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Microorganisms Jul 2023We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and infections during pregnancy. We included... (Review)
Review
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and infections during pregnancy. We included cross-sectional, case-control, cohort studies and clinical trials, evaluating the frequency of infections in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus. A search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science electronic databases and by manually searching references, until 23 March 2022, resulting in 16 studies being selected for review, with 111,649 women in the gestational diabetes mellitus group, and 1,429,659 in the controls. Cochrane's Q test of heterogeneity and I² were used to assess heterogeneity. Pooled odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Funnel plots and Egger test were used for assessment of publication bias. The results showed a significant association between gestational diabetes mellitus and infections (pooled-OR 1.3 95% CI [1.2-1.5]). Sub-analyses showed a significant association for urinary tract infections (pooled-OR of 1.2 95% CI [1.1-1.3]), bacterial infections (pooled-OR were 1.2 95% CI [1.1-1.4]), and SARS-CoV-2 (pooled-OR 1.5 95% CI [1.2-2.0]) but not to gingivitis or vaginal candidiasis. The results underscore the significance of acknowledging gestational diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for infections.
PubMed: 37630515
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081956 -
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences 2022In root canal therapy, the cleaning and shaping of canals are routinely applied by clinicians in order to remove microorganisms. Eradicating bacteria from the root... (Review)
Review
In root canal therapy, the cleaning and shaping of canals are routinely applied by clinicians in order to remove microorganisms. Eradicating bacteria from the root canal system plays a crucial role in long-term success; however, it is not always easy to disinfect root canals properly because of their complicated anatomy and bacterial load. Achieving an optimally disinfected root canal environment requires adjunctive antibacterial therapeutic methods. High-power laser utilization as an adjunctive strategy to conventional treatment is a relatively new approach that helps clinicians. This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Online databases, namely Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, were searched electronically regarding lasers and endodontic treatments. Appropriate studies were included according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among 504 obtained studies by search, 48 were considered for a detailed analysis. Ten articles performed in vivo evaluation, while nine assessed the effect of lasers on artificial models, and 29 conducted experiments on extracted teeth. When the diode laser, the most frequently used laser, was utilized as an adjunct therapy after NaOCl irrigation, it killed more bacteria than conventional irrigation with NaOCl. Laser-activated irrigation (LAI) with the Er, Cr: YSGG laser and NaOCl disinfects the root canal effectively. Also, photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) with Er: YAG and NaOCl exhibited a high bactericidal effect and deep tubular penetration. High-power laser utilization, considering proper case selection and method, can assist in root canal treatment of infected teeth.
PubMed: 37041778
DOI: 10.34172/jlms.2022.66 -
Journal of Occupational Health 2023Prolonged and constant stress from work often leads to numerous adverse health effects. In recent years, interest in probiotics, living microorganisms that can benefit... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Prolonged and constant stress from work often leads to numerous adverse health effects. In recent years, interest in probiotics, living microorganisms that can benefit their host when consumed in adequate amounts, to aid health and well-being has increased. This scoping review is to systematically evaluate the current state of science on the effects of probiotic supplements on health, stress, and stress-related symptoms among working adults in occupational settings.
METHODS
We performed a systematic scoping review following the Arksey and O'Malley Framework. Studies that examined the effects of probiotics on workers' health and stress-related indicators/outcomes in occupational settings were included. A comprehensive search was performed from November 2021 to January 2022 using MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Embase.
RESULTS
A total of 14 papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Probiotics consisted primarily of Lactobacillus and/or Bifidobacterium strains in various forms and doses. Three out of eight studies reported statistical differences in inflammatory markers or stress hormone levels between probiotic and placebo groups. Three of six reported reduced respiratory tract infection incidents in the probiotic groups and three out of four studies reported no differences in anxiety and depression between groups. Lastly, three studies found that absenteeism and presentism were lower in probiotic groups compared with placebo groups.
CONCLUSION
The potential benefits of probiotics exist; however, the measurements of outcomes, the types of probiotics used, and the characteristics of the intervention varied across studies. Further research is needed focusing on probiotics' direct and indirect mechanisms of action on the stress response and the standardization of strains and dosing.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Occupational Health; Probiotics; Lactobacillus; Absenteeism; Anxiety
PubMed: 37218068
DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12404 -
Planta Medica Feb 2018Ginsenoside Rh1 is one of major bioactive compounds extracted from red ginseng, which has been increasingly used for enhancing cognition and physical health worldwide.... (Review)
Review
Ginsenoside Rh1 is one of major bioactive compounds extracted from red ginseng, which has been increasingly used for enhancing cognition and physical health worldwide. The objective of this study was to review the pharmacological effects of ginsenoside Rh1 in a systematic manner. We performed searches on eight electronic databases including MEDLINE (Pubmed), Scopus, Google Scholar, POPLINE, Global Health Library, Virtual Health Library, the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe, and the New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Report to select the original research publications reporting the biological and pharmacological effects of ginsenoside Rh1 from and studies regardless of publication language and study design. Upon applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included a total of 57 studies for our systemic review. Ginsenoside Rh1 exhibited the potent characteristics of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory effects, and positive effects on the nervous system. The cytotoxic effects of ginsenoside Rh1 were dependent on different types of cell lines. Other pharmacological effects including estrogenic, enzymatic, anti-microorganism activities, and cardiovascular effects have been mentioned, but the results were considerably diverged. A higher quality of evidence on clinical trial studies is highly recommended to confirm the consistent efficacy of ginsenoside Rh1.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antioxidants; Estrogens; Ginsenosides; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Nervous System; Panax; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 29329463
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-124087 -
Microorganisms May 2023Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity/mortality worldwide, and vaccination is an important measure in its prevention. Despite European children being... (Review)
Review
Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity/mortality worldwide, and vaccination is an important measure in its prevention. Despite European children being vaccinated with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), pneumococcal infections are still a major cause of morbidity/mortality in adults with risk conditions and their vaccination might be an important prevention strategy. New PCVs have been approved, but information is lacking on their potential impact in European adults. In our review, we searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies on the additional PCV20 serotypes (concerning incidence, prevalence, disease severity, lethality, and antimicrobial resistance) in European adults, between January 2010 and April 2022, having included 118 articles and data from 33 countries. We found that these serotypes have become more prevalent in both invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD and NIPD), representing a significant proportion of cases (serotypes 8, 12F, 22F) and more serious disease and/or lethality (10A, 11A, 15B, 22F), showing antimicrobial resistance (11A, 15B, 33F), and/or affecting more vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, immunocompromised patients, and those with comorbidities (8, 10A, 11A, 15B, 22F). The relevance of pneumococcal adult carriers (11A, 15B, 22F, and 8) was also identified. Altogether, our data showed an increase in the additional PCV20 serotypes' prevalence, accounting for a proportion of approximately 60% of all pneumococcal isolates in IPD in European adults since 2018/2019. Data suggest that adults, as older and/or more vulnerable patients, would benefit from vaccination with higher-coverage PCVs, and that PCV20 may address an unmet medical need.
PubMed: 37374878
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061376 -
Microorganisms May 2023Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been increasingly studied in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population. However, most studies have focused on the adult... (Review)
Review
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been increasingly studied in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population. However, most studies have focused on the adult population, and the safety and efficacy of FMT in a pediatric population is less well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the safety and efficacy of FMT in a pediatric IBD population. A comprehensive literature search of publications published prior to 30 June 2022 was undertaken. Safety data, IBD-related outcomes, and microbiome analysis were obtained from these studies when accessible. Individual estimates of each study were pooled, and sensitivity analysis was conducted. Eleven studies satisfied our eligibility criteria. The calculated pooled rate of adverse events was 29% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.0%, 44.0%; < 0.001; I2 = 89.0%, Q = 94.53), and the calculated pooled rate of serious adverse events was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.0%, 14.0%; = 0.28; I2 = 18.0%, Q = 9.79). One month after FMT, clinical response was achieved in 20/34 (58.8%) pediatric IBD patients, clinical remission was achieved in 22/34 (64.7%), and both clinical response and remission were achieved in 15/34 (44.1%) pediatric IBD patients. FMT can be a safe and effective treatment in the pediatric IBD population and may demonstrate improved safety and efficacy in the pediatric population compared to the adult population. However, our results are limited by a lack of established protocol as well as long-term follow-up for FMT in a pediatric IBD population.
PubMed: 37317246
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051272 -
Microorganisms Mar 2023In Africa, ticks continue to be a major hindrance to the improvement of the livestock industry due to tick-borne pathogens that include , and species. A systemic... (Review)
Review
In Africa, ticks continue to be a major hindrance to the improvement of the livestock industry due to tick-borne pathogens that include , and species. A systemic review and meta-analysis were conducted here and highlighted the distribution and prevalence of these tick-borne pathogens in African ticks. Relevant publications were searched in five electronic databases and selected using inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulting in 138 and 78 papers included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. Most of the studies focused on (38 studies), followed by (27 studies), (20 studies) and (17 studies). A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using the random-effects model. The highest prevalence was obtained for spp. (18.39%; 95% CI: 14.23-22.85%), (13.47%; 95% CI: 2.76-28.69%), (11.28%; 95% CI: 1.77-25.89%), (12.75%; 95% CI: 4.06-24.35%), (6.37%; 95% CI: 3.97-9.16%) and (4.3%; 95% CI: 0.04-12.66%). The prevalence of was low (0%; 95% CI: 0-0.25%), with higher prevalence for spp. (27.02%; 95% CI: 10.83-46.03%) and -like endosymbionts (70.47%; 95% CI: 27-99.82%). The effect of the tick genera, tick species, country and other variables were identified and highlighted the epidemiology of ticks in the heartwater; affinity of each species for different tick genera; dominant distribution of , and -like endosymbionts in ticks and a low distribution of in African hard ticks.
PubMed: 36985288
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030714 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... 2017Specific proteases capable of degrading native triple helical or denatured collagen have been required for many years and have a large spectrum of applications. There... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Specific proteases capable of degrading native triple helical or denatured collagen have been required for many years and have a large spectrum of applications. There are few complete reports that fully uncover production, characterization and purification of fungi collagenases. In this review, authors searched through four scientific on line data bases using the following keywords (collagenolytic OR collagenase) AND (fungi OR fungus OR fungal) AND (production OR synthesis OR synthesize) AND (characterization). Scientific criteria were adopted in this review to classify found articles by score (from 0 to 10). After exclusion criteria, 21 articles were selected. None obtained the maximum of 10 points defined by the methodology, which indicates a deficiency in studies dealing simultaneously with production, characterization and purification of collagenase by fungi. Among microorganisms studied the non-pathogenic fungi Penicillium aurantiogriseum and Rhizoctonia solani stood out in volumetric and specific collagenase activity. The only article found that made sequencing of a true collagenase showed 100% homology with several metalloproteinases fungi. A clear gap in literature about collagenase production by fungi was verified, which prevents further development in the area and increases the need for further studies, particularly full characterization of fungal collagenases with high specificity to collagen.
Topics: Collagen; Collagenases; Culture Media; Enzyme Activation; Fungi; Proteolysis; Substrate Specificity
PubMed: 27756540
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjm.2016.08.001 -
Microorganisms Jul 2022is an emerging, Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogen that is transmitted by a tick vector. Human infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe disease that can... (Review)
Review
is an emerging, Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogen that is transmitted by a tick vector. Human infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe disease that can present with pancytopenia, multiorgan failure, and death. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze case reports and case series reported over the last two decades in peer-reviewed journals indexed in the Medline/PubMed database according to the PRISMA guidelines. We found 110 unique patients from 88 case reports and series. The most common mode of transmission was tick bite (60.9%), followed by blood transfusion (8.2%). Infection was acquired by blood transfusion in nearly half (42%) of the immunocompromised patients. Most patients reported fever (90%), followed by constitutional (59%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (56%). Rash was present in 17% of patients, much higher than in previous studies. Thrombocytopenia was the most common laboratory abnormality (76%) followed by elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (46%). The diagnosis was most commonly established using whole-blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 76% of patients. Coinfection rate was 9.1% and was most commonly isolated in seven patients (6.4%). Doxycycline was used to treat 70% of patients but was only used as an empiric treatment in one-third of patients (33.6%). The overall mortality rate was 5.7%, and one patient died from trauma unrelated to HGA. The mortality rates among immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients were 4.2% ( = 4/95) and 18.2% ( = 2/11), respectively. Four of the six patients who died (66.6%) received appropriate antibiotic therapy. Among these, doxycycline was delayed by more than 48 h in two patients.
PubMed: 35889152
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071433 -
Microorganisms Jun 2020: Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide affecting almost 70 million individuals. is a widespread pathogen with systematic pathogenicity. This... (Review)
Review
: Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide affecting almost 70 million individuals. is a widespread pathogen with systematic pathogenicity. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the contradictory data regarding a potential association between active infection and glaucoma. : A research in MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted and original studies investigating the relationship between infection and glaucoma were included. Analysis was performed with random effects model. The main outcome was the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of infection as a risk factor for glaucoma. A parallel analysis studied the role of active infection as indicated by histology and the titer of anti- antibodies. For the anti- antibody titers, weighted mean differences (WMD) were estimated between patients and controls. Fifteen studies were included, with 2664 participants (872 patients with glaucoma and 1792 controls), divided into primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma (PEG). The association between infection and overall glaucoma was significant (OR = 2.08, CI 95% 1.48-2.93) with moderate heterogeneity ( = 61.54%). After stratification by glaucoma subtype, heterogeneity was eliminated in the NTG subgroup. Studies with healthy controls, and controls with anemia yielded very low or no heterogeneity, respectively. Gastric biopsy to document active infection yielded the highest OR (5.4, CI: 3.17-9.2, ) and null heterogeneity. For anti- antibody titers, there was a significant difference in WMD between patients and controls (WMD 15.98 IU/mL; 95% CI: 4.09-27.87; ); values were greater in glaucoma patients, with high heterogeneity (: 93.8%). Meta-regression analysis showed that mean age had a significant impact on glaucoma (). : Active infection may be associated with glaucoma with null heterogeneity, as, beyond histology, quantified by anti- titers and increases with age.
PubMed: 32545826
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060894