Metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiota of healthy individuals reveals impact of probiotic and maltodextrin consumption.

In a previously published double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we showed that probiotics intake exerted a positive effect on sleep quality and a general improvement across time in different aspects of the profile of mood state, like sadness, anger, and fatigue in 33 healthy individuals. The present work investigates the impact of the probiotic product, constituted of Limosilactobacillus fermentum LF16, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR06, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP01 (all former members of Lactobacillus genus), and Bifidobacterium longum 04, on the gut microbiota composition of the same cohort through a metabarcoding analysis. Both the placebo and probiotic treatments had a significant impact on the microbiota composition. Statistical analysis showed that the microbiota of the individuals could be clustered into three groups, or bacteriotypes, at the baseline, and, inherently, bacterial compositions were linked to different responses to probiotic and placebo intakes. Interestingly, L. rhamnosus and L. fermentum were retrieved in the probiotic-treated cohort, while a bifidogenic effect of maltodextrin, used as placebo, was observed. The present study shed light on the importance of defining bacteriotypes to assess the impact of interventions on the gut microbiota and allowed to reveal microbial components which could be related to positive effects (i.e. sleep quality improvement) to be verified in further studies.

Single-Scaffold Genome Sequence of Probiotic Strain Bifidobacterium breve BR03 (DSM 16604), Obtained by Combining Hybrid Sequencing and Optical Mapping.

Bifidobacterium breve BR03 (DSM 16604) is known for its health-promoting activity. We present a single-scaffold genome obtained by using a hybrid approach combining long- and short-read sequencing techniques integrated by an optical map. This approach could be set as an industry standard for probiotic strain characterization.

Shortened head-up tilt testing potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin in patients with unexplained syncope.

BACKGROUND: Head-up tilt testing is extensively used to determine the vasovagal origin of syncope in patients with otherwise unexplained loss of consciousness, although issues remain regarding the method of the test. The diagnostic value of a shortened head-up tilt test potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin was assessed in patients with unexplained syncope. METHODS: Two hundred two patients (mean age 49+/-19 years) with syncope of unknown origin and 34 subjects in a control group (mean age 45+/-17 years) were studied. The patients and the subjects in the control group were tilted upright to 60 degrees for 20 minutes. If syncope did not occur, sublingual nitroglycerin (400 microg) was administered, and observation was continued for 25 more minutes. RESULTS: During the unmedicated phase syncope occurred in 22 (11%) patients and in one member of the control group. After nitroglycerin was administered, syncope occurred in 119 (59%) patients and in 1 (3%) member of the control group. False-positive response (exaggerated response) was observed in eight (4%) patients and in four (12%) subjects in the control group. The total positivity rate of the test was 70% with a specificity rate of 94%. CONCLUSIONS: Short-duration head-up tilt test potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin provides an adequate specificity and positivity rate in patients with unexplained syncope.

[Clinical case of alloimmunization with a rare anti-Cartwright antibody associated with anti-Kidd antibody]. / Caso clinico di alloimmunizzazione con un raro anticorpo anti-Cartwright associato con un anticorpo anti-Kidd(a).

A patient with a rare IgG anti-Cartwright (anti-Yt(a)) is reported. An association with anti-Kidd(a) was also found. The behavior of this antibody "in vivo" is discussed. The clinical importance of this is compared with data in the literature. A satisfactory intercenter cooperation is emphasized.

[Laboratory and therapeutic control of oral anticoagulant treatment]. / Controllo laboratoristico e terapeutico nel trattamento anticoagulante orale.

In our hospital, 199 patients following oral anticoagulant therapy were studied and controlled. They were divided into two groups according to the follow-up period. The first group was treated for 24-40 weeks. The second group was treated for 6-24 weeks. In the first group, 169 (98.3%) of the 172 patients studied maintained therapeutic range INR (2.1-4.8) for a period of 70%-100% of the total observation time, whereas 3 patients (1.7%) did not have a valid therapeutic response. The percentage of subjects within therapeutic range in the second group of 27 patients was decidedly inferior. Five of these patients were not able to achieve the desired results, probably because of a too brief period and undertreatment.

[Evaluation of a new method for identification of anti-erythrocyte antibodies]. / Valutazione di una nuova metodica per l'identificazione di anticorpi anti-eritrocitari.

The polibrene manual test was evaluated by using three different incubation time periods and its efficacy was compared to other techniques currently in use in our center. We found that when this technique is carried out with a 15 minute incubation period and the addition of antiglobulin, it is decidedly sensitive and can be employed in urgent compatibility testing preceded by "type and screen".

[HLA typing and insulin antibody production in insulin-dependent diabetics]. / Tipizzazione HLA e produzione di anticorpi anti-insulina nel diabetico insulina-dipendente.

The literature of the past ten years shows that the introduction of highly purified heterologous and, lastly, homologous insulins has notably lowered the production of IgG and IgE specific insulin antibodies, but has not succeeded in completely eliminating clinical manifestations of the immune or hyper-immune response to insulin therapy. In particular, insulin allergy with or without lipodystrophy is still seen. Among the factors of insulin immunogenicity, there is a possible genetic control of the immune response in type I diabetes: determining HLA halloantigens (A, B, C, D) might identify specific immune response genes (Ir genes). Initial researches, performed until now almost exclusively upon diabetics treated with conventional heterologous insulin, seem to indicate a positive relationship between haplotype HLA - B15 - DR4 and an elevated immune response, whereas haplotypes HLA - B8 - DR3 and HLA - B18 - DR3 might protect against the formation of anti-insulin antibodies. Antigens D/DR3 and D/DR4 are known to be primitively associated to susceptibility for type I diabetes, whereas antigens B8, B15, B18 are secondarily associated to the rise in frequency of DR3 and DR4 for the "linkage disequilibrium" existing between alleles of B and D loci. The results of HLA typing are presented in 2 groups of insulin-dependent diabetics (ID) followed from an immunological viewpoint during therapy with monocomponent heterologous insulin for over 5 years. The first group is composed of 50 patients with low IgG anti-insulin antibody titers (less than 1 mU/ml, Christiansen: low responders); the second group is made up of 23 patients with high IgG anti-insulin antibody titers (greater than 2.5 mU/ml, Christiansen: high responders) and includes 5 subjects with insulin allergy (associated or not with insulin lipoatrophy) and high levels of insulin specific IgE antibodies. A study of the frequencies of various HLA-B antigens in both groups of patients, in regard to a control group of piemontese population, in relation to the intensity of association (relative risk) and to the statistical importance of frequencies, shows only a possible protective effect of the HLA-B18 phenotype (linkage disequilibrium with HLA - DR3) towards the production of anti-insulin antibodies and hyperimmune clinical manifestations, such as allergy. Reliable conclusions are not possible between low and high responders for the other phenotypes (HLA - B7, B8, B15) commonly implicated. HLA-B12 was noted in 3 of 5 patients with allergy, in 2 cases associated with B8.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Protocol in interventions in ambulatory surgery of patients under anticoagulant therapy]. / Protocollo comportamentale negli interventi di chirurgia ambulatoriale su pazienti in trattamento anticoagulante.

Protocol is established for out-patient surgery for subjects in therapy with oral anticoagulants. A brief description is given of the pharmacologic action of coumarins and hydantoins and all other drugs that strengthen or inhibit their effects are reviewed. Modalities are established for suspending anticoagulant therapy and guide-lines are indicated for dental and oral and ear, nose and throat surgery. Mention is mode of possible complications and eventual treatment.

[Comparison of the effects of 2 anesthesiologic technics on hemostasis]. / Confronto degli effetti di due tecniche anestesiologiche sull'emostasi.

Results of hemocoagulation test in anesthesia performed upon 17 patients treated with Ethrane and 17 treated with NLA are reported in this paper. Normotest, Thrombotest and PTT are within normal limits. The two groups studied, however, showed a drop in the percentages of the Normotest and Thrombotest and a reduced PTT. Differences in base values (pre-operatory) and those on the first post-operatory day were calculated for each of the two groups of patients. No statistically significant variations were noted comparing these with the Student T test. Our results, as well as those of other authors, show that NLA and Ethrane do not clinically alter patient hemostasis. Considering that no significant bleeding was noted during surgery, we have arrived at the conclusion that these two anesthetic agents have a stabilizing effect on organic homeostasis, in emergency cases, thus protecting the hemostatic equilibrium.

[The HLA system and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A review and personal studies]. / Sistema HLA e diabete insulina-dipendente. Rassegna e indagini personali.

Present knowledge regarding the HLA system and the association between HLA antigens and insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is reviewed. The heterogeneity of diabetes, immunogenetically speaking, is emphasized. Results are reported for HLA typing in 18 cases of known IDDM recently diagnosed and observed at the Karen Bruni Diabetes Center in approximately one year (1981-82). The frequency of HLA antigens B7, B8 (in linkage disequilibrium with DR3), B15 (in linkage disequilibrium with DR4) and B18 was examined in comparison with a Piemontese control group. The X2 method was used for calculating the relative risk and statistic importance of the intensity of association. IDDM susceptibility in association with HLA-B18 was confirmed and resulted significantly higher in our cases in respect to controls. Correlations without, however, reliable importance, have also been found between HLA-B8 and B15. IDDM protection by HLA-B7 was not confirmed. Diabetes began during the winter, from October to February, in 10 out of 18 cases, and some were positively related to a previous respiratory viral infection. Previous virus infection was found in three B7-positive cases. The more frequent arousal of diabetic symptoms during the winter in subjects positive for HLA-B8 and B18 was confirmed in 7 out of 8 cases. This work demonstrates the current practicability of HLA typing of recently diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic in a Diabetes Center. This element helps to a more correct classification--on a subclinical basis--of initial cases of type 1 and 2 diabetes and can be used for possible problems during the course of insulin therapy.

[Behavior of the principal blood coagulation parameters in rats with portacaval anastomosis]. / Comportamento dei principali parametri emocoagulativi in ratti sottoposti ad anastomosi porto-cava.

The aim of our research was to evaluate same coagulative parameters in the rat after end-to-side porto-caval shunt, comparing the data with "sham operated" rats. At 180th day in each group the following parameters were controlled: platelet, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, T.E.G. The results have shown a significant diminution in the following parameters: PLT, PT, fibrinogen, and T.E.G.

[Metabolic changes following termino-lateral portacaval anastomosis in the rat]. / Alterazioni metaboliche conseguenti ad anastomosi porto-cava termino-laterale nel ratto.

The purpose of these present experiences was to evaluate some metabolic parameters, which can show liver damage after end-to-side porto-caval shunt, comparing the data with "sham operated" rats. At 180th day in each group the following parameters were controlled: ALT, AST, Alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT, bilirubin, Cholesterol, albumin and ammonia blood level. The results showed a significant increase of gamma GT, APh, bilirubin and ammonia blood level in porto-caval shunt operated rats.