Probiotics and synbiotics are used to treat chronic illnesses due to their roles in immune system modulation and anti-inflammatory response. They have been shown to reduce inflammation in a number of immune-related disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD). Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) are two different types of bacteria that play a significant part in this function. It has been established that Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium are abundant in normal populations and have protective benefits on digestive health while also enhancing the immune system, metabolism, and gut barrier of the host. They have the potential to be a therapeutic target in diseases connected to the microbiota, such as immunological disorders and cancer immunotherapy. There has not been a review of the anti-inflammatory effects of Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium, particularly in immunological diseases. In this review, we highlight the most recent scientific findings regarding A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii as two significant gut microbiota for microbiome alterations and seek to provide cutting-edge insight in terms of microbiome-targeted therapies as promising preventive and therapeutic tools in immune-related diseases and cancer immunotherapy.

Countries worldwide have deployed mass COVID-19 vaccination drives, but there are people who are hesitant to receive the vaccine. Studies assessing the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy are inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and determine the potential factors associated with such hesitancy. We performed an organized search for relevant articles in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Extraction of the required information was performed for each study. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed to determine the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy; the potential factors related to vaccine hesitancy were analyzed using a Z-test. A total of 56 articles were included in our analysis. We found that the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was 25%. Being a woman, being a 50-year-old or younger, being single, being unemployed, living in a household with five or more individuals, having an educational attainment lower than an undergraduate degree, having a non-healthcare-related job and considering COVID-19 vaccines to be unsafe were associated with a higher risk of vaccination hesitancy. In contrast, living with children at home, maintaining physical distancing norms, having ever tested for COVID-19, and having a history of influenza vaccination in the past few years were associated with a lower risk of hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination. Our study provides valuable information on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, and we recommend special interventions in the sub-populations with increased risk to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) created within the intestinal lumen by bacterial fermentation of largely undigested dietary carbohydrates. Its beneficial effects on cellular energy metabolism and intestinal homeostasis have garnered significant attention among SCFAs. Butyrate also has systemic effects and is known to regulate the immune system. Most of the butyrate and other SCFAs are produced in the human colon, through the fermentation of dietary fiber or resistant starch. However, the modern diet often lacks sufficient intake of fermentable dietary fiber, which can lead to low butyrate levels in the colon. To increase butyrate levels, it is helpful to incorporate fiber sources into meals and drinks that rely on slow bacterial fermentation. Butyrate is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and has a range of immune system-related properties. As an agonist for GPR41, GPR43, or GPR109A, butyrate may have anti-inflammatory effects through these receptors’ signaling pathways. Butyrate also serves as an epigenetic regulator, responding to environmental or pharmacological changes by inhibiting HDAC, up-regulating miR-7a-5p, and promoting histone butyrylation and autophagy processes. This review discusses the importance of butyrate in regulating immunological homeostasis and the inflammatory response. It also addresses experimental models and human studies investigating the therapeutic potential of butyrate supplementation in immune-related conditions linked to butyrate depletion. Specifically, it covers the role of butyrate in some immune-related diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, human immunodeficiency virus, cancer, and several other special conditions.

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains worldwide one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in both term and preterm infants. Lower mortality rates are related to timely diagnostic evaluation and prompt initiation of empiric antibiotic therapy. Blood culture, as gold standard examination for sepsis, has several limitations for early diagnosis, so that sepsis biomarkers could play an important role in this regard. This study was aimed to compare the value of the two biomarkers presepsin and procalcitonin in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study performed in Saiful Anwar General Hospital Malang, Indonesia, in 51 neonates that fulfill the criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with blood culture as diagnostic gold standard for sepsis. Results: At reviewer operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, using a presepsin cutoff of 706.5 pg/mL, the obtained area under the curve (AUCs) were sensitivity = 85.7%, specificity = 68.8%, positive predictive value = 85.7%, negative predictive value = 68.8%, positive likelihood ratio = 2.75, negative likelihood ratio = 0.21, and accuracy = 80.4%. On the other hand, with a procalcitonin cutoff value of 161.33 pg/mL the obtained AUCs showed: sensitivity = 68.6%, specificity = 62.5%, positive predictive value = 80%, negative predictive value = 47.6%, positive likelihood ratio = 1.83, the odds ratio negative = 0.5, and accuracy = 66.7%. Conclusions: In early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, compared with procalcitonin, presepsin seems to provide better early diagnostic value with consequent possible faster therapeutical decision making and possible positive impact on outcome of neonates.

Since its discovery in 1981, AIDS has become a significant global public health issue, impacting more than 38 million people worldwide with HIV. Despite a 32% reduction in new HIV infections since 2010, millions continue to be affected, often experiencing dermatological problems. This study aims to examine the epidemiology of these dermatological issues in HIV patients by reviewing existing research. We conducted an extensive search across MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and grey literature, encompassing all languages and publications from 1975 to November 30, 2022. Various study designs were considered. To assess article quality, we used a risk bias instrument by JBI, performed meta-analysis and regression analysis to explore relationships between dermatological manifestations and factors such as age and region. Articles underwent double-blind review, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer to ensure precision and consistency. The analysis of 145 articles involving 41,285 HIV patients identified approximately 28,448 cases of patients with dermatological diseases. Most patients had a single dermatological disease, and the majority were male adults. Research was concentrated in South Asia, North America, Western Europe, and West Africa. The most prevalent dermatological issues among 60,064 events were oral candidiasis (8.88%), dermatophytosis, seborrheic dermatitis, warts, and herpes zoster. The meta-analysis revealed an overall prevalence of 76% (95% CI: 72% − 81%) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97%). Limitations included small sample sizes, insufficient study setting descriptions, and challenges in HIV and dermatological disease diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high prevalence of dermatological diseases in HIV patients, especially oral candidiasis, dermatophytosis, and seborrheic dermatitis, with a focus on male adults as the most affected demographic group.

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a serious condition that requires prompt diagnosis and management. To optimize patient care, clinicians need a reliable, non-invasive method to assess hemodynamic parameters and total body congestion. Currently, no standardized technology is widely used for this purpose. However, NICaS technology, which measures hemodynamic parameters based on regional bioimpedance, has shown promise in monitoring AHF patients in a non-invasive and reliable manner. In this study, researchers aimed to evaluate the usefulness of NICaS technology in predicting patients' outcome in Caucasian and Asian AHF patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). The study included 40 Caucasian patients from Italy (group A) and 71 Asian patients from Indonesia and Singapore (group B) with a diagnosis of AHF in the ED. The study compared data from NICaS parameters, clinical findings, laboratory, and radiological results with short-term events. In group A, NICaS data at ED arrival significantly predicted 30-day cardiovascular mortality and rehospitalization. At discharge, a value of cardiac output obtained using NICaS was a significant predictor for 30-day rehospitalization. In group B, NICaS variables, total peripheral resistance index on admission and during 48-72 ​h had prominent AUC compared to clinical congestion score and NT-proBNP in predicting mortality and rehospitalization. The results indicate that NICaS technology offers a simple, non-invasive, and reliable method of assessing cardiac hemodynamics and congestion in AHF patients. These measurements may enhance diagnosis, tailor management plans, stratify risk, and predict outcomes in both Caucasian and Asian patients.