The Gut-Brain Axis: Unveiling the Microbiome’s Role in Cognitive Development and Brain Health

A Complex Communication Highway In the intricate network of the human body, a fascinating unsuspected connection is being unraveled—one that links the gut and the brain in ways we never imagined! This connection, known as the Gut-Brain Axis, is revealing a whole new dimension to the critical role played by the microbiome in the development… Continue reading The Gut-Brain Axis: Unveiling the Microbiome’s Role in Cognitive Development and Brain Health

Resistant #starch decreases intrahepatic #triglycerides in patients with #NAFLD via gut microbiome alterations

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic dysfunction for which effective interventions are lacking. To investigate the effects of resistant starch (RS) as a microbiota-directed dietary supplement for NAFLD treatment, we coupled a 4-month randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial in individuals with NAFLD (ChiCTR-IOR-15007519) with metagenomics and metabolomics analysis. Relative to the… Continue reading Resistant #starch decreases intrahepatic #triglycerides in patients with #NAFLD via gut microbiome alterations

Effect of Vitamin #D Supplements on Relapse or Death in a p53-Immunoreactive Subgroup With #Digestive Tract Cancer

Recent meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials found that daily vitamin D3 supplementation had beneficial effects on cancer mortality, although the results are still controversial.Objective  To examine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of relapse or death in a supgroup of patients with digestive tract cancer who were p53 immunoreactive.Design, Setting, and Participants  This was a post… Continue reading Effect of Vitamin #D Supplements on Relapse or Death in a p53-Immunoreactive Subgroup With #Digestive Tract Cancer

Interaction of an α-synuclein epitope with HLA-DRB1∗15:01 triggers enteric features in mice reminiscent of prodromal #Parkinson’s disease

•α-syn32-46 immunization of HLA-DRB1∗15:01 mice triggers weight loss and constipation•α-syn32-46 immunizations induce inflammation and neuron loss in the gut•Depletion of CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells partially rescues enteric neural loss•Both α-syn32-46 and HLA-DRB1∗15:01 are critical for this model of prodromal PD SummaryEnteric symptoms are hallmarks of prodromal Parkinson’s disease (PD) that appear decades before the onset of motor… Continue reading Interaction of an α-synuclein epitope with HLA-DRB1∗15:01 triggers enteric features in mice reminiscent of prodromal #Parkinson’s disease

Cumulative Use of #Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of #Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Studies on the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and dementia report mixed results and do not examine the impact of cumulative PPI use. We evaluated the associations between current and cumulative PPI use and risk of incident dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.Methods. These analyses used participants from a community-based cohort… Continue reading Cumulative Use of #Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of #Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Screening for Colorectal Cancer in Asymptomatic Average-Risk Adults: A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians (Version 2)

The purpose of this updated guidance statement is to guide clinicians on screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in asymptomatic average-risk adults. The intended audience is all clinicians. The population is asymptomatic adults at average risk for CRC.Methods:This updated guidance statement was developed using recently published and critically appraised clinical guidelines from national guideline developers since… Continue reading Screening for Colorectal Cancer in Asymptomatic Average-Risk Adults: A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians (Version 2)

#Constipation Associated with #Cognitive #Aging and Decline

Key Takeaways:Chronic constipation — one bowel movement every three days or more — could signal worsening cognition.People who were chronically constipated had worse cognition equal to three years of aging, according to the study, which is the first to look at constipation’s potential impact on the aging brain.The new findings add to mounting research aligning… Continue reading #Constipation Associated with #Cognitive #Aging and Decline

Acceptability, Tolerability, and Estimates of Putative Treatment Effects of Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Depression

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a promising target for novel treatments for mood disorders, such as probiotics. However, few clinical trials have been conducted, and further safety and efficacy data are needed to support this treatment approach.Objective  To provide acceptability and tolerability data and estimates of intervention effect size for probiotics as adjunctive treatment for patients with… Continue reading Acceptability, Tolerability, and Estimates of Putative Treatment Effects of Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment in Patients With Depression

Excess Dietary Sugar Alters Colonocyte Metabolism and Impairs the Proliferative Response to Damage

The colonic epithelium requires continuous renewal by crypt resident intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and transit-amplifying (TA) cells to maintain barrier integrity, especially after inflammatory damage. The diet of high-income countries contains increasing amounts of sugar, such as sucrose. ISCs and TA cells are sensitive to dietary metabolites, but whether excess sugar affects their function directly… Continue reading Excess Dietary Sugar Alters Colonocyte Metabolism and Impairs the Proliferative Response to Damage