scholarly journals Probiotics in Pediatrics. A Review and Practical Guide

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2176
Author(s):  
Leontien Depoorter ◽  
Yvan Vandenplas
Keyword(s):  
Health Benefit ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Nosocomial Diarrhea ◽  
Infectious Gastroenteritis ◽  
Study Heterogeneity ◽  
Probiotic Strains ◽  
Prophylactic Use ◽  
Meta Analyses

The potential benefit of the administration of probiotics in children has been studied in many settings globally. Probiotics products contain viable micro-organisms that confer a health benefit on the host. Beneficial effects of selected probiotic strains for the management or prevention of selected pediatric conditions have been demonstrated. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of current available evidence on the efficacy of specific probiotics in selected conditions to guide pediatricians in decision-making on the therapeutic or prophylactic use of probiotic strains in children. Evidence to support the use of certain probiotics in selected pediatric conditions is often available. In addition, the administration of probiotics is associated with a low risk of adverse events and is generally well tolerated. The best documented efficacy of certain probiotics is for treatment of infectious gastroenteritis, and prevention of antibiotic-associated, Clostridioides difficile-associated and nosocomial diarrhea. Unfortunately, due to study heterogeneity and in some cases high risk of bias in published studies, a broad consensus is lacking for specific probiotic strains, doses and treatment regimens for some pediatric indications. The current available evidence thus limits the systematic administration of probiotics. The most recent meta-analyses and reviews highlight the need for more well-designed, properly powered, strain-specific and dedicated-dose response studies.

scholarly journals 10 Years of Pulsed-Xenon Ultraviolet Disinfection

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s438-s438
Author(s):  
Mark Stibich ◽  
Sarah Simmons ◽  
Deborah Passey
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Outcome Studies ◽  
Uv Disinfection ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Environmental Effectiveness ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Hospital Acquired ◽  
And Control ◽  
Effectiveness Studies

Background: Ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection using low-pressure mercury lamps has been around since the 1940s. The advent of pulsed-xenon UV for hospital use in 2010 has provided a nontoxic and novel technology for hospital disinfection with the first data presented at the 2010 SHEA Decennial. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the current body of evidence for pulsed xenon UV disinfection. Methods: The literature search criteria included the following: research conducted in domestic and international settings using pulsed-xenon for surface disinfection, published between 2000 and 2019, and reporting on environmental effectiveness or hospital-acquired reductions (HAIs). We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The meta-analysis included 24 studies: 12 HAI outcome studies and 12 environmental effectiveness studies. Meta-analyses were conducted by calculating the percentage reductions for environmental effectiveness, and for the HAI outcome studies, we used a random-effects model to pool the relative risk of HAI. The outcome studies used 272 and 299 months of data for the experimental and control groups, respectively. Results: There was an overall benefit of using pulsed-xenon UV. The overall relative risk of infection decreased compared to the control arm (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54–0.76). The percentage reductions in environmental studies were as follows: Clostridioides difficile (94.8%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (91.5%), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (99.2%), and aerobic bacteria (94.2%). Conclusions: Overall, pulsed-xenon UV was effective for reducing environmental contamination and had the ability to significantly reduce HAIs.Funding: Xenex, Inc., funded this study.Disclosures: Mark Stibich receives a salary from Xenex and is a shareholder of Xenex. Deborah Passey receives a salary from Xenex Disinfection Services.

scholarly journals Viable and Heat-Killed Probiotic Strains Improve Oral Immunity by Elevating the IgA Concentration in the Oral Mucosa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Yang Lin ◽  
Yi-Wei Kuo ◽  
Ching-Wei Chen ◽  
Yu-Fen Huang ◽  
Chen-Hung Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
The Body ◽  
Effective Dosage ◽  
Tgf Beta ◽  
Oral Tablet ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Bifidobacterium Animalis ◽  
Probiotic Strains ◽  
Oral Pathogens

AbstractOral-nasal mucosal immunity plays a crucial role in protecting the body against bacterial and viral invasion. Safe probiotic products have been used to enhance human immunity and oral health. In this study, we verified the beneficial effects of mixed viable probiotic tablets, consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66, and heat-killed probiotic tablets, consisting of L. salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 and L. paracasei ET-66, on oral immunity among 45 healthy participants. Participants were randomly divided into viable probiotic, heat-killed probiotic, and placebo groups. The administration of treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Saliva samples were collected at Weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6, and Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus mutans populations and IgA concentration were measured. IgA concentrations, levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs cells were quantified by ELISA method. Results showed that salivary IgA levels were significantly increased on administration of both the viable (119.30 ± 12.63%, ***P < 0.001) and heat-killed (116.78 ± 12.28%, ***P < 0.001) probiotics for 4 weeks. Among three probiotic strains, AP-32 would effectively increase the levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 in PBMCs. The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans was significantly reduced on viable probiotic tablet administration (49.60 ± 31.01%, ***P < 0.001). The in vitro antibacterial test confirmed that viable probiotics effectively limited the survival rate of oral pathogens. Thus, this clinical pilot study demonstrated that oral probiotic tablets both in viable form or heat-killed form could exert beneficial effects on oral immunity via IL-10, TGB-beta mediated IgA secretion. The effective dosage of viable probiotic content in the oral tablet was 109 CFUs/g and the heat-killed oral tablet was 1 × 1010 cells/g.

scholarly journals Validity of observational evidence on putative risk and protective factors: appraisal of 3744 meta-analyses on 57 topics

BMC Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Perrine Janiaud ◽  
Arnav Agarwal ◽  
Ioanna Tzoulaki ◽  
Evropi Theodoratou ◽  
Konstantinos K. Tsilidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Prediction Interval ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Small Study ◽  
Study Heterogeneity ◽  
Large Heterogeneity ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
No Gold Standard

Abstract Background The validity of observational studies and their meta-analyses is contested. Here, we aimed to appraise thousands of meta-analyses of observational studies using a pre-specified set of quantitative criteria that assess the significance, amount, consistency, and bias of the evidence. We also aimed to compare results from meta-analyses of observational studies against meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Methods We retrieved from PubMed (last update, November 19, 2020) umbrella reviews including meta-analyses of observational studies assessing putative risk or protective factors, regardless of the nature of the exposure and health outcome. We extracted information on 7 quantitative criteria that reflect the level of statistical support, the amount of data, the consistency across different studies, and hints pointing to potential bias. These criteria were level of statistical significance (pre-categorized according to 10−6, 0.001, and 0.05 p-value thresholds), sample size, statistical significance for the largest study, 95% prediction intervals, between-study heterogeneity, and the results of tests for small study effects and for excess significance. Results 3744 associations (in 57 umbrella reviews) assessed by a median number of 7 (interquartile range 4 to 11) observational studies were eligible. Most associations were statistically significant at P < 0.05 (61.1%, 2289/3744). Only 2.6% of associations had P < 10−6, ≥1000 cases (or ≥20,000 participants for continuous factors), P < 0.05 in the largest study, 95% prediction interval excluding the null, and no large between-study heterogeneity, small study effects, or excess significance. Across the 57 topics, large heterogeneity was observed in the proportion of associations fulfilling various quantitative criteria. The quantitative criteria were mostly independent from one another. Across 62 associations assessed in both RCTs and in observational studies, 37.1% had effect estimates in opposite directions and 43.5% had effect estimates differing beyond chance in the two designs. Across 94 comparisons assessed in both MR and observational studies, such discrepancies occurred in 30.8% and 54.7%, respectively. Conclusions Acknowledging that no gold-standard exists to judge whether an observational association is genuine, statistically significant results are common in observational studies, but they are rarely convincing or corroborated by randomized evidence.

Probiotics and prebiotics — renaissance of a therapeutic principle

Open Medicine ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Premysl Fric
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Microflora ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Saccharomyces Boulardii ◽  
Functional Activities ◽  
Future Goals ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules ◽  
Probiotic Strains

AbstractProbiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms mostly of human origin which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host and enable to prevent or improve some diseases. Probiotics may be a natural temporary constituent of the resident intestinal microflora, but their concentration is not sufficient for therapeutic purposes. The microbiota, the intestinal epithelium, and the mucosal immune system constitute the gastrointestinal ecosystem. All three components are essential for complete functional and developmental maturity of the system. The viability of intestinal microflora (including probiotic strains) requires the availability of nutritional substrates (prebiotics), i.e. various types of fiber and oligosaccharides. Prebiotics are cleaved by microbial enzymes to numerous substances (short-chain fatty acids, aminoacids, polyamines, growth factors, vitamins and antioxidants) indispensable for metabolic and functional activities of the intestinal mucosa. The principal probiotics in use include lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, some nonpathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces boulardii. These microbiota display favourable effects which qualify them for therapeutic use. For this purpose, probiotics have to fulfill a series of requirements verifying their efficacy and safety. Experimental and clinical studies examine the prerequisites for the administration of probiotics in digestive diseases, allergic and atopic affections, as well as in some extraintestinal conditions. Future goals of probiotic application include genomic analysis, controlled postnatal colonisation of the digestive tract, the use of probiotics as carriers of peroral vaccines, and recombinant probiotics with in-situ production and targeted application of therapeutic molecules.

scholarly journals Dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 from weaning reduces local immunoglobulin production in lymphoid-associated tissues but increases systemic antibodies in healthy neonates

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (7) ◽  
pp. 1243-1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie C. Lewis ◽  
Dilip V. Patel ◽  
Jenni Fowler ◽  
Swantje Duncker ◽  
Adrian W. Zuercher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Probiotic Supplementation ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Bifidobacterium Lactis ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Mucosal Tissues

Weaning is associated with a major shift in the microbial community of the intestine, and this instability may make it more acquiescent than the adult microbiota to long-term changes. Modulation achieved through dietary interventions may have potentially beneficial effects on the developing immune system, which is driven primarily by the microbiota. The specific aim of the present study was to determine whether immune development could be modified by dietary supplementation with the human probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in a tractable model of weaning in infants. Piglets were reared by their mothers before being weaned onto a solid diet supplemented with B. lactis NCC2818, while sibling controls did not receive supplementation. Probiotic supplementation resulted in a reduction in IgA (P< 0·0005) and IgM (P< 0·009) production by mucosal tissues but had no effect on IgG production (P>0·05). Probiotic-supplemented pigs had more mast cells than unsupplemented littermates (P< 0·0001), although numbers in both groups were low. In addition, the supplemented piglets made stronger serum IgG responses to fed and injected antigens (P< 0·05). The present findings are consistent with B. lactis NCC2818 reducing intestinal permeability induced by weaning, and suggest that the piglet is a valuable intermediate between rodent models and human infants. The results also strongly suggest that measures of the effect of probiotic supplementation on the immune system need to be interpreted carefully as proxy measures of health benefit. However, they are useful in developing an understanding of the mechanism of action of probiotic strains, an important factor in predicting favourable health outcomes of nutritional intervention.

scholarly journals Efeitos de longo prazo do treinamento resistido na pressão arterial: uma revisão sistemática

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 730-742
Author(s):  
Paulo Eduardo Carnaval Pereira da Rocha ◽  
Vladimir Schuindt da Silva ◽  
Luiz Antonio Bastos Camacho ◽  
Ana Glória Godoi Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Training ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Training Models ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Traditional Resistance Training ◽  
Load Intensity ◽  
Meta Analyses

Studies assessed the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on blood pressure (BP); however, few studies have evaluated the effects of long-term resistance training on variations of this response. The aim of the study was to verify through a systematic review, the long-term effect of resistance training on BP. Searches were made on Medline through Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and Lilacs databases. Overall, 751 articles were found, of which 22 were further analyzed. The analysis followed the PRISMA checklist (Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies) and was divided according to two resistance training models: traditional resistance training (TRT), resistance training alone; or combined resistance training (CRT), resistance training associated with aerobic exercise. Greater BP reductions occurred for CRT compared to TRT. However, further studies are needed to better explicit the resistance training variables (number of exercises, repetitions, number of sets, intervals, speed of execution and load intensity), in order to identify the best training model and improve the methodological quality of experiments in an attempt to reduce the risk of bias.

scholarly journals Aromatherapy for Symptom Relief in Patients with Burn: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Hye Won Lee ◽  
Lin Ang ◽  
Jung Tae Kim ◽  
Myeong Soo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Review Author ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background and Objectives: This review aimed to provide an updated review of evidence regarding the effects of aromatherapy in relieving symptoms of burn injuries, focusing on pain and physiological distress. Materials and Methods: Fifteen databases (including five English databases, four Korean medical databases, and four Iranian databases) and trial registries were searched for studies published between their dates of inception and July 2021. Two review authors individually performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, and any discrepancies were solved by a third review author. Results: Eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this updated systematic review. Our meta-analyses revealed that inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care showed beneficial effects in relieving pain after dressing, as compared to placebo plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and routine care alone (p = 0.02). Additionally, inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and aromatherapy massage plus routine care (p < 0.0001) also showed superior effects in calming anxiety, as compared to routine care alone. None of the included studies reported on AEs. Overall, the risk of bias across the studies was concerning. Conclusions: This updated review and synthesis of the studies had brought a more detailed understanding of the potential application of aromatherapy for easing the pain and anxiety of burn patients.

scholarly journals The Clash of Microbiomes: From the Food Matrix to the Host Gut

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Despoina Eugenia Kiousi ◽  
Nikos Chorianopoulos ◽  
Chrysoula C. Tassou ◽  
Alex Galanis
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
New Era ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Organoleptic Characteristics

Food fermentation has led to the improvement of the safety characteristics of raw materials and the production of new foodstuffs with elevated organoleptic characteristics. The empirical observation that these products could have a potential health benefit has garnered the attention of the scientific community. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in animal and human hosts to decipher which of these products may have a beneficial outcome against specific ailments. However, despite the accumulating literature, a relatively small number of products have been authorized as ‘functional foods’ by regulatory bodies. Data inconsistency and lack of in-depth preclinical characterization of functional products could heavily contribute to this issue. Today, the increased availability of omics platforms and bioinformatic algorithms for comprehensive data analysis can aid in the systematic characterization of microbe–microbe, microbe–matrix, and microbe–host interactions, providing useful insights about the maximization of their beneficial effects. The incorporation of these platforms in food science remains a challenge; however, coordinated efforts and interdisciplinary collaboration could push the field toward the dawn of a new era.

scholarly journals Estimates of Between-Study Heterogeneity for 705 Meta-Analyses Reported in Psychological Bulletin From 1990–2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Van Erp ◽  
Josine Verhagen ◽  
Raoul P. P. P. Grasman ◽  
Eric-Jan Wagenmakers
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Bulletin ◽  
Study Heterogeneity ◽  
Meta Analyses
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