Bifidobacterium longum 1714 as a translational psychobiotic: modulation of stress, electrophysiology and neurocognition in healthy volunteers

The emerging concept of psychobiotics—live microorganisms with a potential mental health benefit—represents a novel approach for the management of stress-related conditions. The majority of studies have focused on animal models. Recent preclinical studies have identified the B. longum 1714 strain as a putative psychobiotic with an impact on stress-related behaviors, physiology and cognitive performance. Whether such preclinical effects could be translated to healthy human volunteers remains unknown. We tested whether psychobiotic consumption could affect the stress response, cognition and brain activity patterns. In a within-participants design, healthy volunteers (N=22) completed cognitive assessments, resting electroencephalography and were exposed to a socially evaluated cold pressor test at baseline, post-placebo and post-psychobiotic. Increases in cortisol output and subjective anxiety in response to the socially evaluated cold pressor test were attenuated. Furthermore, daily reported stress was reduced by psychobiotic consumption. We also observed subtle improvements in hippocampus-dependent visuospatial memory performance, as well as enhanced frontal midline electroencephalographic mobility following psychobiotic consumption. These subtle but clear benefits are in line with the predicted impact from preclinical screening platforms. Our results indicate that consumption of B. longum 1714 is associated with reduced stress and improved memory. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the benefits of this putative psychobiotic in relevant stress-related conditions and to unravel the mechanisms underlying such effects.

Lost in translation? The potential psychobiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) fails to modulate stress or cognitive performance in healthy male subjects

Background: Preclinical studies have identified certain probiotics as psychobiotics a live microorganisms with a potential mental health benefit. Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) has been shown to reduce stress-related behaviour, corticosterone release and alter central expression of GABA receptors in an anxious mouse strain. However, it is unclear if this single putative psychobiotic strain has psychotropic activity in humans. Consequently, we aimed to examine if these promising preclinical findings could be translated to healthy human volunteers. Objectives: To determine the impact of L. rhamnosus on stress-related behaviours, physiology, inflammatory response, cognitive performance and brain activity patterns in healthy male participants. An 8 week, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was employed. Twenty-nine healthy male volunteers participated. Participants completed self-report stress measures, cognitive assessments and resting electroencephalography (EEG). Plasma IL10, IL1β, IL6, IL8 and TNFα levels and whole blood Toll-like 4 (TLR-4) agonist-induced cytokine release were determined by multiplex ELISA. Salivary cortisol was determined by ELISA and subjective stress measures were assessed before, during and after a socially evaluated cold pressor test (SECPT). Results: There was no overall effect of probiotic treatment on measures of mood, anxiety, stress or sleep quality and no significant effect of probiotic over placebo on subjective stress measures, or the HPA response to the SECPT. Visuospatial memory performance, attention switching, rapid visual information processing, emotion recognition and associated EEG measures did not show improvement over placebo. No significant anti-inflammatory effects were seen as assessed by basal and stimulated cytokine levels. Conclusions: L. rhamnosus was not superior to placebo in modifying stress-related measures, HPA response, inflammation or cognitive performance in healthy male participants. These findings highlight the challenges associated with moving promising preclinical studies, conducted in an anxious mouse strain, to healthy human participants. Future interventional studies investigating the effect of this psychobiotic in populations with stress-related disorders are required.

Streptococcus thermophilus APC151 strain is suitable for the manufacture of naturally GABA-enriched bioactive yogurt

Consumer interest in health-promoting food products is a major driving force for the increasing global demand of functional (probiotic) dairy foods. Yogurt is considered the ideal medium for delivery of beneficial functional ingredients. Gamma-amino-butyric acid has potential as a bioactive ingredient in functional foods due to its health-promoting properties as an anti-stress, anti-hypertensive, and anti-diabetic agent. Here, we report the use of a novel Streptococcus thermophilus strain, isolated from the digestive tract of fish, for production of yogurt naturally enriched with 2 mg/ml of gamma-amino-butyric acid (200 mg in a standard yogurt volume of 100 ml), a dose in the same range as that provided by some commercially available gamma-amino-butyric acid supplements. The biotechnological suitability of this strain for industrial production of yogurt was demonstrated by comparison with the reference yogurt inoculated with the commercial CH1 starter (Chr. Hansen) widely used in the dairy industry. Both yogurts showed comparable pH curves [ΔpH/Δt = 0.31-0.33 h-1], viscosity [0.49 Pa-s], water holding capacity [72–73%], and chemical composition [moisture (87–88%), protein (5.05–5.65%), fat (0.12–0.15%), sugar (4.8–5.8%), and ash (0.74–1.2%)]. Gamma-amino-butyric acid was not detected in the control yogurt. In conclusion, the S. thermophilus APC151 strain reported here provides a natural means for fortification of yogurt with gamma-amino-butyric acid.

Influence de la taille et de la gradation des particules sur la résistance au cisaillement et le comportement dilatant des matériaux granulaires

Résumé : Cette étude examine l'impact de la taille et de la gradation de particules sur les corrélations théoriques et empiriques existantes les plus connues entre la résistance au cisaillement et le comportement dilatatant des matériaux granulaires en condition de déformation plane et en compression triaxiale drainée. À cette fin, 276 tests de cisaillements symétriques directs et 35 tests de compressions triaxiales drainées ont été menés sur des échantillons composés de billes de basalte (particules rondes), et de sables constitués de particules angulaires (sable de Péribonka et sable d'Eastmain) sur une échelle de 63 µm à 2000 µm afin d'évaluer leur résistance au cisaillement et leur comportement de dilatance sur une vaste échelle de pressions normales et de densités relatives initiales. Premièrement, la fiabilité et l'applicabilité des limites de mesure à l’aide de tests physiques de cisaillements symétriques directs dans l'interprétation de la résistance au cisaillement frictionnel en déformation plane des matériaux granulaires ont été discutées et confirmées par l'usage du code informatique DEM, SiGran. L'accent a été particulièrement mis sur la validation du modèle DEM au moyen de comparaison des résultats des simulations DEM avec leurs équivalents physiques à une échelle macro. Les résultats virtuels DSA sont abordés du point de vue de la coaxialité entre les principales tensions et les principales directions des paliers de pression ainsi que de la déviation de la direction d'extension nulle à partir de la direction horizontale. Les résultats numériques fournissent également des données quantitatives sur les différentes formes d'énergie consommées durant le cisaillement confirmées par d'autres résultats physiques et numériques publiés. Sur la base des postulats précédents, un examen minutieux des résultats des essais de cisaillements directs et de données issues de la littérature a été accompli afin d'évaluer la fiabilité des formules empiriques bien connues de Bolton et Collins et al. avec leurs constantes couramment employées en condition de déformation plane. L'étude montre qu'une application des relations empiriques de force-dilatation de cisaillement avec les constantes proposées par Bolton (1986) et Collins et al. (1992) aux sables ayant une distribution de taille de particules différente peut conduire à surestimer leurs valeurs en terme de force de cisaillement. Dans cette étude, les coefficients des équations de Bolton et Collins et al. ont donc été ajustée afin de prendre en compte les caractéristiques des particules, en particulier le diamètre médian, D50. De manière analogue, les effets microstructuraux imposés par la géométrie interne des particules (par exemple la taille, la forme et la gradation des particules) sur la relation tension-dilatation très connue, celle de Rowe (1962), et son ajustement empirique en condition triaxiale drainée ont été examinés dans cette étude. Une comparaison des prédictions des formules proposées avec les données de force de cisaillement issues de la littérature fournit de nombreuses preuves en faveur des contraintes mises en place au sein des relations existantes de force-dilatation de cisaillement en condition de déformation plane et triaxiale. Ces comparaisons prouvent également que la prise en compte de la taille des grains conduit à des résultats plus tangibles que lorsque la taille de la particule n'est pas considérée. Les formules de force-dilatation ajustées peuvent se révéler avantageuses pour évaluer indépendamment la cohérence des forces de cisaillement déterminées expérimentalement et pour introduire des lois d’écoulement plus précises dans les analyses géotechniques analytiques et numériques.

A staggered approach for the coupling of Cahn–Hilliard type diffusion and finite strain elasticity

We develop an algorithm and computational implementation for simulation of problems that combine Cahn–Hilliard type diffusion with finite strain elasticity. We have in mind applications such as the electro-chemo- mechanics of lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. We concentrate on basic computational aspects. A staggered algorithm is pro- posed for the coupled multi-field model. For the diffusion problem, the fourth order differential equation is replaced by a system of second order equations to deal with the issue of the regularity required for the approximation spaces. Low order finite elements are used for discretization in space of the involved fields (displacement, concentration, nonlocal concentration). Three (both 2D and 3D) extensively worked numerical examples show the capabilities of our approach for the representation of (i) phase separation, (ii) the effect of concentration in deformation and stress, (iii) the effect of Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00466-015-1235-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. B P. Areias pmaa@uevora.pt 1 Department of Physics, University of Évora, Colégio Luís António Verney, Rua Romão Ramalho, 59, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal 2 ICIST, Lisbon, Portugal 3 School of Engineering, Universidad de Cuenca, Av. 12 de Abril s/n. 01-01-168, Cuenca, Ecuador 4 Institute of Structural Mechanics, Bauhaus-University Weimar, Marienstraße 15, 99423 Weimar, Germany strain in concentration, and (iv) lithiation. We analyze con- vergence with respect to spatial and time discretization and found that very good results are achievable using both a stag- gered scheme and approximated strain interpolation.

Least-squares finite strain hexahedral element/constitutive coupling based on parametrized configurations and the Löwdin frame

Two novelties are introduced: (i) a finite-strain semi-implicit integration algorithm compatible with current element technologies and (ii) the application to assumed-strain hexahedra. The Löwdin algo- rithm is adopted to obtain evolving frames applicable to finite strain anisotropy and a weighted least- squares algorithm is used to determine the mixed strain. Löwdin frames are very convenient to model anisotropic materials. Weighted least-squares circumvent the use of internal degrees-of-freedom. Het- erogeneity of element technologies introduce apparently incompatible constitutive requirements. Assumed-strain and enhanced strain elements can be either formulated in terms of the deformation gradient or the Green–Lagrange strain, many of the high-performance shell formulations are corotational and constitutive constraints (such as incompressibility, plane stress and zero normal stress in shells) also depend on specific element formulations. We propose a unified integration algorithm compatible with possibly all element technologies. To assess its validity, a least-squares based hexahedral element is implemented and tested in depth. Basic linear problems as well as 5 finite-strain examples are inspected for correctness and competitive accuracy.

Stress und Belastung bei Personen im diplomatischen Dienst (Stress and burden in diplomatic service).

This paper describes working and living conditions of persons within diplomatic services from the perspective of stress and demands. The conditions of stress and demands described in this article are similar for leaders, volunteers, actors of international agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Scope and diversity of diplomatic tasks and connected psychsocial stress will be outlined. Families of diplomates are also affected. Mental health problems in the diplomatic corps are known, but they are considered as a taboo issue. Consequently, the basis of empirical research and literature is limited. It is mentioned that expatriates, migrants, refugees and students in foreign countries can develop similar problems. The role of psychology and psychotherapeutic interventions are discussed.