Clostridium butyricum promotes intestinal motility by regulation of TLR2 in interstitial cells of Cajal

OBJECTIVE

Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) as a probiotic has been reported to have an important role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases. However, the effects of C. butyricum on regulation of intestinal motility of ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unclear. Our study aimed to explore the cross-regulation effect of C. butyricum and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) on UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) were treated by C. butyricum for 2 h, the mRNA and protein levels of TLR-2, IL-6, and IL-8 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Then, TLR2-specific small interfering RNA (si-TLR2) was transfected into ICCs, and the relative expressions of IL-6 and IL-8, SCF, cell viability, ghrelin, SP, and ET were measured by RT-qPCR, Western blot, CCK-8, and ELISA. Besides, the signal pathways of NF-κB and JNK were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

C. butyricum significantly increased TLR2, IL-6, and IL-8 expressions in ICCs. However, TLR2 silence alleviated C. butyricum-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expressions. Moreover, TLR2 silence significantly inhibited C. butyricum-induced cell viability in ICCs. Additionally, C. butyricum significantly increased SCF expression and promoted the secretion of ghrelin and SP. However, a significant reduction in the levels of SCF, ghrelin, and SP was evident in the silence of TLR2 expression. Besides, TLR2 silence reduced C. butyricum-activation NF-κB and JNK signal pathways in ICCs.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings revealed that C. butyricum promoted intestinal motility by regulation of TLR2 in ICCs, which contributed to understand the molecular mechanisms of C. butyricum on UC.

Quercetin reduces atherosclerotic lesions by altering the gut microbiota and reducing atherogenic lipid metabolites

AIMS

Epidemiological studies have correlated cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis with lifestyle factors such as sedentary behaviour and a high-calorie diet. Recent studies of pathogenesis have highlighted the significance of the intestinal microbiota and chronic inflammation with respect to both the onset and development of atherosclerosis. This study examined the hypothesis that the oral administration of quercetin to low-density lipoprotein receptor-null (Ldlr^-/- ) mice would improve gut health by altering the gut microbiota and controlling the levels of atherogenic lipid metabolites and proinflammatory mediators in the intestine and serum.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice were maintained on a high-fat diet with or without oral quercetin administration for 12 weeks. Quercetin treatment suppressed body weight gains and reduced the extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic sinus. Reduced malondialdehyde and increased interleukin 6 levels further indicated the protective effect of quercetin against immune/inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin led to decreased intestinal levels of cholesterol, lysophosphatidic acids and atherogenic lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 18:1) and an increased level of coprostanol. A phylum-level microbial analysis revealed that quercetin treatment reduced the abundance of Verrocomicrobia and increased microbiome diversity and the abundances of Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. A Spearman analysis revealed negative correlations of Actinobacteria with intestinal and plasma LPC 18:1 and caecal cholesterol levels and of Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria with the plasma LPC 18:1 level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the ability of quercetin treatment to reduce lipid levels, as well as the areas of atherosclerotic lesions and sizes of plaques. This treatment also altered the composition of the gut microbiota and decreased the levels of atherogenic lipid metabolites.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Oral quercetin treatment may represent a new approach to mitigating the onset and development of atherosclerosis.

P2637Hypertension as a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background

What is more, some recent meta-analysis have demonstrated the sex difference between smoking, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, and the risk of CVD mortality. Whether and to what extent the excess risk of cause-specific mortality from CVD death conferred by hypertension differs among women and men remain unclear.

Objective

A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed to explore whether and to what extent the excess risk of cause-specific mortality from CVD death conferred by hypertension differs among women and men.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE was systematically searched for prospective cohort studies published from inception to 7 October 2017. Eligible studies reported sex-specific relative risk (RR) estimates for mortality of all-cause, CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke associated with hypertension. The data were pooled using random effects models with inverse variance weighting, and estimates of the women-to-men ratio of RRs (RRR) for each outcomes were derived.

Results

Twenty-four studies with 2,939,659 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The RR for CHD mortality associated with hypertension compared with no hypertension was 2.24 (95% CI 2.03–2.46) in women and 1. 72 (1.61–1.84) in men. The multiple-adjusted RRR for CHD mortality was 22% greater in women with hypertension than in men with hypertension (RRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03–1.44) with no significant heterogencity between studies (I2=45%, P=0.11, Figure 1). No evidence was observed sex difference in the relationship between hypertension and the mortality from all-cause, CVD and stroke. Furthermore, the subgroup analyses showed that the pooled RRR for all-cause mortality, CVD and stroke mortality were not significantly associated with cohort region, the duration of follow-up, mean age of participants and the publication year of studies.

Conclusions

Hypertension is a major risk factor for all-cause, CVD, CHD and stroke among women and men. Moreover, women with hypertension have more than a 22% higher risk of CHD mortality compared with men with hypertension. Further studies need to identify the biological and/or lifestyle mechanisms involved in sex differences driving these associations.

P5495Sex differences in marital status and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 7,881,040 individuals

Background

Marital status has been identified as an important social factor associated with mortality. In current epidemiologic research, being unmarried was observed to be a suboptimal health status in the global population. The growing number of unmarried people has health implications, in light of evidence suggesting that it is associated with an increase in the incidence of various diseases and high mortality. Few attempts have been made to produce an overall estimate and sufficiently clarified of the sex difference between unmarried status and mortality risks, this is still a matter of debate.

Purpose

To ascertain whether sex differences exist in the relationship between marital status and cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, all-cause mortality in the general population and to explore the potential effect of age, location, the duration of follow-up and publication years on these outcomes.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE from inception through to April 2018 and review of references. We used the sex-specific RRs (relative risk) to derive the women-to-men ratio of RRs (RRR) and 95% CIs from each study. Subsequently, the RRR for each outcome was pooled with random effects meta-analysis weighted by the inverse of the variances of the log RRRs.

Results

Twenty-one studies with 7,881,040 individuals were included for meta-analysis. Compared with married individuals, being unmarried was significantly associated with all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, CVD mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, especially for singles, for both sexes (Figure 1). However, the association with death from all-cause and CVD was significantly stronger in men. Compared with women who were divorced/separated, divorced/separated men had significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality, cancer mortality and CVD mortality. Moreover, never married men had 31% and 9% higher excess risk of stroke mortality and all-cause mortality, respectively, compared with never married women. No sex differences were observed concerning the impact of any unmarried status on CHD mortality.

Conclusions

Being unmarried (widowed, divorced/separated or never married) conferred higher excess risk of stroke mortality and all-cause mortality for men than women. Moreover, divorced/separated men had significantly higher risk of cancer mortality and CVD mortality. Further studies are warranted to clarify the biological, behavioral, and/or social mechanisms involved in sex differences driving these associations.

[Determination of seven urinary metabolites of benzene, toluene and xylene by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry]

Objective: To develop a method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to determine the urinary metabolites of benzene, toluene and xylene. The selected metabolites are S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) , trans, trans-muconic acid (t, t-MA) , 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) , hippuric acid (HA) , 2-methylhippuric acid (2-MHA) , 3-methylhippuric acid (3-MHA) and 4-methylhippuric acid (4-MHA) . Methods: The urine sample was pretreated using methanol to precipitate the proteins. HSS T3 chromatographic column was used to separate the metabolites. The mass spectrometric acquisition was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) after ionization with ESI source. External standard method was used for quantification. Results: All the standard curves showed good linear relation, and r of the seven metabolites was all above 0.999. The detection limits and quantitative limits of the seven metabolites were 0.01-500 ng/ml and 0.02-1 000 ng/ml (based on the actual dilution ratio) , respectively. The average spiked recoveries of four loadings ranged from 85.8% to 109.9%. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were 0.2%-4.5% and 0.6%-9.5%, respectively. The samples can be kept for at least 14 days at both 4 ℃ and -20 ℃. Conclusion: This method is simple, rapid and highly sensitive with low cost, and its accuracy, precision and stability can meet the daily test requirements. It can be applied for the determination of urinary S-PMA, t, t-MA, 8-OHdG, HA, 2-MHA, 3-MHA and 4-MHA for the occupational population exposed to benzene, toluene and xylene.

Influence of Shrinkage and Viscosity of Flowable Composite Liners on Cervical Microleakage of Class II Restorations: A Micro-CT Analysis

This study determined the influence of shrinkage and viscosity of flowable composite liners on the cervical microleakage of Class II restorations using micro-CT. Seven composites of varying viscosities were selected and included five giomers (Shofu Beautifil II [BF], Flow Plus F00 and F03 [F00 and F03], Flow F02 and F10 [F02 and F10]) and 2 nano-filled composites (3M-ESPE Filtek Z350 [Z350] and Filtek Z350 Flowable [Z350F]). Polymerization shrinkage (n=7) was assessed with the Acuvol volumetric shrinkage analyzer while complex viscosity was determined with the advanced rheometric expansion system at 25°C. Standardized Class II restorations incorporating 1-mm horizontal layers of different flowable liners and 3-mm oblique layers of BF or Z350 were subjected to a silver nitrate test for 24 hours and examined using micro-CT. Microleakage was determined at 0.1-mm intervals from the buccal to lingual surfaces providing 30 sites per specimen and scored accordingly. Statistical analysis was performed with the one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's rho correlation at a significance level of p<0.05. Mean volumetric shrinkage ranged from 5.33±0.17% to 2.35±0.02% for F02 to Z350, respectively. The flowable materials had significantly higher shrinkage than did their sculptable counterparts (BF and Z350). Complex viscosities ranged from 9.65 to 4.20 (Z350 and F10, respectively) at a frequency of 10 rad/s and from 8.16 to 3.28 (Z350 and F03, respectively) for 100 rad/s. Giomer restorations had significantly less leakage than did those restored with nano-filled composites. No microleakage was observed with restorations lined with F02 or F10. The use of flowable liners reduced cervical microleakage of Class II restorations. Interfacial integrity of Class II restorations was significantly correlated with liner viscosity, filler volume, and shrinkage.

Analysis of non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease microRNA expression spectra in rat liver tissues

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing in recent years. Previous studies have suggested that micro (mi)RNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. To investigate the role of miRNAs in rat NAFLD, a total of 16 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group. Rats in the control group were fed a normal diet for 12 weeks, whereas the rats in the model group were fed a high‑fat and high‑sugar diet for 12 weeks. Following this, the animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were rapidly removed to investigate the severity of NAFLD. Blood samples were collected to investigate liver function, in addition to total cholesterol, total triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose levels. Total RNA from three fresh liver samples per experimental group was extracted for subsequent miRNA gene chip analysis using GeneChip miRNA 4.0 to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs, and miRNA expression was further verified via reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). Compared with the control group, the results revealed that there were 10 differentially expressed miRNAs in the model group, five of which were overexpressed and five of which were underexpressed compared with the control group. The results of the RT‑qPCR analysis revealed that miR‑182, miR‑29b‑3p and miR‑741‑3p were significantly overexpressed in the model group compared with the control group, which was largely consistent with the results of the microarray analysis. The results suggested that the differentially expressed microRNAs demonstrated in the present study may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD; however, the mechanism underlying the differential expression of miRNAs in NAFLD requires further investigation.

New insights into the plasmonic enhancement for photocatalytic H2 production by Cu–TiO2 upon visible light illumination

Cu nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles (Cu–TiO₂) using different methods aiming at the production of highly efficient visible light photocatalysts.

Mutation of miR-21 targets endogenous lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disorder characterized by hepatic fat accumulation and abnormal lipid metabolism. Although miR-21 has been implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, it is unknown whether miR-21 could function as a therapeutic target. Here, we perform transfection analysis of miR-21 mimic or control mimic to evaluate the effects of miR-21 expression levels on human HepG2 nonalcoholic fatty liver cells. We used siRNA techniques to knock down miR-21 in HepG2 and control 293T cell lines, and then monitored lipid production and the expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism. The effects of miR-21 expression levels on LDL receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) expression were evaluated using qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Luciferase reporter assays were conducted to confirm the effects of miR-21 expression levels on LRP6. The results indicated that transfection of miR-21 mimic induced changes in the expression levels of lipogenic enzymes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), stearoyl CoA desaturase (1SCD1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and liver X receptor alpha (LXRα). Transfection of miR-21 mimic suppressed the transcription and translation of LRP6 at the mRNA and protein levels, whereas miR-21 knockdown increased the expression levels of LRP6. Transfection of miR-21 mimic in HepG2 cells also induced lipid production and triggered the expression of critical lipid metabolic enzymes. These data suggest that mutation of miR-21 may be a new therapeutic strategy to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases by targeting endogenous LRP6.

Vitamin D Status and Prevalent Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration in African Americans and Caucasians: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

OBJECTIVES

Vitamin D status has been hypothesized to protect against development of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via its anti-inflammatory properties and its possible beneficial influence on blood pressure control. We investigated the association between vitamin D status and prevalent early AMD in a community-based cohort.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This was a secondary data analysis of already existing data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) cohort collected from 1990 to 1995.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 9,734 (7,779 Caucasians, 1,955 African American) ARIC participants (aged 46 to 70 at visit 2 [1990-1992]) with 25(OH)D data available at visit 2, AMD assessment at visit 3 (1993-1995), and complete covariate data.

MEASUREMENTS

Vitamin D status was assessed with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations from bloods drawn at visit 2. Prevalent, early AMD (n=511) was assessed at visit 3 (1993-95) with nonmydriatic retinal photographs of one randomly chosen eye. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for early AMD by categories of 25(OH)D in nmol/L (deficient <30, inadequate 30-<50, and two categories of adequate status: 50-<75 and ≥75). Linear trend was estimated using continuous 25(OH)D concentrations. ORs were adjusted for age, race, and smoking status. We further adjusted for hypertension status to examine if vitamin D status influenced early AMD via its effects on blood pressure. Exploratory analyses of effect modification by age, sex, race and high risk genotypes [Y402H complement factor H (CFH) rs1061170 and the A69S age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) rs10490924 polymorphisms] were conducted.

RESULTS

The prevalence of early AMD was 5%, and 5% of participants were vitamin D deficient. The adjusted OR (95% CIs) for early AMD among those with adequate (≥75 nmol/L) compared to deficient (<30 nmol/L) vitamin D status was 0.94 (0.59-1.50), p-trend=0.86. Further adjustment for hypertension status did not influence results (OR [95% CI]=0.95 [0.59-1.52], p-trend=0.84). Results did not vary significantly by age, race, sex, early AMD subtype (soft drusen or retinal pigment epithelium depigmentation), or ARMS2 genotype. Results did not vary significantly by CFH genotype in African Americans. The p for multiplicative interaction between 25(OH)D and CFH genotype was 0.06 in Caucasians, but OR [95% CIs] for AMD by vitamin D status were similar in each CFH genotype and not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D status was not associated with early AMD in this cohort sample.

[The characteristics of a mouse model with nasal polyp established by lipopolysaccharide]

Objective:To explore the effect of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the formation of nasal polyps in mice and its mechanism.Method:Five or ten μg of LPS were dropped into the nasal cavities of six to eight-week C57BL/6J mice in order to establish animal models with nasal polyps.Buried food pellets experiment was used to assess olfactory function of mice.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,olfactory marker protein(OMP),and myeloperoxidase(MPO) for neutrophil immunohistochemistry were used to observe histopathological changes in the nasal mucosa.The expression levels of cytokines,such as interferon(IFN)-γ,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,IL-6 in the nasal lavage fluid,were detected by ELISA.Result:Compared to the control group,mice in the LPS groups showed significant nasal polyp formation,olfactory dysfunction,more MPO⁺ cells while less OMP⁺ cells in the nasal mucosa,as well as increased significantly levels of IFN-γ,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the nasal lavage fluids(all P<0.05).Conclusion:LPS from Gram negative bacteria alone can induce the formation of nasal polyps in mice,characterized by more neutrophils,olfactory dysfunction,and increasing Th1 cytokine.Therefore,this model is commensurate with the characteristics of primary nasal polyps found in China and other major Asian.The current study suggests that LPS may be one of the important pathogenesis of gram negative bacteria in the nasal polyps.

Forsythoside A Controls Influenza A Virus Infection and Improves the Prognosis by Inhibiting Virus Replication in Mice

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to observe the effects of forsythoside A on controlling influenza A virus (IAV) infection and improving the prognosis of IAV infection.

METHODS

Forty-eight SPF C57BL/6j mice were randomly divided into the following four groups: Group A: normal control group (normal con); Group B: IAV control group (V con); Group C: IAV+ oseltamivir treatment group (V oseltamivir; 0.78 mg/mL, 0.2 mL/mouse/day); Group D: IAV+ forsythoside A treatment group (V FTA; 2 μg/mL, 0.2 mL/mouse/day). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure mRNA expression of the TLR7, MyD88, TRAF6, IRAK4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in TLR7 signaling pathway and the virus replication level in lung. Western blot was used to measure TLR7, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 protein. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of the T cell subsets Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg.

RESULTS

The body weight began to decrease after IAV infection, while FTA and oseltamivir could reduce the rate of body weight loss. The pathological damages in the FTA and oseltamivir group were less serious. TLR7, MyD88, TRAF6, IRAK4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA were up-regulated after virus infection (p < 0.01) while down-regulated after oseltamivir and FTA treatment (p < 0.01). The results of TLR7, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 protein consisted with correlative mRNA. Flow cytometry showed the Th1/Th2 differentiated towards Th2, and the Th17/Treg cells differentiated towards Treg after FTA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests forsythoside A can control influenza A virus infection and improve the prognosis of IAV infection by inhibiting influenza A virus replication.

Mechanisms of microRNAs in regulation of apoptosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a common liver disease in Western developed countries, and the prevalence is also continuously increasing in developing countries. NAFLD comprises a spectrum of disease stages, in which simple steatosis is a benign course and steatohepatitis can progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of NAFLD has not been fully understood. As noncoding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the pathophysiological processes including development, metabolism, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis, as well as the pathogenesis of NAFLD. miRNAs extensively participate in insulin resistance, lipid metabolic disorder, endoplasmic injury and cell apoptosis in NAFLD. This review highlights the roles of miRNAs in cell apoptosis in NAFLD.