellulose and cellulose partially-substituted with lactulose and inulin caused an increase in the dry matter content of caecal digesta (26.5–27.5%), compared to other groups (21.8–22.8%). The administration of lactulose and inulin preparations was accompanied by a significant drop in pH (5.47–5.81), compared to the groups with cellulose or saccharose (6.83–6.91), and a decrease in the ammonia concentration in the caecal digesta, compared to the cellulose control (0.27–0.40 and 0.62?mg/g, respectively). The group with 8% lactulose was characterized by the highest activities of microbiological α- and β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase in the caecal digesta. Cellulose and both preparations significantly decreased the activity of β-glucuronidase, compared to the saccharose group (0.39–0.89 and 1.52?U/g, respectively). The highest concentration of VFA in the caecal digesta was observed in the saccharose group (89.2?μmol/g), and the lowest concentration in the group where cellulose was totally substituted by lactulose and inulin (55.1 and 57.5?μmol/g, respectively). The total production of VFA in the caecum was fourfold higher with 8 % lactulose and inulin (254.7 and 236.4?μmol/100g BW, respectively) than in both controls groups (65.1 and 67.8?μmol/100g BW, respectively). The high dose of inulin and lactulose increased the share of propionic acid in the VFA profile (C₂:C₃:C₄) compared to both control groups. When 4% inulin was added to the diet a significant increase of butyrate concentration in the caecum was observed.     

Transgalactosylation and hydrolytic activities of commercial preparations of β-galactosidase for the synthesis of prebiotic carbohydrates

β-Galactosidases exhibit both hydrolytic and transgalactosylation activities; the former has been used traditionally for the production of delactosed milk and dairies, while the latter is being increasingly used for the synthesis of lactose-derived oligosaccharides: balance between both activities was highly dependent on the enzyme origin: β-galactosidases from Aspegillus oryzae and Bacillus circulans exhibited high transgalactosylation activity, while those from one from Kluyveromyces exhibited high hydrolytic activity but quite low transgalactosylation activity. Also the affinity for the donors (lactose or lactulose) and the acceptors (lactose, lactulose or fructose) of transgalactosylated galactose was dependent on the enzyme origin, as reflected by the Michaelis constants obtained in the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides, fructosyl-galacto-oligosaccharides and lactulose. Finally, the balance between transgalactosylation and hydrolytic activities of β-galactosidases could be tuned by changing the concentration of galactose donor.