Gut Microbiota Associated with Effectiveness and Responsiveness to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Improving Trait Anxiety

Abstract ObjectiveThe mindfulness based interventions have been widely demonstrated effective on reducing stress, alleviating mood disorders and improving quality of life; however, the underlying mechanisms remained to be fully understood. Along with the advanced research in microbiota-gut-brain axis, this study aimed to explore the impact of gut microbiota on the effectiveness and responsiveness to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) among high trait anxiety populations.DesignA standard mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was performed among 21 young adults with high trait anxiety. A total of 29 healthy controls were matched for age and sex. The differences on gut microbiota between the two groups were compared. The changes of fecal microbiota and psychological indicators were also investigated before and after the intervention. ResultsCompared with healthy controls, we found markedly decreased bacterial diversity and distinctive clusters among high trait-anxiety populations, with significant overgrowth of bacteria such as Streptococcus, Blautia, Romboutsia, and decrease of genera such as Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus_3, Lachnoclostridium. Moreover, MBCT attenuated trait-anxiety and depression, improved mindfulness and resilience, and turned gut microbiota more close to that of healthy controls. Notably, high burden of intestinal Subdoligranulum pre-MBCT was associated with an increased responsiveness to MBCT. Decreases in Subdoligranulum post-MBCT were indicative of ameliorated trait anxiety. The tryptophan metabolism pathways were significantly over-represented among high-responders compared to low-responders.Conclusion The significantly increased diversity post-MBCT added evidence to gut-brain communication, and highlighted the utility of mycobiota-focused strategies for promoting effectiveness and responsiveness of the MBCT to improve trait anxiety.Trial registration: Chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1900028389. Registered 20 December 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=47167&htm=4

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Interpretive Biases for Ambiguous Information in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900017946 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 435-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Ulrike Buhlmann ◽

Sabine Wilhelm ◽

Richard J. McNally ◽

Brunna Tuschen-Caffier ◽

Lee Baer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trait Anxiety ◽

Body Dysmorphic Disorder ◽

The Other ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Ambiguous Information ◽

Interpretive Bias ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

High Trait ◽

High Trait Anxiety

ABSTRACTAnxiety-disordered patients and individuals with high trait anxiety tend to interpret ambiguous information as threatening. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether interpretive biases would also occur in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is characterized by a preoccupation with imagined defects in one's appearance. We tested whether BDD participants, compared with obsessive-compulsive disorder participants and healthy controls, would choose threatening interpretations for ambiguous body-related, ambiguous social, and general scenarios. As we hypothesized, BDD participants exhibited a negative interpretive bias for body-related scenarios and for social scenarios, whereas the other groups did not. Moreover, both clinical groups exhibited a negative interpretive bias for general scenarios.

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Strategy bias in the emotion regulation of high trait anxiety individuals: An investigation of underlying neural signatures using ERPs.

Neuropsychology ◽

10.1037/neu0000471 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 111-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dong-ni Pan ◽

Yi Wang ◽

Xuebing Li

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

High Trait ◽

High Trait Anxiety ◽

Neural Signatures

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Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Status by β-Carotene in Late Pregnant Sows

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2020.612875 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Xupeng Yuan ◽

Jiahao Yan ◽

Ruizhi Hu ◽

Yanli Li ◽

Ying Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Control Group ◽

Metabolic Activities ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Β Carotene

Recent evidences suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating physiological and metabolic activities of pregnant sows, and β-carotene has a potentially positive effect on reproduction, but the impact of β-carotene on gut microbiota in pregnant sows remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of β-carotene on the reproductive performance of sows from the aspect of gut microbiota. A total of 48 hybrid pregnant sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with similar parity were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16) and fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 30 or 90 mg/kg of β-carotene from day 90 of gestation until parturition. Dietary supplementation of 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the number of live birth to 11.82 ± 1.54 and 12.29 ± 2.09, respectively, while the control group was 11.00 ± 1.41 (P = 0.201). Moreover, β-carotene increased significantly the serum nitric oxide (NO) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05). Characterization of fecal microbiota revealed that 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the diversity of the gut flora (P < 0.05). In particular, β-carotene decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes including Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008, but enriched Proteobacteria including Bilophila and Sutterella, and Actinobacteria including Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium 1 which are related to NO synthesis. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene may increase antioxidant enzyme activity and NO, an important vasodilator to promote the neonatal blood circulation, through regulating gut microbiota in sows.

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Insights into the Impact of Microbiota in the Treatment of NAFLD/NASH and Its Potential as a Biomarker for Prognosis and Diagnosis

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9020145 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 145

Author(s):

Julio Plaza-Díaz ◽

Patricio Solis-Urra ◽

Jerónimo Aragón-Vela ◽

Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽

Jorge Olivares-Arancibia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Liver Steatosis ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Immune Defense ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Impact

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing cause of chronic liver illness associated with obesity and metabolic disorders, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. A more severe type of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is considered an ongoing global health threat and dramatically increases the risks of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Several reports have demonstrated that liver steatosis is associated with the elevation of certain clinical and biochemical markers but with low predictive potential. In addition, current imaging methods are inaccurate and inadequate for quantification of liver steatosis and do not distinguish clearly between the microvesicular and the macrovesicular types. On the other hand, an unhealthy status usually presents an altered gut microbiota, associated with the loss of its functions. Indeed, NAFLD pathophysiology has been linked to lower microbial diversity and a weakened intestinal barrier, exposing the host to bacterial components and stimulating pathways of immune defense and inflammation via toll-like receptor signaling. Moreover, this activation of inflammation in hepatocytes induces progression from simple steatosis to NASH. In the present review, we aim to: (a) summarize studies on both human and animals addressed to determine the impact of alterations in gut microbiota in NASH; (b) evaluate the potential role of such alterations as biomarkers for prognosis and diagnosis of this disorder; and (c) discuss the involvement of microbiota in the current treatment for NAFLD/NASH (i.e., bariatric surgery, physical exercise and lifestyle, diet, probiotics and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation).

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Depletion of acetate-producing bacteria from the gut microbiota facilitates cognitive impairment through the gut-brain neural mechanism in diabetic mice

Microbiome ◽

10.1186/s40168-021-01088-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hong Zheng ◽

Pengtao Xu ◽

Qiaoying Jiang ◽

Qingqing Xu ◽

Yafei Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Neural Mechanism ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Protective Role ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplant ◽

Memory Impairments ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Modification of the gut microbiota has been reported to reduce the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). We hypothesized that the gut microbiota shifts might also have an effect on cognitive functions in T1D. Herein we used a non-absorbable antibiotic vancomycin to modify the gut microbiota in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D mice and studied the impact of microbial changes on cognitive performances in T1D mice and its potential gut-brain neural mechanism. Results We found that vancomycin exposure disrupted the gut microbiome, altered host metabolic phenotypes, and facilitated cognitive impairment in T1D mice. Long-term acetate deficiency due to depletion of acetate-producing bacteria resulted in the reduction of synaptophysin (SYP) in the hippocampus as well as learning and memory impairments. Exogenous acetate supplement or fecal microbiota transplant recovered hippocampal SYP level in vancomycin-treated T1D mice, and this effect was attenuated by vagal inhibition or vagotomy. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the protective role of microbiota metabolite acetate in cognitive functions and suggest long-term acetate deficiency as a risk factor of cognitive decline.

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Effects of Transanal Irrigation on Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Spina Bifida

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10020224 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 224

Author(s):

Akira Furuta ◽

Yasuyuki Suzuki ◽

Ryosuke Takahashi ◽

Birte Petersen Jakobsen ◽

Takahiro Kimura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spina Bifida ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Host Immune System ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Transanal Irrigation ◽

Rrna Sequencing ◽

Before And After ◽

Neurogenic Bowel

Recent studies using 16S rRNA-based microbiota profiling have demonstrated dysbiosis of gut microbiota in constipated patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in gut microbiota after transanal irrigation (TAI) in patients with spina bifida (SB). A questionnaire on neurogenic bowel disfunction (NBD), Bristol scale, and gut microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing were completed in 16 SB patients and 10 healthy controls aged 6–17 years. Then, 11 of 16 SB patients with moderate to severe NBD scores received TAI for 3 months. Changes in urine cultures were also examined before and after the TAI treatments. In addition, correlation of gut microbiota and Bristol scale was analyzed. Significantly decreased abundance in Faecalibacterium, Blautia and Roseburia, and significantly increased abundance in Bacteroides and Roseburia were observed in the SB patients compared with controls and after TAI, respectively. The abundance of Roseburia was significantly correlated positively with Bristol scale. Urinary tract infection tended to decrease from 82% to 55% after TAI (p = 0.082) despite persistent fecal incontinence. Butyrate-producing bacteria such as Roseburia play a regulatory role in the intestinal motility and host immune system, suggesting the effects of TAI on gut microbiota.

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A machine learning approach to identifying objective biomarkers of anxiety and stress

10.1101/745315 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arjun Ramakrishnan ◽

Adam Pardes ◽

William Lynch ◽

Christopher Molaro ◽

Michael Louis Platt

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Video Game ◽

Social Stress ◽

Internal State ◽

Self Report ◽

Support Vector ◽

High Trait ◽

High Trait Anxiety

AbstractAnxiety and stress-related disorders are highly prevalent and debilitating conditions that impose an enormous burden on society. Sensitive measurements that can enable early diagnosis could mitigate suffering and potentially prevent onset of these conditions. Self-reports, however, are intrusive and vulnerable to biases that can conceal the true internal state. Physiological responses, on the other hand, manifest spontaneously and can be monitored continuously, providing potential objective biomarkers for anxiety and stress. Recent studies have shown that algorithms trained on physiological measurements can predict stress states with high accuracy. Whether these predictive algorithms generalize to untested situations and participants, however, remains unclear. Further, whether biomarkers of momentary stress indicate trait anxiety – a vulnerability foreshadowing development of anxiety and mood disorders – remains unknown. To address these gaps, we monitored skin conductance, heart rate, heart rate variability and EEG in 39 participants experiencing physical and social stress and compared these measures to non-stressful periods of talking, rest, and playing a simple video game. Self-report measures were obtained periodically throughout the experiment. A support vector machine trained on physiological measurements identified stress conditions with ~96% accuracy. A decision tree that optimally combined physiological and self-report measures identified individuals with high trait anxiety with ~84% accuracy. Individuals with high trait anxiety also displayed high baseline state anxiety but a muted physiological response to acute stressors. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential for using machine learning tools to identify objective biomarkers useful for diagnosing and monitoring mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

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During Vigilance to Painful Stimuli: Slower Response Rate Related to High Trait Anxiety, whereas a Faster Response Rate is related to High State Anxiety

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00492.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy J Meeker ◽

Nichole M. Emerson ◽

Jui-Hong Chien ◽

Mark I. Saffer ◽

Oscar Joseph Bienvenu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Bias ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

State Anxiety ◽

Response Rate ◽

Time On Task ◽

Lower Response Rate ◽

State And Trait Anxiety ◽

High Trait ◽

High Trait Anxiety ◽

Over Time

A pathological increase in vigilance, or hypervigilance, may be related to pain intensity in some clinical pain syndromes and may result from attention bias to salient stimuli mediated by anxiety. During a continuous performance task where subjects discriminated painful target stimuli from painful nontargets, we measured detected targets (hits), nondetected targets (misses), nondetected nontargets (correct rejections), and detected nontargets (false alarms). Using signal detection theory, we calculated response bias, the tendency to endorse a stimulus as a target, and discriminability, the ability to discriminate a target from nontarget. Due to the relatively slow rate of stimulus presentation our primary hypothesis was that sustained performance would result in a more conservative response bias reflecting a lower response rate over time on task. We found a more conservative response bias with time on task and no change in discriminability. We predicted that greater state and trait anxiety would lead to a more liberal response bias. A multivariable model provided partial support for our prediction; high trait anxiety related to a more conservative response bias (lower response rate), while high state anxiety related to a more liberal bias. This inverse relationship of state and trait anxiety is consistent with reports of effects of state and trait anxiety on reaction times to threatening stimuli. In sum, we report that sustained attention to painful stimuli was associated with a decrease in the tendency of the subject to respond to any stimulus over time on task, while the ability to discriminate target from nontarget is unchanged.

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Lupus Gut Microbiota Transplants Cause Autoimmunity and Inflammation

10.1101/2021.08.15.456375 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yiyangzi Ma ◽

Ruru Guo ◽

Yiduo Sun ◽

Xin Li ◽

Lun He ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Germ Free ◽

Autoimmune Antibodies ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Rdna Sequencing

Background: The etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is multifactorial. Recently, growing evidence suggests that the microbiota plays a role in SLE, yet whether gut microbiota participates in the development of SLE remains largely unknown. To investigate this issue, we carried out 16s rDNA sequencing analyses in a cohort of 18 female un-treated active SLE patients and 7 female healthy controls, and performed fecal microbiota transplantation from patients and healthy controls to germ-free mice. Results: Compared to the healthy controls, we found no significant different microbial diversity but some significantly different species in SLE patients including Turicibacter genus and other 5 species. Fecal transfer from SLE patients to germ free (GF) C57BL/6 mice caused GF mice to develop a series of lupus-like phenotyptic features, which including an increased serum autoimmune antibodies, and imbalanced cytokines, altered distribution of immune cells in mucosal and peripheral immune response, and upregulated expression of genes related to SLE in recipient mice that received SLE fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Moreover, the metabolism of histidine was significantly altered in GF mice treated with SLE patient feces, as compared to those which received healthy fecal transplants. Conclusions: Overall, our results describe a causal role of aberrant gut microbiota in contributing to the pathogenesis of SLE. The interplay of gut microbial and histidine metabolism may be one of the mechanisms intertwined with autoimmune activation in SLE.

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