Showing papers by "University College Cork published in 2018"
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Gregory A. Roth1, Gregory A. Roth2, Degu Abate3, Kalkidan Hassen Abate4 +1025 more•Institutions (333)
TL;DR: Non-communicable diseases comprised the greatest fraction of deaths, contributing to 73·4% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 72·5–74·1) of total deaths in 2017, while communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional causes accounted for 18·6% (17·9–19·6), and injuries 8·0% (7·7–8·2).
5,211 citations
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Jeffrey D. Stanaway1, Ashkan Afshin1, Emmanuela Gakidou1, Stephen S Lim1 +1050 more•Institutions (346)
TL;DR: This study estimated levels and trends in exposure, attributable deaths, and attributable disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by age group, sex, year, and location for 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or groups of risks from 1990 to 2017 and explored the relationship between development and risk exposure.
2,910 citations
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Verneri Anttila1, Verneri Anttila2, Brendan Bulik-Sullivan1, Brendan Bulik-Sullivan2 +717 more•Institutions (270)
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that, in the general population, the personality trait neuroticism is significantly correlated with almost every psychiatric disorder and migraine, and it is shown that both psychiatric and neurological disorders have robust correlations with cognitive and personality measures.
Abstract: Disorders of the brain can exhibit considerable epidemiological comorbidity and often share symptoms, provoking debate about their etiologic overlap. We quantified the genetic sharing of 25 brain disorders from genome-wide association studies of 265,218 patients and 784,643 control participants and assessed their relationship to 17 phenotypes from 1,191,588 individuals. Psychiatric disorders share common variant risk, whereas neurological disorders appear more distinct from one another and from the psychiatric disorders. We also identified significant sharing between disorders and a number of brain phenotypes, including cognitive measures. Further, we conducted simulations to explore how statistical power, diagnostic misclassification, and phenotypic heterogeneity affect genetic correlations. These results highlight the importance of common genetic variation as a risk factor for brain disorders and the value of heritability-based methods in understanding their etiology.
1,357 citations
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Goethe University Frankfurt1, University of Maryland, College Park2, University of Guelph3, Duke University4, Radboud University Nijmegen5, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences6, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul7, University of Alberta8, Royal Veterinary College9, Wildlife Conservation Society10, Mississippi State University11, Sao Paulo State University12, Michigan Department of Natural Resources13, University of California, Davis14, Aarhus University15, Max Planck Society16, University of Potsdam17, Middle Tennessee State University18, Mammal Research Institute19, Harvard University20, Edmund Mach Foundation21, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute22, University of Évora23, University of Montpellier24, Monash University25, Parks Victoria26, Ohio State University27, Fiji National University28, University of Massachusetts Amherst29, United States Geological Survey30, University of Oxford31, Save the Elephants32, German Primate Center33, Technische Universität München34, Institute of Ecosystem Studies35, University of British Columbia36, University of Zurich37, University of Wyoming38, University of Washington39, University of Montana40, University of Freiburg41, Bavarian Forest National Park42, University of Toulouse43, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna44, University College Cork45, North Carolina State University46, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences47, Karatina University48, University of Lethbridge49, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory50, University of Valencia51, Stony Brook University52, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources53, University of Alicante54, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária55, University of Glasgow56, New York University57, University of Oslo58, Hebrew University of Jerusalem59, Norwegian University of Science and Technology60, Field Museum of Natural History61, University of Bayreuth62, University of Grenoble63, University of New South Wales64, Pennsylvania Game Commission65, Princeton University66, University of Konstanz67, University of Haifa68, Polish Academy of Sciences69, Instituto Superior de Agronomia70, University of Lisbon71, University of Porto72, University of California, Santa Cruz73, University of Pretoria74, Colorado State University75
TL;DR: Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, it is found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in area with a low human footprint.
Abstract: Animal movement is fundamental for ecosystem functioning and species survival, yet the effects of the anthropogenic footprint on animal movements have not been estimated across species. Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, we found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in areas with a low human footprint. We attribute this reduction to behavioral changes of individual animals and to the exclusion of species with long-range movements from areas with higher human impact. Global loss of vagility alters a key ecological trait of animals that affects not only population persistence but also ecosystem processes such as predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and disease transmission.
719 citations
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel1, University of Copenhagen2, University of Gothenburg3, New York University4, University of Pennsylvania5, University of Helsinki6, Wageningen University and Research Centre7, King's College London8, Institut national de la recherche agronomique9, University of Maryland, Baltimore10, Waseda University11, Harvard University12, University College Cork13, University of Minnesota14, University of Texas at Austin15, University of Warwick16, Stanford University17, Veterans Health Administration18, ETH Zurich19, Shanghai Jiao Tong University20, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven21, Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit22, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine23
TL;DR: The concept of enterotypes and their use to characterize the gut microbiome are debated, a classifier and standardized methodology is provided to aid cross-study comparisons, and a balanced application of the concept is encouraged.
Abstract: Population stratification is a useful approach for a better understanding of complex biological problems in human health and wellbeing. The proposal that such stratification applies to the human gut microbiome, in the form of distinct community composition types termed enterotypes, has been met with both excitement and controversy. In view of accumulated data and re-analyses since the original work, we revisit the concept of enterotypes, discuss different methods of dividing up the landscape of possible microbiome configurations, and put these concepts into functional, ecological and medical contexts. As enterotypes are of use in describing the gut microbial community landscape and may become relevant in clinical practice, we aim to reconcile differing views and encourage a balanced application of the concept.
622 citations
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TL;DR: For the first time, specific loci that distinguish between BD and SCZ are discovered and polygenic components underlying multiple symptom dimensions are identified that point to the utility of genetics to inform symptomology and potential treatment.
569 citations
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TL;DR: The factors shaping marine fish gut microbiota are reviewed and gaps in the research are highlighted and a clear understanding of the role that specific gut microbiota play is still lacking.
Abstract: The body of work relating to the gut microbiota of fish is dwarfed by that on humans and mammals. However, it is a field that has had historical interest and has grown significantly along with the expansion of the aquaculture industry and developments in microbiome research. Research is now moving quickly in this field. Much recent focus has been on nutritional manipulation and modification of the gut microbiota to meet the needs of fish farming, while trying to maintain host health and welfare. However, the diversity amongst fish means that baseline data from wild fish and a clear understanding of the role that specific gut microbiota play is still lacking. We review here the factors shaping marine fish gut microbiota and highlight gaps in the research.
481 citations
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TL;DR: Treatment with AR101 resulted in higher doses of peanut protein that could be ingested without dose‐limiting symptoms and in lower symptom severity during peanut exposure at the exit food challenge than placebo, in this phase 3 trial of oral immunotherapy in children and adolescents who were highly allergic to peanut.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Peanut allergy, for which there are no approved treatment options, affects patients who are at risk for unpredictable and occasionally life-threatening allergic reactions. METHODS In a phase 3 trial, we screened participants 4 to 55 years of age with peanut allergy for allergic dose-limiting symptoms at a challenge dose of 100 mg or less of peanut protein (approximately one third of a peanut kernel) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Participants with an allergic response were randomly assigned, in a 3:1 ratio, to receive AR101 (a peanut-derived investigational biologic oral immunotherapy drug) or placebo in an escalating-dose program. Participants who completed the regimen (i.e., received 300 mg per day of the maintenance regimen for approximately 24 weeks) underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge at trial exit. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of participants 4 to 17 years of age who could ingest a challenge dose of 600 mg or more, without dose-limiting symptoms. RESULTS Of the 551 participants who received AR101 or placebo, 496 were 4 to 17 years of age; of these, 250 of 372 participants (67.2%) who received active treatment, as compared with 5 of 124 participants (4.0%) who received placebo, were able to ingest a dose of 600 mg or more of peanut protein, without dose-limiting symptoms, at the exit food challenge (difference, 63.2 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, 53.0 to 73.3; P<0.001). During the exit food challenge, the maximum severity of symptoms was moderate in 25% of the participants in the active-drug group and 59% of those in the placebo group and severe in 5% and 11%, respectively. Adverse events during the intervention period affected more than 95% of the participants 4 to 17 years of age. A total of 34.7% of the participants in the active-drug group had mild events, as compared with 50.0% of those in the placebo group; 59.7% and 44.4% of the participants, respectively, had events that were graded as moderate, and 4.3% and 0.8%, respectively, had events that were graded as severe. Efficacy was not shown in the participants 18 years of age or older. CONCLUSIONS In this phase 3 trial of oral immunotherapy in children and adolescents who were highly allergic to peanut, treatment with AR101 resulted in higher doses of peanut protein that could be ingested without dose-limiting symptoms and in lower symptom severity during peanut exposure at the exit food challenge than placebo. (Funded by Aimmune Therapeutics; PALISADE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02635776 .).
452 citations
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TL;DR: Administration of SCFAs to mice undergoing psychosocial stress alleviates enduring alterations in anhedonia and heightened stress‐responsiveness, as well as stress‐induced increases in intestinal permeability, informing the development of microbiota‐targeted therapies for stress‐related disorders.
Abstract: Key points Chronic (psychosocial) stress changes gut microbiota composition, as well as inducing behavioural and physiological deficits. The microbial metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been implicated in gastrointestinal functional, (neuro)immune regulation and host metabolism, but their role in stress-induced behavioural and physiological alterations is poorly understood. Administration of SCFAs to mice undergoing psychosocial stress alleviates enduring alterations in anhedonia and heightened stress-responsiveness, as well as stress-induced increases in intestinal permeability. In contrast, chronic stress-induced alterations in body weight gain, faecal SCFAs and the gene expression of the SCFA receptors FFAR2 and FFAR3 remained unaffected by SCFA supplementation. These results present novel insights into mechanisms underpinning the influence of the gut microbiota on brain homeostasis, behaviour and host metabolism, informing the development of microbiota-targeted therapies for stress-related disorders. Abstract There is a growing recognition of the involvement of the gastrointestinal microbiota in the regulation of physiology and behaviour. Microbiota-derived metabolites play a central role in the communication between microbes and their host, with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) being perhaps the most studied. SCFAs are primarily derived from fermentation of dietary fibres and play a pivotal role in host gut, metabolic and immune function. All these factors have previously been demonstrated to be adversely affected by stress. Therefore, we sought to assess whether SCFA supplementation could counteract the enduring effects of chronic psychosocial stress. C57BL/6J male mice received oral supplementation of a mixture of the three principle SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate). One week later, mice underwent 3 weeks of repeated psychosocial stress, followed by a comprehensive behavioural analysis. Finally, plasma corticosterone, faecal SCFAs and caecal microbiota composition were assessed. SCFA treatment alleviated psychosocial stress-induced alterations in reward-seeking behaviour, and increased responsiveness to an acute stressor and in vivo intestinal permeability. In addition, SCFAs exhibited behavioural test-specific antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, which were not present when mice had also undergone psychosocial stress. Stress-induced increases in body weight gain, faecal SCFAs and the colonic gene expression of the SCFA receptors free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 remained unaffected by SCFA supplementation. Moreover, there were no collateral effects on caecal microbiota composition. Taken together, these data show that SCFA supplementation alleviates selective and enduring alterations induced by repeated psychosocial stress and these data may inform future research into microbiota-targeted therapies for stress-related disorders.
382 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a review of the emergence of hydrogen within low-carbon pathways from different integrated energy system models, with drivers, marginal abatement costs and timing of hydrogen emergence assessed.
Abstract: This study provides a review of the emergence of hydrogen within low-carbon pathways from different integrated energy system models. The objective is to understand the drivers and policy scenarios that lead to the emergence of hydrogen over other low-carbon technologies. The review is divided into global, multi-regional and national integrated energy system models with drivers, marginal abatement costs and timing of hydrogen emergence assessed. Hydrogen's use in energy systems is complex as a result of its relationship with other energy sources. It was found that bioenergy can act as both a competitor and driver for hydrogen energy, along with increased electrification and high renewable electricity scenarios. However, electric vehicles are a main competitor in the passenger vehicle sector. In reviewed results, hydrogen mainly emerges after 2030; although, some technologies emerge as early as 2020 and as late as 2050. The uncertainty and complexity surrounding hydrogen may be as a result of the difficulty of representing hydrogen technologies and systems in energy system models. This study can allow policy makers to assess the various options to be considered regarding hydrogen and make informed decisions for moving towards a decarbonised energy system.
369 citations
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TL;DR: The gut microbiota is discussed as a regulator of anxiety and depression, the role of gut-derived peptides as signaling molecules in microbiome–gut–brain communication is explored, and gut peptide concentrations vary according to the composition of the intestinal microbiota.
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University College Cork1, Columbia University2, ICM Partners3, University of Lyon4, Centre national de la recherche scientifique5, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital6, University of Cambridge7, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research8, University College London9, Paris Descartes University10, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center11, University of Turku12, French Institute of Health and Medical Research13, University of Orléans14
TL;DR: This article focuses on emerging mechanisms for promoting the clearance of neurotoxic proteins, a strategy that may curtail the onset and slow the progression of NDAs.
Abstract: Neurodegenerative disorders of ageing such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and Huntington disease are characterized by the presence of neurotoxic misfolded and aggregated proteins. One reason underlying the accumulation of these proteins is insufficient clearance by intracellular and extracellular pathways such as the autophagic–lysosomal network and the glymph system. This article reviews the potential for therapeutically enhancing the clearance of neurotoxic proteins to curtail the onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders of ageing. Neurodegenerative disorders of ageing (NDAs) such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis represent a major socio-economic challenge in view of their high prevalence yet poor treatment. They are often called 'proteinopathies' owing to the presence of misfolded and aggregated proteins that lose their physiological roles and acquire neurotoxic properties. One reason underlying the accumulation and spread of oligomeric forms of neurotoxic proteins is insufficient clearance by the autophagic–lysosomal network. Several other clearance pathways are also compromised in NDAs: chaperone-mediated autophagy, the ubiquitin–proteasome system, extracellular clearance by proteases and extrusion into the circulation via the blood–brain barrier and glymphatic system. This article focuses on emerging mechanisms for promoting the clearance of neurotoxic proteins, a strategy that may curtail the onset and slow the progression of NDAs.
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University of Toronto1, University of Texas at Austin2, New York Academy of Sciences3, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation4, Food and Drug Administration5, University College Cork6, Tufts University7, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention8, Queen Mary University of London9, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition10, Mayo Clinic11, University of Saskatchewan12
TL;DR: If a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is identified or the risk for vitamin D deficiencies is determined to be high based on proxy indicators, food fortification and/or targeted vitamin D supplementation policies can be implemented to reduce the burden ofitamin D deficiency–related conditions in vulnerable populations.
Abstract: Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone health and may influence the risks of respiratory illness, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and chronic diseases of adulthood. Because many countries have a relatively low supply of foods rich in vitamin D and inadequate exposure to natural ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight, an important proportion of the global population is at risk of vitamin D deficiency. There is general agreement that the minimum serum/plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25(OH)D) that protects against vitamin D deficiency-related bone disease is approximately 30 nmol/L; therefore, this threshold is suitable to define vitamin D deficiency in population surveys. However, efforts to assess the vitamin D status of populations in low- and middle-income countries have been hampered by limited availability of population-representative 25(OH)D data, particularly among population subgroups most vulnerable to the skeletal and potential extraskeletal consequences of low vitamin D status, namely exclusively breastfed infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly. In the absence of 25(OH)D data, identification of communities that would benefit from public health interventions to improve vitamin D status may require proxy indicators of the population risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as the prevalence of rickets or metrics of usual UVB exposure. If a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is identified (>20% prevalence of 25(OH)D 1%), food fortification and/or targeted vitamin D supplementation policies can be implemented to reduce the burden of vitamin D deficiency-related conditions in vulnerable populations.
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Christopher J L Murray1, Charlton S K H Callender1, Xie Rachel Kulikoff1, Vinay Srinivasan1 +1092 more•Institutions (424)
TL;DR: This work estimated population in 195 locations by single year of age and single calendar year from 1950 to 2017 with standardised and replicable methods and used the cohort-component method of population projection, with inputs of fertility, mortality, population, and migration data.
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TL;DR: Increasing age was found to be associated with an increased risk of depersonalisation but also a heightened sense of personal accomplishment, and staff working in community mental health teams may be more vulnerable to burnout.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors performed two genome-wide association studies (GWASs), on HapMap and 1000 Genomes imputed data, of circulating amounts of CRP by using data from 88 studies comprising 204,402 European individuals.
Abstract: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive biomarker of chronic low-grade inflammation and is associated with multiple complex diseases. The genetic determinants of chronic inflammation remain largely unknown, and the causal role of CRP in several clinical outcomes is debated. We performed two genome-wide association studies (GWASs), on HapMap and 1000 Genomes imputed data, of circulating amounts of CRP by using data from 88 studies comprising 204,402 European individuals. Additionally, we performed in silico functional analyses and Mendelian randomization analyses with several clinical outcomes. The GWAS meta-analyses of CRP revealed 58 distinct genetic loci (p < 5 × 10−8). After adjustment for body mass index in the regression analysis, the associations at all except three loci remained. The lead variants at the distinct loci explained up to 7.0% of the variance in circulating amounts of CRP. We identified 66 gene sets that were organized in two substantially correlated clusters, one mainly composed of immune pathways and the other characterized by metabolic pathways in the liver. Mendelian randomization analyses revealed a causal protective effect of CRP on schizophrenia and a risk-increasing effect on bipolar disorder. Our findings provide further insights into the biology of inflammation and could lead to interventions for treating inflammation and its clinical consequences.
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TL;DR: Bacteriophages of the crAssphage family have not yet been isolated in culture and it is shown that it infects the human gut symbiont Bacteroides intestinalis, confirming previous in silico predictions of the likely host.
Abstract: CrAssphages are an extensive and ubiquitous family of tailed bacteriophages, predicted to infect bacteria of the order Bacteroidales. Despite being found in ~50% of individuals and representing up to 90% of human gut viromes, members of this viral family have never been isolated in culture and remain understudied. Here, we report the isolation of a CrAssphage (ΦCrAss001) from human faecal material. This bacteriophage infects the human gut symbiont Bacteroides intestinalis, confirming previous in silico predictions of the likely host. DNA sequencing demonstrates that the bacteriophage genome is circular, 102 kb in size, and has unusual structural traits. In addition, electron microscopy confirms that ΦcrAss001 has a podovirus-like morphology. Despite the absence of obvious lysogeny genes, ΦcrAss001 replicates in a way that does not disrupt proliferation of the host bacterium, and is able to maintain itself in continuous host culture during several weeks. Bacteriophages of the crAssphage family have not yet been isolated, despite being highly abundant in the human gut. Here, Shkoporov et al. isolate in pure culture one of these viruses and show that it infects the human gut symbiont Bacteroides intestinalis.
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University of Copenhagen1, James Cook University Hospital2, University College Cork3, University of Pavia4, University of Turin5, Sapienza University of Rome6, University of Padua7, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich8, Cork University Hospital9, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust10, Université Paris-Saclay11
TL;DR: An expert panel drawn from a range of disciplines from dermatology, general surgery, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, and oncology met to form a consensus opinion to update the SOPs based on the experience obtained, and contains updated recommendations for indications for electrochemotherapy.
Abstract: Electrochemotherapy is now in routine clinical use to treat cutaneous metastases of any histology, and is listed in national and international guidelines for cutaneous metastases and primary skin cancer. Electrochemotherapy is used by dermatologists, surgeons, and oncologists, and for different degrees and manifestations of metastases to skin and primary skin tumours not amenable to surgery. This treatment utilises electric pulses to permeabilize cell membranes in tumours, thus allowing a dramatic increase of the cytotoxicity of anti-cancer agents. Response rates, often after only one treatment, are very high across all tumour types. The most frequent indications are cutaneous metastases from malignant melanoma and breast cancer. In 2006, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were written for this novel technology, greatly facilitating introduction and dissemination of the therapy. Since then considerable experience has been obtained treating a wider range of tumour histologies and increasing size of tumours which was not originally thought possible. A pan-European expert panel drawn from a range of disciplines from dermatology, general surgery, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, and oncology met to form a consensus opinion to update the SOPs based on the experience obtained. This paper contains these updated recommendations for indications for electrochemotherapy, pre-treatment information and evaluation, treatment choices, as well as follow-up.
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University of Graz1, Synlab Group2, University College Cork3, University of Saskatchewan4, Boston Medical Center5, Public Health Research Institute6, University of Bern7, Paracelsus Private Medical University of Salzburg8, Medical University of South Carolina9, Aarhus University Hospital10, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki11, Leibniz University of Hanover12, University of Zurich13, Saarland University14, University of Tromsø15, University of Vienna16, University of Toronto17, University of Auckland18, Food and Drug Administration19, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven20, VU University Medical Center21, University of Helsinki22, Queen Mary University of London23, Ruhr University Bochum24
TL;DR: Systematic vitamin D food fortification is an effective approach to improve vitamin D status in the general population and this has already been introduced by countries such as the US, Canada, India, and Finland.
Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency can lead to musculoskeletal diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia, but vitamin D supplementation may also prevent extraskeletal diseases such as respiratory tract infections, asthma exacerbations, pregnancy complications and premature deaths. Vitamin D has a unique metabolism as it is mainly obtained through synthesis in the skin under the influence of sunlight (i.e., ultraviolet-B radiation) whereas intake by nutrition traditionally plays a relatively minor role. Dietary guidelines for vitamin D are based on a consensus that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations are used to assess vitamin D status, with the recommended target concentrations ranging from ≥25 to ≥50 nmol/L (≥10-≥20 ng/mL), corresponding to a daily vitamin D intake of 10 to 20 μg (400-800 international units). Most populations fail to meet these recommended dietary vitamin D requirements. In Europe, 25(OH)D concentrations <30 nmol/L (12 ng/mL) and <50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) are present in 13.0 and 40.4% of the general population, respectively. This substantial gap between officially recommended dietary reference intakes for vitamin D and the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the general population requires action from health authorities. Promotion of a healthier lifestyle with more outdoor activities and optimal nutrition are definitely warranted but will not erase vitamin D deficiency and must, in the case of sunlight exposure, be well balanced with regard to potential adverse effects such as skin cancer. Intake of vitamin D supplements is limited by relatively poor adherence (in particular in individuals with low-socioeconomic status) and potential for overdosing. Systematic vitamin D food fortification is, however, an effective approach to improve vitamin D status in the general population, and this has already been introduced by countries such as the US, Canada, India, and Finland. Recent advances in our knowledge on the safety of vitamin D treatment, the dose-response relationship of vitamin D intake and 25(OH)D levels, as well as data on the effectiveness of vitamin D fortification in countries such as Finland provide a solid basis to introduce and modify vitamin D food fortification in order to improve public health with this likewise cost-effective approach.
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TL;DR: Preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that targeting the microbiota through prebiotic, probiotic, or dietary interventions may be an effective “psychobiotic” strategy for treating symptoms in mood, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Abstract: There is a growing appreciation of the role of the gut microbiota in all aspects of health and disease, including brain health. Indeed, roles for the bacterial commensals in various psychiatric and neurological conditions, such as depression, autism, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, are emerging. Microbiota dysregulation has been documented in all of these conditions or in animal models thereof. Moreover, depletion or modulation of the gut microbiota can affect the severity of the central pathology or behavioral deficits observed in a variety of brain disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying such effects are only slowly being unraveled. Additionally, recent preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that targeting the microbiota through prebiotic, probiotic, or dietary interventions may be an effective "psychobiotic" strategy for treating symptoms in mood, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Aristotle University of Thessaloniki1, Graz University of Technology2, University College Cork3, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria4, University of Paris5, French Institute of Health and Medical Research6, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven7, Finnish Environment Institute8, University of Helsinki9, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech10, Université catholique de Louvain11, Spanish National Research Council12, University College London13
TL;DR: It is urged that the lifestyle-microbiota-human health nexus be taken into account in societal decision making and within the broader context of terrestrial and aquatic microbial ecosystems that are challenged by the human lifestyle and by agricultural and industrial activities.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the salient features of National Biofuel Policy of India that helps in regulating the bio-fuels production and their marketing are discussed, and the current state of energy demand, progression of biofuel sources and the bottlenecks in micro-algal biofuel production and commercialization.
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TL;DR: A better understanding of the dialogue sustained by the microbiota-gut-brain axis and innate immunity via TLR signaling should bring interesting insights in the pathophysiology of PD and provide novel dietary and/or therapeutic measures aimed at shaping the gut microbiota composition, improving the intestinal epithelial barrier function and balancing the innate immune response in PD patients.
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by α-synucleinopathy, which involves all districts of the brain-gut axis, including the central, autonomic and enteric nervous systems. The highly bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut is markedly influenced by the microbiome through integrated immunological, neuroendocrine and neurological processes. The gut microbiota and its relevant metabolites interact with the host via a series of biochemical and functional inputs, thereby affecting host homeostasis and health. Indeed, a dysregulated microbiota-gut-brain axis in PD might lie at the basis of gastrointestinal dysfunctions which predominantly emerge many years prior to the diagnosis, corroborating the theory that the pathological process is spread from the gut to the brain. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in innate immunity by recognizing conserved motifs primarily found in microorganisms and a dysregulation in their signaling may be implicated in α-synucleinopathy, such as PD. An overstimulation of the innate immune system due to gut dysbiosis and/or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, together with higher intestinal barrier permeability, may provoke local and systemic inflammation as well as enteric neuroglial activation, ultimately triggering the development of alpha-synuclein pathology. In this review, we provide the current knowledge regarding the relationship between the microbiota-gut–brain axis and TLRs in PD. A better understanding of the dialogue sustained by the microbiota-gut-brain axis and innate immunity via TLR signaling should bring interesting insights in the pathophysiology of PD and provide novel dietary and/or therapeutic measures aimed at shaping the gut microbiota composition, improving the intestinal epithelial barrier function and balancing the innate immune response in PD patients, in order to influence the early phases of the following neurodegenerative cascade.
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TL;DR: Comparing genomics and taxonomic analysis enabled a classification scheme of crAss-like phages from human fecal microbiomes into four candidate subfamilies composed of ten candidate genera, and mass spectrometry of a crAss -like phage capsid protein could be linked to metagenomic sequencing data, confirming crAss, like phage structural annotations.
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TL;DR: Inclusion of mesentery in ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease is associated with reduced recurrence requiring reoperation and the mesenteric disease activity index was significantly worse in smokers and correlated with increases in circulating fibrocytes.
Abstract: Background and Aims Inclusion of the mesentery during resection for colorectal cancer is associated with improved outcomes but has yet to be evaluated in Crohn's disease. This study aimed to determine the rate of surgical recurrence after inclusion of mesentery during ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease. Methods Surgical recurrence rates were compared between two cohorts. Cohort A [n = 30] underwent conventional ileocolic resection where the mesentery was divided flush with the intestine. Cohort B [n = 34] underwent resection which included excision of the mesentery. The relationship between mesenteric disease severity and surgical recurrence was determined in a separate cohort [n = 94]. A mesenteric disease activity index was developed to quantify disease severity. This was correlated with the Crohn's disease activity index and the fibrocyte percentage in circulating white cells. Results Cumulative reoperation rates were 40% and 2.9% in cohorts A and B [P = 0.003], respectively. Surgical technique was an independent determinant of outcome [P = 0.007]. Length of resected intestine was shorter in cohort B, whilst lymph node yield was higher [12.25 ± 13 versus 2.4 ± 2.9, P = 0.002]. Advanced mesenteric disease predicted increased surgical recurrence [Hazard Ratio 4.7, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.71-13.01, P = 0.003]. The mesenteric disease activity index correlated with the mucosal disease activity index [r = 0.76, p < 0.0001] and the Crohn's disease activity index [r = 0.70, p < 0.0001]. The mesenteric disease activity index was significantly worse in smokers and correlated with increases in circulating fibrocytes. Conclusions Inclusion of mesentery in ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease is associated with reduced recurrence requiring reoperation.
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TL;DR: Theseus as mentioned in this paper is a space mission concept aimed at exploiting Gamma-Ray Bursts for investigating the early Universe and at providing a substantial advancement of multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics.
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QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute1, Loyola University New Orleans2, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center3, United States Environmental Protection Agency4, University of Wollongong5, North Carolina State University6, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki7, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research8, Lancaster University9, Australian National University10, Garvan Institute of Medical Research11, University of Manchester12, University of Sydney13, Erasmus University Rotterdam14, King's College London15, University of Helsinki16, Murdoch University17, University College Cork18, University of Buenos Aires19, Miami University20, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute21, National Autonomous University of Mexico22, Linnaeus University23, University of Gothenburg24, National Cheng Kung University25, National Center for Atmospheric Research26, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology27, University of Guelph28, Leibniz Association29, Finnish Meteorological Institute30
TL;DR: The present 2017 Update Report assesses some of the highlights and new insights about the interactive nature of the direct and indirect effects of UV radiation, atmospheric processes, and climate change.
Abstract: This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595-828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.
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TL;DR: In this article, 3D printing was investigated for food applications, using a commercially available processed cheese as the printing material, after melting at 75°C for 12min, the processed cheese was printed using a modified commercial 3D printer at low or high extrusion rates.
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TL;DR: This review will focus on how the intestinal microorganisms interact with elements of the host neuroendocrine system to modify behaviours relevant to stress, eating behaviour, sexual behaviour, social behaviour, cognition and addiction.
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TL;DR: Among nonpregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, the use of thyroid hormone therapy was not associated with improvements in general quality of life or thyroid-related symptoms, and these findings do not support the routine use of thyrotropin therapy.
Abstract: Importance
The benefit of thyroid hormone therapy for subclinical hypothyroidism is uncertain. New evidence from recent large randomized clinical trials warrants an update of previous meta-analyses.
Objective
To conduct a meta-analysis of the association of thyroid hormone therapy with quality of life and thyroid-related symptoms in adults with subclinical hypothyroidism.
Data Sources
PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier from inception until July 4, 2018.
Study Selection
Randomized clinical trials that compared thyroid hormone therapy with placebo or no therapy in nonpregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism were eligible. Two reviewers independently evaluated eligibility based on titles and abstracts of all retrieved studies. Studies not excluded in this first step were independently assessed for inclusion after full-text evaluation by 2 reviewers.
Data Extraction and Synthesis
Two independent reviewers extracted data, assessed risk of bias (Cochrane risk-of-bias tool), and evaluated the quality of evidence (GRADE tool). For synthesis, differences in clinical scores were transformed (eg, quality of life) into standardized mean differences (SMDs; positive values indicate benefit of thyroid hormone therapy; 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 correspond to small, moderate, and large effects, respectively). Random-effects models for meta-analyses were applied.
Main Outcomes and Measures
General quality of life and thyroid-related symptoms after a minimum follow-up of 3 months.
Results
Overall, 21 of 3088 initially identified publications met the inclusion criteria, with 2192 adults randomized. After treatment (range, 3-18 months), thyroid hormone therapy was associated with lowering the mean thyrotropin value into the normal reference range compared with placebo (range, 0.5-3.7 mIU/L vs 4.6 to 14.7 mIU/L) but was not associated with benefit regarding general quality of life (n = 796; SMD, -0.11; 95% CI, -0.25 to 0.03; I2=66.7%) or thyroid-related symptoms (n = 858; SMD, 0.01; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.14; I2=0.0%). Overall, risk of bias was low and the quality of evidence assessed with the GRADE tool was judged moderate to high.
Conclusions and Relevance
Among nonpregnant adults with subclinical hypothyroidism, the use of thyroid hormone therapy was not associated with improvements in general quality of life or thyroid-related symptoms. These findings do not support the routine use of thyroid hormone therapy in adults with subclinical hypothyroidism.