Gut Microbial Metabolites of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Correlate with Specific Fecal Bacteria and Serum Markers of Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Women

The aim of this human study was to assess the influence of prebiotic-induced gut microbiota modulation on PUFA-derived bacterial metabolites production. Therefore, we analyzed the circulating fatty acid profile including CLA/CLnA in obese women treated during 3 months with inulin-type fructan prebiotics. In these patients, we had already determined gut microbiota composition by phylogenetic microarray and qPCR analysis of 16S rDNA. Some PUFA-derived bacterial metabolites were detected in the serum of obese patients. Despite the prebiotic-induced modulation of gut microbiota, including changes in CLA/CLnA-producing bacteria, the treatment did not impact significantly on the circulating level of these metabolites. However, some PUFA-derived bacterial metabolites were positively correlated with specific fecal bacteria (Bifidobacterium spp., Eubacterium ventriosum and Lactobacillus spp.) and inversely correlated with serum cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL). These correlations suggest a potential beneficial effect of some of these metabolites but this remains to be confirmed by further investigation.     

Stellungnahme zur Präimplantationsdiagnostik

Ethik in der Medizin -     

Perceptions of and satisfaction with retirement: A comparison of six European Union countries.

The main aim of this study was to assess perceptions of and satisfaction with retirement among 1,686 recently retired people from 6 European Union countries. The authors compared their responses to a set of questions taken from the Retirement Satisfaction Inventory (F. J. Floyd et al., 1992). The first significant result was that Belgian, British, Finnish, French, and Spanish retirees all expressed very similar assessments of life satisfaction, whereas Portuguese retirees expressed a lower level of satisfaction. The 2nd result was that the major determinants of overall satisfaction in the 6 countries were (a) health and resources and (b) anticipated satisfaction. Finally, the data revealed that cultural background only accounted for a limited amount of variance in overall satisfaction with retirement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contemporary Golden-Like Lusters on Ceramics: Morphological, Chemical, and Structural Properties

This paper describes an investigation on contemporary luster layers produced by a Spanish craftsman who is working on reproducing the traditional Islamic recipes. Various analytical investigations (AFM, HR-SEM, PIXE, RBS, TEM, XPS, GIXRD) were carried out. The aim of this study is to establish the chemical nature and physical structure of the luster layer constituted by silver and copper particles of nanometric dimensions. This information is used to expand on a formation model of a luster layer.