Background and objectives: Although the role of the gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathophysiology is evident, current systematic reviews and meta-analyses analyzing T2D treatment mainly focus on metabolic outcomes. The objective of this study is to evaluate the microbiome and metabolic changes after different types of treatment in T2D patients. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Wiley online library, Science Direct, and Cochrane library electronic databases was performed. Randomized controlled clinical trials published in the last five years that included T2D subjects and evaluated the composition of the gut microbiome alongside metabolic outcomes before and after conventional or alternative glucose lowering therapy were selected. Microbiome changes were evaluated alongside metabolic outcomes in terms of bacteria taxonomic hierarchy, intestinal flora biodiversity, and applied intervention. Results: A total of 16 eligible studies involving 1301 participants were reviewed. Four trials investigated oral glucose-lowering treatment, three studies implemented bariatric surgery, and the rest analyzed probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotic effects. The most common alterations were increased abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria parallel to improved glycemic control. Bariatric surgery, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, led to the highest variety of changed bacteria phyla. Lower diversity post-treatment was the most significant biodiversity result, which was present with improved glycemic control. Conclusions: Anti-diabetic treatment induced the growth of depleted bacteria. A gut microbiome similar to healthy individuals was achieved during some trials. Further research must explore the most effective strategies to promote beneficial bacteria, lower diversity, and eventually reach a non-T2D microbiome.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex procedure that is curative for several fatal pediatric malignancies and non-malignant diseases. Despite its complexity, potential toxicity, and high costs HSCT has become a standard procedure worldwide for several decades. Pediatric HSCT programs encounter several specific challenges. The rarity and heterogeneity of primary diseases, result in an almost 10-fold inferior number of pediatric HSCT as compared to adults. In contrast to the adult programs, where autologous HSCT is more common, allogeneic HSCT (that is more complex) prevails in pediatric setting which is underpinned by a higher number of inborn disorders transplanted in early childhood.In Lithuania, the pediatric HSCT program (EBMT CIC* 508) was launched at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos in February 2002. Currently, this is the only specialized pediatric HSCT center in Lithuania and in the Baltic countries. Since 2011 it is a reference center for Latvian children who need autologous or allogeneic transplantation.Here we summarize conference proceedings presented at the scientific event “Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Lithuania – 20 years of progress through collaboration”. The meeting held on September 22-23, 2022, in Vilnius and aimed at commemorating 20 years of the launch of the pediatric transplant program in Lithuania. The event pursued sharing the experience in the field of pediatric HSCT in the Baltic countries. Given a very small population in all three Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia face an additional challenge in maintaining sufficient transplant volume and gaining experience. Several distinguished speakers from USA, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK and Ukraine shared their expertise in the field and emphasized the crucial role of national and international collaboration to achieve progress in the management of this very rare and complex procedure that offers cure for otherwise fatal pediatric conditions.

Tyrimo tikslas. Nustatyti galimas vaisiaus galvos apimties ir gimdymo baigčių sąsajas lietuvių gimdyvių  populiacijoje. Tyrimo metodai. Retrospektyvusis kohortinis tyrimas, atliktas Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto ligoninės Kauno klinikų (toliau – Kauno klinikos) Akušerijos ir ginekologijos klinikoje. Į tyrimą įtrauktos pirmą kartą gimdžiusios moterys (n=213), kurioms per septynias dienas iki gimdymo buvo atlikta vaisiaus fetometrija. Rezultatai. Vaisiaus galvos apimtis (VGA) koreliavo su cezario pjūvio operacija (CPO) dėl kliniškai siauro dubens (KSD) (rφ=0,235, p=0,001), tarp vaisiaus masės ir CPO ryšys nenustatytas. Nustatyti CPO dėl KSD rizikos veiksniai: rūkymas nėštumo laikotarpiu (ŠS 2,59; 95 proc. PI 1,05–6,45), užpakalinė pakaušio padėtis (UPP) (ŠS 19,27; 95 proc. PI 4,84–76,74), VGA≥338,8 mm (ŠS 5,98; 95 proc. PI 1,94–18,44). UPP, VGA≥338,8 mm, epidurinės analgezijos derinys turėjo 66,7 proc. teigiamą ir 91,8 proc. neigiamą prognostines vertes CPO dėl KSD. Išvados. Išmatuota 338,8 mm ir didesnė VGA bei užpakalinė vaisiaus galvos pakaušio padėtis gimdymo metu buvo siejamos su padidėjusia skubios CPO dėl KSD rizika.