Synbiotic intervention reverses alcohol drinking-induced cognitive deficits in adolescent male mice by modulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Adolescence is characterized by an increased vulnerability to substance abuse, including alcohol consumption. We investigated the effects of a synbiotic intervention on disruptions of the microbiota-gut-brain axis induced by a drinking in the dark model of intermittent alcohol exposure in adolescent mice. We found that alcohol drinking induced specific shifts in gut microbiota, namely it increased Erysipelotrichaceae and reduced fecal butyric and isovaleric acids.

Associations of family affluence with cortisol production and telomere length in European children.

Background: Shorter telomere length is associated with environmental stressors and has been proposed to underlie health inequalities in ageing trajectories. However, the relationship between socioeconomic position, psychosocial stress and telomere length is understudied in childhood, when ageing trajectories may be first defined. We aimed to examine the associations between family affluence, cortisol production and telomere length in a large cross-sectional study of European children.

Profile of steroid metabolites in human breast milk in different stages of lactation.

Breast milk (BM), as an optimal food, provides the newborn with a variety of minor compounds relevant for health and wellbeing. Endogenous steroids, also minor constituents, are mainly secreted in BM as conjugated metabolites. Recent research has revealed the relevance of steroid conjugates in many physiological processes.

Association of environmental noise exposure with cortisol levels in children from eight European birth cohorts.

Environmental noise is a major environmental risk factor for public health. According to the noise reaction model the release of stress hormones like cortisol in response to noise exposure, plays a key role in the development of noise-induced health effects. We aimed to study the association between environmental noise with both acute (UCC) and cumulative (HCC) cortisol levels in children 5-12 years of age.

Prenatal Exposure to Synthetic Phenols Assessed in Multiple Urine Samples and Dysregulation of Steroid Hormone Homeostasis in Two European Cohorts.

Background: Some synthetic phenols alter hormonal pathways involved in successful pregnancy and fetal development. Despite high within-subject temporal variability of phenols, previous studies mostly utilized spot urine samples to assess pregnancy exposure. Herein, we investigated associations between pregnancy exposure to eight phenols assessed in multiple pooled urine samples and steroid hormones assessed in maternal hair reflecting cumulative hormone levels over the previous weeks to months.

Metabolomic profiling of cannabis use and cannabis intoxication in humans.

Acute intoxication from Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary active ingredient of cannabis) can lead to neurocognitive impairment and interference with day-to-day operations, such as driving. Present evaluations of THC-induced impairment in legal settings rely on biological drug tests that solely establish cannabis use, rather than cannabis impairment. The current study evaluated the metabolome in blood collected from occasional and chronic cannabis users (N = 35) at baseline and following treatments with cannabis (300 μg/kg THC) and placebo, with the aim to identify unique metabolic alterations that are associated with acute cannabis intoxication and cannabis use frequency.

Improving the detectability of low-abundance p-cresol in biological matrices by chemical derivatization and LC-MS/MS determination.

Gut microbiota produces a wide range of microbial metabolites with potential neuroactive properties. Among these, p-cresol, a by-product of tyrosine breakdown, has gained significant attention in various neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. However, current methods fail to detect p-cresol at trace levels in both the systemic circulation and brain, limiting the study of its role in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Frailty and sarcopenia metabolomic signatures in kidney transplant candidates: the FRAILMar study.

Background: Sarcopenia and frailty are often overlooked in assessing kidney transplant (KT) candidates with chronic kidney disease (CKD), potentially leading to poor post-transplant outcomes. This study aimed to identify metabolites associated with frailty and sarcopenia in KT candidates from the FRAILMar study.

Methods: Between June 2016 and June 2020, we evaluated frailty and sarcopenia in 173 KT candidates using the Physical Frailty Phenotype and EGWSOP-2 criteria, respectively.

Pregnancy entails a U-shaped trajectory in human brain structure linked to hormones and maternal attachment.

Growing evidence places the gestational period as a unique moment of heightened neuroplasticity in adult life. In this longitudinal study spanning pre, during, and post pregnancy, we unveil a U-shaped trajectory in gray matter (GM) volume, which dips in late pregnancy and partially recovers during postpartum. These changes are most prominent in brain regions associated with the Default Mode and Frontoparietal Network.

Identification of Predictors of Shift Work Adaptation and Its Association With Immune, Hormonal and Metabolite Biomarkers.

We explored predictors of shift work adaptation and how it relates to disease risk biomarker levels. These analyses included 38 male, rotating shift workers, sampled twice at the end of a 3-week night shift and a 3-week day shift rotation. Participants collected all 24-h urine voids, wore activity sensors, and responded to questionnaires during each shift.

Childhood exposure to non-persistent endocrine disruptors, glucocorticosteroids, and attentional function: A cross-sectional study based on the parametric g-formula.

Background: Evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may perturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, which has a major role in brain development. We aimed to evaluate the effects of childhood exposure to organophosphate pesticides, phenols, and phthalate metabolites, on urinary glucocorticosteroids and inattention in childhood.

Methods: We used data from the Human Early-Life Exposome (HELIX) cohort (2013-2016) and the parametric g-formula to estimate associations between EDCs, glucocorticosteroids, and hit reaction time standard error (HRT-SE), a measure of inattention, and tested for possible effect modification by sex.

Towards the non-invasive determination of estradiol levels: Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS assay for quantification of salivary estradiol at sub-pg/mL level.

Background: Estradiol (E2) is a female sex hormone involved in several biological processes. Although E2 levels are commonly measured in blood samples, the use of non-invasive techniques (e.g.

Effects of Mediterranean Diet or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction during Pregnancy on Fetal Brain Development Detected by Neurosonography: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial (IMPACT BCN).

Introduction: We investigated whether structured maternal lifestyle interventions based on Mediterranean diet or stress reduction influence fetal-infant neurodevelopment detected by detailed fetal neurosonography and Ages and Stages Questionnaires 3rd edition (ASQ) at 12 months old.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (2017-2020), including 1,221 singleton pregnancies at high risk for small-for-gestational age. Participants were randomized into three groups at 19-23 weeks' gestation: Mediterranean diet intervention, stress reduction program, or usual care.

Effect of Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy on placental volume and perfusion: A subanalysis of the IMPACT BCN randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: The IMPACT BCN trial-a parallel-group randomized clinical trial where 1221 pregnant women at high risk for small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns were randomly allocated at 19- to 23-week gestation into three groups: Mediterranean diet, Mindfulness-based Stress reduction or non-intervention-has demonstrated a positive effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction in the prevention of SGA. However, the mechanism of action of these interventions remains still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Mediterranean diet and Stress reduction on placental volume and perfusion.

Short-term effects of gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy on high LDL cholesterol: The BASALTO randomized clinical trial.

Background: There has been a substantial increase in the use of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to treat morbid obesity despite observational evidence demonstrating the superiority of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The main aim was to ascertain whether high LDL cholesterol levels should be considered when selecting the most appropriate surgical procedure for each patient (RYGB or SG).

Methods: In this single-center, randomized clinical trial using intention-to-treat analysis, 38 patients with severe obesity and elevated levels of LDL cholesterol were randomly assigned to undergo RYGB or SG.

Present and future of metabolic and metabolomics studies focused on classical psychedelics in humans.

Psychedelics are classical hallucinogen drugs that induce a marked altered state of consciousness. In recent years, there has been renewed attention to the possible use of classical psychedelics for the treatment of certain mental health disorders. However, further investigation to better understand their biological effects in humans, their mechanism of action, and their metabolism in humans is needed when considering the development of future novel therapeutic approaches.

Longitudinal Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Steroid Hormones in Maternal Hair Samples from the SEPAGES Cohort.

We assessed phthalate-hormone associations in 382 pregnant women of the new-generation SEPAGES cohort (2014-2017, France) using improved exposure and outcome assessments. Metabolites from seven phthalate compounds and the replacement di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) were measured in within-subject pools of repeated urine samples collected at the second and third pregnancy trimesters (≈21 samples/trimester). Metabolites from five steroid hormones were measured in maternal hair samples collected at delivery, reflecting cumulative levels over the previous weeks to months.

Determination of well-being-related markers in nails by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Well-being is a multifactorial positive state that is highly influenced by some endogenous molecules that control happiness and euphoric feelings. These molecules, e.g.

Effects of Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction on fetal and neonatal brain development: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Maternal suboptimal nutrition and high stress levels are associated with adverse fetal and infant neurodevelopment.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate if structured lifestyle interventions involving a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy are associated with differences in fetal and neonatal brain development.

Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of the randomized clinical trial Improving Mothers for a Better Prenatal Care Trial Barcelona that was conducted in Barcelona, Spain, from 2017 to 2020.