The effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on pulmonary function test and growth of cystic fibrosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients frequently experience gut microbiota dysbiosis. Probiotic supplementation is a potential therapeutic approach to modify gut microbiota and improve CF management through the gut-lung axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on pulmonary function test, respiratory symptoms and growth in CF patients. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 40 children with CF aged from 6 to 20 years. Participants were designated to receive either L. reuteri or placebo daily for 4 months. Pulmonary function tests, weight, height and body mass index (BMI) z-scores were measured pre and post treatment. RESULTS: The median baseline BMI of the patients was 16.28 kg m-2. A significant change in the probiotic group's BMI z-score after the study period was observed (P = 0.034) but not for weight and height z-scores (P > 0.05). After treatment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew in sputum cultures of seven in the placebo and one patient in the intervention group (P = 0.03) while at baseline it grew in the sputum of four patients in each group. There was no significant difference in forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced expiratory flow at 25-75% or forced vital capacity change between the two groups after the treatment period (P > 0.05). Additionally, no significant differences were found in pulmonary exacerbations, hospitalization frequencies or COVID-19 infection between the two groups during the study (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that L. reuteri supplementation may impact the growth of severely malnourished CF patients. Furthermore, it may be concluded that this strain might reduce P. aeruginosa in the sputum culture of CF patients. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pulmonary Involvement in Neuromuscular Diseases: A Review.

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) affect muscle function directly or indirectly by affecting nerves or neuromuscular junctions. One of the leading causes of death in patients with NMD is respiratory muscle weakness (RMW). Respiratory involvement in patients with NMD can manifest widely, from mild failure that may initially affect only sleep to severe failure that can be life-threatening. Care approaches include arranged and precise clinical follow-ups of signs of sleep-disordered breathing, daytime hypoventilation, coughing, and swallowing disturbances. This manuscript will review the mechanisms and abnormalities of respiratory function in patients with NMD and help optimize NMD management.

The relationship between stroke mortality and red blood cell parameters.

BACKGROUND: Several factors influence on the outcome of ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was determination the relationship between stroke mortality and red blood cell parameters. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2011 July to June 2012. For all patients with ischemic stroke in middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory, the cell blood count test was performed. We recorded their mortality on the 1(st) week and the 1(st) month after ischemic stroke. Data analysis was performed using t-test, χ(2), Mann-Whitney U-test, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve in SPSS for Windows 19.0. RESULTS: A total of 98 subjects (45.9% men and 54.1% women) with the mean age of 71.0 ± 13.9 years were assessed, while 67.3% of them were anemic. The prevalence of 1(st) week mortality among anemic and non-anemic patients was 40.9% and 34.4% (P = 0.534). The prevalence of mortality after 1(st) week till 1(st) month was 19.6% and 21.0% respectively (P = 0.636). In univariant analysis, only 1(st) month mortality had a significant relationship with red blood cell (RBC) count (P = 0.022). However, the result of logistic regression model showed that RBC (P = 0.012) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (P = 0.021) remained as predictors of the 1(st) week and the 1(st) month mortality (P = 0.011 and P = 0.090 respectively). The best cutoff point of RBC for the prediction of the 1(st) week mortality with 44.7% specificity and 69.5% sensitivity was estimated 4.07 million/µl and for the 1(st) month mortality with 46.6% specificity and 72.2% sensitivity was estimated 4.16 million/µl. CONCLUSION: The RBC count and MCV are independent predictors of ischemic stroke short-term mortality.