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Bisphenol A (BPA) accumulates in the maturing gut and liver in utero and is known to alter gut bacterial profiles in offspring. Gut bacterial dysbiosis may contribute to chronic colonic and systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that perinatal BPA exposure-induced intestinal (and liver) inflammation in offspring is due to alterations in the microbiome and colonic metabolome. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis revealed differences in beta diversity with a significant reduction in the relative abundances of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers such as Oscillospira and Ruminococcaceae due to BPA exposure. Furthermore, BPA exposure reduced fecal SCFA levels and increased systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. BPA exposure-increased intestinal permeability was ameliorated by the addition of SCFA in vitro. Metabolic fingerprints revealed alterations in global metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Thus, our findings indicate that perinatal BPA exposure may cause gut bacterial dysbiosis and altered metabolite profiles, particularly SCFA profiles, leading to chronic colon and liver inflammation. IMPORTANCE Emerging evidence suggests that environmental toxicants may influence inflammation-promoted chronic disease susceptibility during early life. BPA, an environmental endocrine disruptor, can transfer across the placenta and accumulate in fetal gut and liver. However, underlying mechanisms for BPA-induced colonic and liver inflammation are not fully elucidated. In this report, we show how perinatal BPA exposure in rabbits alters gut microbiota and their metabolite profiles, which leads to colonic and liver inflammation as well as to increased gut permeability as measured by elevated serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the offspring. Also, perinatal BPA exposure leads to reduced levels of gut bacterial diversity and bacterial metabolites (short-chain fatty acids [SCFA]) and elevated gut permeability-three common early biomarkers of inflammation-promoted chronic diseases. In addition, we showed that SCFA ameliorated BPA-induced intestinal permeability in vitro. Thus, our study results suggest that correcting environmental toxicant-induced bacterial dysbiosis early in life may reduce the risk of chronic diseases later in life.

AbstractThe Veterans Health Administration (VHA) offers spiritual supports to Veterans nationally through its Chaplaincy Service and its Whole Health initiative. There are no systematic efforts to extend spiritual supports to Veterans re-entering community post-incarceration, however. Thus, the full potential of spiritual supports in bolstering well-being and minimizing recidivism during re-entry may not be fully realized. To explore this potential and ways to optimize it for re-entry Veterans, we conducted an exploratory needs assessment. We interviewed six re-entry Veterans and six staff members who work in re-entry to explore perceived spiritual needs in re-entry and ways to address such needs; we analyzed interview data thematically. Several themes emerged: 1) Spirituality as pluralistic; 2) Positive impacts of spirituality; 3) Tensions around the immediacy of spiritual needs; 4) Current spiritual supports and their limitations; and 5) Suggested improvements. We propose initiatives which VHA might pursue to verify and support re-entry Veterans’ spiritual needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender‐based violence (GBV), a global health and human rights concern, often intensifies during emergencies. This paper explores the evolution of GBV coordination in Lebanon's protracted Syrian refugee crisis from 2012–22. Utilising 38 in‐depth interviews and a document review, the findings were analysed using the framework for effective GBV coordination. Lebanon provides a positive yet complicated example of GBV coordination. Initially established to address the refugee crisis, it matured into a collaborative national coordination mechanism, fostering trust and advancing localisation amidst sectarian complexities. However, the volatile, restrictive policy context hindered government co‐leadership and engagement with refugee‐led organisations. While essential GBV response services were expanded nationwide, lack of an interagency strategy on GBV risk mitigation and prevention compromised lasting change. The paper emphasises the importance of dedicated GBV coordinators, multi‐year funding, and increased attention to GBV prevention. The findings underscore the transformative potential of humanitarian responses and advocate for enhanced engagement with national stakeholders to promote sustainability in protracted crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]