An objective assessment of stress is needed to manage stress and prevent the development of stress-related diseases such as depression and coronary heart disease. In this paper, we discussed the ...possibility of applying saliva to an assessment of stress. We illustrated the procedures for collecting and analyzing saliva, and reviewed the relationships of acute, chronic, psychological, or physical stress to seven salivary substances: Cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Testosterone, Chromogranin A, 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyglycol, α-Amylase, and Secretory Immunoglobulin A. Considering unique characteristics of each salivary substance and purposes of the study or the non-invasive assessment, salivary substances should be selected for the assessment of stress.
BACKGROUND:It is increasingly recognized that gut microbiota play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Previously, we have reported that the abundance of genus ...Bacteroides is lower in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) than in patients without CAD with coronary risk factors or in healthy volunteers. However, it remains unclear which and how specific gut bacteria contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis.
METHODS:We recruited patients with CAD patients and controls without CAD with coronary risk factors. We then compared gut microbial composition using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing in fecal samples to detect species with differential abundance between 2 groups. Subsequently, we used atherosclerosis-prone mice to study the mechanisms underlying the relationship between such species and atherosclerosis.
RESULTS:Human fecal 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing revealed a significantly lower abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus and Bacteroides dorei in patients with CAD. This significant differential abundance was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gavage with live B. vulgatus and B. dorei attenuated atherosclerotic lesion formation in atherosclerosis-prone mice, markedly ameliorating endotoxemia followed by decreasing gut microbial lipopolysaccharide production, effectively suppressing proinflammatory immune responses. Furthermore, fecal lipopolysaccharide levels in patients with CAD were significantly higher and negatively correlated with the abundance of B. vulgatus and B. dorei.
CONCLUSIONS:Our translational research findings identify a previously unknown link between specific gut bacteria and atherosclerosis. Treatment with live B. vulgatus and B. dorei may help prevent CAD.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:URLhttps://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000018051. Unique identifierUMIN000015703.
ABSTRACT Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by transient vasogenic edema predominantly in supratentorial areas within the posterior circulation regions. Although ...PRES with only brainstem involvement is quite rare, accurate diagnosis is important because prompt antihypertensive therapy contributes to a favorable outcome. Herein, we report a case with isolated brainstem PRES showing dramatical improvement in an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the lesion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after clinical remission. The present case suggests the association between favorable clinical course and complete amelioration on MRI.
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