The gut microbiota is a virtual organ which produces a myriad of molecules that the brain and other organs require. Humans and microbes are in a symbiotic relationship, we feed the microbes, and in turn, they provide us with essential molecules. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla account for around 80% of the total human gut microbiota, and approximately 1000 species of bacteria have been identified in the human gut. In adults, the main factors influencing microbiota structure are diet, exercise, stress, disease and medications. In this narrative review, we explore the involvement of the gut microbiota in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and autism, as these are such high-prevalence disorders. We focus on preclinical studies that increase the understanding of disease pathophysiology. We examine the potential for targeting the gut microbiota in the development of novel therapies and the limitations of the currently published clinical studies. We conclude that while the field shows enormous promise, further large-scale studies are required if a causal link between these disorders and gut microbes is to be definitively established.

/pdf/gut-microbes-and-neuropathology-is-there-a-causal-nexus-30nqr2ah.pdf

Gut Microbes and Neuropathology: Is There a Causal Nexus?

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global problem that increasingly violates human health and quality of life. We explored the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential represented by dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the occurrence of MetS to provid data support for the prevention of it through dietary structure intervention. Methods The data was come from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018, including demographic, dietary, questionnaire variables and laboratory indicators. MetS was defined according to the criteria proposed by the American Endocrine Association (ACE) and the American Society of Clinical Endocrinology (ACCE). DII was calculated using the scoring method established by Shivappa. We divided DII scores into 4 quartiles, the chi-square test was used to compare the variable difference between DII quartiles groups. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between DII and MetS. We also performed subgroup analysis. A generalized linear regression model was used to explore the association of DII level and the levels of seven MetS related biochemical indicators. Results The final sample size was 8,180, and the DII scores of the subjects were −5.50 to 5.22. The proportions of men, young people, non-Hispanic blacks, poor people, smokers, and MetS patients in the Q1–Q4 DII quantiles groups were gradually increased. The risk of MetS in the Q4 group which had highest dietary inflammatory degree was 1.592 (1.248, 2.030) times higher than that in the Q1 group, respectively (P < 0.001). After subgroup analysis, women, youth, non-smokers and alcohol drinkers were found to be more sensitive to the dietary inflammation. Then we found that the level of DII was significantly positively correlated with waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Conclusions In the research subjects, the degree of dietary inflammation was associated with the occurrence of MetS and significantly affected WC, BMI, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. It is necessary to conduct investigations and early dietary interventions for women and young people to prevent the occurrence of chronic metabolic diseases.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.991907/pdf

Association between dietary inflammatory index and metabolic syndrome: Analysis of the NHANES 2005–2016

Recent literature has stressed the importance of vitamin D (VD) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS are deficient in VD, particularly those with a higher weight. Hypovitaminosis is a risk factor for glucose intolerance, and reduced levels of VD is associated with insulin resistance and increased diabetes risk. Since women with PCOS and hirsutism seem to have lower levels of VD than women with PCOS without hirsutism, a correlation between VD deficiency and hyperandrogenism may be suggested. Interestingly, VD is crucial for many human physiological functions, including to counteract inflammation and oxidative stress. Some studies evaluated effects of VD supplementation on glucose homeostasis variables, hormonal status, lipid concentrations, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among VD-deficient women. Moreover, VD has been shown to play a role in egg quality and fertility. This review aims to show the relationship between VD and the endocrine and metabolic profile of PCOS patients, as well as its implications for their fertility. The supplement of VD to the common therapy can lead to an improvement of the insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, a reduction of circulating androgens, as well as a better response to the induction of ovulation in PCOS women.

/pdf/pcos-physiopathology-and-vitamin-d-deficiency-biological-2gwyb1q6.pdf

PCOS Physiopathology and Vitamin D Deficiency: Biological Insights and Perspectives for Treatment

Chronic non-specific back pain (CNBP) is the most common pathology of the musculoskeletal system, affecting from 10 to 60% of the adult population in the world, causing severe suffering, disability and a significant deterioration in the quality of life. Osteoarthritis (OA) should be considered as one of the main reasons of the development of CNBP – inflammatory and degenerative changes in the facet and sacroiliac joints, as well as the spinal column itself (in particular, osteitis of the Modic 1 type). Spinal OA is accompanied by biomechanical disturbances, nociplastic (peripheral and central sensitization) and psycho-emotional changes that form a complete picture and various CNBP phenotypes.Recognizing the leading role of OA as the cause of CNBP, it is advisable to use the same therapeutic approaches in this syndrome as in OA of peripheral joints. In particular, it is necessary to consider the use of symptomatic slow acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) in CNBP as the main pathogenetic therapy.Alflutop is one of the most popular parenteral SYSADOA widely used in Russian practice. This drug has a good evidence base: this review presents data from 12 clinical trials of Alflutop in CNBP (n=1479), which confirmed its efficacy and safety.

Chronic back pain as a spinal osteoarthritis manifestation: rationale and practice of symptomatic slow acting drugs for osteoarthritis use

Potential nanocarrier-mediated miRNA-based therapy approaches for multiple sclerosis.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread, persistent pain that lasts more than three months without an evident organic lesion. FM has been considered controversial throughout history due to its validity as a diagnosis being constantly in question. Most patients diagnosed with FM are females. FM has been associated with multiple conditions, including irritable bowel and psychiatric disorders. Among all associated conditions, depression has been frequently found in patients with FM. Studies suggest that depression negatively affects the outcome of patients with FM. Moreover, a bidirectional relation between FM and depression has been depicted: depression increases the risk of FM being diagnosed later in life, as well as FM increases the risk of developing depression. In this article, we discussed aspects that FM and depression share and that might link both diseases, such as certain elements they seem to share in their pathophysiology: predisposing and triggering factors, central sensitization and kindling, areas of the brain implicated in both pain modulation and mood regulation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) alterations. In addition, we highlighted the prevalence of depression in patients with FM, overlapping symptoms between FM and depression and how to assess them, and treatment strategies that have shown effective management of both conditions when concomitant. Due to the improvement of many aspects of FM when depression is appropriately targeted, screening for depression in patients with FM, despite its difficulty, has been encouraged.

/pdf/fibromyalgia-and-depression-a-literature-review-of-their-1bdatdrp.pdf

Fibromyalgia and Depression: A Literature Review of Their Shared Aspects

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is considered the most common endocrine disorder affecting females in today's world. Although it has been primarily studied and discussed in terms of its reproductive symptoms such as infertility, amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, acne, hirsutism, and mood disorders, there is yet another unexplored and under-diagnosed category in the PCOS spectrum of diseases: its cardio-metabolic consequences. PCOS patients are prone to these abnormalities from a very young age, increasing their morbidity and mortality rates compared to their regular counterparts. The usual pathogenesis of PCOS is a culmination of several genetic and environmental factors. Regarding its cardio-metabolic aspects, insulin resistance (IR) is said to be the single most important cause of a variety of metabolic risk factors, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MetS), dyslipidemia, obesity, and hypertension (HTN), whereas a few other non-traditional factors such as C-reactive protein (CRP), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), coronary artery calcification (CAC), and endothelial dysfunction are also said to be increased in PCOS patients, further increasing their risk of complications due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of these risk factors by using lifestyle interventions, diet, and/or medications are essential to reduce the burden of PCOS in today's world. This article has highlighted an array of traditional and non-traditional cardio-metabolic consequences PCOS patients are prone to and their systematic pathogenesis. In addition, an outline of recommendations has been given in the pharmacological and non-pharmacological sections of this article, which may benefit doctors in managing this challenging condition.

/pdf/cardio-metabolic-disease-and-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-1qdag0f7.pdf

Cardio-Metabolic Disease and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Narrative Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the brain and the spinal cord. It is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults. The clinical course of the disease is quite variable, ranging from stable chronic disease to rapidly evolving debilitating disease. The pathogenesis of MS is not fully understood. Still, there has been a rapid shift in understanding the immune pathology of MS away from pure T cell-mediated disease to B cells and microglia/astrocytes having a vital role in the pathogenesis of MS. This has helped in the emergence of new therapies for management. Effective treatment of MS requires a multidisciplinary approach to manage acute attacks, prevent relapses and disease progression and treat the disabling symptoms associated with the disease. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of MS, management of acute relapses, disease-modifying therapies in MS, new drugs and drugs currently in trial for MS and the symptomatic treatment of MS. All language search was conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase till February 2022. The following search strings and medical subheadings (MeSH) were used: "Multiple Sclerosis", "Pathogenesis of MS", and "Disease-modifying therapies in MS". We explored literature on the pathogenic mechanisms behind MS, management of acute relapses, disease-modifying therapies in MS and symptomatic management.

/pdf/multiple-sclerosis-therapeutic-strategies-on-the-horizon-1tarn3k6.pdf

Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon

Comorbid diabetes and depression are a significant public health burden as the consequences of both diseases are worsened by each other. In this study, we have compiled and analyzed findings from various studies to demonstrate that diabetes has a strong association with depression. Both have a significant impact on the quality of life, although the exact mechanisms through which these two chronic diseases affect each other remain unknown. This article discussed the shared etiological factors of comorbidity between diabetes and depression, including physiological (e.g., deregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic nervous system (SNS) overactivity, microvascular dysfunction, arterial stiffening, inflammation, and cytokines), behavioral (e.g., diet and lifestyle modifications), and environmental (e.g., childhood adversity, poverty, and neighborhood environment). Included data from a range of settings have suggested that the prognosis of both diabetes and depression, in terms of complications, treatment efficacy, morbidity, and mortality, is worse for either disease when they occur concurrently than individually. The implication for the physical, mental, and social well-being of depression in diabetes causes poor self-care and adherence to medical treatment. This article also highlights the importance of regular screening and prompts the treatment of comorbid diabetes and depression with pharmacotherapy, face-to-face psychotherapy, and non-face-to-face models of alternative psychological interventions, including information and communication technologies (ICTs), computer-based diabetes self-management interventions, and digital mental health intervention, to improve the outcomes of both diseases.

The Nexus Between Diabetes and Depression: A Narrative Review

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined by retrograde reflux of gastric contents to the esophagus leading to various signs and symptoms that range from heartburn/regurgitation to the development of extraesophageal respiratory syndromes like asthma. Although a cause-effect relationship has been proposed, evidence suggests that these two entities share a complex mechanism that may be reciprocal to each other. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms is imperial due to the fact that asthmatic patients may benefit from reflux therapy with subsequent improvement in pulmonary function testing and quality of life. This study has revised available literature in order to provide evidence for a nexus between GERD and asthma based on clinical correlation, pathophysiology, and pharmacologic management.

https://www.cureus.com/articles/96261-gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-and-asthma-a-narrative-review.pdf

Daniela Yepez

Papers

Fibromyalgia and Depression: A Literature Review of Their Shared Aspects

Cardio-Metabolic Disease and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Narrative Review

Multiple Sclerosis: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon

The Nexus Between Diabetes and Depression: A Narrative Review

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Asthma: A Narrative Review