Exploring the causal relationship between asthma in the metabolic syndrome: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies have indicated a potential association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and asthma, though the causal nature of this connection is still uncertain. Our study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the causal relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with asthma. METHODS: This study utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to MetS and its components, sourced from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data, in combination with asthma data from the FinnGen database. Statistical analyses were conducted using the inverse variance weighted method (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median method. The robustness of the findings was confirmed through various sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The IVW analysis indicated that MetS was associated with an increased risk of asthma (OR = 1.0781, 95% CI = 1.0255-1.1333, p = 0.0032). Among the components of MetS, waist circumference (WC) showed a strong association with asthma (OR = 1.4777, 95% CI = 1.3412-1.6281, p = 2.8707 × 10-15). Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was found to be inversely related to the risk of asthma (OR = 0.9186, 95% CI = 0.8669-0.9734, p = 0.0041). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support that MetS and its specific components, particularly abdominal obesity, are linked to a higher risk of asthma, while HDL-C might offer protective effects against asthma. These findings provide a foundation both for further research and possible therapeutic interventions.

Effects of probiotic treatment on patients and animals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

Objective: In recent years, the lung-gut axis has received increasing attention. The oxidative stress and systemic hypoxia occurring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are related to gut dysfunction. That suggests probiotics have a potential therapeutic role in COPD. In this study, we therefore evaluated the ameliorative effects of probiotics on COPD. Methods: Searches were conducted in four electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, the NIH clinical registry Clinical Trials. Gov and EMBASE. The data extracted was analyzed statistically in this study using StataMP17 software, with mean difference (MD) chosen as the effect size for continuous variables, and the results expressed as effect sizes and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was used if the data units were different. Results: We included three randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials and five randomized controlled animal studies. The results show that for lung function, probiotics improved %FEV1 in COPD patients (MD = 3.02, 95%CI: 1.10, 4.93). Additionally, in inflammation, probiotics increased IL-10 (SMD = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.96) and decreased inflammatory markers such as TNF-α (SMD= -2.64, 95%Cl: -3.38, -1.90), IL-1ß (SMD= -3.49, 95%Cl: -4.58, -2.40), and IL-6 (SMD= -6.54, 95%Cl: -8.36, -4.73) in COPD animals, while having no significant effect on C-reactive protein (MD = 0.30, 95%CI: -0.71, 1.32) in COPD patients. For lung structure, probiotics significantly reduced the degree of pulmonary collagen fibers deposition in COPD animals (SMD = -2.25, 95%CI: -3.08, -1.41). Conclusion: Overall, probiotics may be an additional approach that can improve COPD. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and impact factors of probiotics for COPD. Systematic Review Registration: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-4-0023/, identifier INPLASY202340023.

Comparative performance and mechanism of bacterial inactivation induced by metal-free modified g-C3N4 under visible light: Escherichia coli versus Staphylococcus aureus.

The inactivation mechanism of pathogenic microorganisms in water needs to be comprehensively explored in order to better guide the development of an effective and green disinfection method for drinking water safety. Here, metal-free modified g-C3N4 was prepared and used to inactivate two typical bacteria (namely, Gram-positive E. coli and Gram-negative S. aureus) in water under visible light from a comparative perspective. These two bacteria could be inactivated in the presence of modified g-C3N4 within 6 h of visible light, but their inactivation kinetics were quite different. E. coli were inactivated slowly in the early disinfection stage and rapidly in the later disinfection stage, whereas S. aureus were inactivated steadily during the entire disinfection process. Moreover, the impacts of important water parameters (pH, salt, temperature, and water matrix) on photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus were also distinct. In addition, scavenger experiments indicated that superoxide radicals played the most important role in E. coli inactivation, while both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were important for S. aureus inactivation. Quantitative changes in fatty acids, potassium ions, proteins and DNA of the bacterial suspensions suggested that the higher resistance of E. coli in the early inactivation stage could be originated from the difference in the phospholipid repair system in cell membrane structures. This study can provide new insights into research and development of a safe and effective disinfection technology for drinking water.