There has been an exciting development in chronic sinusitis research and treatment using the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus sakei (L. sakei), specifically with the probiotic powder Lanto Sinus. This recent study took a different approach to chronic sinusitis by looking at the immune system.
Researchers conducted a sinusitis study of individuals with chronic sinusitis, all who had undergone multiple sinus surgeries and were considered hard to treat (had continuing problems with sinusitis, thus refractory). The researchers found that using Lanto Sinus (with its specific strain of L. sakei Probio65) had very good results in treating many of the individuals.
The treatments involved using Lanto Sinus (L. sakei proBio65) as a nasal rinse (1/4 teaspoon of Lanto Health powder in 2 tablespoons of normal saline nasal rinse) once a day and 1/4 teaspoon (240 mg) twice a day in food. This continued until they felt healthy. [IMPORTANT: Stop the use of L. sakei when feeling better.]
The researchers approached chronic sinusitis by looking at the immune system, specifically IL-12, a substance involved with immune system functioning. They found that IL-12 levels can be low in chronic sinusitis sufferers. Using L. sakei raises IL-12 levels, which they thought explained the positive results.
In other words, their thoughts are that microbial imbalances in chronic sinusitis could contribute to IL-12 signaling defects, and this results in low IL-12 levels. Which L. sakei can correct.
How was IL-12 measured in the study? Blood was drawn from each person and a lab analysis was done - called a pSTAT4 phosphorylation assay (which measures immune health related to IL-12).
Next: Now the researchers are starting another study to further look into this. Stay tuned!
Abstract (summary) excerpts from medRxiv (for preprints), and now at National Library of Medicine: STAT4 Phosphorylation of T-helper Cells predicts surgical outcomes in Refractory Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Abstract
Objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) impacts an estimated 5% to 15% of people worldwide, incurring significant economic healthcare burden. There is a urgent need for the discovery of predictive biomarkers to improve treatment strategies and outcomes for CRS patients.
Study design: Cohort study of CRS patients and healthy controls using blood samples.
Setting: Out-patient clinics.
Results: Our analysis began with a 63–69 year-old female patient diagnosed with refractory CRS,. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, she continually faced sinus infections. ... Upon expanding our investigation to a broader CRS patient group using the pSTAT4 assay, we discerned a subset of refractory CRS patients with abnormally low STAT4 phosphorylation. The deficiency showed improvement both in-vitro and in-vivo after exposure to Latilactobacillus sakei (aka Lactobacillus sakei), an effect at least partially dependent on IL-12.
Conclusion: In refractory CRS patients, an identified STAT4 defect correlates with poor clinical outcomes after sinus surgery, which can be therapeutically targeted by Latilactobacillus sakei treatment. Prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trials are needed to validate our findings.