ABSTRACT
Modulatory effects of serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) have been seen in hepatic, neurological/psychiatric, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to their host. Recent research has suggested that probiotics can promote serotonin signaling, a crucial pathway in the regulation of mood, cognition, and other physiological processes. Reviewing the literature, we find that peripheral serotonin increases nutrient uptake and storage, regulates the composition of the gut microbiota, and is involved in mediating neuronal disorders. This review explores the mechanisms underlying the probiotic-mediated increase in serotonin signaling, highlighting the role of gut microbiota in the regulation of serotonin production and the modulation of neurotransmitter receptors. Additionally, this review discusses the potential clinical implications of probiotics as a therapeutic strategy for disorders associated with altered serotonin signaling, such as GI and neurological disorders. Overall, this review demonstrates the potential of probiotics as a promising avenue for the treatment of serotonin-related disorders and signaling of serotonin.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Drug resistance against antimicrobials is on the rise at alarmingly high rates. Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the six ESKAPE pathogens which are a significant "one health" issue. Clinical isolates of A. baumannii exhibit MDR phenotype mostly and infrequently the XDR and PDR phenotype. As a result, these infections have one of the highest mortality rates in hospitals. Alternative therapies are urgently needed. METHODS: Various phages were enriched against XDR clinical strain of A. baumannii. A potent phage, QAB 3.4, was further tested against 100 clinical strains. Because of its broad lytic activity, it was further tested for stability, resistance development and as an infection control agent. RESULTS: Phage QAB 3.4 showed broad lytic activity against 100 MDR and XDR clinical isolates representing a wide diversity of infection sites. Assays conducted to document the phage's stability, and ability of clinical isolates to develop resistance against it, showed promising outcomes for its potential use in clinical applications. Phage QAB 3.4 was able to eradicate A. baumannii from pre-inoculated solid surfaces. It provides a proof of concept that phages can be used as environmentally friendly infection control agents. CONCLUSION: We propose the phage QAB 3.4 is a promising candidate for further pre-clinical and clinical studies to test its biosafety and efficacy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The drastic increase in use of antibiotics as a mandatory part of production in poultry and livestock has led to the development of bacterial resistance against antibiotics. The spread of resistant bacteria from poultry to humans increases the risk of treatment failure by antibiotics because of resistance genes transfer. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate and compare the P. aeruginosa resistance profile collected from areas around the poultry farm premises and areas at least 500 meters away from the nearest poultry farm. We studied the effect of antibiotic usage in farms on the bacterial profile present in the upper layer of soil. METHODOLOGY: A total of 1,200 moist soil samples were collected from areas within a 25 meters range of poultry farms and areas that had no poultry farms in its 500 meters vicinity. P. aeruginosa was cultured and isolated. The antibiotic susceptibility profile was carried out by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and results were analyzed according to CLSI guidelines. Statistical analysis was carried out to check the significance of results. RESULTS: A total of 300 P. aeruginosa isolates were isolated, among which 140 isolates were isolated from areas around the poultry farm premises and had higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance. A total of 160 isolates were isolated from areas outside the poultry farm range. Resistance was not as high as in the isolates from around the farm. The ESBL production was higher in the isolates that were in close contact with the poultry farm as compared to the isolates away from the farm. CONCLUSION: Use of antibiotics in the poultry farm for production significantly increases the resistance in bacterial strains present in the upper layer of soil around the poultry farm within at least a 25 meter range.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Oral anticoagulants are one of the most frequently used medications. However, these drugs have a range of side effects including potential life-threatening complications. Little is known regarding the awareness of its side effect profile amongst the patients in Pakistan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and its side effects among its users. RESULTS: The mean age was 48.9 ± 15.2 years. Median scores of the participants for knowledge regarding oral anticoagulants and warfarin were 48.7 (8.3-91.7) and 10.3 (0.0-70.0) respectively. Of 207 patients, most notably, 65.7% did not know what side effects to be wary of or how to reduce their occurrence; and most patients were unaware of the interaction between oral anticoagulant drugs and over-the-counter substances such as aspirin, herbal medicines and alcohol. Knowledge of international normalised ratio (INR) was extremely poor with more than 75% of the population not being aware of the target INR range during warfarin therapy. Higher level of education was significantly associated with better knowledge scores. Overall, knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and INR monitoring is extremely poor among oral anticoagulant users.