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Background: Probiotics have been observed to positively influence the host's health, but to date few data about the ability of probiotics to modify the gut microbiota composition exist., Aims: To evaluate the ability of Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 DSM32079 (LKEF) to colonize the intestinal environment of healthy subjects and modify the gut microbiota composition., Methods: Twenty Italian healthy volunteers were randomized in pre-prandial and post-prandial groups. Changes in the gut microbiota composition were detected by using a Next Generation Sequencing technology (Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine)., Results: L. kefiri was recovered in the feces of all volunteers after one month of probiotic administration, while it was detected only in three subjects belonging to the pre-prandial group and in two subjects belonging to the post-prandial group one month after the end of probiotic consumption. After one month of probiotic oral intake we observed a reduction of Bilophila, Butyricicomonas, Flavonifractor, Oscillibacter and Prevotella. Interestingly, after the end of probiotic administration Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Butyricicomonas, Clostridium, Haemophilus, Oscillibacter, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Subdoligranolum, and Veillonella were significantly reduced if compared to baseline samples., Conclusion: L. kefiri LKF01 showed a strong ability to modulate the gut microbiota composition, leading to a significant reduction of several bacterial genera directly involved in the onset of pro-inflammatory response and gastrointestinal diseases., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The microbial communities that reside in the human gut (microbiota) and their impact on human health and disease are nowadays one of the most exciting new areas of research. A well-balanced microbial intestinal colonization in early postnatal life is necessary for the development of appropriate innate and adaptive immune responses and to establish immune homeostasis later in life. Although the composition and functional characteristics of a 'healthy' gut microbiota remain to be elucidated, perturbations in the microbial colonization of an infant's gastrointestinal tract have been associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term immunologically mediated diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota biomodulators, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics may support disease prevention in infants who tend to have a delayed and/or aberrant initial colonization with reduced microbiota diversity (delivery by caesarean section, premature delivery, and excessive use of perinatal antibiotics). Under these dysbiosis conditions probiotics could act as 'surrogate' colonizers to prevent immune-mediated diseases. This review focuses on the influence of delivery mode on the colonization of the infant gastro-intestinal tract. In particular, it examines the manipulation of the gut microbiota composition through the use of gut microbiota biomodulators, in the management of aberrant initial gut colonization and subsequent consequences for the health of the offspring., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) impairs cellular response to insulin due to a dysfunction in glucose metabolism, associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship among homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA index), endothelial function and vascular morphology in order to better stratify cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents., Methods: A total of 150 children and adolescents (55 pre-pubertal, mean age 10.4 ± 3.1 years) were enrolled. Anthropometric [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)], laboratory [blood lipids, inflammatory markers, insulinemia, glycemia], HOMA index and ultrasound parameters [flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and antero-posterior diameter of infra-renal abdominal aorta (APAO)] were assessed., Results: cIMT was positively related to age (r=0.274, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.318, p<0.01), WC (r=0.315, p<0.01) and triglycerides (r=0.230, p<0.01). APAO measurements showed a linear positive correlation with age (r=0.435, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.505, p<0.01), WC (r=0.487, p<0.01), triglycerides (r=0.280, p<0.01), C-reactive protein (r=0.209, p<0.05), fasting insulin (r=0.378, p<0.01) and HOMA index (r=0.345, p<0.01). FMD was inversely related to age (r=-0.251, p<0.01), rough BMI (r=-0.318, p<0.01), WC (r=-0.340, p<0.01), fasting insulin (r=-0.281, p<0.01) and HOMA index (r=-0.282, p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis found no influence of HOMA index on APAO and cIMT. HOMA index was an independent predictor for brachial artery FMD worsening after the statistical adjustment., Conclusion: HOMA index increase induced a worsening in endothelial function since childhood., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The association of obesity with sleep-associated respiratory disturbances, which has traditionally been described as a problem in adults, actually originates in childhood. We sought an association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and overweight and/or obesity in a large cohort of school- and preschool-aged children in Southern Italy., Methods: One thousand two hundred seven children (612 girls and 595 boys; mean age 7.3 years) were screened by self-administered questionnaires. According to answers, subjects were divided into three groups: nonsnorers (NS), occasional snorers (OS), and habitual snorers (HS). All HS, who also failed an oximetry study at home, underwent polysomnographic monitoring for the definition of SDB. BMI was calculated according to Italian growth charts., Results: A total of 809 subjects (67.0%) were eligible for the study. Of them, 44 subjects (5.4%) were classified as HS, 138 (17.0%) as OS, and 627 (77.5%) as NS. Fourteen subjects (1.7%) were given a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Sixty-four subjects (7.9%) were defined as obese, 121 (14.9%) as overweight, and 624 (77.2%) as normal weight. The frequency of HS was significantly higher in obese subjects than in overweight and normal-weight subjects (12.5% vs 5.8% vs 4.6%, respectively; P = .02), whereas the frequency of OSAS was 1.6% in normal-weight, 1.6% in overweight, and 3.1% in obese subjects (P = not significant)., Conclusions: Our findings in a large sample of Italian children suggest that obesity is associated with snoring.