Probiotics for Depression/Anxiety issues ???

Hello, Summarians!

An intriguing human study with the potential to help all animals this week. We all look for therapies with the ability to help and with minimal potential for negative side effects. Seems like this might fit the bill.

Please give me feedback on ways I can make it more useful to you.

If it is valuable to you please consider sending it on to a friend 😄 

Emergency Care Assessment in Horses

The passage describes the development of a focused cardiorespiratory ultrasound protocol called CardioRespiratory Assessment with Sonography in the Horse (CRASH) for horses. The protocol aims to detect cardiac and respiratory diseases in horses, particularly in emergent or time-sensitive scenarios. The study outlines the selection and description of the windows used in the CRASH protocol, the feasibility of performing the protocol in different clinical scenarios, and the abnormalities detected by an expert sonographer using the protocol. The CRASH protocol combines assessment of both the cardiac and respiratory systems, as diseases of either system can be challenging to differentiate clinically. The protocol was designed to provide focused and goal-oriented assessments to answer specific clinical questions based on a horse's clinical signs. It is meant to augment diagnostic procedures and improve medical care, rather than replace comprehensive examinations or the work of specialists. The study found that the CRASH protocol was feasible to perform using a pocket-sized ultrasound device in healthy, hospitalized, and athletic horses. The thoracic windows were most consistently acquired and of clinically acceptable quality. The time required to complete the examination was suitable for most time-sensitive scenarios. Abnormalities commonly detected using the CRASH protocol included pleural effusion, lung consolidation, coalescing B-lines or comet tail artifacts, and moderate-to-severe left-sided heart disease. However, the protocol does have limitations, and certain abnormalities might go unrecognized using this focused examination. It is not intended to replace more comprehensive diagnostic testing or specialist evaluation. Overall, the CRASH protocol shows promise in improving the diagnostic accuracy and clinical care of horses with cardiorespiratory diseases. Further studies are needed to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, and potential for widespread implementation in veterinary practice. 

Bevevino, KE, Cohen, ND, Gordon, SG, Navas de Solis, C. Feasibility of a point-of-care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings. J Vet Intern Med. 2023; 37( 3): 1223- 1232. doi:10.1111/jvim.16674 

Bottom line — Point of care US protocol shows promise.

Human Meta-Study about Probiotics and Depression

This 2021 meta-analysis of seven randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigated the efficacy of probiotics as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). The analysis, which included 404 patients, found that probiotics appeared to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms when used alongside antidepressants. However, some RCTs lacked sufficient tolerability data, and others reported issues with adherence and retention, highlighting the need for further research. The study's main findings indicated that the probiotic group showed greater improvement in depressive symptoms compared to the placebo group, with moderate effect sizes similar to those reported in earlier meta-analyses. On average, participants in the probiotic group experienced a reduction of one severity grade on depression rating scales. Anxiety symptoms, which are prevalent in MDD (40% to 50%), have received little attention in probiotic trials. However, exploratory analyses in this study suggested that the probiotic intervention may have particularly improved anxious-somatic symptoms. Confirming these findings in larger trials could help identify which patients would benefit most from probiotic treatment. The probiotic intervention in this study demonstrated good tolerability, with a low attrition rate, high adherence rate, and no serious adverse reactions. This safety and acceptability profile was better than what was reported in earlier studies using different supplements. Therefore, when considering probiotic treatment, clinical decisions should consider not only efficacy but also safety and acceptability. There are some limitations to this study. It is unclear whether the observed effects are specific to the interaction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or applicable to other treatments. Adherence was assessed through capsule count, which can lead to overreporting, although this method is commonly used in clinical trials. In conclusion, the preliminary findings from this pilot study suggest that an 8-week adjunctive treatment with a multistrain probiotic is well tolerated and acceptable for adults with MDD. The estimated effect sizes on key clinical outcomes are promising and support further investigation in a definitive efficacy trial. 

Nikolova VL, Cleare AJ, Young AH, Stone JM. Acceptability, Tolerability, and Estimates of Putative Treatment Effects of Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 14:e231817. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1817. PMID: 37314797; PMCID: PMC10267847. 

Bottom line — Possible application for all the anxiety cases that we encounter…

DCM Improvement after Diet Change in Pit-Bull Types

This study focuses on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in pit bull–type breeds and its potential association with nontraditional diets. It notes that primary DCM, which is primarily genetic, is not commonly reported in pit bull–type breeds. However, secondary forms of DCM can occur due to various factors, including diet. The study explores the link between diet-associated DCM and pit bull–type breeds and investigates the impact of diet change on echocardiographic findings and survival. The findings indicate that pit bull–type breeds diagnosed with DCM that had been consuming nontraditional diets experienced significant improvements in key echocardiographic measurements after changing their diets. These improvements included reductions in left ventricular diameter and left atrial size, as well as an increase in fractional shortening. Survival time was also longer in dogs that changed diets compared to those that did not, and there was no significant difference in survival time between dogs on nontraditional diets that changed and dogs on traditional diets. The study highlights that sudden death and worsening congestive heart failure were the most common causes of death in dogs with DCM, irrespective of their diet groups. Arrhythmias were prevalent in both diet groups but did not differ significantly between them. Taurine deficiency, a known cause of secondary DCM, was not identified in any of the dogs in the study. The study acknowledges several limitations, including its retrospective nature, variability in echocardiographic measurements and timing, small sample sizes in some groups, variability in breed classification, and incomplete information on prior diets. The findings emphasize the importance of considering DCM in pit bull–type breeds presenting with cardiac murmurs, arrhythmias, or signs of congestive heart failure. In conclusion, the study suggests that DCM can occur in pit bull–type breeds and highlights the potential role of nontraditional diets in its development. Diet change was associated with echocardiographic improvements and longer survival times in affected dogs. However, the study recognizes the need for further research and investigation into the relationship between diet-associated DCM and pit bull–type breeds. 

 Fischer, K. E., Rush, J. E., & Freeman, L. M. (2023). Pit bull–type breeds with dilated cardiomyopathy eating nontraditional diets improve after diet change (2015–2022), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 261(7), 1011-1019. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.01.0025 

Bottom line — A good diet history and final food recommendations are essential

Just putting things in perspective …