Microbiota-ear-brain interaction is associated with generalized anxiety disorder through activation of inflammatory cytokine responses

Abstract

IntroductionGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most enduring anxiety disorders, being associated with increased systemic inflammation. However, the trigger and mechanisms underlying the activation of inflammatory cytokine responses in GAD remain poorly understood.Materials and methodsWe characterized the ear canal microbiome in GAD patients through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing and identified the serum inflammatory markers in GAD patients. Spearman correlations were applied to test the relationship between the microbiota changes and systemic inflammation.ResultsOur findings showed the higher microbial diversity, accompanied with the significantly increased abundance of Proteobacteria, and decreased abundance of Firmicutes in the ear canal of GAD participants compared to that of the age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Metagenomic sequencing showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa were significantly increased at species-level in GAD patients. Furthermore, we observed the relative abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was positively associated with elevated systemic inflammatory markers and the severity of disease, suggesting that these ear canal microbiota alterations might be correlated with GAD by activating the inflammatory response.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that microbiota-ear-brain interaction via upregulating inflammatory reaction involve in the development of GAD, as well as suggest that ear canal bacterial communities may be a target for therapeutic intervention.

Assess the Efficacy of Combination Therapy for Fungal Otitis Externa

“…Among the molds, Aspergillus niger (5%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (1%) were the most prevalent species. Common yeast strains include Candida paracilata (13%), Candida albicans (3%), and Candida tropicalis (2%) [1][2][3][4] . Symptoms typically include tightness, swelling, severe itching, and potential anxiety [1] .…”

“…Common yeast strains include Candida paracilata (13%), Candida albicans (3%), and Candida tropicalis (2%) [1][2][3][4] . Symptoms typically include tightness, swelling, severe itching, and potential anxiety [1] . In severe cases, patients may experience swelling, pain, increased discharge, hearing impairment, tinnitus, and complications, such as external ear canal cellulitis, stenosis, eczema, and tympanic membrane perforation [5] .…”

“…It is crucial to focus on assessing the e cacy of treatment, optimizing treatment protocols, and implementing measures to prevent recurrence. By delving deeper into the underlying causes of the disease and exploring different treatment strategies, we can enhance therapeutic outcomes and provide clinicians with valuable guidance for interventions [1] .…”

Analytical Report on the Efficacy of Combination Therapy for Fungal Otitis Externa: Endoscopic VAS Analysis

“…Symptoms often include ear tightness, swelling, severe itching, and potential anxiety [1] . In severe instances, patients may experience swelling, pain, increased discharge, hearing impairment, tinnitus, and complications like external ear canal cellulitis, stenosis, eczema, and tympanic membrane perforation [5] .…”

“…Treatment mainly consists of applying topical antifungal agents like ketoconazole and miconazole.Despite extensive research efforts, there remains a need for comprehensive investigations into the understanding and management of fungal otitis externa, particularly focusing on evaluating treatment e cacy, treatment regimen optimization, and recurrence prevention. Further exploration into the disease's etiological mechanisms and treatment strategies is crucial to enhancing therapeutic outcomes and offering more scienti cally backed guidance for clinical interventions [1] . The present study utilized VAS endoscopic scoring to assess the clinical e cacy of combining sodium bicarbonate solution ear baths with perisone cream in treating fungal otitis externa, furnishing valuable insights for clinical practice.…”