Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome – a case report and differential diagnosis of uveitis and meningitis

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada sindrom je autoimuna, multisistemska bolest i važan uzrok uveitisa. Ovim prikazom bolesnika naglašavamo važnost pouzdane dijagnostike te uključivanje autoimunih bolesti u diferencijalnu dijagnozu sindroma uveitisa i meningitisa.Vogt-Koyanagi -Harada syndrome is an autoimmune, multisystem disease and important cause of uveitis. In this case report we address the significance of reliable diagnostics and including autoimmune diseases in differential diagnosis of uveitis and meningitis syndrome

Role of fecal microbiota in health and disease

Fekalna ili crijevna mikrobiota obuhvaća sve mikroorganizme koji žive u čovjekovu crijevu. Glavnina ljudske mikrobiote smještena je upravo u gastrointestinalnom traktu, a od toga najveći dio u kolonu. Obuhvaća bakterije, arheje i gljive. Najveći udio ipak čine crijevne bakterije čije su funkcije i najviše proučavane u znanstvenim istraživanjima. Crijevne bakterije imaju opsežnu metaboličku ulogu u razgradnji prehrambenih vlakana, sintezi vitamina K, proizvodnji kratkolančanih masnih kiselina, metabolizmu žučnih kiselina te proizvode razne druge metabolite kojim utječu na cjelokupni metabolizam ugljikohidrata, bjelančevina i lipida. Nadalje, komenzalne crijevne bakterije sprječavaju kolonizaciju crijeva patogenim bakterijama te tako sudjeluju u obrani organizma od infekcija. Budući da je za vrijeme trudnoće probavni sustav djeteta gotovo sterilan, crijevne bakterije su nakon rođenja djeteta važne za sazrijevanje imunosnog sustava te i kasnije tijekom života imaju veliki utjecaj na imunitet i autoimunost. Fekalna mikrobiota je i u bliskom kontaktu s enteričkim živčanim sustavom te tako utječe na osovinu crijevo – mozak. Promjene fekalne mikrobiote (disbioze) u vidu prekomjerne proliferacije određenih bakterija ili pak smanjenja raznolikosti cjelokupne mikrobiote povezane su s bolestima poput proljeva uzrokovanog s C.difficile, pretilošću, dijabetesom tipa 2, upalnim bolestima crijeva, autoimunim bolestima, neuropsihijatrijskim bolestima i dr. Saznanjima o povezanosti tih promjena i navedenih bolesti pokušava se terapijski utjecati na fekalnu mikrobiotu te su neke od metoda utjecaja na fekalnu mikrobiotu već u rutinskoj primjeni u brojnim zemljama. Ovaj rad donosi pregled različitih uloga crijevnih mikroorganizama u zdravlju i bolesti te mogućeg terapijskog učinka aktivnim utjecanjem na fekalnu mikrobiotu.Fecal or gut microbiota includes all microorganisms that are living in human intestine. The majority of whole human microbiota is located in gastrointestinal system, with the largest share being in colon. It encompasses bacteria, archea and fungi. The biggest part of gut microbiota consists of gut bacteria whose functions are also most thoroughly researched. Gut bacteria have extensive metabolic function in digestion of dietary fiber, vitamin K synthesis, production of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids metabolism and they produce various metabolites which affect complete carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, commensal gut bacteria are preventing the colonization of gut by pathogenic bacteria and thereby defending the organism from infections. Considering the fact that the gastrointestinal system of an infant in utero is almost sterile, gut bacteria is important for maturation of innate immune system and have long term impact on immune system and autoimmunity. Fecal microbiota is also in close contact with enteric nerve system and affects gut-brain axis. Changes of fecal microbiota (dysbiosis) in the form of excessive proliferation of certain bacteria or decreasing of microbiota diversity are associated with diseases such as: diarrhea caused by C.difficile, obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases and other. The knowledge of this links to therapeutic efforts that are aimed to change harmful changes of fecal microbiota. Some of those therapeutic efforts are routinely applied in many countries. This paper reviews the role of gut microorganisms in health and disease and possible therapeutic effects on fecal microbiota

Role of fecal microbiota in health and disease

Fekalna ili crijevna mikrobiota obuhvaća sve mikroorganizme koji žive u čovjekovu crijevu. Glavnina ljudske mikrobiote smještena je upravo u gastrointestinalnom traktu, a od toga najveći dio u kolonu. Obuhvaća bakterije, arheje i gljive. Najveći udio ipak čine crijevne bakterije čije su funkcije i najviše proučavane u znanstvenim istraživanjima. Crijevne bakterije imaju opsežnu metaboličku ulogu u razgradnji prehrambenih vlakana, sintezi vitamina K, proizvodnji kratkolančanih masnih kiselina, metabolizmu žučnih kiselina te proizvode razne druge metabolite kojim utječu na cjelokupni metabolizam ugljikohidrata, bjelančevina i lipida. Nadalje, komenzalne crijevne bakterije sprječavaju kolonizaciju crijeva patogenim bakterijama te tako sudjeluju u obrani organizma od infekcija. Budući da je za vrijeme trudnoće probavni sustav djeteta gotovo sterilan, crijevne bakterije su nakon rođenja djeteta važne za sazrijevanje imunosnog sustava te i kasnije tijekom života imaju veliki utjecaj na imunitet i autoimunost. Fekalna mikrobiota je i u bliskom kontaktu s enteričkim živčanim sustavom te tako utječe na osovinu crijevo – mozak. Promjene fekalne mikrobiote (disbioze) u vidu prekomjerne proliferacije određenih bakterija ili pak smanjenja raznolikosti cjelokupne mikrobiote povezane su s bolestima poput proljeva uzrokovanog s C.difficile, pretilošću, dijabetesom tipa 2, upalnim bolestima crijeva, autoimunim bolestima, neuropsihijatrijskim bolestima i dr. Saznanjima o povezanosti tih promjena i navedenih bolesti pokušava se terapijski utjecati na fekalnu mikrobiotu te su neke od metoda utjecaja na fekalnu mikrobiotu već u rutinskoj primjeni u brojnim zemljama. Ovaj rad donosi pregled različitih uloga crijevnih mikroorganizama u zdravlju i bolesti te mogućeg terapijskog učinka aktivnim utjecanjem na fekalnu mikrobiotu.Fecal or gut microbiota includes all microorganisms that are living in human intestine. The majority of whole human microbiota is located in gastrointestinal system, with the largest share being in colon. It encompasses bacteria, archea and fungi. The biggest part of gut microbiota consists of gut bacteria whose functions are also most thoroughly researched. Gut bacteria have extensive metabolic function in digestion of dietary fiber, vitamin K synthesis, production of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids metabolism and they produce various metabolites which affect complete carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, commensal gut bacteria are preventing the colonization of gut by pathogenic bacteria and thereby defending the organism from infections. Considering the fact that the gastrointestinal system of an infant in utero is almost sterile, gut bacteria is important for maturation of innate immune system and have long term impact on immune system and autoimmunity. Fecal microbiota is also in close contact with enteric nerve system and affects gut-brain axis. Changes of fecal microbiota (dysbiosis) in the form of excessive proliferation of certain bacteria or decreasing of microbiota diversity are associated with diseases such as: diarrhea caused by C.difficile, obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases and other. The knowledge of this links to therapeutic efforts that are aimed to change harmful changes of fecal microbiota. Some of those therapeutic efforts are routinely applied in many countries. This paper reviews the role of gut microorganisms in health and disease and possible therapeutic effects on fecal microbiota

Role of fecal microbiota in health and disease

Fekalna ili crijevna mikrobiota obuhvaća sve mikroorganizme koji žive u čovjekovu crijevu. Glavnina ljudske mikrobiote smještena je upravo u gastrointestinalnom traktu, a od toga najveći dio u kolonu. Obuhvaća bakterije, arheje i gljive. Najveći udio ipak čine crijevne bakterije čije su funkcije i najviše proučavane u znanstvenim istraživanjima. Crijevne bakterije imaju opsežnu metaboličku ulogu u razgradnji prehrambenih vlakana, sintezi vitamina K, proizvodnji kratkolančanih masnih kiselina, metabolizmu žučnih kiselina te proizvode razne druge metabolite kojim utječu na cjelokupni metabolizam ugljikohidrata, bjelančevina i lipida. Nadalje, komenzalne crijevne bakterije sprječavaju kolonizaciju crijeva patogenim bakterijama te tako sudjeluju u obrani organizma od infekcija. Budući da je za vrijeme trudnoće probavni sustav djeteta gotovo sterilan, crijevne bakterije su nakon rođenja djeteta važne za sazrijevanje imunosnog sustava te i kasnije tijekom života imaju veliki utjecaj na imunitet i autoimunost. Fekalna mikrobiota je i u bliskom kontaktu s enteričkim živčanim sustavom te tako utječe na osovinu crijevo – mozak. Promjene fekalne mikrobiote (disbioze) u vidu prekomjerne proliferacije određenih bakterija ili pak smanjenja raznolikosti cjelokupne mikrobiote povezane su s bolestima poput proljeva uzrokovanog s C.difficile, pretilošću, dijabetesom tipa 2, upalnim bolestima crijeva, autoimunim bolestima, neuropsihijatrijskim bolestima i dr. Saznanjima o povezanosti tih promjena i navedenih bolesti pokušava se terapijski utjecati na fekalnu mikrobiotu te su neke od metoda utjecaja na fekalnu mikrobiotu već u rutinskoj primjeni u brojnim zemljama. Ovaj rad donosi pregled različitih uloga crijevnih mikroorganizama u zdravlju i bolesti te mogućeg terapijskog učinka aktivnim utjecanjem na fekalnu mikrobiotu.Fecal or gut microbiota includes all microorganisms that are living in human intestine. The majority of whole human microbiota is located in gastrointestinal system, with the largest share being in colon. It encompasses bacteria, archea and fungi. The biggest part of gut microbiota consists of gut bacteria whose functions are also most thoroughly researched. Gut bacteria have extensive metabolic function in digestion of dietary fiber, vitamin K synthesis, production of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids metabolism and they produce various metabolites which affect complete carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, commensal gut bacteria are preventing the colonization of gut by pathogenic bacteria and thereby defending the organism from infections. Considering the fact that the gastrointestinal system of an infant in utero is almost sterile, gut bacteria is important for maturation of innate immune system and have long term impact on immune system and autoimmunity. Fecal microbiota is also in close contact with enteric nerve system and affects gut-brain axis. Changes of fecal microbiota (dysbiosis) in the form of excessive proliferation of certain bacteria or decreasing of microbiota diversity are associated with diseases such as: diarrhea caused by C.difficile, obesity, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases and other. The knowledge of this links to therapeutic efforts that are aimed to change harmful changes of fecal microbiota. Some of those therapeutic efforts are routinely applied in many countries. This paper reviews the role of gut microorganisms in health and disease and possible therapeutic effects on fecal microbiota

Present and Future of Dyslipidaemia Treatment—A Review

One of the greatest burdens on the healthcare systems of modern civilization is cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, the medical community is looking for ways to reduce the incidence of CVDs. Simple lifestyle changes from an unhealthy to a healthy lifestyle are the cornerstone of prevention, but other risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also being currently targeted, most notably dyslipidaemia. It is well known that lowering serum lipid levels, and in particular lowering elevated LDL-cholesterol, leads to a reduction in major cardiovascular events. Although the focus to date has been on LDL-cholesterol levels and lowering them with statin therapy, this is often not enough because of increased concentrations of other lipoprotein particles in the serum and residual cardiovascular risk. Since lowering LDL-cholesterol levels is successful in most cases, there has been a recent focus on lowering residual cardiovascular risk. In recent years, new therapeutic options have emerged that target triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, lipoprotein (a) and apolipoproteins C and B. The effects of these drugs on serious adverse cardiovascular events are not yet known, but recent studies with some of these drugs have shown significant results in lowering total lipid levels. The aim of this review is to present the current therapeutic options for the treatment of dyslipidaemia and to describe the newly approved drugs as well as the drugs that are still in development. Although at this stage we cannot say with certainty whether these agents will be approved and widely used, it is safe to say that our views on the treatment of dyslipidaemia are certainly changing