Background: The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a wide variety of microorganisms. For some decades now, bacteria known as probiotics have been added to various foods because of their beneficial effects for human health. Evidence indicates that probiotics significantly regulate gut microbiota, which is vital for digestion, metabolism, immune function, and mental health. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of available original research published in PubMed for the past ten years focusing on recent advancements that provide a thorough understanding of the relationship between the gastrointestinal system and the brain. Results: Recent advances in research have focused on the importance of gut microbiota in influencing mental health. The microbiota–gut–brain axis is a complex, bidirectional communication network linking the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, which highlights how the gut and brain are deeply interconnected and influence each other in ways that affect our overall health, emotions, and behavior. This powerful link is a major area of research as scientists discover more about how gut health can impact mental well-being. Conclusions: A comprehensive understanding of microbiota composition and mechanisms involved in these interactions between the gut and the brain could shape future medical and therapeutic approaches. It would balance scientific explanation with clinical relevance, offering insights into how understanding the brain–gut axis can revolutionize our approach to treating mental health and gastrointestinal disorders.

Magnesium orotate has been cited in the medical literature for the past three years as a possible adjuvant in some pediatric and adult gastroenterological disorders associated with dysbiosis. Studies also focus on the possibility of adding magnesium orotate in psychiatric disorders’ treatment, such as major depression and anxiety. The most relevant element in these studies is the efficiency of magnesium orotate therapy in cases with both gastroenterological and psychiatric symptoms. This article proposes a literature review, focused on the studies published in the last three years, targeting magnesium orotate treatment and probiotic supplementation in patients with both digestive and psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, this review will compare the efficiency of magnesium orotate and probiotics within both the pediatric and adult communities, focusing on the possibility of gut–brain axis modulation and its involvement in the clinical evolution of these patients.

Propofol sedation for advanced endoscopic procedures is a widespread technique at present, which generates controversy worldwide when anaesthetic or non-anaesthetic personnel administer this form of sedation. There is some evidence for safe administered propofol sedation by non-anaesthetic personnel in patients undergoing endoscopy procedures, but there are only few randomised trials addressing the safety and efficacy of propofol in patients undergoing advanced procedures. A serious possible consequence of propofol sedation is the rapid and unpredictable progression from deep sedation to general anaesthesia mostly when elderly and frail patients are involved in the diagnosis or treatment of various neoplasia. This situation requires rescue measures with skilled airway management. The aim of this paper is to review the safety and efficacy aspects of sedation techniques, with special reference to propofol administration covering the whole patient journey, including preassessment, sedation options and discharge when advanced endoscopic procedures are performed.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic dimorphic fungus that inhabits various host mucosal sites. It can cause both superficial and serious systemic disease. Conversion from the yeast to the hyphal form has been associated with increased virulence and mucosal invasiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium diclofenac and aspirin on germs tube formation of different Candida albicans strains. Prostaglandins may play an important role in fungal colonization. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes. These drugs specifically block the biosynthesis of mammalian prostaglandins by inhibiting one or both of cyclooxygenase isoenzymes. In tests for germ tube formation sodium diclofenac reduced the filamentation to the 12.5%- 5.1%. In the presence of aspirin the filamentation was reduced up to 85-45% depending on the tested strain. Our results suggest that cyclooxygenase-depending synthesis of fungal prostaglandins is important for morphogenesis and fungal virulence. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase isoensymes (aspirin and diclofenac) are effective in decreasing germ tube formation of Candida albicans.

Background: Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota have important roles in different human diseases. There has been an ever-increasing application of high-throughput technologies for the characterization of microbial ecosystems. This led to an explosion of various molecular profiling data, and the analysis of such data has shown that machine-learning algorithms have been useful in identifying key molecular signatures. Results: In this review, we first analyze how dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota relates to human disease and how possible modulation of the gut microbial ecosystem may be used for disease intervention. Further, we introduce categories and the workflows of different machine-learning approaches and how they perform integrative analysis of multi-omics data. Last, we review advances of machine learning in gut microbiome applications and discuss challenges it faces. Conclusions: We conclude that machine learning is indeed well suited for analyzing gut microbiome and that these approaches are beneficial for developing gut microbe-targeted therapies, helping in achieving personalized and precision medicine.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains a lifesaving procedure for advanced gonarthrosis. However, patella resurfacing (PR) in TKA remains a controversial procedure, leading to extensive discussions amongst orthopedic surgeons, regarding its indications and results. Based on these premises, we present a clinical case of a 70-year-old Caucasian woman admitted for pain, swelling and limitation of left knee joint mobility. Her medical history records an Ahlback stage IV gonarthrosis with simultaneous bilateral TKA surgery performed in different hospital, when two NexGen cemented total prostheses were implanted with patellar resurfacing being performed only on the right side. Our clinical (American Knee Society Score, Lonner and Feller scales) and radiological evaluations (CT scan and Xray) revealed left patellar arthrosis and a slight lateral subluxation of the patella. The chosen treatment plan was revision surgery for PR and patellar prosthesis with a cemented patellar component, cross-linked polyethylene, no 32 NexGen model with 8.5 mm thickness. The immediate and distant postoperative evolution was favorable. Extensive literature review shows that, at present, PR remains at surgeon’s discretion mainly based on his previous results. Therefore, we believe there is an imperative need to develop high quality studies based on accurate scientific evidence to universally establish valid guidelines for PR in TKA.