Oral Administration of Mixed Probiotics Improves Photoaging by Modulating the Cecal Microbiome and MAPK Pathway in UVB-Irradiated Hairless Mice.

SCOPE: Continuous ultraviolet (UV) exposure causes skin photoaging, wrinkle formation, and skin barrier damage. In this study, the protective effect of mixed probiotics (MP) against photoaging in UVB-irradiated Hs68 fibroblasts and SKH-1 hairless mice is investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The mice are irradiated with UVB for 8 weeks to induce photoaging, and MP (15 and 50 mg day-1 ) is orally administered once a day. Skin parameters are measured in the dorsal skin and wrinkle formation factors are analyzed in skin replicas. To evaluate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, western blotting and qRT-PCR are performed. MP (50 mg day-1 ) significantly improves skin moisture, transepidermal water loss, erythema, and skin thickness. MP also effectively suppresses wrinkle formation by regulating the transcriptional expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs. MP also reduces inflammatory cytokine levels and phosphorylation of extracellular signaling regulatory kinase, Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 protein. Furthermore, the intestinal microbiome of the MP groups is significantly different compared with that of the UVB group, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Akkermansia is significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings suggest that MP modulates the gut microbiome and ameliorates UVB-induced photoaging by downregulating the MAPK pathway.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Multi-Strain Probiotics in Mice with High-Carbohydrate Diet-Induced Obesity and the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Overconsumption of highly refined carbohydrates contributes significantly to the current obesity pandemics. Probiotic administration protects against weight gain in animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Nonetheless, the anti-obesity effects of probiotics in a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)-induced obesity models are not well elucidated. Herein, C57BL/6N male mice were fed an HCD (70% kcal carbohydrate) for 12 weeks and were orally treated with multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) at 1010 CFU or saline every day for 6 weeks. MSPs contained Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 24936, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 24937, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 25175. MSPs treatment not only ameliorated weight gain but also modulated the body fat composition altered by HCD. The MSPs also attenuated the expression of adipogenesis- and lipogenesis-related genes in HCD-fed mice. In addition, MSPs promoted the expression of lipolysis- and fatty acid oxidation-promoting factors in HCD-fed mice. Furthermore, MSPs modulated the expression of thermogenesis-related genes and the serum levels of obesity-related hormones altered by HCD. Treatment with MSPs positively reversed the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which is associated with a risk of obesity. Hence, this study explores the multifaceted anti-obesity mechanisms of MSPs and highlights their potential to be used as effective weight-management products.

The Moderating Effect of Gender on the Relationship Between Self-neglect and Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults of Korea.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported that self-neglect, which may be a sign of elder abuse, can result in suicide among older adults. The signs of self-neglect and its impact on the risk of suicide may differ by gender. Thus, this study explored the association between self-neglect and suicide risk in older Korean adults and examined the potential moderating effect of gender on this relationship. METHODS: Data were collected from 356 Korean adults aged 65 or older through an online survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the research hypothesis. First, the associations between 4 sub-dimensions of self-neglect (i.e., daily life management issues, personal hygiene issues, financial management issues, and relational issues) and suicidal ideation were examined. Then, the moderating effect of gender on these relationships was investigated by including interaction terms. RESULTS: Self-neglect was significantly associated with suicidal ideation in older adults. Aspects of self-neglect related to daily life management and relational factors were key predictors of suicidal ideation. Gender significantly moderated the effect of the relational dimension of self-neglect on suicidal ideation. The relational dimension of self-neglect was more strongly associated with suicidal ideation in older women than in older men. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the importance of screening older adults with signs of self-neglect for suicide risk. Special attention should be paid to older women who experience relational issues as a high-risk group for suicidal ideation. Public programs and support systems should be established to improve daily life management and promote social relationships among older adults.

Investigation of Flavor-Forming Starter Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LDTM6802 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris LDTM6803 in Miniature Gouda-Type Cheeses.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play an important role in dairy fermentations, notably as cheese starter cultures. During the cheese production and ripening period, various enzymes from milk, rennet, starter cultures, and non-starter LABs are involved in flavor formation pathways, including glycolysis, proteolysis, and lipolysis. Among these three pathways, starter LABs are particularly related to amino acid degradation, presumably as the origins of major flavor compounds. Therefore, we used several enzymes as major criteria for the selection of starter bacteria with flavor-forming ability. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LDTM6802 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris LDTM6803, isolated from Korean raw milk and cucumber kimchi, were confirmed by using multiplex PCR and characterized as starter bacteria. The combinations of starter bacteria were validated in a miniature Gouda-type cheese model. The flavor compounds of the tested miniature cheeses were analyzed and profiled by using an electronic nose. Compared to commercial industrial cheese starters, selected starter bacteria showed lower pH, and more variety in their flavor profile. These results demonstrated that LDTM6802 and LDTM6803 as starter bacteria have potent starter properties with a characteristic flavor-forming ability in cheese.

Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strain LDTM 7511 in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Murine Model.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions involving chronic relapsing-remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with an unknown etiology. Although the cause-effect relationship between gut microbiota and IBD has not been clearly established, emerging evidence from experimental models supports the idea that gut microbes play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of IBD. As microbiome-based therapeutics for IBD, the beneficial effects of probiotics have been found in animal colitis models and IBD patients. In this study, based on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, we investigated Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain LDTM 7511 originating from Korean infant feces as a putative probiotic strain for IBD. The strain LDTM 7511 not only alleviated the release of inflammatory mediators, but also induced the transition of gut microbiota from dysbiotic conditions, exhibiting the opposite pattern in the abundance of DSS colitis-associated bacterial taxa to the DSS group. Our findings suggest that the strain LDTM 7511 has the potential to be used as a probiotic treatment for IBD patients in comparison to L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103), which has been frequently used for IBD studies.