Microbiota alterations in proline metabolism impact depression

The microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a novel target in depression, a disorder with low treatment efficacy. However, the field is dominated by underpowered studies focusing on major depression not addressing microbiome functionality, compositional nature, or confounding factors. We applied a multi-omics approach combining pre-clinical models with three human cohorts including patients with mild depression. Microbial functions and metabolites converging onto glutamate/GABA metabolism, particularly proline, were linked to depression. High proline consumption was the dietary factor with the strongest impact on depression. Whole-brain dynamics revealed rich club network disruptions associated with depression and circulating proline. Proline supplementation in mice exacerbated depression along with microbial translocation. Human microbiota transplantation induced an emotionally impaired phenotype in mice and alterations in GABA-, proline-, and extracellular matrix-related prefrontal cortex genes. RNAi-mediated knockdown of proline and GABA transporters in Drosophila and mono-association with L. plantarum, a high GABA producer, conferred protection against depression-like states. Targeting the microbiome and dietary proline may open new windows for efficient depression treatment

Mejora del dolor crónico en ratones con sobrepeso tras la administración de un prebiótico

Resumen trabajo presentado en el XII Workshop Sociedad Española de Microbiota, Probióticos y Prebióticos (SEMiPyP) y I Congreso Sociedad Iberoamericana de Microbiota, Probióticos y Prebióticos (SIAMPYP), celebrado de forma virtual del 15 al 18 de septiembre de 2021Introducción/Objetivo. El sobrepeso y la obesidad son problemas graves de salud pública, con alto riesgo de mortalidad y comorbilidades asociadas. El dolor crónico es más frecuente y severo en estos individuos, por lo que existe una necesidad de buscar terapias que ayuden a mitigarlo. La microbiota intestinal (MI) juega un papel crítico en la salud, y a través del eje intestino-cerebro ejerce funciones a nivel del sistema nervioso, por lo que se ha propuesto como una diana de actuación en trastornos metabólicos y/o neurológicos. Los prebióticos son conocidos por su efecto modulador de la MI. En este trabajo, el objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de un prebiótico en el desarrollo del dolor crónico inducido por el sobrepeso en un modelo animal. Metodología. Cuatro grupos de ratones macho C57Bl6/J (n= 10/grupo) recibieron dos tipos de dieta: 2 grupos dieta hipercalórica (HFD) y 2 grupos dieta control (CD). Un grupo de cada condición fue administrado con un prebiótico en el agua de bebida durante la duración del experimento (8 semanas). Se evaluó el desarrollo de alodinia mecánica e hiperalgesia térmica con diferentes pruebas in vivo, se realizaron análisis bioquímicos y se analizó la MI mediante secuenciación del gen ribosómico 16S. Resultados. La HFD indujo sobrepeso y desarrollo de dolor crónico en los ratones. La administración del prebiótico atenuó el peso corporal, tuvo efectos positivos sobre hormonas metabólicas y redujo el desarrollo del dolor inducido por el sobrepeso. La composición de la MI se vio alterada por la HFD y modulada por el prebiótico. Algunos grupos microbianos se asociaron con una menor respuesta al dolor. Conclusiones. Los resultados muestran el efecto positivo de los prebióticos en el desarrollo del dolor inducido por el sobrepeso, pudiendo actuar la MI como mediador. Este trabajo fortalece el papel de la MI como diana de actuación para mejorar trastornos metabólicos del eje intestino-cerebro

Targeting the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis for obesity-induced chronic pain

Trabajo presentado en la 13th International Scientific Conference on Probiotics, Prebiotics, Gut Microbiota and Health, celebrado en Praga (República Checa), del 17 al 20 de junio de 2019[Introduction] Obesity is a global epidemic and is associated with increased risk for mortality and several medical morbidities that create a substantial burden on both the aƿicted patients and society. Chronic pain is more frequent and severe among overweight patients and given the enormity of the problem and the lack of effective therapies, there is a pressing need to understand the mechanisms underlying pain development under these particular conditions. Multiple studies have now revealed that the microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a critical role in health and disease. In agreement, modulation of the gut microbiota via probiotic treatment is postulated to be an effective adjunctive therapy for metabolic disorders. In contrast, the role of prebiotics is less investigated. Prebiotic Ƽbres like short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are known to selectively modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota and specially to stimulate proliferation of the lactobacilli and biƼdobacteria in the gut. [Methods] A model of overweight-induced exposure chronic pain was used in this study. Mice (40 C57Bl6/J male) were randomly assigned to the different diets for an entire period of 8 weeks: hypercaloric high-fat diet (5.21 kcal/g) and control diet (3.87 kcal/g). We tested whether the prebiotic FOS, which increases intrinsic enteric microbiota, affected obesity-induced chronic pain development. Mice were exposed to by exposing the animals to drinking water containing or not FOS during the entire experimental period. The development of allodynia and hyperalgesia were evaluated by using the von Frey and the plantar tests, respectively. Plasma leptin, adiponectin and insulin were measured. Cecum microbiota composition was determined. [Results] High fat diet induced overweight and the development of chronic pain in mice, revealed in the von Frey test. The administration of FOS attenuated body weight and epididymal fat gain and revealed reduced obesity-induced pain development. The prebiotic increased the weight of he cecum and had a positive effect on metabolic hormones such as leptin, insulin and adiponectin. Microbiota composition was also affected by diet and by FOS administration. High-fat diet reduced microbiota diversity and the presence of Roseburia was associated with reduced pain response. [Discussion] These data show that FOS produced a positive impact on obesity-induced pain development in mice. Collectively, our results suggest that prebiotics can ameliorate the overall metabolic proƼle of mice exposed to high-fat diet, partly by acting on the gut microbiota. Future studies in animal models of disease and in humans are now warranted. These Ƽndings strengthen the role of gut microbiota supplementation as prebiotic-based strategies for metabolic related brain-gut axis disorders opening new avenues in the Ƽeld of neurogastroenterology and nutritional neuroscience

Savižudybių mediciniški ir visuomeniški aspektai Lietuvoje XX amžiaus pirmojoje pusėje

Tyrimo tikslas. Nustatyti savižudybinio elgesio paplitimo ir prevencijos ypatumus XX amžiaus pirmoje pusėje. Tyrimo metodai ir objektas. Taikytas analitinis tyrinėjimų metodas remiantis mokslinių darbų paieška, kritine straipsnių analize ir pateiktos interpretacijos. Pagrindinis tyrimo objektas buvo moksliniai straipsniai, paskelbti Lietuvos mokslo leidiniuose XX a. pirmoje pusėje. Tyrimo rezultatai ir išvados. Atlikus temos apie savižudybes paiešką Lietuvos mokslo žurnaluose buvo rastos 9 publikacijos: du straipsniai apie originalius mokslinius savižudybių tyrimus, du straipsniai apie atliktą praktinį darbą, keturi apžvalginiai ir informaciniai straipsniai, viename pateiktas teorinis savižudybių rizikos faktoriaus aptarimas. Straipsnius apie savižudybę skelbė įvairių profesijų mokslininkai: keturi psichiatrai, du patologoanatomai ir teismo medikai, po vieną straipsnį vidaus ligų gydytojas, chirurgas ir teisininkas. Nusižudymų skaičius Lietuvoje XX amžiaus pirmoje pusėje buvo vienas mažiausių Europoje, pvz., 1929 m.: Lietuvoje – 9 /100 000 gyv., Austrijoje – 39,9, Vokietijoje – 33,2, Vengrijoje – 29,0, Šveicarijoje – 26,1, Japonijoje – 24,5, Prancūzijoje – 24,5, Danijoje – 24,5, Didžiojoje Britanijoje – 17,6, Švedija – 15,0, Italijoje – 9,5. Populiariausias savižudybės metodas buvo nusinuodijimas – 41,0% (daugiausia actu), pasikardavo – 19,6%. Taigi mechaniškos savižudybės priemonės buvo mažiau populiarios. Tarp mėginančių nusižudyti tris kartus daugiau buvo moterų. Daugiausia mėgino žudytis 20–29 metų amžiaus – 56%. Vienas iš siūlomų prevencijos būdų buvo toks: actas turi būti pardavinėjamas ūkio reikalams ne koncentruoto pavidalo, bet skiedinys, ne stipresnis kaip 30%; kitas – sustiprinti jaunimo charakterį gyvenimo kovai, t. y. svarbus mokyklos ir bažnyčios vaidmuo; trečias – kiekviename mieste įsteigti savižudybių prevencijos biurus ir kt. Pateikta įvairi informacija apie epidemiologinius, klinikinius, visuomeninius, prevencinius ypatumus, būdingus to meto ne tik Lietuvai, bet ir visai Europai. Galima patikimai teigti, kad Lietuvoje savižudybinis elgesys buvo mažiau paplitęs negu daugelyje pasaulio šalių. Žemas savižudybių rodiklis rodo, kad lietuviai neturėtų būti genetiškai nulemta savižudybiniam elgesiui tauta. Raktažodžiai: savižudybės, paplitimas, klinika, prevencija, Lietuva, XX a. pirmoji pusė.Main Aim: characterize the epidemiology and prevention measures of suicidal behaviour in Lithuania in the first half of the XX century. Methods and Object. Using an analytical method, this investigation focused on the search for scientific publications relating to suicide, the critical analysis of these publications and subsequent interpretation of the main findings. The main objects of interest were research articles published in Lithuanian scientific journals in the first half of the XX century. Results and Conclusions. As a result of extensive search, nine articles related to the suicide theme were located in Lithuanian scientific journals from the first half of the 20th century: two articles on original scientific suicide research, two articles on practical work, four review and informative articles and one providing theoretical discussion of suicide risk factor. The authors of these articles were scientists of various professions: four psychiatrists, two pathologoanatomists and forensic experts, one doctor of internal medicine, a surgeon and a lawyer. The suicide rate in Lithuania in the first half of the XX century was one of the lowest in Europe, e.g., in 1929: Lithuania - 9/100 000 inhabitants, Austria - 39.9, Germany - 33.2, Hungary - 29.0, Switzerland - 26.1, France - 24.5, Denmark - 24.5, Great Britain - 17.6, Sweden - 15.0, Italy - 9.5. The most popular methods of suicide were poisoning, mostly by acetic acid, (41.0%) and hanging (19.6%), i.e. mechanical means of suicide were less popular. In that period, women were 3 times more represented amongst those attempting suicide and most suicide attempts (56%) were made by persons in the age range 20-29. One of methods of prevention was the restriction of sale of industrial use concentrated acetic acid, allowing only the sale of vinegar solution (no more than 30%). Other of methods - strengthening the character of young people and emphasising the role of schools and churches in playing an important role and establishing suicide prevention offices in every city. The paper presents extensive information about the epidemiological, clinical, social and preventive aspects that were typical not only in Lithuania, but also in Europe at that time. This analysis of scientific publications show that Lithuania was less prone to suicidal behaviour than many other European countries almost one hundred years ago and thus Lithuania cannot be considered a country with a genetic predisposition to suicide, furthermore revealing that the current high rates of observed suicidal behaviour are a phenomina that have developed since that time. Key words: suicide, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, prevention, Lithuania, the first half of the XX century

Influences of nurses' scoring of children's postoperative pain

There is a lack of clarity as to why some nurses are not delivering optimal pain management to children post-operatively. This retrospective chart review study examined nurses’ pain scoring on 175 children during the first 24 hours post-operatively. Data were analysed on the amount of assessments made, assessment scores recorded, as well as the age, gender and type of surgery performed. One-quarter of children had no assessment record of their pain in the first 24 hours post-operatively. When the pain tool was part of an observation chart, nurses recorded more pain scores. Nurses’ scoring of children’s pain is influenced positively by children under five years of age and those who undergo abdominal surgery. Nurses who had access to one document for recording vital signs as well as pain scores were more likely to assess and record a child’s pain score than nurses who had to use a separate chart