A new—and costly—category of weight loss drugs has burst into the market, targeting the nearly 40% of the world’s population who are overweight or obese. Considered by some experts to be a game changer in obesity, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists are in such high demand that some people with diabetes (the original indication) are […]
Obesity and the Gut Microbiome: Current Insights
Obesity has reached epidemic levels, leading to a global crisis characterized by myriad health issues, premature mortality, and significant economic burdens. The historical approach to weight loss has been fraught with challenges. While lifestyle changes, drugs, and surgery are options that can be effective in the short term, many people fail to keep the weight […]
Microbiome-Based Strategies for Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections in Critical Care
Nosocomial infections (NI)—meaning hospital-acquired— are common complications and the leading cause of mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized patients with serious illness. Severe trauma, complex surgery, antibiotic use, and mechanical ventilation are a few events that make hospitalized patients more susceptible to infections. Moreover, critically ill patients admitted to the ICU demonstrate significant and […]
Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Effects on Gut Microbiota?
Three times the size of France, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch —a mass of plastic debris— floats in the ocean. Due to limited recycling (less than 5%) and ubiquity across industry and packaging, plastics — and their degradation products— have contaminated the earth’s waters, land, and atmosphere. Humans are exposed to smaller breakdown products including […]
Probiotics: Potential in Acute Appendicitis?
Acute appendicitis (AA) sends many distressed patients with severe abdominal pain to the emergency room where traditional treatment is surgical removal of the inflamed appendix. However, high costs and the risk of postoperative complications have spurred a search for different strategies to improve patient outcomes. In recent years, researchers have begun exploring the potential of […]
Potential of Probiotics to Prevent Dental Caries
Strong teeth are even more vital to health now that average lifespans are stretched in old age. With regular check-ups, cleanings, flossing, and fluoride treatments, we try to protect our teeth. But it is not enough. Dental caries, commonly known as cavities, pose a mounting global health concern with increasing prevalence. Much research confirms that […]