Alteration of the Gut-Lung Axis After Severe COVID-19 Infection and Modulation Through Probiotics: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: The gut-lung axis could be a potential therapeutic target for improving post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, and probiotics have been proposed as possible modulators.

Aim: We conducted a pilot study to understand alterations in the gut-lung axis and to explore the effects of a probiotic in post-acute COVID-19 disease.

Methods: We included patients after severe COVID-19 disease (sCOV, n = 21) in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test the effect of a probiotic (Pro-Vi 5, Institute Allergosan, Graz, Austria) in a six-month intervention and used patients after mild disease (mCOV, n = 10) as controls, to compare the intestinal microbiome, metabolome, and patient-reported outcomes and biomarkers along the gut-lung axis at baseline and throughout probiotic intervention.

Primary sarcopenia is associated with elevated spontaneous NET formation.

Sarcopenia is a frequent complication of liver cirrhosis, but it can also occur independently as a result of any underlying cause. The immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both liver cirrhosis and sarcopenia. Neutrophil function, including neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, is linked to chronic inflammation; however, it has not been extensively studied in patients with sarcopenia.

Effect of albumin infusion on oxidative albumin modification and albumin binding capacity in chronic liver failure.

Oxidative albumin modification and impaired albumin binding function have been described both in chronic liver failure and for therapeutic albumin solutions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of albumin infusion on redox state and binding function of circulating albumin. We studied 20 patients with cirrhosis who routinely received albumin infusions for prevention of post-paracentesis circulatory dysfunction or treatment of hepatorenal syndrome.

Circulating neutrophil anti-pathogen dysfunction in cirrhosis.

Neutrophils are the largest population of leucocytes and are among the first cells of the innate immune system to fight against intruding pathogens. In patients with cirrhosis, neutrophils exhibit altered functionality, including changes in phagocytic ability, bacterial killing, chemotaxis, degranulation, reactive oxygen species production and NET (neutrophil extracellular trap) formation. This results in their inability to mount an adequate antibacterial response and protect the individual from infection.

Human gut microbiome: Therapeutic opportunities for metabolic syndrome-Hype or hope?

Shifts in gut microbiome composition and metabolic disorders are associated with one another. Clinical studies and experimental data suggest a causal relationship, making the gut microbiome an attractive therapeutic goal. Diet, intake of probiotics or prebiotics and faecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) are methods to alter a person's microbiome composition.