1
|
Petrariu OA, Barbu IC, Niculescu AG, Constantin M, Grigore GA, Cristian RE, Mihaescu G, Vrancianu CO. Role of probiotics in managing various human diseases, from oral pathology to cancer and gastrointestinal diseases. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1296447. [PMID: 38249451 PMCID: PMC10797027 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The imbalance of microbial composition and diversity in favor of pathogenic microorganisms combined with a loss of beneficial gut microbiota taxa results from factors such as age, diet, antimicrobial administration for different infections, other underlying medical conditions, etc. Probiotics are known for their capacity to improve health by stimulating the indigenous gut microbiota, enhancing host immunity resistance to infection, helping digestion, and carrying out various other functions. Concurrently, the metabolites produced by these microorganisms, termed postbiotics, which include compounds like bacteriocins, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, contribute to inhibiting a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. This review presents an update on using probiotics in managing and treating various human diseases, including complications that may emerge during or after a COVID-19 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oana-Alina Petrariu
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilda Czobor Barbu
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marian Constantin
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Georgiana Alexandra Grigore
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana-Elena Cristian
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Grigore Mihaescu
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu
- Microbiology-Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martin JH. The valley of death: why Australia failed to develop clinically effective drugs in COVID-19. Intern Med J 2023; 53:2175-2179. [PMID: 38050949 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
There is a paucity of public discussion of costs spent on drug trials during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their value, and of large public outlay on research funding for vaccine and drug development that did not deliver medicines nor vaccines for Australians. This oversight left us at the behest of global supply chains, politics and commercial cost-plus pricing for vaccines. It is possible that these outcomes were the result of some major cognitive biases and the failure of a clinical pharmacologist's voice in the leadership teams. Biases included unawareness of the complexities of taking interesting chemicals in vitro to development into therapeutic use that can be tolerated, show efficacy and have appropriate disposition in humans; lack of a systems approach to therapeutic development; and an understanding of the relevance and translatability of pharmacology, physiology and clinical drug development. We believe that reflecting on and addressing these biases will help Australia reposition itself better with a therapeutics and clinical trial strategy for future pandemics, built into the strategy of a Centre for Disease Control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H Martin
- Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Repurposing and Medicines Research Program, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tretter F, Peters EMJ, Sturmberg J, Bennett J, Voit E, Dietrich JW, Smith G, Weckwerth W, Grossman Z, Wolkenhauer O, Marcum JA. Perspectives of (/memorandum for) systems thinking on COVID-19 pandemic and pathology. J Eval Clin Pract 2023; 29:415-429. [PMID: 36168893 PMCID: PMC9538129 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Is data-driven analysis sufficient for understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and for justifying public health regulations? In this paper, we argue that such analysis is insufficient. Rather what is needed is the identification and implementation of over-arching hypothesis-related and/or theory-based rationales to conduct effective SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 (Corona) research. To that end, we analyse and compare several published recommendations for conceptual and methodological frameworks in medical research (e.g., public health, preventive medicine and health promotion) to current research approaches in medical Corona research. Although there were several efforts published in the literature to develop integrative conceptual frameworks before the COVID-19 pandemic, such as social ecology for public health issues and systems thinking in health care, only a few attempts to utilize these concepts can be found in medical Corona research. For this reason, we propose nested and integrative systemic modelling approaches to understand Corona pandemic and Corona pathology. We conclude that institutional efforts for knowledge integration and systemic thinking, but also for integrated science, are urgently needed to avoid or mitigate future pandemics and to resolve infection pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Tretter
- Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems ScienceViennaAustria
| | - Eva M. J. Peters
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and PsychotherapyJustus‐Liebig‐UniversityGiessenHesseGermany
- Internal Medicine and DermatologyUniversitätsmedizin‐CharitéBerlinGermany
| | - Joachim Sturmberg
- College of Health, Medicine and WellbeingUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
- International Society for Systems and Complexity Sciences for HealthPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Jeanette Bennett
- Department of Psychological Science, StressWAVES Biobehavioral Research LabUniversity of North CarolinaCharlotteNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Eberhard Voit
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Johannes W. Dietrich
- Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Section, Department of Medicine ISt. Josef Hospital, Ruhr PhilosophyBochumGermany
- Diabetes Centre Bochum/HattingenKlinik BlankensteinHattingenGermany
- Centre for Rare Endocrine Diseases (ZSE), Ruhr Centre for Rare Diseases (CeSER)BochumGermany
- Centre for Diabetes Technology, Catholic Hospitals BochumRuhr University BochumBochumGermany
| | - Gary Smith
- International Society for the Systems SciencesPontypoolUK
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME) and Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS)University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Zvi Grossman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of MedicineTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Olaf Wolkenhauer
- Department of Systems Biology & BioinformaticsUniversity of RostockRostockGermany
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Treating COVID-19: Targeting the Host Response, Not the Virus. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030712. [PMID: 36983871 PMCID: PMC10054780 DOI: 10.3390/life13030712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), inexpensive generic drugs like statins, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, especially if used in combination, might be the only practical way to save the lives of patients with severe COVID-19. These drugs will already be available in all countries on the first pandemic day. Because they target the host response to infection instead of the virus, they could be used to save lives during any pandemic. Observational studies show that inpatient statin treatment reduces 28–30-day mortality but randomized controlled trials have failed to show this benefit. Combination treatment has been tested for antivirals and dexamethasone but, with the exception of one observational study in Belgium, not for inexpensive generic drugs. Future pandemic research must include testing combination generic drug treatments that could be used in LMICs.
Collapse
|
5
|
Mostafa S, Mohammed SA, Elshennawy SI, Zakaria DM, Mahmoud SAK, Alsadek AM, Ahmad IH, Mohammed DS, Mohammed MA, Eltrawy HH. Clinical and Prognostic Significance of Baseline Serum Vitamin D Levels in Hospitalized Egyptian Covid-19 Patients. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:8063-8070. [PMID: 36389016 PMCID: PMC9651079 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s386815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Vitamin D is a hormone with essential roles in both cellular metabolism and immunity. It controls calcium homeostasis and modulates innate and adaptive immune system responses. Many studies suggested an association between vitamin D deficiency and clinical outcomes of covid-19 infection, while others failed to document such a relation. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of baseline vitamin D levels in hospitalized Egyptian covid-19 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present retrospective study included 300 hospitalized covid-19 patients. Patients were submitted to standard clinical, laboratory, and radiological assessment. According to vitamin D levels, patients were classified to have normal levels (≥30), insufficient levels (20-29) or deficient levels (<20). RESULTS According to their vitamin D levels, patients were classified into those with normal vitamin D (n=135), others with vitamin D insufficiency (n=114), and a third group with vitamin D deficiency (n=51). Patients with normal vitamin D levels and vitamin D insufficiency are significantly younger [median (IQR): 49.0 (39.0-57.0) versus 51.0 (40.0-61.0) and 55.0 (43.0-62.0) years, respectively, p=0.012] and had less frequency of severe disease (24.4% versus 40.4% and 51.0%, respectively) when compared with those with vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, they had significantly lower levels of D dimer [median (IQR): 1.5 (0.9-2.5) versus 1.8 (0.9-3.1) and 2.0 (1.0-3.2)], CRP [median (IQR): 58.0 (30.0-120.0) versus 76.0 (42.5-160.0) and 105.0 (74.0-208.0), respectively, p<0.001], ferritin [median (IQR): 458.0 (240.0-759.0) versus 606.0 (433.8-897.8) and 820.0 (552.0-1087.0), respectively, p<0.001], and procalcitonin [median (IQR): 290.0 (152.0-394.0) versus 372.5 (227.0-530.5) and 443.0 (272.0-575.0), respectively, p<0.001]. Only lower vitamin D levels were significant predictors of mortality in multivariate analysis [OR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.84-0.92), p<0.001]. CONCLUSION Low vitamin D levels are related to exaggerated inflammatory response, disease severity, and poor clinical outcome in hospitalized covid-19 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadek Mostafa
- Internal Medicine Department, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Inass Hassan Ahmad
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | - Heba H Eltrawy
- Chest Diseases Department, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sleutjes BTHM, Stikvoort García DJL, Kovalchuk MO, Heuberger JAAC, Groeneveld GJ, Franssen H, van den Berg LH. Acute retigabine-induced effects on myelinated motor axons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00983. [PMID: 35881020 PMCID: PMC9318643 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered motor neuron excitability in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been suggested to be an early pathophysiological mechanism associated with motor neuron death. Compounds that affect membrane excitability may therefore have disease‐modifying effects. Through which mechanism(s), these compounds modulate membrane excitability is mostly provided by preclinical studies, yet remains challenging to verify in clinical studies. Here, we investigated how retigabine affects human myelinated motor axons by applying computational modeling to interpret the complex excitability changes in a recent trial involving 18 ALS patients. Compared to baseline, the post‐dose excitability differences were modeled well by a hyperpolarizing shift of the half‐activation potential of slow potassium (K+)‐channels (till 2 mV). These findings verify that retigabine targets slow K+‐channel gating and highlight the usefulness of computational models. Further developments of this approach may facilitate the identification of early target engagement and ultimately aid selecting responders leading to more personalized treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boudewijn T H M Sleutjes
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Maria O Kovalchuk
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Hessel Franssen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|