Dietary supplementation with Lactium and L-theanine alleviates sleep disturbance in adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Introduction: The use of natural products for the treatment of sleep disturbances is increasing owing to the side effects and limitations of traditional sleep therapy. Moreover, recent studies have shown a significant correlation between sleep quality and gut microbiota composition. This study aimed to assess the impact of LTC-022, a commercially available dietary supplement containing Lactium and L-theanine, on enhancing sleep quality. Methods: Forty participants experiencing sleep discomfort were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, wherein they received LTC-022 or a placebo orally for 8 weeks. The effects of treatment on sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index. To comprehensively evaluate changes in sleep patterns, various parameters were evaluated, including the time in bed (TIB), total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE), wake after sleep onset (WASO) counts, and bedtime. These parameters were derived from daily sleep logs recorded over the 8-week study period, categorized into weekdays and weekends. Stool samples were analyzed for microbiome composition. The V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was amplified using specific primers (515F and 806R) and targeted for analysis. Microbial diversity, including operational taxonomic units, the Shannon and Chao indices, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, and the variety of bacterial taxa, was assessed. Results: No significant differences were observed in sleep quality and insomnia scale characteristics between the two groups. In-depth analysis using sleep diaries showed that WASO counts after 8 weeks and bedtime after 4 weeks showed significant differences between the LTC-022 and control groups. In the LTC-022 group, significant differences were observed in the increase in TST, decrease in SOL, increase in SE, decrease in WASO counts, and earlier bedtime. Microbiome analysis revealed that the abundance of the genera Blautia and Ruminococcus increased in fecal samples from the LTC-022 group. Conclusion: These results suggest that continuous LTC-022 intake has a beneficial effect on maintaining sleep duration and an appropriate bedtime. Additionally, changes in the gut microbiota may be linked to changes in sleep patterns resulting from the consumption of Lactium and L-theanine. Clinical trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/22841, KCT0007750.

Personalized probiotic strategy considering bowel habits: impacts on gut microbiota composition and alleviation of gastrointestinal symptoms via Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome.

Personalized probiotic regimens, taking into account individual characteristics such as stool patterns, have the potential to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders and improve gut health while avoiding the variability exhibited among individuals by conventional probiotics. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of personalized probiotic interventions in managing distinct stool patterns (constipation and diarrhea) by investigating their impact on the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal symptoms using a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial design. This research leverages the multi-strain probiotic formulas, Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome, which have previously demonstrated efficacy in alleviating constipation and diarrhea symptoms, respectively. Improvement in clinical symptoms improvement and compositional changes in the gut microbiome were analyzed in participants with predominant constipation or diarrhea symptoms. Results indicate that tailored probiotics could improve constipation and diarrhea by promoting Erysipelotrichaceae and Lactobacillaceae, producers of short-chain fatty acids, and regulating inflammation and pain-associated taxa. These findings suggest the potential of tailored probiotic prescriptions and emphasize the need for personalized therapeutic approaches for digestive disorders. Clinical trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index/index.do, identifier KCT0009111.

Multistrain Probiotics Alleviate Diarrhea by Modulating Microbiome-Derived Metabolites and Serotonin Pathway.

Diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal symptom in health problems, is highly associated with gut dysbiosis. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effect of multistrain probiotics (Sensi-Biome) on diarrhea from the perspective of the microbiome-neuron axis. Sensi-Biome (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactococcus lactis) was administered in a 4% acetic acid-induced diarrhea rat model at concentrations of 1 × 108 (G1), 1 × 109 (G2), and 1 × 1010 CFU/0.5 mL (G3). Diarrhea-related parameters, inflammation-related cytokines, and stool microbiota analysis by 16S rRNA were evaluated. A targeted and untargeted metabolomics approach was used to analyze the cecum samples using liquid chromatography and orbitrap mass spectrometry. The stool moisture content (p < 0.001), intestinal movement rate (p < 0.05), and pH (p < 0.05) were significantly recovered in G3. Serotonin levels were decreased in the multistrain probiotics groups. The inflammatory cytokines, serotonin, and tryptophan hydroxylase expression were improved in the Sensi-Biome groups. At the phylum level, Sensi-Biome showed the highest relative abundance of Firmicutes. Short-chain fatty acids including butyrate, iso-butyrate, propionate, and iso-valeric acid were significantly modified in the Sensi-Biome groups. Equol and oleamide were significantly improved in the multistrain probiotics groups. In conclusion, Sensi-Biome effectively controls diarrhea by modulating metabolites and the serotonin pathway.

Multi-strain probiotics alleviate loperamide-induced constipation by adjusting the microbiome, serotonin, and short-chain fatty acids in rats.

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders worldwide. The use of probiotics to improve constipation is well known. In this study, the effect on loperamide-induced constipation by intragastric administration of probiotics Consti-Biome mixed with SynBalance® SmilinGut (Lactobacillus plantarum PBS067, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH020, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL050; Roelmi HPC), L. plantarum UALp-05 (Chr. Hansen), Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 (Chr. Hansen), and Streptococcus thermophilus CKDB027 (Chong Kun Dang Bio) to rats was evaluated. To induce constipation, 5 mg/kg loperamide was intraperitoneally administered twice a day for 7 days to all groups except the normal control group. After inducing constipation, Dulcolax-S tablets and multi-strain probiotics Consti-Biome were orally administered once a day for 14 days. The probiotics were administered 0.5 mL at concentrations of 2 × 108 CFU/mL (G1), 2 × 109 CFU/mL (G2), and 2 × 1010 CFU/mL (G3). Compared to the loperamide administration group (LOP), the multi-strain probiotics not only significantly increased the number of fecal pellets but also improved the GI transit rate. The mRNA expression levels of serotonin- and mucin-related genes in the colons that were treated with the probiotics were also significantly increased compared to levels in the LOP group. In addition, an increase in serotonin was observed in the colon. The cecum metabolites showed a different pattern between the probiotics-treated groups and the LOP group, and an increase in short-chain fatty acids was observed in the probiotic-treated groups. The abundances of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, the family Erysipelotrichaceae and the genus Akkermansia were increased in fecal samples of the probiotic-treated groups. Therefore, the multi-strain probiotics used in this experiment were thought to help alleviate LOP-induced constipation by altering the levels of short-chain fatty acids, serotonin, and mucin through improvement in the intestinal microflora.

A Crop Growth Prediction Model Using Energy Data Based on Machine Learning in Smart Farms.

In the recent past, the agricultural industry has rapidly digitalized in the form of smart farms through the broad usage of data analysis and artificial intelligence. Commonly, high operating costs in a smart farm are primarily due to inefficient energy usage. Therefore, accurate estimation of agricultural energy usage and environmental factors is considered as one of the significant tasks for crop growth control. The growth sequences of crops in agricultural environments like smart farms are related to agricultural energy usage and consumption. This study aims to develop and validate an algorithm that can interpret the crop growth rate response to environmental and solar energy factors based on machine learning, and to evaluate the algorithm's accuracy compared to the base model. The proposed model was determined through a comparative experiment of three representative machine learning techniques, which are random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient boosting machine (GBM), considering the energy usage for environmental control is highly associated with the paprika crop growth. Through the experiment performance with real data gathered from a paprika smart farm in South Korea, the multi-level RF can effectively predict paprika growth with an accuracy of 0.88, considering data analysis of factors that use solar energy. As a result of the experiment with the suggested model, the growth factors such as leaf length, leaf width, and environmental factors were found. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm can contribute to the development of applications through analysis of the crop growth big data for various plants in agricultural environments such as a smart farm.

The significance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio in vestibular neuritis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the significance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in vestibular neuritis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, case-control study. METHODS: The study subjects were patients who received treatment for vestibular neuritis between January 2009 and December 2013, and a control group composed of 70 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects who received laboratory testing as part of a routine health checkup. The subjects underwent a complete blood cell count and counts of the various cell subtypes to compare NLR and PLR in the vestibular neuritis patients and controls. The associations between laboratory test results and values of the vestibular function test and clinical information were examined. In addition, a subgroup analysis according to the duration of spontaneous nystagmus was performed. RESULTS: The mean NLR and PLR values of the patient group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Although caloric test outcomes and hospitalization period were not significantly correlated with blood profiles, the duration of dizziness needing antivertiginous drugs was positively correlated with NLR and PLR (P = .021, P = .020, respectively). In addition, NLR was negatively correlated with the length of time between symptom start and blood sampling (P = .005). The NLR and PLR value of patients with nystagmus for more than 5 days were significantly higher than those of patients whose nystagmus ceased within 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to evaluate the significance of NLR and PLR in vestibular neuritis. NLR and PLR should be taken into consideration as simple and reliable parameters for predicting the cause and severity of the disease.

Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags from Flammulina velutipes at different developmental stages.

Flammulina velutipes is a popular edible basidiomycete mushroom found in East Asia and is commonly known as winter mushroom. Mushroom development showing dramatic morphological changes by different environmental factors is scientifically and commercially interesting. To create a genetic database and isolate genes regulated during mushroom development, cDNA libraries were constructed from three developmental stages of mycelium, primordium, and fruit body in F. velutipes. We generated a total of 5,431 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from randomly selected clones from the three cDNA libraries. Of these, 3,332 different unique genes (unigenes) were consistent with 2,442 (73%) singlets and 890 (27%) contigs. This corresponds to a redundancy of 39%. Using a homology search in the gene ontology database, the EST unigenes were classified into the three categories of molecular function (28%), biological process (29%), and cellular component (6%). Comparative analysis found great variations in the unigene expression pattern among the three different unigene sets generated from the cDNA libraries of mycelium, primordium, and fruit body. The 19-34% of total unigenes were unique to each unigene set and only 3% were shared among all three unigene sets. The unique and common representation in F. velutipes unigenes from the three different cDNA libraries suggests great differential gene expression profiles during the different developmental stages of F. velutipes mushroom.

Isolation of Genes Specifically Expressed in Different Developmental Stages of Pleurotus ostreatus Using Macroarray Analysis.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is one of the most important edible mushrooms worldwide. The mechanism of P. ostreatus fruiting body development has been of interest both for the basic understanding of the phenotypic change of the mycelium-fruiting body and to improve breeding of the mushrooms. Based on our previous publication of P. ostreatus expressed sequence tag database, 1,528 unigene clones were used in macroarray analysis of mycelium, fruiting body and basidiospore developmental stages of P. ostreatus. Gene expression profile databases generated by evaluating expression levels showed that 33, 10, and 94 genes were abundantly expressed in mycelium, fruiting body and basidiospore developmental stages, respectively. Among them, the genes specifically expressed in the fruiting body stage were further analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot to investigate temporal and spatial expression patterns. These results provide useful information for future studies of edible mushroom development.

KR-31762, a novel KATP channel opener, exerts cardioprotective effects by opening SarcKATP channels in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion-induced heart injury.

The cardioprotective effects of KR-31762, a newly synthesized K+(ATP) opener, were evaluated in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) heart injury. In isolated rat hearts subjected to 30-min global ischemia followed by 30-min reperfusion, KR-31762 (3 and 10 microM) significantly increased the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and double product (heart rate x LVDP) after 30-min reperfusion in a concentration-dependent manner, while decreasing the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). KR-31762 also significantly increased the time to contracture (TTC) during ischemic period (20.0, 22.4 and 26.4 min for control, 3 and 10 microM, respectively), while decreasing the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the heart during 30 min reperfusion (30.4, 14.3 and 19.7 U/g heart weight, respectively). All these parameters except LDH release were reversed by glyburide (1 microM), a nonselective blocker of K+(ATP) channel, but not by 5-hydroxydecanoate, a selective blocker of mitoK+(ATP) channel. In anesthetized rats subjected to 45-min occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 90-min reperfusion, KR-31762 significantly decreased the infarct size (60.8, 40.5 and 37.8% for control, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, iv, respectively). KR-31762 slightly relaxed the isolated rat aorta precontracted with methoxamine (IC(50): 23.5 microM). These results suggest that KR-31762 exerts potent cardioprotective effects through the opening of sarcolemmal K(ATP) channel in rat hearts with the minimal vasorelaxant effects.

Comparisons of longissimus muscle metabolic enzymes and muscle fiber types in Korean and western pig breeds.

We compared differentially expressed genes and muscle fiber types in the longissimus muscles of Korean native pigs (KNP) and the western meat-producing breeds Landrace and Yorkshire. The KNP breed exhibited a higher muscle fat content and more red meat color as determined by the a(∗) (redness) value (P<0.01) and b(∗) (yellowness) value (P<0.05) compared to the western breeds. Using differential display RT-PCR, we detected two genes that were differentially expressed in skeletal muscle among the pig breeds. These genes were identified as NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and ATPase subunit 6 by cloning and sequencing analysis. Both of these genes are involved oxidative phosphorylation and therefore energy metabolism. The genes were more highly expressed in the KNP breed than in the other breeds, indicating that KNPs exhibit more oxidative metabolism than do the western breeds. We also analyzed the mRNA levels of myosin heavy-chain isoforms such as type I (oxidative), type IIb (glycolytic), and types IIa and IIx (intermediate) fibers using real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of oxidative and intermediate fibers were elevated in the KNP breed, whereas the glycolytic fibers were more highly expressed in the Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. These results suggest that the elevated expression of the oxidation-related metabolism genes NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase is related to meat quality as indicated by a higher content of oxidative fibers and muscle fat, as well as redder meat color.