Microbes are commonly sensitive to shifts in the physiological and pathological state of their hosts, including mothers and babies. From this perspective, the microbiome may be a good indicator for diseases during pregnancy and has the potential to be used for perinatal health monitoring. This is embodied in the application of microbiome from multi body sites for auxiliary diagnosis, early prediction, prolonged monitoring, and retrospective diagnosis of pregnancy and infant complications, as well as nutrition management and health products developments of mothers and babies. Here we summarized the progress in these areas and explained that the microbiome of different body sites is sensitive to different diseases and their microbial biomarkers may overlap between each other, thus we need to make a diagnosis prudently for those diseases. Based on the microbiome variances and additional anthropometric and physical data, individualized responses of mothers and neonates to meals and probiotics/prebiotics were predictable, which is of importance for precise nutrition and probiotics/prebiotics managements and developments. Although a great deal of encouraging performance was manifested in previous studies, the efficacy could be further improved by combining multi-aspect data such as multi-omics and time series analysis in the future. This review reconceptualizes maternal and infant health from a microbiome perspective, and the knowledge in it may inspire the development of new options for the prevention and treatment of adverse pregnancy outcomes and bring a leap forward in perinatal health care.
Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Microbiota ; Probiotics/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: This double-blind, randomized controlled design study aimed to assess the dose-dependent effects of synbiotics on gastrointestinal symptoms of and fatigue in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: Thirty subjects with IBS were randomly assigned into the following three groups and received 2 capsules a day for 8 weeks: (1) high-dose (2 capsules of synbiotics); (2) low-dose (1 capsule of synbiotics and 1 capsule of placebo); and (3) placebo (2 capsules of placebo). At baseline and 8 weeks, they completed the study questionnaires. RESULTS: Two subjects in the high-dose group were lost to follow-up, leaving a total of 28 patients for the analysis. After 8 weeks, abdominal discomfort, abdominal bloating, frequency of formed stool, fatigue Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory were significantly different among the groups (P=0.002, 0.006, 0.007, 0.028, and 0.041, respectively, by Kruskal-Wallis test). However, only abdominal discomfort, abdominal bloating, frequency of formed stool, and fatigue VAS were significantly improved in the high-dose group compared with those in the placebo group (P=0.002, 0.003, 0.002, and 0.013, respectively) by Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction. No adverse drug reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: High-dose synbiotics were superior to placebo in improving bowel symptoms and fatigue of IBS patients, suggesting that synbiotic dosage plays an important role in the treatment of IBS.
Capsules ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Probiotics ; Synbiotics* ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of mouth-fed probiotics on pathogenic bacteria colonization of the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract in neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation.

METHODSRandomized control method was employed to divide the neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation into probiotics (n=82) and control groups (n=83). The control group received routine treatment. The probiotics group was administered with oral probiotics in addition to routine treatment. The number of pathogenic bacteria colonized on the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract, and the number of the bacterial strain of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the two groups were examined. The timing of the bacteria colonization and VAP occurrence were also examined.

RESULTSThe probiotics group presented a lower bacterial strain colonization rate of the oropharynx pathogenic bacteria than the control group (35% vs 51%; P<0.05). The colonization time of pathogenic bacteria of the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract, and the time of VAP occurrence lagged behind in the probiotics group compared with that the control group (P<0.05). No adverse reaction caused by probiotics was found.

CONCLUSIONSProbiotics administration is effective in decreasing pathogenic bacteria colonization on the oropharynx, in postponing the pathogenic bacteria colonization on the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract and in delaying the occurrence of VAP in neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Oropharynx ; microbiology ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Probiotics ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotic supplementation for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and reducing mortality in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODSThe randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about probiotics for preventing NEC in preterm neonates were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the ISI Web of Knowledge databases, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Weipu and Wanfang Data from their establishment to March 2014. The Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.1 Software was used for a Meta analysis.

RESULTSA total of 21 RCTs involving 4 607 preterm VLBW infants were eligible for inclusion in the Meta analysis. The Meta analysis showed that probiotic supplement was associated with a significantly decreased risk of NEC in preterm VLBW infants (RR=0.47; 95%CI: 0.35-0.62; P<0.001). Risk of mortality was also significantly reduced in the probiotic group (RR=0.63; 95%CI: 0.51-0.78; P<0.01). Probiotic supplement did not decrease the risk for sepsis (RR=0.87; 95%CI: 0.72-1.06; P=0.17) and NEC related mortality (RR=0.68; 95%CI: 0.31-1.48, P=0.33).

CONCLUSIONSThe results confirm that probiotic supplement can reduce risk of NEC and mortality in preterm VLBW infants. However, the long-term effects and safety of probiotics need to be assessed in large trials.

Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Probiotics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Sepsis ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ecoimmunonutrition supplement on intestinal microecology, epithelial tight junctions, and barrier function in rats with surgical stress.

METHODSSeventy SD rats after surgical trauma were randomly divided into four groups:(1) placebo group,(2)total parenteral nutrition(TPN) group,(3)enteral nutrition(EN) group and (4)ecoimmunonutrition (EEN)group respectively. Rats received isocaloric and isonitrogenous nutrition. Nutrients were administered via the neck vein and the needle jejunostomy for five days. The homogenated tissues of liver, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured to determine the bacterial translocation rate. The transmembrane binding proteins(occludin) was measured by immunohistochemistry. The ultrastructure and morphology of intestinal epithelial tight junctions in the intestine were observed by electron microscope. The feces in cecum was cultured for anaerobic bacterial growth and analysed.

RESULTSThe amounts of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria in EEN group were significantly higher than those in TPN group(P<0.05). The expression levels of occludin in the intestine was significantly higher in EEN group than that in TPN and EN group. Furthermore, the intestinal epithelial tight junction and microvilli of EEN group were more intact compared with those of TPN group. The bacterial translocation rates of liver, lung and mesenteric lymph nodes were significantly lower in EEN and EN group than those in TPN group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONApplication of ecoimmunonutrition can protect intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with operative stress, increase the expression of occludin, maintain the gut epithelial tight junction, and eliminate gut bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; physiopathology ; Male ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is one of the most common adverse effects of antibiotic treatment. In Saint Louis University-Hospital of the Sacred Heart (SLU-HSH), about three out of ten patients at the outpatient department and one third of admitted pediatric patients are given antibiotics. Although international studies document the efficacy of probiotics in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD), there is limited research in our country about this.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a yeast probiotic, Saccharomyces boulardii, in preventing AAD.

METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted between June and October 2012 at Saint Louis University-Hospital of the Sacred Heart. A total of 140 patients aged 6months to 18years with PCAP were enrolled. The patients either received the standard antibiotic treatment alone (control group n=71) or the oral antibiotic treatment plus 250mg of Saccharomyces boulardii (treatment group n=69) twice a day for the entire duration of treatment. Analyses were based on treatment and included data from 136 patients.

RESULTS: Patients who received S. boulardii had shorter duration of diarrhea than those who did not receive it [3.06 days (0.68) vs. 2.45 days (0.69), P value of 0.032]. However, the incidence of diarrhea between the two groups was not statistically significant [16 of 68 (23.5%) vs. 11 of 66 (16.7%), P value of 0.391].

CONCLUSION: This is the first randomized-controlled trial in our locality which showed evidence that S. boulardii shortens the duration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Anti-Bacterial Agents-adverse effects ; Diarrhea ; treatment ; Probiotics ; Dietary Supplements ; Treatment Outcome ; Saccharomyces

Severe and critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were usually with underlying diseases, which led to the problems of complicated drug use, potential drug-drug interactions and medication errors in special patients. Based on ( 6), and -19: , we summarized the experience in the use of antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, vascular active drugs, antibacterial, probiotics, nutrition support schemes in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. It is also suggested to focus on medication management for evaluation of drug efficacy and duration of treatment, prevention and treatment of adverse drug reactions, identification of potential drug-drug interactions, individualized medication monitoring based on biosafety protection, and medication administration for special patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Betacoronavirus ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Critical Illness ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Nutritional Support ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether three strains of probiotics, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes, had signifificant inhibitive effects on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

METHODSThis is a 4-week, randomly assigned, parallel-group, doubled-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Fifty patients with a positive H. pylori infection urea breath test (△UBT) result > 10% and without ulcer symptoms were randomized into a treatment group and a placebo group by a computer generated allocation sheet with 1:1. These subjects took one capsule of probiotics or placebo twice daily. The primary measurement was the change in △UBT values.

RESULTSThe △UBT values during the 4-week treatment period and the 2-week follow-up period were not signifificantly different between the treatment group and the placebo group, indicating that the inhibitive effects on H. pylori were comparable between both groups. The monocyte count (%) was 5.77±1.11 in the treatment group versus 5.09±1.12 in the placebo group (P=0.044), and the basophile count was 0.55±0.32 in the treatment group versus 0.36±0.23 in the placebo group (P=0.024) at week 2 of the treatment period, both of which reached statistical signifificance. The monocyte count was 5.75±1.26 in the treatment group and 4.72±0.99 in the placebo group at the end of the follow-up period (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONThere was no signifificant inhibitive effects of the three probiotic strains (L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes) on H. pylori. Probiotics can not play the same role as antibiotics in the eradication of H. pylori, the role of probiotics is likely to be important as adjuvant to the triple or quadruple therapy for H. pylori, especially in resistance cases.

Adult ; Aged ; Breath Tests ; Demography ; Double-Blind Method ; Endpoint Determination ; Female ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Urea ; analysis ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Male ; Probiotics ; pharmacology

The gastrointestinal structure, function and immunity of preterm infants are immature. Furthermore the gastrointestinal microbe colonization is abnormal. Therefore the preterm infants are prone to a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Probiotics can regulate gastrointestinal microbe constitute, improve gastrointestinal barrier function, reduce gastrointestinal inflammation response and regulate the immunity. At present, it is used for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, and feeding intolerance. The safety and efficacy of probiotics for preterm infants are still controversial.
Apoptosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; immunology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; prevention & control ; Invasive Fungal Infections ; prevention & control ; Neonatal Sepsis ; prevention & control ; Probiotics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use