The Human Gut and Dietary Salt: The Bacteroides/Prevotella Ratio as a Potential Marker of Sodium Intake and Beyond.

The gut microbiota is a dynamic ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in maintaining host health. The perturbation of these microbes has been linked to several health conditions. Hence, they have emerged as promising targets for understanding and promoting good health. Despite the growing body of research on the role of sodium in health, its effects on the human gut microbiome remain under-explored. Here, using nutrition and metagenomics methods, we investigate the influence of dietary sodium intake and alterations of the human gut microbiota. We found that a high-sodium diet (HSD) altered the gut microbiota composition with a significant reduction in Bacteroides and inverse increase in Prevotella compared to a low-sodium diet (LSD). However, there is no clear distinction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio between the two diet types. Metabolic pathway reconstruction revealed the presence of sodium reabsorption genes in the HSD, but not LSD. Since it is currently difficult in microbiome studies to confidently associate the F/B ratio with what is considered healthy (e.g., low sodium) or unhealthy (e.g., high sodium), we suggest that the use of a genus-based ratio such as the Bacteroides/Prevotella (B/P) ratio may be more beneficial for the application of microbiome studies in health.

Unusual metachronous presentation of bilateral frontoethmoid sinus mucoceles.

A case report of a patient with bilateral frontoethmoid mucoceles with no obvious predisposing factors and each side presenting three years apart, with no ongoing nasal or paranasal signs of disease in the interim.Bilateral paranasal sinus mucoceles have rarely been described in the literature; this case is unique, as it is the first description of a metachronous presentation. Additionally, the absence of any predisposing factors such as trauma, surgery or chronic sinusitis in either presentation is unusual.

Singapore Sling: F1 Race Team Cognitive Function and Mood Responses During the Singapore Grand Prix.

O'Neill, BV, Davies, KM, and Morris-Patterson, TE. Singapore sling: F1 race team cognitive function and mood responses during the Singapore grand prix. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3587-3592, 2020-The current investigation measured cognitive performance and subjective ratings of mood and sleep in Formula 1 (F1) race team members during the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix. Two weeks before the Singapore Grand Prix, subjects (n = 16; mean age 33.5 years, range 22-48 years) underwent baseline cognitive assessments and a questionnaire on mood and sleep quality/duration. These assessments were repeated on the race weekend before practice (S1) and after qualifying (S2). A significant increase in simple reaction time (SRT), i.e., slowing of total response time was observed from baseline to S1 (33.69 ± 6.52 ms; p < 0.001) and from baseline to S2 (34.63 ± 8.19 ms; p = 0.002). Mood-related effects were observed with subjective stress levels increased from baseline to S1 (18.06 ± 6.18; p = 0.032) and a decrease in how refreshed the race team members felt between S1 and S2 (18.56 ± 6.14; p = 0.029). In addition, a negative association between change in SRT and change in quality of sleep (R = 0.47; p = 0.016) as well as negative association in how refreshed individuals reported feeling and SRT between S1 and S2 (R = 0.37; p = 0.017). The findings suggest that the demands presented by an F1 race environment have significant effects on cognitive function and mood; however, the exact cause of any decrements would most likely be a combination and interaction of multiple factors. Future research should endeavor to adopt a holistic approach and investigate physiological and cognitive endpoints to fully explore the demands of this challenging motor sport.

A new unilateral abduction orthosis for Ponseti-treated clubfoot: A cohort study to assess compliance.

BACKGROUND: The Ponseti method for treating congenital talipes equinovarus requires an orthosis to maintain correction after manipulation and casting, typically the 'boots and bar'. Non-compliance with the orthosis increases the risk of recurrent deformity. This study investigates a new orthosis, the abduction dorsiflexion mechanism. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess compliance of the abduction dorsiflexion mechanism when used at night and maintenance of foot morphology. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a cohort study. METHODS: A total of 10 children with unilateral congenital talipes equinovarus previously treated with Ponseti casting were recruited to trial the abduction dorsiflexion mechanism at night for 12 weeks. Foot morphology and compliance were assessed every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Participant families were pleased with the orthosis, opting to continue to use the device following conclusion of the trial. Compliance was good and no deterioration in Pirani score or dorsiflexion seen. Abduction improved during the trial. The incidence of skin problems was equivalent to that experienced with the traditional boots and bar that the children had been wearing. CONCLUSION: Good compliance and parental satisfaction, coupled with no deterioration in foot morphology, abduction or dorsiflexion present the abduction dorsiflexion mechanism boot as a feasible alternative to the traditional boots and bar, particularly in children with unilateral congenital talipes equinovarus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The abduction dorsiflexion mechanism is currently the subject of considerable interest as clinicians look to increase compliance and reduce the recurrence rate in Ponseti-treated congenital talipes equinovarus. The abduction dorsiflexion mechanism boot is a feasible alternative to the traditional boots and bar, particularly in children with unilateral congenital talipes equinovarus.

Episodic memory as an explanation for the insurance hypothesis in obesity.

In evaluating the insurance hypothesis as an explanation for obesity, we propose one missing piece of the puzzle. Our suggested explanation for why individuals report food insecurity is that an individual may have an impaired episodic ability to plan for the future.

The Presence of Real Food Usurps Hypothetical Health Value Judgment in Overweight People.

To develop more ecologically valid models of the neurobiology of obesity, it is critical to determine how the neural processes involved in food-related decision-making translate into real-world eating behaviors. We examined the relationship between goal-directed valuations of food images in the MRI scanner and food consumption at a subsequent ad libitum buffet meal. We observed that 23 lean and 40 overweight human participants showed similar patterns of value-based neural responses to health and taste attributes of foods. In both groups, these value-based responses in the ventromedial PFC were predictive of subsequent consumption at the buffet. However, overweight participants consumed a greater proportion of unhealthy foods. This was not predicted by in-scanner choices or neural response. Moreover, in overweight participants alone, impulsivity scores predicted greater consumption of unhealthy foods. Overall, our findings suggest that, while the hypothetical valuation of the health of foods is predictive of eating behavior in both lean and overweight people, it is only the real-world food choices that clearly distinguish them.

Multiple-dose safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the µ-opioid receptor inverse agonist GSK1521498.

The endogenous opioid system and µ-opioid receptors in particular have been demonstrated to play a fundamental role in hedonic and motivational behaviors reinforced by rewards. In healthy participants, the authors examined the multiple-dose safety, pharmacokinetic, and secondary pharmacodynamic profile of GSK1521498, a µ-opioid receptor inverse agonist that is being developed for treatment of disorders of compulsive consumption. Clinically relevant doses of GSK1521498 (2, 5, and 10 mg) following once-daily administration for 10 days, were well tolerated with no clinically relevant changes in vital signs, chemistry, or hematologic parameters and with a favorable neuropsychiatric profile. Following oral administration, median first time to reach maximum observed plasma concentration for GSK1521498 occurred 2 to 5 hours after dosing, with individual values ranging from 1 to 8 hours. Systemic exposure to GSK1521498 (area under the curve [0-∞] and maximum observed plasma concentration) increased in a slightly greater-than-dose-proportional manner, and steady-state plasma levels were reached within approximately 7 days. The secondary pharmacodynamic effects of GSK1521498 on cognition and pain threshold and tolerance were dose related, with mild to moderate impairments in measures of attention and reductions of pressure pain threshold and tolerance at the highest dose. These findings provide encouraging safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic data in support of the continued clinical development of GSK1521498.