Search

Probiotics are defined as living or dead bacteria and their byproducts that maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiome. They are non-toxic, non-pathogenic, and do not release any toxins either within or outside the body. Adequate consumption of probiotics can enhance metabolite production, increase immunity, maintain a balanced intestinal flora, and stimulate growth. Probiotics do not have negative antibiotic effects and help maintain the natural flora in animals in a balanced state or prevent dysbacteriosis. Heyndrickxia coagulans ( H. coagulans ) is a novel probiotic species that is gradually being used for the improvement of human health. Compared to commonly used probiotic lactic acid bacteria, H. coagulans can produce spores, which provide the species with high resistance to adverse conditions. Even though they are transient residents of the gut, beneficial bacteria can have a significant impact on the microbiota because they can outnumber harmful germs, and vice versa. This article discusses the probiotic mechanisms of H. coagulans and outlines the requirements for a substance to be classified as a probiotic. It also addresses how to assess strains that have recently been discovered to possess probiotic properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liang, Li, Chen, Guo, Dou, Wang and Xu.)

Aim: It has been reported that glial cells are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In our previous research, Scutellaria barbata flavonoids (SBFs) were found to protect the AD-like rats from neuronal disorder and memory impairment; however, the effect of SBFs on the glial cells disorder in AD-like rats has been less studied. The effects of SBFs on astrocytes (ASs), microglial cells (MGs), and oligodendrocytes (Ols), as well as heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE), were investigated in the present study., Methods: The successful model rats, screened by Morris water maze, were orally administrated daily with 35, 70, and 140 mg/kg SBFs for 36 d. The number of brain astrocytes (ASs), microglial cells (MGs), and oligodendrocytes (Ols) was examined by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of cortical glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), leukocyte common antigen (LCA) (CD45), Claudin 11, and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) protein were assayed by Western blotting, and the expression of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) mRNA was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)., Results: Compared with the sham-operated group, the number of ASs and MGs in the brain was significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), accompanied by an increase in the expressions of GFAP, CD45, Hsp70 protein, and ApoE mRNA (P<0.05, P<0.01). Both Ols number and the expression of Claudin 11 protein decreased in the brain in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). However, the above-mentioned abnormal changes induced by composited Aβ were differently reversed by the treatment of SBFs at three doses of 35, 70, and 140 mg/kg (P<0.05, P<0.01)., Conclusion: SBFs can dramatically improve the abnormal changes in glial cells of the brains of rats, induced by composited Aβ, which may be utilized as a helpful treatment for neurodegenerative diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Several observational studies have shown that statin use may modify the risk of haematological malignancies. To quantify the association between statin use and risk for haematological malignancies, we performed a detailed meta-analysis of published studies regarding this subject., Methods: We conducted a systematic search of multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Central database up to July 2013. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Potential sources of heterogeneity were detected by meta-regression. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis were also performed., Results: A total of 20 eligible studies (ten case-control studies, four cohort studies, and six RCTs) reporting 1,139,584 subjects and 15,297 haematological malignancies cases were included. Meta-analysis showed that statin use was associated with a statistically significant 19% reduction in haematological malignancies incidence (RR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.70, 0.92]). During subgroup analyses, statin use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of haematological malignancies among observational studies (RR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.67, 0.93]), but not among RCTs (RR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.77, 1.09])., Conclusions: Based on this comprehensive meta-analysis, statin use may have chemopreventive effects against haematological malignancies. More studies, especially definitive, randomized chemoprevention trials are needed to confirm this association.