Background. Probiotic oral intake, via modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, can impact brain activity, mood, and behavior; therefore, it may be beneficial against psychological distress and ...anxiety disorders. Inflammatory cytokines can influence the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative mood disorders, and the IL-1β rs16944 SNP is related to high cytokine levels and potentially affects mood disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of IL-1β polymorphism and probiotic administration in mood disorder phenotypes in the Italian population. Methods. 150 subjects were randomized into two different groups, probiotic oral suspension group (POSG) and placebo control group (PCG), and received the relative treatment for 12 weeks. Psychological profile assessment by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL90R) was administered to all volunteers. Genotyping was performed on DNA extracted from salivary samples. Results. After 12 weeks of intervention, a significant reduction of HAM-A total score was detected in the POSG (p<0.01), compared to the PCG. Furthermore, IL-1β carriers have moderate risk to develop anxiety (OR=5.90), and in POSG IL-1β carriers, we observed a reduction of HAM-A score (p=0.02). Conclusions. Consumption of probiotics mitigates anxiety symptoms, especially in healthy adults with the minor A allele of rs16944 as a risk factor. Our results encourage the use of probiotics in anxiety disorders and suggest genetic association studies for psychobiotic-personalized therapy.
To verify safety respect to weight loss, cardiometabolic diseases of short-term Very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKDs, <800 kcal day-1).
Randomized cross-over trial with placebo. The study had no. ...2 dietary treatment (DT), conducted in two arms: (1) VLCKD1 in which 50% of protein intake is replaced with synthetic amino acids; (2) VLCKD2 with placebo. The VLCKDs (<800 kcal day-1) were different in term of protein content and quality each arm lasted three weeks (wks). Between the two arms a 3-wks washout period was performed to avoid additive effects on DT to follow. At the baseline, at start and end of each arm, all the subjects were evaluated for their health and nutritional status, by anthropometric analysis, body composition (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), Bioimpedentiometry, biochemical evaluation, and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPAR) γ expression by transcriptomic analysis.
After VLCKD1 were reduced: Body Mass Index (BMI) (Δ%=-11.1%, p=0.00), Total Body Water (TBW) (p<0.05); Android Fat Percentage (AFP) (Δ%=-1.8%, p=0.02); Android Fat Mass (AFM) (Δ%=-12.7%, p=0.00); Gynoid Fat Mass (GFM) (Δ%=-6.3%, p=0.01); Intermuscular Adipose Tissue (IMAT) (Δ%= -11.1%, p=0.00); Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Re-sistance (HOMA-IR) (Δ%=-62.1%, p=0.01). After VLCKD1 a significant increase of uricemia, cre-atinine and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (respectively Δ%=35%, p=0.01; Δ%=5.9%, p=0.02; Δ%=25.5%, p=0.03). After VLCKD2 were reduced: BMI (Δ%=-11.2%, p=0.00); AFM (Δ%=-14.3%, p=0.00); GFM (Δ%=-6.3%, p=0.00); Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (ASMMI) (Δ%=-17.5%, p=0.00); HOMA-IR (Δ%=-59,4%, p=0.02). After VLCKD2, uricemia (Δ%=63.1%, p=0.03), and Vitamin D levels (Δ%=25.7%, p=0.02) were increased. No significant changes of car-diovascular disease (CVD) indexes were observed after DTs. No significant changes of PPARγ lev-el in any DTs.
21-days VLCKDs not impair nutritional state; not cause negative changes in global measurements of nutritional state including sarcopenia, bone mineral content, hepatic, renal and lipid profile.
Among the genes involved in obesity, the Fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is certainly one of the most known and the relation between FTO rs9939609 and BMI is highly discussed; ...nevertheless, data about its influence on body composition are limited.
We carried out a study on a sample of 1066 Italian subjects, whose body composition and FTO rs9939609 were analyzed.
We found significant relations between FTO with arm (p=0.01), abdomen (p=0.00), and trunk circumferences (p=0.00), BMI (p=0.01), FM% (p=0.00), and android FM% (p=0.01), whereas no relations were found between FTO and both gynoid fat and lean mass.
To conclude, the relation between FTO and BMI is confirmed and is related specifically with android FM%. These results indicated that FTO rs9939609 may be a genetic etiological factor for obesity. Indeed, the specificity for the android FM% would indicate FTO as an etiological factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Background. Probiotic oral intake, via modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, can impact brain activity, mood, and behavior; therefore, it may be beneficial against psychological distress and ...anxiety disorders. Inflammatory cytokines can influence the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative mood disorders, and the IL-1beta rs16944 SNP is related to high cytokine levels and potentially affects mood disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of IL-1beta polymorphism and probiotic administration in mood disorder phenotypes in the Italian population. Methods. 150 subjects were randomized into two different groups, probiotic oral suspension group (POSG) and placebo control group (PCG), and received the relative treatment for 12 weeks. Psychological profile assessment by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL90R) was administered to all volunteers. Genotyping was performed on DNA extracted from salivary samples. Results. After 12 weeks of intervention, a significant reduction of HAM-A total score was detected in the POSG (p < 0.01), compared to the PCG. Furthermore, IL-1beta carriers have moderate risk to develop anxiety (OR= 5.90), and in POSG IL-1beta carriers, we observed a reduction of HAM-A score (p = 0.02). Conclusions. Consumption of probiotics mitigates anxiety symptoms, especially in healthy adults with the minor A allele of rs16944 as a risk factor. Our results encourage the use of probiotics in anxiety disorders and suggest genetic association studies for psychobiotic-personalized therapy.
The authors describe the incidence and mortality rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related female cancers in Umbria (Italy) in the pre-vaccination period from 1978-2008. Joinpoint regression was ...applied on age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates to evaluate temporal trends. Mouth and pharynx cancers incidence and mortality trends decreased about three percent per year. For anus and anal canal cancer, incidence and mortality trends presented a non-significant decrease. For malignant neoplasm of vulva, a significant change was found in incidence trend: the annual percentage change decreased from 2001 (- 1.8%). Mortality trend showed a non-significant decrease. Incidence and mortality rates from vaginal cancer were non-significantly decreased. For malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, incidence rates showed a significant decrease by 2.1% per year. Mortality rates decreased as well, although non-significantly. HPV-related cancers consistently decreased in Umbria. This trend may be a consequence of safer sexual behavior. For cervical cancer, a combination of opportunistic and programmed screening led to a much-reduced disease burden. It is expected that the implementation of vaccination in the future will lead to a further decrease of HPV-related cancer incidence and mortality.