Prefrontal cortex astroglia modulate anhedonia-like behavior.

Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.

Prefrontal Cortex Astroglia Modulate Anhedonia-like Behavior.

Reductions of astroglia expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are consistently found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of patients with depression and in rodent chronic stress models. Here, we examine the consequences of PFC GFAP+ cell depletion and cell activity enhancement on depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Using viral expression of diphtheria toxin receptor in PFC GFAP+ cells, which allows experimental depletion of these cells following diphtheria toxin administration, we demonstrated that PFC GFAP+ cell depletion induced anhedonia-like behavior within 2 days and lasting up to 8 days, but no anxiety-like deficits. Conversely, activating PFC GFAP+ cell activity for 3 weeks using designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) reversed chronic restraint stress-induced anhedonia-like deficits, but not anxiety-like deficits. Our results highlight a critical role of cortical astroglia in the development of anhedonia and further support the idea of targeting astroglia for the treatment of depression.

Effect of quebracho condensed tannin extract on fecal gas flux in steers.

Naturally occurring gaseous by-products of ruminant production-carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 ), and nitrous oxide (N2 O)-can negatively affect the environment. Along with enteric fermentation, manure on pasture is among the most significant contributors to non-CO2 emissions. Condensed tannins, a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds, can alter the route of nutrient excretion and interact with microbes, suggesting they are a plausible feed additive for reducing excreta gas emissions. We evaluated how quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) tannin extract fed at 0, 15, 30, and 45 g kg-1 of dry matter (DM) within a roughage-based diet affected fecal gas emissions at multiple locations (College Station and Stephenville, TX) during two periods corresponding to winter and spring. During both periods, CO2 , CH4 , and N2 O fluxes were determined using the vented-static chamber methodology over 39 d, and cumulative emissions were calculated. A random coefficients model with animal nested within dietary treatment and period as the random factor was analyzed by location due to the presence of collinearity with soil parameters within periods. Daily CO2 flux was influenced by soil moisture and temperature (r = .34; P < .01), whereas CH4 and N2 O were associated with soil moisture. Cumulative gas production confirmed a dietary effect for CO2 and gross CO2 equivalent at the College Station site (P ≤ .001), demonstrating a linear reduction as quebracho inclusion increased. Variance partitioning indicated that dietary treatment and seasonal period likely influenced animal digestive and metabolic parameters. Within specific environments, quebracho supplementation may assist in reducing fecal gas emissions.

Nutritional profile of rodent diets impacts experimental reproducibility in microbiome preclinical research.

The lack of reproducibility of animal experimental results between laboratories, particularly in studies investigating the microbiota, has raised concern among the scientific community. Factors such as environment, stress and sex have been identified as contributors, whereas dietary composition has received less attention. This study firstly evaluated the use of commercially available rodent diets across research institutions, with 28 different diets reported by 45 survey respondents. Secondly, highly variable ingredient, FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols) and gluten content was found between different commercially available rodent diets. Finally, 40 mice were randomized to four groups, each receiving a different commercially available rodent diet, and the dietary impact on cecal microbiota, short- and branched-chain fatty acid profiles was evaluated. The gut microbiota composition differed significantly between diets and sexes, with significantly different clusters in ß-diversity. Total BCFA were highest (p = 0.01) and SCFA were lowest (p = 0.03) in mice fed a diet lower in FODMAPs and gluten. These results suggest that nutritional composition of commercially available rodent diets impact gut microbiota profiles and fermentation patterns, with major implications for the reproducibility of results across laboratories. However, further studies are required to elucidate the specific dietary factors driving these changes.

[Physiotherapy and COVID-19. From intensive care unit to home care-An overview of international guidelines]. / Kinésithérapie et COVID-19 : de la réanimation à la réhabilitation à domicile. Synthèse des recommandations internationales.

INTRODUCTION: The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for a global pandemic and many deaths. This context requires an adaptation of health systems as well as the role of each healthcare professional, including physiotherapists. STATE OF THE ART: In order to optimize the management of people with COVID-19, many savant societies published guidelines about physiotherapy interventions within the crisis but none offered a global overview from the intensive care unit to home care. Therefore, the aim of this review is to offer an overview of recommended physiotherapy interventions in order to facilitate the management of these patients, whatever the stage of the disease. PERSPECTIVES: Owing to the emergent character of the COVID-19, actual guidelines will have to be adjusted according to the evolution of the pandemic and the resources of the hospital and liberal sectors, in particular for the long-term follow-up of these patients. Current and future research will aim to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for people with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The emergence of COVID-19 required a very rapid adaptation of the health system. The role of physiotherapists is justified at every stage of patients care in order to limit the functional consequences of the disease.

Tannin-Rich Plants as Natural Manipulators of Rumen Fermentation in the Livestock Industry.

Condensed tannins (CTs) are plant anti-herbivore compounds with antimicrobial activity that can be used in ruminant diets as ruminal microbiome manipulators. However, not all CTs from fodder legumes are bioactive due to their wide structural diversity. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of 10 CT-containing plants (Flemingia macrophylla, Leucaena leucocephala, Stylosanthes guianensis, Gliricidia sepium, Cratylia argentea, Cajanus cajan, Desmodium ovalifolium, Macrotiloma axilare, D. paniculatum, and Lespedeza procumbens) on in vitro fermentation kinetics of Nelore beef cattle. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a specific CT-binding agent, was added to neutralize condensed tannin. Tifton and alfalfa hay were used as controls lacking CT. The experimental layout included a randomized complete block with factorial design and four blocks. The data were subjected to analysis of variance followed by Duncan's test to determine differences (p < 0.05) among treatment means. The addition of PEG in browse incubations resulted in increased gas production, fermentation rate, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and N-NH3 release. Within our study, Lespedeza procumbens, Desmodium paniculatum, Leucaena leucocephala, Desmodium ovalifolium, and Flemingia macrophylla showed superior bioactivity compared to other species evaluated, suggesting a natural alternative for replacing ionophores to modify ruminal fermentation. Condensed tannins from L. pocumbens, D. paniculatum, L. leucocephala, D. ovalifolium, and F. macrophylla have the potential to modify rumen fermentation in beef cattle.

Theoretical investigation of a genetic switch for metabolic adaptation.

Membrane transporters carry key metabolites across the cell membrane and, from a resource standpoint, are hypothesized to be produced when necessary. The expression of membrane transporters in metabolic pathways is often upregulated by the transporter substrate. In E. coli, such systems include for example the lacY, araFGH, and xylFGH genes, which encode for lactose, arabinose, and xylose transporters, respectively. As a case study of a minimal system, we build a generalizable physical model of the xapABR genetic circuit, which features a regulatory feedback loop via membrane transport (positive feedback) and enzymatic degradation (negative feedback) of an inducer. Dynamical systems analysis and stochastic simulations show that the membrane transport makes the model system bistable in certain parameter regimes. Thus, it serves as a genetic "on-off" switch, enabling the cell to only produce a set of metabolic enzymes when the corresponding metabolite is present in large amounts. We find that the negative feedback from the degradation enzyme does not significantly disturb the positive feedback from the membrane transporter. We investigate hysteresis in the switching and discuss the role of cooperativity and multiple binding sites in the model circuit. Fundamentally, this work explores how a stable genetic switch for a set of enzymes is obtained from transcriptional auto-activation of a membrane transporter through its substrate.

Seismic velocities of CaSiO3 perovskite can explain LLSVPs in Earth's lower mantle.

Seismology records the presence of various heterogeneities throughout the lower mantle1,2, but the origins of these signals-whether thermal or chemical-remain uncertain, and therefore much of the information that they hold about the nature of the deep Earth is obscured. Accurate interpretation of observed seismic velocities requires knowledge of the seismic properties of all of Earth's possible mineral components. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3) perovskite is believed to be the third most abundant mineral throughout the lower mantle. Here we simultaneously measure the crystal structure and the shear-wave and compressional-wave velocities of samples of CaSiO3 perovskite, and provide direct constraints on the adiabatic bulk and shear moduli of this material. We observe that incorporation of titanium into CaSiO3 perovskite stabilizes the tetragonal structure at higher temperatures, and that the material's shear modulus is substantially lower than is predicted by computations3-5 or thermodynamic datasets6. When combined with literature data and extrapolated, our results suggest that subducted oceanic crust will be visible as low-seismic-velocity anomalies throughout the lower mantle. In particular, we show that large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs) are consistent with moderate enrichment of recycled oceanic crust, and mid-mantle discontinuities can be explained by a tetragonal-cubic phase transition in Ti-bearing CaSiO3 perovskite.

Use of Auditing and Feedback in an Outpatient Hospice Setting: Quality and Pharmacoeconomic Oversight.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians play an important role in containing pharmaceutical spending at the patient level, as well as ensuring efficacy and quality outcomes, yet little research has examined how to achieve this goal. MEASURES: Using auditing and feedback (A&F) as part of a Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, we evaluated our community-based hospice program's prescribing habits for opioids, antipsychotics, and antidepressants and calculated oral pharmaceutical prescription costs per-patient-day. Quality of care was reflected by patient pain scores in electronic medical records. INTERVENTION: Our P&T Committee adopted an A&F approach to monitor and assess provider prescribing habits and cost. An already-existing pain quality improvement program assessed care quality. OUTCOMES: Pain relief either improved or was maintained while medication costs were reduced by over $1.00 per-patient-day from 2010 to 2011. CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: An active, hospice P&T Committee featuring A&F can significantly affect medication costs for a hospice program while maintaining or improving patient outcomes.

Gluten-free and low-FODMAP sourdoughs for patients with coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome: A clinical perspective.

Wheat- and gluten-containing products are often blamed for triggering a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms, and this has fueled demand for gluten-free products worldwide. The best studied 'gluten intolerance' is coeliac disease, an auto-immune disease that affects the small intestine. Coeliac disease occurs in 1% of the population and requires strict, life-long avoidance of gluten-containing foods as the only medical treatment. There is a larger group of individuals (around 10-15% of the population) who report a wide-range of gastrointestinal symptoms that respond well to a 'gluten-free diet', but who do not have coeliac disease - so called 'non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS)'. The team at Monash University has identified other factors in gluten-containing foods that may be responsible for symptoms in this group of individuals with so-called, NCGS. We have evidence that certain poorly absorbed short chain carbohydrates (called FODMAPs) present in many gluten-containing food products, induce symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, wind and altered bowel habit (associated with irritable bowel syndrome, IBS). Our research has shown that FODMAPs, and not gluten, triggered symptoms in NCGS. Going forward, there are great opportunities for the food industry to develop low FODMAP products for this group, as choice of grain variety and type of food processing technique can greatly reduce the FODMAP levels in foods. The use of sourdough cultures in bread making has been shown to reduce the quantities of FODMAPs (mostly fructan), resulting in bread products that are well tolerated by patients with IBS. Greater interaction between biomedical- and food-scientists will improve understanding about the clinical problems many consumers face, and lead to the development of food products that are better tolerated by this group.

Nutritional evaluation and productivity of supplemented sheep grazing in semiarid rangeland of northeastern Brazil.

Sheep production systems in Brazilian caatinga rangelands require supplementation adapted to changes in floristic and chemical composition as dry seasons progress. Meeting sheep nutritional needs in extensive semiarid systems is challenging because of sheep dietary preferences and habits. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the substitutive effect of concentrate supplementation on grazing sheep in the Brazilian caatinga rangeland and its consequences on performance in different seasons. The trial was conducted from March to August 2013 at Embrapa Goat and Sheep in Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. Thirty-two Brazilian Somali multiparous ewes were submitted to estrus synchronization and controlled breeding. At the start of the trial, ewes averaged 30.45 + 2.60 kg body weight (BW). Ewes were divided into four groups and individually offered 0, 200, 350, or 500 g supplement head-1 day-1. Intake prediction and digestibility trials were evaluated at three periods: rainy season (April), transition rainy-dry (June), and dry season (August). Sheep weights were taken every 14 days to measure their performance from late gestation until weaning. Ewe BW and body condition score changes were determined too. Lamb BW changes were also measured every 14 days from birth through weaning. A completely randomized design with split plot arrangement using eight replications was used for intake and digestibility measurements. The differences between supplement offered (0, 200, 350, and 500 g sheep-1) and season (rainy, transition rainy-dry, and dry) were submitted to analyses of variance and multiple means were separated, where differences were detected, using the Tukey's test. During lactation up through weaning, ewes supplemented at 500 g day-1 had greater BW than ewes without supplement. Ewes supplemented with 200 g concentrate head-1 day-1 had 9.1% greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW at weaning and their lambs had 19.7% greater birth and 16.6% heavier wean BW despite lower dry matter intake compared to unsupplemented animals. Supplementation with 200 g concentrate increased carrying capacity by 28.8% during the dry season and by 20.5% during the rainy season. This study confirmed that in the dry season, when quality of rangeland forages decreases, supplementation contributes to greater DMI, improves postpartum and lactation BW recovery of ewes, and contributes to greater lamb birth and wean weights. Moreover, supplementation leads to feed substitution effects that may increase rangeland resilience by mitigating overgrazing. Supplementation with 200 g concentrate can also prevent negative energy balance for grazing animals, improving longer postnatal recovery, longer intervals between parturitions, fewer double and is necessary to ensure a better BW at birth to lambs.

A Systematic Assessment and Monitoring Intervention to Improve Pain Management and Quality Reporting Among Home Hospice Patients.

BACKGROUND: Validated and reproducible means to systematically improve pain documentation and outcomes in home-based hospice populations are generally lacking. This article describes a novel electronic medical record (EMR)-embedded pain monitoring and management program for home-based hospice patients. MEASURES: Pain relief was measured by patients' self-defined pain within 48 hours of initiating care, recorded on a 0-10 pain scale. INTERVENTION: The Pain Continuous Quality Improvement Program consisted of EMR enhancements, staff engagement and training, and incentivizing techniques. OUTCOMES: The Pain Continuous Quality Improvement Program effectively improved documentation of pain and reduced the prevalence of unresolved problematic pain (e.g., lower average pain score ratings, decrease in patients reporting problematic pain after 48 hours of initiating care). CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: Integrating the upgraded EMR system into routine practice and workflow was critical to facilitating rapid recognition of escalating pain and inadequate pain management as well as allowing improving monitoring of patient outcomes and staff performance.

Review article: short chain fatty acids as potential therapeutic agents in human gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders.

BACKGROUND: Butyrate, propionate and acetate are short chain fatty acids (SCFA), important for maintaining a healthy colon and are considered as protective in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, they may also regulate immune responses and the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Consequently, their importance in a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases is emerging. AIMS: To review the physiology and metabolism of SCFA in humans, cellular and molecular mechanisms by which SCFA may act in health and disease, and approaches for therapeutic delivery of SCFA. METHODS: A PubMed literature search was conducted for clinical and pre-clinical studies using search terms: 'dietary fibre', short-chain fatty acids', 'acetate', 'propionate', 'butyrate', 'inflammation', 'immune', 'gastrointestinal', 'metabolism'. RESULTS: A wide range of pre-clinical evidence supports roles for SCFA as modulators of not only colonic function, but also multiple inflammatory and metabolic processes. SCFA are implicated in many autoimmune, allergic and metabolic diseases. However, translating effects of SCFA from animal studies to human disease is limited by physiological and dietary differences and by the challenge of delivering sufficient amounts of SCFA to the target sites that include the colon and the systemic circulation. Development of novel targeted approaches for colonic delivery, combined with postbiotic supplementation, may represent desirable strategies to achieve adequate targeted SCFA delivery. CONCLUSIONS: There is a large array of potential disease-modulating effects of SCFA. Adequate targeted delivery to the sites of action is the main limitation of such application. The ongoing development and evaluation of novel delivery techniques offer potential for translating promise to therapeutic benefit.

Fermentable short chain carbohydrate (FODMAP) content of common plant-based foods and processed foods suitable for vegetarian- and vegan-based eating patterns.

BACKGROUND: The low FODMAP (fermentable, oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols) diet is an effective strategy to improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, combining the low FODMAP diet with another dietary restriction such as vegetarianism/veganism is challenging. Greater knowledge about the FODMAP composition of plant-based foods and food processing practices common to vegetarian/vegan eating patterns would assist in the implementation of the diet in this patient population. The present study aimed to quantify the FODMAP content of plant-based foods common in vegetarian/vegan diets and to investigate whether food processing can impact FODMAP levels. METHODS: Total FODMAP content was quantified in 35 foods, including fructose-in-excess-of-glucose, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, galacto-oligosaccharide and total fructan, using high-performance-liquid-chromatography and enzymatic assays. The effects of cooking, sprouting, pickling, fermentation, activation and canning on FODMAP content were assessed. The Monash University criteria to classify foods as low FODMAP was used. RESULTS: Of the 35 foods, 20 were classified as low FODMAP, including canned coconut milk (0.24 g serve-1 ), dulse (0.02 serve-1 ), nutritional yeast (0.01 serve-1 ), soy cheese (0.03 serve-1 ), tempeh (0.26 serve-1 ), wheat gluten (0.13 serve-1 ) and wheat grass (0.05 serve-1 ). No FODMAPs were detected in agar-agar, egg replacer, vegan egg yolk, kelp noodles and spirulina. Food processing techniques that produced the greatest reduction in FODMAP content included pickling and canning. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a greater FODMAP composition knowledge of plant-based foods that can now be applied to the dietetic management of vegetarians/vegans requiring a low FODMAP diet. Food processing lowered the FODMAP content of foods, thereby increasing options for patients following a low FODMAP diet.

High xylan recovery using two stage alkali pre-treatment process from high lignin biomass and its valorisation to xylooligosaccharides of low degree of polymerisation.

In the present work, xylan from arecanut husk was extracted using 2 stage alkaline pretreatment process. In first step, biomass was incubated in alkali at different temperatures (25 °C, 50 °C and 65 °C), alkali concentrations (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% w/v), and incubation periods (8 h, 16 h and 24 h) and evaluated for xylan recovery. It was observed that 40-52% of available xylan could be recovered using 10% alkali when incubated for 8-24 h at 65 °C. Subsequently, the alkali pretreatment operating conditions which provided good xylan recovery were processed further using hydrothermal treatment to extract more xylan. For maximum xylan recovery (>90%), best operating conditions were identified when biomass was treated under hydrothermal treatment (1, 1.5 and 2 h) with varying incubation periods (8, 16, 24 h) and alkali concentrations (5%, 10%) using full factorial design. Incubating arecanut husk with 10% w/v NaOH, at 65 °C for a period of 8 h, followed by hydrothermal treatment at 121 °C for 1 h helped recover >94% xylan. In the next step, enzymatic hydrolysis process was optimized to recover maximum XOS (Optimized condition: 50 °C, pH 4 and 10 U enzyme dose). The hydrolysate comprised of xylobiose: 25.0 ±â€¯1.2 g/100 g xylan (∼71% of XOS), xylotriose: 9.2 ±â€¯0.65 g/100 g xylan (26.2% of XOS) and xylotetrose: 0.9 ±â€¯0.04 g/100 g xylan (2% of XOS). The developed process enables to reduce alkali consumption for high recovery of xylan from biomass with relatively higher lignin content for its valorisation into a potential prebiotic oligosaccharide.

[Cohort of patients initiated to home ventilation. Observational and prospective study]. / Cohorte de patients nouvellement traités par ventilation non invasive à domicile. Étude observationnelle, prospective et multicentrique.

Cohort of patients initiated to home ventilation. Observational and prospective study. The effectiveness of home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for chronic respiratory failure (CRF) is well established. However, few data are available about home NIV prescription and utilization according to the different etiologies of respiratory failure. The ANTADIR Federation, in partnership with the Ventilatory Support Group of the French Speaking Pulmonary Society, has set up a national, observational and multicenter cohort study. The main goal of this study is to analyze the clinical data justifying home NIV prescription in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. The secondary objectives will be to assess: the evolution of comorbidities or their occurrence, hospitalizations, NIV compliance, dropout and survival. The population includes patients with chronic respiratory failure newly initiated onto NIV, both in a stable state and following an acute exacerbation who qualify for long-term NIV. Data collected include: diagnosis and comorbidities, age, sex, BMI, biomarkers (hematocrit, arterial blood gases, total CO2) and functional data (FEV1, VC, TLC), nocturnal results (SaO2, PtcCO2), type of ventilator used, ventilator parameters and mask type. Follow-up data will be collected at 4 months, 1 year and 2 years and will include: hospitalizations, changes in prescription, adherence, dropouts and deaths. This work will make it possible to obtain new scientific information on long-term NIV use in France.