Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 on gastrointestinal inflammation induced by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Aims Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause damage to the gastric and duodenal mucosa. Some probiotics have proven useful in ameliorating the harmful side-effects of NSAIDs. Our aim was to evaluate whether oral administration of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 (B420) can attenuate the increase of calprotectin excretion into faeces induced by intake of diclofenac sustained-release tablets.Methods A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled and randomized clinical study was performed in 50 healthy male and female volunteers aged 20-40 years, in Finland. Study participation consisted of 4 phases: run-in, intervention with B420 or placebo, B420 or placebo + NSAID treatment, and follow-up. The primary outcome was the concentration of calprotectin in faeces. Secondary outcomes were haemoglobin and microbial DNA in faeces and blood haemoglobin levels.Results Intake of diclofenac increased the faecal excretion of calprotectin in both groups. The observed increases were 48.19 +/- 61.55 mu g/g faeces (mean +/- standard deviation) in the B420 group and 31.30 +/- 39.56 mu g/g in the placebo group (difference estimate 16.90; 95% confidence interval: -14.00, 47.77; P = .276). There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in changes of faecal or blood haemoglobin. Faecal B. lactis DNA was much more abundant in the B420 group compared to the placebo group (ANOVA estimate for treatment difference 0.85 x 109/g faeces; 95% confidence interval: 0.50 x 109, 1.21 x 109; P Conclusions Short-term administration of the probiotic B420 did not protect the healthy adult study participants from diclofenac-induced gastrointestinal inflammation as determined by analysis of faecal calprotectin levels.</p

Incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities - a nationwide population-based study

Background: Scant data exist on incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities in the general population. Methods: We recorded ECG and measured conventional cardiovascular risk factors in 5667 Finns who were followed up for incident atrial fibrillation (AF). We obtained repeat ECGs from 3089 individuals I I years later. Results: The incidence rates of prolonged P-wave duration, abnormal P terminal force (PTF), left P-wave axis deviation, and right P-wave axis deviation were 16.0%, 7.4%, 3.4%, and 2.2%, respectively. Older age and higher BMI were associated with incident prolonged P-wave duration and abnormal PTF (P Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors associate with P-wave abnormalities that are common and may represent intermediate steps of atrial cardiomyopathy on a pathway leading to AF. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe