Abstract: Variant of the bacterium Lactobacillus fermentum and its use in treating gastrointestinal disorders, disorders of the mucosal surfaces or disturbances in the immune system or status of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of skin disorders by administering therapeutically or prophylactically effective amounts of a probiotic. The present invention is also concerned with the treatment of symptoms of skin disorders.

Abstract: Method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant startch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microogranisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilised by the resident and/or the probiotic microogranisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microogranisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders or associated disorders and, in particular, to the use in such methods of regulating cytokine levels or activity. Compositions and kits suitable for use in the methods are described.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a cardiovascular disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more agents for upregulating a cytokine profile characteristic of a Th1 T-cell response relative to a cytosine profile of a Th2 T-cell response associated with the disorder. There is further disclosed compositions for use in the methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preventing and treating endotoxemia and related disorders. In particular, the invention relates to methods of preventing and treating endotoxemia and related disorders using a probiotic. The invention also relates to methods for assessing the efficacy ot a probiotic in the prevention and treatment of endotoxemia and related disorders.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of disorders associated with mucosal surfaces and in particular to treatment of infectious disorders at mucosal sites by enhancing non-specific mucosal immunity, especially with probiotics such as lactobacillus or mycobacterium vaccae.

Abstract: A protein obtainable from a non pathogenic microorganism, said protein having mucosa binding promoting activity and a molecular weight of 20-40 kD is disclosed. Application of such a protein or a peptide derived therefrom in a method of screening non pathogenic microorganisms for a microorganism capable of specifically binding mucosa, said method comprising detection in a manner known per se. of the presence of a particular protein on or in a microorganism or in a culture of microorganisms, said particular protein being the already defined protein. Kits suitable for such a screening method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved method of enhancing a population of one or more target micoorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improvement comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, such that the one or more microorganisms will selectively utilize the starch and/or increase in number and/or activity in the gastrointestinal tract, either uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract or at specific site or regions.

Abstract: A protein obtainable from a non pathgenic microorgansim, said protein having mucosa binding promoting activity and a molecular weight of 20-40 kD is disclosed. Application of such a protein or a peptide derived therefrom in a method of screening non pathogenic microorganisms for a microorganism capable of specifically binding mucosa, said method comprising detection in a manner known per se of the presence of a particular protein on or in a microorganism or in a culture of microorganisms, said particular protein being the already defined protein. Kits suitable for such a screening method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved method of enhancing a population of one or more target micoorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improvement comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, such that the one or more microorganisms will selectively utilize the starch and/or increase in number and/or activity in the gastrointestinal tract, either uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract or at specific site or regions.

Abstract: Method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microorganisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilized by the resident and/or the probiotic microorganisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microorganisms.

Abstract: Improved method of enhancing a population of one or more target microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improvement comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, such that the one or more microorganisms will selectively utilise the starch and/or increase in number and/or activity in the gastrointestinal tract, either uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract or at specific site or regions.

Abstract: Probiotic composition comprising one or more probiotic microorganisms, a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the carrier comprising a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract, and an oligosaccharide. Method of increasing the number of probiotic or resident microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal comprising providing to the animal the probiotic composition.

Abstract: A probiotic composition is disclosed which is particularly useful for inclusion in food products to enhance their nutritional value. The composition comprises one or more probiotic microorganisms such as Bifidobacterium and a carrier to transport the microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The carrier is a modified or unmodified resistant starch, particularly a high amylose starch, which acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tact.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for storing media identification data in a file using a digital computer in communication with a media presentation system. The method includes the step of receiving at the digital computer a signal indicating a command to position a marker within the file. The method also includes the step of presenting audio/visual information at the media presentation system. The method further includes the step of receiving a signal indicating a relationship between the position of the marker and the presented audio/visual information. In addition, the method includes the step of transmitting a signal indicating a request for media identification data and the step of transmitting a signal representing the media identification data. The method finally includes the step of storing the media identification data in the file at the position of the marker.

Abstract: An apparatus for selecting and controlling devices located remotely from a local site where an operator resides. A laser or other source of a focused electromagnetic bean moves in association with a camera located at the remote site. The camera thus can detect the object on which the focused laser beam projects. The camera outputs a video signal which is transmitted from the remote site to the local site. The operator at the local site views the video signal on a monitor so that the operator can determine the location of the laser beam. When the laser beam illuminates at least one particular transponder out of one or a plurality of transponders, the transponder outputs a signal to at least one device to activate or deactivate the device, thus providing the operator remote control of the device. A light may also be associated with the transponder and activates when the transponder has been selected to provide a positive indication to the operator that only the particular transponder has been selected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing teleinteractive video teleconferencing between two or more teleconference sites, and for enabling any number of teleconference sites to overlay a pointer to point within the video image originating from any teleconference site. The systems and methods employ at least one video imaging device to capture images at a local teleconference site and N display devices to display images captured at the local and the remote teleconference sites, where N is the total number of teleconference sites comprising the system. The teleinteractive capability is accomplished when a local teleconference site selectively inputs the video imaging signal from a remote teleconference site into a pointer overlay device rather than the local video image. The pointer overlay device then overlays the pointer and the overlaid video signal is then transmitted to the remote teleconference sites.