Tag: nevin manimala

Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s12602-025-10816-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent research has highlighted the potential of postbiotics as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in broiler production. The impact of postbiotics on growth performance and gut health in broilers has shown inconsistent findings, influenced by parameters such as postbiotic type, dosage, and delivery techniques. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of postbiotics on broiler growth performance, including average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), in addition to gut morphology metrics, such as villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD). A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A total of 30 studies were selected from an initial group of 413 studies. The research included randomized controlled trials and observational studies published from 2015 to 2025. Effect sizes were computed using Cohen’s d, while publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots and Egger’s test. The Cochran Q test was used to assess heterogeneity among studies, employing a random-effects model for cases with statistically significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to postbiotic type, sample size, and age of broilers. The meta-analysis results indicated a positive impact of postbiotics on ADG and BW, especially for bacterial-based postbiotics such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis. The meta-analysis also indicated a positive impact of fermented based postbiotics on feed intake (FI) of broilers. Nonetheless, the impact on gut morphology was inconsistent, with considerable diversity noted among studies. Heterogeneity was significant, with variables including postbiotic type, sample size, and age of broilers influencing outcome variability. In conclusion, although postbiotics have potential as substitutes for AGPs, their impact on grill growth and gut health remains inconsistent. This study highlights the necessity for more research to standardize postbiotic therapies and investigate their long-term impacts on poultry productivity.

PMID:41240268 | DOI:10.1007/s12602-025-10816-8

Community Ment Health J. 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s10597-025-01555-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a CHIME-based psychoeducational group intervention on personal recovery in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. A randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design was conducted between January and July 2024. A total of 60 participants receiving services from a Community Mental Health Center and meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 29) or the control group (n = 30). The intervention group participated in a structured “CHIME-Based Psychoeducation Program” comprising seven weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 60 min. Outcome measures included the Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (SRAS), Psychological Resilience Assessment Scale (PRAS), and Schizophrenia Hope Scale (SHS). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Both groups continued to receive standard community mental health services throughout the study. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Friedman tests, and intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis for handling missing data. Accordingly, the CHIME-Based Group Psychoeducation Program can be considered an effective intervention to enhance personal recovery, psychological resilience, and hope. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier number is NCT06284096.

PMID:41240240 | DOI:10.1007/s10597-025-01555-9

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s10096-025-05355-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathogens and clinical characteristics of necrotizing pneumonia (NP) in our hospital from January 2019 to June 2025.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of children with NP. Patients were divided into a single- bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) group and a multiple-BAL group. Pathogens and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: This study included 365 patients with NP, 193 of whom were males. The incidence of NP significantly increased in 2023-2024. The pathogen identification rate was 98.36%, with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) being the most commonly pathogen (91.00%). There were 138 cases of mixed infection and 227 cases of single infection. The 335 cases underwent BAL, with 139 cases assigned to the single-BAL group. Follow-up within 6 months after discharge was conducted for 238 patients, and the majority exhibited a favorable prognosis. No statistical differences were observed between the two groups regarding gender, age, time from onset to diagnosis, or duration of fever. However, a significant difference was noted in the length of hospital stay (P < 0.05). The infection rate of MP in the single-BAL group was lower than that in the multiple-BAL group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of NP significantly increased in 2023-2024, with MP as the predominant pathogen. Children with NP present with severe clinical symptoms, a prolonged disease course, and significantly elevated inflammatory markers. Most NP patients have a favorable prognosis. Patients requiring multiple BAL procedures demonstrate a higher MP infection rate.

PMID:41240235 | DOI:10.1007/s10096-025-05355-7

Fish Physiol Biochem. 2025 Nov 15;51(6):195. doi: 10.1007/s10695-025-01602-y.

ABSTRACT

Anaesthesia is a necessary step during fish manipulation. Tricaine methane-sulfonate (MS-222) is the most commonly used anaesthetic in experimental trials; however, its use in food fish production is strictly regulated. This study aimed to evaluate clove oil, less persistent and authorized in European countries, as an alternative to MS-222 for skin mucus analyses in aquaculture settings. For this purpose, rainbow trout individuals from a commercial factory were sedated with clove oil or MS-222. The concentration of protein, glucose, lactate, and cortisol and the antibacterial activity were measured in both skin mucus and plasma. Additionally, FRAP, total protease activity, and lysozyme activity were also analysed for mucus samples. Recovery times differed significantly between treatments, being approximately four times longer for clove oil (at the farm’s standard dose) than for MS-222 (at the standard laboratory dose). However, none of the stress-related biomarkers in mucus were affected by the anaesthetic treatment, whereas plasma from clove oil-treated fish showed increased lactate and reduced cortisol levels. The in vitro bacterial growth inhibition assay using mucus and plasma provides a reliable and rapid method for assessing fish innate immunity. No significant differences were observed between treatments against any of the bacterial strains tested. Overall, the findings strongly endorse the use of skin mucus as an effective method for studying and monitoring trout in aquaculture settings.

PMID:41240215 | DOI:10.1007/s10695-025-01602-y

Doc Ophthalmol. 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s10633-025-10068-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pupillometry is most commonly performed in laboratory settings using specialized, non-portable instruments that require lengthy test protocols. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a rapid, clinically-applicable pupillometry protocol using a commercially available, portable, handheld instrument.

METHODS: Thirty-seven healthy individuals (ages 21-61 years) participated in three experiments. In each experiment, the pupillary light reflex (PLR) was elicited by full-field, 500 ms chromatic flashes (470 nm and 621 nm; 12,000 Td). Experiment I evaluated the minimum dark adaptation (DA) time needed to achieve maximum PLRs. Experiment II determined the effect of age. Experiment III estimated PLR test-retest repeatability. For all experiments, baseline pupil size (BL; 1 s before flash onset), maximum pupil constriction (MPC) following the flash, and post-illumination pupillary response (PIPR; median size 6-8 s after flash offset) were quantified.

RESULTS: Experiment I showed that from 1 to 3 min of DA, BL and MPC increased slightly (0.27 mm and 5%, respectively), whereas the PIPR increased considerably (17%). The responses did not change appreciably after 3 min, therefore a 3 min DA period was used for Experiments II and III. Experiment II showed a trend for BL and MPC to decrease with age, but correlations with age were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). PIPR was independent of age (r = – 0.01; p = 0.96). Experiment III showed test-retest repeatability of approximately 1 mm for BL, and 10% for MPC and PIPR, indicating good repeatability.

CONCLUSION: The proposed approach is useful for measuring the MPC and PIPR across a broad range of ages and baseline pupil sizes. Given the device portability and short test duration (approximately 5 min including DA), this approach has promising clinical utility.

PMID:41240211 | DOI:10.1007/s10633-025-10068-5

Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s12223-025-01372-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study presents an optimization process to produce L-arginine deiminase (ADI) from the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum, focusing on the impact of growth parameters and the role of phytohormones and polyamines. ADI, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to citrulline and ammonia, holds potential for cancer therapy by depleting L-arginine into auxotrophic tumors. The research identified optimal conditions for ADI production, including an incubation period of 6 days, 150 rpm agitation, and specific nutrient concentrations, with glucose and yeast extract as preferred carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. L-arginine enhancement was most effective at pH 6 and 35 °C. Phytohormones such as gibberellic acid (GA3) and polyamines including spermidine and spermine were found to significantly boost enzyme production at lower concentrations. The study employed a Plackett-Burman design to determine critical factors, highlighting pH and glucose concentration as key influencers, supported by statistical analysis and 3D surface plots. These results open the door for the therapeutic synthesis of ADIs on a massive scale, necessitating additional study to maximize these enzymes for use in clinical settings.

PMID:41240209 | DOI:10.1007/s12223-025-01372-3

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2025 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s13555-025-01592-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: A matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) was performed comparing the efficacy of delgocitinib and dupilumab in patients with atopic hand eczema (AHE), one aetiological subtype of chronic hand eczema (CHE).

METHODS: DELTA 1/2 were phase 3 trials in which adults with moderate to severe CHE received delgocitinib cream 20 mg/g or cream vehicle twice daily for 16 weeks. LIBERTY-AD-HAFT was a phase 3 trial in which patients with moderate to severe AD with hand or foot involvement received subcutaneous dupilumab or placebo every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. An anchored MAIC was conducted using individual patient data (IPD) from DELTA 1/2 and aggregate published data from LIBERTY-AD-HAFT, with vehicle and placebo as the common anchor. IPD from patients with AHE as the primary subtype in DELTA 1/2 were weighted to match age, race, sex and baseline Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) score in LIBERTY-AD-HAFT.

RESULTS: LIBERTY-AD-HAFT included 133 patients (dupilumab, n = 67, placebo, n = 66) while DELTA 1/2 included 345 patients with AHE; the effective sample size after weighted matching was 201 (delgocitinib, n = 128, cream vehicle, n = 73). Anchor-adjusted odds ratios comparing delgocitinib versus dupilumab at week 16 were 1.1 (95% CI: 0.3, 3.4; p = 0.890) for Investigator’s Global Assessment for Chronic Hand Eczema / Hand and Foot Investigator’s Global Assessment score 0/1, 1.2 (95% CI: 0.4, 3.2; p = 0.773) for HECSI 75 and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.4, 4.9; p = 0.661) for HECSI 90 while response difference for HECSI percent improvement was 11.7% (95% CI: -9.2%, 32.7%; p = 0.273).

CONCLUSIONS: Topical delgocitinib and dupilumab in patients with AHE had comparable efficacy, with all results being numerically in favour of delgocitinib, although not statistically significant.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04871711, NCT04872101, NCT04417894.

PMID:41240207 | DOI:10.1007/s13555-025-01592-y

Mycopathologia. 2025 Nov 15;190(6):117. doi: 10.1007/s11046-025-01023-8.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis prevalent in immunosuppressed individuals, particularly those with HIV/AIDS. Immune recovery achieved through antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for controlling opportunistic infections in AIDS. Given clinical observations and evidence suggesting Cryptococcus spp. accelerates HIV replication in vitro, we hypothesized that cryptococcosis may hinder immune recovery in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between cryptococcosis and immune recovery in AIDS patients with severe immunosuppression (CD4 + T-cells ≤ 200 cells/mm³) after starting ART.

METHODS: From 230 consecutive patients, those followed for > 100 days were included in a matched cohort study: 21 with cryptococcosis and 67 without, matched by CD4 + T-cells range at a 3:1 ratio. Immune recovery was defined as achieving a CD4 + T-cells count ≥ 350 cells/mm³. Statistical analyses included chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney U tests, multivariate logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier curves analyzed with Log Rank. A p-value < 0.05 was significant.

RESULTS: Immune recovery rates were lower in the cryptococcosis group (19.0 vs. 38.8%, p = 0.096). Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age (< 40 years), undetectable HIV viral load, and longer follow-up were independently associated with immune recovery. Patients with cryptococcosis had a 3.61-fold increased odds of immune recovery failure (95% CI 0.90-14.53; p = 0.071), approaching statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that cryptococcosis may impair immune recovery in AIDS patients with severe immunosuppression. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm these results.

PMID:41240188 | DOI:10.1007/s11046-025-01023-8

Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Nov 15;184(12):765. doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06627-2.

ABSTRACT

The current gold standard for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is phototherapy. However, phototherapy for a longer duration has side effects like fluid imbalance and diarrhea. Probiotics and synbiotics are used as adjuncts to reduce the duration of phototherapy. Three electronic databases, namely PubMed, clinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library, cover the period from inception up to May 2025. Neonates with hyperbilirubinemia treated with probiotics/synbiotics in addition to phototherapy were included. Review Manager (5.4.1) was used for data analysis. Subgrouping based on gestational age and probiotic and synbiotic strains was done. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. A total of 17 RCTs involving 2017 neonates were included. Our analysis revealed that neonates who received probiotic/synbiotic supplementation along with phototherapy showed statistically significant reductions in duration of hospitalization (MD, – 0.35; 95% CI, – 0.49 to – 0.20) and phototherapy (MD, – 13.10; 95% CI, – 19.19 to – 7.01). Moreover, neonates in the probiotic/synbiotic group demonstrated significant reductions in serum bilirubin levels at 24 h (MD, – 1.45; 95% CI, – 2.19 to – 0.72) and a borderline difference between the two groups at 72 h (MD, – 0.54; 95% CI, – 1.07 to – 0.02). In contrast, discharge bilirubin favored phototherapy alone (MD, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.26).

CONCLUSION: Probiotics/synbiotics, in combination with phototherapy, may reduce the duration of phototherapy, hospitalization, and serum bilirubin levels at 24 and 72 h; however, the findings are heterogeneous, and the results for discharge bilirubin are inconsistent. This emphasizes the need for further population- and strain-specific multicenter RCTs.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Probiotics/Synbiotics combined with phototherapy may shorten phototherapy duration and hospitalization, but subgroup effects, strain-specific efficacy, and the impact on bilirubin at specific time points remain unclear due to variable study quality and mixed populations.

WHAT IS NEW: • This meta-analysis provides a more refined and clinically meaningful evaluation by focusing specifically on live-strain probiotics/synbiotics, prespecified subgroups (term vs preterm), and standardized outcomes (24h, 72h bilirubin, discharge bilirubin). • We identified a consistent reduction in hospitalization and phototherapy duration, but importantly found that bilirubin at discharge was lower in the phototherapyonly group, a novel finding likely influenced by study design differences (including blinding status).

PMID:41240173 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-025-06627-2

J Clin Immunol. 2025 Nov 15;45(1):161. doi: 10.1007/s10875-025-01962-3.

ABSTRACT

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is caused by loss-of-function variants in Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, leading to absence of circulating B lymphocytes and inability to produce antibodies. Despite the fear that patients with XLA would be at high risk for severe infection when the novel virus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the society with low pre-existing immunity, most patients with XLA did not suffer from severe disease. However, some patients were critically affected. Factors associated with hospitalization in patients with XLA remain poorly described. Thus, we designed a study to determine risk factors associated with hospitalization due to Covid-19 in patients with XLA. Data was collected from 17 sites in Europe and the US, comprising n = 81 patients, with hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in 14 patients. Nearly 17% of patients with XLA required hospitalization due to Covid-19, but only 3 patients had ventilatory support. After correcting for the effect of the date of infection during the early pandemic, univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis showed that preexisting bronchiectasis and lower IgG serum trough levels (< 8 g/L) before infection were associated with an increased risk for hospitalization, with a high rate of superinfection. The lack of vaccination seemed to contribute to this risk, and ambulatory patients had higher amounts of CD4⁺ T cells before infection compared to hospitalized patients. Thus, our data suggests a need for IgG trough levels above 8 g/L, especially in patients with bronchiectasis, to protect patients with XLA during viral infections such as Covid-19 and reduce morbidity due to superinfections.

PMID:41240154 | DOI:10.1007/s10875-025-01962-3