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The Influence of a blend of Probiotic Lactobacillus and Prebiotic Inulin on the Duration and Severity of Symptoms among Individuals with Covid-19
Gavin Publishers is an international open access journal publishers. We publish research, review, mini review, case report, case series, editorial, short communication, opinion, perspective, rapid communication, commentary, and brief report peer reviewed articles in best Clinical, Medical, Pharma, Life Sciences, and Engineering Subject Journals. All our journals are Double Blind Peer Reviewed Journals and our website have more than 10 Million readers, all papers publishing in our Journals are globally accepted. Our conferences have more than 5000 renowned Speakers combined in an event with interactive sessions and Poster presentations. Gavin Publishers is combination of Journals and Conferences, currently we are publishing articles in more than 150+ best Journals and organizing 100 Conferences all over the world. Our open access journals committed to disseminating top notch academic research and academic journals throughout the world covering various disciplines of science, technology and medicine.
2022
Abstract
Gut microbial irregularities can lead to increased gut inflammation and gut membrane damage in people with long covid. Symptoms such as cough and breathlessness are apparent in Covid 19 patients with harmful gut bacterial overgrowth. In Covid patients, antibiotic and dexamethasone treatment also aggravates gut microbial imbalances. Lactobacillus supplementation has been shown to lessen upper respiratory tract infection, increase gut bacterial diversity, improve gut wall integrity, reduce gastrointestinal symptoms and gut inflammation, decrease oxidative stress and improve immunity. This study analysed the efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics combined supplements in reducing the severity and longevity of symptomatic Covid infection. 126 participants with Covid symptoms consumed two capsules a day for a month of a supplement containing 5 species of Lactobacillus and chicory inulin. 32% of participants were in the early phase of infection, and 68% were in the late phase. Both early and late phase participants showed significant improvements in cough, fatigue, and subjective wellbeing after 30 days of intervention. The gut symptoms of 82% of the participants improved after a month of intervention. Inulin and Lactobacillus strains need to be studied further robustly to determine whether they provide additional benefits. Healthcare practitioners can use the results of this study to consider symbiotic interventions for those with Covid symptoms.
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Probiotic improves symptomatic and viral clearance in Covid19 outpatients: a randomized, quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial
Gut Microbes is an open access journal which publishes research on intestinal microbiota, gastrointestinal, liver and cardiac disease, cancer, and irritable and inflammatory bowel conditions. The intestinal microbiota plays a pivotal role in human physiology. Characterizing its structure and function has implications for health and disease, impacting nutrition and obesity, brain function, allergic responses, immunity, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer development, cardiac disease, liver disease, and others. Gut Microbes provides a platform for presenting and discussing cutting-edge research on all aspects of microorganisms populating the intestine.
2022
Abstract
Covid-19 is a disease of the lungs, which differentially affects those it infects. There are currently no therapies that have been approved for use in Covid-19 patients. However recent evidence has highlighted a possible link between the gut and the lungs, known as the gut-lung axis indicating a new avenue for investigation. Previous trials on probiotics have indicated a role in infections such as cold and flu highlighting a possible role in Covid-19 infection. This randomised control trial of 300 Covid-19 patients aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a probiotic known as AB21 containing several strains of Lactoplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici. The results showed that after 30 days, the rate of remission from Covid-19 was higher in those who were given the probiotic, which was regardless of age, sex, confounding metabolic illness, viral load, and days from symptom start. Symptom duration and viral load were also reduced with probiotic use. Higher amounts of Covid-19 associated immune activity and lower biomarkers of inflammation were also reported following probiotic use. Probiotic use was shown to be safe during Covid-19 infection. It was concluded that the use of AB21 in Covid-19 patients was safe and associated with increased viral and symptom resolution compared to placebo, possibly driven by immune alterations via the gut-lung axis. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to seriously consider the use of this probiotic to stimulate immune activity and aid viral and symptom resolution in patients suffering from Covid-19.
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Multivariate profile and acute-phase correlates of cognitive deficits in a COVID-19 hospitalised cohort.
Hampshire, A, Chatfield, DA, MPhil, AM, Jolly, A, Trender, W, Hellyer, PJ, Giovane, MD, Newcombe, VFJ, Outtrim, JG, Warne, B, et al
EClinicalMedicine. 2022;47:101417
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Background: Preliminary evidence has highlighted a possible association between severe COVID-19 and persistent cognitive deficits. Further research is required to confirm this association, determine whether cognitive deficits relate to clinical features from the acute phase or to mental health status at the point of assessment, and quantify rate of recovery. Methods: 46 individuals who received critical care for COVID-19 at Addenbrooke's hospital between 10th March 2020 and 31st July 2020 (16 mechanically ventilated) underwent detailed computerised cognitive assessment alongside scales measuring anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder under supervised conditions at a mean follow up of 6.0 (± 2.1) months following acute illness. Patient and matched control (N = 460) performances were transformed into standard deviation from expected scores, accounting for age and demographic factors using N = 66,008 normative datasets. Global accuracy and response time composites were calculated (G_SScore & G_RT). Linear modelling predicted composite score deficits from acute severity, mental-health status at assessment, and time from hospital admission. The pattern of deficits across tasks was qualitatively compared with normal age-related decline, and early-stage dementia. Findings: COVID-19 survivors were less accurate (G_SScore=-0.53SDs) and slower (G_RT=+0.89SDs) in their responses than expected compared to their matched controls. Acute illness, but not chronic mental health, significantly predicted cognitive deviation from expected scores (G_SScore (p=0.0037) and G_RT (p = 0.0366)). The most prominent task associations with COVID-19 were for higher cognition and processing speed, which was qualitatively distinct from the profiles of normal ageing and dementia and similar in magnitude to the effects of ageing between 50 and 70 years of age. A trend towards reduced deficits with time from illness (r∼=0.15) did not reach statistical significance. Interpretation: Cognitive deficits after severe COVID-19 relate most strongly to acute illness severity, persist long into the chronic phase, and recover slowly if at all, with a characteristic profile highlighting higher cognitive functions and processing speed. Funding: This work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility (BRC-1215-20014), the Addenbrooke's Charities Trust and NIHR COVID-19 BioResource RG9402. AH is funded by the UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre and Imperial College London Biomedical Research Centre. ETB and DKM are supported by NIHR Senior Investigator awards. JBR is supported by the Wellcome Trust (220258) and Medical Research Council (SUAG/051 G101400). VFJN is funded by an Academy of Medical Sciences/ The Health Foundation Clinician Scientist Fellowship. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
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Association of prior metabolic and bariatric surgery with severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with obesity.
Aminian, A, Fathalizadeh, A, Tu, C, Butsch, WS, Pantalone, KM, Griebeler, ML, Kashyap, SR, Rosenthal, RJ, Burguera, B, Nissen, SE
Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 2021;17(1):208-214
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A growing body of evidence indicates that patients with obesity are disproportionately affected with a severe form of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may experience resultant higher mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the association of prior metabolic surgery with severity of SARSCoV-2 infection in patients with severe obesity. This study is a retrospective, matched-cohort analysis of a prospective, observational, institutional review board–approved clinical registry of all patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study population included a total of 363 patients, including 33 individuals who had metabolic surgery and 330 matched patients who tested positive. Results indicate that a history of metabolic surgery is associated with lower severity of SARSCoV-2 infection in patients with severe obesity, as manifested by lower risks of hospital and ICU admission. Authors conclude that prior metabolic surgery with subsequent weight loss and improvement of metabolic abnormalities could potentially reduce morbidity from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a risk factor for poor clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between prior metabolic surgery and the severity of COVID-19 in patients with severe obesity. SETTING Cleveland Clinic Health System in the United States. METHODS Among 4365 patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between March 8, 2020 and July 22, 2020 in the Cleveland Clinic Health System, 33 patients were identified who had a prior history of metabolic surgery. The surgical patients were propensity matched 1:10 to nonsurgical patients to assemble a cohort of control patients (n = 330) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2 at the time of SARS-CoV-2 testing. The primary endpoint was the rate of hospital admission. The exploratory endpoints included admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), need for mechanical ventilation and dialysis during index hospitalization, and mortality. After propensity score matching, outcomes were compared in univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS The average BMI of the surgical group was 49.1 ± 8.8 kg/m2 before metabolic surgery and was down to 37.2 ± 7.1 at the time of SARS-CoV-2 testing, compared with the control group's BMI of 46.7 ± 6.4 kg/m2. In the univariate analysis, 6 (18.2%) patients in the metabolic surgery group and 139 (42.1%) patients in the control group were admitted to the hospital (P = .013). In the multivariate analysis, a prior history of metabolic surgery was associated with a lower hospital admission rate compared with control patients with obesity (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.88; P = .028). While none of the 4 exploratory outcomes occurred in the metabolic surgery group, 43 (13.0%) patients in the control group required ICU admission (P = .021), 22 (6.7%) required mechanical ventilation, 5 (1.5%) required dialysis, and 8 (2.4%) patients died. CONCLUSION Prior metabolic surgery with subsequent weight loss and improvement of metabolic abnormalities was associated with lower rates of hospital and ICU admission in patients with obesity who became infected with SARS-CoV-2. Confirmation of these findings will require larger studies.
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MATH+ protocol for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: the scientific rationale.
Marik, PE, Kory, P, Varon, J, Iglesias, J, Meduri, GU
Expert review of anti-infective therapy. 2021;19(2):129-135
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19 disease progresses through a number of distinct phases. The management of each phase is unique and specific. The pulmonary phase of COVID-19 is characterized by an organizing pneumonia with profound immune dysregulation, activation of clotting, and a severe microvascular injury culminating in severe hypoxemia. The core treatment strategy to manage the pulmonary phase includes the combination of methylprednisolone, ascorbic acid, thiamine, and heparin (MATH+ protocol). The rationale for the MATH+ protocol is reviewed in this paper. AREAS COVERED We provide an overview on the pathophysiological changes occurring in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure and a treatment strategy to reverse these changes thereby preventing progressive lung injury and death. EXPERT OPINION While there is no single 'Silver Bullet' to cure COVID-19, we believe that the severely disturbed pathological processes leading to respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19 organizing pneumonia will respond to the combination of Methylprednisone, Ascorbic acid, Thiamine, and full anticoagulation with Heparin (MATH+ protocol).We believe that it is no longer ethically acceptable to limit management to 'supportive care' alone, in the face of effective, safe, and inexpensive medications that can effectively treat this disease and thereby reduce the risk of complications and death.
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Global effect of COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep among 3- to 5-year-old children: a longitudinal study of 14 countries.
Okely, AD, Kariippanon, KE, Guan, H, Taylor, EK, Suesse, T, Cross, PL, Chong, KH, Suherman, A, Turab, A, Staiano, AE, et al
BMC public health. 2021;21(1):940
Abstract
BACKGROUND The restrictions associated with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to young children's daily routines and habits. The impact on their participation in movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep) is unknown. This international longitudinal study compared young children's movement behaviours before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Parents of children aged 3-5 years, from 14 countries (8 low- and middle-income countries, LMICs) completed surveys to assess changes in movement behaviours and how these changes were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were completed in the 12 months up to March 2020 and again between May and June 2020 (at the height of restrictions). Physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent survey. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured. Compliance with the World Health Organizations (WHO) Global guidelines for PA (180 min/day [≥60 min moderate- vigorous PA]), SST (≤1 h/day) and sleep (10-13 h/day) for children under 5 years of age, was determined. RESULTS Nine hundred- forty-eight parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AdjOR] = 2.0, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.0,3.8) and SST (AdjOR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.2,3.9) guidelines than their high-income country (HIC) counterparts. Children who could go outside during COVID-19 were more likely to meet all WHO Global guidelines (AdjOR = 3.3, 95%CI 1.1,9.8) than those who were not. Children of parents with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (AdjOR = 0.5, 95%CI 0.3,0.9). CONCLUSION PA and SST levels of children from LMICs have been less impacted by COVID-19 than in HICs. Ensuring children can access an outdoor space, and supporting parents' mental health are important prerequisites for enabling pre-schoolers to practice healthy movement behaviours and meet the Global guidelines.
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Possibilities for Maintaining Appetite in Recovering COVID-19 Patients.
Høier, ATZB, Chaaban, N, Andersen, BV
Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2021;10(2)
Abstract
COVID-19 and sequelae thereof are known to cause chemosensory dysfunction, posing a risk for intake and adequate nutrition for recovery. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the subjective strategies for maintaining appetite applied by patients recovering from COVID-19. The study included 19 in-depth interviews, focusing on patients suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. The results were analysed using a thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results on strategies for maintaining appetite included four key themes: (1) a focus on well-functioning senses, (2) a focus on familiar foods, (3) a focus on the eating environment, and (4) a focus on post-ingestive well-being. It was found that factors prior to, during and after food intake, as well as the context, could influence desire to eat and pleasure related to food intake. As ageusia and anosmia make characterization of food difficult, being able to recognize and memorize its flavour was important to engage in consumption. Under normal circumstances, the hedonic value of food relies predominantly on the flavour of foods. When suffering from chemosensory dysfunction, shifting focus towards the texture of food, including trigeminal stimulation during consumption, were beneficial for maintaining appetite and food-related pleasure. Furthermore, a focus on the holistic satisfying feelings of choosing healthy food, as well as a focus on other people's enjoyment during meals were reported to boost well-being around food intake. The study elaborated our understanding of the complex consequences of COVID-19, and can be applied in health promoting initiatives targeted patients recovering from COVID-19.
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Case report and systematic review suggest that children may experience similar long-term effects to adults after clinical COVID-19.
Ludvigsson, JF
Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). 2021;110(3):914-921
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The long-term effects of COVID-19 is becoming increasingly documented in adults. Symptoms such as fatigue, headache and depression have all been reported, however data on the possible long-term effects of COVID-19 in children is scarce. The aim of this systematic review and case report was to describe the long-term effects of COVID-19 in five children and support this with other reports in the literature. The results showed that of the five case reports of long COVID, four were girls aged 9-15 years. All subjects reported symptoms lasting between 6-8 months. Most common symptoms were fatigue, difficulty breathing and heart issues. The systematic literature review did not find any publications which documented long COVID in children. It was concluded that children may experience long COVID symptoms and girls may be more susceptible. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that children may also be affected by long COVID and that patients should be monitored for symptoms for at least 6-8 months.
Abstract
AIM: Persistent symptoms in adults after COVID-19 are emerging and the term long COVID is increasingly appearing in the literature. However, paediatric data are scarce. METHODS This paper contains a case report of five Swedish children and the long-term symptoms reported by their parents. It also includes a systematic literature review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases and the medRxiv/bioRxiv pre-print servers up to 2 November 2020. RESULTS The five children with potential long COVID had a median age of 12 years (range 9-15) and four were girls. They had symptoms for 6-8 months after their clinical diagnoses of COVID-19. None were hospitalised at diagnosis, but one was later admitted for peri-myocarditis. All five children had fatigue, dyspnoea, heart palpitations or chest pain, and four had headaches, difficulties concentrating, muscle weakness, dizziness and sore throats. Some had improved after 6-8 months, but they all suffered from fatigue and none had fully returned to school. The systematic review identified 179 publications and 19 of these were deemed relevant and read in detail. None contained any information on long COVID in children. CONCLUSION Children may experience similar long COVID symptoms to adults and females may be more affected.
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Assessment of the Frequency and Variety of Persistent Symptoms Among Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review.
Nasserie, T, Hittle, M, Goodman, SN
JAMA network open. 2021;4(5):e2111417
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Importance: Infection with COVID-19 has been associated with long-term symptoms, but the frequency, variety, and severity of these complications are not well understood. Many published commentaries have proposed plans for pandemic control that are primarily based on mortality rates among older individuals without considering long-term morbidity among individuals of all ages. Reliable estimates of such morbidity are important for patient care, prognosis, and development of public health policy. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of studies examining the frequency and variety of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Evidence Review: A search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted to identify studies published from January 1, 2020, to March 11, 2021, that examined persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Persistent symptoms were defined as those persisting for at least 60 days after diagnosis, symptom onset, or hospitalization or at least 30 days after recovery from the acute illness or hospital discharge. Search terms included COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, long-term, after recovery, long-haul, persistent, outcome, symptom, follow-up, and longitudinal. All English-language articles that presented primary data from cohort studies that reported the prevalence of persistent symptoms among individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and that had clearly defined and sufficient follow-up were included. Case reports, case series, and studies that described symptoms only at the time of infection and/or hospitalization were excluded. A structured framework was applied to appraise study quality. Findings: A total of 1974 records were identified; of those, 1247 article titles and abstracts were screened. After removal of duplicates and exclusions, 92 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility; 47 studies were deemed eligible, and 45 studies reporting 84 clinical signs or symptoms were included in the systematic review. Of 9751 total participants, 5266 (54.0%) were male; 30 of 45 studies reported mean or median ages younger than 60 years. Among 16 studies, most of which comprised participants who were previously hospitalized, the median proportion of individuals experiencing at least 1 persistent symptom was 72.5% (interquartile range [IQR], 55.0%-80.0%). Individual symptoms occurring most frequently included shortness of breath or dyspnea (26 studies; median frequency, 36.0%; IQR, 27.6%-50.0%), fatigue or exhaustion (25 studies; median frequency, 40.0%; IQR, 31.0%-57.0%), and sleep disorders or insomnia (8 studies; median 29.4%, IQR, 24.4%-33.0%). There were wide variations in the design and quality of the studies, which had implications for interpretation and often limited direct comparability and combinability. Major design differences included patient populations, definitions of time zero (ie, the beginning of the follow-up interval), follow-up lengths, and outcome definitions, including definitions of illness severity. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review found that COVID-19 symptoms commonly persisted beyond the acute phase of infection, with implications for health-associated functioning and quality of life. Current studies of symptom persistence are highly heterogeneous, and future studies need longer follow-up, improved quality, and more standardized designs to reliably quantify risks.
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Lifestyle Adjustments in Long-COVID Management: Potential Benefits of Plant-Based Diets.
Storz, MA
Current nutrition reports. 2021;10(4):352-363
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The SARS-CoV-2-pandemic has caused mortality and morbidity at an unprecedented global scale. Many patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 continue to experience symptoms after the acute phase of infection and report fatigue, sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression as well as arthralgia and muscle weakness. Summarized under the umbrella term "long-COVID," these symptoms may last weeks to months and impose a substantial burden on affected individuals. Dietary approaches to tackle these complications have received comparably little attention. Although plant-based diets in particular were shown to exert benefits on underlying conditions linked to poor COVID-19 outcomes, their role with regard to COVID-19 sequelae is yet largely unknown. Thus, this review sought to investigate whether a plant-based diet could reduce the burden of long-COVID. RECENT FINDINGS The number of clinical trials investigating the role of plant-based nutrition in COVID-19 prevention and management is currently limited. Yet, there is evidence from pre-pandemic observational and clinical studies that a plant-based diet may be of general benefit with regard to several clinical conditions that can also be found in individuals with COVID-19. These include anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and musculoskeletal pain. Adoption of a plant-based diet leads to a reduced intake in pro-inflammatory mediators and could be one accessible strategy to tackle long-COVID associated prolonged systemic inflammation. Plant-based diets may be of general benefit with regard to some of the most commonly found COVID-19 sequelae. Additional trials investigating which plant-based eating patterns confer the greatest benefit in the battle against long-COVID are urgently warranted.