Gastro-intestinal and oral microbiome signatures associated with healthy aging.

The human oral and gut microbiomes influence health via competition for a distinct niche in the body with pathogens, via metabolic capabilities that increase host digestive capacity and generate compounds engaged in signaling pathways and modulation of immune system functions. Old age alters our metabolic and regenerative capacity. Following recruitment of 65 human subjects in the age range of 70 to 82, we discerned healthy aging (HA) and non-healthy aging (NHA) cohorts discordant in the occurrence of one or more major diseases: (1) cancer, (2) acute or chronic cardiovascular diseases, (3) acute or chronic pulmonary diseases, (4) diabetes, and (5) stroke or neurodegenerative disorders. We analyzed these cohorts' oral microbiomes (saliva) and gut microbiomes (stool) to assess diversity and identify microbial biomarkers for HA. In contrast to the gut microbiome where no change was observed, we found that the saliva microbiome had higher α-diversity in the HA compared with the NHA group. We observed the genus Akkermansia to be significantly more abundant in the gut microbiota of the HA group. Akkermansia muciniphila is a colonic mucin-degrading bacterium believed to have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health, particularly in the context of diabetes and obesity. Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 was a taxon increased in abundance in the HA cohort. Streptococcus was the only genus observed to be significantly decreased in abundance in both the gut and oral microbiomes of the HA cohort compared with the NHA cohort. Our data support the notion that these microbes are potential probiotics to decrease the risks of non-healthy aging.

Content Validation of Advanced Illness Criteria of a Palliative Care Screening Tool.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients appropriate for palliative care continues to be a challenge for healthcare systems. Danbury Hospital embedded a palliative care screening tool (PCST) in the nursing admission assessment of the electronic medical record to screen a patient's appropriateness for a palliative care consult. Although the screening tool was helpful in early identification of patients, feedback from healthcare providers indicated lack of clarity in determining "advanced illness" outside of the oncology population. OBJECTIVES: To (1) validate sections 1 and 2 of the PCST to a broader patient population, using the content validity ratio (CVR) and (2) determine the presence of a correlation between the PCST and an existing validated tool. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to collect feedback on five categories of basic disease processes as major criterion for determination for a PCST score. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Healthcare providers and content experts were within Western Connecticut Health Network. MEASUREMENTS: Surveys evaluated basic disease processes as major criteria to determine whether a palliative care consultation was needed. RESULTS: A total of 120 healthcare providers participated: 27 nurses and 93 physicians. Respondents identified poor or limited functional status as essential items upon identifying high-risk patients appropriate for palliative services. Advanced illnesses concurrent with complete activities of daily living dependence yielded the highest positive CVRs. The functional assessments, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and Karnofsky are significantly correlated (p = 9.999*10-05). The Karnofsky scale score was determined to be significantly negatively correlated with the PCST score (p = 4.314*10-45). CONCLUSION: Cross-sectional feedback of healthcare professionals validated criteria of advanced illness in the PCST.

A Four-Year Trend in Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Western Connecticut.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the trends in blood vitamin D levels in a regional population from 2009-2012 through a cross-sectional study design. METHODS: Over a four-year period (2009-2012), serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] have been measured using an automated enzyme immunoassay with a steadily increasing number of tests performed each year. A total of 54700 tests were performed during this period, with a 90% increase in annual tests ordered. RESULTS: Mean and median serum levels of 25(OH) D showed statistically significant increases during this period. Those with 25(OH)D levels below 10 ng/mL represented 1.45% of the subjects in 2009 and 0.3% in 2012. The decrease in the proportion of subjects with 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL and below 30 ng/mL was greatest out of all the proportioned subjects. Mean and median 25(OH)D levels increased with age in males and females. CONCLUSION: These results likely reflect increased health awareness in Western Connecticut compared with national surveys showing a temporal decrease in 25(OH)D levels.

Effects of krill oil on endothelial function and other cardiovascular risk factors in participants with type 2 diabetes, a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of krill oil supplementation, a source of ω-3 fatty acids, on cardiovascular disease risk factors and blood glucose control among participants with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind controlled cross-over trial was employed. Outcomes assessed were: endothelial function, blood lipids, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum antioxidant level, C peptide, and calculated Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores. Participants were randomized to either krill oil or olive oil supplementation for 4 weeks, underwent a 2-week washout period, and then crossed to the other supplementation for 4 weeks. All participants were then offered an additional 17 weeks of krill supplementation. Testing occurred at 3 time points: baseline, after first supplementation, and after second supplementation. Testing also occurred after an optional 17 weeks of krill oil supplementation. Difference scores were calculated for each participant in both sequences (ie, differences in outcome measures in the first and second period of the sequence). The mean and SD of the scores in the 2 sequence groups were used to test for differences between treatment effects at a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 47 participants were included in the initial cross-over study. Participants who received krill oil for 4 weeks had an improvement in their endothelial function and a reduction in blood C peptide levels and HOMA scores as compared with the olive oil. A total of 34 participants completed the additional 17-week supplementation period. When compared with their respective baseline measures, these participants had a statistically significant improvement in endothelial function and blood high-density lipoprotein (HDL). CONCLUSIONS: Krill oil may lead to moderate improvement of cardiovascular risks, specifically endothelial dysfunction and HDL in patients with type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02091193.