Zoekresultaten

Changes in stool frequency following chicory inulin consumption, and effects on stool consistency, quality of life and composition of gut microbiota

Inulin is a soluble dietary fibre, also classified as a prebiotic, extracted from chicory roots. The present study aimed to determine the effect of consumption of native chicory inulin on the stool frequency of middle-aged to older adults (40–75 years old) with uncomfortably but not clinically relevant low stool frequency, specified as two to four days without bowel movements per week. Two randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover trials were conducted using similar protocols in differing populations. Trial A was conducted in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and subsequently Trial B was conducted in Newcastle, United Kingdom. Both trials involved supplementation for 5 weeks with 10 g per day of inulin or placebo, a washout period of 2 weeks, and then crossed over to receive the other treatment. In Trial B, faecal gut microbiota composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In Trial A, which 10 volunteers completed, the stool frequency was significantly increased to an average 4.9 ± 0.23 (SEM) times per week during inulin periods versus 3.6 ± 0.25 in the periods with placebo (p = 0.01). In contrast, in Trial B which 20 volunteers completed, there was no significant effect of the inulin on stool frequency (7.5 ± 2.1 times per week with inulin, 8.1 ± 3.0 with placebo, p = 0.35). However, many subjects in Trial B had a stool frequency >5 per week also for the placebo period, in breach of the inclusion criteria. Combining the data of 16 low stool frequency subjects from Trials A and B showed a significant effect of inulin to increase stool frequency from 4.1 to 5.0 per week (p = 0.032). Regarding secondary outcomes, stool consistency was significantly softer with inulin treatment compared to placebo periods, it increased 0.29 on the Bristol stool scale (p = 0.008) when data from all subjects of Trials A and B were combined. No other differences in bowel habit parameters due to inulin consumption were significant. None of the differences in specific bacterial abundance, alpha or beta diversity were significant, however the trends were in directions consistent with published studies on other types of inulin. We conclude that 10 g per day of native chicory inulin can increase stool frequency in subjects with low stool frequency.

Introduction: The Nine Challenges of Our Age

English translation of the first chapter of "Negen plagen tegelijk : hoe overleven we de toekomst?" (vert.: Marije Fresacher)

Antenne Amsterdam 2021

In Antenne Amsterdam wordt sinds 1993 jaarlijks het gebruik van alcohol, tabak, cannabis en andere drugs in de hoofdstad in kaart gebracht. Dit gebeurt op basis van een combinatie van kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve methoden: interviews met een uitgaanspanel van insiders die vertellen over het trendsettende uitgaansleven, interviews met een panel kwetsbare jeugd waarin professionals zijn vertegenwoordigd die met buurtjongeren werken, een survey (vragenlijsten) over middelengebruik bij wisselende doelgroepen, en analyse van testuitslagen van de Amsterdamse drugstestservices.Het jaar 2021 ging van start midden in een harde lockdown met de invoering van een avondklok. In het voorjaar zit het uitgaansleven nog steeds op slot en zijn vooral thuisfeesten populair. Na een teleurstellende ‘bummer of love’ zonder festivals, komt het uitgaansleven na de zomer weer op gang, met een bloeiende ravecultuur en een overdag-editie van het Amsterdam Dance Event. Maar daarna worden door stijgende besmettingscijfers weer steeds strengere maatregelen ingevoerd en volgt in december een nieuwe lockdown. Niet alleen voor het uitgaansleven kende het jaar 2021 twee gezichten, op alle vlakken van het dagelijks leven was het een achtbaan. In deze Antenne onderzoeken we in hoeverre dat zijn weerslag had op het middelengebruik van uitgaanders, kwetsbare jongeren, en mbo-studenten in Amsterdam.

Antenne Amsterdam 2020

Changing Patterns of Substance Use During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Self-Reported Use of Tobacco, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Other Drugs

As in many other countries worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic prompted the implementation of an “intelligent lockdown” in the spring of 2020 in the Netherlands, including the closure of nightlife venues and cancellation of festivals. Such restrictions and social distancing could particularly affect people who use alcohol or other drugs in recreational settings and give rise to new challenges and additional needs in the field of addiction prevention and care. To monitor changes in substance use and provide services with practical directions for tailored prevention, an anonymous web survey was set up, targeting a convenience sample aged 16 years or older through various social media and other online channels. Between May and October 2020, a total of 6,070 participants completed the survey, mainly adolescents and young adults (16–24 years old). These data were used to explore and describe changing patterns in substance use. Overall results showed declined current use compared to “pre-corona,” but mask underlying variation in changing patterns, including discontinued (tobacco 10.4%, alcohol 11.3%, cannabis 16.3%, other drugs 30.4%), decreased (tobacco 23.0%, alcohol 29.1%, cannabis 17.4%, other drugs 20.7%), unchanged (tobacco 30.3%, alcohol 21.2%, cannabis 22.3%, other drugs 17.3%), increased (tobacco 29.6%, alcohol 32.1%, cannabis 32.9%, other drugs 25.3%), and (re)commenced use (tobacco 6.7%, alcohol 6.3%, cannabis 11.1%, other drugs 6.2%). Especially the use of drugs like ecstasy and nitrous oxide was discontinued or decreased due to the lack of social occasions for use. Increased use was associated with coping motives for all substance types. As measures combatting the coronavirus may need to be practiced for some time to come, possibly leading to prolonged changes in substance use with lingering “post-corona” consequences, timely and ongoing monitoring of changing patterns of substance use is vital for informing prevention services within this field.

Knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding medication frequently used by older people

Home healthcare nurses in their roles as caregivers, educators and administrators of medications are particularly well positioned to act on a preventive way to be alert of adverse drug reactions. However, knowledge about medication and a professional attitude is required. To describe medication-related knowledge and perspectives of Dutch home healthcare nurses regarding frequent used medication by older people. A cross-sectional study was conducted among home healthcare nurses (n=146) in the Netherlands based on the ten most frequently used drugs by older people.