The Challenging Triad: Microbiota, Immune System and Anticancer Drugs

Gut microbiota is essential for the development of the intestinal immune system, protecting the host against pathogens and harmful inflammatory processes. Germ‐free animals have smaller Peyer\u27s patches, fewer immune cells and impaired immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion, fewer intraepithelial lymphocytes, as well as compromised production of antimicrobial peptides. Mucositis (mucosal barrier injury) is a major oncological problem caused by chemotherapeutic agents. Intestinal mucositis translates into a broad spectra of clinical symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting) and can be worsened by neutropenia and antibiotics. Since IECs do not regulate intestinal homeostasis by themselves, but require symbiotic coordination with commensal bacteria and local gut leukocytic cells, the role of intestinal microbiota in the development and severity of mucositis induced by chemotherapeutic products became an issue. The present chapter reviews the interplay between microbiota, immune system, and anticancer therapy. The published researches in this field showed that microbiota has immunomodulatory effect on the anticancer immune response, both in the presence and in the absence of chemotherapy. Animal and human studies evoked that the anticancer response depends on microbiota variability

Melatonin: A Silent Regulator of the Glucose Homeostasis

In the human organism, the circadian regulation of carbohydrates metabolism is essential for the glucose homeostasis and energy balance. Unbalances in glucose and insulin tissue and blood levels have been linked to a variety of metabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Melatonin, the pineal hormone, is the key mediator molecule for the integration between the cyclic environment and the circadian distribution of physiological and behavioral processes and for the optimization of energy balance and body weight regulation, events that are crucial for a healthy organism. This chapter reviews the interplay between melatonin modulatory physiological effects, glucose homeostasis and metabolic balance, from the endocrinology perspective. The tremendous effect of melatonin in the regulation of metabolic processes is observed from the chronobiology perspective, considering melatonin as a major synchronizer of the circadian internal order of the physiological processes involved in energy metabolism

Incidence of spinal cord injuries in Constanta County (Romania) between 2017-2021

The purpose of this study was to investigated cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) during the years 2017-2021, in Constanta County (Romania) to update the data on SCI and thus identify the SCI trends in this region of Romania. Methods: The study retrospectively analysed patients with SCI in Constanța County, whose data (medical records) were provided to us by the Romania Motivation Foundation. This analysis was made for the period January 1, 2017 - August 31, 2021. Results: Ninety-six new traumatic cases of SCI were reported between 2017 and 2021 in Constanța County. It was found that the annual incidence is 2.48 per hundred thousand inhabitants. The male / female ratio was 5:1 and the mean age at injury was 33.52 ± 15.1 (33.41 ± 14.80 for men and 33.92 ± 16.01 for women). The most common cause of injury was unintentional fall (48.95%), followed by road accidents (39.58%), stab wounds (4.16%), gunshot wounds (3.12%) and injuries caused by diving 2.08%). Fifteen patients (15.62%) were quadriplegic, and 81 patients (84.37%) were paraplegic. The most common level of lesions was C4 (33.33%) in tetraplegics and T12 (25.92%) in paraplegics. The most common associated injury was head trauma (15.8%), followed by limb fractures (9.5%). The incidence rate of SCI in Constanta County increased (p <0.05) and the highest increase in the incidence of spinal cord injuries was observed among patients in the age groups 29 - 49 years. Conclusions: Due to the existence of limitations, it is difficult to obtain accurate epidemiological data for SCI. Therefore, more studies are needed to provide a large amount of data and evidence. Our data indicate the need to take measures both for prevention and to provide specialized care for this type of traumatic pathology

multicentre analysis, I-MOVE-COVID-19 and ECDC networks, July to August 2021

Funding Information: This project received funding from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) under the contract ECD.11486. Funding Information: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101003673. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.Introduction: In July and August 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant dominated in Europe. Aim: Using a multicentre test-negative study, we measured COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infection. Methods: Individuals with COVID-19 or acute respiratory symptoms at primary care/community level in 10 European countries were tested for SARS-CoV-2. We measured complete primary course overall VE by vaccine brand and by time since vaccination. Results: Overall VE was 74% (95% CI: 69-79), 76% (95% CI: 71-80), 63% (95% CI: 48-75) and 63% (95% CI: 16-83) among those aged 30-44, 45-59, 60-74 and ≥ 75 years, respectively. VE among those aged 30-59 years was 78% (95% CI: 75-81), 66% (95% CI: 58-73), 91% (95% CI: 87-94) and 52% (95% CI: 40-61), for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, Spikevax and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, respectively. VE among people 60 years and older was 67% (95% CI: 52-77), 65% (95% CI: 48-76) and 83% (95% CI: 64-92) for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria and Spikevax, respectively. Comirnaty VE among those aged 30-59 years was 87% (95% CI: 83-89) at 14-29 days and 65% (95% CI: 56-71%) at ≥ 90 days between vaccination and onset of symptoms. Conclusions: VE against symptomatic infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant varied among brands, ranging from 52% to 91%. While some waning of the vaccine effect may be present (sample size limited this analysis to only Comirnaty), protection was 65% at 90 days or more between vaccination and onset.publishersversionpublishe

Creatinine is a biochemical marker for assessing how untrained people adapt to fitness training loads

Background To study the peculiarities of changes in creatinine concentration in blood serum of untrained men during the prolonged usage of training loads different in volume and intensity, and to determine the value of this biochemical marker for the assessment of adaptive body changes during fitness training. Methods We examined 50 untrained men aged 18–20 years who had no contraindications for practicing fitness. Taking into account the aim of the research, we divided these people into two groups: group A and group B. The research participants used training load regimes different in volume and intensity: representatives of group Aused low intensity training load regime (Ra = 0.53) and representatives of group B used high intensity training load regime (Ra = 0.72). To assess the adaptive body changes in the examined contingent, we used the anthropometry method (circumference body size) and bioimpedansometry (body composition indicators). We also determined the features of adaptation-compensatory body reactions to different training loads by means of biochemical control of creatinine concentration in blood serum. Results The obtained results showed a significant increase in basal level of creatinine concentration in blood serum (by 17.6%) of group B representatives fixed after 3 months of practicing fitness in high intensity training load regime (Ra = 0.72). This group representative also revealed the most pronounced manifestation of adaptive body changes confirmed by the results of the maximal muscle strength growth (1RM) and circumference body size, which was almost 2.5 times higher than the results of group A representatives for the same period of time. The parameters indicating the load volume in a set (Wn) were almost 62.0 % higher in group A representatives in comparison with group B during all stages of control. Nonetheless, the highest creatinine concentration in blood serum (by 11.1 % (p < 0.05) was fixed in group A representatives in response to training load after 3 months of practicing. This fact testifies to the important role of the creatine phosphokinase mechanism of energy supply of muscular activity in the conditions of high volume and low intensity training load regime (Ra = 0.53). Conclusion The analysis of the results obtained during a series of experimental studies indicates the need and feasibility of using the indicator of basal level of creatinine concentration in blood during fitness training, especially in the conditions of high intensity and low volume training load regime (Ra = 0.72), as an informative marker for assessing the process of long-term adaptation

Effectiveness of complete primary vaccination against COVID-19 at primary care and community level during predominant Delta circulation in Europe: multicentre study analysis by age-group, vaccine brand and time since vaccination, I-MOVE-COVID-19 and ECDC networks, July–August 2021

Introduction In July and August 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant dominated in Europe. We measured COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infection, using a multicentre test-negative study at primary care/community level in Europe. Methods Patients presenting with COVID-19/ARI symptoms at primary care/community level in 10 countries were tested for SARS-CoV-2. We measured complete primary course overall VE among those aged 30–44, 45–59, 60–74 and ≥75 years, and among those 30–59 and ≥60 years by vaccine brand and by time since vaccination. Results Overall VE was 74% (95%CI: 69–79), 76% (95%CI: 71–80), 63% (95%CI: 48–75), 63% (95%CI: 16–83) among those aged 30–44, 45–59, 60–74 and ≥75 years, respectively. VE among those aged 30–59 years was 78% (95%CI: 75–81), 66% (95%CI: 58–73), 91% (95%CI: 87–94) and 52% (95%CI: 40–61), for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, Spikevax and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, respectively. VE among those aged ≥60 years was 67% (95%CI: 52–77), 65% (95%CI: 48–76), 83% (95%CI: 64–92) for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria and Spikevax, respectively. Comirnaty VE among those aged 30–59 years was 87% (95%CI: 83–89) and 65% (95%CI: 56–71%) at 14–29 days and ≥90 days between vaccination and onset of symptoms, respectively. Conclusions VE against the symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infection varied among brands, ranging from 52–91%. While some waning of the vaccine effect may be present (sample size limited this analysis to only Comirnaty), protection was 65% ≥90 days between vaccination and onset

Effectiveness of complete primary vaccination against COVID-19 at primary care and community level during predominant Delta circulation in Europe: multicentre analysis, I-MOVE-COVID-19 and ECDC networks, July to August 2021.

This project received funding from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) under the contract ECD.11486. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101003673.Introduction : In July and August 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant dominated in Europe. Aim: Using a multicentre test-negative study, we measured COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infection.  Methods : Individuals with COVID-19 or acute respiratory symptoms at primary care/community level in 10 European countries were tested for SARS-CoV-2. We measured complete primary course overall VE by vaccine brand and by time since vaccination.  Results : Overall VE was 74% (95% CI: 69-79), 76% (95% CI: 71-80), 63% (95% CI: 48-75) and 63% (95% CI: 16-83) among those aged 30-44, 45-59, 60-74 and ≥ 75 years, respectively. VE among those aged 30-59 years was 78% (95% CI: 75-81), 66% (95% CI: 58-73), 91% (95% CI: 87-94) and 52% (95% CI: 40-61), for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, Spikevax and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, respectively. VE among people 60 years and older was 67% (95% CI: 52-77), 65% (95% CI: 48-76) and 83% (95% CI: 64-92) for Comirnaty, Vaxzevria and Spikevax, respectively. Comirnaty VE among those aged 30-59 years was 87% (95% CI: 83-89) at 14-29 days and 65% (95% CI: 56-71%) at ≥ 90 days between vaccination and onset of symptoms.  Conclusions : VE against symptomatic infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant varied among brands, ranging from 52% to 91%. While some waning of the vaccine effect may be present (sample size limited this analysis to only Comirnaty), protection was 65% at 90 days or more between vaccination and onset.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe