A Mini Literature Review of Probiotics: Transforming Gastrointestinal Health Through Evidence-Based Insights.

As our understanding of the intricate interaction between gut bacteria and human health continues to expand, so too has interest in the ability of probiotics to manage gut microbiota and confer multiple health benefits to the host. The mini literature review focuses on the expanding potential of the use of probiotics in GI health, with a focus on probiotics' potential therapeutic advantages in a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. Probiotics play a significant role in managing diarrhea and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) by modulating gut microbial communities. Specific probiotic strains have been found to reduce the abundance of harmful bacteria, regulate inflammatory markers like interleukin 6, and improve GI symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and stool consistency. Additionally, probiotic blends have shown potential for preventing GI infections and alleviating GI pain in IBS-D patients. Studies have demonstrated that certain multi-strain probiotics, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species, can significantly increase the frequency of bowel movements and reduce the proportion of individuals experiencing constipation. It has also been found that probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality, particularly in patients undergoing colorectal adenocarcinoma surgery. Additionally, probiotics have been associated with decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improved clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Furthermore, probiotics have been associated with enhanced digestive tolerance, reduced GI inflammation, and prolonged clinical remission in certain UC patients. Studies have also shown that probiotics, administered either directly to infants or pregnant women during the perinatal stage, can alleviate symptoms such as inconsolable crying and irritation associated with infant colic, improve bowel movement frequency in cases of functional constipation, and enhance overall conditions in premature infants, including reducing regurgitation and improving feeding tolerance. The review addresses both encouraging results and challenges with probiotic therapy, while also arguing for more studies to elucidate underlying mechanisms and enhance therapeutic techniques. As we traverse the complex field of probiotic therapy in the treatment of GI illnesses, researchers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals can benefit from the informative information provided by this study.

A study of association between presence or absence of GSTT1 and GSTM1 and/or single nucleotide polymorphism in FABP2 and GSTP1 with incidence of diabetes type 2: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in fatty acid binding protein-2 (rs1799883) and glutathione S-transferase pi (rs1695) genes with presence/absence of glutathione S-transferase mu and glutathione S-transferase theta genes in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The cross-sectional case-control study was conducted at Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology during March till September 2019 and comprised type 2 diabetes patients and non-diabetic controls from two districts in southern Punjab. Polymerase chain reaction, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction were applied to investigate glutathione S-transferase theta, mu and pi genes as well as fatty acid binding protein-2, as appropriate. The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in all genes with the disease were studied either individually or in various combinations. Data was analysed using Minitab 18. RESULTS: Of the 448 subjects, 248(55.4%) were patients and 200(44.6%) were controls. Overall there were 213(47.5%) males and 235(52.5) were females, and 141(31.5%) were aged 30-46 years. The presence of rs1799883 in fatty acid binding protein-2 (p=0.03) and the absence of glutathione S-transferase mu gene (p<0.001) had significant association with type 2 diabetes, while the presence of glutathione S-transferase theta and rs1695 in glutathione S-transferase pi genes were not associated with the disease. Individuals with glutathione S-transferase mu gene null and Ileu/Ileu or Ileu/Val genotype of rs1695 in glutathione S-transferase pi gene have potential to develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of rs1799883 in fatty acid binding protein-2 and the absence of glutathione S-transferase mu gene were found to play significantly in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Phytotoxicity of different antibiotics to rice and stress alleviation upon application of organic amendments.

Extensive use of antibiotic results in significant antibiotics pollution in the environment. Main objective of this study was to gain insight into potential impacts of antibiotics on plant physiological growth and nutritional composition, and stress alleviation through application of different organic amendments. Effects of five antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, amoxicillin and ampicillin) were observed in the presence of three organic amendments (rice husk, farmyard manure and poultry litter) with rice (Oryza sativa L.) as a model plant. Organic amendments were mixed with soil (@ 5 g kg-1) and after three weeks, antibiotics were applied (@10 mg kg-1) and plants were allowed to grow for four months. After which plants were harvested and physical growth parameters (root/shoot length, biomass) and nutritional composition (grain protein content, carbohydrates, phosphorous and iron) were monitored. It was observed that germination rate, seedling root/shoot length, seedling biomass and vigor index were negatively impacted. The application of organic amendments alleviated antibiotic stress on seedling dry biomass, length and vigor index by 1.8-, 3.1- and 2.5-folds, respectively as compared to the antibiotic controls. Concentrations of phosphorous, iron, carbohydrates and proteins were decreased by 5.3-, 1.3-, 1.4- and 1.6-folds upon application of antibiotics. Rice husk was the most effective treatment in case of physical growth parameters and alleviating antibiotics' induced genotoxicity. Whereas, poultry litter had the highest positive effect on nutritional composition of plants. In general, the application of organic amendments alleviated the phytotoxicity as well as genotoxicity in plants under antibiotics stress.