scholarly journals Digitalizing the Microbiome for Human Health

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirti Nath ◽  
Christoph A. Thaiss

ABSTRACT The microbiome has recently joined the club of endocrine entities of the human body that are involved in homeostasis and disease. Microbiome characterizations are now typically included in longitudinal and cross-sectional population studies, associations with microbiome features have been made for almost any human disease, and the molecules by which the microbiome functionally contributes to host physiology are being elucidated. The leverage of these efforts for human health, however, is still rather modest. In this Perspective, we summarize some of the challenges that need to be overcome in order to make microbiome studies as informative for human health as genetic studies. Focusing on the role of the microbiome in host metabolism and inflammation, we also outline potential strategies that can be employed to achieve the next milestones in the journey toward microbiome-informed human health assessment and action.

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ntanasi ◽  
M. Yannakoulia ◽  
N. Mourtzi ◽  
G. S. Vlachos ◽  
M. H. Kosmidis ◽  
...  

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of frailty using five different instruments in a cohort of older adults and explore the association between frailty and various risk factors. Method: 1,867 participants aged 65 years and above were included in the current retrospective cross-sectional study. Frailty was operationalized according to the Fried definition, the FRAIL Scale, the Frailty Index (FI), the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), and the Groningen Frailty Index (GFI). We explored the role of various frailty risk factors using logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of frailty varied depending on the definition used (Fried definition = 4.1%, FRAIL Scale = 1.5%, FI = 19.7%, TFI = 24.5%, and GFI = 30.2%). The only risk factors consistently associated with frailty irrespectively of definition were education and age. Conclusion: The frailty prevalence reported in our study is similar or lower to that reported in other population studies. Qualitative differences between frailty definitions were observed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (14) ◽  
pp. 2164-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Rebbeck ◽  
Chanita Hughes Halbert ◽  
Pamela Sankar

Epidemiologic studies attempt to understand the distribution and determinants of human disease. Epidemiologic research often incorporates information about race, ethnicity, or ancestry, usually as a self-identified race or ethnicity (SIRE) variable. Differences in the distribution and determinants of disease on the basis of SIRE may be identified in these studies. In addition, genetic and other biologic differences according to SIRE are frequently reported. If these differences are real and meaningful, they may have value in identifying disease-causative or -preventive factors, and thus may be beneficial to human health. However, the concepts of race, ethnicity, or ancestry are often poorly considered or crudely applied, particularly in genetic studies of disease etiology or outcome. Consequently, results suggesting genetic differences with respect to disease etiology or outcome across SIRE groups may not be meaningful; in fact, these differences may prove harmful if they propagate stereotypes or spurious differences. Therefore, it is critical to properly consider the meaning, definitions, and use of race, ethnicity, or ancestry in molecular epidemiologic studies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Landrier ◽  
Esma Karkeni ◽  
Julie Marcotorchino ◽  
Lauriane Bonnet ◽  
Franck Tourniaire

Cross-sectional studies depict an inverse relationship between vitamin D (VD) status reflected by plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and obesity. Furthermore, recent studies in vitro and in animal models tend to demonstrate an impact of VD and VD receptor on adipose tissue and adipocyte biology, pointing to at least a part-causal role of VD insufficiency in obesity and associated physiopathological disorders such as adipose tissue inflammation and subsequent insulin resistance. However, clinical and genetic studies are far less convincing, with highly contrasted results ruling out solid conclusions for the moment. Nevertheless, prospective studies provide interesting data supporting the hypothesis of a preventive role of VD in onset of obesity. The aim of this review is to summarise the available data on relationships between VD, adipose tissue/adipocyte physiology, and obesity in order to reveal the next key points that need to be addressed before we can gain deeper insight into the controversial VD–obesity relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Fitri Elizabrth Br Hasibuan ◽  
Beivy Jonathan Kolondam

INTERAKSI ANTARA MIKROBIOTA USUS DAN SISTEM KEKEBALAN TUBUH MANUSIA Fitri Elizabrth Br Hasibuan dan Beivy Jonathan Kolondam ABSTRAK Sejumlah besar mikrobiota yang menghuni sistem pencernaan manusia memiliki peran penting dengan sistem kekebalan tubuh. Mikrobiota ini melaksanakan fungsi penting untuk fisiologi inang. Dalam tubuh manusia terdapat sekitar 10-100 triliun mikrobiota. Jumlah mikrobioma pada manusia paling banyak terdapat di usus, yaitu sekitar 100 triliun sel-sel mikrobiota yang terdiri dari 1.000 spesies berbeda. Mikrobiota adalah seluruh mikroba yang hidup di tubuh manusia yang terdiri dari bakteri, archae, virus, dan jamur yang pada umumnya hidup di setiap bagian tubuh manusia seperi kulit, vagina, hidung dan mulut. Bakteri pada mikrobioma manusia memiliki peran pada imunitas, nutrisi, dan perkembangan manusia. Di sini ditinjau tentang interaksi antara koloni mikroba dan sistem kekebalan tubuh dan implikasi dari temuan ini bagi kesehatan manusia. Kata-kata kunci: mikrobiota usus, sistem kekebalan tubuh, interaksi, bakteria.   INTERACTION BETWEEN GUT MICROBIOTA AND THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM ABSTRACT Most of the gut microbiota has important role in human immune system. These microbiota conducts important function for host physiology. The microbiota in the human body can range around 10 to 100 billion in number which contained 1,000 different species. Microbiota are the whole microbes living in human body such as bacteria, archaea, virus, and fungi, located on the skin or inside the vagina, nose and mouth. Bacteria in human microbiome has important roles in nutrition, immunity, and human development. This article discussed about interaction of microbes and immune system along with the implication of the interaction for human health. Keywords: Gut microbiota, immune system, interaction, bacteria


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Lew ◽  
Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽  
Yanzheng Liu ◽  
Mansor Abu Talib ◽  
Olga Mitina ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: According to the strain theory of suicide, strains, resulting from conflicting and competing pressures in an individual's life, are hypothesized to precede suicide. But social support is an important factor that can mitigate strains and lessen their input in suicidal behavior. Aims: This study was designed to assess the moderating role of social support in the relation between strain and suicidality. Methods: A sample of 1,051 employees were recruited in Beijing, the capital of China, through an online survey. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and strains were assessed with the Psychological Strains Scale. Results: Psychological strains are a good predictor of suicidality, and social support, a basic need for each human being, moderates and decreases the effects of psychological strains on suicidality. Limitations: The cross-sectional survey limited the extent to which conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Furthermore, the results may not be generalized to the whole of China because of its diversity. Conclusion: Social support has a tendency to mitigate the effects of psychological strains on suicidality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
MAK Azad Chowdhury ◽  
Abu Sayeed Munsi

Background: Recently it has been apprehended that sildenafil, a drug which has been successfully using in the treatment of PPHN and erectile dysfunction in adult, is going to be withdrawn from the market of Bangladesh due to threat of its misuses. Objective: The aim of this study was to see the extent of uses of sildenafil in the treatment of PPHN and importance of availability of this drugs in the market inspite of its probable misuses. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), special baby care unit (SCABU) and cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital from June, 2017 to May 2018. Neonates with PPHN were enrolled in the study. All cases were treated with oral sildenefil for PPHN along with others management according to hospital protocol. Data along with other parameters were collected and analyzed. Results: Total 320 patients with suspected PPHN were admitted during the study period. Among them 92 (29%) cases had PPHN. Male were 49(53 %) cases and female were 43(47%) cases. Mean age at hospital admission was 29.7±13.4 hours. Based on echocardiography,13(14%) cases had mild, 38 (41%) cases moderate and 41(45%) cases severe PPHN. Mean duration of sildenafil therapy was 11.9±7.1 days. Improved from PPHN were 83 (90%) cases. Mortality was 10% (9). Conclusion: In this study it was found that the incidence of PPHN is 29% among the suspected newborns. Sildenafil is successfull in improving the oxygenation of PPHN and to decrease the mortality of neonates. DS (Child) H J 2019; 35(2) : 100-104


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-350
Author(s):  
Dr. Girish.L Dandagi ◽  
◽  
Venkat kalyana kumar. P ◽  
Dr. Dr.Isaac Mathew ◽  
Dr. Dr.G S Gaude Dr. Dr.G S Gaude

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