PMID: 

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 20 ;20(2). Epub 2019 Jan 20. PMID: 30669509

Abstract Title: 

The Effect of Psyllium Husk on Intestinal Microbiota in Constipated Patients and Healthy Controls.

Abstract: 

Psyllium is a widely used treatment for constipation. It traps water in the intestine increasing stool water, easing defaecation and altering the colonic environment. We aimed to assess the impact of psyllium on faecal microbiota, whose key role in gut physiology is being increasingly recognised. We performed two randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trials comparing 7 days of psyllium with a placebo (maltodextrin) in 8 healthy volunteers and 16 constipated patients respectively. We measured the patients' gastrointestnal (GI) transit, faecal water content, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and the stool microbiota composition. While psyllium supplement had a small but significant effect on the microbial composition of healthy adults (increasingand decreasing), in constipated subjects there were greater effects on the microbial composition (increased,,,andand decreased unculturedand) and alterations in the levels of acetate and propionate. We found several taxa to be associated with altered GI transit, SCFAs and faecal water content in these patients. Significant increases in three genera known to produce butyrate,,and, correlated with increased faecal water. In summary, psyllium supplementation increased stool water and this was associated with significant changes in microbiota, most marked in constipated patients.

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PMID: 

Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2016 Jun ;59(3):216-226. Epub 2016 Mar 17. PMID: 26996955

Abstract Title: 

Spa therapy and knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a public health problem that will probably increase in the future with the aging of the population. Crenobalneotherapy is commonly used to treat OA, but evidence from previous reviews was not sufficient. This systematic review aimed to identify the best evidence for the clinical effect of crenobalneotherapy for knee OA.METHODS: We systematically searched MEDLINE via PubMed, PEDRO and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published up to September 2015. Articles were included if trials were comparative, if one or more of the subgroups had knee OA with separate data, and if spa therapy or any hydrotherapy techniques involving mineral water or mineral mud was compared to any other intervention or no treatment. Statistical validity, external validity and quality of side effects assessment were evaluated by personal checklists. Risk of bias was assessed by the CLEAR NTP.RESULTS: Treatments (hot mineral water baths, mud therapy, hot showers, and sometimes massage and supervised water exercises) delivered in spa centers across Europe and the Middle East seem to improve symptoms in knee OA. They may be effective for pain and function. There are conflicting results about the effect on quality of life and drug consumption.CONCLUSIONS: Improvements with spa therapy for knee OA appear to be clinically relevant until 3 to 6 months and sometimes 9 months.

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PMID: 

Rheumatol Int. 2018 Oct ;38(10):1807-1824. Epub 2018 Jun 12. PMID: 29947999

Abstract Title: 

Effects of balneotherapy and spa therapy on quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease which is expected to become one of the leading causes of disability by the next years. This work aims to assess if balneotherapy and spa therapy can significantly improve Quality of Life (QoL) of patients with knee OA. Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PEDro were systematically searched for articles about trials involving patients with knee OA and measuring the effects of balneotherapy and spa therapy on study participants' QoL with validated scales. A qualitative and quantitative syntheses were performed. Seventeen studies were considered eligible and included in the systematic review. Fourteen trials reported significant improvements in at least one QoL item after treatment. Ten studies were included in quantitative synthesis. When comparing balneological interventions with standard treatment, results favored the former in terms of long-term overall QoL [ES = - 1.03 (95% CI - 1.66 to - 0.40)]. When comparing balneological interventions with sham interventions, results favored the former in terms of long-term pain improvement [ES = - 0.38 (95% CI - 0.74 to - 0.02)], while no significant difference was found when considering social function [ES = - 0.16 (95% CI - 0.52 to 0.19)]. In conclusion, even though limitations must be considered, evidence shows that BT and spa therapy can significantly improve QoL of patients with knee OA. Moreover, reduction of drug consumption and improvement of algofunctional indexes may be other beneficial effects. Further investigation is needed because of limited available data.

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PMID: 

Biomed Res Int. 2018 ;2018:1042576. Epub 2018 Jun 25. PMID: 30046586

Abstract Title: 

Efficacy of Spa Therapy, Mud-Pack Therapy, Balneotherapy, and Mud-Bath Therapy in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis. A Systematic Review.

Abstract: 

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal disease in the world. OA is the result of an inflammatory and degenerative process affecting the entire joint. Osteoarthritis, especially involving the knee, has a relevant socioeconomic impact in terms of drugs, hospital admissions, work absences, and temporary or permanent invalidity. Therapy of knee osteoarthritis is based on pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the studies published between 2002 and 2017 on spa therapy, mud-pack therapy, balneotherapy, and mud-bath therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in order to investigate the evidence of the efficacy of such treatment on pain, functional limitation, drug use, and quality of life. Overall, 35 studies were examined among which 12 were selected and included in the review if they are trial comparative. We have been able to illustrate the main results obtained in the individual studies and to elaborate these results in order to allow as much a unitary presentation as possible and hence an overall judgment.Results: Because the studies we reviewed differed markedly from one another in terms of the methods used, we were unable to conduct a quantitative analysis (meta-analysis) of pooled data from the 12 studies. For the purposes of the present review, we reevaluated the results of the different studies using the same statistical method, Student's-test, which is used to compare the means of two frequency distributions. Among all the studies, the most relevant indexes used to measure effectiveness of spa therapy were improved including VAS, Lequesne, and WOMAC Score.Conclusions: The mud-pack therapy, balneotherapy, mud-bath therapy, and spa therapy have proved to be effective in the treatment and in the secondary prevention of knee osteoarthritis, by reducing pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption, and functional limitation and improving quality of life of affected patients.

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PMID: 

Z Rheumatol. 2019 Mar ;78(2):143-154. PMID: 30627845

Abstract Title: 

[Effects of serial mud baths on inflammatory rheumatic and degenerative diseases].

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Mud baths have been used for a long time for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. In addition to a reduction of pain and improved function, serially applied mud baths lead to a reduction in the inflammatory processes, which often underlie degenerative and inflammatory rheumatic diseases.OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of serial mud baths on parameters of functional health, on pain perception and at the molecular level in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and degenerative alterations, e.g. gonarthritis and/or coxarthritis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 41 patients with inflammatory rheumatic (33 RA and 8 AS) and 40 patients with degenerative diseases were subdived into 2 groups by computer-assisted randomization. In each group a subgroup received 9 serial mud baths within 21 days in addition to a multimodal physical rehabilitative complex treatment (intervention groups). In the other subgroups only the physical rehabilitative treatment was carried out and no mud baths were administered (control group). The outcome parameters were assessment of the functional capacity and pain perception (HAQ, FFbH, VAS and WOMAC), diesease activity (DAS28 and BASDAI) as well as laboratory markers of inflammatory activity (CRP, BSG, IL-1 beta and IL-10) and the patient assessment.RESULTS: In the intervention groups after serial mud baths there was a significant improvement in the functional parameters (HAQ and FFbH, both p 

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PMID: 

Genes (Basel). 2019 Nov 21 ;10(12). Epub 2019 Nov 21. PMID: 31766427

Abstract Title: 

Genistein Modulates Signaling Pathways and Targets Several Epigenetic Markers in HeLa Cells.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Several epigenetic changes are responsible for transcriptional alterations of signaling pathways and tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) contributing to carcinogenesis. This study was aimed to examine the effect of the phytochemical, genistein on various molecular targets in HeLa cells.METHODS: Quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of various molecular targets. Biochemical assays were employed to study the epigenetic enzymes. To correlate the transcriptional status of the selected TSGs and epigenetic modulation, their promoter 5'CpG methylation levels were evaluated by quantitative methylation array followed by methylation specific restriction digestion.RESULTS: The expression of several genes involved in the cell cycle regulation, migration, inflammation, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen activated kinase-like protein (MAPK) pathway were found to be modulated includingand. Genistein modulated the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), histone methyltransferases (HMTs), demethylases, and histone phosphorylases. Furthermore, genistein decreased the activity of DNMTs, HDACs, and HMTs and reduced global DNA methylation levels. Promoter methylation of several TSGs, including, and, was lowered with corresponding transcriptional increase. Network analysis indicated similar effect of genistein.CONCLUSION: This study presents a comprehensive mechanism of action of genistein showcasing effective epigenetic modulation and widespread transcriptional changes resulting in restoration of tumour suppressor gene expression. This study corroborates the development of genistein as a candidate for anti-cancer therapy.

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PMID: 

Urologiia. 2019 Apr(1):78-83. PMID: 31184022

Abstract Title: 

[Docosahexaenoic acid in the treatment of idiopathic male infertility].

Abstract: 

AIM: docosahexaenoic acid is one of the most common fatty acids in the cell membranes of sperm. This substance is a structural component of cell membranes, and is responsible for such properties as plasticity and fluidity which are necessary for the implementation of the process of capacitation and acrosome reaction. In addition, docosahexaenoic acid has antioxidant properties. Aim of our study was to assess the effect of dietary supplement docosahexaenoic acid (Brudi PLUS) on such markers of male fertility as the sperm DNA integrity, standard indicators of semen analysis and cryotolerance in infertile men.MATERIALS AND METHODS: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. A total of 109 infertile men were recruited to participate in the study. All patients underwent different analyzes, including semen analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation, MAR-test, test of cryotolerance and electron microscopy analysis of spermatozoa. In active treatment group patients were prescribed to drug containing 350 mg of docosahexaenoic acid 3 times a day for 90 days. In the control group, patients were administered to a placebo with a similar scheme. All analyzes were repeatedly performed after 3-months of therapy.RESULTS: An increase in the progressive mobility and sperm viability was determined after the test of cryotolerance in the active treatment group. According to electron microscopy analysis of spermatozoa, positive changes were observed in the number of heads of the normal form with the normal structure of chromatin and acrosome, as well as a decrease in the number of spermatozoa with insufficiently condensed chromatin.CONCLUSIONS: the therapy with drug Brudi PLUS in patients with male infertility allows to increase in cryotolerance of sperms as well as decrease in number of sperm ultrastructure defects.

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PMID: 

Eur J Nutr. 2019 Nov 16. Epub 2019 Nov 16. PMID: 31734734

Abstract Title: 

Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: The combination of Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 (commercially available as Probi Defendum) has previously been reported to reduce the incidence, duration and severity of naturally acquired common colds in adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of Probi Defendumon aspects of common cold in healthy children 1-6 years of age attending day care.METHODS: A total of 131 children, out of the planned 320, were recruited into the study during 1 common cold season and randomised to consume once daily either 10CFU (colony forming units) of the probiotic product or placebo. Due to unforeseen reasons, the recruitment of more children did not continue beyond the first cold season.RESULTS: There were 106 children that completed the study out of the 131 randomised. Daily consumption of the probiotic product for a period of 3 months significantly reduced the severity of the symptom"nasal congestion/runny nose"with a mean severity score for the whole study period of 7.5 ± 9.7 in the probiotic group and 13.9 ± 15.2 in the placebo (p 

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PMID: 

Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Nov ;7(11):3622-3634. Epub 2019 Sep 27. PMID: 31763011

Abstract Title: 

Characterization of juice fermented withEM and its cholesterol-lowering effects on rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.

Abstract: 

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability ofEM as a starter culture to control cabbage-apple juice fermentation and to explore the cholesterol-lowering effects of the fermented juice (EM juice) in rats.EM produced strong antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi, suppressing other microorganisms in the fermented juice, and was the dominant organism during fermentation and storage. The EM juice also showed strong and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet and administered EM juice showed significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels, as well as a reduced atherogenic index, lower cardiac factors in serum, and lower TC levels in the liver, while total lipid and TC levels in the rat feces increased. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the hepatic mRNA expression of HMG-CoA reductase decreased and the expressions of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and low-density lipoprotein receptor increased in rats administered EM juice. The effects of EM juice on rats included inhibition of cholesterol synthesis as well as enhancement of cholesterol uptake and cholesterol excretion. The results of this study indicate that the use ofEM as a functional starter culture for juice fermentation exerts microbial control, enhances sanitary safety, and provides beneficial food effects against hypercholesterolemia.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 Nov 19 ;11(11). Epub 2019 Nov 19. PMID: 31752370

Abstract Title: 

Effect ofTWK10 on Exercise Physiological Adaptation, Performance, and Body Composition in Healthy Humans.

Abstract: 

Probiotics have been rapidly developed for health promotion, but clinical validation of the effects on exercise physiology has been limited. In a previous study,TWK10 (TWK10), isolated from Taiwanese pickled cabbage as a probiotic, was demonstrated to improve exercise performance in an animal model. Thus, in the current study, we attempted to further validate the physiological function and benefits through clinical trials for the purpose of translational research. The study was designed as a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment. A total of 54 healthy participants (27 men and 27 women) aged 20-30 years without professional athletic training were enrolled and randomly allocated to the placebo, low (3× 10colony forming units (CFU)), and high dose (9× 10CFU) TWK10 administration groups (= 18 per group, with equal sexes). The functional and physiological assessments were conducted by exhaustive treadmill exercise measurements (85% VO), and related biochemical indices were measured before and after six weeks of administration. Fatigue-associated indices, including lactic acid, blood ammonia, blood glucose, and creatinine kinase, were continuously monitored during 30 min of exercise and a 90 min rest period using fixed intensity exercise challenges (60% VO) to understand the physiological adaptation. The systemic inflammation and body compositions were also acquired and analyzed during the experimental process. The results showed that TWK10 significantly elevated the exercise performance in a dose-dependent manner and improved the fatigue-associated features correlated with better physiological adaptation. The change in body composition shifted in the healthy direction for TWK10 administration groups, especially for the high TWK10 dose group, which showed that body fat significantly decreased and muscle mass significantly increased. Taken together, our results suggest that TWK10 has the potential to be an ergogenic aid to improve aerobic endurance performance via physiological adaptation effects.

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