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INTRODUCTION: Despite numerous investigations into the impact of drugs/probiotics on the gut microbiota composition in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients, the question as to whether there exists a significant bacterial diversity(ies) independent of the placebo effect that can be reliably considered in clinical and nutritional trials remains unresolved. METHODS: This study represents the in augural analysis of the placebos influence on the gut microbiota of both healthy individuals and FMF afflicted men, utilizing previously collected data from PhyloChip™ DNA microarray experiments. A total of 15 healthy and 15 FMF male volunteers, aged 18 to 50, participated in this partially randomized placebo trial, which is accessible through the GEO Series accession number GSE111835. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Key findings from current investigations include i. the anticipated divergence in gut bacteria resistance to placebo between healthy and FMF individuals, ii. the minor impact of placebo on gut bacterial diversities in healthy individuals, with Enterobacteriaceae diversities identified as placebo-resistant among healthy gut bacteria, and iii. the comprehensive influence of placebo on all bacterial phyla in the gut microbiome of FMF patients, extending to nearly all bacterial genera, except for the resilience of gut Akkermansia muciniphila spp. to placebo in FMF patients. This study underscores the susceptibility of Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Clostridium genera to placebo. Consequently, this investigation holds significance for the proper design of placebo-controlled trials and establishes a foundation for further exploration of the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, it contributes valuable insights to discussions regarding proposals for probiotic therapies, particularly focusing on Faecalibacterium spp., Blautia spp., and Clostridium spp.

BackgroundIt is known that the gut microbiome of a healthy person affects the process of COVID-19 after getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is also believed that colchicine can alleviate the severity of COVID-19.ObjectiveCurrent investigations aimed to evaluate the associations between the baseline gut microbiota composition of healthy and Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) - carrier Armenian men populations, and the severity of the COVID-19 disease after their infection with the SARS-CoV-2. The study has a purpose of answering three core questions: i. Do the characteristics of gut microbiome of Armenians affect the course of COVID-19 severity? ii. How does the COVID-19 disease course on go for FMF patients who have been taking colchicine as a medication over the years after getting infected with SARS-CoV-2? iii. Is there an initial gut micribiota structure pattern for non-FMF and FMF patients in the cases when COVID-19 appears in mild form?MethodsThe gut microbiota composition in non-FMF and FMF patients before the first infection (mild and moderate course of COVID-19) was considered. COVID-19 was diagnosed by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swab and/or sputum.ResultsThe number of patients with male FMF with mild COVID-19 was approximately two times higher than that of non-FMF male subjects with COVID-19. In addition, an association of COVID-19 disease severity with the baseline gut Prevotella, Clostridium hiranonis, Eubacterium biforme, Veillonellaceae, Coprococcus, and Blautia diversities in the non-FMF and FMF populations were revealed by us, which can be used as risk/prognostic factor for the severity of COVID-19.

Intestinal microorganisms play a crucial role in health and disease. The disruption of host-microbiota homeostasis has been reported to occur not only during disease development but also as a result of medication. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inflammatory genetic disease characterized by elevated systemic reactivity against the commensal gut microbiota and high levels of Candida albicans in the gut. This study's major objective was to investigate the effects of commercial probiotic Narine on the relative abundance of gut bacteria (specifically, enterobacteria, lactobacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterococci) of C. albicans carrier and non-carrier FMF patients in remission. Our main finding indicates that the probiotic reduces numbers of C. albicans and abundance of enterobacteria in male and female patients of C. albicans carriers and non-carriers. It has pivotal effect on Enterococcus faecalis: increase in male non-carriers and decrease in female ones regardless of C. albicans status. No effect was seen for Lactobacillus and S. aureus. Our data suggest that M694V/V726A pyrin inflammasome mutations leading to FMF disease may contribute to gender-specific differences in microbial community structure in FMF patients. The study's secondary objective was to elucidate the gender-specific differences in the gut's microbial community of FMF patients. The tendency was detected for higher counts of enterobacteria in female FMF subjects. However, the small number of patients of these groups preclude from conclusive statements, pointing at the need for additional investigations with appropriate for statistical analysis groups of subjects involved in the study.

Multiple factors help shape the infant intestinal microbiota early in life. Environmental conditions such as the presence of bioactive molecules from breast milk dictate gut microbial growth and survival. Infants also receive distinct, personalized, bacterial exposures leading to differential colonization. Microbial exposures and gut environmental conditions differ between infants in different locations, as does the typical microbial community structure in an infant's gut. Here we evaluate potential influences on the infant gut microbiota through a longitudinal study on cohorts of breast-fed infants from the neighboring countries of Armenia and Georgia, an area of the world for which the infant microbiome has not been previously investigated. Marker gene sequencing of 16S ribosomal genes revealed that the gut microbial communities of infants from these countries were dominated by bifidobacteria, were different from each other, and were marginally influenced by their mother's secretor status. Species-level differences in the bifidobacterial communities of each country and birth method were also observed. These community differences suggest that environmental variation between individuals in different locations may influence the gut microbiota of infants.

Background: Functional food is becoming more and more important for professionals and also for consumers. On the other hand, it is known that the main factors affecting the sale of agricultural products are the general market dynamics, legislation, product range, seasonal sales dynamics, competitors, pricing, buyers and distribution channels. What's also important is the profile of the company's personnel and the work of personnel in the market, advertising related to the quality of the product, which in recent times is especially based on the "natural" origin and functional value of the product' Objective: The aim of the current study is to quantify the factors influencing the level of potato marketability through econometric analysis in Armenia. One of the objectives was also to observe whether the population appreciates the functional value of potatoes, which may affect future marketability and yield of potatoes. Methods: Quantitative assessment of the factors influencing the level of potato marketability was carried out with a number of indicators: the yield of the sowing area, the gross harvest and the volume of export and import. Observations were carried out during 10 years (2009 - 2018). A seven-item questionnaire was developed to explore consumer preferences for purchasing potatoes. Results: The level of marketability of potatoes had an increasing trend with the certain fluctuations (years: 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018). The data on the correlation coefficients on the factors influencing the level of potato marketability indicated that the relationship between the marketability level and potato planting area is inverse to the average level (ryx1 = - 0.615). The correlation between the level of commerciality and yield is direct in the lower middle range (ryx2 = 0.461). The latter shows that increasing the level of yield contributes to the level of marketability. The effects of gross harvest, export and import volumes have a negative impact on the level of commoditization, but the relationship is extremely weak with ryx3 = - 0.214 and ryx4 = - 0.0532 and ryx5 = - 0.105. Interview studies show that factors affecting potato marketability and productivity are subject to change. Conclusion: The increase in metabolic/non-communicable diseases, increased consumer awareness of these diseases and their prevention, as well as developments in organic agriculture and functional food production require changes in economic research and calculations, also related to functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of genetically modified plants on plant-associated and surrounding soil microorganisms is an uninvestigated area of environmental risk assessment. Biological markers such as lysine racemase, phosphomannose isomerase, and sulfadiazine are in use or suggested for use in plant genetic transformation technologies to confirm that the uptake of DNA has occurred. Similar to the effects of antibiotic-resistance genes, these markers might change the host plant's microbiota. Taking into account the importance of the microbiota in plant growth and protection from pathogens as well as in the lives of both humans and animals, we propose novel criteria for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants: the composition of the plant microbiota and plant-associated soil microbiota. In addition to the possible impact of genetic transformation technologies on the plant microbiota highlighted in this report, the microbiota of genetically modified plants (and/or plant-associated soil microbiota) should be investigated in a comparative study of genetically modified and unmodified plant-derived microbiotas. This could potentially provide important information to farmers when considering the adoption of genetically modified plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-strand breaks in the DNA of the small intestine in male Wistar rats were studied using a neutral comet assay after 7 days of feeding with a single strain probiotic formulation Narine (Vitamax-E, Armenia), containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain Er-2317/402 Narine, and putative probiotics L. rhamnosus Vahe and L. delbrueckii IAHAHI. Type 0 (undamaged DNA), type 1 (head diameter 13.18–17.08 μm), and type 2 (14.15-μm head diameter) damaged DNA comets were studied in control and lactobacilli-fed rats using the neutral comet assay. Lactobacilli-fed rats were shown to carry only type 0 (undamaged) DNA. Thus, the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus strain INMIA 9602 Er 317/402 and putative probiotic lactobacilli on DNA damage in the small intestine of Wistar rats in vivo was shown, and the neutral comet assay is suggested as a potential tool for the in vivo selection of putative probiotics with DNA-protective activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microorganisms play a crucial role in health and disease. The disruption of host–microbiota homeostasis has been reported to occur not only during disease development but also as a result of medication. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inflammatory genetic disease characterized by elevated systemic reactivity against the commensal gut microbiota and high levels of Candida albicans in the gut. This study’s major objective was to investigate the effects of commercial probiotic Narine on the relative abundance of gut bacteria (specifically, enterobacteria, lactobacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterococci) of C. albicans carrier and non-carrier FMF patients in remission. Our main finding indicates that the probiotic reduces numbers of C. albicans and abundance of enterobacteria in male and female patients of C. albicans carriers and non-carriers. It has pivotal effect on Enterococcus faecalis: increase in male non-carriers and decrease in female ones regardless of C. albicans status. No effect was seen for Lactobacillus and S. aureus. Our data suggest that M694V/V726A pyrin inflammasome mutations leading to FMF disease may contribute to gender-specific differences in microbial community structure in FMF patients. The study’s secondary objective was to elucidate the gender-specific differences in the gut’s microbial community of FMF patients. The tendency was detected for higher counts of enterobacteria in female FMF subjects. However, the small number of patients of these groups preclude from conclusive statements, pointing at the need for additional investigations with appropriate for statistical analysis groups of subjects involved in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli G35 N49 strain, from the gut of breast cancer patients, in comparison with the E. coli G35 N61 strain, from the gut of healthy people, shows in vitro reduction in growth rates and maximal growth yield. The changes in certain membrane characteristics, such as low membrane potential and disturbance in intramembrane interaction of H+-ATPase F0F1 with the TrkA system, indicate a dysfunction in ion transport and enzymatic activity. These changes can be detected during fermentation and in anaerobic conditions (in the gut, for example) and may be influenced by unfavorable conditions in the gut of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the frequency of antibiotic resistance among human commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated from several cohorts, healthy and diseased, in Armenian populations during 2002-2005. Also, the antibiotic resistance profile of selected gut microbiota was studied in people taking the commercial probiotic preparation Okarin. There was a gradual significant increase in the number of multi-resistant (resistant to two and more classes of antibiotics) commensal E. coli strains in general populations from 3% in 2002 to 17% in 2005. Comparative analysis of the general population cohort with the cohorts with Familial Mediterranean Fever, chronic colitis, gastritis, and peptic ulcers in 2004-2005 revealed that the diseased populations carry a significantly higher load of antibiotic resistant E. Coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-nine volunteer patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease in remission were involved in a double blind, partly randomized, placebocontrolled clinical trial in order to investigate the impact of the commercial probiotics "Narine," containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophillus INMIA 9602 Er-2 strain 317/402, and "Colibakteron," containing Escherichia coli M-17, on blood serum glucose level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and level of C-reactive protein (CRP). The insignificant increasing drift in the blood glucose level has been described after application of probiotics. A t the same time, the CRP level in the blood of patients who were reported to have high CRP level in remission decreased after probiotic therapy. Thus, the effects of commercially available probiotics "Narine" and "Colibakteron" have been shown on some blood characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease and its management is palliative. There is no specific dietary protocol for SS patients. A gluten-free diet has been tested in SS patients with celiac disease (CD) and indicated modest improvements. Whether gluten-free diets per sè could alleviate autoimmune inflammatory processes in the salivary glands of SS patients with associated CD or even in SS patients without CD is an interesting hypothesis and warrants clinical studies. Hypokalemia in SS patients is among the most frequent sequelae of renal tubular acidosis. Supplementation with potassium (K)-rich diets can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. K level in CD patients is highly abnormal at diagnosis and gluten-free diets help to normalize its serum level in CD patients. Furthermore, treatment of severe cases of SS requires concomitant glucocorticoid therapy and K supplementation. Results of two separate clinical trials in (i) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) -a disease with similar pathology to SS- indicated that the enhanced serum cortisol followed K supplementation, and in (ii) celiac patients, serum K levels were normalized after the administration of a gluten-free diet. We reviewed the literature extensively on this topic to propose a hypothesis to address this problem and suggest a novel potential for K-rich, gluten-free diets in SS patients. Based on causal associations, we propose that higher K absorption and cortisol secretion following gluten-free diets accompanied by K-rich diets in SS patients with low serum potassium levels, may confer a higher therapeutic potential. Clinical trials are needed to test this hypothesis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Studies have shown that the gut microbiota of healthy men and men with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease respond differently to placebo. Given the fact that the composition of the gut microbiota is different in men and women, this study aimed to describe in detail the placebo response of the gut microbiota in healthy and FMF women., Materials and Methods: The bacterial response to placebo was fully evaluated on a previous PhyloChip™ DNA microarray-based assay (GEO Series; accession number GSE111835)., Results: The change in the total number of operational taxonomic units in healthy women exposed to placebo is more than that of healthy men, in contrast to FMF people (704 vs. 140 and 409 vs. 7560, respectively [ p < 0.05]). Gut Firmicutes diversities are more sensitive to placebo, whereas Akkermansia muciniphila remained unchanged after the placebo administration for both healthy and FMF people. Gut Prevotellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae diversities of healthy subjects and FMF women are also almost unchanged from placebo. Meanwhile, only 56.35% of gut Enterobacteriaceae diversities in FMF men were placebo resistant., Conclusion: The response to a placebo varies depending on a person's gender and health status. Healthy and FMF women's placebo study groups could be avoided by excluding placebo-sensitive 704 of 18,725 and 409 of 18,725 bacterial diversities, respectively. Because the placebo causes changes in all gut bacterial phyla in healthy and FMF women, and only the representatives of Enterobacteriaceae and Prevotellaceae families and A. muciniphila spp. are not affected by placebo, these bacteria can be considered as possible markers in women-related nutritional/clinical trials. Data on the response of the gut microbiota in healthy women to placebo might be used in studies of diseases other than FMF. The response of gut bacteria from different taxonomic affiliations to placebo may provide a basis for uncovering the role of these bacteria in the gut-brain axis., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Introduction: Despite numerous investigations into the impact of drugs/probiotics on the gut microbiota composition in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients, the question as to whether there exists a significant bacterial diversity(ies) independent of the placebo effect that can be reliably considered in clinical and nutritional trials remains unresolved., Methods: This study represents the in augural analysis of the placebo's influence on the gut microbiota of both healthy individuals and FMF afflicted men, utilizing previously collected data from PhyloChip™ DNA microarray experiments. A total of 15 healthy and 15 FMF male volunteers, aged 18 to 50, participated in this partially randomized placebo trial, which is accessible through the GEO Series accession number GSE111835., Results and Discussion: Key findings from current investigations include i. the anticipated divergence in gut bacteria resistance to placebo between healthy and FMF individuals, ii. the minor impact of placebo on gut bacterial diversities in healthy individuals, with Enterobacteriaceae diversities identified as placebo-resistant among "healthy" gut bacteria, and iii. the comprehensive influence of placebo on all bacterial phyla in the gut microbiome of FMF patients, extending to nearly all bacterial genera, except for the resilience of gut Akkermansia muciniphila spp. to placebo in FMF patients. This study underscores the susceptibility of Faecalibacterium , Blautia , and Clostridium genera to placebo. Consequently, this investigation holds significance for the proper design of placebo-controlled trials and establishes a foundation for further exploration of the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, it contributes valuable insights to discussions regarding proposals for probiotic therapies, particularly focusing on Faecalibacterium spp., Blautia spp., and Clostridium spp., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Pepoyan, Marotta, Manvelyan, Galstyan, Stepanyan, Grigoryan, Grigoryan, Mikayelyan, Balayan, Harutyunyan, Mirzabekyan, Tsaturyan, Torok and Pepoyan.)