Microbiome features associated with performance measures in athletic and non-athletic individuals: A case-control study.

The influence of human gut microbiota on health and disease is now commonly appreciated. Therefore, it is not surprising that microbiome research has found interest in the sports community, hoping to improve health and optimize performance. Comparative studies found new species or pathways that were more enriched in elites than sedentary controls. In addition, sport-specific and performance-level-specific microbiome features have been identified. However, the results remain inconclusive and indicate the need for further assessment. In this case-control study, we tested two athletic populations (i.e. strength athletes, endurance athletes) and a non-athletic, but physically active, control group across two acute exercise bouts, separated by a 2-week period, that measured explosive and high intensity fitness level (repeated 30-s all-out Wingate test (WT)) and cardiorespiratory fitness level (Bruce Treadmill Test). While we did not identify any group differences in alpha and beta diversity or significant differential abundance of microbiome components at baseline, one-third of the species identified were unique to each group. Longitudinal sample (pre- and post-exercise) analysis revealed an abundance of Alistipes communis in the strength group during the WT and 88 species with notable between-group differences during the Bruce Test. SparCC recognized Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, short-chain fatty acid producers with probiotic properties, species strongly associated with VO2max. Ultimately, we identified several taxa with different baseline abundances and longitudinal changes when comparing individuals based on their VO2max, average power, and maximal power parameters. Our results confirmed that the health status of individuals are consistent with assumptions about microbiome health. Furthermore, our findings indicate that microbiome features are associated with better performance previously identified in elite athletes.

Impact of probiotic Veillonella atypica FB0054 supplementation on anaerobic capacity and lactate.

Seven healthy, physically active men (n = 3) and women (n = 4) (30.7 ± 7.5 years, 172.7 ± 8.7 cm, 70.4 ± 11.6 kg, 23.6 ± 4.1 kg/m2, 49.2 ± 8.4 mL/kg/min) supplemented for 14 days with a placebo (PLA) or 1 × 1010 CFU doses of the probiotic Veillonella atypica FB0054 (FitBiomics, New York, NY). Participants had safety panels, hemodynamics, lactate, and anaerobic capacity assessed. Stool samples were collected to evaluate for metagenomic and metabolomic changes. Exhaustion times were not different between groups, whereas anaerobic capacity tended to shorten with PLA (61.14 ± 72.04 s; 95% CI: -5.49, 127.77 s, p = 0.066) with no change with VA (13.29 ± 100.13 s, 95% CI: -79.32, 105.89 s, p = 0.738). No changes in lactate, hemodynamics, or bacterial community changes were observed, whereas 14 metabolites exhibited differential expression patterns with VA supplementation. In conclusion, VA maintained exercise performance that tended to decline in PLA. Supplementation was well tolerated with no changes in safety markers or reported adverse events.

Steroid use for established bronchopulmonary dysplasia: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Postnatal steroids during the first few weeks of life have been demonstrated to be effective in decreasing the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious chronic respiratory condition affecting preterm infants. However, this preventive option is limited by the concern of neurological side effects. Steroids are used to treat established BPD in an attempt to reduce mortality, and length of stay and home oxygen therapy, both of which associated with high levels of parental stress and healthcare costs. Moreover, a late timing for steroid treatment may show a more favourable safety profile in terms of neurodevelopment outcomes, considering the added postnatal brain maturation of these infants. Here, we report a protocol for a systematic review, which aims to determine the efficacy and long-term safety of postnatal steroids for the treatment of established BPD in preterm infants. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane databases and sources of grey literature for conference abstracts and trial registrations will be searched with no time or language restriction. We will include case-control studies, cohort studies and non-randomised or randomised trials that evaluate postnatal steroids for infants diagnosed with moderate or severe established BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. We will pool data from studies that are sufficiently similar to make this appropriate. Data extraction forms will be developed a priori. Observational studies and non-randomised and randomised clinical trials will be analysed separately. We will combine OR with 95% CI for dichotomous outcomes and the mean difference (95% CI) for continuous outcomes. We will account for the expected heterogeneity by using a random-effects model. We will perform subgroup analysis based on the a priori determined covariate of interest. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Systematic reviews are exempted from approval by an ethics committee. Attempts will be sought to publish all results. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021218881.

Salivary IL-17A, IL-17F, and TNF-α Are Associated with Disease Advancement in Patients with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Delayed diagnosis of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Despite progress in systemic therapy and radiotherapy, there has only been a slight improvement in the five-year survival rate. A non-invasive diagnostic method that consists of an assessment of specific proteins in saliva samples may significantly facilitate assessment of treatment results in patients diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in the saliva of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The study was conducted prior to treatment in patients hospitalized in the Frederic Chopin Provincial Specialist Hospital No. 1 in Rzeszów, Poland. Saliva samples were collected from subjects on an empty stomach. Cytokine concentrations in the saliva were measured with ELISA and Luminex Multiplex Assays. The higher salivary concentrations of IL-17A, IL-17F, and TNF-α were significantly associated with disease advancement. Lower levels of IL-17A were associated with colonization of the oral cavity with aerobic bacteria. On the other hand, higher concentration of TNF-α was observed in patients with positive aerobic culture of oral swabs. Our results suggest that IL-17A, IL-17F, and TNF-α measured in the saliva may be a potential biomarker for cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Scientific reports concerning the impact of interleukin 4, interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor ß on cancer cells.

Cytokines are signalling proteins generated in most part by immune cells that have critical functions in cellular lifespan. Here we present recent data on three selected anti-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4 and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß). IL-10 inhibits the synthesis of major pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and mediates anti-inflammatory reactions. IL-4 is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses and is involved in processes associated with development and differentiation of lymphocytes and regulation of T cell survival. Transforming TGF-ß, which in normal cells or pre-cancerous cells, promotes proliferation arrest which represses tumour growth. In this review, we focus on the influence of IL-10, IL-4 and TGF-ß on various types of cancer as well as potential of these selected cytokines to serve as new biomarkers which can support effective therapies for cancer patients. This article is presented based on a review of the newest research results.

[Hyponatremia in the course of small cell lung cancer--a case report]. / Hiponatremia w przebiegu drobnokomórkowego raka pluca--opis przypadku.

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder occurring in patients with malignancy. Typically, it runs in the form of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Among malignant diseases it is often ascertained from small cell lung cancer. In the form of paraneoplastic syndrome it may precede clinical and radiological symptoms malignant disease. Hyponatremia requires special attention because of the neurological consequences and the risk of death. We present a case of a patient in whom the occurrence of hyponatremia preceded the appearance of clinical symptoms of lung cancer and has been the reason to start the diagnosis. The normalization of serum sodium was the first signal response to chemotherapy. In contrast, a statement confirmed the recurrence of hyponatremia progression of the disease in the form of metastases to the central nervous system. Speeches hyponatremia refractory symptomatic treatment should be a cause of further investigation into the neoplastic process. Recurrent hyponatremia during or after treatment may suggest its progression. Therefore, monitoring the sodium level is required not only during treatment, but also after the oncological treatment.