| 1. |
- Mohajeri, M. Hasan, et al.
(författare)
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The role of the microbiome for human health : from basic science to clinical applications
- 2018
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Ingår i: European Journal of Nutrition. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 1436-6207 .- 1436-6215. ; 57:Suppl. 1, s. S1-S14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The 2017 annual symposium organized by the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands focused on the role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease. Experts from academia and industry examined interactions of prebiotics, probiotics, or vitamins with the gut microbiome in health and disease, the development of the microbiome in early-life and the role of the microbiome on the gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota changes dramatically during pregnancy and intrinsic factors (such as stress), in addition to extrinsic factors (such as diet, and drugs) influence the composition and activity of the gut microbiome throughout life. Microbial metabolites, e.g. short-chain fatty acids affect gut-brain signaling and the immune response. The gut microbiota has a regulatory role on anxiety, mood, cognition and pain which is exerted via the gut-brain axis. Ingestion of prebiotics or probiotics has been used to treat a range of conditions including constipation, allergic reactions and infections in infancy, and IBS. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) highly effective for treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. The gut microbiome affects virtually all aspects of human health, but the degree of scientific evidence, the models and technologies and the understanding of mechanisms of action vary considerably from one benefit area to the other. For a clinical practice to be broadly accepted, the mode of action, the therapeutic window, and potential side effects need to thoroughly be investigated. This calls for further coordinated state-of-the art research to better understand and document the human gut microbiome's effects on human health.
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| 2. |
- Algilani, Samal, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the concept of optimal functionality in old age
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. - : Dove Medical Press. - 1178-2390. ; 7, s. 69-79
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Aging is characterized by loss of function and represents a perspective that puts the focus on the negative aspects of aging. Thus, it is fundamental to shift the focus from loss of function to maintaining good health and personal satisfaction through life; in other words, to promote optimal functionality at a level appropriate for older adults. However, it is not yet known what constitutes optimal functionality from the older adult's own perspective.OBJECTIVE: To explore the concept of optimal functionality in old age from the older adult's perspective (ie, people over 65 years of age) in industrialized Western countries.METHODS: We undertook a scoping review and searched two electronic databases (PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]) from January 2002 to July 2013 for scientific studies, using the key search term personal satisfaction. In total, 25 scientific studies were analyzed.RESULTS: Only six of the included articles applied a qualitative methodology. By analyzing the results of these articles, three major themes were identified as cornerstones in the concept of optimal functionality at old age: 1) self-related factors (eg, mental well-being); 2) body-related factors (eg, physical well-being); and 3) external factors equal to demographic and environmental factors.CONCLUSION: There is a lack of qualitative studies in the current literature, and hence of what constitutes optimal functionality from the older adult's perspective. The results outlined in this review identify three cornerstones (self-related factors, body-related factors, and external factors) of what constitutes optimal functionality at old age. However, it is vital that these findings are taken further and are evaluated through qualitative studies to reflect older adults' opinions.
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| 3. |
- Algilani, Samal, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Increasing the qualitative understanding of optimal functionality in older adults : a focus group based study
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMC Geriatrics. - London, United Kingdom : BioMed Central. - 1471-2318. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Decreased independence and loss of functional ability are issues regarded as inevitably connected to old age. This ageism may have negative influences on older adults' beliefs about aging, making it difficult for them to focus on their current ability to maintain a good health. It is therefore important to change focus towards promoting Optimal Functionality (OF). OF is a concept putting the older adult's perspective on health and function in focus, however, the concept is still under development. Hence, the aim was to extend the concept of optimal functionality in various groups of older adults.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted based on focus group discussions (FGD). In total 6 FGDs were performed, including 37 older adults from three different groups: group 1) senior athletes, group 2) free living older adults, group 3) older adults living in senior living homes. All data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed following the process of deductive content analysis.Results: The principal outcome of the analysis was "to function as optimally as you possibly can", which was perceived as the core of the concept. Further, the concept of OF was described as multifactorial and several new factors could be added to the original model of OF. Additionally the findings of the study support that all three cornerstones comprising OF have to occur simultaneously in order for the older adult to function as optimal as possible.Conclusions: OF is a multifaceted and subjective concept, which should be individually defined by the older adult. This study further makes evident that older adults as a group are heterogeneous in terms of their preferences and views on health and should thus be approached as such in the health care setting. Therefore it is important to promote an individualized approach as a base when caring for older adults.
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| 4. |
- Bachmann, Radu, et al.
(författare)
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Akkermansia muciniphila Reduces Peritonitis and Improves Intestinal Tissue Wound Healing after a Colonic Transmural Defect by a MyD88-Dependent Mechanism
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cells. - : MDPI. - 2073-4409. ; 11:17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anastomotic leakage is a major complication following colorectal surgery leading to peritonitis, complications, and mortality. Akkermansia muciniphila has shown beneficial effects on the gut barrier function. Whether A. muciniphila reduces peritonitis and mortality during colonic leakage is unknown. Whether A. muciniphila can directly modulate the expression of genes in the colonic mucosa in humans has never been studied. We investigated the effects of a pretreatment (14 days) with live A. muciniphila prior to surgical colonic perforation on peritonitis, mortality, and wound healing. We used mice with an inducible intestinal-epithelial-cell-specific deletion of MyD88 (IEC-MyD88 KO) to investigate the role of the innate immune system in this context. In a proof-of-concept pilot study, healthy humans were exposed to A. muciniphila for 2 h and colonic biopsies taken before and after colonic instillation for transcriptomic analysis. Seven days after colonic perforation, A.-muciniphila-treated mice had significantly lower mortality and severity of peritonitis. This effect was associated with significant improvements of wound histological healing scores, higher production of IL22, but no changes in the mucus layer thickness or genes involved in cell renewal, proliferation, or differentiation. All these effects were abolished in IEC-MyD88 KO mice. Finally, human subjects exposed to A. muciniphila exhibited an increased level of the bacterium at the mucus level 2 h after instillation and significant changes in the expression of different genes involved in the regulation of cell cycling, gene transcription, immunity, and inflammation in their colonic mucosa. A. muciniphila improves wound healing during transmural colonic wall defect through mechanisms possibly involving IL22 signaling and requiring MyD88 in the intestinal cells. In healthy humans, colonic administration of A. muciniphila is well tolerated and changes the expression of genes involved in the immune pathways.
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| 5. |
- Baunwall, Simon Mark Dahl, et al.
(författare)
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The use of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in Europe : A Europe-wide survey
- 2021
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Ingår i: The Lancet Regional Health. - : Elsevier. - 2666-7762. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging treatment modality, but its current clinical use and organisation are unknown. We aimed to describe the clinical use, conduct, and potential for FMT in Europe.Methods: We invited all hospital-based FMT centres within the European Council member states to answer a web-based questionnaire covering their clinical activities, organisation, and regulation of FMT in 2019. Responders were identified from trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov and from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) working group for stool banking and FMT.Findings: In 2019, 31 FMT centres from 17 countries reported a total of 1,874 (median 25, quartile 10-64) FMT procedures; 1,077 (57%) with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) as indication, 791 (42%) with experimental indications, and 6 (0•3%) unaccounted for. Adjusted to population size, 0•257 per 100,000 population received FMT for CDI and 0•189 per 100,000 population for experimental indications. With estimated 12,400 (6,100-28,500) annual cases of multiple, recurrent CDI and indication for FMT in Europe, the current European FMT activity covers approximately 10% of the patients with indication. The participating centres demonstrated high safety standards and adherence to international consensus guidelines. Formal or informal regulation from health authorities was present at 21 (68%) centres.Interpretation: FMT is a widespread routine treatment for multiple, recurrent CDI and an experimental treatment. Embedded within hospital settings, FMT centres operate with high standards across Europe to provide safe FMT. A significant gap in FMT coverage suggests the need to raise clinical awareness and increase the FMT activity in Europe by at least 10-fold to meet the true, indicated need.Funding: NordForsk under the Nordic Council and Innovation Fund Denmark (j.no. 8056-00006B).
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| 6. |
- Boersma, Katja, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for irritable bowel syndrome : A single-case experimental design across 13 subjects
- 2016
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Ingår i: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. - Oxon, United Kingdom : Routledge. - 1650-6073 .- 1651-2316. ; 45:6, s. 415-430
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent disorder with a significant impact on quality of life. The presence of psychological symptoms in IBS patients such as catastrophic worry and behavioral avoidance suggests the possible efficacy of cognitive behavioral interventions. Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to be a promising approach but has only been investigated in a few studies and mainly via the Internet. Therefore, the aims of this study were to extend and replicate previous findings and to evaluate whether an individual, face-to-face, exposure-based CBT leads to improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, pain catastrophizing, avoidance behavior and quality of life in IBS patients. Thirteen patients with IBS according to Rome III criteria participated in a single-case experimental study using a five-week baseline and a subsequent twelve-session intervention phase focusing on psycho-education, mindfulness and in vivo exposure. Standardized measurement of gastrointestinal symptoms, pain catastrophizing, avoidance behavior and quality of life was conducted weekly during baseline as well as intervention phase and at six-month follow-up. Results showed that over 70% of patients improved significantly on gastrointestinal symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life. Effects on avoidance behavior were modest. These results strengthen and extend earlier findings and provide further support for the efficacy of exposure-based strategies for IBS.
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| 7. |
- Bron, Peter A., et al.
(författare)
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Can probiotics modulate human disease by impacting intestinal barrier function?
- 2017
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Ingår i: British Journal of Nutrition. - Cambridge, United Kingdom : Cambridge University Press. - 0007-1145 .- 1475-2662. ; 117:1, s. 93-107
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intestinal barrier integrity is a prerequisite for homeostasis of mucosal function, which is balanced to maximise absorptive capacity, while maintaining efficient defensive reactions against chemical and microbial challenges. Evidence is mounting that disruption of epithelial barrier integrity is one of the major aetiological factors associated with several gastrointestinal diseases, including infection by pathogens, obesity and diabetes, necrotising enterocolitis, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. The notion that specific probiotic bacterial strains can affect barrier integrity fuelled research in which in vitro cell lines, animal models and clinical trials are used to assess whether probiotics can revert the diseased state back to homeostasis and health. This review catalogues and categorises the lines of evidence available in literature for the role of probiotics in epithelial integrity and, consequently, their beneficial effect for the reduction of gastrointestinal disease symptoms.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Dullemeijer, Carla, et al.
(författare)
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Differences in fatty acid composition between cerebral brain lobes in juvenile pigs after fish oil feeding
- 2008
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Ingår i: British Journal of Nutrition. - 0007-1145 .- 1475-2662. ; 100:4, s. 794-800
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Very long-chain n-3 PUFA from fish are suggested to play a role in the development of the brain. Fish oil feeding results in higher proportions of n-3 PUFA in the brains of newborn piglets. However, the effect of fish oil on the fatty acid composition of specific cerebral brain lobes in juvenile pigs is largely uninvestigated. This study examined the effect of a fish oil diet on the fatty acid composition of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital brain lobes in juvenile pigs (7 weeks old). Pigs were randomly allocated to a semipurified pig diet containing either 4% (w/w) fish oil (n 19) or 4% (w/w) high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSF diet, n 18) for a period of 8 weeks. The fish oil diet resulted in significantly higher proportions (%) of DHA in the frontal (10.6 (SD1.2)), parietal (10.2 (SD1.5)) and occipital brain lobes (9.9 (SD 1.3)), but not in the temporal lobe (7.7 (SD1.6)), compared with pigs fed the HOSF diet (frontal lobe, 7.5 (SD1.0); parietal lobe, 8.1 (SD 1.3); occipital lobe, 7.3 (SD1.2), temporal lobe, 6.6 (SD1.2). Moreover, the proportion of DHA was significantly lower in the temporal lobe compared with the frontal, parietal and occipital brain lobes in pigs fed a fish oil diet. In conclusion, the brains of juvenile pigs appear to be responsive to dietary fish oil, although the temporal brain lobe is less responsive compared with the other three brain lobes. The functional consequences of these differences are a challenging focus for future investigation.
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| 10. |
- Dullemeijer, C., et al.
(författare)
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Plasma very long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and age-related hearing loss in older adults
- 2010
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 14:5, s. 347-351
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Age-related hearing loss is a common social and health problem in the older adult population. Up until now, very little scientific attention has been given to the potential role of fatty acids in age-related hearing loss. In this study we investigated whether plasma very long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are associated with age-related hearing loss over three years.DESIGN: Cross-sectional and 3-year longitudinal analyses.SETTING: Wageningen, the Netherlands.PARTICIPANTS: 720 men and postmenopausal women (50-70 years of age) without middle ear dysfunction or unilateral hearing loss.MEASUREMENTS: Fatty acid proportions were measured in plasma cholesteryl esters. Hearing thresholds (in decibels, dB) at baseline and after three years were measured with pure-tone audiometry. Hearing loss was calculated as the increase in mean hearing thresholds in the low (0.5-kHz, 1-kHz, and 2-kHz) and high (4-kHz, 6-kHz, and 8-kHz) frequencies over three years.RESULTS: Subjects in the highest quartile of plasma very long-chain n-3 PUFA had less hearing loss in the low frequencies over three years than subjects in the lowest quartile (p < 0.01, ANCOVA, difference in mean adjusted hearing thresholds= -1.2 dB). There were no significant differences between the quartiles of plasma very long-chain n-3 PUFA in hearing loss in the high frequencies (p=0.49, ANCOVA). These associations are adjusted for baseline mean hearing thresholds, age, sex, level of education and alcohol consumption.CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show an inverse association between plasma very long-chain n-3 PUFAs and age-related hearing loss. These results are encouraging, but require confirmation from future studies.
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