scholarly journals Probiotics Improve Gastrointestinal Function and Life Quality in Pregnancy

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3931
Author(s):  
Albert T. Liu ◽  
Shuai Chen ◽  
Prasant Kumar Jena ◽  
Lili Sheng ◽  
Ying Hu ◽  
...  

We studied whether probiotics were beneficial for hormonal change-associated dysbiosis, which may influence the enteric nervous system and GI function during early pregnancy. The study was 16 days consisting of two cycles of six daily probiotics mainly Lactobacillus and 2 days without probiotics. Daily surveys were conducted to monitor GI function and life quality. A subset of the participants who contributed fecal specimens was used for microbiota metagenomic sequencing, metabolomics, and quantification of bacterial genes to understand potential underlying mechanisms. Statistical analyses were done by generalized linear mixed-effects models. Thirty-two obstetric patients and 535 daily observations were included. The data revealed that probiotic supplementation significantly reduced the severity of nausea, vomiting, constipation, and improved life quality. Moreover, a low copy number of fecal bsh (bile salt hydrolase), which generates free bile acids, was associated with high vomiting scores and probiotic intake increased fecal bsh. In exploratory analysis without adjusting for multiplicity, a low fecal α-tocopherol, as well as a high abundance of Akkemansia muciniphila, was associated with high vomiting scores and times, respectively. The potential implications of these biomarkers in pregnancy and GI function are discussed. Probiotics likely produce free bile acids to facilitate intestinal mobility and metabolism.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell R Fling ◽  
Tim Zacharewski

Gut dysbiosis with disrupted enterohepatic bile acid metabolism is commonly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and recapitulated in a NAFLD-phenotype elicited by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in mice. TCDD induces hepatic fat accumulation and increases levels of secondary bile acids including taurolithocholic acid and deoxycholic acid, microbial modified bile acids involved in host bile acid regulation signaling pathways. To investigate the effects of TCDD on the gut microbiota, cecum contents of male C57BL/6 mice orally gavaged with sesame oil vehicle or 0.3, 3, or 30 µg/kg TCDD were examined using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Taxonomic analysis identified dose-dependent increases in Lactobacillus species (i.e., Lactobacillus reuteri). Increased species were also associated with dose-dependent increases in bile salt hydrolase sequences, responsible for deconjugation reactions in secondary bile acid metabolism. Increased L. reuteri levels were further associated with mevalonate-dependent isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) biosynthesis and menaquinone biosynthesis genes. Analysis of gut microbiomes from cirrhosis patients identified increased abundance of these pathways as identified in the mouse cecum metagenomic analysis. These results extend the association of lactobacilli with the AhR/intestinal axis in NAFLD progression and highlight the similarities between TCDD-elicited phenotypes in mice to human NAFLD.


1996 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1043-1047
Author(s):  
Masami MOROTOMI ◽  
Yukiko SAKAITANI ◽  
Mikiko SATOU ◽  
Takuya TAKAHASHI ◽  
Takashi MAKINO

1987 ◽  
Vol 327 (7) ◽  
pp. 729-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. O'Reilly ◽  
D. Thorburn Burns

2021 ◽  
Vol 478 (9) ◽  
pp. 1663-1688
Author(s):  
Yonghua Li ◽  
Huan Jin ◽  
Yibing Chen ◽  
Ting Huang ◽  
Yanjun Mi ◽  
...  

Cancer cachexia often occurs in malignant tumors and is a multifactorial and complex symptom characterized by wasting of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, resulting in weight loss, poor life quality and shorter survival. The pathogenic mechanism of cancer cachexia is complex, involving a variety of molecular substrates and signal pathways. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer cachexia have provided a platform for the development of new targeted therapies. Although recent outcomes of early-phase trials have showed that several drugs presented an ideal curative effect, monotherapy cannot be entirely satisfactory in the treatment of cachexia-associated symptoms due to its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Therefore, the lack of definitive therapeutic strategies for cancer cachexia emphasizes the need to develop a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Increasing evidences show that the progression of cachexia is associated with metabolic alternations, which mainly include excessive energy expenditure, increased proteolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, we provided an overview of the key mechanisms of cancer cachexia, with a major focus on muscle atrophy, adipose tissue wasting, anorexia and fatigue and updated the latest progress of pharmacological management of cancer cachexia, thereby further advancing the interventions that can counteract cancer cachexia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olawumi Adaramodu ◽  
Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo

Obstetric cholestasis (OC) is a liver disorder that occurs in the late second and early third trimester of pregnancy characterized by pruritus with increased serum bile acids and other liver function tests. The pathophysiology of OC is still not completely understood. The symptoms and biochemical abnormality rapidly resolve after delivery. OC is associated with an increased risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes. The aetiology of obstetric cholestasis of pregnancy is poorly understood and is thought to be complicated and multifactorial.  OC typically occurs in the late second trimester when the oestrogen levels are the highest in pregnancy. The most common complaint is generalized intense pruritus, which usually starts after the 30th week of pregnancy. Pruritus can be more common in the palms and soles and is typically worse at night. Other symptoms of cholestasis, such as nausea, anorexia, fatigue, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, and pale stool, can be present. Clinical jaundice is rare but may present in 14% to 25% of patients after 1 to 4 weeks of the onset of pruritus. Some patients also complain of insomnia as a result of pruritus. Generally, physical examination is unremarkable except for scratch marks on the skin from pruritus. Pruritus is a cardinal symptom of intra-hepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and may precede biochemical abnormalities. The diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is via the presence of clinical symptoms pruritus in the third trimester with elevated maternal total serum bile acids and excluding other diagnoses, which can cause similar symptoms and lab abnormalities. Fasting blood samples should be used to check for the total bile salt acid level as it can become elevated in the postprandial state. Once the diagnosis of OC of pregnancy is confirmed, immediate treatment is necessary, and the primary goal of therapy is to decrease the risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality and to alleviate maternal symptoms. Maternal pruritus can be alleviated with use of moisturisers and oral antihistamines. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the drug of choice for the treatment of ICP. Many authors have advocated elective early delivery of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy to reduce the risk of sudden foetal death. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends induction of labour after 37+0 weeks of gestation. Obstetric cholestasis of pregnancy is not an indication for Caesarean delivery. Postpartum pruritus typically disappears in the first 2 to 3 days following delivery, and serum bile acid concentrations will normalize eventually. ICP is not a contraindication to breastfeeding, and mothers with a history of ICP in pregnancy can breastfeed their infants. Postpartum monitoring and follow up of bile acids and liver function tests should be done in 4-6 weeks to ensure resolution. Women with the persistent abnormality of liver function test after 6 to 8 weeks require investigation for other aetiologies.


1974 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-385
Author(s):  
J T Rodriguez ◽  
T L Huang ◽  
J Alvarado ◽  
W J Klish ◽  
W E Darby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska M. Würfel ◽  
Christoph Winterhalter ◽  
Peter Trenkwalder ◽  
Ralph M. Wirtz ◽  
Wolfgang Würfel

The granted European patent EP 2 561 890 describes a procedure for an immunological treatment of cancer. It is based on the principles of the HLA-supported communication of implantation and pregnancy. These principles ensure that the embryo is not rejected by the mother. In pregnancy, the placenta, more specifically the trophoblast, creates an “interface” between the embryo/fetus and the maternal immune system. Trophoblasts do not express the “original” HLA identification of the embryo/fetus (HLA-A to -DQ), but instead show the non-classical HLA groups E, F, and G. During interaction with specific receptors of NK cells (e.g., killer-immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR)) and lymphocytes (lymphocyte-immunoglobulin-like receptors (LIL-R)), the non-classical HLA groups inhibit these immunocompetent cells outside pregnancy. However, tumors are known to be able to express these non-classical HLA groups and thus make use of an immuno-communication as in pregnancies. If this occurs, the prognosis usually worsens. This patent describes, in a first step, the profiling of the non-classical HLA groups in primary tumor tissue as well as metastases and recurrent tumors. The second step comprises tailored antibody therapies, which is the subject of this patent. In this review, we analyze the underlying mechanisms and describe the currently known differences between HLA-supported communication of implantation and that of tumors.


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