Effect of CNCM I-1572 on symptoms, gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids, and immune activation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Background: Evidence suggests a role of intestinal microbiota-host interactions in the pathophysiology and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Objective: The objective of this article is to assess the effects of CNCM I-1572 on clinical and gut microbiota-related factors in IBS.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over, 18-week, placebo-controlled, pilot trial assessing the effect of CNCM I-1572 on symptoms, gut microbiota composition, fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA), immunoglobulin A, and cytokines in IBS.

Fecal Clostridiales distribution and short-chain fatty acids reflect bowel habits in irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, is classified according to bowel habits as IBS with constipation (IBS-C), with diarrhea (IBS-D), with alternating constipation and diarrhea (IBS-M), and unsubtyped (IBS-U). The mechanisms leading to the different IBS forms are mostly unknown. This study aims to evaluate whether specific fecal bacterial taxa and/or short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can be used to distinguish IBS subtypes and are relevant for explaining the clinical differences between IBS subcategories.

Using probiotics in clinical practice: Where are we now? A review of existing meta-analyses.

The scientific literature has demonstrated that probiotics have a broad spectrum of activity, although often the results are contradictory. This study provides a critical overview of the current meta-analyses that have evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in physiologic and pathological conditions, such as metabolic disease, antibiotic-associated and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, IBS, constipation, IBD, chemotherapy-associated diarrhea, respiratory tract infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, NAFLD, liver encephalopathy, periodontitis, depression, vaginosis, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, hospital infection and stay in ICU, mortality of post-trauma patients, necrotising enterocolitis in premature infants. Only for antibiotic- and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections the effects of probiotics are considered "evidence-based.

Impact of passive smoke and/or atopy on adenoid immunoglobulin production in children.

The adenoids are exposed to a wide number and variety of microbes, environmental pollutants, and food antigens. Atopy and passive smoke may significantly affect immune responses, mainly in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether passive exposure to tobacco smoke and/or atopy could affect immunoglobulin production by adenoidal lymphocytes in a cohort of children presenting with adenoid hypertrophy.

Review on microbiota and effectiveness of probiotics use in older.

The aim of the present systematic review is to summarize the existing knowledge about the human microbiota in the elderly and the effects of probiotics in elderly population. The elderly subjects, compared to adult population, show a reduction in the diversity of the microbiota, characterized by a large interindividual variability, with lower numbers of Firmicutes, Bifidobacteria, Clostridium cluster XIV, Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii, Blautia coccoides-Eubacterium rectal and higher presence of Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidetes. These differences of the intestinal microbiota of the elderly may not necessarily be caused by aging, but they could be associated with the decline of the general state of health with malnutrition and with increased need for medication, such as antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, situations that occur frequently in the elderly.

Probiotics and food allergy.

The exact prevalence of food allergy in the general population is unknown, but almost 12% of pediatric population refers a suspicion of food allergy. IgE mediated reactions to food are actually the best-characterized types of allergy, and they might be particularly harmful especially in children. According to the "hygiene hypothesis" low or no exposure to exogenous antigens in early life may increase the risk of allergic diseases by both delaying the development of the immune tolerance and limiting the Th2/Th1 switch.

Early-life gut microbiota under physiological and pathological conditions: the central role of combined meta-omics-based approaches.

The establishment of gut microbiota immediately after birth is modulated by different mechanisms that can be considered specific determinants of temporal and spatial variability. Over the last few years, molecular methods have been offering a complementary support to the classical microbiology, often underpowered by its inability to provide unbiased representation of gut microbiota. The advent of high-throughput-omics-based methods has opened new avenues in the knowledge of the gut ecosystem by shedding light on its shape and modulation.

Probiotics and health: an evidence-based review.

The intestinal microbiota is an ecosystem formed by a variety of ecological niches, made of several bacterial species and a very large amount of strains. The microbiota is in close contact with the intestinal mucosa or epithelial interface which is, after the respiratory area, the largest surface of the body, occupying approximately 250-400 m(2). The physiological activities of the microbiota are manifold and are just being unraveled.

Serum IL-9 levels depend on allergen exposure: preliminary study.

Background: Th9 is a new T cell subset characterized by interleukin 9 (IL-9) production. Serum IL-9 levels are related to symptom severity in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aimed at investigating whether IL-9 may depend on allergen exposure.

Serum eosinophilic cationic protein: is there a role in respiratory disorders?

Background: Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) has been widely investigated in the clinical practice as a potential biomarker for asthma. However, there are conflicting data concerning its validity in other respiratory disorders.

Methods: Serum ECP levels were retrospectively analyzed in 441 patients (227 males and 214 females) suffering from respiratory disease and visited for the first time, and in 33 healthy subjects (17 males and 16 females).

Role of adenoids and adenoiditis in children with allergy and otitis media.

Adenoids and/or tonsil inflammation with concomitant obstructive hypertrophy is one of the oldest and most common pediatric problems. Adenoids are a component of Waldeyer's ring and because of their anatomic position can be relevant in the pathogenesis of otitis media when they are inflamed and/or enlarged. Adenoid pads can create mechanical eustachian tube obstruction.

Passive exposure to smoke results in defective interferon-gamma production by adenoids in children with recurrent respiratory infections.

There is evidence that exposure to passive smoke is associated with an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Indeed, cigarette smoke extracts may interfere with the immune system, even though the precise mechanism has not been fully understood yet. Recurrent respiratory infections may be sustained by a defective immune response.

Lutein concentration in human milk during early lactation and its relationship with dietary lutein intake.

Objective: The present study aimed to estimate the lutein concentration in human milk during early lactation and its relationship with dietary lutein intake measured through the administration of a short FFQ.

Design: A cross-sectional study in which an FFQ was administered twice: on day 3 (T0) and day 30 (T1) postpartum; meanwhile two breast milk samples were collected. Maternal plasma samples were obtained at T0.

Increased risk of otitis media with effusion in allergic children presenting with adenoiditis.

Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disorder in childhood. The aim of the study was to assess the association of atopy and endoscopic features with the presence of OME.

Subjects And Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 287 children presenting with acute upper-airway infections persistent for at least ten days and tested through nasal endoscopy and skin-prick test.

Clinical assessment of nasal decongestion test by VAS in adolescents.

Nasal airflow, as measured by rhinomanometry, is frequently impaired in allergic rhinitis (AR). The decongestion test evaluates whether the application of an intranasal vasoconstrictor drug increases nasal airflow. The aim of this study was to verify the suitability of the use of the visual analogue scales (VAS) as a surrogate for rhinomanometry in the decongestion test assessment in adolescents with atopic rhinitis.

Efficacy of Bacillus clausii spores in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in children: a pilot study.

Probiotic milk has been previously demonstrated to reduce the number of respiratory infections (RI) among children attending day care centres. Thus, this pilot study was aimed to assess the efficacy and the safety of 3 month treatment with Bacillus clausii in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children. Eighty children with RRI were studied: 40 of them were randomly treated with B.

Children with recurrent otitis show defective IFN gamma-producing cells in adenoids.

Infectious diseases are frequently observed in children and their recurrence represents a demanding challenge for the paediatrician. It has been hypothesized that a defective immune response may occur in these patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether children presenting with recurrent otitis have a defective interferon (IFN)gamma production by the lymphocytes of peripheral blood and of adenoid tissue, in comparison with children without recurrent otitis.

Nasal decongestion test in allergic rhinitis: definition of responder.

Background: Nasal airflow, as measured by rhinomanometry, is frequently impaired in allergic rhinitis (AR). The decongestion test evaluates whether the application of an intranasal vasoconstrictor drug increases nasal airflow.

Objective: The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of decongestion test responders.

Evaluation of xenobiotics in human milk and ingestion by the newborn--an epidemiological survey in Lombardy (Northern Italy).

Background: Many human milk benefits have been well documented; nevertheless the newborn potential risk to the xenobiotic exposition may be relevant and it requires a biological monitoring in general prevention. Concerning this problem, attention should be paid to mycotoxins and heavy metals.

Aim Of The Study: Assessing the presence of the xenobiotics aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, lead and cadmium in human milk, defining their level of contamination and evaluate the potential risk for the newborn derived from this xenobiotic ingestion.

Human amniotic fluid cells are able to produce IL-6 and IL-8.

Problem: In order to investigate the role of amniotic fluid cells (AFC) in the establishment of feto-maternal immune relationship, we evaluated their phenotype and capacity to produce cytokines.

Methods Of Study: CK 7-8, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I, HLA-DR, HLA-G, CD1d, CD34, CD45, CD14 surface antigens expression and the intracellular production of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-1 were studied in cultured AFC and in eight samples immediately after amniocentesis using flow cytometry. IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by ELISA in all amniotic fluids and in all culture supernatants.

Age-related changes in intracellular TH1/TH2 cytokine production, immunoproliferative T lymphocyte response and natural killer cell activity in newborns, children and adults.

To evaluate the development of the neonatal immune system, we measured T lymphocyte response to Con A, intracellular IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-10 production, and natural killer cell (NKC) activity in 12 very preterm, 12 preterm and 20 term neonates, 10 children and 10 adults. Immunoproliferation to Con A was significantly lower in cord blood than in children or adults. The percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes was significantly higher in newborns while CD8+ cells were higher at older ages, with a resulting gradual decline of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio.