Clinical Feasibility of Scent Survey for Screening Test for Olfactory Function

Dietary quality and the gut microbiome in early-stage Parkinson's disease patients

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) has increased steadily with the increase of the elderly population. PD may influence dietary intake and quality, and the gut microbiome composition. The present study examined differences in dietary intake and quality between PD patients and controls according to sex. In addition, we assessed the gut microbiome composition.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at A Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. PD severity, swallowing function, olfactory function, and constipation status were examined by a skilled nurse. Dietary data were collected through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Stool samples were subjected to microbiome analysis. To examine dietary quality, the Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I), Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) were used. An independent t-test was used to determine differences between patients and controls. A chi-square test was used to examine frequency differences.

RESULTS

Dietary intake did not differ between the PD patient and control groups. Regarding dietary quality, the patients consumed more saturated fat compared to controls. Overall, the dietary differences between the groups were minor. The composition of the gut microbiome differed between PD patients and controls. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus were most abundant in PD patients. Prevotella VZCB and other Faecalibacterium were most abundant in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that PD patients may experience gut microbiome change even in the early stage, while nutritional needs can be met when a balanced diet including various food groups are consumed.

Psychophysiological Responses of Humans during Seed-Sowing Activity Using Soil Inoculated with Streptomyces rimosus

Electroencephalogram (EEG) responses and serum metabolite levels were used to investigate the effects of horticultural activities (seed-sowing) on the psychophysiological aspects of adults based on the presence or absence of the soil microorganism Streptomyces rimosus. In this case, 31 adults were subjected to seed-sowing activities using S. rimosus inoculated (experimental group) and medium (control group) soils. EEG was measured to analyze the resulting psychophysiological response, and blood samples (5 mL) were collected. The relative gamma power (RG), relative high beta (RHB), and SEF 50 and SEF 90 were significantly higher in the right than in the left occipital lobe (p < 0.05). In both occipital lobes, ratios of SMR to theta (RST), mid beta to theta (RMT), and SMR-mid beta to theta (RSMT) were high (p < 0.05). GC-TOF-MS-based serum metabolite analysis detected 33 metabolites. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a lower content of amino acids (except aspartic acid), lipids, and C6 sugar monomers after the activity (p < 0.05). Aminomalonic acid was decreased, and aspartic acid was increased (p < 0.05). This study confirmed a positive effect on improving the concentration and attention of adults when seed-sowing activity was performed using S. rimosus-inoculated soil.

Psychophysiological Responses of Cut Flower Fragrances as an Olfactory Stimulation by Measurement of Electroencephalogram in Adults

Horticultural therapy (HT) is green care that can help improve and recover the health of modern people living in cities through natural experiences. Many studies have been conducted to determine HT's therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms, but investigation for developing readily applicable clinical techniques is insufficient. We aimed to investigate adults' brain activity and emotional state during flower arrangement (FA) with different flowers in an HT program. We recruited thirty adults and used a randomized cross-over study method to set them to participate in five FA tasks at 90-s intervals. While performing FA tasks, the participants' prefrontal cortex brain waves were measured by a wireless electroencephalography device and their emotional states between FA tasks were measured by questionnaires. Results showed that each FA task resulted in a different attention level of the participants. The participants showed the highest attention level during FA with stocks and carnations, while FA with lilies showed the lowest attention level among the five FA tasks. Instead, the participants showed the highest arousal, tension, and anxiety for emotional states during FA with lilies. Therefore, this study confirmed the differences in attention level and emotional changes according to flower types for using clinical techniques of HT for various clients.

Oral and gut dysbiosis leads to functional alterations in Parkinson's disease

Although several studies have identified a distinct gut microbial composition in Parkinson's disease (PD), few studies have investigated the oral microbiome or functional alteration of the microbiome in PD. We aimed to investigate the connection between the oral and gut microbiome and the functional changes in the PD-specific gut microbiome using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The taxonomic composition of the oral and gut microbiome was significantly different between PD patients and healthy controls (P = 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Oral Lactobacillus was more abundant in PD patients and was associated with opportunistic pathogens in the gut (FDR-adjusted P < 0.038). Functional analysis revealed that microbial gene markers for glutamate and arginine biosynthesis were downregulated, while antimicrobial resistance gene markers were upregulated in PD patients than healthy controls (all P < 0.001). We identified a connection between the oral and gut microbiota in PD, which might lead to functional alteration of the microbiome in PD.