Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

About: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is a education organization based out in Milan, Lombardia, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 13592 authors who have published 31048 publications receiving 853961 citations.

The role of intestinal microbiota and the immune system

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The human gut is an ecosystem consisting of a great number of commensal bacteria living in symbiosis with the host. Several data confirm that gut microbiota is engaged in a dynamic interaction with the in- testinal innate and adaptive immune system, af- fecting different aspects of its development and function. AIM: To review the immunological functions of gut microbiota and improve knowledge of its therapeutic implications for several intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases associated to dys- regulation of the immune system. METHODS: Significant articles were identified by literature search and selected based on con- tent, including atopic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases and treatment of these condi- tions with probiotics. RESULTS: Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microflora has protective, meta- bolic, trophic and immunological functions and is able to establish a "cross-talk" with the im- mune component of mucosal immunity, compris- ing cellular and soluble elements. When one or more steps in this fine interaction fail, autoim- mune or auto-inflammatory diseases may occur. Furthermore, it results from the data that probi- otics, used for the treatment of the diseases caused by the dysregulation of the immune sys- tem, can have a beneficial effect by different mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiota interacts with both innate and adaptive immune system, play- ing a pivotal role in maintenance and disruption of gut immune quiescence. A cross talk between the mucosal immune system and endogenous microflora favours a mutual growth, survival and inflammatory control of the intestinal ecosys- tem. Based on these evidences, probiotics can be used as an ecological therapy in the treat- ment of immune diseases.

European S2k Guideline on Chronic Pruritus.

Abstract: Pruritus is a frequent symptom in medicine. Population-based studies show that every 5th person in the general population has suffered from chronic pruritus at least once in the lifetime with a 12-month incidence of 7%. In patient populations its frequency is much higher depending on the underlying cause, ranging from around 25% in haemodialysis patients to 100% in skin diseases such as urticaria and atopic dermatitis (AD). Pruritus may be the result of a dermatological or non-dermatological disease. Especially in non-diseased skin it may be caused by systemic, neurological or psychiatric diseases, as well as being a side effect of medications. In a number of cases chronic pruritus may be of multifactorial origin. Pruritus needs a precise diagnostic work-up. Management of chronic pruritus comprises treatment of the underlying disease and topical treatment modalities, including symptomatic antipruritic treatment, ultraviolet phototherapy and systemic treatment. Treating chronic pruritus needs to be targeted, multimodal and performed in a step-wise procedure requiring an interdisciplinary approach. We present the updated and consensus based (S2k) European guideline on chronic pruritus by a team of European pruritus experts from different disciplines. This version is an updated version of the guideline that was published in 2012 and updated in 2014 (www.euroderm.org).