scholarly journals Nanoplastic Impact on the Gut-Brain Axis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (23) ◽  
pp. 12795
Author(s):  
Wojciech Grodzicki ◽  
Katarzyna Dziendzikowska ◽  
Joanna Gromadzka-Ostrowska ◽  
Marcin Kruszewski
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Behavioral Disturbances ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Synthetic Materials ◽  
Significant Burden ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

The widespread usage of plastic places a significant burden on the environment and impacts numerous aquatic and terrestrial species. Humans in particular can be affected by plastic pollution, predominantly via inhalation and ingestion, as well as trophic transfer along the food chain. Under natural conditions synthetic materials undergo degradation into micro- and nanoparticles, especially prone to interact with biological systems. Organisms exposed to nanoplastic accumulate it in multiple tissues, including the gut and the brain. This phenomenon raises a question about the impact of nanoparticulate plastics on the communication pathways between these organs. The aim of this review is to explore an unsettling possibility of the influence of nanoplastic on the gut-brain axis and provide a comprehensive summary of available data regarding this subject. The scarce but consistent evidence shows that exposure to plastic nanoparticles can indeed affect both the digestive and the nervous system. Reported outcomes include microbiota alterations, intestinal barrier permeability, oxidative stress, inflammation, neurotoxicity and behavioral disturbances. Taking into consideration these alarming observations and the ubiquitous presence of plastics in human environment, more research is urgently needed in order to identify any potential threats that nanoplastic exposure can pose to the functioning of the gut-brain axis.

The role of butyrate in surgical and oncological outcomes in colorectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Hajjar ◽  
Carole S Richard ◽  
Manuela M Santos
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Mucus Production ◽  
Antineoplastic Effect ◽  
The Impact

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced by colonic gut bacteria as a result of fermentation of dietary fibers. In the colon, butyrate is a major energy substrate and contributes to the nutritional support and proliferation of a healthy mucosa. It also promotes the intestinal barrier function by enhancing mucus production and tight junctions. In addition to its pro-proliferative effect in healthy colonocytes, butyrate inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. The antineoplastic effect of butyrate is associated with the inhibitory effect of butyrate on histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, which promote carcinogenesis. Due to the metabolic shift of cancer cells toward glycolysis, unused butyrate accumulates and inhibits procarcinogenic HDACs. In addition, recent studies suggest that butyrate may improve the healing of colonic tissue after surgery in animal models, specifically at the site of reconnection of colonic ends - anastomosis - after surgical resection. Here, we review current evidence on the impact of butyrate on epithelial integrity and colorectal cancer and present current knowledge on data that support its potential applications in surgical practice.

The Oxford Handbook of Hope

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Made In

The Oxford Handbook of Hope provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge regarding the science and practice of hope. Hope has long been a topic of interest to philosophers and the general public, but it was only in recent decades that hope became a focus of psychological science. Rick Snyder defined hope as a cognitive trait that helps individuals to identify and pursue goals and consists of two components: pathways, the perceived capacity to identify strategies necessary to achieve goals, and agency, the willpower or motivation to pursue those pathways to achieve goals. Hope has become one of most robust and promising topics in the burgeoning field of positive psychology. This book reviews the progress that has been made in the past 25 years regarding the origins and influence of hope. Topics covered include current theoretical perspectives on how best to define hope and how it is distinct from related constructs, current best practices for measuring and quantifying hope, interventions and strategies for promoting hope across different settings and the lifespan, the impact that hope has on many dimensions and domains of physical and mental health, and the many ways and contexts in which hope promotes resilience and positive functioning. Experts in the field both review what is currently known about the role of hope in different domains and identify topics and questions that can help to guide the next decade of research. The handbook concludes with a collaborative vision on the future directions of the science of hope.

scholarly journals Gut Microbiota, in the Halfway between Nutrition and Lung Function

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1716
Author(s):  
Christophe Espírito Santo ◽  
Catarina Caseiro ◽  
Maria João Martins ◽  
Rosário Monteiro ◽  
Inês Brandão
Keyword(s):  
Lung Function ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
The Impact

The gut microbiota is often mentioned as a “forgotten organ” or “metabolic organ”, given its profound impact on host physiology, metabolism, immune function and nutrition. A healthy diet is undoubtedly a major contributor for promoting a “good” microbial community that turns out to be crucial for a fine-tuned symbiotic relationship with the host. Both microbial-derived components and produced metabolites elicit the activation of downstream cascades capable to modulate both local and systemic immune responses. A balance between host and gut microbiota is crucial to keep a healthy intestinal barrier and an optimal immune homeostasis, thus contributing to prevent disease occurrence. How dietary habits can impact gut microbiota and, ultimately, host immunity in health and disease has been the subject of intense study, especially with regard to metabolic diseases. Only recently, these links have started to be explored in relation to lung diseases. The objective of this review is to address the current knowledge on how diet affects gut microbiota and how it acts on lung function. As the immune system seems to be the key player in the cross-talk between diet, gut microbiota and the lungs, involved immune interactions are discussed. There are key nutrients that, when present in our diet, help in gut homeostasis and lead to a healthier lifestyle, even ameliorating chronic diseases. Thus, with this review we hope to incite the scientific community interest to use diet as a valuable non-pharmacological addition to lung diseases management. First, we talk about the intestinal microbiota and interactions through the intestinal barrier for a better understanding of the following sections, which are the main focus of this article: the way diet impacts the intestinal microbiota and the immune interactions of the gut–lung axis that can explain the impact of diet, a key modifiable factor influencing the gut microbiota in several lung diseases.

scholarly journals Hypertension and the Brain: A Risk Factor for More Than Heart Disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 255-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Meissner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Cerebrovascular Complications ◽  
Cerebrovascular Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), a common risk factor for cognitive impairment, involves unspecific arteriopathy characterized by hypertrophy and endothelial dysfunction that alter cerebrovascular function and auto-regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Microbleedings, subcortical lacunar infarctions and diffuse areas of white matter lesions resulting from vascular injury are associated with reduced cognitive function mostly characterized by difficulties in learning and retention, attention deficits, gait disorders or depression. In recent years, it has become evident that vascular risk factors contribute to the development of cSVD and associated vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Among them, hypertension emerged as such a major modifiable risk factor since the brain presents an early target for organ damage due to changes in blood pressure (BP). Subsequently both high and, especially in the elderly, low BP have been linked to cognitive decline, which initiated controversial discussions about BP control as a potential therapeutic strategy to achieve optimal brain perfusion and thus, reduce the occurrence of cSVD and cognitive dysfunction. Yet, recent randomized controlled trials examined the impact of anti-hypertensive therapy on cognitive performance with conflicting results. Summary: In light of the current knowledge, it becomes apparent that there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms underlying hypertension-induced cerebrovascular complications in order to identify effective therapeutic targets to prevent and most importantly also reverse cognitive decline mediated through hypertension. Key Message: This review summarizes the current knowledge of cSVD pathogenesis as well as possible links to hypertension-mediated cerebrovascular complications. By pointing out knowledge gaps, it aims to spur future studies in search of specific targets helping to prevent therapy failures and decelerate the rapidly progressing neuro-degeneration of patients suffering from cerebrovascular diseases emanating from hypertension.

Epidemiology and course of schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
pp. 574-586
Author(s):  
Assen Jablensky
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Secondary Prevention ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Complex Disorders ◽  
Population Frequency ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
The Brain

Epidemiological research into schizophrenia has a long and productive history over many decades, since the formulation of the disease concept by Emil Kraepelin in 1896. As a critical counterpart to clinical and biological research, its focus is on the population frequency and distribution of incidence, prevalence, course, and outcome, and the associated risk factors. This chapter presents an overview of the historical landmarks of the epidemiology of schizophrenia, its progress over the years, and the state of current knowledge. It highlights the challenges for its future directions of this research, including the question of whether primary or secondary prevention of the disorder will eventually be possible. The unprecedented growth of basic knowledge about the brain and the human genome opens up novel perspectives in the study of complex disorders, such as schizophrenia, which integrate concepts and tools of genetics, neuroscience, and epidemiology.

scholarly journals Physical Activity vs. Redox Balance in the Brain: Brain Health, Aging and Diseases

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Paweł Sutkowy ◽  
Alina Woźniak ◽  
Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska ◽  
Karolina Szewczyk-Golec ◽  
Roland Wesołowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Redox Balance ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Antidepressant Effect ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Health Aging ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

It has been proven that physical exercise improves cognitive function and memory, has an analgesic and antidepressant effect, and delays the aging of the brain and the development of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. There are even attempts to use physical activity in the treatment of mental diseases. The course of most diseases is strictly associated with oxidative stress, which can be prevented or alleviated with regular exercise. It has been proven that physical exercise helps to maintain the oxidant–antioxidant balance. In this review, we present the current knowledge on redox balance in the organism and the consequences of its disruption, while focusing mainly on the brain. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of physical activity on aging and brain diseases, and present current recommendations and directions for further research in this area.

scholarly journals Effects of Radiation Therapy on Neural Stem Cells

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Michaelidesová ◽  
Jana Konířová ◽  
Petr Bartůněk ◽  
Martina Zíková
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Stem Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Brain Radiotherapy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Brain and nervous system cancers in children represent the second most common neoplasia after leukemia. Radiotherapy plays a significant role in cancer treatment; however, the use of such therapy is not without devastating side effects. The impact of radiation-induced damage to the brain is multifactorial, but the damage to neural stem cell populations seems to play a key role. The brain contains pools of regenerative neural stem cells that reside in specialized neurogenic niches and can generate new neurons. In this review, we describe the advances in radiotherapy techniques that protect neural stem cell compartments, and subsequently limit and prevent the occurrence and development of side effects. We also summarize the current knowledge about neural stem cells and the molecular mechanisms underlying changes in neural stem cell niches after brain radiotherapy. Strategies used to minimize radiation-related damages, as well as new challenges in the treatment of brain tumors are also discussed.

scholarly journals Impact of Unsteady Flow Events on Bedload Transport: A Review of Laboratory Experiments

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena M. Mrokowska ◽  
Paweł M. Rowiński
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Ephemeral Streams ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Alluvial Rivers ◽  
Gravel Bed Streams ◽  
The Impact

Recent advances in understanding bedload transport under unsteady flow conditions are presented, with a particular emphasis on laboratory experiments. The contribution of laboratory studies to the explanation of key processes of sediment transport observed in alluvial rivers, ephemeral streams, and river reaches below a dam is demonstrated, primarily focusing on bedload transport in gravel-bed streams. The state of current knowledge on the impact of flow properties (unsteady flow hydrograph shape and duration, flood cycles) and sediment attributes (bed structure, sediment availability, bed composition) on bedload are discussed, along with unsteady flow dynamics of the water-sediment system. Experiments published in recent years are summarized, the main findings are presented, and future directions of research are suggested.

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