Prolonged fasting in patients with chronic pain syndromes leads to late mood-enhancement not related to weight loss and fasting-induced leptin depletion

Abstract

Periods of fasting are practiced worldwide on a cultural/religious background, and related mood-enhancing effects are postulated. We aimed to assess the effect of fasting on mood and to explore the interaction with neuroendocrine activation and leptin depletion in a controlled explorative study on consecutive inpatients (BMI < 35 kg/m²) of a nutritional ward. 36 subjects (38.9 ± 7.0 years; 29 female, BMI 26.7 ± 4.1 kg/m²) participated in an 8-day modified fast (300 kcal/day), 19 patients (38.1 ± 5.9 years; 18 female, 23.5 ± 4.1 kg/m²) received a mild low calorie diet. Measurements included daily ratings of mood (VAS), weight and levels of leptin and cortisol at four time-points of the 2-week study period. Weight loss was 4.8 ± 1.2 and 1.6 ± 0.9 kg in fasters and controls, respectively. Fasters showed a more pronounced decrease of leptin (58% vs. 20%; P < 0.001) and a 17% increase of cortisol levels (P < 0.001). Mood ratings increased significantly in the late phase of fasting (P < 0.01) but were not related to weight-loss, leptin-depletion or cortisol increase. Our findings suggest that fasting induces specific mood-enhancement. The physiological mediator appears to be neither leptin nor cortisol, the role of other mechanisms has to be further studied.     

Carbohydrate-binding modules promote the enzymatic deconstruction of intact plant cell walls by targeting and proximity effects

Cell wall degrading enzymes have a complex molecular architecture consisting of catalytic modules and noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). The function of CBMs in cell wall degrading processes is poorly understood. Here, we have evaluated the potential enzyme-targeting function of CBMs in the context of intact primary and secondary cell wall deconstruction. The capacity of a pectate lyase to degrade pectic homogalacturonan in primary cell walls was potentiated by cellulose-directed CBMs but not by xylan-directed CBMs. Conversely, the arabinofuranosidase-mediated removal of side chains from arabinoxylan in xylan-rich and cellulose-poor wheat grain endosperm cell walls was enhanced by a xylan-binding CBM but less so by a crystalline cellulose-specific module. The capacity of xylanases to degrade xylan in secondary cell walls was potentiated by both xylan- and cellulose-directed CBMs. These studies demonstrate that CBMs can potentiate the action of a cognate catalytic module toward polysaccharides in intact cell walls through the recognition of nonsubstrate polysaccharides. The targeting actions of CBMs therefore have strong proximity effects within cell wall structures, explaining why cellulose-directed CBMs are appended to many noncellulase cell wall hydrolases.     

Coenzyme Q10 prevents human lens epithelial cells from light‐induced apoptotic cell death by reducing oxidative stress and stabilizing BAX / Bcl‐2 ratio

Background: Cataract is one of the most prevalent eye disease and a major cause for legal blindness in the world. Beside others, cumulative light‐exposure and apoptotic cell death are significantly associated with cataract development. In contrast, supplementation with antioxidants has been suggested to prevent premature cataractogenesis. This study investigates possible protective effects of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) regarding light‐induced stress and apoptotic cell death in human lens epithelial cells (LEC). Methods: Human LEC were either pre‐incubated with CoQ10 or not and then exposed to white light. After 10–40 min of irradiation viability, induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis and cell death was determined. Expression of apoptotic BAX and anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 protein and their mRNA were determined by RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. Results: Light exposure decreased LEC viability and Bcl‐2 expression and increased intracellular ROS, apoptotic cell death, and BAX expression in a time‐of‐irradiation‐dependent manner. Phototoxic cell death and apoptosis, as well as decrease of Bcl‐2 and increase in BAX expression was significantly reduced, when cells were pre‐incubated with CoQ10. Conclusions: In this study, CoQ10 significantly reduced light‐induced LEC‐damage and attenuated phototoxic effects on BAX and Bcl‐2 expression. Therefore, CoQ10 supplementation might also be useful in preventing LEC death and consecutive cataract formation in vivo.     

A prospective study of psychosocial adaptation following subarachnoid haemorrhage

Abstract

In this prospective study a series of 89 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), most of whom had a “good” neurological outcome, were interviewed 10 weeks and 12 monts following their SAH about changes in psychosocial functioning since their SAH, and the presence of symptoms, such as excessive fatigue, that can influence psychosocial functioning. Information was also gathered from close relatives whenever possible. Data about a range of “SAH factors”, including site of aneurysm, patient clinical grade, and vasospasm, were also gathered at the time of hospitalisation, and subjects were graded according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at each follow-up assessment. Statistical analyses to see whether these factors were predictive of later psychosocial impairment were carried out. A high proportion of subjects demonstrated some mild to moderate psychosocial impairments at 10 weeks and, although recovery occurred in some areas over the next 8 months, 86% of subjects still suffered from excessive fatigue and 55% from hypersensitivity to noise at the 12-month assessment. Of the subjects who were employed at the time of their SAH and had a good neurological outcome, 59% were either unemployed or were working reduced hours at the 12-month follow-up. Overall the GOS was not sensitive to psychosocial impairment, as 87% of the subjects had a GOS of “1” at both 10 weeks and 12 months. The small number of subjects who demonstrated vasospasm or had a poor neurological grade on discharge from hospital and at follow-up were more likely to report changes in temperament, leisure activities, and social behaviour at follow-up.