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Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance, negative thoughts and moods, and heightened arousal. Many patients also report gastrointestinal symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach for PTSD that successfully reduces symptoms. However, many patients still meet criteria for PTSD after treatment or continue to have symptoms indicating the need for new treatment strategies for PTSD. Patients with PTSD have a disrupted intestinal microbiome (i.e., dysbiosis) which can promote neuroinflammation; thus, modulation of the microbiome could be an alternative or adjunct treatment approach for PTSD. Methods: The current study was a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial seeking to understand if CBT combined with a microbiota-modifying, prebiotic fiber intervention would beneficially impact clinical outcomes in veterans with PTSD (n = 70). This proof-of-concept, pilot trial was designed to assess: (1) the relationship between severity of PTSD symptoms and microbiota composition and SCFA levels (i.e., acetate, propionate, butyrate), (2) if CBT treatment with a concomitant prebiotic fiber intervention would beneficially impact clinical outcomes in veterans with PTSD, (3) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a prebiotic intervention as an adjunct treatment to CBT, and (4) assess the impact of treatment on the intestinal microbiota and stool SCFA (i.e., mechanism). Results: This study found that PTSD severity may be associated with reduced abundance of taxa capable of producing the SCFA propionate, and that a subset of individuals with PTSD may benefit from a microbiota-modifying prebiotic intervention. Conclusion: This study suggests that targeting the intestinal microbiome through prebiotic supplementation could represent a promising avenue for enhancing treatment outcomes in some individuals with PTSD. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ , identifier NCT05424146. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-infection is associated with dramatic changes in the intestinal mucosa. The impact of other viral pathogens is unclear.Eighty biopsies from left and right colon (n=63) and terminal ileum (n = 17) were collected from 19 HIV-infected and 22 HIV-uninfected subjects. Levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) DNA were measured by droplet-digital (dd)PCR. Mucosal gene expression was measured via multiplex-assay. Microbiome analysis was performed using bacterial 16S-rDNA-pyrosequencing. The effect of CMV and EBV replication on the microbiome composition and mRNA-expression of selected cytokines (IL-6,IFN-γ,IL-1β, CCL2,IL-8 IFN-β1) was evaluated.Overall, CMV and EBV were detected in at least one intestinal site in 60.5% and 78.9% of subjects, respectively. HIV-infected individuals demonstrated less detectable CMV (p = 0.04); CMV was more frequently detected in terminal ileum than colon (p = 0.04). Detectable EBV was more frequent among HIV-infected (p = 0.05) without differences by intestinal site. The number of operational taxonomic units did not differ by CMV or EBV detection status. Among HIV-infected subjects, higher CMV was only associated with lower relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the ileum (p = 0.03). Presence of CMV was associated with up-regulated expression of all selected cytokines in the ileum (p

HIV-infection is associated with dramatic changes in the intestinal mucosa. The impact of other viral pathogens is unclear.Eighty biopsies from left and right colon (n=63) and terminal ileum (n = 17) were collected from 19 HIV-infected and 22 HIV-uninfected subjects. Levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) DNA were measured by droplet-digital (dd)PCR. Mucosal gene expression was measured via multiplex-assay. Microbiome analysis was performed using bacterial 16S-rDNA-pyrosequencing. The effect of CMV and EBV replication on the microbiome composition and mRNA-expression of selected cytokines (IL-6,IFN-γ,IL-1β, CCL2,IL-8 IFN-β1) was evaluated.Overall, CMV and EBV were detected in at least one intestinal site in 60.5% and 78.9% of subjects, respectively. HIV-infected individuals demonstrated less detectable CMV (p = 0.04); CMV was more frequently detected in terminal ileum than colon (p = 0.04). Detectable EBV was more frequent among HIV-infected (p = 0.05) without differences by intestinal site. The number of operational taxonomic units did not differ by CMV or EBV detection status. Among HIV-infected subjects, higher CMV was only associated with lower relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the ileum (p = 0.03). Presence of CMV was associated with up-regulated expression of all selected cytokines in the ileum (p

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence has increased in the last century which can be attributed to increased lifespan, but environment is also important. Exposure to artificial light at night is one environmental factor that may influence AD. Methods: This study evaluated the relationship between outdoor nighttime light exposure and AD prevalence in the United States using satellite acquired outdoor nighttime light intensity and Medicare data. Results: Higher outdoor nighttime light was associated with higher prevalence of AD. While atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and stroke were associated more strongly with AD prevalence than nighttime light intensity, nighttime light was more strongly associated with AD prevalence than alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease, depression, heart failure, and obesity. Startlingly, nighttime light exposure more strongly associated with AD prevalence in those under the age of 65 than any other disease factor examined. Discussion: These data suggest light exposure at night may influence AD, but additional studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large amounts, alcohol and its metabolites can overwhelm the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and liver and lead to damage both within the GI and in other organs. Specifically, alcohol and [...]

The excessive use of alcohol is a global problem causing many adverse pathological health effects and a significant financial health care burden. This review addresses the effect of alcohol consumption [...]

In Dec. 2019‐January 2020, a pneumonia illness originating in Wuhan, China, designated as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) was shown to be caused by a novel RNA coronavirus designated as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). People with advanced age, male sex, and/or underlying health conditions (obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and chronic lung disease) are especially vulnerable to severe COVID‐19 symptoms and death. These risk factors impact the immune system and are also associated with poor health, chronic illness, and shortened longevity. However, a large percent of patients without these known risk factors also develops severe COVID‐19 disease that can result in death. Thus, there must exist risk factors that promote exaggerated inflammatory and immune response to the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus leading to death. One such risk factor may be alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder because these can exacerbate viral lung infections like SARS, influenza, and pneumonia. Thus, it is highly plausible that alcohol misuse is a risk factor for either increased infection rate when individuals are exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and/or more severe COVID‐19 in infected patients. Alcohol use is a well‐known risk factor for lung diseases and ARDS in SARS patients. We propose that alcohol has three key pathogenic elements in common with other COVID‐19 severity risk factors: namely, inflammatory microbiota dysbiosis, leaky gut, and systemic activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. We also propose that these three elements represent targets for therapy for severe COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian Disruption and Society The circadian clock is a sophisticated mechanism that functions to synchronize (i.e., entrain) endogenous systems with the 24-hour day in a wide variety of organisms, from [...]