THE BIOME BUZZ
BUGS AND WORMS AND OTHER GREAT STUFF
Tag: inflammation
The Macrobiome and Mycobiome in IBD: A Look at the Role of “Dirty Old Friends”
A very recent paper, published just this past May, caught my eye because of its title: “Inflammatory bowel diseases, the hygiene hypothesis and the other side of the microbiota: Parasites and fungi.”[i] How often on this blog have I talked about the incredible complexity… Continue Reading “The Macrobiome and Mycobiome in IBD: A Look at the Role of “Dirty Old Friends””
New Info on COVID, the Immune System and the Microbiome
With every passing weeks, it seems like more connections are being made between the bacterial microbiome and severe COVID-19 infection. A new paper was pre-published (not yet peer reviewed) late last week looking in more depth at the microbiota in COVID and what’s happening… Continue Reading “New Info on COVID, the Immune System and the Microbiome”
More on How Little We Know About Archaea
Twice ever, I have gotten to write about archaea, some of the least studied members of the human biome. These sort-of bacteria (they are kind of like bacteria but their cell walls are different and they have no defined nucleus) are actually pretty remarkable… Continue Reading “More on How Little We Know About Archaea”
Multiple Sclerosis and Helminths: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial
I’m treating myself this week, writing about two of my favorite things: first a post on “things you can do now,” and now a clinical trial, this one on using helminths to treat multiple sclerosis.[i] This was a phase 2 study at the University… Continue Reading “Multiple Sclerosis and Helminths: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial”
Anxiety Disorders in Autism (and Not in Autism) and Things You Can Do Now
On Thursday, I have an appointment with an orthopedist to look at a hand injury I sustained a couple of weeks ago, working with one of my adult students with autism. Unknowingly, I said a word which ended up triggering a massive attack of… Continue Reading “Anxiety Disorders in Autism (and Not in Autism) and Things You Can Do Now”
COVID-19 and Probiotics: A (Successful) Clinical Study
With the COVID crisis continuing to rage on, I have been keeping an eye out for anything we can all do now. Last week I wrote a post about the potential protective mechanisms afforded by helminths. Today I’m covering a recent clinical trial using… Continue Reading “COVID-19 and Probiotics: A (Successful) Clinical Study”
ALS and the Microbiome: Yet Another Potential Connection
Earlier this year, another study was published showing alterations in the gut microbiomes of patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).[i] And,yet again, it shows an imbalance in the ratio of protective microbial species to pro-inflammatory ones. The study included 50 ALS patients ranging in… Continue Reading “ALS and the Microbiome: Yet Another Potential Connection”
Helminths in the Time of COVID: A Protective Action?
As soon as I first read about the recognition by physicians that that death from COVID-19 was often caused by a cytokine storm – a massive inflammatory response to an invader, which causes major tissue damage – my first thought was, “I wonder if… Continue Reading “Helminths in the Time of COVID: A Protective Action?”
Prevotella: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
How many times on this blog have a talked about how insanely complex is the human biome? Yesterday, I had one of those moments where I almost threw up my hands and thought, “I give up!” Everything seems so damn contradictory. Then, of course,… Continue Reading “Prevotella: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”
A Hodgepodge of Probiotics/Prebiotics, ADHD, Critically Ill Patients on Ventilators, and More
As you know, I’m always looking for published clinical trials on things-that-can-help now, and thought that today, I’d cover one I’ve had on my to-read list for a while. Earlier this year, a double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted on children and adults with… Continue Reading “A Hodgepodge of Probiotics/Prebiotics, ADHD, Critically Ill Patients on Ventilators, and More”
