Hyperglycemia, a key characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), highlights the need for effective management strategies. This study aims to analyze the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation on glycemic control in T2DM patients. During a 24-week randomized controlled trial involving 130 participants, subjects were assigned to either a probiotic group or a placebo group. The key outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PPBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and lipid profiles, assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The results indicated a significant reduction in HbA1c (p = 0.004) and increased HDL-c (p = 0.023) and improvements in lipid profiles in the probiotic group, alongside a trend toward decreased FBG and PPBG. No serious adverse effects were reported, indicating good tolerance of probiotics. These findings suggest that probiotics may positively influence metabolic parameters in T2DM patients, supporting their potential as a complementary dietary intervention. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and enhance probiotic formulations for diabetic control.

Background: This 24-week randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation on telomere length in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study also assessed secondary outcomes including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Methods: A total of 124 participants with T2DM were randomly assigned to either a probiotic group (n = 62) or a placebo group (n = 62). Participants in the probiotic group consumed a supplement containing fourteen live microbial strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum, L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri, L. salivarius, L. paracasei, L. gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. lactis, B. breve, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii, with each strain providing 2.148 billion CFUs per capsule, totaling 30 billion CFUs. The placebo group received vitamin B12 capsules without probiotics. The primary outcome was telomere length, and secondary outcomes included hs-CRP and HbA1c levels. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) methods. Results: The probiotic group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in telomere shortening compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001). The hs-CRP levels decreased more significantly in the probiotic group (p < 0.001), suggesting potential anti-inflammatory effects. The HbA1c levels improved in the probiotic group, with a reduction of 0.44% (p = 0.004). An age-stratified analysis revealed more substantial improvements in the 30–49 years cohort, which showed greater reductions in telomere shortening, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators compared to the 50–69 years group. Conclusions: Multistrain probiotic supplementation shows potential benefits in reducing telomere shortening and improving glycemic control. However, further long-term studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications of probiotics in T2DM. Trial registration: This trial was registered at the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2023/07/055647).

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli are a significant healthcare concern, particularly in catheterized patients, where biofilm formation enhances bacterial survival and antibiotic resistance. Virulence factors such as the fimH gene, which encodes for adhesin proteins, play a pivotal role in biofilm formation and pathogenicity. This study aims to detect antibiotic resistance patterns, biofilm formation, and fimH gene in E. coli isolated from urine samples of catheterized patients. Methods: E. coli from urine cultures was isolated and identified through standard biochemical tests. Biofilm production by uropathogenic E. coli isolates was assessed using the microtiter plate method. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the biofilm-producing isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Detection of the fimH gene (adhesin) in E. coli isolates was conducted using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The interrelations between biofilm formation, virulence gene presence, and antibiotic resistance in these isolates were analyzed. Results: Out of 49 E. coli samples, 36 were found to be biofilm producers. These biofilm producers were categorized into strong, moderate, and weak, with 7 weak, 11 moderate, and 18 strong producers. Among these, the fimH gene was present in 27 isolates. The biofilmproducing E. coli exhibited high resistance to Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, and Tetracycline. Conclusion: The fimH gene plays a crucial role in the adherence of biofilm-producing E. coli to indwelling catheters, contributing to their resistance to commonly used antibiotics

Genetic and lifestyle factors alone cannot explain the rising global burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Growing evidence implicates endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in plastics, pesticides, food packaging, industrial products, and contaminated water as significant environmental contributors to metabolic dysfunction. EDCs, including bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and heavy metals, have been associated with insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, chronic inflammation, and epigenetic modifications that collectively promote T2DM pathogenesis. The gut microbiota has emerged as a potential mediator of EDC-associated metabolic disruption, whereby chemical exposures may alter microbial diversity, disturb the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, impair short-chain fatty acid production, decrease intestinal barrier integrity, driving metabolic endotoxemia and systemic inflammation. This narrative review examines the major EDCs associated with diabetes, their molecular and metabolic mechanisms of action, and their interactions with the gut microbiota, drawing on current experimental and epidemiological evidence. Special emphasis is placed on probiotic supplementation as an emerging therapeutic strategy targeting the EDC–gut microbiota–metabolic axis. Current evidence for probiotics in EDC-associated metabolic dysfunction is predominantly preclinical, with studies suggesting improvements in microbial homeostasis, pancreatic oxidative damage, and glucose metabolism. However, available evidence remains heterogeneous and human clinical trials specifically examining probiotic intervention in EDC-exposed populations at risk of T2DM remain absent, representing a fundamental translational gap that future research must urgently address. Advancing precision medicine approaches, integrating microbiome profiling, metabolomics, epigenetic analysis, and coordinated efforts across toxicology, clinical medicine, and public health, will be essential to reducing the growing global burden of environmentally driven type 2 diabetes.