SARS-COV-2 can induce an alteration of the autoimmune profile

Objective: The study evaluated the autoimmune profile of COVID-19 positive hospitalised patients. Methods: 40 hospitalised patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were given clinical chemistry and autoimmunity tests. Results: The 40 patients enrolled in our hospital had elevated levels of common inflammatory markers such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was also increased, confirming the key role of this interleukin during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The most common autoimmunity tests were performed. A significant prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and anti-Saccaromyces cerevisiae (ASCA IgA and IgG) was found. Patients showing a de novo autoantibody response were those with a worse disease prognosis. Conclusion: Our study shows that COVID-19 infection can trigger an autoimmune response and could induce the onset of autoimmune diseases. These data explain why drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases could also be useful in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection

ag) Prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in children with irritable bowel syndrome: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in children affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive children affected by IBS according to Rome II criteria (n = 43) were enrolled at the Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of Rome. The control population (n = 56) consisted of healthy subjects without IBS symptoms, similar to patients for age, sex, and social background. All subjects underwent lactulose/methane breath test (LBT) to assess small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal LBT result was significantly higher in patients with IBS (65%, 28/43) with respect to control subjects (7%, 4/56; OR 3.9, 95% CI 7.3-80.1, P < .00001). Patients with abnormal LBT showed a trend toward a worse visual analog scale score with respect to children with IBS without SIBO, but a significant statistical difference was observed only for bloating. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest a significant epidemiologic association between SIBO and IBS in childhood. Placebo-controlled interventional studies with antibiotics used to treat bacterial overgrowth are warranted to clarify the real impact of the disease on IBS symptoms

Traumatic Brain Injury and Gut Brain Axis: The Disruption of an Alliance

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be considered a "silent epidemic", causing morbidity, disability, and mortality in all age cohorts. Therefore, a greater understanding of the underlying pathophysiological intricate mechanisms and interactions with other organs and systems is necessary to intervene not only in the treatment but also in the prevention of complications. In this complex of reciprocal interactions, the complex brain-gut axis has captured a growing interest. Scope The purpose of this manuscript is to examine and systematize existing evidence regarding the pathophysiological processes that occur following TBI and the influences exerted on these by the brain-gut axis. Literature Review A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the PRISMA methodology. On the 8th of October 2021, two independent databases were searched: PubMed and Scopus. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria selected, 24 (12 from PubMed and 12 from Scopus) eligible manuscripts were included in the present review. Moreover, references from the selected articles were also updated following the criteria mentioned above, yielding 91 included manuscripts. Discussion Published evidence suggests that the brain and gut are mutually influenced through four main pathways: microbiota, inflammatory, nervous, and endocrine. Conclusion These pathways are bidirectional and interact with each other. However, the studies conducted so far mainly involve animals. An autopsy methodological approach to corpses affected by traumatic brain injury or intestinal pathology could represent the keystone for future studies to clarify the complex pathophysiological processes underlying the interaction between these two main systems

The Role of Methane in Intestinal Diseases.

The volume of human intestinal gas is about 200 ml, and it is derived from complex physiological processes including swallowed air, diffusion from bloodstream into the lumen, and particularly intraluminal production by chemical reactions and bacterial fermentation. Gas is continuously removed by eructation, anal evacuation, absorption through the intestinal mucosa, and bacterial consumption. More than 99% of it is composed of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other odoriferous gases. Methane (CH4) production is detectable in about one third of healthy adult individuals. In the past years, several studies have been focused on CH4 metabolism at the intestinal level and on the putative association between this gas and the pathophysiology of organic and functional bowel disorders. An overview of the present knowledge about the physiology of CH4 metabolism and its role in intestinal diseases is provided in this report