L’olfaction participe à l’élaboration de la valeur hédonique des aliments et à la régulation de la prise alimentaire. Réciproquement, la détection des odeurs alimentaires est influencée par le statut métabolique. Le jeûne augmente les performances olfactives, notamment en augmentant l'activité neuronale dans le bulbe olfactif (BO). Au sein des glomérules du BO, les synapses glutamatergiques entre les neurones sensoriels olfactifs et les cellules mitrales sont régulées par des astrocytes, des neurones périglomérulaires et des afférences centrifuges. En tant que partenaires synaptiques, les astrocytes sont à l’origine de mécanismes de métaplasticité dans le système nerveux central, qui pourrait participer à la régulation métabolique de la réponse olfactive au niveau du BO. Afin de tester si les astrocytes glomérulaires du BO sont impliqués dans la détection du statut métabolique par le système olfactif, nous avons comparé le déploiement des prolongements astrocytaires glomérulaires, par quantification de l’aire occupée par la GFAP chez des rats nourris et mis à jeun.Le déploiement astrocytaire est nettement augmenté chez les rats à jeun par rapport aux rats nourris, dans toutes les régions du BO dès 17h de jeûne. L'administration intra-peritoneale du peptide anorexigène PYY3-36 ou de glucose chez des rats à jeun diminue leur prise alimentaire ou restaure leur glycémie respectivement, et abolit dans les deux cas l'augmentation du déploiement astrocytaire induite par le jeûne. L'application directe des peptides orexigènes ghréline et NPY sur des tranches de BO entraîne une augmentation du déploiement astrocytaire alors que l'application de PYY3-36 entraîne une rétraction astrocytaire au sein des glomérules. Ces résultats concordent avec les variations de la morphologie des astrocytes, observées respectivement en situation de jeûne ou de satiété.Le déploiement des prolongements astrocytaires glomérulaires varie donc en fonction de l'état métabolique des rats, et il est influencé par les peptides régulant la prise alimentaire. Cetteplasticité pourrait participer à l'adaptation de la sensibilité olfactive à l’état métabolique des individus. / Olfaction plays a key role in the elaboration of the hedonic value of foods and the regulation of food intake. Reciprocally, the detection of food odors is influenced by the metabolic state. Fasting increases olfactory performances, notably by increasing neuronal activity in the olfactory bulb (OB). Within the OB glomeruli, the glutamatergic synapses between olfactory sensory neurons and mitral cells are regulated by astrocytes, periglomerular neurons and centrifugal afferents. Astrocytes, which support mecanisms of metaplasticity in the brain, may drive the metabolic regulation of the olfactory response in the OB. To test whether OB glomerular astrocytes are involved in the metabolic sensing of the olfactory system, we compared the astroglial processes expansion by quantification of the GFAPlabelled area in fed and fasted rats.Astroglial spreading was markedly increased in fasting rats, as compared to fed rats, in all regions of the OB after 17h-fasting. Intra-peritoneal administration of the anorexigenic peptide PYY3-36 or glucose in 17h-fasted rats respectively decreased their food intake or restored their glycemia and both reversed the increased astroglial deployment induced by fasting. Direct application of orexigenic peptides ghrelin and NPY on OB acute slices, resulted in an increase of the astroglial deployment, whereas application of PYY3-36 oppositely resulted in astroglial retraction within the glomeruli. These results are in close agreement with the effects of fasting or satiation on the morphology of astrocytes.The deployment of the glomerular astroglial processes clearly varies according to the metabolic state of the rats, and is influenced by food intake regulatory peptides. This plasticity may participate in the adaptation of the olfactory sensitivity to food intake.

This work focuses on anorexigenic neuropeptides, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), which decrease food intake and body weight. CART peptide is an anorexigenic neuropeptide and, despite many efforts, its receptor has not yet been identified. We found CART peptide specific binding sites in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Cells differentiated to neurons increased significantly the number of binding sites. On the other hand, after differentiation to chromaffin cells the number of binding sites was so low that it was impossible to determine their density. To clarify the importance of each of the three disulfide bridges in the CART molecule, analogs with one or two disulfide bridges were synthetized. The biological activity was maintained in analog with two disulfide bridges in positions 74-94 and 88-101. Moreover, we demonstrated the stimulation of JNK and subsequently c-Jun activation in PC12 cells. Neuropeptide PrRP belongs to the RF-amide peptide family and has anorexigenic properties. PrPR has a high affinity to GPR10 and neuropeptide FF (NPFF2) receptor. In our laboratory lipidized analogs of PrRP were synthesized, which are able to decrease food intake after peripheral administration and may cross the blood-brain barrier. We tested biological...

Sensory Food Aversions occur frequently in children who are likely to appear on Speech-Language Pathologist’s (SLP’s) caseloads. The lack of research regarding intervention for Sensory Food Aversions in schools and the assertion of a gap in school-based services for children with feeding disorders was a significant indicator for the need of the study. A quantitative, descriptive, exploratory research design was selected using a self-developed questionnaire in order to exploreschool-based SLP’s perceptions of their knowledge and skills related to Sensory Food Aversions, as well as determine resources available for working with this population. Findings from the study suggest a need for educational training, emphasize the advocacy role of an SLP, and shed light on the challenges/barriers SLPs face in regard to treating Sensory Food Aversions in schools. This study may be useful for SLPs in order to meet the needs of children with Sensory Food Aversions.

This work focuses on anorexigenic neuropeptides, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), which decrease food intake and body weight. CART peptide is an anorexigenic neuropeptide and, despite many efforts, its receptor has not yet been identified. We found CART peptide specific binding sites in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Cells differentiated to neurons increased significantly the number of binding sites. On the other hand, after differentiation to chromaffin cells the number of binding sites was so low that it was impossible to determine their density. To clarify the importance of each of the three disulfide bridges in the CART molecule, analogs with one or two disulfide bridges were synthetized. The biological activity was maintained in analog with two disulfide bridges in positions 74-94 and 88-101. Moreover, we demonstrated the stimulation of JNK and subsequently c-Jun activation in PC12 cells. Neuropeptide PrRP belongs to the RF-amide peptide family and has anorexigenic properties. PrPR has a high affinity to GPR10 and neuropeptide FF (NPFF2) receptor. In our laboratory lipidized analogs of PrRP were synthesized, which are able to decrease food intake after peripheral administration and may cross the blood-brain barrier. We tested biological...

Magister Scientiae (Nutrition Management) - MSc(NM) / Introduction: The significant link between mental health and nutrition throughout one’s life cannot be overstated. Yet this strong association is often neglected in the public healthcare sector in South Africa, particularly in the case of people who are being treated for various types of mental illness. It is therefore important to prioritise nutrition care through efficient and effective hospital food services in public psychiatric facilities. Although hospital settings are often perceived to provide efficient clinical care, the food provided to patients by hospital food service units is often criticised for being bland, repetitive and/or unhealthy. At times, too, inadequate food budget allocations by provincial health departments or poor supply chain management practices result in patients receiving inadequate quantities of food at mealtimes, which might lead to their becoming malnourished during their hospital stays. For psychiatric patients in particular, malnutrition can have serious short and longer-term consequences.

Many dieters and compulsive overeaters report that sugar and chocolate are the most commonly craved foods. Further, many individuals have proclaimed themselves to be "addicted" to sugar or chocolate. It remains unclear, however, what factors lead to report of specific food addictions. A number of researchers have suggested that highly repetitive consumption of sugar and chocolate may result from various physiological processes (e.g., neurochemical imbalances, glucose/insulin malfunctioning). However, there is also considerable evidence that psychosocial factors (i.e., expectancies, classical, and operant conditioning) play the major role in the development and maintenance of excessive sugar,chocolate intake. Empirical studies examining factors that underlie this behavior are almost nonexistent. Therefore, it is useful for researchers to explore perspectives about the causes of addictive or compulsive behavior. This study addressed the question, "Are adverse eating symptoms/outcomes for women who believe they are addicted to sugar or chocolate explained primarily by learning factors or by the key chemical constituents in these foods?" This study involved procedures that influenced subjects' perceptions and expectations about the sugar/chocolate content of a beverage (i.e., real chocolate, sugar versus synthetic substitute [placebo]) in a laboratory taste test situation. In an ABAB experimental design, self-avowed addict and control subjects were tested on four consecutive days receiving two chocolate/sugar (A) and two placebo (B) beverages. Changes in mood and food cravings were measured, as was an index of perceived eating dyscontrol following the consumption of beverages. In addition to establishing a baseline measure each day, subjects' mood and cravings were assessed immediately after consumption of chocolate or placebo as well as 45 minutes later. The responses (mood, food cravings, food intake) that occurred after exposure to drinks containing placebo or sugar/chocolate suggested that subjects do not always respond in the manner they purport to (e.g., increased cravings, mood improvement, subsequent overeating of treats). Other factors such as learning and conditioning may play a key role in accounting for their report of excessive behavior. Specifically, individuals who believe they are addicted to sugar or chocolate evidence similar responses and symptoms irrespective of wether they consumed a placebo versus sugar or chocolate.

Restrictive eating behaviors occur across ages, but little is known about symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), especially in adults. This study sought to examine the prevalence of symptoms of ARFID in the adult population, providing a psychometric evaluation of the Eating Disorders in Youth-Questionnaire (EDY-Q) and population norms.

Childhood obesity has many negative impacts on health and occurs due to genetic, environmental, and contextual factors (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture [HHS and USDA], 2015). A major concern for this population of children is the resulting adverse effects on motor development, including challenges reaching appropriate developmental milestones impacting overall development and participation in daily activities (Cataldo et al., 2016). Occupational therapy practitioners can address multiple areas which contribute to this problem, including motor development and body functions, feeding and healthy meal preparation skills, family routines and activities of daily living, as well as contextual and cultural factors (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). WHOLE Family is an online family based approach directed at positively impacting childhood obesity and motor development through a holistic approach.

Obesity and mobile phone usage have simultaneously spread worldwide. Radio frequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by mobile phones are largely absorbed by the head of the user, influence cerebral glucose metabolism, and modulate neuronal excitability. Body weight adjustment, in turn, is one of the main brain functions as food intake behavior and appetite perception underlie hypothalamic regulation. Against this background, we questioned if mobile phone radiation and food intake may be related. In a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized crossover comparison, 15 normal-weight young men (23.47 ± 0.68 years) were exposed to 25 min of RF-EMFs emitted by two different mobile phone types vs. sham radiation under fasting conditions. Spontaneous food intake was assessed by an ad libitum standard buffet test and cerebral energy homeostasis was monitored by 31phosphorus-magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements. Exposure to both mobile phones strikingly increased overall caloric intake by 22–27% compared with the sham condition. Differential analyses of macronutrient ingestion revealed that higher calorie consumption was mainly due to enhanced carbohydrate intake. Measurements of the cerebral energy content, i.e., adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine ratios to inorganic phosphate, displayed an increase upon mobile phone radiation. Our results identify RF-EMFs as a potential contributing factor to overeating, which underlies the obesity epidemic. Beyond that, the observed RF-EMFs-induced alterations of the brain energy homeostasis may put our data into a broader context because a balanced brain energy homeostasis is of fundamental importance for all brain functions. Potential disturbances by electromagnetic fields may therefore exert some generalized neurobiological effects, which are not yet foreseeable.

Objective Restrictive eating behaviors occur across ages, but little is known about symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), especially in adults. This study sought to examine the prevalence of symptoms of ARFID in the adult population, providing a psychometric evaluation of the Eating Disorders in Youth-Questionnaire (EDY-Q) and population norms. Method In a representative survey of the German population, N = 2,424 adults (1,297 women, 1,127 men; age 49.5 ± 17.5 years) were assessed with the EDY-Q and measures of eating disorder and general psychopathology for divergent validation. Results The point prevalence of self-reported symptoms of ARFID amounted to 0.8% (20/2,424), with 0.8% of women (10/1,297) and 0.9% of men (10/1,127) being affected. Adults with symptoms of ARFID were significantly more likely to have underweight or normal weight, were more likely to report restrictive behaviors and lower levels of eating disorder psychopathology and binge eating than noneating-disordered controls and adults with symptoms of an eating disorder, but did not significantly differ in levels of compensatory behaviors, or depression and anxiety. The EDY-Q revealed favorable item statistics, heterogeneity, and satisfactory construct validity, including factorial, discriminant, and divergent validity. Weight-status specific norms were provided. Discussion Both women and men from the population reported symptoms of ARFID with an anthropometric and psychopathological profile similar to that seen in youth with symptoms of ARFID, however, with lower prevalence estimates, and distinctive from that in other eating disorders. Interview-based assessment of this symptomatology is required to confirm the prevalence of ARFID diagnosis.