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Fecal microbiota transplantation as a tool to treat and reduce susceptibility to disease in animals.Veterinary Immunology and... Dec 2018Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process by which fecal microbiota are donated from a healthy individual and subsequently transplanted into a diseased or... (Review)
Review
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process by which fecal microbiota are donated from a healthy individual and subsequently transplanted into a diseased or young individual. The mechanism by which FMT is effective is believed to be due to enhanced beneficial microbes, increased microbiome diversity, and restored normal flora. Beneficial gut microorganisms not only play a role in maintaining an intestinal barrier and metabolizing nutrients, but importantly, these microbes help regulate local and systemic immune function. Although FMT has been described for several centuries, only recently has it been utilized as a mainstream therapy in humans and significantly considered for applications in other species. In humans and animals, gastrointestinal diseases are by far the most widely accepted FMT-treatable conditions; however, recent research has shown exceptional promise for FMT being used to treat or prevent other conditions, including those outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, FMT is likely an underutilized, widely-available, and inexpensive tool for improving the health and response to disease in animals. In this review, the effects of FMT on veterinary diseases and potential applications for FMT in animals are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Disease Susceptibility; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Veterinary Medicine
PubMed: 30502914
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.11.002 -
Translational Research : the Journal of... Jan 2015Environmental insults, such as exposure to toxicants or nutritional abnormalities, can lead to epigenetic changes that are in turn related to increased susceptibility to... (Review)
Review
Environmental insults, such as exposure to toxicants or nutritional abnormalities, can lead to epigenetic changes that are in turn related to increased susceptibility to disease. The focus of this review is on the transgenerational inheritance of such epigenetic abnormalities (epimutations), and how it is that these inherited epigenetic abnormalities can lead to increased disease susceptibility, even in the absence of continued environmental insult. Observations of environmental toxicant specificity and exposure-specific disease susceptibility are discussed. How epimutations are transmitted across generations and how epigenetic changes in the germline are translated into an increased disease susceptibility in the adult is reviewed with regard to disease etiology.
Topics: Animals; DNA Methylation; Disease Susceptibility; Environmental Exposure; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Germ-Line Mutation; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 24657180
DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2014.02.003 -
Immunity Jun 2021The interindividual heterogeneity of the immune system likely determines the personal risk for acquiring infections and developing diseases with inflammatory components.... (Review)
Review
The interindividual heterogeneity of the immune system likely determines the personal risk for acquiring infections and developing diseases with inflammatory components. In addition to genetic factors, the immune system's heterogeneity is driven by diverging exposures of leukocytes and their progenitors to infections, vaccinations, and health behavior, including lifestyle-related stimuli such as diet, physical inactivity, and psychosocial stress. We review how such experiences alter immune cell responses to concurrent and subsequent challenges, leading to either improved host resilience or disease susceptibility due to a muted or overzealous immune system, with a primary focus on the contribution of innate immune cells. We explore the involvement of diverse mechanisms, including trained immunity, and their relevance for infections and cardiovascular disease, as these prevalent conditions are heavily influenced by immune cell abundance and phenotypic adaptions. Understanding the mechanistic bases of immune modulations by prior or co-exposures may lead to new therapies targeting dysfunctional inflammation.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Innate; Infections; Inflammation; Life Style
PubMed: 34107270
DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.05.011 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Immunity; Neoplasms
PubMed: 34675944
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.775101 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Mar 2020"Shanghuo", a concept based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, describes a status of Yin-Yang imbalance when Yang overwhelms Yin. The imbalance of Yin-Yang... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
"Shanghuo", a concept based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, describes a status of Yin-Yang imbalance when Yang overwhelms Yin. The imbalance of Yin-Yang resembles the breaking of homeostasis and manifests by the impaired physiological functions, which leads to the onset, recurrence, and progression of diseases. Since ancient times, Chinese Materia Medica (CMM), such as herbal tea, has been applied as a treatment for "Shanghuo".
AIM OF THE STUDY
This review is aimed to describe the origin of "Shanghuo" from the Yin-Yang theory in TCM, as well as explore the relevance and correlations between "Shanghuo" and diseases susceptibility from the perspective of modern medicine. We also propose several strategies from CMM to improve the status of "Shanghuo" for the purpose of treating diseases.
METHODS
Systematic research of articles with keywords including Shanghuo, Yin-Yang, emotional stress and disease susceptibility was done by using the literature databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, CNKI). Related books, PhD and master's dissertations were also researched. Full scientific plant names were validated by "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org).
RESULTS
To date, a large number of publications have reported research on sub-health status, but studies about the theory or intervention of "Shanghuo" are rarely found. The articles we reviewed indicate that accumulated emotional stress is critical for the cause of "Shanghuo". As a status similar to sub-health, "Shanghuo" is also manifested by impaired physiological functions and decreased nonspecific resistance, which increase susceptibility to various diseases. What's more, some studies highlight the importance of TCM treatment towards "Shanghuo" in maintaining normal physiological functions, such as immunity, lipid metabolism and ROS clearance.
CONCLUSIONS
Researches on "Shanghuo" and its mechanism are every rare currently and are in need of investigation in the future. Studies on disease susceptibility recently are mostly about susceptible genes that relate to a few parts of people, however, for most of the people, accumulated emotional stress or other stressors is accountable for the susceptibility of diseases. Given that emotional stress plays an important factor in the causation of "Shanghuo", we reviewed the articles about this relevance and discussed the connection of "Shanghuo" with disease susceptibility in a novel perspective. In addition, we have reviewed the disease susceptibility model of restraint stress from its biochemical manifestation to application in CMM assessment. Although it would be a breakthrough in evaluating CMM efficacy of attenuating disease-susceptibility, understanding the comprehensive theory and establishing more models of "Shanghuo" would be required in further investigation.
Topics: Disease Susceptibility; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Stress, Psychological; Yin-Yang
PubMed: 31863858
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112491 -
Nature Aging Oct 2022Older adults represent a vulnerable population with elevated risk for numerous morbidities. To explore the association of the microbiome with aging and age-related...
Older adults represent a vulnerable population with elevated risk for numerous morbidities. To explore the association of the microbiome with aging and age-related susceptibilities including frailty and infectious disease risk, we conducted a longitudinal study of the skin, oral, and gut microbiota in 47 community- or skilled nursing facility-dwelling older adults vs. younger adults. We found that microbiome changes were not associated with chronological age so much as frailty: we identified prominent changes in microbiome features associated with susceptibility to pathogen colonization and disease risk, including diversity, stability, heterogeneity, and biogeographic determinism, which were moreover associated with a loss of in the skin microbiome. Strikingly, the skin microbiota were also the primary reservoir for antimicrobial resistance, clinically important pathobionts, and nosocomial strains, suggesting a potential role particularly for the skin microbiome in disease risk and dissemination of multidrug resistant pathogens.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Frailty; Longitudinal Studies; Microbiota; Disease Susceptibility; Infections
PubMed: 36398033
DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00287-9 -
Journal of Immunology Research 2019
Topics: Disease Susceptibility; Homeostasis; Humans; Immunity; Organ Specificity
PubMed: 31737688
DOI: 10.1155/2019/7616509 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin Mar 2015The schizotypy construct focuses attention on the liability to develop schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, yet traditionally, the schizotypy models have put more emphasis... (Review)
Review
The schizotypy construct focuses attention on the liability to develop schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, yet traditionally, the schizotypy models have put more emphasis on stress-vulnerability interactions rather than developmental dynamics of emerging risk for psychopathology. Indeed, developmental accounts of this emerging personality trait have rarely been explicitly formulated. In this position article, we wish to convey some of the basic developmental tenets of schizotypy, and how they can inform high-risk research. Firstly, we tackle the state vs trait issue to outline the possible relationship between high-risk states and trait schizotypy. Second, we review the evidence suggesting that the consolidation of schizotypy, encompassing its 3 main dimensions, could be considered as a developmental mediator between very early risk factors and transition into high-risk states. Importantly, developmental dynamics between endophenotypes, as well as transactional and epigenetics mechanisms should enter modern conceptualizations of schizotypy. Finally, we present a developmental psychopathology perspective of schizotypy sensitive to both the multifinality and equifinality of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. We conclude that schizotypy represents a crucial construct in a fully-developmental study of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Topics: Disease Progression; Disease Susceptibility; Endophenotypes; Humans; Personality Development; Schizotypal Personality Disorder
PubMed: 25548385
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbu175 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Dec 2019Asthma and allergy incidence continue to increase globally. We have made significant strides in treating disease, but it is becoming more apparent that we need to... (Review)
Review
Asthma and allergy incidence continue to increase globally. We have made significant strides in treating disease, but it is becoming more apparent that we need to advance our knowledge into the origins of asthmatic disease. Much recent work has indicated that microbiome composition influences immune regulation and that multiple health care factors have driven a loss in microbiome diversity in modern human populations. Evidence is growing of microbiota-driven influences on immune development, asthma susceptibility, and asthma pathogenesis. The focus of this review is to highlight the strides the field has made in characterizing the constituents of the human gastrointestinal microbiota, such as Helicobacter pylori, other members of the neonatal intestinal microbiota, and microbial peptides and metabolites that influence host immunity and immune response to allergens. As we delve further into this field of research, the goal will be to find actionable and clinical interventions to identify at-risk populations earlier to prevent disease onset. Manipulation of the host microbial community during infancy might be an especially promising approach.
Topics: Allergens; Asthma; Disease Susceptibility; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Microbiota; Pandemics; Risk Factors
PubMed: 31812180
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.10.022 -
Environmental Health : a Global Access... Jun 2017Evidence shows that both the physical and social environments play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this systematic review is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND METHODS
Evidence shows that both the physical and social environments play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this systematic review is two-fold: First, we summarize research from the past 12 years from the growing number of studies focused on effect modification of the relationships between air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes by socioeconomic position (SEP) and; second, we identify research gaps throughout the published literature on this topic and opportunities for addressing these gaps in future study designs.
RESULTS
We identified 30 articles that examined the modifying effects of either material resources or psychosocial stress (both related to SEP) on associations between short and long-term air pollution exposure and CVD endpoints. Although 18 articles identified at least one interaction between an air pollutant and material resource indicator, 11 others did not. Support for susceptibility to air pollution by psychosocial stress was weaker; however, only three articles tested this hypothesis. Further studies are warranted to investigate how air pollution and SEP together may influence CVD.
CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that such research include thorough assessment of air pollution and SEP correlations, including spatial correlation; investigate air pollution indices or multi-pollutant models; use standardized metrics of SEP to enhance comparability across studies; and evaluate potentially susceptible populations.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Cardiovascular Diseases; Disease Susceptibility; Environmental Exposure; Prevalence; Social Class; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 28615066
DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0270-0