Researchers have found an unlikely source to help the body manage stress, and it also may help prevent depression and anxiety.

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered Lactobacillus, a bacterium found in fermented foods and yogurt, may improve our health.

The findings open the door to new therapies to treat anxiety, depression and other mental-health conditions.

The UVA scientists have published their findings in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity.

The new research from UVA’s Alban Gaultier, PhD, and collaborators is notable because it pinpoints the role of Lactobacillus, separating it out from all the other microorganisms that naturally live in and on our bodies.

“Our discovery illuminates how gut-resident Lactobacillus influences mood disorders, by tuning the immune system,” said Gaultier, of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience, the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia and the TransUniversity Microbiome Initiative. “Our research could pave the way towards discovering much-needed therapeutics for anxiety and depression.”

Early attempts to manipulate the gut flora with beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, have produced mixed results.

Gaultier and his team took an innovative approach to hone in on Lactobacilli. Prior research from Gaultier’s lab suggested that the bacteria could reverse depression in lab mice, but the researchers needed to understand how.

“We were aware from our prior research that Lactobacillus was beneficial in improving mood disorders and was lost following psychological stress, but the underlying reasons remained unclear, primarily due to the technical challenges associated with studying the microbiome.”

Gaultier and his colleagues were able to explain exactly how Lactobacilli influence behavior, and how a lack of the bacteria can worsen depression and anxiety.

Lactobacilli in the family Lactobaccillacea, they found, maintain the levels of an immune mediator called interferon gamma that regulates the body’s response to stress and helps stave off depression.

Armed with this information, researchers may develop new ways to prevent and treat depression and other mental-health conditions in which Lactobacillus plays an important role.

For example, patients struggling with depression might take specially formulated probiotic supplements that will optimize their levels of helpful Lactobacillus.

“With these results in hand, we have new tools to optimize the development of probiotics, which should speed up discoveries for novel therapies,” said researcher Andrea R. Merchak, PhD. “Most importantly, we can now explore how maintaining a healthy level of Lactobacillus and/or interferon gamma could be investigated to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”

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Waynesboro Public Library is hosting a Community Food Drive through December 30, 2023.

Donated food items will be used immediately in the Little Free Pantry onsite.

The Little Free Pantry is a partnership between The Neighbor Bridge and Waynesboro Public Library to provide food items and books available to the community 24/7. Since the pantry’s installation on September 1, 727 pounds of food have been distributed to the local community.

Donations ensure each of our neighbors has access to quality food this season. All donated food items must be shelf-stable/non-perishable, sealed and able to withstand high temperatures. Glass containers are accepted. Suggested items include canned meats, protein bars, baby food, canned fruits and vegetables, crackers, pasta, rice, water bottles, powdered or condensed milk and juice boxes.

For more information, visit www.theneighborbridge.org or contact neighborbridge@gmail.com.

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Washington and Lee University student Megan Dufault ’24 recently presented at the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) undergraduate research competition in Richmond, Virginia.

She was selected as a VAS grant recipient. Dufault is studying the risks that environmental pollutants pose to fetal development.

Established at the College of William and Mary in 1923, VAS promotes the advancement of science in the Commonwealth by providing financial support for research projects and a platform for the dissemination of research results. The VAS undergraduate research competition was held as part of the 2023 VAS Fall Research Meeting at Virginia Union University, and $900 grants were awarded to the 10 most outstanding proposals to help fund the completion of their projects. Grant recipients are also awarded an annual VAS membership and are expected to present their final research findings at the academy’s annual meeting to be held at the University of Mary Washington in May 2024.

“I had a great experience presenting my research at VAS, and it was an honor to meet a variety of distinguished science professors from across the state,” Dufault, a Johnson Scholar from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, said. “I had a great time meeting other undergraduate students and hearing dozens of proposal pitches, ranging from physics to environmental science to psychology.”

Dufault is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies at W&L. Her current neuroscience thesis presented at VAS is conducted under the mentorship of Fiona Watson, associate professor of biology. Dufault’s project is focused on the effect of glyphosate herbicide (commercially sold by Bayer under the brand name Roundup) on neurological development and uses a chick egg as a model for a growing fetus within the uterus. The proposal is based on a preliminary study she conducted with Maggie Johnston ’23 in Watson’s Developmental Biology class in fall 2022. The results of Dufault’s current study will have implications for pregnant women exposed to glyphosate herbicide and add to a body of literature investigating potential fetal abnormalities caused by glyphosate. The VAS grant expands her budget for continuing the study.

“My neuroscience education has culminated in the execution of this project,” Dufault said. “I am pursuing a career in reproductive and women’s health, and this study is preparing me for the intensive research that path requires.”

After graduation, Dufault plans to work at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Center for Transplantation Sciences as a research technician before attending medical school.

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UVA Health has earned national recognition for its cancer, heart, orthopedics, neurology and digestive health care by WebMD and Medscape.

The 2023-24 WebMD Patient Choice and Medscape Physician Choice awards are based on surveys of consumers and healthcare providers that asked which health systems provide “the best overall quality and treatment capability.” UVA Health was selected as a leading Virginia health system by both consumers and healthcare providers in all five specialties surveyed by WebMD and Medscape.

“Building destination programs for patient care is a core component of our 10-year strategic plan,” Dr. K. Craig Kent, chief executive officer for UVA Health and UVA’s executive vice president for health affairs, said. “Seeing our high-quality care commended by both patients and healthcare providers is especially heartening, and I thank our team members for the hard work that earned these honors.”

Within the five specialty areas surveyed, UVA Health and UVA Cancer Center were selected by patients as a leading Virginia health system in 23 conditions or treatments — more than any other health system in Virginia. UVA Health Neurology was further honored with the WebMD Elite Choice Award, which recognizes health systems preferred by patients and care providers by a 2-to-1 margin over other health systems in their region.

The full list of awardees from UVA Health:

• Cardiology: angioplasty and heart valve replacement
• Gastroenterology: colorectal surgery, hernia repair, stomach cancer and GERD surgery
• Neurology: back pain relief surgery, brain surgery, microdiscectomy, spinal surgery and sleep disorders
• Oncology: blood cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer
• Orthopedics: arthroscopy, hip replacement, knee replacement, rotator cuff repair and spine surgery

Along with the honors from Medscape and WebMD, UVA Cancer Center’s excellent patient care and groundbreaking research has earned it the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute. UVA is one of only 56 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country.

UVA Health Orthopedics was also recently named among 100 great orthopedic program by Becker’s Hospital Review and now sees patients at one of the nation’s largest outpatient orthopedic centers, a 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on Ivy Road in Charlottesville near the intersection of U.S. 29 and U.S. 250 that brings comprehensive orthopedic services in a single, convenient location.

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Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA’s annual online auction is open for the 2023 holiday season.

Organized by the Valley Advocates for Animals, the Festival of Trees & Gifts offers holidays gifts and Christmas trees for sale to raise funds for the SPCA’s Community Cat Program.

The virtual event is open through Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 4 p.m., and promises an array of unique holiday gifts, themed gift baskets and artificial trees with decorations that will make perfect gifts for loved ones or memorable additions to your own holiday celebrations.

“Advocates for Valley Animals is delighted to partner with BidWrangler to present our 3rd online holiday auction to benefit the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA. The “Festival of Trees & Gifts” features whimsical holiday trees, select gift items and unique gift baskets. We are grateful to the individual and business donors from our community who have provided the wonderful auction items,” Melinda See, organizer of the annual auction, said.

RHSPCA Executive Director Huck Nawaz said that proceeds benefit a program which provides free spay or neuter services for outdoor cats to residents of Rockingham County.

“There are some amazing items in this auction that can be previewed through the auction duration at the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA during visiting hours,” Nawaz said.

Items available for auction can be accessed through the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA’s website.

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Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with its annual Holiday Pops Concert this weekend.

This year, audience members can enjoy two dates for the concert: Friday, December 1, 2023 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 3 p.m.

At First Presbyterian Church, 249 S. Wayne Ave. Waynesboro, the concert will feature music of the holiday season including popular film classics and a sing-along to send audience members off in the holiday spirit.

Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1996, is directed by Peter Wilson, whose career began as Concertmaster of the Walt Disney World Orchestra. He has performed as a violin soloist with artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Renee Fleming, Bernadette Peters, Randy Travis and Trisha Yearwood.

Wilson became director of the WSO in 2007 and is also music director of the Richmond Philharmonic. He formerly was senior enlisted music advisor to The White House where he led ensembles and performed as a Marine violinist for 30 years under five U.S. presidents. He also served as String Section Commander for “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band until retirement in 2020.

In 2021, the WSO was awarded The American Prize for “Best Community Orchestra Performance” for its live recording of Mahler’s First Symphony.

The WSO continues an educational mission by providing free violins and weekly lessons to Boys and Girls Club members.

All ages and musical backgrounds are welcome to join the orchestra, which rehearses once a week in Waynesboro.

Tickets for this weekend’s performances are $15 per adult and $5 per child or student at the door or online.

The orchestra will perform “Made in America” at First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Frederick St., Staunton on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. and at First Presbyterian Church, 249 S. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 3 p.m. Both performances are free, but donations are welcome.

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A Barhamsville teen was found dead in a vehicle that was fully engulfed in flames when first responders found it in the Fontaine Research Park on the Grounds of the University of Virginia early Sunday morning.

Chandler Lee Goins, 19, of Barhamsville, an unincorporated community in New Kent County, was found dead at the scene, according to a report from the University of Virginia Police Department on Monday.

The Charlottesville Fire Department was the first to respond to the incident, arriving at the scene at 5:18 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Goins, a 2022 graduate of New Kent High School, is not affiliated with the University of Virginia, according to the report.

The report from UVA Police tells us that there was “no obvious evidence of foul play or criminal conduct” at the scene.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact The University of Virginia Police Department at (434) 924-7166.

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A stabbing at a Harrisonburg restaurant early Sunday morning sent a male victim to the University of Virginia Medical Center with serious injuries.

The stabbing was reported at 12:30 a.m. at the Habesha Restaurant and Hookah Bar on Neff Avenue.

Officers responding to a call for service at the location found a male in the parking lot with apparent stab wounds. Officers immediately began providing medical care to the male prior to rescue arriving.

The victim, a 25-year-old Harrisonburg resident, was transported to Sentara RMH Medical Center with serious injuries. He was later flown to University of Virginia Medical Center, where he received additional treatment and has since been released.

Harrisonburg Police is currently seeking input from anyone with information about this incident or the identity of the suspect(s). A suspect description is currently unavailable as HPD’s Major Crimes Unit investigates leads on their identity.

HPD reported in a release on Monday that it is believed to be an isolated incident, and it is not believed that there is any risk to the public currently.

The Harrisonburg Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Major Crimes Unit by calling (540) 437-2650.

Those who have information and wish to remain anonymous may do so by calling Crime Solvers at (540) 574- 5050 or by texting “HPD” plus their tip to CRIMES (274637).

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Staunton Public Library will conclude its Digital Learn program with a graduation to celebrate the achievements of participants.

The ceremony will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) Café in the Dr. John Chiles Activity Room at Montgomery Hall Park in Staunton.

Thirty-one local seniors have attended one or more digital literacy workshops at the library since September. Seniors who completed four sessions will receive a Chromebook laptop to continue to develop their technology skills. The program was funded by a grant from the Public Library Association (PLA) Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive and AT&T.

The free digital literacy training series used resources from DigitalLearn.org to teach community members aged 65 and older skills and build confidence for using technology. The library is proud to have partnered with VPAS to provide this much-needed program to the community. Classes were held at both the Staunton Public Library and at the VPAS Cafés in Montgomery Hall Park to make them accessible to a larger audience. Class topics included basic cybersecurity, email and internet.

Technology Services Librarian Carrie Whitlock taught the workshops and observed that while “many seniors have fear about learning new technology, my students often expressed how much more comfortable it was to learn with a teacher available to immediately help them if they got stuck. It was a pleasure to teach these classes and see the students’ confidence grow as they progressed through the lessons.”

The program reached capacity within a week of opening registration. Staunton Public Library staff members are exploring ways to continue it in the future. For now, residents can request basic technology assistance at the library’s reference desk or by appointment through its Book-A-Librarian program.

“The excitement and joy members experienced during this program cannot be adequately expressed. The grant and energy that Carrie brought to these classes will provide our cafe members access to the world they would not have had otherwise. The laptops will allow them to take advantage of opportunities such as telehealth visits, communicating with loved ones, and ordering groceries for delivery,” VPAS Programs Coordinator Ann Catherine Gross said.

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Newsweek has ranked UVA Health University Medical Center as Virginia’s No. 1 hospital in its Best-in-State Hospitals 2024 list.

“A cornerstone of our 10-year strategic plan is delivering safe, high-quality and patient-centered care to patients from across Virginia and beyond,” Dr. K. Craig Kent, chief executive officer for UVA Health and executive vice president for health affairs at UVA, said. “This No. 1 ranking from Newsweek highlights how successful our team is at carrying out that mission.”

The news publication’s rankings were based on several factors, including:

• online surveys of healthcare professionals, who were asked to rate hospitals on quality of care, staffing, patient counseling, accommodations and amenities.
• publicly available data from patient surveys, which included ratings on cleanliness, communication by nurses and doctors, care transitions, communication about medicines, discharge information, noise levels and staff responsiveness.
• hospital quality metrics from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which includes mortality, patient safety and readmission rates along with timely and effective care.

“Honors like this are not possible without the incredible dedication and skill of the thousands of team members who serve our patients around the clock,” said Wendy Horton, chief executive officer of UVA Health University Medical Center. “Their commitment is at the heart of these awards for our medical center and our health system.”

In early October, UVA Health University Medical Center also received recognition from Newsweek for three specialties — neurosurgery, oncology and cardiology.

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