Intestinal microbiota and its association with colon cancer and red/processed meat consumption

The human colon harbors a high number of microorganisms that were reported to play a crucial role in colorectal carcinogenesis. In the recent decade, molecular detection and metabolomic techniques have expanded our knowledge on the role of specific microbial species in promoting tumorigenesis. In this study, we reviewed the association between microbial dysbiosis and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Various microbial species and their association with colorectal tumorigenesis and red/processed meat consumption have been reviewed. The literature demonstrated a significant abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides fragilis in patients with adenoma or adenocarcinoma compared to healthy individuals. The mechanisms in which each organism was postulated to promote colon carcinogenesis were collated and summarized in this review. These include the microorganisms' ability to adhere to colon cells; modulate the inhibition of tumor suppressor genes, the activations of oncogenes, and genotoxicity; and activate downstream targets responsible for angiogenesis. The role of these microorganisms in conjugation with meat components including N‐nitroso compounds, heterocyclic amines, and heme was also evident in multiple studies. The outcome of this review supports the role of red meat consumption in modulating CRC progression and the possibility of gut microbiome influencing the relationship between CRC and diet. The study also demonstrates that microbiota analysis could potentially complement existing screening methods when detecting colonic lesions.     

False memories in patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia: Can cognitive strategies help?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that presents predominantly with impairments in learning and memory. Patients with AD are also susceptible to false memories, a clinically relevant memory distortion where a patient remembers an incorrect memory that they believe to be true. The use of cognitive strategies to improve memory performance among patients with AD by reducing false memories has taken on added importance given the lack of disease-modifying agents for AD. However, existing evidence suggests that cognitive strategies to reduce false memories in patients with AD are of limited effectiveness, although these strategies may be useful at earlier stages of the disease. The purpose of this review is to examine experimental findings of false memories and associated memory processes in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD and mild AD dementia. Cognitive strategies to reduce false memories in these patient populations are also reviewed. Approaches to clinically relevant future research are suggested and discussed.     

Das Hepatitis-E-Virus – ein zoonotisches Virus: Verbreitung, Übertragungswege und Bedeutung für die Lebensmittelsicherheit

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Das Hepatitis-E-Virus (HEV) ist ein Erreger einer akuten Hepatitis beim Menschen. Darüber hinaus treten zunehmend auch...     

Family beyond parents? An exploration of family configurations and psychological adjustment in young adults with intellectual disabilities

This research explores the family configurations of young adults with intellectual disability. Based on a sample of 40 individuals interviewed two times in a year, we found as many as four types of family configurations, with distinct compositions, and different types of social capital. This diversity is not without consequences for individual psychological adjustment. The results are discussed in the light of the configurational approach to families.     

Neonatal status epilepticus due to lamination disorder without significant cell death

Background: Malformations of the cerebral cortex may be associated with severe epilepsy and status epilepticus. It has been shown that status epilepticus models induce excitotoxic cell death. In humans, very few data are available. Case and results: We report a case of a multifocal disorder of the lamination diagnosed in a neonate, borne at 30 weeks’ gestation, who died from a refractory status epilepticus at two months and half. This abnormality was not detected by repeated MRI studies. Only microscopic investigations permitted to identify this disorder of the lamination. We found also little cell death or cell loss. Discussion: Our report highlights the possible false negative results of MRI in a newborn. We can also discuss that immature human brain maybe less sensitive to neuronal injury than mature as described in animal models.