Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis (BPL1) Supplementation in Children and Adolescents with Prader–Willi Syndrome: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, including obesity, hyperphagia, and behavioral problems. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BPL1 has been shown to improve central adiposity in adults with simple obesity. To evaluate BPL1′s effects in children with PWS, we performed a randomized crossover trial among 39 patients (mean age 10.4 years). Participants were randomized to placebo–BPL1 (n = 19) or BPL1–placebo (n = 20) sequences and underwent a 12-week period with placebo/BPL1 treatments, a 12-week washout period, and a 12-week period with the crossover treatment. Thirty-five subjects completed the study. The main outcome was changes in adiposity, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary outcomes included lipid and glucose metabolism, hyperphagia, and mental health symptoms. Generalized linear modeling was applied to assess differences between treatments. While BPL1 did not modify total fat mass compared to placebo, BPL1 decreased abdominal adiposity in a subgroup of patients older than 4.5 years (n = 28). BPL1 improved fasting insulin concentration and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we observed modest improvements in some mental health symptoms. A follow-up trial with a longer treatment period is warranted to determine whether BPL1 supplementation can provide a long-term therapeutic approach for children with PWS (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03548480).

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Targeting the Gut Microbiome in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10225328 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (22) ◽

pp. 5328

Author(s):

Marta Ramon-Krauel ◽

Montse Amat-Bou ◽

Mercedes Serrano ◽

Antonio F. Martinez-Monseny ◽

Carles Lerin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Therapeutic Strategy ◽

Prader Willi Syndrome ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Probiotic Supplementation ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Overwhelming Evidence ◽

Wide Range

Overwhelming evidence demonstrates an important role of the gut microbiome in the development of a wide range of diseases, including obesity, metabolic disorders, and mental health symptoms. Indeed, interventions targeting the gut microbiome are being actively investigated as a therapeutic strategy to tackle these diseases. Given that obesity and mental health symptoms are both hallmarks of Prader-Willi syndrome, targeting the gut microbiome may be a promising therapeutical strategy. Only a few studies have investigated the gut microbiome in the context of Prader-Willi syndrome and assessed the efficacy of probiotic supplementation as a therapeutic strategy for this disease. Here, we review the knowledge obtained to this date regarding the gut microbiome in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. The limited evidence available indicate that probiotic supplementation improves some metabolic and mental health aspects, however further studies are warranted to determine whether targeting the gut microbiome may constitute a safe and efficient strategy to treat individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.

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Manifestaciones clínicas asociadas al síndrome de Prader-Willi: Revisión Descriptiva

REVISTA BIOMÉDICA ◽

10.32776/revbiomed.v1i30.627 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jesús Dzul Hernández ◽

Rossana Borges Cauich ◽

Montserrat Rodríguez Huchim ◽

Guillermo Pérez Correa ◽

Nina Mendez-Dominguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Disorders ◽

Genetic Disorder ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

Prader Willi Syndrome ◽

Specific Patient ◽

Calidad De Vida ◽

Wide Range

RESUMEN El síndrome de Prader–Willi (SPW) es un trastorno genético, que afecta el neurodesarrollo que, a pesar de su baja frecuencia, merece ser considerado como un trastorno de relevancia clínica al ser la causa más frecuente de obesidad de origen genético. Las manifestaciones clínicas que derivan de SPW tienen origen en la desregulación hipotalámica, por lo cual, comprendiendo la trascendencia e implicación de la afectación hipotalámica, puede comprenderse la amplia gama de manifestaciones que pueden presentarse con severidad variable y cuyas complicaciones su vez la afectación a la salud y socialización a largo plazo afectando la calidad de vida de los pacientes con SPW. Un diagnóstico preciso permite distinguir este síndrome de otros trastornos genéticos y de otras patologías que afectan la función hipotalámica a la vez que permite estimar la gravedad de las manifestaciones y el riesgo de repetición en una misma familia. Por ello, la presente revisión descriptiva se ofrece con el objetivo de describir las manifestaciones clínicas del síndrome de Prader-Willi que orienten la sospecha clínica, las similitudes que presenta este síndrome con otros trastornos, así como presentar las técnicas de diagnóstico disponibles que permiten orientar adecuadamente el abordaje de los pacientes y facilitar su manejo integral oportunamente.ABSTRACT: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder that affects neurodevelopment, which, despite its low frequency, deserves to be considered a clinically relevant disorder since it is the most frequent cause of genetically derived obesity. The clinical manifestations that derive from SPW correlate to those from a hypothalamic dysregulation, so that, understanding the importance and implication of the hypothalamic involvement, the wide range of manifestations that can present with variable severity and whose complications in turn affect the health can be understood. and long-term socialization affecting the quality of life of patients with PWS. An accurate diagnosis can discriminate this syndrome from other genetic disorders and from non-genetic pathologies that affect hypothalamic function, while also allowing to estimate the severity in a specific patient and the risk of repetition in other family members. Therefore, the present descriptive review is aimed to describe the clinical manifestations of Prader-Willi syndrome to guide the clinical diagnosis; the signs and symptoms that can differentiate this syndrome from other disorders, as well as presenting a description of the actual diagnostic techniques that can allow a prompt and precise diagnosis, and thus, translate in a comprehensive and timely approach of the patients with PWS.

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The Impact of Epidemics and Pandemics on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18136695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 6695

Author(s):

Ottilia Cassandra Chigwedere ◽

Anvar Sadath ◽

Zubair Kabir ◽

Ella Arensman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

Background: There is increasing evidence that healthcare workers (HCWs) experience significant psychological distress during an epidemic or pandemic. Considering the increase in emerging infectious diseases and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to review and synthesize the available evidence on the psychological impact of disease outbreaks on HCWs. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to examine the impact of epidemics and pandemics on the mental health of HCWs. Method: PubMed, PsycInfo, and PsycArticles databases were systematically searched from inception to June-end 2020 for studies reporting the impact of a pandemic/epidemic on the mental health of HCWs. Results: Seventy-six studies were included in this review. Of these, 34 (45%) focused on SARS, 28 (37%) on COVID-19, seven (9%) on MERS, four (5%) on Ebola, two (3%) on H1N1, and one (1%) on H7N9. Most studies were cross-sectional (93%) and were conducted in a hospital setting (95%). Common mental health symptoms identified by this review were acute stress disorder, depression, anxiety, insomnia, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The associated risk factors were working in high-risk environments (frontline), being female, being a nurse, lack of adequate personal protective equipment, longer shifts, lack of knowledge of the virus, inadequate training, less years of experience in healthcare, lack of social support, and a history of quarantine. Conclusion: HCWs working in the frontline during epidemics and pandemics experience a wide range of mental health symptoms. It is imperative that adequate psychological support be provided to HCWs during and after these extraordinary distressful events.

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Mental Health Status of Late-Middle-Aged Adults in China During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.643988 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Yong-Bo Zheng ◽

Le Shi ◽

Zheng-An Lu ◽

Jian-Yu Que ◽

Kai Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Wide Range ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Acute Stress Symptoms

Background: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related compulsory measures have triggered a wide range of psychological issues. However, the effect of COVID-19 on mental health in late-middle-aged adults remains unclear.Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based survey recruited 3,730 participants (≥ 50 years old) between February 28 and March 11 of 2020. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Insomnia Severity Index, and Acute Stress Disorder Scale were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, insomnia, and acute stress symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was fitted to explore risk factors that were associated with the selected outcomes.Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.44 ± 5.99 years, and 2,026 (54.3%) of the participants were female. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and acute stress symptoms among late-middle-aged adults in China during the COVID-19 pandemic was 20.4, 27.1, 27.5, and 21.2%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that participants who were quarantined had increased odds ratios for the four mental health symptoms, and those with a good understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic displayed a decreased risk for all mental health symptoms among late-middle-aged adults. In addition, participants with a low income and with a risk of COVID-19 exposure at work had a remarkably high risk of depression, anxiety, and acute stress symptoms.Conclusions: Mental health symptoms in late-middle-aged adults in China during the COVID-19 pandemic are prevalent. Population-specific mental health interventions should be developed to improve mental health outcomes in late-middle-aged adults during this public health emergency.

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Prevalence of Mental Health Symptoms in Dutch Military Personnel Returning from Deployment to Afghanistan: A 2-year Longitudinal Analysis

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.05.003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 341-346 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

A. Reijnen ◽

A.R. Rademaker ◽

E. Vermetten ◽

E. Geuze

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Multiple Time ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Time Points ◽

Sleeping Problems ◽

Wide Range ◽

Multiple Time Points

AbstractObjective:Recent studies in troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that combat exposure and exposure to deployment-related stressors increase the risk for the development of mental health symptoms. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of mental health symptoms in a cohort of Dutch military personnel prior to and at multiple time-points after deployment.Methods:Military personnel (n= 994) completed various questionnaires at 5 time-points; starting prior to deployment and following the same cohort at 1 and 6 months and 1 and 2 years after their return from Afghanistan.Results:The prevalence of symptoms of fatigue, PTSD, hostility, depression and anxiety was found to significantly increase after deployment compared with pre-deployment rates. As opposed to depressive symptoms and fatigue, the prevalence of PTSD was found to decrease after the 6-month assessment. The prevalence of sleeping problems and hostility remained relatively stable.Conclusions:The prevalence of mental health symptoms in military personnel increases after deployment, however, symptoms progression over time appears to be specific for various mental health symptoms. Comprehensive screening and monitoring for a wide range of mental health symptoms at multiple time-points after deployment is essential for early detection and to provide opportunities for intervention.Declaration of interest:This project was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

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