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  • Crimson Butterfly Remake Releases On March 12th

    Crimson Butterfly Remake Releases On March 12th

    KOEI Tecmo announced that FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly Remake will be released on March 12th, 2026. To celebrate this announcement, the team shared a new trailer that you can find below. This new in-engine trailer…

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  • Sinner & Zverev collide after hot starts at Nitto ATP Finals – ATP Tour

    1. Sinner & Zverev collide after hot starts at Nitto ATP Finals  ATP Tour
    2. ATP Finals Day 4 Predictions Including Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Zverev  Last Word On Sports
    3. Nitto ATP Finals round-robin preview and prediction: Shelton vs. Auger-Aliassime  

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  • Great-West Lifeco, parent company to Canada Life U.K., Launches Keyridge Asset Management in support of UK Expansion

    Great-West Lifeco, parent company to Canada Life U.K., Launches Keyridge Asset Management in support of UK Expansion

    London, UK, November 11, 2025 — Great-West Lifeco Inc. (“Lifeco”) (TSX: GWO), an international financial services holding company whose brands Canada Life, Irish Life, and Empower collectively include CAD$3.3 trillion in client assets* today unveiled Keyridge Asset Management, the new global brand for its European Asset Management businesses. This integration enhances brand strength, broadens product offerings, and creates a European investment hub to support third-party distribution growth.

    With over GBP135 billion in combined assets under management*, Keyridge is primed for ambitious expansion in the UK. The firm already boasts a proven track record in delivering flexible, tailored strategies to meet evolving client needs, with a distinguished history of growth and excellent service for customers.

    The launch of Keyridge will underscore Lifeco’s deepening commitment to clients and long-term growth in one of the world’s most dynamic asset management markets, by combining the European asset management businesses of Canada Life Asset Management, Setanta Asset Managers and Irish Life Investment Managers to create a new force in the UK market.

    The move enhances the combined firms’ capacity and capability to deliver ever more innovative and effective investment solutions to clients as well as to a broader audience in a key growth market.  This will build on the firm’s success which has led to it being recognised as a market-leading provider of multi-asset solutions, fundamental equities and systematic quant and bespoke indexation.  Top-quartile performance and global consultant ratings have seen AUM triple in the past decade. 

    The ILIM and Setanta brands will continue to operate in Ireland, while CLAM will remain active in the UK, managing general account assets for Lifeco’s companies and partnering to deliver fixed interest fund management solutions to clients both in the UK and internationally. 

    Keyridge is powered by a 300-strong global team, led by Chief Executive Patrick Burke, and the firm’s ongoing investment in, and additional recruitment of, well known industry experts reflect its commitment to expanding Lifeco’s asset management presence in the UK market.  Keyridge’s independently rated operational platform sets it apart, enabling seamless integration across strategies and delivering outstanding execution for wealth advisers and their clients. 

    “Launching Keyridge in the UK reflects both our confidence in this market and our commitment to serving clients in one of the world’s most influential financial centres,” said Patrick Burke, CEO, Keyridge Asset Management. “Keyridge will provide UK wealth advisers and customers with the focus and expertise of our specialist investment management teams, combined with the scale, support and efficiency that goes with being part of a CAD$3 trillion global financial services group. Our ability to connect the full breadth of our investment expertise with a highly adaptable platform and partnership-driven culture means we can deliver solutions that truly align with our clients’ priorities.” 

    “Today’s announcement is a clear demonstration of our ambition to build a truly global asset management platform,” said Lindsey Rix-Broom, CEO Europe, Great-West Lifeco. “By bringing together the strengths of ILIM, Setanta, and Canada Life Asset Management, we are creating a business with the scale, expertise and agility needed to thrive in the UK’s dynamic market. Combining these businesses allows us to harness the best of our talent, technology and investment capabilities, ensuring we are well positioned to realise our vision for Keyridge and for our clients.”  

    *As of September 30, 2025. Client assets and assets under management (AUM) are non-GAAP financial measures. Additional information regarding these metrics is incorporated by reference from the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of Great-West Lifeco’s Q3 2025 Management’s Discussion and Analysis, available for review at www.sedarplus.com.

    About Great-West Lifeco Inc.

    Great-West Lifeco is a financial services holding company focused on building stronger, more inclusive and financially secure futures. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower and Irish Life. Together we provide wealth, retirement, workplace benefits and insurance and risk solutions to our over 40 million customer relationships. As of September 30, 2025, Great-West Lifeco’s total client assets were $3.3 trillion.Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies. To learn more, visit greatwestlifeco.com.

    Cautionary note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements include, without limitation, statements about Great-West Lifeco’s and Keyridge Asset Management’s expansion and growth in the UK market. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Great-West Lifeco’s and Keyridge Asset Management’s beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside the companies’ control. It is possible that actual results will differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other than as specifically required by applicable law, Great-West Lifeco and Keyridge Asset Management do not intend to update any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information:

    Media Relations:

    Tim Oracheski;

    204-946 8961

    media.relations@canadalife.com

     

    Investor Relations:

    Shubha Khan;

    416-552-5951

    shubha.khan@canadalife.com

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  • Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine sign voice deal with AI company | Artificial intelligence (AI)

    Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine sign voice deal with AI company | Artificial intelligence (AI)

    Oscar-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have both signed a deal with the AI audio company ElevenLabs.

    The New York-based company can now create AI-generated versions of their voices as part of a bid to solve a “key ethical…

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  • Just a moment…

    Just a moment…

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  • Tony Pulis column: ‘VAR has to rein its neck in’ – how I’d change football for the fans

    Tony Pulis column: ‘VAR has to rein its neck in’ – how I’d change football for the fans

    Referees are controlled and guided by governing bodies so they have to be held accountable for a lot of the above misgivings, but we have to get away from the situation we are in, where they have become too prevalent.

    We need to find a way of…

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  • FDA to Remove Black Box Warnings From Menopause Hormone Therapies

    FDA to Remove Black Box Warnings From Menopause Hormone Therapies

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is removing the black box safety warning from hormone therapies containing estrogen that are used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.

    Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will…

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  • Just a moment…

    Just a moment…

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  • The Combined Power of Probiotics and Prebiotics for Gut Health

    The Combined Power of Probiotics and Prebiotics for Gut Health

    Introduction
    Mechanisms of action
    Health benefits
    Dietary sources and products
    Challenges and considerations
    Conclusions
    References
    Further reading


    Synbiotic diets combine probiotics and prebiotics to enhance gut microbiota balance, improve metabolic health, and support immune function through synergistic biological mechanisms. These formulations show promise in managing gastrointestinal, metabolic, and inflammatory conditions while emphasizing strain specificity and clinical validation.

    Image Credit: Fuseass / Shutterstock.com

    Introduction

    Gut dysbiosis, which reflects an imbalance in the microbial composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome, increases the risk of developing metabolic and inflammatory diseases, thus emphasizing the importance of strategies that promote optimal gut health. Among these, functional food ingredients such as probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergistic combination, synbiotics, have gained increasing popularity worldwide.1

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in sufficient amounts. Prebiotics are best defined (per consensus now adopted in recent reviews) as substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confer a health benefit, rather than “stimulating the activity of probiotic bacteria.”15

    Synbiotics combine probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, with prebiotic fibers, including inulin or galacto-oligosaccharides, to enhance microbial survival and function. This concept has been updated to emphasize a mixture of live microorganisms and substrate(s) selectively utilized by host microbes that together confer a health benefit.4

    Mechanisms of action

    Combining prebiotics, like fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and inulin, with probiotic microorganisms like Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces boulardii, and Bacillus coagulans enhances their viability as they travel through the acidic environment of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotics serve as a selective nutrient source, which enables these beneficial bacteria to persist and colonize more efficiently in the colon.1,2

    Impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on gut microbiota composition and function.10

    Prebiotic fermentation also yields short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, acetate, and propionate, that strengthen epithelial barrier integrity, regulate intestinal pH, and modulate immune cell signaling. SCFAs serve as energy substrates for colonocytes and influence gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), thereby enhancing mucosal immunity and suppressing inflammatory cascades.1,2

    By fostering a balanced microbial community, synbiotics suppress the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli, while promoting the growth of probiotic bacteria. This equilibrium strengthens the intestinal barrier, improves digestion, and aids recovery following antibiotic therapy.15

    These interconnected mechanisms form the biological basis for the improvements in digestive, metabolic, and immune outcomes documented in clinical trials discussed below.

    Science Animation – Synbiotics and Infant Health

    Health benefits

    Digestive and immune health

    In a randomized trial in middle-aged adults, a synbiotic pairing of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis with FOS reduced days with abdominal discomfort and lowered circulating proinflammatory cytokines (for example, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IFN-γ), although stool frequency and consistency improved in both synbiotic and placebo groups.4 Animal data also support immunomodulatory effects: yogurt starter cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus mitigated DSS-induced colitis and altered regulatory T-cell responses in mice.3

    Together, these findings suggest that synbiotics may enhance mucosal immune balance and reduce inflammatory signaling, though human outcomes vary across formulations and durations.

    Metabolic regulation

    In 60 diabetic hemodialysis patients, a 12-week multi-strain synbiotic formulation, including L. acidophilus, L. casei, and B. bifidum, with inulin, decreased fasting plasma glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and malondialdehyde levels, while increasing antioxidant capacity and glutathione.5 Similarly, women with gestational diabetes exhibited significant improvements in triglyceride (TG) high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratios after six weeks of synbiotic supplementation.6

    Moderately hypercholesterolemic men consuming a fermented soy product with E. faecium CRL183 and L. helveticus for 42 days experienced reductions of 13-24% in total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels while preserving HDL.7 In people with obesity, Lactobacillus plantarum K50 reduced total cholesterol and triglycerides over 12 weeks.9 A 6-month multi-strain probiotic also lowered circulating endotoxin and inflammatory markers, with the most robust between-group effect observed for HOMA-IR.8

    Mechanistically, probiotics convert cholesterol to bile acids and incorporate it into bacterial membranes, while prebiotics promote SCFA production to reduce serum lipid levels and systemic inflammation.9

    These data support a modest but consistent metabolic benefit profile, primarily in lipid and glycemic parameters, contingent on strain composition and dose.

    Gut-brain axis and mental health

    Evidence syntheses indicate that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can influence the microbiota–gut–brain axis via neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic routes; signals include SCFAs and neurotransmitter modulation. Reported benefits on mood and stress are promising but heterogeneous across strains and study designs.10

    Thus, while mechanistic plausibility is strong, confirmatory clinical data are still emerging, and mental health outcomes remain an evolving research frontier for synbiotic therapy.

    Bidirectional communication pathways of the gut-brain axis.

    Bidirectional communication pathways of the gut-brain axis.10 

    Dietary sources and products

    Synbiotic foods integrate probiotics and prebiotics into a single matrix to create functional products that promote gut and immune health. Yogurt fortified with inulin, a prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root or Jerusalem artichoke, enhances the metabolic activity of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium to support their survival during digestion. Formulations can also include plant polysaccharides, such as aloe vera gel, to support probiotic viability and antioxidant capacity, while maintaining an acceptable sensory profile under refrigerated storage conditions.11

    Kefir, a fermented milk or water-based drink containing lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and yeasts retained in kefiran, a polysaccharide matrix, represents a natural synbiotic. Kefiran acts as a prebiotic while simultaneously conferring antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Recent reviews summarize benefits spanning gut health and metabolic endpoints, though clinical evidence varies by product and protocol.12

    Image Credit: Marcus Z-pics / Shutterstock.com

    Tempeh, a fermented soy product, combines prebiotic fibers with microbial fermentation. Although heat inactivates live probiotics, residual microbial components known as paraprobiotics continue to support gut and immune modulation.13

    Fortified functional foods, such as yogurt, beverages, snack bars, and frozen desserts, are widely formulated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and prebiotics like inulin, FOS, or GOS. Advances in microencapsulation technology further improve probiotic viability and shelf stability, thereby enabling convenient dietary strategies to maintain gut homeostasis and systemic immunity.14

    These examples illustrate how diverse matrices can deliver both live microbes and fermentable substrates, offering flexible options for daily intake.

    Challenges and considerations

    Strain specificity is a critical factor that determines the effectiveness of synbiotic formulations, as the effects of probiotics are highly strain-dependent. A single strain may exhibit distinct benefits when administered alone as compared to when combined with other strains, with efficacy also variable across patient populations.

    The effectiveness of synbiotic formulations is determined by the proportion of prebiotics and probiotics, amount consumed, and individual gut microbiome composition. Importantly, clinical improvements, such as reduced bloating or enhanced immune function, may not manifest for several weeks.2

    In the United States, probiotics in foods and supplements are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), whereas the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) applies the Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) framework to these products. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements are subjected to limited efficacy and safety testing. Consequently, product claims are often unsupported by rigorous clinical evidence.

    Variability in label accuracy and viable counts can lead to inconsistent outcomes, and individuals with severe illness or immunosuppression may rarely experience adverse events.15

    Consumers and clinicians should therefore match strain and dose to studied endpoints, verify product viability and storage conditions, and exercise caution in immunocompromised populations.

    Conclusions

    By enhancing probiotic survival, diversifying the gut microbiota, and improving nutrient handling, synbiotics may support digestive and immune function, contributing to the modification of metabolic risk. A growing body of clinical evidence supports benefits in specific contexts (for example, glycemic indices in dialysis or lipids in obesity), but effects remain strain- and product-specific, and heterogeneity across trials warrants cautious interpretation.4

    When these mechanistic and evidence-based perspectives are integrated, synbiotics emerge as promising yet context-dependent tools for modulating dietary effects on gut health.

    References

    1. Haque, S. A., Elias, M., Olqi, N. A., & Al Uraimi, T. (2023). Health Benefits of Prebiotics, Probiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics. Nutrients 16(22); 3955. DOI:10.3390/nu16223955, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/22/3955.
    2. Pandey, K. R., Naik, S. R., & Vakil, B. V. (2015). Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics- a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology 52(12); 7577. DOI:10.1007/s13197-015-1921-1, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-015-1921-1.
    3. Wasilewska, E., Zlotkowska, D., & Wroblewska, B. (2018). Yogurt starter cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus ameliorate symptoms and modulate the immune response in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Journal of Dairy Science 102(1); 37-53. DOI:10.3168/jds.2018-14520, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030218310505.
    4. Neyrinck, A. M., Rodriguez, J., Taminiau, B., et al. (2021). Improvement of gastrointestinal discomfort and inflammatory status by a synbiotic in middle-aged adults: A double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial. Scientific Reports 11(1); 1-12. DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-80947-1, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-80947-1.
    5. Soleimani, A., Motamedzadeh, A., Zarrati Mojarrad, M., et al. (2019). The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Probiotics & Antimicrobial Proteins 11; 1248-1256. DOI:10.1007/s12602-018-9499-3, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12602-018-9499-3.
    6. Nabhani, Z., Clark, C. C., Goudarzi, N., et al. (2022). The effect of synbiotic supplementation on atherogenic indices, hs-CRP, and malondialdehyde, as major CVD-related parameters, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A secondary data-analysis of a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 14(1); 87. DOI:10.1186/s13098-022-00858-1, https://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13098-022-00858-1.
    7. Cavallini, D., C. U., Manzoni, M. S. J., Bedani, R., et al. (2016). Probiotic Soy Product Supplemented with Isoflavones Improves the Lipid Profile of Moderately Hypercholesterolemic Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients 8; 52. DOI:10.3390/nu8010052, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/1/52.
    8. Sabico, S., Al Mashharawari A., Al-Dahgri, N. M., et al. (2019). Effects of a 6-Month Multi-Strain Probiotics Supplementation in Endotoxemic, Inflammatory, and Cardiometabolic Status of T2DM Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clinical Nutrition 38; 1561–1569, DOI:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.08.009, https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(18)31351-7/fulltext.
    9. Sohn, M., Na, G. Y., Chu, J., et al. (2022). Efficacy and Safety of Lactobacillus Plantarum K50 on Lipids in Koreans with Obesity: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial. Frontiers in Endocrinology 12, 790046. DOI:10.3389/fendo.2021.790046, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.790046/full.
    10. Kezer, G., Paramithiotis, S., Khwaldia, K., et al. (2025). A comprehensive overview of the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on the gut-brain axis. Frontiers in Microbiology 16; 1651965. DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1651965, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1651965/full.
    11. Ahmed, S., Noor, A., Tariq, M., & Zaidi, A. (2023). Functional improvement of synbiotic yogurt enriched with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and aloe vera gel using the response surface method. Food Production, Process and Nutrition 5. DOI:10.1186/s43014-023-00153-0, https://fppn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s43014-023-00153-0.
    12. Tingirikari, J. M. R., Sharma, A. & Lee, H. J. (2024). Kefir: a fermented plethora of synbiotic microbiome and health. Journal of Ethnic Food 11; 35. DOI:10.1186/s42779-024-00252-4, https://journalofethnicfoods.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42779-024-00252-4.
    13. Subali, D., Christos, R. E., Givianty, V. T., et al. (2023). Soy-Based Tempeh Rich in Paraprobiotics Properties as a Functional Sports Food: More Than a Protein Source. Nutrients 15(11), 2599. DOI:10.3390/nu15112599, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/11/2599.
    14. Yadav, M., Sehrawat, N., Sharma, A. K., et al. (2022). Synbiotics as potent functional food: Recent updates on therapeutic potential and mechanistic insight. Journal of Food Science and Technology 61(1). DOI:10.1007/s13197-022-05621-y, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-022-05621-y.
    15. Markowiak, P., & Śliżewska, K. (2017). Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Human Health. Nutrients 9(9); 1021. DOI:10.3390/nu9091021, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/9/1021.

    Further Reading

    Last Updated: Nov 11, 2025

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  • Football gossip: Eichhorn, Lewis-Skelly, Arteta, Casemiro, Schlotterbeck, Toney, Gallagher, Wharton, Anderson, Zirkzee, Silva, Ten Hag

    Football gossip: Eichhorn, Lewis-Skelly, Arteta, Casemiro, Schlotterbeck, Toney, Gallagher, Wharton, Anderson, Zirkzee, Silva, Ten Hag

    Manchester United are in the hunt for highly rated German midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is on the radar of four Premier League clubs, while the Gunners are yet to open contract talks with boss Mikel Arteta.

    Manchester…

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