1.
Integrated Analyses of Microbiome and Longitudinal Metabolome Data Reveal Microbial-Host Interactions on Sulfur Metabolism in Parkinson's Disease.
Hertel, J, Harms, AC, Heinken, A, Baldini, F, Thinnes, CC, Glaab, E, Vasco, DA, Pietzner, M, Stewart, ID, Wareham, NJ, et al
Cell reports. 2019;(7):1767-1777.e8
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibits systemic effects on the human metabolism, with emerging roles for the gut microbiome. Here, we integrate longitudinal metabolome data from 30 drug-naive, de novo PD patients and 30 matched controls with constraint-based modeling of gut microbial communities derived from an independent, drug-naive PD cohort, and prospective data from the general population. Our key results are (1) longitudinal trajectory of metabolites associated with the interconversion of methionine and cysteine via cystathionine differed between PD patients and controls; (2) dopaminergic medication showed strong lipidomic signatures; (3) taurine-conjugated bile acids correlated with the severity of motor symptoms, while low levels of sulfated taurolithocholate were associated with PD incidence in the general population; and (4) computational modeling predicted changes in sulfur metabolism, driven by A. muciniphila and B. wadsworthia, which is consistent with the changed metabolome. The multi-omics integration reveals PD-specific patterns in microbial-host sulfur co-metabolism that may contribute to PD severity.
2.
[The rhinogenic deafness and SPA therapy: clinical-experimental study].
Costantino, M
La Clinica terapeutica. 2008;(5):311-5
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The sulphur SPA inhalation therapy is useful in respiratory and otolaryngologic chronic inflammatory diseases in adult subjects and children. The therapeutic action relies on anti-inflammatory, mucolytic and trophic effects. Particularly in children, the sulphur SPA inhalation therapy, using endotympanic ventilation or Politzer method, would be suitable in the treatment of the rhinogenic deafness. Several reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of endotympanic ventilation while the results on the Politzer method are inconclusive. On the basis of these considerations, aim of our study was to analyze the effectiveness and the safety of the aerosol+Politzer with a sulphur mineral water in children affected by rhinogenic deafness or chronic inflammatory processes responsible for the onset or persistence of rhinogenic deafness. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study has been performed on 23 subjects in pediatric age (61% women and 39% males; mean age: 6+/-2.4 years; age range: 3-14 years) affected by chronic catarrhalis otitis, chronic rhino-pharyngitis inflammations, chronic or recurrent adenoiditis with dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube. The investigated subjects underwent 12 consecutive days sulphur SPA inhalation therapy (aerosol+Politzer) at the Terme of Stabia in Castellammare (Naples, Italy). At the beginning and at the end of the SPA cycle the functionality of the middle ear and the tolerability were evaluated. RESULTS The results have shown an increase of the impedance curves that correspond to the normal ventilation of the tympanic box (type A (13% before therapy and of 57% post-therapy) and a decrease of the pathological curves of type B and type C (87% pre-therapy and of 43% post-therapy); a significant increase of compliance (p 0.05) in pathological curves of type B and C. No adverse reaction to the SPA inhalation therapy has been reported during the study. CONCLUSIONS In concordance with the literature our data demonstrated that the sulphur SPA inhalation treatment induce a improvement of middle ear function of the subjects examined with good local and systemic tolerability.
3.
Improving homocysteine levels through balneotherapy: effects of sulphur baths.
Leibetseder, V, Strauss-Blasche, G, Holzer, F, Marktl, W, Ekmekcioglu, C
Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry. 2004;(1-2):105-11
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for cardio-vascular diseases. Furthermore it has been associated with antioxidative status. Additionally balneotherapeutic sulphur baths have been shown to influence antioxidative status. METHODS 40 patients with degenerative osteoarthrosis were randomised into two equal groups, a treatment group, receiving stationary spa therapy plus daily sulphur baths (sulphur group) and a control group receiving spa therapy alone (control group). Blood tHcy levels and urinary 8-OHdG (an indicator for oxidative stress) were measured at the beginning and the end of spa therapy. RESULTS tHcy (micromol/l) was significantly reduced from 11.41 (+/-2.91) to 10.55 (+/-2.28) in the sulphur group (p=0.016) and rose insignificantly from 12.93 (+/-2.28) to 13.80 (+/-3.87) in the control group. 8-OHdG (ng 8-OHdG/mg creatinine) declined from 18.00 (+/-18.28) to 11.16 (+/-5.33) in the sulphur group (n.s.) and from 17.91 (+/-5.87) to 18.17 (+/-5.70) in the control group (n.s.). Differences between the two groups showed significant effects of sulphur baths for tHcy (p=0.006) but not for 8-OHdG (p=0.106). CONCLUSIONS Sulphur baths exert beneficial effects on plasma tHcyt whereas effects on 8-OHdG seem to be unlikely.
4.
Effect of sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis.
Ekmekcioglu, C, Strauss-Blasche, G, Holzer, F, Marktl, W
Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine. 2002;(4):216-20
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to possible antiinflammatory effects, sulfur baths are widely used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Previously it was demonstrated that drinking cures with sulfur can improve the antioxidative defense system and lower the peroxide levels of patients with chronic degenerative osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE This study therefore sought to investigate the effect of 3-week therapy with sulfur baths on antioxidative defense systems, peroxide concentrations, and lipid levels in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS After randomization one group of patients (n = 19) received sulfur baths during their stay at a health resort (sulfur group), whereas the other age-matched patient group served as controls (n = 19, control group), only receiving spa therapy. Total cholesterol levels, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and the antioxidative status, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and peroxide concentration, as an oxidative stress parameter, were evaluated at the begin and end of therapy. RESULTS A 17.2% decline in peroxide concentrations (p = 0.10, n.s.) and significant lower SOD activities (p < 0.001) were detected in the sulfur group at the end of the therapy. Until the end of therapy total cholesterol levels changed differentially (p = 0.007) in the sulfur group (from 229.11 +/- 34.47 mg/dl to 217.46 +/- 40.45 mg/dl) and in the control group (from 197.63 +/- 34.66 mg/dl to 207.95 +/- 33.02 mg/dl). A similar significant group difference was found for LDL (p = 0.017), with a 5.9% reduction in the sulfur group and a 6.1% increase in the control group. Triglyceride concentrations were nonsignificantly reduced in both groups after 3 weeks at the health resort (sulfur group 11.2%, control group 20.2%). HDL values only minimally changed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here suggest that a sulfur bath therapy could cause a reduction in oxidative stress, alterations of SOD activities, and a tendency towards improvement of lipid levels.