Clinical evaluation of paraprobiotic-associated Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858 anti-dandruff shampoo efficacy: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The microbiome plays an important role in a wide variety of skin disorders. Hence, dysbiosis in the skin and/or gut microbiome is associated with an altered immune response, promoting the development of skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris and dandruff. Studies have shown that paraprobiotics may be promising for the treatment of skin disorders through microbiota modulation and immunomodulation. So, the objective is to develop an anti-dandruff formulation using a paraprobiotic (Neoimuno) as active ingredient. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in patients who had any degree of dandruff. A total of 33 volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: placebo or treated. (1% Neoimuno). The ingredient used was Neoimuno (Bifidobacterium lactis strain CCT 7858). Combability analysis and perception questionnaire were applied before and after treatment. Statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: No adverse effects were reported by patients throughout the study. Through the combability analysis, a significant decrease in the number of particles was verified after 28 days of shampoo use. Regarding perception, there was a significant difference for the cleaning variables and improvement of the general appearance 28 days after the intervention. There were no significant differences for the itching and scaling parameters, as well as the perception parameters at 14 days. DISCUSSION: Topical application of the paraprobiotic shampoo containing 1% Neoimuno was able to significantly improve the feeling of cleanliness and general aspects of dandruff, in addition to reducing scalp flakiness. Thus, with the results obtained through the clinical trial, Neoimuno presents itself as a natural, safe and effective ingredient in the treatment of dandruff. The efficacy of Neoimuno in dandruff was visible within 4 weeks.

OBJECTIF: Le microbiome joue un rôle important dans une grande variété de troubles cutanés. Ainsi, la dysbiose du microbiome cutané et/ou intestinal est associée à une réponse immunitaire altérée, favorisant le développement de maladies cutanées, telles que la dermatite atopique, le psoriasis, l'acné vulgaire et les pellicules. Des études ont montré que les paraprobiotiques peuvent être prometteurs pour le traitement des troubles cutanés par la modulation du microbiote et l'immunomodulation. Ainsi, l'objectif est de développer une formulation antipelliculaire utilisant un paraprobiotique (Neoimuno) comme principe actif. MÉTHODES: Un essai clinique randomisé, en double aveugle et contrôlé par placebo a été réalisé chez des patients présentant des pellicules de n'importe quel degré. Au total, 33 volontaires ont été recrutés et divisés au hasard en deux groupes: placebo ou traité. (1% Neoimuno). L'ingrédient utilisé était le Neoimuno (souche Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858). Une analyse de combabilité et un questionnaire de perception ont été appliqués avant et après le traitement. Des analyses statistiques ont été effectuées. RÉSULTATS: Aucun effet indésirable n'a été signalé par les patients tout au long de l'étude. Grâce à l'analyse de combabilité, une diminution significative du nombre de particules a été vérifiée après 28 jours d'utilization du shampooing. Concernant la perception, il y avait une différence significative pour les variables de nettoyage et d'amélioration de l'aspect général 28 jours après l'intervention. Il n'y avait pas de différences significatives pour les paramètres de démangeaison et de desquamation, ainsi que les paramètres de perception à 14 jours. DISCUSSION: L'application topique du shampooing paraprobiotique contenant 1% de Neoimuno a pu améliorer significativement la sensation de propreté et les aspects généraux des pellicules, en plus de réduire la desquamation du cuir chevelu. Ainsi, avec les résultats obtenus grâce à l'essai clinique, Neoimuno se présente comme un ingrédient naturel, sûr et efficace dans le traitement des pellicules. L'efficacité de Neoimuno sur les pellicules a été visible en 4 semaines.

Dexamethasone impairs encoding and expression of aversive conditioning promoted by pentylenetetrazole.

Behavioral and neuroendocrine responses following threatening situations promote the release of corticosterone, which is known to modulate trauma-related learning and memory process. However, it remains unknown whether the aversive learning generated by interoceptive fear conditioning is affected by glucocorticoid modulation. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of dexamethasone suppression in encoding and expression of pentylenetetrazole-induced olfactory fear conditioning (OFC) and in contextual second-order conditioning promoted by the conditioned odor. Adult male Long-Evans rats were treated with dexamethasone 60 min before the encoding or the expression in both OFC and contextual second-order conditioning. Dexamethasone treatment impaired encoding and expression of the OFC, but failed to impair encoding and expression of the contextual second-order conditioning. Altogether, our results show that although OFC and thereafter contextual second-order conditioning may allow the study of traumatic memories, each order of conditioning seems to present specific features related to their pharmacological modulation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the role of neuromodulatory systems in first-order and second-order conditioning to gain a better understanding of these phenomena and support future therapies related to traumatic memories.

Paradoxical mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated effect in fear memory encoding and expression of rats submitted to an olfactory fear conditioning task.

There is general agreement that the substantial modification in memory and motivational states exerted by corticosteroids after a traumatic experience is mediated in complementary manner by the mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors. Here we tested the hypothesis that pharmacological manipulation of MR activity would affect behavioral strategy and information storage in an olfactory fear conditioning (OFC) task. Male Wistar rats were submitted to the OFC with different training intensities. We observed that following high intensity OFC acquisition, a set of defensive coping strategies, which includes avoidance and risk assessment behaviors, was elicited when subjects were exposed to the conditioned stimulus (CS) 48 h later. In addition, following either OFC acquisition or retrieval (CS-I test) a profound corticosterone secretion was also detected. Systemic administration of the MR antagonist spironolactone altered the behavioral coping style irrespective the antagonist was administered 60 min prior to the acquisition or before the retrieval session. Surprisingly, the MR agonist fludrocortisone given 60 min prior to acquisition or retrieval of OFC had similar effects as the antagonist. In addition, post-training administration of fludrocortisone, following a weak training procedure, facilitated the consolidation of OFC. Fludrocortisone rather than spironolactone reduced serum corticosterone levels, suggesting that, at least in part, the effects of the MR agonist may derive from additional GR-mediated HPA-axis suppression. In conclusion, the present study suggests the involvement of the MR in the fine-tuning of behavioral adaptation necessary for optimal information storage and expression, as revealed by the marked alterations in the risk assessment behavior.

Diagnóstico precoce da artrite reumatóide / Diagnosing rheumatoid arthristis early

A artrite reumatóide afeta 0,5-1% da população mundial. A orientação para o diagnóstico é baseada nos critérios de classificação do Colégio Americano de Reumatologia (ACR), dentre os quais, encontra-se o Fator Reumatóide (FR), único critério de diagnóstico laboratorial adotado. A busca por marcadores diagnósticos alternativos eficazes para o diagnóstico da artrite reumatóide levou a descoberta dos auto-anticorpos antiperinuclear, antiqueratina e antifilagrina, os quais, a despeito de serem mais específicos paraAR do que o Fator Reumatóide possuem uma metodologia com baixa sensibilidade. Recentemente, tem-se demonstrado um novo marcador para a Artrite Reumatóide, denominado anticorpo anti-peptídio cíclico citrulinado (anti- CCP) detectado por ensaioimunoenzimático (ELISA), o qual apresenta uma sensibilidade de 60- 80% e uma especificidade de 98%. Além de suas propriedades diagnósticas, tem sido sugerido que os anticorpos anti-CCP teriam valor prognóstico e indicaria a presença da AR, mesmo na ausência de sintomas clínicos, auxiliando na prevenção de degeneração de cartilagens, além de estar envolvido na fisiopatologia da doença. Considerandoo elevado valor preditivo e diagnóstico preciso do anti-CCP, este trabalho ressalta a importância de sua incorporação no diagnóstico da AR.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the world population, yet the driving antigen(s) remain unidentified. Although the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria are often used in clinical practice as diagnostic tool for RA, they are not very well suited for the diagnosis of early RA. Number of different antigens has been proposed to have a fundamental role in RA, including antibodies bound by rheumatoid factor (RF), collagen, BiP, Sa and many others. The field has been revolutionized by the discovery that antigens containing arginine residues that been deiminated to form citrulline are prominent targets of autoantibodies in RA. Their detection forms the basis of several assays that are now standard diagnostic tests in rheumatology clinics world wide. Therefore a good marker should ideally be able to predict the erosive or nonerosive progression of the disease. Fortunately, the anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibodies meet the demands for a good and useful marker for early RA and this will be the focus of this review.