An introduction of the role of probiotics in human infections and autoimmune diseases

Abstract

During the last decades, studies exploring the role of microorganisms inhabiting human body in different scenarios have demonstrated the great potential of modulating them to treat and prevent diseases. Among the most outstanding applications, probiotics have been used for over a century to treat infections and inflammation. Despite the beneficial role of other probiotics, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species are the most frequently used, and have been effective as a therapeutic option in the treatment/prevention of dental caries, periodontal diseases, urogenital infections, and gastrointestinal infections. Additionally, as gastrointestinal tract harbors a great diversity of microbial species that directly or indirectly modulate host metabolism and immune response, the influence of intestinal microbiota, one of the targets of therapies using probiotics, on the biology of immune cells can be explored to treat inflammatory disorders or immune-mediated diseases. Thus, it is not surprising that probiotics have presented promising results in modulating human inflammatory diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, among others. Hence, the purpose of this review is to discuss the potential of therapeutic approaches using probiotics to constrain infection and development of inflammation on human subjects.     

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing overall survival (OS) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and Methods Medical charts of 547 patients with OSCC from a public hospital in northeastern Brazil seen between 1999 and 2013 were evaluated. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of age, sex, ethnicity, clinical stage, anatomical location, type of treatment, and comorbidities on the patients’ prognosis was evaluated. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. Results The 5-year OS was 39%. Multivariate analysis showed that age < 40 years (HR = 2.20; 95%CI: 1.02-4.72) and a single treatment modality (HR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.37-2.67) were associated with a poor prognosis, while early clinical stage resulted in better outcomes (HR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.25-0.58). Conclusions OSCC patients in advanced clinical stages, diagnosed at a younger age, and submitted to a single therapeutic modality have a poorer prognosis. Key words:Head and neck cancer, oral cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, survival, prognosis.     

Immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer development

Gastric adenocarcinoma is a global health concern, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the main risk factor for its occurrence. Of note, the immune response against the pathogen seems to be a determining factor for gastric oncogenesis, and increasing evidence have emphasized several host and bacterium factors that probably influence in this setting. The development of an inflammatory process against H. pylori involves a wide range of mechanisms such as the activation of pattern recognition receptors and intracellular pathways resulting in the production of proinflammatory cytokines by gastric epithelial cells. This process culminates in the establishment of distinct immune response profiles that result from the cytokine-induced differentiation of T naïve cells into specific T helper cells. Cytokines released from each type of T helper cell orchestrate the immune system and interfere in the development of gastric cancer in idiosyncratic ways. Moreover, variants in genes such as single nucleotide polymorphisms have been associated with variable predispositions for the occurrence of gastric malignancy because they influence both the intensity of gene expression and the affinity of the resultant molecule with its receptor. In addition, various repercussions related to some H. pylori virulence factors seem to substantially influence the host immune response against the infection, and many of them have been associated with gastric tumorigenesis.     

A prospective clinical trial of the effects produced by the Connecticut intrusion arch on the maxillary dental arch

ObjectiveTo assess and compare the effects produced in the maxillary dental arch by means of Connecticut intrusion arch (CIA) with or without a cinch back on the distal end of the tube of the first molars.Materials and MethodsThis study included 44 patients with a mean age of 13.1 ± 1.8 years treated for deep bite with a CIA randomly divided into two groups: group 1 (G1), 22 patients with initial mean age of 12.72 ± 1.74 years treated with the CIA in the upper arch without a cinch back on the distal surface of the tube of the first molars, and group 2 (G2), 22 patients with an initial mean age of 13.67 ± 2.03 years treated with the CIA with a cinch back. Lateral cephalograms were available before treatment (T1) and after intrusion of maxillary incisors (T2). The mean treatment period was 5.5 ± 1.45 months. Intragroup and intergroup changes in the maxillary incisor and molar positions were analyzed by paired and independent t-tests associated with the Holm-Bonferroni correction method for multiple comparisons (P < .05).ResultsThere were significant differences between groups in terms of maxillary incisor displacement. The maxillary incisors flared labially (2.17°) and proclined (1.68 mm) in group 1, whereas a palatal inclination (−1.99°) and retroclination (−1.13 mm) was observed in group 2. No significant differences were found for the molar positions between the groups.ConclusionsThe presence or absence of a distal bend in CIA affects incisor tipping and proclination during intrusion mechanics.     

Risk factors for transient dysfunction of gas exchange after cardiac surgery

Objective

A retrospective cohort study was preformed aiming to verify the presence of transient dysfunction of gas exchange in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery and determine if this disorder is linked to cardiorespiratory events.

Methods

We included 942 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery and cardiac procedures who were referred to the Intensive Care Unit between June 2007 and November 2011.

Results

Fifteen patients had acute respiratory distress syndrome (2%), 199 (27.75%) had mild transient dysfunction of gas exchange, 402 (56.1%) had moderate transient dysfunction of gas exchange, and 39 (5.4%) had severe transient dysfunction of gas exchange. Hypertension and cardiogenic shock were associated with the emergence of moderate transient dysfunction of gas exchange postoperatively (P=0.02 and P=0.019, respectively) and were risk factors for this dysfunction (P=0.0023 and P=0.0017, respectively). Diabetes mellitus was also a risk factor for transient dysfunction of gas exchange (P=0.03). Pneumonia was present in 8.9% of cases and correlated with the presence of moderate transient dysfunction of gas exchange (P=0.001). Severe transient dysfunction of gas exchange was associated with patients who had renal replacement therapy (P=0.0005), hemotherapy (P=0.0001), enteral nutrition (P=0.0012), or cardiac arrhythmia (P=0.0451).

Conclusion

Preoperative hypertension and cardiogenic shock were associated with the occurrence of postoperative transient dysfunction of gas exchange. The preoperative risk factors included hypertension, cardiogenic shock, and diabetes. Postoperatively, pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, renal replacement therapy, hemotherapy, and cardiac arrhythmia were associated with the appearance of some degree of transient dysfunction of gas exchange, which was a risk factor for reintubation, pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and renal replacement therapy in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery and cardiac procedures.     

Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome with liver failure: the experience of a policy of initial interventional radiological treatment using transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The optimal management of acute Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with liver failure is controversial. Options include anticoagulation, portal systemic shunting or liver transplantation. In recent years, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) have been tried in place of shunt surgery. We report our experience with a policy of initial interventional radiological treatment (TIPS) in this patient group. METHODS: A consecutive, non-selected series of five patients with acute BCS with liver failure presenting to our liver unit over a 36-month period from October 2000 were treated with a policy of initial attempt at transjugular shunt. RESULTS: Stents were successfully inserted in four patients. In one patient the hepatic vein remnant could not be cannulated. One of the four stented patients had a hepatic venous web. Rapid recurrent portal and hepatic vein thrombosis occurred in one patient despite anticoagulation and trans-shunt thrombectomy. This patient and the patient with failed stenting underwent successful liver transplantation. One successfully stented patient died unexpectedly at home 2 weeks after TIPS insertion. Four of five patients are alive (80%) at a mean follow-up time of 30 months. CONCLUSION: Initial TIPS, with liver transplantation for treatment failures, may be a reasonable, cost-effective and surgery-sparing treatment for acute Budd-Chiari presenting with liver failure.     

Purification of thymus mRNA coding for a 16,000-dalton polypeptide containing the thymosin alpha 1 sequence.

A mRNA fraction purified by preparative polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis from calf thymus polysomes codes for a polypeptide(s) having a mass of 16,000-17,000 daltons. This polypeptide contains amino acid sequences corresponding to residues 11-18 and 19-25 of thymosin alpha 1. The yield of the octapeptide indicates that the 16,000-dalton peptide is the major product formed in the cell-free synthesis system containing the purified mRNA.     

Purification of Mouse Interferon by Affinity Chromatography on a Solid-Phase Immunoadsorbent

A solid-phase immunoadsorbent capable of binding mouse interferon has been prepared. Starting from crude tissue-culture material, interferon could be purified 1990 times in a single step of affinity chromatography. Overall recovery ranged from 55 to 103% with tissue culture and mouse-brain interferon; however, only 5% was obtained with Sendai virus-induced interferon from mouse serum.