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Physical exercise exerts favourable effects on brain health and quality of life of the elderly; some of these positive health effects are induced by the modulation of microbiota composition. We therefore conducted a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial that assessed whether a combination of Bifidobacterium spp. supplementation and moderate resistance training improved the cognitive function and other health-related parameters in healthy elderly subjects. Over a 12-week period, 38 participants (66-78 years) underwent resistance training and were assigned to the probiotic Bifidobacterium supplementation (n=20; 1.25×10 cfu each of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536, B. longum subsp. infantis M-63, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and B. breve B-3) or the placebo (n=18) group. At baseline and at 12 weeks, we assessed the cognitive function, using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment instrument (MoCA-J); modified flanker task scores; depression-anxiety scores; body composition; and bowel habits. At 12 weeks, the MoCA-J scores showed a significant increase in both the groups, while the flanker task scores of the probiotic group increased more significantly than those of the placebo group (0.35±0.9 vs -0.29±1.1, P=0.056). Only the probiotic group showed a significant decrease in the depression-anxiety scores (5.2±6.3 to 3.4±5.5, P=0.012) and body mass index (24.0±2.8 to 23.5±2.8 kg/m, P<0.001), with a significant increase in the defecation frequency (5.3±2.3 to 6.4±2.3 times/5 days, P=0.023) at 12 weeks. Thus, in healthy elderly subjects, combined probiotic bifidobacteria supplementation and moderate resistance training may improve the mental condition, body weight and bowel movement frequency.

We solve the equations of motion of a one-dimensional planar Heisenberg (or Vaks-Larkin) model consisting of a system of interacting macro-spins aligned along a ring. Each spin has unit length and is described by its angle with respect to the rotational axis. The orientation of the spins can vary in time due to spin-spin interaction and random forcing. We statistically describe the behavior of the sum of all spins for different parameters. The term "domino model" in the title refers to the interaction among the spins.We compare the model results with geomagnetic field reversals and dynamo simulations and find strikingly similar behavior. The aggregate of all spins keeps the same direction for a long time and, once in a while, begins flipping to change the orientation by almost 180 degrees (mimicking a geomagnetic reversal) or to move back to the original direction (mimicking an excursion). Most of the time the spins are aligned or anti-aligned and deviate only slightly with respect to the rotational axis (mimicking the secular variation of the geomagnetic pole with respect to the geographic pole). Reversals are fast compared to the times in between and they occur at random times, both in the model and in the case of the Earth's magnetic field.

Although persistent constipation is considered to be associated with skin problems, the supporting evidence is limited. Hence, this study investigated the effects of probiotic and prebiotic fermented milk on skin and intestinal conditions in an open-label trial. Among the 101 Japanese healthy young female students that participated, the 81 subjects in the intake group consumed a bottle of probiotic and prebiotic fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult and galactooligosaccharides daily for 4 weeks after a pre-intake period of 4 weeks, while the 20 subjects in the non-intake group did not consume the test beverage. Defecation patterns, skin conditions including hydration levels in the stratum corneum, and urinary phenol and p-cresol levels were evaluated before (baseline) and after intake. All subjects completed the study. No differences in dietary intake and body mass index were observed between both groups during the trial. In the intake group, hydration levels of the stratum corneum, defecation frequency, and feces quantity significantly increased, and urinary phenol and p-cresol levels significantly decreased after intake compared with the corresponding baseline values. However, they did not significantly change in the non-intake group. A significant difference was observed between the intake group and non-intake group in regard to clearness of the skin as assessed by visual analogue scale. Therefore, consecutive intake of probiotic and prebiotic fermented milk might have beneficial effects on the skin that prevent dryness and beneficial effects on the intestinal conditions that stimulate defecation and decrease phenol production by gut bacteria in healthy young women.

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