Do we need to change our perspective about gut biomarkers? A public data mining approach to identify differentially abundant bacteria in intestinal inflammatory diseases.

Introduction: The gut microbiome is involved in multiple processes that influence host physiology, and therefore, disruptions in microbiome homeostasis have been linked to diseases or secondary infections. Given the importance of the microbiome and the communities of microorganisms that compose it (microbiota), the term biomarkers were coined, which are bacteria correlated with disease states, diets, and the lifestyle of the host. However, a large field in the study of intestinal biomarkers remains unexplored because the bacterial communities associated with a given disease state have not been exactly defined yet. Methods: Here, we analyzed public data of studies focused on describing the intestinal microbiota of patients with some intestinal inflammatory diseases together with their respective controls. With these analyses, we aimed to identify differentially abundant bacteria between the subjects with the disease and their controls. Results: We found that frequently reported bacteria such as Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, and Escherichia/Shigella were differentially abundant between the groups, with a higher abundance mostly in patients with the disease in contrast with their controls. On the other hand, we also identified potentially beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Phascolarctobacterium, with a higher abundance in control patients. Discussion: Our results of the differentially abundant bacteria contrast with what was already reported in previous studies on certain inflammatory diseases, but we highlight the importance of considering more comprehensive approaches to redefine or expand the definition of biomarkers. For instance, the intra-taxa diversity within a bacterial community must be considered, as well as environmental and genetic factors of the host, and even consider a functional validation of these biomarkers through in vivo and in vitro approaches. With the above, these key bacterial communities in the intestinal microbiota may have potential as next-generation probiotics or may be functional for the design of specific therapies in certain intestinal diseases.

Do Bioactive Food Compound with Avena sativa L., Linum usitatissimum L. and Glycine max L. Supplementation with Moringa oleifera Lam. Have a Role against Nutritional Disorders? An Overview of the In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence.

Functional clinical nutrition is an integrative science; it uses dietary strategies, functional foods and medicinal plants, as well as combinations thereof. Both functional foods and medicinal plants, whether associated or not, form nutraceuticals, which can bring benefits to health, in addition to being included in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Some functional food effects from Avena sativa L. (oats), Linum usitatissimum L. (brown flaxseed), Glycine max L. (soya) and Moringa oleifera have been proposed for nutritional disorders through in vitro and in vivo tests. A formulation called a bioactive food compound (BFC) showed efficiency in the association of oats, flaxseed and soy for dyslipidemia and obesity. In this review, we discuss the effects of BFC in other nutritional disorders, as well as the beneficial effects of M. oleifera in obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, metabolic syndrome, intestinal inflammatory diseases/colorectal carcinogenesis and malnutrition. In addition, we hypothesized that a BFC enriched with M. oleifera could present a synergistic effect and play a potential benefit in nutritional disorders. The traditional consumption of M. oleifera preparations can allow associations with other formulations, such as BFC. These nutraceutical formulations can be easily accepted and can be used in sweet preparations (fruit and/or vegetable juices, fruit and/or vegetable vitamins, porridges, yogurt, cream, mousses or fruit salads, cakes and cookies) or savory (vegetable purees, soups, broths and various sauces), cooked or not. These formulations can be low-cost and easy-to-use. The association of bioactive food substances in dietary formulations can facilitate adherence to consumption and, thus, contribute to the planning of future nutritional interventions for the prevention and adjuvant treatment of the clinical conditions presented in this study. This can be extended to the general population. However, an investigation through clinical studies is needed to prove applicability in humans.

Factores de riesgo asociados a la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en ancianos / Risk factors associated with the intestinal inflammatory disease in elderly

Introducción: Las enfermedades inflamatorias intestinales representan un importante problema de salud pública por el aumento en su prevalencia e incidencia a nivel mundial. Objetivo: Identificar los principales factores de riesgo asociados a la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en ancianos. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación analítica, de casos y controles, de pacientes de 60 y más años, con diagnóstico y confirmación histológica de alguna enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal, ingresados en el Servicio de Medicina del Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico Saturnino Lora Torres de Santiago de Cuba, durante el 2015. El grupo de estudio estuvo conformado por 61 pacientes y el de control por 122 integrantes (2 por cada caso), seleccionados de los consultorios de procedencia de los afectados. En el análisis estadístico se calculó el porcentaje para las variables cualitativas y, a fin de comprobar la existencia de asociación, se aplicó la prueba de independencia de la Χ2, con 95 % de confiabilidad. Cada variable se analizó calculando la oportunidad relativa, con intervalos límite de confianza superior e inferior. Resultados: Se obtuvo una asociación causal de 5,4 veces más posibilidades de padecer alguna enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal si estaba presente el antecedente familiar de colitis. Asimismo, existió una asociación significativa (p<0,05) entre el antecedente familiar de enfermedad de Crohn y la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (9,8 %), y fue 9,7 veces más posible que apareciera algún trastorno inflamatorio de los intestinos si se consumían alimentos inadecuados. Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo mayormente relacionados con la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal fueron los antecedentes familiares de colitis y de enfermedad de Crohn, así como el consumo inadecuado de alimentos, el uso prolongado de antibióticos y el tabaquismo.

Introduction: The intestinal inflammatory diseases represent an important problem of public health due to the increase in their prevalence and incidence worldwide. Objective: To identify the main risk factors associated with the intestinal inflammatory disease in elderly. Methods: An analytic cases and controls investigation of 60 years and over patients, with diagnosis and histological confirmation of some intestinal inflammatory disease was carried out. They were admitted to the Medicine Service of Saturnino Lora Torres Teaching Clinical Surgical Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, during 2015. The study group was conformed by 61 patients and the control group by 122 members (2 for each case), belonging to the family doctor´s office of the affected patients. In the statistical analysis the percentage for the qualitative variables was calculated and, in order to check the existence of any association, the chi-square test was implemented, with 95 % of confidence. Each variable was analyzed calculating the relative opportunity, with upper and lower limit intervals of confidence. Results: There was a causal association of 5.4 times more possibilities of suffering some intestinal inflammatory disease if the family history of colitis was present. Also, a significant association existed (p <0.05) between the family history of Crohn disease and the intestinal inflammatory disease (9.8 %), and it was 9.7 times more possible that some inflammatory disorder of the bowels appeared if inadequate foods were eaten. Conclusions: The risk factors mostly related to the intestinal inflammatory disease were the family history of colitis and Crohn disease, as well as the inadequate consumption of foods, the long use of antibiotics and nicotine addiction.

Manejo no quirúrgico de pacientes sintomáticos con cápsula endoscópica retenida en enfermedad de Crohn / Non operative management of symptomatic patients with retained endoscopic capsule in Crohn's disease

Introducción. La enfermedad de Crohn es una enfermedad crónica del sistema gastrointestinal, que produce múltiples complicaciones a lo largo de su presentación clínica, lo cual hace difícil su diagnóstico y abordaje terapéutico. Objetivo. El objetivo del estudio fue describir las opciones diagnósticas y terapéuticas en la enfermedad de Crohn, en casos que cursan con cápsula endoscópica retenida; se presentan dos casos y el resultado de su manejo no operatorio. Materiales y métodos. Se tomaron los datos de la historia clínica de dos pacientes y se analizaron los datos clínicos y las ayudas diagnósticas utilizadas. Se describieron los hallazgos y el enfoque terapéutico, y se hizo una revisión de la literatura científica sobre el tema. Resultados. Dos pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn presentaron retención sintomática de la cápsula endoscópica. Se manejaron con éxito, sin tenerse que practicar ninguna intervención quirúrgica, como indica la mayoría de los informes en presencia de síntomas y signos de obstrucción gastrointestinal. Conclusiones. La retención de la cápsula endoscópica es poco frecuente y su manejo a lo largo de la historia ha sido la cirugía como primera elección, en aquellos pacientes que presentan signos y síntomas de obstrucción intestinal. Sin embargo, con el pasar de los años se han practicado diferentes técnicas terapéuticas, como las endoscópicas y médicas, las cuales han sido exitosas y con pocas complicaciones, en comparación con el tratamiento quirúrgico tradicional.

Introduction: Crohn's disease is a chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract associated with multiple complications throughout the clinical course, which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. Objective: To describe the diagnostic and therapeutic options in Crohn's disease presenting with retained endoscopic capsule, and to present two patients who developed symptomatic retention of the endoscopic capsule and its outcome with expectant management. Materials and Methods: Data from the medical records of the two patients were analyzed prior informed consent. Clinical data and diagnostic aids were analyzed. The findings and the therapeutic approach were described, and a review o the literature was conducted. . Results: Two patients with Crohn´s disease presented symptomatic retained endocopic capsule. They were successfully managed without surgical intervention, as indicated by the majority of reports in patients with symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction, Conclusions: Retention of the endoscopic capsule is rare and its management throughout history has been surgical, especially in those patients with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. However, with the passing of years appeared different therapeutic options, such as endoscopic or medical approaches, which have been successful and exhibit few complications as compared with the traditional surgical management.

Development, characterization and evaluation of the dissolution profile of sulfasalazine suspensions / Desenvolvimento, caracterização e avaliação do perfil de dissolução de suspensões sulfasalazina

This paper reports the development, characterization and in vitrodissolution behavior of sulfasalazine suspensions for treatment of chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases. Three formulations were developed, from powdered sulfasalazine obtained from different suppliers. The sulfasalazine was characterized regarding concentration, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution, polydispersion and solubility. The suspensions were developed and characterized regarding pH, viscosity, density, particle size, sedimentation volume, concentration and dissolution. The pH values were slightly acidic. The method of preparing the suspensions reduced the particle sizes and made the size distribution more homogeneous. The dissolution studies showed that the sulfasalazine suspensions had low solubility in acidic media, but dissolve quickly, reaching levels of 85%, in neutral media or media containing 0.5% of surfactants such as polysorbate 80. Besides this, the sulfasalazine suspensions were classified as having immediate dissolution because they reached dissolution levels near 100% in 20 minutes...

O trabalho reporta o desenvolvimento, caracterização e estudo in vitro de dissolução de suspensões de sulfassalazina para uso em doenças inflamatórias crônicas intestinais. Desenvolveram-se três formulações baseadas em fornecedores diferentes de pó de sulfassalazina. A sulfassalazina foi caracterizada quanto a Teor, Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC), Difração de Raios-X (XRD), distribuição de tamanho das partículas, índice de polidispersão e solubilidade. A suspensão foi desenvolvida e caracterizada quanto a pH, viscosidade, densidade, tamanho de partícula, volume de sedimentação, teor e estudo de dissolução. Os valores de pH determinados foram levemente ácidos. O método de preparo das suspensões reduziu o tamanho das partículas e tornou a distribuição de tamanho mais homogênea. Os estudos de dissolução mostraram que a suspensão de sulfassalazina tem problemas de solubilidade em meios de caráter ácido, entretanto, sofre dissolução rápida acima de 85% em meios neutros ou contendo 0,5% de tensoativos como Polissobato 80. Além disso, as suspensões de sulfassalazina foram classificadas como formulações de dissolução imediata porque a partir de 20 minutos sofrem dissolução em torno de 100%...