The probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum 296 attenuates cardiometabolic disorders in high fat diet-treated rats

Background and aimHigh-fat (HF) diet consumption has been associated with gut dysbiosis and increased risk of dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Probiotic administration has been suggested as a safe therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders. This study was designed to assess the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus (L.) fermentum 296, a fruit-derived bacteria strain, against cardiometabolic disorders induced by HF diet.Methods and resultsMale Wistar rats were divided into control diet (CTL); HF diet; and HF diet treated with Lactobacillus fermentum 296 (HF + Lf 296). The L. fermentum 296 strain at 1 × 10⁹ colony forming units (CFU)/ml were daily administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks. The results showed that rats fed with HF diet displayed insulin resistance, reduced Lactobacillus spp. counts in feces, serum lipids, and oxidative profile. Rats fed on HF diet also demonstrated augmented blood pressure associated with sympathetic hyperactivity and impaired baroreflex control. The administration of L. fermentum 296 for 4 weeks recovered fecal Lactobacillus sp. counts and alleviated hyperlipidemia, sympathetic hyperactivity, and reduced systolic blood pressure in HF rats without affecting baroreflex sensibility.ConclusionOur results suggest the ability of L. fermentum 296 improve biochemical and cardiovascular parameters altered in cardiometabolic disorders.     

Blackberry juice anthocyanidins limit cisplatin-induced renal pathophysiology in mice

Some studies have showed that intake of blackberry juice (BBJ) can prevent urinary tract infections. However, there is a lack of studies that evaluate the mechanisms by which BBJ has protective effect. Thus, the aim of current study was to evaluate the effects of BBJ supplementation on cisplatin-induced renal pathophysiology in mice. Mice were supplemented with BBJ (10 mL/kg) for seven days. One hour after the last supplementation with BBJ, mice received cisplatin (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Seventy-two hours after cisplatin administration, blood was collected and biochemical analysis were performed (urea and creatinine), kidney was dissected and utilized in histological and oxidative evaluations. Cisplatin caused severe injury in renal tissue, in markers of renal damage (urea and creatinine) generated increased of plasmatic levels. Besides that, the cisplatin induced decreased of enzymes activities in renal tissue (superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and catalase). In contrast, BBJ supplementation protected against histopathological alterations through decreased in urea and creatinine levels and modulation of catalase enzyme activity. Thus, BBJ supplementation protected the renal system of mice from deleterious effects. We suggest that high concentrations of Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and Cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside are responsible for antioxidant role of BBJ supplementation in renal pathophysiology induced by cisplatin exposure. Also, these results reinforcing the importance of including BBJ in the human diet aimed at preventing renal diseases.     

Efficacy of proportional versus high condylectomy in active condylar hyperplasia — A systematic review

ObjectiveTo perform a systematic literature review to test the efficacy of proportional condylectomy versus high condylectomy in patients with active condylar hyperplasia, in terms of avoiding secondary surgeries.MethodFollowing a search of Medline (Pubmed), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases, ten studies were included for qualitative analysis, and two studies were included for meta-analysis. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for cohort studies and the 18-item modified Delphi technique for case series.Results259 patients were included in the qualitative analysis, with a weighted arithmetic mean age of 20.4 years, and a female:male ratio of 2:1. Meta-analysis was carried out for 52 patients, and it was found that proportional condylectomy reduced the need for secondary surgery (p = 0.0003). Although this evidence had limitations, excised bone on proportional condylectomy was superior when compared with excised bone on high condylectomy, re-establishing the occlusal plane, resulting in fewer asymmetries, and therefore reducing the need for further surgery.ConclusionsThis systematic review showed a tendency for proportional condylectomies to avoid additional surgeries; however, more comparative studies are necessary.     

Lack of association between childhood immunizations and encephalitis in California, 1998-2008

Objective

A number of new and combination vaccines have been introduced for children in the past two decades. Encephalitis cases occurring within defined time windows following administration of pertussis- or measles-containing vaccines are eligible for compensation by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Due to increased parental concerns about vaccine safety and potential neurologic adverse events following immunization with new and multiple vaccines administered at the same visit, our aim was to determine whether immunizations are associated with an increased risk of encephalitis within defined risk windows.

Methods

We reviewed immunization records from 246 pediatric encephalitis cases referred to the California Encephalitis Project between July 1998 and December 2008. We included data on 110 cases who had been immunized in the year prior to the onset of encephalitis (observation period) and had complete immunization records. We used the case-centered method to test whether cases were more likely to have developed encephalitis in defined risk windows—42, 30 and 21 days after any vaccination, 3 days after pertussis-containing vaccines and 5-15 days after measles-virus containing vaccines—compared with the rest of the observation period.

Results

All vaccines recommended in the current immunization schedule were represented in our sample. No increased risk of encephalitis was seen following administration of pertussis-containing vaccines, measles-containing vaccines or any number of vaccines administered in a single visit (vaccine episode); the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for encephalitis after a vaccine episode were: 1.0 (0.6-1.8) in a 42-day risk window, 0.9 (0.5-1.6) in a 30-day risk window and 1.2 (0.7-2.2) in a 21-day risk window.

Conclusion

No association between receipt of currently recommended immunizations and subsequent development of encephalitis was observed in this study.     

Bronchial involvement in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a case report

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic chronic condition characterized by alveolar filling with mixed inflammatory infiltrate consisting largely of eosinophils. On CT, it is usually observed as consolidation, often peripheral and patchy in distribution, with upper lobe dominance. Airway involvement in CEP is very rare. We report on a case of bronchial involvement in CEP.     

Expanding the phenotype of Seckel syndrome associated with biallelic loss-of-function variants in CEP63

Seckel syndrome is an ultrarare autosomal recessive genetically heterogenous condition characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction, proportionate severe short stature, severe microcephaly, intellectual disability, and distinctive facial features including a prominent nose. Up to now, 40 patients with molecularly confirmed Seckel syndrome have been reported with biallelic variants in nine genes: ATR, CENPJ, CEP63, CEP152, DNA2, NIN, NSMCE2, RBBP8, and TRAIP. Homozygosity for nonsense variant (c.129G>A, p.43*) in CEP63 was described in three cousins with microcephaly, short stature, mild to moderate intellectual disability and diagnoses of Seckel syndrome. Here, we report a second family with three siblings who are compound heterozygous for loss-of-function variants in CEP63, c.1125T>G, p.(Tyr375*) and c.595del, p.(Glu199Asnfs*11). All siblings present with microcephaly, prominent nose, and intellectual disability but only one has severe short stature. Two siblings have aggressive behavior, a feature previously not reported in Seckel syndrome. This report adds two novel truncating variants in CEP63 and extends the clinical knowledge on CEP63-related conditions.