Gut microbiota development across the lifespan: Disease links and health-promoting interventions.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human life and undergoes dynamic changes throughout the human lifespan, from infancy to old age. During our life, the gut microbiota influences health and disease across life stages. This review summarizes the discussions and presentations from the symposium "Gut microbiota development from infancy to old age" held in collaboration with the Journal of Internal Medicine.

[Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) in Germany - Status and Perspective].

Introduction: Fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) is a treatment to modulate the gastrointestinal microbiota. Its use in recurrent infection (rCDI) is established throughout Europe and recommended in national and international guidelines. In Germany, the FMT is codeable in the hospital reimbursement system.

[Gut microbiota and chronic inflammatory bowel disease].

Intestinal dysbiosis remains the focus of research into the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The potential role of gut microbiota in the development of IBD includes interaction with the host genome and immune system, as well as various environmental factors, diet, drugs, industrialization, etc. Other organs are negatively affected by intestinal dysbiosis via gut-brain axis.

Microbiota medicine: towards clinical revolution.

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the largest microbial community within the human body consisting of trillions of microbes called gut microbiota. The normal flora is the site of many physiological functions such as enhancing the host immunity, participating in the nutrient absorption and protecting the body against pathogenic microorganisms. Numerous investigations showed a bidirectional interplay between gut microbiota and many organs within the human body such as the intestines, the lungs, the brain, and the skin.

[How does COVID-19 affect intestinal microbiota?].

Background: There is a bidirectional interaction between the intestines and lungs, the so-called lung-intestinal axis.

Method: The review article reports on studies that deal with a possible influence of the intestinal microbiota on the immune response to a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results And Conclusions: Studies have shown that COVID-19 is accompanied by dysbiosis that persists even after successful virus conversion (negative PCR).

Food Intolerance of Unknown Origin: Caused by Mucosal Inflammation? A Pilot Study.

Introduction: The prevalence of patients with food intolerance (FI) has increased significantly. Immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated food allergies (FAs) are detected by determining IgE antibodies and skin prick test. Carbohydrate malabsorptions are clarified with breath tests.

Hydroxychloroquine is no miracle cure for covid-19 infection -imaging and clinical course in an elderly female.

The risk for an unfavourable course of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia rises with age and comorbidities. We report the case of an elderly female where the sum of such factors - together with massive findings in the computed tomography of the lung - led us to a therapy with hydroxychloroquine as a compassionate use. The unfavourable outcome demonstrates that - despite the enthusiasm of some authors - hydroxychloroquine is no miracle drug.

Course of a SARS-COV-2 pneumonia in a middle-aged male patient.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has recently been declared a pandemic by the WHO. Most fatalities occur in elderly people with comorbidities. However, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonias do also occur in younger patients with no comorbidities or risk factors at all.

What does a gastroenterologist need to know in the time of SARS-CoV-2 pandemia?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 that was first identified in Wuhan, China 2019 and that led to a worldwide pandemia. In addition to typical respiratory signs (dry cough, shortness of breathing), some patients may develop gastrointestinal and hepatological complications including diarrhea or acute hepatitis, respectively. Due to the close contact to the patient's secretion, the gastroenterologists are at increased risk of getting the infection.

[Stress and inflammatory bowel disease].

Different mechanisms have a negative impact on the course of inflammatory bowel disease. Important mechanisms include amongst others an increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, intestinal dysbiosis, increased permeability of the intestinal barrier, increased release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain, activation of mast cells in the intestinal mucosa and inadequate central pain processing with the consequences of anxiety and depression. All of these factors can increase the inflammatory response in the intestine and lead to acute flare-ups.

From Donor to Patient: Collection, Preparation and Cryopreservation of Fecal Samples for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is suggested as an efficacious therapeutic strategy for restoring intestinal microbial balance, and thus for treating disease associated with alteration of gut microbiota. FMT consists of the administration of fresh or frozen fecal microorganisms from a healthy donor into the intestinal tract of diseased patients. At this time, in according to healthcare authorities, FMT is mainly used to treat recurrent .

An analysis of early morning acth levels in the first case of pembrolizumab-induced adrenalitis as a delayed immune-related event (dire) - case study.

Objective: The aim: The levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) are elevated in primary adrenal failure (Addison's disease) with a peak in the early morning hours. This also occurs under hydrocortisone replacement therapy due to the unphysiological substitution regime. The aim was to study ACTH levels under two different replacement regimens.

[Intestinal microbiota - a vital "organ" with manifold functions].

Background: The intestinal microbiota must be seen as an elementary component of our health.

Method: Review article RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal gut microbiota (dysbiosis) plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of functional and inflammatory bowel diseases. It is often also associated with diseases outside the intestine.

Humoral Hypercalcemia in a Patient with Cholangiocellular Carcinoma - Effective Therapy with Denosumab.

BACKGROUND Hypercalcemia in cholangiocellular carcinoma is a highly uncommon event, mainly reported in Asian patients. In the absence of bone metastases, humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) can be assumed. This is mostly the consequence of an elevated parathormone-related peptide (PTHrP) level.

Severe metabolic syndrome and primary amenorrhea as main pathophysiological features in a subtype of turner syndrome (46, X, del (X) Q 21).

Turner syndrome can be manifest with a considerable genetic and phenotypic variability. This merely accounts for about 50% of patients who do not have the "classic" 45 X genotype. We report the case of a 42-year-old female patient with a 46, X, del (X) q 21 genotype (deletion on the second X chromosome on the long arm).

Adhesion Ileus after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Long-Standing Radiation Colitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel strategy for the therapy of dysbiosis-associated disorders via modulation of the gut microbiota. Intestinal dysbiosis is associated not only with digestive disorders, but also with a variety of extra-digestive disorders. A worldwide increasing number of FMT can be expected in the future as well as an increase in adverse events.

[Gut-liver axis: How intestinal bacteria affect the liver].

Background: Liver and intestine are in close contact with each other. The risk of damage to the liver increases, when the intestinal barrier is damaged ("leaky gut") .

Method: The review article describes how intestinal bacteria influence the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases and what treatment options are available.

Gut⁻Liver Axis: How Do Gut Bacteria Influence the Liver?

Chronic liver diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, gut dysbiosis was identified as an important factor in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. The relationship between gut microbiota and the liver is still not well understood; however, dysfunction of the gut mucosal barrier ("leaky gut") and increased bacterial translocation into the liver via the gut⁻liver axis probably play crucial roles in liver disease development and progression.

Acute-onset diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis in a nivolumab-treated patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (Programmed cell death-1 and programmed cell death-ligand-1 inhibitors) is a novel and promising approach in cancer treatment. The mode of action can cause serious adverse advents, mainly immune-related ones. The case of a 65 year old caucasian female is reported.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis - a rare complication of diabetes mellitus.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare form of acute necrotizing pyelonephritis. It is a gas-producing, necrotizing infection involving the renal parenchyma and surrounding tissues. It is associated with high mortality and morbidity.