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Effect of Fermented Soymilk-Honey from Different Probiotics on Osteocalcin Level in Menopausal Women.
Desfita, S, Sari, W, Yusmarini, Y, Pato, U, Zakłos-Szyda, M, Budryn, G
Nutrients. 2021;(10)
Abstract
Osteoporosis has been discovered to be a risk factor for menopausal women. Although synbiotics (probiotics and prebiotics) are found in fermented soymilk-honey made using local probiotics, their effect on osteocalcin levels is still unknown. Therefore, this study's objective was to determine the influence of fermented soymilk-honey from different probiotics on osteocalcin levels. A 90-day pre-post quasi-experimental study with a control design was conducted on 54 postmenopausal women divided into three intervention groups namely, the soymilk (SM) group, the soymilk-honey fermented with Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei R-68 (SMH Lc) group, and the soymilk-honey fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum 1 R 1.3.2 (SMH Lp) group. Participants consumed 100 mL of soymilk (SM) or fermented soymilk with honey (SMH Lc or SMH Lp) for 90 days. At the beginning and end of the study, the blood serum osteocalcin level was measured and subjects' health status was assessed, such as cholesterol total, random blood glucose, and uric acid levels. Our results presented that in the SMH Lp group, 90 days supplementation of soy-honey milk fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum 1 R 1.3.2 significantly reduced the level of blood serum osteocalcin. Based on these results it is justified to perform more detailed studies on the effect of fermented soy-honey milk on bone health.
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Rifaximin or Saccharomyces boulardii in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Results from the randomized GutHeart trial.
Awoyemi, A, Mayerhofer, C, Felix, AS, Hov, JR, Moscavitch, SD, Lappegård, KT, Hovland, A, Halvorsen, S, Halvorsen, B, Gregersen, I, et al
EBioMedicine. 2021;:103511
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiota represents a potential treatment target in heart failure (HF) through microbial metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and systemic inflammation. Treatment with the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii have been suggested to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS In a multicentre, prospective randomized open label, blinded end-point trial, we randomized patients with LVEF <40% and New York Heart Association functional class II or III, despite optimal medical therapy, to treatment (1:1:1) with the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, the antibiotic rifaximin, or standard of care (SoC) only. The primary endpoint, the baseline-adjusted LVEF at three months, was assessed in an intention-to-treat analysis. FINDINGS We enrolled a total of 151 patients. After three months' treatment, the LVEF did not differ significantly between the SoC arm and the rifaximin arm (mean difference was -1•2 percentage points; 95% CI -3•2 - 0•7; p=0•22) or between the SoC arm and the Saccharomyces boulardii arm (mean difference -0•2 percentage points; 95% CI -2•2 - 1•9; p=0•87). We observed no significant between-group differences in changes in microbiota diversity, TMAO, or C-reactive protein. INTERPRETATION Three months' treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii or rifaximin on top of SoC had no significant effect on LVEF, microbiota diversity, or the measured biomarkers in our population with HF. FUNDING The trial was funded by the Norwegian Association for Public Health, the Blix foundation, Stein Erik Hagen's Foundation for Clinical Heart Research, Ada og Hagbart Waages humanitære og veldedige stiftelse, Alfasigma, and Biocodex.
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The Effects of a Partially Hydrolyzed Formula with Low Lactose and Probiotics on Mild Gastrointestinal Disorders of Infants: A Single-Armed Clinical Trial.
Huang, Y, Zhou, Y, Li, H, Chen, Y, Mu, Y, Yuan, A, Yang, Y, Liu, J
Nutrients. 2021;(10)
Abstract
Partially hydrolyzed formula (pHF) containing low lactose and probiotics may benefit the gastrointestinal health of infants. We aimed to assess the effects of pHF on mild gastrointestinal disorders (MGDs) of infants. In this single-armed trial, 80 full-term infants with MGDs were enrolled and fed a pHF for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome resulted from the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms reported by parents using a validated Infant Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire (IGSQ) at Day 0 (baseline), Day 7, and Day 14. The total IGSQ scores ranged from 13 to 65. Higher scores indicated worse gastrointestinal symptoms. The IGSQ scores (mean ± SD) decreased from Day 0 (36.0 ± 5.7) to Day 7 (28.7 ± 7.4) and Day 14 (26.5 ± 8.1 (p < 0.001), with corresponding digestive distress prevalence (IGSQ score > 30) decreasing from 87.5% to 35.0% and 28.8% (p < 0.001). In the first three days, vomiting and flatulence scores decreased at Day 1 versus Day 0, and the crying score decreased at Day 2, but no significant changes were observed for fussy and stool characteristics. All growth parameters increased and no parents reported adverse events. In conclusion, feeding with a pHF containing low lactose and probiotics may comfort infants with MGDs, and the comforting effect likely manifests early in the first three days of the feeding interventions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04112056.
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The use of topical Nitrosomonas eutropha for cosmetic improvement of facial wrinkles.
Notay, M, Saric-Bosanac, S, Vaughn, AR, Dhaliwal, S, Trivedi, M, Reiter, PN, Rybak, I, Li, CC, Weiss, LB, Ambrogio, L, et al
Journal of cosmetic dermatology. 2020;(3):689-693
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Both topical and oral probiotics are becoming widely used. There is increasing interest in the cosmetic potential in topical probiotics. Nitrosomonas eutropha is an ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is any improvement in facial wrinkles with the use of Nitrosomonas eutropha, a topical probiotic. METHODS In this prospective study, high-resolution photographs were obtained in twenty-nine participants at baseline and after using topical Nitrosomonas eutropha for seven days. RESULTS There was a significant difference in wrinkle depth and severity in the high concentration probiotic group. There was also a statistically significant improvement in pigmentation of the forehead and glabella in the higher concentration group. CONCLUSIONS Nitrosomonas eutropha may have aesthetic benefits in terms of reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Larger studies with longer treatment and follow-up periods are required.
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Effect of probiotic bacteria on oral Candida in head- and neck-radiotherapy patients: A randomized clinical trial.
Doppalapudi, R, Vundavalli, S, Prabhat, MP
Journal of cancer research and therapeutics. 2020;(3):470-477
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to assess the effect of probiotic bacteria on oral Candida counts in cancer patients who are undergoing head- and neck-radiotherapy in a tertiary care center. STUDY DESIGN The study was a randomized clinical trial including 90 patients who just completed head- and neck-radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants were randomly allocated into three equal sized groups, i.e., probiotics group, candid group, and combination groups. Oral rinse samples of the patients were collected before and after the intervention for the identification of Candida. The samples were incubated on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol at 37°C for 48 h, to assess the counts of colony-forming units/milliliter (CFU/ml) of Candida in saliva, and further on chrome agar plates to identify the Candida spp. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA to compare mean CFU/ml of Candida among three groups before and after the intervention. RESULTS A total of 86 patients were included in the final analysis and there was a statistically significant reduction in mean Candida spp. Counts (CFU/ml) after intervention in all the three groups (P = 0.000) and significant reductions identified in both probiotic and combination therapy groups. Apart from reduction in Candida albicans, significant decrease in Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis was observed after probiotics usage compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that probiotic bacteria were effective in reducing oral Candida spp which can be recommended alone or in combination with traditional antifungal agents for effective reduction in oral Candida in head- and neck-radiotherapy patients.
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Bacteriotherapy with Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis 89a nasal spray for treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children: a pilot study on short-term efficacy.
Manti, S, Parisi, GF, Papale, M, Licari, A, Salpietro, C, Miraglia Del Giudice, M, Marseglia, GL, Leonardi, S
Italian journal of pediatrics. 2020;(1):42
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) are defined by the presence of at least one of the following criteria: (i) > 6 annual respiratory infections (RIs); (ii) > 1 monthly RIs involving the upper airways from September to April; (iii) > 3 annual RIs involving the lower airways represent a very common health problem in the first years of life. We conducted a multi-centre, prospective, single-open study to assess the efficacy and the safety of Streptococcus salivarius 24SMBc and Streptococcus oralis 89a in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in children. METHODS Ninety-one children (M:F = 47:44, mean age 7.4 ± 2.3 years) with RRIs were enrolled in the study between September and November 2018. At baseline, children received Streptococcus salivarius 24SMBc and Streptococcus oralis 89a as 2 puffs for nostril twice/day for 7 days/months. The treatment lasted for 3 consecutive months. Efficacy was expressed in terms of absence or presence of fever, cough, bronchospasm, rhinorrhea and otalgia, at 1 month (T1), and 3 (T3) months. Safety and tolerability of the probiotic were evaluated on the basis of the number and type of adverse events (AEs) recorded during the treatment. RESULTS Children treated with Streptococcus salivarius 24SMBc and Streptococcus oralis 89a showed a significant decrease of symptoms including episodes of fever, cough, bronchospasm, rhinorrhea, and otalgia (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. The treatment significantly reduced the number of episodes of fever, cough, bronchospasm, rhinorrhea, otalgia, and cough also in patients with positive familial history for atopy and in atopic children (p < 0.05). No significant differences in symptoms among children with negative familial history for atopy and children with positive familial history for atopy subgroups, not atopic and atopic children subgroups, and smoke-exposed and not smoke-exposed subgroups were observed (p > 0.05). Conducting a subgroup analysis according to the age, it has been reported that children aged 1-3 years old showed an improvement in all symptoms, however, they become statistically significant only at the end of the 3 months of treatment (p < 0.05). Conversely, in children aged 3-6 and 6-12 years old, the therapeutic efficacy was progressive and significant already from the first month of therapy (p < 0.05). None of the children were withdrawn from the study because of AEs, although 9 children experienced burning nose leading to interruption of therapy. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that Streptococcus salivarius 24SMBc and Streptococcus oralis 89a treatment is safe and seems to be effective on short-term in the treatment of RRIs. Studies involving a longer observation period are necessary to establish the real efficacy of the product for the treatment of pediatric patients affected by RRIs.
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A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of probiotics in systemic sclerosis associated gastrointestinal disease.
Low, AHL, Teng, GG, Pettersson, S, de Sessions, PF, Ho, EXP, Fan, Q, Chu, CW, Law, AHN, Santosa, A, Lim, AYN, et al
Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism. 2019;(3):411-419
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assess whether treatment with probiotics improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled parallel-group phase II trial, SSc subjects with total score ≥ 0.1 on a validated SSc-specific gastrointestinal tract (GIT) questionnaire were randomized (1:1) to receive 60 days of high dose multi-strain probiotics (Vivomixx® 1800 billion units/day) or identical placebo, followed by an additional 60 days of probiotics in both groups. Between group differences in GIT score change were assessed after 60 days (primary outcome, time-point T1) and 120 days (secondary outcome, time-point, T2) by an intention-to-treat approach. Stool samples at three time-points were subjected to 16S next generation sequencing. RESULTS Forty subjects were randomized to placebo-probiotics (n = 21) or probiotics-probiotics (n = 19). At T1, no significant improvement was observed between the two groups, reported as mean ± SE for total GIT score (placebo 0.14 ± 0.06 versus probiotics 0.13 ± 0.07; p = 0.85) or its subdomains. At T2, whilst there was no significant improvement in total GIT score (placebo-probiotics -0.05±0.06; probiotics-probiotics -0.18 ± 0.07; p = 0.14), there was significant improvement of GIT-reflux in the probiotic group (-0.22 ± 0.05 versus placebo-probiotics 0.05 ± 0.07; p = 0.004). Subjects on probiotics exhibited increasing stool microbiota alpha diversity compared to the placebo-probiotics group. Adverse events (AEs) were mild, with similar proportion of subjects with AEs and serious AEs in both groups. CONCLUSION Whilst there was no clear improvement in overall GI symptoms after 60 days, we observed significantly improved GI reflux after 120 days of probiotics. The trial confirmed safety of multi-strain probiotics in SSc patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01804959.
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Lactobacillus brevis CD2 for Prevention of Oral Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Tumors: A Multicentric Randomized Study.
DE Sanctis, V, Belgioia, L, Cante, D, LA Porta, MR, Caspiani, O, Guarnaccia, R, Argenone, A, Muto, P, Musio, D, DE Felice, F, et al
Anticancer research. 2019;(4):1935-1942
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Oropharyngeal mucositis occurs in virtually all patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiochemotherapy. The manipulation of the oral cavity microbiota represents an intriguing and challenging target. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 75 patients were enrolled to receive Lactobacillus brevis CD2 lozenges or oral care regimen with sodium bicarbonate mouthwashes. The primary endpoint was the incidence of grade 3 or 4 oropharyngeal mucositis during radiotherapy treatment. RESULTS There was no statistical difference in the incidence of grade 3-4 oropharyngeal mucositis between the intervention and control groups (40.6% vs. 41.6% respectively, p=0.974). The incidence of pain, dysphagia, body weight loss and quality of life were not different between the experimental and standard arm. CONCLUSION Our study was not able to demonstrate the efficacy of L. brevis CD2 lozenges in preventing radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Although modulating homeostasis of the salivary microbiota in the oral cavity seems attractive, it clearly needs further study.
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Rectal and Vaginal Eradication of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) in Pregnant Women by Using Lactobacillus salivarius CECT 9145, A Target-specific Probiotic Strain.
Martín, V, Cárdenas, N, Ocaña, S, Marín, M, Arroyo, R, Beltrán, D, Badiola, C, Fernández, L, Rodríguez, JM
Nutrients. 2019;(4)
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococci, GBS) can cause severe neonatal sepsis. The recto-vaginal GBS screening of pregnant women and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) to positive ones is one of the main preventive options. However, such a strategy has some limitations and there is a need for alternative approaches. Initially, the vaginal microbiota of 30 non-pregnant and 24 pregnant women, including the assessment of GBS colonization, was studied. Among the Lactobacillus isolates, 10 Lactobacillus salivarius strains were selected for further characterization. In vitro characterization revealed that L. salivarius CECT 9145 was the best candidate for GBS eradication. Its efficacy to eradicate GBS from the intestinal and vaginal tracts of pregnant women was evaluated in a pilot trial involving 57 healthy pregnant women. All the volunteers in the probiotic group (n = 25) were GBS-positive and consumed ~9 log10 cfu of L. salivarius CECT 9145 daily from week 26 to week 38. At the end of the trial (week 38), 72% and 68% of the women in this group were GBS-negative in the rectal and vaginal samples, respectively. L. salivarius CECT 9145 seems to be an efficient method to reduce the number of GBS-positive women during pregnancy, decreasing the number of women receiving IAP during delivery.
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Consumption of a Leuconostoc holzapfelii-enriched synbiotic beverage alters the composition of the microbiota and microbial extracellular vesicles.
Yang, J, McDowell, A, Kim, EK, Seo, H, Yum, K, Lee, WH, Jee, YK, Kim, YK
Experimental & molecular medicine. 2019;(8):1-11
Abstract
Synbiotics, the combination of probiotics and prebiotics, are known to confer health benefits via intestinal microbiota modulation. However, significant intestinal microbiota alterations can be difficult to determine in intervention studies based on solely bacterial stool metagenomic analysis. Intestinal microbiota constituents secrete 20-200-nm-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing microbial DNA, proteins, and lipids that are distributed throughout the body, providing an alternative target for microbiota metagenomic analysis. Here, we determined the impact of a synbiotic beverage enriched with the kimchi-derived bacterium Leuconostoc holzapfelii (L. holzapfelii) on the intestinal microbiota and local and circulatory microbiota-derived EV composition of healthy Korean adults. We isolated microbial DNA from stool bacteria, stool EVs, and urinary EVs and conducted next-generation sequencing of the 16S rDNA V3-V4 regions before and after synbiotic consumption. The species diversity of circulating urinary EVs was significantly increased after synbiotic consumption, while stool bacterial and EV diversity remained unchanged. Furthermore, we found that while a single genus was decreased among the stool bacteria constituents, stool EVs and urinary EVs showed significant alterations in four and eight genera, respectively. Blood chemistry assays revealed that synbiotic consumption significantly lowered aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels, particularly in subjects with starting levels above the normal range (>40 UI/L). In conclusion, the L. holzapfelii-enriched synbiotic beverage greatly altered serum AST levels and microbial EV composition in urine and stool, while only minor changes were observed in the gut microbiota composition. Based on these findings, we suggest the potential use of microbiota-derived EVs as surrogate markers in future predictive diagnosis studies.