Coronavirus infection and gut microbiota

At present time, a number of questions regarding the pathophysiological characteristics and therapeutic approaches to the treatment of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 remain unresolved. In some cases, patients with COVID-19 may experience symptoms of gastrointestinal tract disorder. According to the literature, the new SARSCoV- 2 coronavirus can replicate in the gastrointestinal tract and may affect the gut microbiota. The article aims to review studies about the possible relationship between the gut microbiota condition and the course of COVID-19 infection, as well as to consider the gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic target and probiotic drugs as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of viral infections, including COVID-19 infection. It is known that gut microbiota condition is one of the factors determining the susceptibility and features of the body's response to various hypothesis, additional studies are required, which will allow to make more unambiguous conclusions with subsequent development of new approaches to the prevention and treatment of infection. Potentially a lot of hope in this direction is inspired by the results of probiotics studies, which showed that their use may reduce the frequency and severity of viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. However, currently, there is insufficient data to extrapolate the results of these studies to COVID-19 patients

Intestinal permeability assays: a review

Aim. A literature review of intestinal permeability assessment techniques. Key points. The intestinal barrier is a functional entity separating the intestinal lumen and internal body, and intestinal permeability is a measure of the barrier functionality. The intestinal barrier integrity and permeability assays differ by the application setting (in vivo or ex vivo), subject (human or animal), marker molecules used to assess permeability (ions, various size carbohydrates, macromolecules, antigens, bacterial products and bacteria), biomaterial for the marker concentration assays (peripheral blood, portal venous blood, urine, stool). Despite a great variety of methods for assessing intestinal permeability, their clinical application requires further studies due to a lack of standardisation, the complexity of selected techniques and occasional limited reliability of results. Conclusion. Further investigation and improvement of intestinal permeability assays is required. The assay and result standardisation will facilitate practice in functional and organic intestinal diseases, as well as allergies, diabetes mellitus non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some other illnesses

Gut microbiota and its importance for human health

Background. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the importance and role of the gut microbiota in human health maintaining and its composition violations in various diseases. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the up-to-date literature on the intestinal microbiota, its composition, role and functions in maintaining human health, as well as on the factors affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Material and methods. An analytical review of published studies on the intestinal microbiota was conducted. Results and discussion. The development of new metagenomic methods for studying the microbiota has led to a fundamental breakthrough in the advancement of ideas about its role, composition and functions in the human body. Despite significant differences in the composition of the gut microbiota in healthy people, the microbiota of a healthy person remains relatively stable throughout life; its composition is influenced by a number of factors: Mode of delivery, age, geographic area of residence, genetic characteristics of the person, consumption of related drugs, diet, and others. Treatment with antibiotics may also lead to pronounced changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Other adverse events of antibiotic therapy may include the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria; resistance may be due to the presence of genes encoding resistance factors to antibacterial drugs. Conclusion. Thus, the gut microbiota plays a tremendous role in maintaining human health and the development of a number of diseases

Fecal microbiota transplantation: Donor selection criteria, storage and preparation of biomaterials (review of current recommendations)

Fecal microbiota transplantation is a treatment method based on the introduction of donated fecal material to the recipient in order to restore the damaged composition of the intestinal microbiota. This review summarizes existing data on indications for fecal microbiota transplantation, recommendations for donor selection, processing and storage of donor biomaterial

Распространенность Helicobacter pylori среди медицинских работников Москвы и Казани по данным ¹³С-уреазного дыхательного теста

Rationale: The relevance of the problem is related to the lack of data on Helicobacter pylori (HP) prevalence in Russia, which is associated with the risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, and also, on the other hand, to the non-adherence of the doctors to the existing expert guidelines on diagnosis of this infection and HP eradication therapy.Aim: To assess the prevalence of HP among medical workers and their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Materials and methods: A total of 315 medical workers (61 men and 254 women) aged 18 to 76 years were examined, among them 221 in Moscow and 94 in Kazan. To assess the HP contamination rate, all participants performed a ¹³С-urease breath test with the “HELICARB” test kit according to the “four-point” technique. All participants were asked to complete the questionnaires to access the impact of social and occupational factors on the prevalence of HP.Results: HP was identified in 54.9% of the examined subjects, including 45.9% of men and 57.1% of women. The prevalence of HP in Moscow was substantially lower (49.8%) than in Kazan (67%). The proportion of HP-positive subjects increased with age from 41.8% in those below 25 years of age to 76.9% in those above their 60s. 60.2% of married participants and 49% of the singles were HP-positive. Among doctors, HP prevalence rate was the largest in the endoscopy specialists (61.5%) and internists (60.9%). Only 61.4% of HP-positive medical workers expressed their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of HР in medical workers increasing with age. It is presumably related to hygiene habits and conditions during childhood of each generation; however, one cannot exclude their potential contamination during their occupational activities.Актуальность обусловлена, с одной стороны, недостатком данных о  распространенности в  России Helicobacter pylori (HP), ассоциированного с риском развития язвенной болезни и рака желудка, и, с другой стороны, несоблюдением врачами рекомендаций экспертов по диагностике этой инфекции и проведению эрадикационной терапии.Цель – изучение распространенности НР у  медицинских работников и их готовности пройти эрадикационную терапию.Материал и методы. Обследованы 315 медицинских работников (61 мужчина и 254  женщины) в возрасте от 18 до 76 лет, в том числе в Москве – 221, в Казани – 94. Для определения инфицированности НР всем респондентам выполнен ¹³С-уреазный дыхательный тест с тест-набором «ХЕЛИКАРБ» по «четырехточечной» методике. Все участники заполнили анкеты, на основании анализа которых оценивалось влияние социальных и  профессиональных факторов на распространенность НР.Результаты. НР выявлен у 54,9% обследованных: 45,9% мужчин и 57,1% женщин. Частота выявления НР в Москве существенно ниже (49,8%), чем в Казани (67%). Доля инфицированных НР нарастала с возрастом: с 41,8% у лиц в возрасте до 25 лет до 76,9% в возрасте старше 60 лет. НР-позитивными были 60,2% состоящих в браке и 49% – не состоящих. В  группе обследованных врачей наибольшая доля инфицированных наблюдалась среди эндоскопистов (61,5%) и терапевтов (60,9%). Лишь 61,4% НР-позитивных медицинских работников выразили готовность к  проведению эрадикационной терапии.Заключение. Проведенное исследование выявило высокую распространенность НР у  медработников, нарастающую с  возрастом. Предположительно, это связано с гигиеническими условиями в детском возрасте каждого поколения, однако нельзя исключить возможность заражения в ходе профессиональной деятельности

Распространенность Helicobacter pylori среди медицинских работников Москвы и Казани по данным ¹³С-уреазного дыхательного теста

Rationale: The relevance of the problem is related to the lack of data on Helicobacter pylori (HP) prevalence in Russia, which is associated with the risk of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, and also, on the other hand, to the non-adherence of the doctors to the existing expert guidelines on diagnosis of this infection and HP eradication therapy.Aim: To assess the prevalence of HP among medical workers and their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Materials and methods: A total of 315 medical workers (61 men and 254 women) aged 18 to 76 years were examined, among them 221 in Moscow and 94 in Kazan. To assess the HP contamination rate, all participants performed a ¹³С-urease breath test with the “HELICARB” test kit according to the “four-point” technique. All participants were asked to complete the questionnaires to access the impact of social and occupational factors on the prevalence of HP.Results: HP was identified in 54.9% of the examined subjects, including 45.9% of men and 57.1% of women. The prevalence of HP in Moscow was substantially lower (49.8%) than in Kazan (67%). The proportion of HP-positive subjects increased with age from 41.8% in those below 25 years of age to 76.9% in those above their 60s. 60.2% of married participants and 49% of the singles were HP-positive. Among doctors, HP prevalence rate was the largest in the endoscopy specialists (61.5%) and internists (60.9%). Only 61.4% of HP-positive medical workers expressed their willingness to undergo eradication therapy.Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of HР in medical workers increasing with age. It is presumably related to hygiene habits and conditions during childhood of each generation; however, one cannot exclude their potential contamination during their occupational activities.Актуальность обусловлена, с одной стороны, недостатком данных о  распространенности в  России Helicobacter pylori (HP), ассоциированного с риском развития язвенной болезни и рака желудка, и, с другой стороны, несоблюдением врачами рекомендаций экспертов по диагностике этой инфекции и проведению эрадикационной терапии.Цель – изучение распространенности НР у  медицинских работников и их готовности пройти эрадикационную терапию.Материал и методы. Обследованы 315 медицинских работников (61 мужчина и 254  женщины) в возрасте от 18 до 76 лет, в том числе в Москве – 221, в Казани – 94. Для определения инфицированности НР всем респондентам выполнен ¹³С-уреазный дыхательный тест с тест-набором «ХЕЛИКАРБ» по «четырехточечной» методике. Все участники заполнили анкеты, на основании анализа которых оценивалось влияние социальных и  профессиональных факторов на распространенность НР.Результаты. НР выявлен у 54,9% обследованных: 45,9% мужчин и 57,1% женщин. Частота выявления НР в Москве существенно ниже (49,8%), чем в Казани (67%). Доля инфицированных НР нарастала с возрастом: с 41,8% у лиц в возрасте до 25 лет до 76,9% в возрасте старше 60 лет. НР-позитивными были 60,2% состоящих в браке и 49% – не состоящих. В  группе обследованных врачей наибольшая доля инфицированных наблюдалась среди эндоскопистов (61,5%) и терапевтов (60,9%). Лишь 61,4% НР-позитивных медицинских работников выразили готовность к  проведению эрадикационной терапии.Заключение. Проведенное исследование выявило высокую распространенность НР у  медработников, нарастающую с  возрастом. Предположительно, это связано с гигиеническими условиями в детском возрасте каждого поколения, однако нельзя исключить возможность заражения в ходе профессиональной деятельности