Manipulating the Gut Microbiota to Manage Obesity

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 6198-6202
Author(s):  
Anthony Paulo Sunjaya ◽  
Angela Felicia Sunjaya ◽  
Meilani Kumala
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Gut Permeability ◽  
Great Role ◽  
Diet Modification ◽  
Food Biotechnology ◽  
Microbial Strain

Obesity has currently become a worldwide epidemic. Currently, lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery remains the only available armamentarium. However, lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy resulted in variable outcomes and are often unsustainable. On the other hand, advances in metagenomics and food biotechnology has reported the important role of gut microbiota in the complex pathophysiology of obesity and its possible role in treating it. This review aims to discuss the potential of manipulating gut microbiota to tackle obesity. Articles were obtained through Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, High Wire and Elsevier Clinical Key using the keywords “obesity AND gut microbiota or synonyms.” Various studies have shown the interactions between gut microbiota, gut permeability and the immune system as a mechanism that links diet, obesity and its comorbidities. There are currently several reported methods of manipulating gut microbiota namely, though probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and diet modification with varying outcomes based on the microbial strain affected and used. Studies have also proposed manipulating gut microbiota as a way to prevent and manage obesity en-mass. Conclusions: Gut microbiota plays a great role in maintaining body’s energy balance. Manipulating gut microbiota has great potential to become a low cost and effective treatment for obesity and its prevention with minimal side effects for long-term use. The various forms of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics currently available would be able to increase patient’s compliance and easiness in distribution. Better management of obesity would lead to a reduction in many comorbidities including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Building Evaluation Capital in Government: A Queensland Departmental Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-49
Author(s):  
Sarah Goswami ◽  
Vicki Lane
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Evaluation Capacity Building ◽  
Statutory Body

Increasingly, government departments are being held accountable for investment in public services. In Queensland the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Queensland Treasury, 2016) requires that accountable officers and statutory bodies ‘achieve reasonable value for money by ensuring the operations of the department or statutory body are carried out efficiently, effectively and economically’ (Section 61). Whilst there is a directive for agencies to evaluate and demonstrate value for money, it has in practice been difficult to embed long term, as many systems and decision makers have neglected the role of organisation-wide evaluation capital. This paper will outline the work being undertaken in the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to implement an Impact and Investment Framework, which will support and embed evaluation in a multidisciplinary setting. A central tenant of this framework is ‘business empowerment and learning'—building the evaluation culture in the organisation by first establishing evaluation building blocks, through business empowerment, support and utility. The framework is comprised of five key elements and is built on the principles of evaluation and evaluation capacity building disciplines. It has been designed to be low-cost, effective and efficient, whilst enabling business improvement, meeting accountability needs and allowing the department to demonstrate the value of its work.

scholarly journals Postoperative atrial fibrillation: Target for stroke prevention?

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Thijs ◽  
Robin Lemmens ◽  
Omar Farouque ◽  
Geoffrey Donnan ◽  
Hein Heidbuchel
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
Long Term Mortality

Purpose A substantial number of patients without a history of atrial fibrillation who undergo surgery develop one or more episodes of atrial fibrillation in the first few days after the operation. We studied whether postoperative transient atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for future atrial fibrillation, stroke and death. Method We performed a narrative review of the literature on epidemiology, mechanisms, risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke and death after postoperative atrial fibrillation. We reviewed antithrombotic guidelines on this topic and identified gaps in current management. Findings Patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation are at high risk of developing atrial fibrillation in the long term. Mortality is also increased. Most, but not all observational studies report a higher risk of stroke. The optimal antithrombotic regimen for patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation has not been defined. The role of lifestyle changes and of surgical occlusion of the left atrial appendage in preventing adverse outcomes after postoperative atrial fibrillation is not established. Conclusion Further studies are warranted to establish the optimal strategy to prevent adverse long-term outcomes after transient, postoperative atrial fibrillation.

scholarly journals The Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 480
Author(s):  
Weronika Bielka ◽  
Agnieszka Przezak ◽  
Andrzej Pawlik
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Bacterial Composition ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Β Cell Function ◽  
Therapeutic Problem

Diabetes mellitus is a significant clinical and therapeutic problem because it can lead to serious long-term complications. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, but there are indications that dysbiosis can play a role in the development of diabetes, or that it appears during the course of the disease. Changes in microbiota composition are observed in both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. These modifications are associated with pro-inflammation, increased intestinal permeability, endotoxemia, impaired β-cell function and development of insulin resistance. This review summarizes the role of the gut microbiota in healthy individuals and the changes in bacterial composition that can be associated with T1D or T2D. It also presents new developments in diabetes therapy based on influencing the gut microbiota as a promising method to alter the course of diabetes. Moreover, it highlights the lacking data and suggests future directions needed to prove the causal relationship between dysbiosis and diabetes, both T1D and T2D.

scholarly journals Residents' Wayfinding Challenges and Environmental Interventions in a Care Home

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 531-532
Author(s):  
Habib Chaudhury ◽  
Shelby Elkes
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Home Administration

Abstract This study evaluated the role of the built environment on residents’ wayfinding behaviours at Louis Brier Home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The goal of this study was to explore baseline mobility challenges for the residents traveling between their bedrooms and social spaces. In response to this, low-cost environmental interventions were proposed and implemented to support safe and independent wayfinding for the residents. The project consisted of three phases. First phase involved a mixed methods approach using behavior mapping and spatial observations of the residents interacting with their physical environment, combined with one focus group with the staff members. In the second phase, researchers presented actionable environmental interventions for the care home administration to consider and implement. The final phase involved post-implementation behaviour mapping, spatial observations and a focus group session. The implemented environmental interventions influenced in improved resident wayfinding and orientation in the long-term care home.

scholarly journals The Role of Microbiota in Infant Health: From Early Life to Adulthood

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Yao ◽  
Xiaoyu Cai ◽  
Yiqing Ye ◽  
Fengmei Wang ◽  
Fengying Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
The Relationship

From early life to adulthood, the microbiota play a crucial role in the health of the infant. The microbiota in early life are not only a key regulator of infant health but also associated with long-term health. Pregnancy to early life is the golden time for the establishment of the infant microbiota, which is affected by both environmental and genetic factors. Recently, there is an explosion of the studies on the role of microbiota in human diseases, but the application to disease or health is relatively limited because many aspects of human microbiota remain controversial, especially about the infant microbiota. Therefore, a critical and conclusive review is necessary to understand fully the relationship between the microbiota and the health of infant. In this article, we introduce in detail the role of microbiota in the infant from pregnancy to early life to long-term health. The main contents of this article include the relationship between the maternal microbiota and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the establishment of the neonatal microbiota during perinatal period and early life, the composition of the infant gut microbiota, the prediction of the microbiota for long-term health, and the future study directions of microbiota.

scholarly journals Music and Dance in respiratory disease management in Uganda: A qualitative study of patient and healthcare professional perspectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keir EJ Philip ◽  
Lucy L Cartwright ◽  
Debra Westlake ◽  
Grace Nyakoojo ◽  
Ivan Kimuli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Respiratory Conditions

AbstractIntroductionMusic and dance are increasingly used as adjunctive arts-in-health interventions in high-income settings, with a growing body of research suggesting biopsychosocial benefits. Such low-cost, low-resource interventions may have application in low-resource settings such as Uganda. However, research on perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals regarding such approaches is lacking.MethodsWe delivered taster music and dance for chronic respiratory disease (CRD) sessions to patients and healthcare professionals. We then conducted an exploratory qualitative study, using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with the healthcare professionals and patients regarding i) the role of music and dance in Ugandan life and ii) the perceived acceptability and feasibility of using music and dance in CRD management in Uganda.ResultsEleven patients with long-term respiratory conditions and eight healthcare professionals were interviewed after selection by purposeful convenience sampling. Four key themes were identified from (interview) analysis: Music and dance: 1) were central components of daily life; 2) had an established role supporting health and wellbeing; 3) had strong therapeutic potential in respiratory disease management; 4) the importance of modulating demographic considerations of culture and religion, and age.ConclusionMusic and dance are central to life in Uganda, with established roles supporting health and wellbeing. These roles could be built on in the development of music and dance interventions as adjuncts to established components of CRD disease management like pulmonary rehabilitation. Through consideration of key contextual factors, and co-development and adaptation of interventions, such approaches are likely to be well received.Summary Box: Key QuestionsWhat is already known?Music and dance are increasingly being used as adjunctive components of CRD management in high resource settings, with a growing body of research suggesting such approaches are effective, well-received, and can be delivered at low cost. However, the perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals about potential application of such approaches in low-resource settings, such as Uganda, is not known.What are the new findings?Music and dance have central roles in the social, religious and cultural life in Uganda, including a clear view that participation supports both collective and individual health and wellbeing. In this study, both healthcare professionals and patients saw great potential for the use of music and dance as interventions for people with CRD, and highlighted important factors for consideration for successful implementation.What do the new findings imply?Music and dance interventions for people with long-term respiratory conditions in Uganda are likely to be accepted with enthusiasm due to the existing role of such activities in daily life. Delivery is likely to be feasible, but interventions would need to be co-developed with patients, their family members, and healthcare professionals, considering a number of key factors. Suggested approaches to address these considerations are provided. More generally, this study highlights how genuine co-design processes can provide valuable insights into health intervention development.

scholarly journals Gut Microbiota-Mediated Inflammation and Gut Permeability in Patients with Obesity and Colorectal Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Sánchez-Alcoholado ◽  
Rafael Ordóñez ◽  
Ana Otero ◽  
Isaac Plaza-Andrade ◽  
Aurora Laborda-Illanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Gut Permeability ◽  
Microbial Profile ◽  
Inflammatory Status ◽  
Obesity And Cancer

Obesity is considered an important factor that increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). So far, the association of gut microbiota with both obesity and cancer has been described independently. Nevertheless, a specific obesity-related microbial profile linked to CRC development has not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the gut microbiota composition in fecal samples from CRC patients with (OB-CRC) and without obesity (L-CRC) compared to the microbiota profile present in non-obese healthy controls (L-HC), in order to unravel the possible relationship between gut microbiota and microbial-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), the inflammatory status, and the intestinal permeability in the context of obesity-associated CRC. The presence of obesity does not induce significant changes in the diversity and richness of intestinal bacteria of CRC patients. Nevertheless, OB-CRC patients display a specific gut microbiota profile characterized by a reduction in butyrate-producing bacteria and an overabundance of opportunistic pathogens, which in turn could be responsible, at least in part, for the higher levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β, the deleterious bacterial metabolite TMAO, and gut permeability found in these patients. These results suggest a possible role of obesity-related gut microbiota in the development of CRC, which could give new clues for the design of new diagnostic tools for CRC prevention.

scholarly journals DALLE ESIGENZE ENERGETICHE SULLA TERRA ALL’ESPLORAZIONE DI MARTE PASSANDO PER I COLORI DELLA CAPPELLA SISTINA: PRESENTE E FUTURO DEL FOTOVOLTAICO E DEI COMBUSTIBILI SOLARI

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Abbotto
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Organic Dyes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Efficient Solutions ◽  
Renewable Energies ◽  
Technological Transition ◽  
Energy Challenge ◽  
True Colors

The challenge of renewable energies has now come to a strategic step. While 80% of the energy still comes from fossil fuels, the role of renewable energies is in constant growth. The challenge of renewables is not only a technological transition, but also the indispensable response to the needs of the planet, from the incessant demographic growth to climatic emergencies and to the development of the poorest countries, and eventually to medium to long term challenges such as the colonization of Mars. Researchers are therefore committed to developing innovative, clean and efficient solutions to meet such challenge. In particular, organic dyes, organic molecules such as those founds in drugs or liquid crystals, represent key actors of one of the most fascinating chemistry frontiers to produce low cost and clean renewable energy. As the true colors of the Sistine Chapel frescoes, wanted by Michelangelo, have now emerged and visible to everyone, also in this field only specific colored dyes are able to address effectively the energy challenge. The scientist, especially the chemist, starting from the state of the art and innovation, is engaged in the design of new molecules owning the correct colors.

The Role of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Achieving Optimal Treatment

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Miguel Mendes ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Prevention ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Secondary Prevention Programme ◽  
Lifestyle Measures ◽  
The Cost

The clinical practice of European cardiologists is directed by the European Society of Cardiology’s guidelines for several clinical entities, in which ‘optimal medical treatment’ (a specific drug regime and lifestyle measures) for each syndrome is defined. The described pharmacotherapy is composed of several drugs, since the clinical research behind the recommendations is conducted using an ‘on top of’ strategy. For example, an asymptomatic patient after an acute coronary syndrome with normal ventricular function and without residual ischaemia has an indication to take at least four types of tablets per day, which is difficult to understand and to follow long term. The cost of the drugs is sometimes beyond the patient’s means, which also contributes to lower compliance. A clinician’s practice is usually very busy, which means it is almost impossible to perform patient education and promote adherence to drug therapy and lifestyle changes. Cardiac rehabilitation, as proved by the Global Secondary Prevention Strategies to Limit Event Recurrence after Myocardial Infarction (GOSPEL) study, may be considered the best available secondary prevention programme, as it educates patients and promotes adherence to the optimal medical treatment to a greater degree than usual care.

scholarly journals Susceptibility to Campylobacter Infection Is Associated with the Species Composition of the Human Fecal Microbiota

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Dicksved ◽  
Patrik Ellström ◽  
Lars Engstrand ◽  
Hilpi Rautelin
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Culture Positive ◽  
Abattoir Workers ◽  
Gut Microbiota Composition

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota is essential for human health, but very little is known about how the composition of this ecosystem can influence and respond to bacterial infections. Here we address this by prospectively studying the gut microbiota composition before, during, and after naturalCampylobacterinfection in exposed poultry abattoir workers. The gut microbiota composition was analyzed with 16S amplicon sequencing of fecal samples from poultry abattoir workers during the peak season ofCampylobacterinfection in Sweden. The gut microbiota compositions were compared between individuals who became culture positive forCampylobacterand those who remained negative. Individuals who becameCampylobacterpositive had a significantly higher abundance ofBacteroides(P= 0.007) andEscherichia(P= 0.002) species than those who remained culture negative. Furthermore, this group had a significantly higher abundance ofPhascolarctobacterium(P= 0.017) andStreptococcus(P= 0.034) sequences than theCampylobacter-negative group, which had an overrepresentation ofClostridiales(P= 0.017), unclassifiedLachnospiraceae(P= 0.008), andAnaerovorax(P= 0.015) sequences. Intraindividual comparisons of the fecal microbiota compositions yielded small differences over time inCampylobacter-negative participants, but significant long-term changes were found in theCampylobacter-positive group (P< 0.005). The results suggest that the abundance of specific genera in the microbiota reduces resistance toCampylobactercolonization in humans and thatCampylobacterinfection can have long-term effects on the composition of the human fecal microbiota.IMPORTANCEStudies using mouse models have made important contributions to our understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in resistance to bacterial enteropathogen colonization. The relative abundances ofEscherichia coliandBacteroidesspecies have been pointed out as important determinants of susceptibility to Gram-negative pathogens in general andCampylobacterinfection in particular. In this study, we assessed the role of the human gut microbiota in resistance toCampylobactercolonization by studying abattoir workers that are heavily exposed to these bacteria. Individuals with a certain composition of the gut microbiota became culture positive forCampylobacter. As their microbiotas were characterized by high abundances ofBacteroidesspp. andE. coli, well in line with the findings with mouse models, these bacterial species likely play an important role in colonization resistance also in humans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document