A 4-Week Diet Low or High in Advanced Glycation Endproducts Has Limited Impact on Gut Microbial Composition in Abdominally Obese Individuals : The deAGEing Trial

Dietary advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), abundantly present in Westernized diets, are linked to negative health outcomes, but their impact on the gut microbiota has not yet been well investigated in humans. We investigated the effects of a 4-week isocaloric and macronutrient-matched diet low or high in AGEs on the gut microbial composition of 70 abdominally obese individuals in a double-blind parallel-design randomized controlled trial (NCT03866343). Additionally, we investigated the cross-sectional associations between the habitual intake of dietary dicarbonyls, reactive precursors to AGEs, and the gut microbial composition, as assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing. Despite a marked percentage difference in AGE intake, we observed no differences in microbial richness and the general community structure. Only the Anaerostipes spp. had a relative abundance >0.5% and showed differential abundance (0.5 versus 1.11%; p = 0.028, after low- or high-AGE diet, respectively). While the habitual intake of dicarbonyls was not associated with microbial richness or a general community structure, the intake of 3-deoxyglucosone was especially associated with an abundance of several genera. Thus, a 4-week diet low or high in AGEs has a limited impact on the gut microbial composition of abdominally obese humans, paralleling its previously observed limited biological consequences. The effects of dietary dicarbonyls on the gut microbiota composition deserve further investigation.Peer reviewe

Characteristics of Family Dynamics among Japanese Families in Japan

The purpose of this study is to identify family dynamics and their relationships to selected socio-demographic characteristics and mental status among Japanese families in Japan. The Family Dynamics Measure II (FDM II) and a socio-demographic questionnaire were used to obtain data. Participants (n=195; male n=62, female n=129, gender unknown n=4) were obtained from a city, western outskirts of Tokyo. Majority of respondents were married (n=165, 84.6%) and with children (n=128, 65.6%). Family size ranged from 2 to 9 persons (mean= 3.66, SD=1.42). Three-generation families, I.e. presences of grandparent(s), daughter(s)-in-law, and parent(s)-in-law (n=25, 12.8%) were small in numbers. When there were family members ages over 70, female respondents showed negative relations to 4 of 6 dimensions of FDM II. Further, when there were family members ages between 12-17, both male and female respondents showed negative relationships to 3 of 6 dimensions of FDM II. Mental status showed a positive relationship to age of male respondents. Nurses should be aware of relationships between affecting factors and dimensions of family dynamics. The understanding of these gender differences among males and females and the conditions of the family could be quite helpful when advising or counseling family members for betterment of family health

Derivation cohort baseline characteristics.

<p>Derivation cohort baseline characteristics. for mother-infant pairs with and without histological chorioamnionitis (HC; left), and with and without histological chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement (HCF; right). Abbreviations: SD = standard deviation; IQR = interquartile range; HELLP = haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets; PPROM = preterm premature rupture of membranes.</p

Logistic regression model and clinical prediction rule for histological chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement.

<p>Logistic regression models and clinical prediction rules for prediction of histologic chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement. Abbreviations: SE = standard error; PPROM = preterm premature rupture of membranes; SGA = small for gestational age.</p

ROC curve and PPV-NPV plot of clinical prediction rule for histological chorioamnionitis (A+B) and histological chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement (C+D).

<p>Figures in PPV-NPV plots indicate inclusive (≥) cut-off values for positive test scores.</p

Logistic regression model and clinical prediction rule for histological chorioamnionitis.

<p>Logistic regression model and clinical prediction rule for prediction of histological chorioamnionitis. Abbreviations: SE = standard error; SGA = small for gestational age; PPROM = preterm premature rupture of membranes.</p

Clinical prediction rule test characteristics.

<p>Clinical prediction rule test characteristics for histological chorioamnionitis (HC) and histological chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement (HCF). Abbreviations: ROC = receiver operating characteristics; PPV = positive predictive value; NPV = negative predictive value; LLR+ = likelihood ratio of positive test; LLR− = likelihood ratio of negative test.</p

Daily intranasal palivizumab to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection in healthy preterm infants: a phase 1/2b randomized placebo-controlled trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Mucosal administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against respiratory pathogens is a promising alternative for systemic administration because lower doses are required for protection. Clinical development of mucosal mAbs is a highly active field yet clinical proof-of-concept is lacking. Methods: In this investigator-initiated, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial, we evaluated intranasal palivizumab for the prevention of RSV infection in preterm infants (Dutch Trial Register NTR7378 and NTR7403). We randomized infants 1:1 to receive intranasal palivizumab (1 mg/mL) or placebo once daily during the RSV season. Any RSV infection was the primary outcome and RSV hospitalization was the key secondary outcome. The primary outcome was analyzed with a mixed effect logistic regression on the modified intention-to-treat population. Findings: We recruited 268 infants between Jan 14, 2019 and Jan 28, 2021, after which the trial was stopped for futility following the planned interim analysis. Adverse events were similar in both groups (22/134 (16.4%) palivizumab arm versus 26/134 (19.4%) placebo arm). There were 6 dropouts and 168 infants were excluded from the efficacy analyses due to absent RSV circulation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Any RSV infection was similar in infants in both groups (18/47 (38.3%) palivizumab arm versus 11/47 (23.4%) placebo arm; aOR 2.2, 95% CI 0.7–6.5). Interpretation: Daily intranasal palivizumab did not prevent RSV infection in late preterm infants. Our findings have important implications for the clinical development of mucosal mAbs, namely the necessity of timely interim analyses and further research to understand mucosal antibody half-life. Funding: Funded by the Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands