The Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis

Dissecting the Relationship Between Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are two common causes of death in elderly people, which includes progressive neuronal cell death and behavioral changes. NDDs include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease, characterized by cognitive defects and memory impairment, whereas NPDs include depression, seizures, migraine headaches, eating disorders, addictions, palsies, major depressive disorders, anxiety, and schizophrenia, characterized by behavioral changes. Mounting evidence demonstrated that NDDs and NPDs share an overlapping mechanism, which includes post-translational modifications, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and signaling events. Mounting evidence demonstrated that various drug molecules, namely, natural compounds, repurposed drugs, multitarget directed ligands, and RNAs, have been potentially implemented as therapeutic agents against NDDs and NPDs. Herein, we highlighted the overlapping mechanism, the role of anxiety/stress-releasing factors, cytosol-to-nucleus signaling, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of NDDs and NPDs. We summarize the therapeutic application of natural compounds, repurposed drugs, and multitarget-directed ligands as therapeutic agents. Lastly, we briefly described the application of RNA interferences as therapeutic agents in the pathogenesis of NDDs and NPDs. Neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric diseases both share a common signaling molecule and molecular phenomenon, namely, pro-inflammatory cytokines, γCaMKII and MAPK/ERK, chemokine receptors, BBB permeability, and the gut-microbiota-brain axis. Studies have demonstrated that any alterations in the signaling mentioned above molecules and molecular phenomena lead to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, namely, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Emerging nanotherapeutic strategies targeting gut-X axis against diseases

Gut microbiota can coordinate with different tissues and organs to maintain human health, which derives the concept of the gut-X axis. Conversely, the dysbiosis of gut microbiota leads to the occurrence and development of various diseases, such as neurological diseases, liver diseases, and even cancers. Therefore, the modulation of gut microbiota offers new opportunities in the field of medicines. Antibiotics, probiotics or other treatments might restore unbalanced gut microbiota, which effects do not match what people have expected. Recently, nanomedicines with the high targeting ability and reduced toxicity make them an appreciative choice for relieving disease through targeting gut-X axis. Considering this paradigm-setting trend, the current review summarizes the advancements in gut microbiota and its related nanomedicines. Specifically, this article introduces the immunological effects of gut microbiota, summarizes the gut-X axis-associated diseases, and highlights the nanotherapeutics-mediated treatment via remolding the gut-X axis. Moreover, this review also discusses the challenges in studies related to nanomedicines targeting the gut microbiota and offers the future perspective, thereby aiming at charting a course toward clinic.

The emerging role of the gut microbiome in posttraumatic stress disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in some people following exposure to a terrifying or catastrophic event involving actual/threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. PTSD is a common and debilitating mental disorder that imposes a significant burden on individuals, their families, health services, and society. Moreover, PTSD is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, as well as premature mortality. Furthermore, PTSD is associated with dysregulated immune function. Despite the high prevalence of PTSD, the mechanisms underlying its etiology and manifestations remain poorly understood. Compelling evidence indicates that the human gut microbiome, a complex community of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in the development and function of the host nervous system, complex behaviors, and brain circuits. The gut microbiome may contribute to PTSD by influencing inflammation, stress responses, and neurotransmitter signaling, while bidirectional communication between the gut and brain involves mechanisms such as microbial metabolites, immune system activation, and the vagus nerve. In this literature review, we summarize recent findings on the role of the gut microbiome in PTSD in both human and animal studies. We discuss the methodological limitations of existing studies and suggest future research directions to further understand the role of the gut microbiome in PTSD.

Identification of "missing links" in C- and D-ring cleavage of steroids by Comamonas testosteroni TA441

Comamonas testosteroni TA441 is capable of aerobically degrading steroids through the aromatization and cleavage of the A- and B-rings, followed by D- and C-ring cleavage via β-oxidation. While most of the degradation steps have been previously characterized, a few intermediate compounds remained unidentified. In this study, we proposed that the cleavage of the D-ring at C13-17 required the ScdY hydratase, followed by C-ring cleavage via the ScdL1L2 transferase. The anticipated reaction was expected to yield 6-methyl-3,7-dioxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-coenzyme A (CoA) ester. To confirm this hypothesis, we constructed a plasmid enabling the induction of targeted genes in TA441 mutant strains. Induction experiments of ScdL1L2 revealed that the major product was 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-7-oxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-CoA ester. Similarly, induction experiments of ScdY demonstrated that the substrate of ScdY was a geminal diol, 17-dihydroxy-9-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,10,19-octanorandrost-8(14)-en-7-oic acid-CoA ester. These findings suggest that ScdY catalyzes the addition of a water molecule at C14 of 17-dihydroxy-9-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,10,19-octanorandrost-8(14)-en-7-oic acid-CoA ester, leading to D-ring cleavage at C13-17. Subsequently, the C9 ketone of the D-ring cleavage product is converted to a hydroxyl group, followed by C-ring cleavage, resulting in the production of 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-7-oxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-CoA ester.IMPORTANCEStudies on bacterial steroid degradation were initiated more than 50 years ago primarily to obtain substrates for steroid drugs. In recent years, the role of steroid-degrading bacteria in relation to human health has gained significant attention, as emerging evidence suggests that the intestinal microflora plays a crucial role in human health. Furthermore, cholic acid, a major component of bile acid secreted in the intestines, is closely associated with the gut microbiota. While Comamonas testosteroni TA441 is recognized as the leading bacterial model for aerobic steroid degradation, the involvement of aerobic steroid degradation in the intestinal microflora remains largely unexplored. Nonetheless, the presence of C. testosteroni in the cecum suggests the potential influence of aerobic steroid degradation on gut microbiota. To establish essential information about the role of these bacteria, here, we identified the missing compounds and propose more details of C-, and D-ring cleavage, which have remained unclear until now.

The Influence of Sleep Disorders on Neurobiological Structures and Cognitive Processes in Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Systematic Review

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy are increasingly prevalent comorbidities in our society. These two disorders are often accompanied by other comorbidities, such as sleep disorders, significantly impacting the quality of life of individuals with ASD and epilepsy. To date, clinical approaches have primarily been descriptive in nature. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between ASD, epilepsy, and sleep disorders, exploring neurobiological dysfunctions and cognitive alterations. A total of 22 scientific articles were selected using a systematic literature review following the criteria established using the PRISMA model. The selected articles were gathered from major databases: Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria specified that study participants had an official diagnosis of ASD, the article precisely described the evaluation parameters used in the study participants, and individual characteristics of the sleep disorders of the study participants were specified. The results indicate, firstly, that the primary cause of sleep disorders in this population is directly linked to abnormal serotonin behaviors. Secondly, significant alterations in memory, attention, and hyperactivity were observed. In conclusion, sleep disorders negatively impact the quality of life and neurocognitive development of the pediatric population with ASD and epilepsy.

Brain-inhabiting bacteria and neurodegenerative diseases: the "brain microbiome" theory

Controversies surrounding the validity of the toxic proteinopathy theory of Alzheimer's disease have led the scientific community to seek alternative theories in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders (ND). Recent studies have provided evidence of a microbiome in the central nervous system. Some have hypothesized that brain-inhabiting organisms induce chronic neuroinflammation, leading to the development of a spectrum of NDs. Bacteria such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Cutibacterium acnes have been found to inhabit the brains of ND patients. Furthermore, several fungi, including Candida and Malassezia species, have been identified in the central nervous system of these patients. However, there remains several limitations to the brain microbiome hypothesis. Varying results across the literature, concerns regarding sample contamination, and the presence of exogenous deoxyribonucleic acids have led to doubts about the hypothesis. These results provide valuable insight into the pathogenesis of NDs. Herein, we provide a review of the evidence for and against the brain microbiome theory and describe the difficulties facing the hypothesis. Additionally, we define possible mechanisms of bacterial invasion of the brain and organism-related neurodegeneration in NDs and the potential therapeutic premises of this theory.

Interactions between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota are associated with biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric symptoms

BACKGROUND

Humans vary in their sensitivity to stressful and supportive environments and experiences. Such individual differences in environmental sensitivity are associated with mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In recent years, researchers have focused on bidirectional interactions in the brain-gut-microbiota axis as a neurophysiological pathway contributing to the mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms, and evidence is rapidly accumulating.

METHODS

Data on environmental sensitivity, gut microbiota, gut permeability (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; LBP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) were collected from 90 adults (50 % female; Mage = 42.1; SDage = 10.0). Environmental sensitivity was measured using a self-report questionnaire. Study participants' feces were analyzed, and observed operational taxonomic units for richness, Shannon's index for evenness, and phylogenetic diversity for biodiversity were evaluated as indicators of gut microbiota. In addition, participants' serum was analyzed for CRP and LBP. We investigated whether the interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota is associated with biomarkers of inflammation and gut permeability.

RESULTS

The interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota (excluding the Shannon's index) explained the levels of these biomarkers. Individuals with high environmental sensitivity displayed higher levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was low. However, even highly susceptible individuals had lower levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was high.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for inflammation and gut permeability, when the gut microbiota diversity is low, suggesting a brain-gut-microbiota axis interaction.

Linking Migraine to Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

In the world, migraine is one of the most common causes of disability in adults. To date, there is no a single cause for this disorder, but rather a set of physio-pathogenic triggers in combination with a genetic predisposition. Among the factors related to migraine onset, a crucial role seems to be played by gut dysbiosis. In fact, it has been demonstrated how the intestine is able to modulate the central nervous system activities, through the gut-brain axis, and how gut dysbiosis can influence neurological pathologies, including migraine attacks. In this context, in addition to conventional pharmacological treatments for migraine, attention has been paid to an adjuvant therapeutic strategy based on different nutritional approaches and lifestyle changes able to positively modulate the gut microbiota composition. In fact, the restoration of the balance between the different gut bacterial species, the reconstruction of the gut barrier integrity, and the control of the release of gut-derived inflammatory neuropeptides, obtained through specific nutritional patterns and lifestyle changes, represent a possible beneficial additive therapy for many migraine subtypes. Herein, this review explores the bi-directional correlation between migraine and the main chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, obesity, cancer, and chronic kidney diseases, whose link is represented by gut dysbiosis.

Factors Influencing Neonatal Gut Microbiome and Health with a Focus on Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Maturational changes in the gut start in utero and rapidly progress after birth, with some functions becoming fully developed several months or years post birth including the acquisition of a full gut microbiome, which is made up of trillions of bacteria of thousands of species. Many factors influence the normal development of the neonatal and infantile microbiome, resulting in dysbiosis, which is associated with various interventions used for neonatal morbidities and survival. Extremely low gestational age neonates (<28 weeks' gestation) frequently experience recurring arterial oxygen desaturations, or apneas, during the first few weeks of life. Apnea, or the cessation of breathing lasting 15-20 s or more, occurs due to immature respiratory control and is commonly associated with intermittent hypoxia (IH). Chronic IH induces oxygen radical diseases of the neonate, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common and devastating gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants. NEC is associated with an immature intestinal structure and function and involves dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, inflammation, and necrosis of the intestinal mucosal layer. This review describes the factors that influence the neonatal gut microbiome and dysbiosis, which predispose preterm infants to NEC. Current and future management and therapies, including the avoidance of dysbiosis, the use of a human milk diet, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, restricted antibiotics, and fecal transplantation, for the prevention of NEC and the promotion of a healthy gut microbiome are also reviewed. Interventions directed at boosting endogenous and/or exogenous antioxidant supplementation may not only help with prevention, but may also lessen the severity or shorten the course of the disease.

Probiotics supplementation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

An emerging body of evidence has demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics on various mental health conditions. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to examine the effects of probiotics supplementation on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in adults.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched, from database inception to April 2021, for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We pooled mean differences and standard deviations from RCTs using random-effect models.

RESULTS

Overall, meta-analysis of 11 trials (n = 648 participants) showed no significant changes in serum level of BDNF following probiotics. However, subgroup analysis revealed that probiotics increased BDNF levels in individuals suffering from neurological disorders (n = 214 participants; WMD = 3.08 ng/mL, 95% CI: 1.83, 4.34; P = 0.001; I2 = 7.5%; P-heterogeneity 0.34), or depression (n = 268 participants; WMD = 0.77 ng/mL, 95% CI: 0.07, 1.47; P = 0.032; I2 = 88.4%; P-heterogeneity < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant increase in BDNF levels was found in studies that administered the mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, and were conducted in Asia .

CONCLUSION

Our main findings suggest that probiotics may be effective in elevating BDNF levels in patients with depression and neurological disorders, and a mixed of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium appear to show greater efficacy than the single genus supplement. The low quality of evidence reduces clinical advocacy, and indicates that more large-scale, high-quality, RCTs are needed to facilitate reliable conclusions.

Bibliometric analysis of the 100 most-cited papers about the role of gut microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome from 2000 to 2021

AIM

Over the last few decades, gut microbiota research has been the focus of intense research and this field has become particularly important. This research aimed to provide a quantitative evaluation of the 100 most-cited articles on gut microbiota and IBS and highlight the most important advances in this field.

METHODS

The database Web of Science Core Collection was used to download the bibliometric information the top 100 most-cited papers. Microsoft Excel 2021, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R software, and an online analytical platform ( https://bibliometric.com/ ) were was applied to perform bibliometric analysis of these papers.

RESULTS

The total citation frequency in the top 100 article ranged from 274 to 2324, with an average citation of 556.57. A total of 24 countries/regions made contributions to the top 100 cited papers, and USA, Ireland, and China were the most top three productive countries. Cryan JF was the most frequently nominated author, and of the top 100 articles, 20 listed his name. Top-cited papers mainly came from the Gastroenterology (n = 13, citations = 6373) and Gut (n = 9, citations = 3903). There was a significant citation path, indicating publications in molecular/biology/immunology primarily cited journals in molecular/biology/genetics fields. Keywords analysis suggested that the main topics on gut microbiota and IBS were mechanisms of microbiome in brain-gut axis." Behavior" was the keyword with the strongest burst strength (2.36), followed by "anxiety like behavior" (2.24), "intestinal microbiota" (2.19), and "chain fatty acid" (1.99), and "maternal separation" (1.95).

CONCLUSION

This study identified and provided the bibliometric information of the top 100 cited publications related to gut microbiota and IBS. The results provided a general overview of this topic and might help researchers to better understand the evolution, Influential findings and hotspots in researching gut microbiota and IBS, thus providing new perspectives and novel research ideas in this specific area.

Multi-omics reveals aspirin eugenol ester alleviates neurological disease

BACKGROUND

Exosomes play an essential role in maintaining normal brain function due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a new medicinal compound synthesized by the esterification of aspirin with eugenol using the prodrug principle. Aspirin has been reported to have neuroprotective effects and may be effective against neurodegenerative diseases.

PURPOSE

This study wanted to investigate how AEE affected neurological diseases in vivo and in vitro.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A multi-omics approach was used to explore the effects of AEE on the nervous system. Gene and protein expression changes of BDNF and NEFM in SY5Y cells after AEE treatment were detected using RT-qPCR and Western Blot.

KEY RESULTS

The multi-omics results showed that AEE could regulate neuronal synapses, neuronal axons, neuronal migration, and neuropeptide signaling by affecting transport, inflammatory response, and regulating apoptosis. Exosomes secreted by AEE-treated Caco-2 cells could promote the growth of neurofilaments in SY5Y cells and increased the expression of BDNF and NEFM proteins in SY5Y cells. miRNAs in the exosomes of AEE-treated Caco-2 cells may play an important role in the activation of SY5Y neuronal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, AEE could play positive effects on neurological-related diseases.

Roles of gut microbes in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. Gut dysbiosis is considered a significant contributing factor in disease development. Increased intestinal permeability can be induced by gut dysbiosis, followed by the entry of lipopolysaccharide into circulation to reach peripheral tissue and result in chronic inflammation. We reviewed how microbial metabolites push host physiology toward MAFLD, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and tryptophan metabolites. The effects of SCFAs are generally reported as anti-inflammatory and can improve intestinal barrier function and restore gut microbiota. Gut microbes can influence intestinal barrier function through SCFAs produced by fermentative bacteria, especially butyrate and propionate producers. This is achieved through the activation of free fatty acid sensing receptors. Bile is directly involved in lipid absorption. Gut microbes can alter bile acid composition by bile salt hydrolase-producing bacteria and bacterial hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-producing bacteria. These bile acids can affect host physiology by activating farnesoid X receptor Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5. Gut microbes can also induce MAFLD-associated symptoms by producing tryptophan metabolites kynurenine, serotonin, and indole-3-propionate. A summary of bacterial genera involved in SCFAs production, bile acid transformation, and tryptophan metabolism is provided. Many bacteria have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating MAFLD in animal models and are potential therapeutic candidates for MAFLD.

Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

Interkingdom signalling within a holobiont allows host and symbionts to communicate and to regulate each other's physiological and developmental states. Here we show that a suite of signalling molecules that function as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in most animals with nervous systems, specifically dopamine and trace amines, are produced exclusively by the bacterial symbionts of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Although sponges do not possess a nervous system, A. queenslandica expresses rhodopsin class G-protein-coupled receptors that are structurally similar to dopamine and trace amine receptors. When sponge larvae, which express these receptors, are exposed to agonists and antagonists of bilaterian dopamine and trace amine receptors, we observe marked changes in larval phototactic swimming behaviour, consistent with the sponge being competent to recognise and respond to symbiont-derived trace amine signals. These results indicate that monoamines synthesised by bacterial symbionts may be able to influence the physiology of the host sponge.

Catecholamine Variations in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders and Their Neuropsychiatric Expression

The interplay between the central nervous system and the intestinal environment hinges on neural, hormonal, immune, and metabolic reactions. Over decades, significant effort has gone into exploring the link between the digestive system and the brain. The primary objective of this study is to assess catecholamine levels in children with neuropsychiatric disorders. We aim to examine how these levels impact the mental and physical wellbeing of these children, with a specific focus on psychoemotional symptoms and cognitive performance. Our research seeks to identify the significance of modifying neurotransmitter levels in pediatric medical interventions, ultimately striving to reduce mental health risks and enhance children's future development. A total of 135 individuals were chosen to partake, and they engaged in regular monthly consultations according to established study protocols. Clinical evaluations were conducted in a medical environment, encompassing the observation of constipation, diarrhea, and additional gastrointestinal anomalies not confined to constipation or diarrhea. This entailed the assessment of neurotransmitter imbalances, with a specific focus on dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and the noradrenaline/adrenaline ratio. Gastrointestinal disorders are indicative of imbalances in catecholamines, with lower gastrointestinal problems being correlated with such imbalances. In subjects with psychiatric disorders, a more pronounced dopamine and noradrenaline/adrenaline ratio was observed, while elevated adrenaline levels were associated with psychoanxiety disorders.

The efficacy and neural mechanism of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex functional gastrointestinal disorder primarily characterized by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Chronic abdominal pain caused by visceral Hypersensitivity (VH) is the main reason why patients with IBS seek medication. Significant research effort has been devoted to the efficacy of acupuncture as a non-drug alternative therapy for visceral-hyperalgesia-induced IBS. Herein, we examined the central and peripheral analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture in IBS treatment. Acupuncture can improve inflammation and relieve pain by reducing 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-HT3A receptor expression and increasing 5-HT4 receptor expression in peripheral intestinal sensory endings. Moreover, acupuncture can also activate the transient receptor potential vanillin 1 channel, block the activity of intestinal glial cells, and reduce the secretion of local pain-related neurotransmitters, thereby weakening peripheral sensitization. Moreover, by inhibiting the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion channels in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and anterior cingulate cortex or releasing opioids, acupuncture can block excessive stimulation of abnormal pain signals in the brain and spinal cord. It can also stimulate glial cells (through the P2X7 and prokinetic protein pathways) to block VH pain perception and cognition. Furthermore, acupuncture can regulate the emotional components of IBS by targeting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-related hormones and neurotransmitters via relevant brain nuclei, hence improving the IBS-induced VH response. These findings provide a scientific basis for acupuncture as an effective clinical adjuvant therapy for IBS pain.

Recent Review on Selected Xenobiotics and Their Impacts on Gut Microbiome and Metabolome

As it is well known, the gut is one of the primary sites in any host for xenobiotics, and the many microbial metabolites responsible for the interactions between the gut microbiome and the host. However, there is a growing concern about the negative impacts on human health induced by toxic xenobiotics. Metabolomics, broadly including lipidomics, is an emerging approach to studying thousands of metabolites in parallel. In this review, we summarized recent advancements in mass spectrometry (MS) technologies in metabolomics. In addition, we reviewed recent applications of MS-based metabolomics for the investigation of toxic effects of xenobiotics on microbial and host metabolism. It was demonstrated that metabolomics, gut microbiome profiling, and their combination have a high potential to identify metabolic and microbial markers of xenobiotic exposure and determine its mechanism. Further, there is increasing evidence supporting that reprogramming the gut microbiome could be a promising approach to the intervention of xenobiotic toxicity.

Changes in gut microbiota and cytokines following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are associated with cognitive function improvement

Purpose

Variations of cytokines and gut microbiota diversity with improved cognitive function in patients with obesity following bariatric surgery were poorly understood. The aim of this study was to testify the relationship among gut microbiota, cytokines and cognitive function in patients with obesity before and after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Methods

Forty patients were enrolled in this study. Demographics, and serum and stool specimens were collected from all patients before and 3 months after LSG. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, as well as assessment of immediate and delayed memory were used to evaluate self-perceived cognitive improvement after LSG.

Results

LSG resulted in significant weight loss and improvement in cognitive functions, as measured by questionnaires. Bariatric surgery tended to increase gut microbiota relative abundance and diversity. The intestinal flora increased in the proportion of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria phyla, and decreased in the proportion of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria phyla after LSG. Plasma IL-1β and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased following LSG, while IL-4 was significantly increased. MoCA test scores were significant correlated with IL-4, TNF-α and IL-1β. In addition, Firmicutes had a positive correlation with TNF-α, while Fuscobacteria had a negative correlation with IL-1β. Bacteroidetes was negatively correlated with IL-4.

Conclusion

Changes in gut microbiota were positive relationship with cognitive function improvement following LSG. Inflammation cytokines maybe played as a mediator between gut microbiota and cognitive function through gut-microbiota-brain axis.

Unraveling mechanistic insights into the role of microbiome in neurogenic hypertension: A comprehensive review

Neurogenic hypertension, a complex and multifactorial cardiovascular disorder, is known to be influenced by various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the role of the gut microbiome in hypertension pathogenesis. The bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis, has emerged as a crucial mechanism through which the gut microbiota exerts its influence on neuroinflammation, immune responses, and blood pressure regulation. Recent studies have shown how the microbiome has a substantial impact on a variety of physiological functions, such as cardiovascular health. The increased sympathetic activity to the gut may cause microbial dysbiosis, increased permeability of the gut, and increased inflammatory reactions by altering a number of intestinal bacteria producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the plasma. Collectively, these microbial metabolic and structural compounds stimulate sympathetic stimulation, which may be an important stage in the onset of hypertension. The result is an upsurge in peripheral and central inflammatory response. In addition, it has recently been shown that a link between the immune system and the gut microbiota might play a significant role in hypertension. The therapeutic implications of the gut microbiome including probiotic usage, prebiotics, dietary modifications, and fecal microbiota transplantation in neurogenic hypertension have also been found. A large body of research suggests that probiotic supplementation might help reduce chronic inflammation and hypertension that have an association with dysbiosis in the gut microbiota. Overall, this review sheds light on the intricate interplay between the gut microbiome and neurogenic hypertension, providing valuable insights for both researchers and clinicians. As our knowledge of the microbiome's role in hypertension expands, novel therapeutic strategies and diagnostic biomarkers may pave the way for more effective management and prevention of this prevalent cardiovascular disorder. Exploring the potential of the microbiome in hypertension offers an exciting avenue for future research and offers opportunities for precision medicine and improved patient care.

New Insights into Photobiomodulation of the Vaginal Microbiome-A Critical Review

The development of new technologies such as sequencing has greatly enhanced our understanding of the human microbiome. The interactions between the human microbiome and the development of several diseases have been the subject of recent research. In-depth knowledge about the vaginal microbiome (VMB) has shown that dysbiosis is closely related to the development of gynecologic and obstetric disorders. To date, the progress in treating or modulating the VMB has lagged far behind research efforts. Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses low levels of light, usually red or near-infrared, to treat a diversity of conditions. Several studies have demonstrated that PBM can control the microbiome and improve the activity of the immune system. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the microbiome, mostly to the gut microbiome and its connections with many diseases, such as metabolic disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmunity, and neurological disorders. The applicability of PBM therapeutics to treat gut dysbiosis has been studied, with promising results. The possible cellular and molecular effects of PBM on the vaginal microbiome constitute a theoretical and promising field that is starting to take its first steps. In this review, we will discuss the potential mechanisms and effects of photobiomodulation in the VMB.

Social Isolation and Breast Cancer

Although the role of life stressors in breast cancer remains unclear, social isolation is consistently associated with increased breast cancer risk and mortality. Social isolation can be defined as loneliness or an absence of perceived social connections. In female mice and rats, social isolation is mimicked by housing animals 1 per cage. Social isolation causes many biological changes, of which an increase in inflammatory markers and disruptions in mitochondrial and cellular metabolism are commonly reported. It is not clear how the 2 traditional stress-induced pathways, namely, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA), resulting in a release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex, and autonomic nervous system (ANS), resulting in a release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla and postganglionic neurons, could explain the increased breast cancer risk in socially isolated individuals. For instance, glucocorticoid receptor activation in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells inhibits their proliferation, and activation of β-adrenergic receptor in immature immune cells promotes their differentiation toward antitumorigenic T cells. However, activation of HPA and ANS pathways may cause a disruption in the brain-gut-microbiome axis, resulting in gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis, in turn, leads to an alteration in the production of bacterial metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids, causing a systemic low-grade inflammation and inducing dysfunction in mitochondrial and cellular metabolism. A possible causal link between social isolation-induced increased breast cancer risk and mortality and gut dysbiosis should be investigated, as it offers new tools to prevent breast cancer.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Deciphering Diet-Disease Relationships: Case Studies

Modernization of society from a rural, hunter-gatherer setting into an urban and industrial habitat, with the associated dietary changes, has led to an increased prevalence of cardiometabolic and additional noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. However, while dietary sciences have been rapidly evolving to meet these challenges, validation and translation of experimental results into clinical practice remain limited for multiple reasons, including inherent ethnic, gender, and cultural interindividual variability, among other methodological, dietary reporting-related, and analytical issues. Recently, large clinical cohorts with artificial intelligence analytics have introduced new precision and personalized nutrition concepts that enable one to successfully bridge these gaps in a real-life setting. In this review, we highlight selected examples of case studies at the intersection between diet-disease research and artificial intelligence. We discuss their potential and challenges and offer an outlook toward the transformation of dietary sciences into individualized clinical translation.

Emerging Paradigms in Inflammatory Disease Management: Exploring Bioactive Compounds and the Gut Microbiota

The human gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of mutualistic microorganisms that play a critical role in maintaining human health through their individual interactions and with the host. The normal gastrointestinal microbiota plays a specific physiological function in host immunomodulation, nutrient metabolism, vitamin synthesis, xenobiotic and drug metabolism, maintenance of structural and functional integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, and protection against various pathogens. Inflammation is the innate immune response of living tissues to injury and damage caused by infections, physical and chemical trauma, immunological factors, and genetic derangements. Most diseases are associated with an underlying inflammatory process, with inflammation mediated through the contribution of active immune cells. Current strategies to control inflammatory pathways include pharmaceutical drugs, lifestyle, and dietary changes. However, this remains insufficient. Bioactive compounds (BCs) are nutritional constituents found in small quantities in food and plant extracts that provide numerous health benefits beyond their nutritional value. BCs are known for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anti-metabolic syndrome, and anti-inflammatory properties. Bioactive compounds have been shown to reduce the destructive effect of inflammation on tissues by inhibiting or modulating the effects of inflammatory mediators, offering hope for patients suffering from chronic inflammatory disorders like atherosclerosis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present review is to summarise the role of natural bioactive compounds in modulating inflammation and protecting human health, for their safety to preserve gut microbiota and improve their physiology and behaviour.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the gut microbiome: An ecological perspective

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Symptoms emerge from underlying deficiencies in neurocircuitry, and recent research has suggested a role played by the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of interdependent taxa involved in an exponentially complex web of interactions, plus host gene and reaction pathways, some of which involve neurotransmitters with roles in ADHD neurocircuitry. Studies have analyzed the ADHD gut microbiome using macroscale metrics such as diversity and differential abundance, and have proposed several taxa as elevated or reduced in ADHD compared to Control. Few studies have delved into the complex underlying dynamics ultimately responsible for the emergence of such metrics, leaving a largely incomplete, sometimes contradictory, and ultimately inconclusive picture. We aim to help complete this picture by venturing beyond taxa abundances and into taxa relationships (i.e. cooperation and competition), using a publicly available gut microbiome dataset (targeted 16S, v3-4 region, qPCR) from an observational, case-control study of 30 Control (15 female, 15 male) and 28 ADHD (15 female, 13 male) undergraduate students. We first perform the same macroscale analyses prevalent in ADHD gut microbiome literature (diversity, differential abundance, and composition) to observe the degree of correspondence, or any new trends. We then estimate two-way ecological relationships by producing Control and ADHD Microbial Co-occurrence Networks (MCNs), using SparCC correlations (p ≤ 0.01). We perform community detection to find clusters of taxa estimated to mutually cooperate along with their centroids, and centrality calculations to estimate taxa most vital to overall gut ecology. We finally summarize our results, providing conjectures on how they can guide future experiments, some methods for improving our experiments, and general implications for the field.

Migraine as a Disease Associated with Dysbiosis and Possible Therapy with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Migraine is a painful neurological condition characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head. It may be linked to changes in the gut microbiota, which are influenced by antibiotic use and other factors. Dysbiosis, which develops and persists as a result of earlier antibiotic therapy, changes the composition of the intestinal flora, and can lead to the development of various diseases such as metabolic disorders, obesity, hematological malignancies, neurological or behavioral disorders, and migraine. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiome have been shown to influence the gut-brain axis. The use of probiotics as a dietary supplement may reduce the number and severity of migraine episodes. Dietary strategies can affect the course of migraines and are a valuable tool for improving migraine management. With fecal microbiota transplantation, gut microbial restoration is more effective and more durable. Changes after fecal microbiota transplantation were studied in detail, and many data help us to interpret the successful interventions. The microbiological alteration of the gut microflora can lead to normalization of the inflammatory mediators, the serotonin pathway, and influence the frequency and intensity of migraine pain.

Evaluation of Holstein cows with different tongue-rolling frequencies: stress immunity, rumen environment and general behavioural activity

BACKGROUND

The tongue-rolling behaviour of cows is regarded as an outward sign of stressed animals in a low welfare status. The primary aim of this observational study was to evaluate the association between the frequency of tongue-rolling behaviour and its physiological function. The secondary aim was to explore the relationship between general activities and the frequency of tongue-rolling behaviour of cows. A total of 126 scan sampling behavioural observations were collected over 7 d on 348 Holstein cows with the same lactation stage in the same barn. The tongue-rolling frequency was defined as the number of tongue-rolling observations as a percentage to the total observations per individual cow. According to their tongue-rolling frequency, the cows were grouped into the CON (no tongue-rolling), LT (frequency 1%), MT (frequency 5%), and HT (frequency 10%) groups. Six cows from each group were randomly selected for sampling. Serum samples, rumen fluid, milk yield, and background information were collected. The general behaviour data during 72 continuous hours of dairy cows, including eating time, rumination time, food time (eating time + rumination time), and lying time, were recorded by the collar sensor.

RESULTS

Cortisol (P = 0.012), γ-hydroxybutyric acid (P = 0.008), epinephrine (P = 0.030), and dopamine (P = 0.047) levels were significantly higher in tongue-rolling groups than in the CON group. Cortisol levels and tongue-rolling frequency had a moderate positive correlation (linearly r = 0.363). With the increase in tongue-rolling frequency, the rumen pH decreased first and then increased (P = 0.013), comparing to the CON group. HT cows had significantly less food time than CON cows (P = 0.035). The frequency of tongue-rolling had a moderate negative relationship with rumination time (r = -0.384) and food time (r = -0.492).

CONCLUSIONS

The tongue-rolling behaviour is considered as a passive coping mechanism, as the stress response in cows with high tongue-rolling frequency increased. Food intake and rumination activities were all closely related to the occurrence of tongue-rolling behaviour.

Emerging therapeutic role of gut microbial extracellular vesicles in neurological disorders

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as cell-to-cell and inter-organ communicators by conveying proteins and nucleic acids with regulatory functions. Emerging evidence shows that gut microbial-released EVs play a pivotal role in the gut-brain axis, bidirectional communication, and crosstalk between the gut and the brain. Increasing pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggests that gut bacteria-released EVs are capable of eliciting distinct signaling to the brain with the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, exerting regulatory function on brain cells such as neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, via their abundant and diversified protein and nucleic acid cargo. Conversely, EVs derived from certain species of bacteria, particularly from gut commensals with probiotic properties, have recently been shown to confer distinct therapeutic effects on various neurological disorders. Thus, gut bacterial EVs may be both a cause of and therapy for neuropathological complications. This review marshals the basic, clinical, and translational studies that significantly contributed to our up-to-date knowledge of the therapeutic potential of gut microbial-derived EVs in treating neurological disorders, including strokes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and dementia. The review also discusses the newer insights in recent studies focused on developing superior therapeutic microbial EVs via genetic manipulation and/or dietary intervention.

The gut microbiota-brain axis in neurological disorder

The gut microbiota (GM) plays an important role in the physiology and pathology of the host. Microbiota communicate with different organs of the organism by synthesizing hormones and regulating body activity. The interaction of the central nervous system (CNS) and gut signaling pathways includes chemical, neural immune and endocrine routes. Alteration or dysbiosis in the gut microbiota leads to different gastrointestinal tract disorders that ultimately impact host physiology because of the abnormal microbial metabolites that stimulate and trigger different physiologic reactions in the host body. Intestinal dysbiosis leads to a change in the bidirectional relationship between the CNS and GM, which is linked to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. Increasing preclinical and clinical studies/evidence indicate that gut microbes are a possible susceptibility factor for the progression of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this review, we discuss the crucial connection between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, the signaling pathways of multiple biological systems and the contribution of gut microbiota-related neurological disorders.

MicroRNA-based therapeutics for inflammatory disorders of the microbiota-gut-brain axis

An emerging but less explored shared pathophysiology across microbiota-gut-brain axis disorders is aberrant miRNA expression, which may represent novel therapeutic targets. miRNAs are small, endogenous non-coding RNAs that are important transcriptional repressors of gene expression. Most importantly, they regulate the integrity of the intestinal epithelial and blood-brain barriers and serve as an important communication channel between the gut microbiome and the host. A well-defined understanding of the mode of action, therapeutic strategies and delivery mechanisms of miRNAs is pivotal in translating the clinical applications of miRNA-based therapeutics. Accumulating evidence links disorders of the microbiota-gut-brain axis with a compromised gut-blood-brain-barrier, causing gut contents such as immune cells and microbiota to enter the bloodstream leading to low-grade systemic inflammation. This has the potential to affect all organs, including the brain, causing central inflammation and the development of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. In this review, we have examined in detail miRNA biogenesis, strategies for therapeutic application, delivery mechanisms, as well as their pathophysiology and clinical applications in inflammatory gut-brain disorders. The research data in this review was drawn from the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov. With increasing evidence of the pathophysiological importance for miRNAs in microbiota-gut-brain axis disorders, therapeutic targeting of cross-regulated miRNAs in these disorders displays potentially transformative and translational potential. Further preclinical research and human clinical trials are required to further advance this area of research.

HIV-1-Host Interaction in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT): Effects on Local Environment and Comorbidities

HIV-1 replication in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract causes severe CD4+ T-cell depletion and disruption of the protective epithelial barrier in the intestinal mucosa, causing microbial translocation, the main driver of inflammation and immune activation, even in people living with HIV (PLWH) taking antiretroviral drug therapy. The higher levels of HIV DNA in the gut compared to the blood highlight the importance of the gut as a viral reservoir. CD4+ T-cell subsets in the gut differ in phenotypic characteristics and differentiation status from the ones in other tissues or in peripheral blood, and little is still known about the mechanisms by which the persistence of HIV is maintained at this anatomical site. This review aims to describe the interaction with key subsets of CD4+ T cells in the intestinal mucosa targeted by HIV-1 and the role of gut microbiome and its metabolites in HIV-associated systemic inflammation and immune activation that are crucial in the pathogenesis of HIV infection and related comorbidities.

Microbial Reprogramming in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A Review of Gut-Brain Communication and Emerging Evidence

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbial composition, has been associated with various health conditions, including mental health disorders, autism, and inflammatory diseases. While the exact mechanisms underlying OCD remain unclear, this review presents a growing body of evidence suggesting a potential link between dysbiosis and the multifaceted etiology of OCD, interacting with genetic, neurobiological, immunological, and environmental factors. This review highlights the emerging evidence implicating the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of OCD and its potential as a target for novel therapeutic approaches. We propose a model that positions dysbiosis as the central unifying element in the neurochemical, immunological, genetic, and environmental factors leading to OCD. The potential and challenges of microbial reprogramming strategies, such as probiotics and fecal transplants in OCD therapeutics, are discussed. This review raises awareness of the importance of adopting a holistic approach that considers the interplay between the gut and the brain to develop interventions that account for the multifaceted nature of OCD and contribute to the advancement of more personalized approaches.

Complexity synchronization: a measure of interaction between the brain, heart and lungs

Herein we address the measurable consequences of the network effect (NE) on time series generated by different parts of the brain, heart, and lung organ-networks (ONs), which are directly related to their inter-network and intra-network interactions. Moreover, these same physiologic ONs have been shown to generate crucial event (CE) time series, and herein are shown, using modified diffusion entropy analysis (MDEA) to have scaling indices with quasiperiodic changes in complexity, as measured by scaling indices, over time. Such time series are generated by different parts of the brain, heart, and lung ONs, and the results do not depend on the underlying coherence properties of the associated time series but demonstrate a generalized synchronization of complexity. This high-order synchrony among the scaling indices of EEG (brain), ECG (heart), and respiratory time series is governed by the quantitative interdependence of the multifractal behavior of the various physiological ONs' dynamics. This consequence of the NE opens the door for an entirely general characterization of the dynamics of complex networks in terms of complexity synchronization (CS) independently of the scientific, engineering, or technological context. CS is truly a transdisciplinary effect.

Effect of a probiotic formula on gastrointestinal health, immune responses and metabolic health in adults with functional constipation or functional diarrhea

Objective

Our aim was to determine the efficacy of four-week probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal health. The secondary objectives were to assess probiotic effects on immune reaction, as well as weight control and metabolic health.

Methods

We conducted two randomized sub-trials, respectively, among subjects who were diagnosed with functional constipation (FC) or functional diarrhea (FDr) according to the Rome IV criteria. In each sub-trial, 70 eligible Chinese adults were randomized to receive a multi-strain probiotic combination or a placebo. Gastrointestinal symptoms, defecation habits, stool characteristics, blood and fecal biochemistry markers, anthropometrics measures, stress-associated responses, and intestinal flora changes were assessed at baseline and after probiotics intervention.

Results

Four weeks of probiotic supplementation reduced overall gastrointestinal symptoms scores in FC participants (p < 0.0001). Their mean weekly stool frequency increased from 3.3 times to 6.2 times; immune response and inflammation markers improved with increases in serum IgA, IFN-γ and fecal sIgA, and decrease in hsCRP; most components of lipid profile were significantly ameliorated, with increases in HDL-C and reductions in TC and TG; body weight, body mass index and basal metabolic rate decreased following probiotics consumption. For FDr participants, probiotics consumption markedly reduced overall gastrointestinal symptom scores (p < 0.0001); decreased stool frequency by 3 times per week; increased IgA, IFN-γ, sIgA concentrations, while lowered hsCRP and IL-4 levels. Both FC and FDr participants had improvement in the scores of defecation habits, anxiety or depression, and perceived stress. Probiotics supplementation promoted the production of all three major short-chain fatty acids. No changes were observed in LDL-C, IgG, IgM, IL-8, IL-10 and motilin.

Conclusion

Supplementation with the probiotic formula over a four-week period could help relieving gastrointestinal symptoms, improving satisfaction with defecation habits, emotional state and immune response, and ameliorating dysbacteriosis in participants with FC or FDr. It also had beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and weight control for FC participants.

Prolonged darkness attenuates imidacloprid toxicity through the brain-gut-microbiome axis in zebrafish, Danio rerio

The present study investigated the toxic effects of IMI on brain and gut of zebrafish (Danio rerio) by a combination of transcriptome and microbiome analysis. In addition, the involvement of light/dark period was also evaluated. An acute toxic test was conducted on adult zebrafish weighing 0.45 ± 0.02 g with 4 experimental groups (n = 15): 1) IMI group (Light: Dark = 12: 12 h), 2) prolonged light group (Light: Dark = 20: 4 h), 3) prolonged darkness group (Light: Dark = 4: 20 h) which received 20 mg/L of IMI, and 4) control group, which was not treated with IMI (Light: Dark = 12: 12 h). The results showed that prolonged darkness improved the survival rate of zebrafish upon IMI exposure for 96 h. In the sub-chronic test, zebrafish were divided into the same 4 groups and exposed to IMI at 1 mg/L for 14 d (n = 30). The results showed that IMI induced oxidative stress in both IMI and prolonged light groups by inhibition of antioxidant activities and accumulation of oxidative products. Transcriptome analysis revealed a compromise of antioxidation and tryptophan metabolism pathways under IMI exposure. Several genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes in serotonin and melatonin synthesis were all inhibited in both IMI and LL groups. Meanwhile, significant decrease (P < 0.5) of serotonin and melatonin levels was observed. However, there's remarkable improvement of biochemical and transcriptional status in prolonged darkness group. In addition, microbiome analysis showed great alteration of gut bacterial community structure and inhibition of tryptophan metabolism pathway. Similarly, the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by IMI was alleviated in prolonged darkness. In summary, sub-chronic IMI exposure induced neurotoxicity and gut toxicity in zebrafish by oxidative stress and impaired the brain-gut-axis through tryptophan metabolism perturbation. Prolonged darkness could effectively attenuate the IMI toxicity probably through maintaining a normal tryptophan metabolism.

GLP-1RAs caused gastrointestinal adverse reactions of drug withdrawal: a system review and network meta-analysis

Background

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) significantly reduce postprandial blood glucose, inhibit appetite, and delay gastrointestinal emptying. However, it is controversial that some patients are intolerant to GLP-1RAs.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using GLP-1RAs with documented withdrawal due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions (GI AEs) from their inception to September 28, 2022. After extracting the information incorporated into the studies, a random-effects network meta-analysis was performed within a frequentist framework.

Results

64 RCTs were finally enrolled, which included six major categories of the GLP-1RA. The sample size of the GLP-1RAs treatment group was 16,783 cases. The risk of intolerable gastrointestinal adverse reactions of Liraglutide and Semaglutide was higher than that of Dulaglutide. Meanwhile, the higher the dose of the same GLP-1RA preparation, the more likely to cause these adverse reactions. These intolerable GI AEs were not significantly related to drug homology or formulations and may be related to the degree of suppression of the appetite center.

Conclusion

Dulaglutide caused the lowest intolerable GI AEs, while Liraglutide and Semaglutide were the highest. For Semaglutide, the higher the dose, the more likely it is to drive GI AEs. Meanwhile, the risk of these GI AEs is independent of the different formulations of the drug. All these findings can effectively guide individualized treatment.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022359346, identifier CRD42022359346.

Hypergraph factorization for multi-tissue gene expression imputation

Integrating gene expression across tissues and cell types is crucial for understanding the coordinated biological mechanisms that drive disease and characterise homeostasis. However, traditional multitissue integration methods cannot handle uncollected tissues or rely on genotype information, which is often unavailable and subject to privacy concerns. Here we present HYFA (Hypergraph Factorisation), a parameter-efficient graph representation learning approach for joint imputation of multi-tissue and cell-type gene expression. HYFA is genotype-agnostic, supports a variable number of collected tissues per individual, and imposes strong inductive biases to leverage the shared regulatory architecture of tissues and genes. In performance comparison on Genotype-Tissue Expression project data, HYFA achieves superior performance over existing methods, especially when multiple reference tissues are available. The HYFA-imputed dataset can be used to identify replicable regulatory genetic variations (eQTLs), with substantial gains over the original incomplete dataset. HYFA can accelerate the effective and scalable integration of tissue and cell-type transcriptome biorepositories.

Antibiotic-induced socio-sexual behavioral deficits are reversed via cecal microbiota transplantation but not androgen treatment

Recent evidence has demonstrated a sex-specific role of the gut microbiome on social behavior such as anxiety, possibly driven by a reciprocal relationship between the gut microbiome and gonadal hormones. For instance, gonadal hormones drive sex differences in gut microbiota composition, and certain gut bacteria can produce androgens from glucocorticoids. We thus asked whether the gut microbiome can influence androgen-dependent socio-sexual behaviors. We first treated C57BL/6 mice with broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) in drinking water to deplete the gut microbiota either transiently during early development (embryonic day 16-postnatal day [PND] 21) or in adulthood (PND 60-85). We hypothesized that if ABX interferes with androgens, then early ABX would interfere with critical periods for sexual differentiation of brain and thus lead to long-term decreases in males' socio-sexual behavior, while adult ABX would interfere with androgens' activational effects on behavior. We found that in males but not females, early and adult ABX treatment decreased territorial aggression, and adult ABX also decreased sexual odor preference. We then assessed whether testosterone and/or cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) via oral gavage could prevent ABX-induced socio-sexual behavioral deficits in adult ABX-treated males. Mice were treated with same- or other-sex control cecum contents or with testosterone for two weeks. While testosterone was not effective in rescuing any behavior, we found that male CMT restored both olfactory preference and aggression in adult ABX male mice, while female CMT restored olfactory preference but not aggression. These results suggest sex-specific effects of the gut microbiome on socio-sexual behaviors, independent of androgens.

The Association of Prenatal Antibiotic Use with Attention Deficit and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Nationwide Cohort Study

(1) Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common cognitive and behavioral disorders. Antibiotics are widely used in pregnant women and their newborns. The objective of this study was to examine the potential association between prenatal exposure to antibiotics and the risk of ADHD and ASD in childhood from a nationwide perspective. (2) Methods: The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was used as the primary data source. This nationwide cohort study included only first-time pregnancies. A total of 906,942 infants were enrolled. All infants were followed up for at least 6 years. The Cox regression model was applied for covariate control. (3) Results: Prenatal exposure to antibiotics was found to significantly increase the cumulative incidence of ADHD while having only a borderline effect on the cumulative incidence of ASD. Exposure to antibiotics during any of the three different gestational age ranges significantly increased the cumulative risk. However, only exposure after 34 weeks of gestation had a significant impact on the occurrence of ASD. The study also revealed a dose-dependent effect on the occurrence of ADHD but no effect on the occurrence of ASD. (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that prenatal exposure to antibiotics may increase the risk of developing ADHD and ASD later in life.

Phage Interactions with the Nervous System in Health and Disease

The central nervous system manages all of our activities (e.g., direct thinking and decision-making processes). It receives information from the environment and responds to environmental stimuli. Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages, phages) are the most numerous structures occurring in the biosphere and are also found in the human organism. Therefore, understanding how phages may influence this system is of great importance and is the purpose of this review. We have focused on the effect of natural bacteriophages in the central nervous system, linking them to those present in the gut microbiota, creating the gut-brain axis network, as well as their interdependence. Importantly, based on the current knowledge in the field of phage application (e.g., intranasal) in the treatment of bacterial diseases associated with the brain and nervous system, bacteriophages may have significant therapeutic potential. Moreover, it was indicated that bacteriophages may influence cognitive processing. In addition, phages (via phage display technology) appear promising as a targeted therapeutic tool in the treatment of, among other things, brain cancers. The information collected and reviewed in this work indicates that phages and their impact on the nervous system is a fascinating and, so far, underexplored field. Therefore, the aim of this review is not only to summarize currently available information on the association of phages with the nervous system, but also to stimulate future studies that could pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches potentially useful in treating bacterial and non-bacterial neural diseases.

Gut Microbiota and Neuroinflammation in Acute Liver Failure and Chronic Liver Disease

Acute liver failure and chronic liver disease are associated with a wide spectrum of neurological changes, of which the best known is hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Historically, hyperammonemia, causing astrocyte swelling and cerebral oedema, was considered the main etiological factor in the pathogenesis of cerebral dysfunction in patients with acute and/or chronic liver disease. However, recent studies demonstrated a key role of neuroinflammation in the development of neurological complications in this setting. Neuroinflammation is characterized by activation of microglial cells and brain secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which alter neurotransmission, leading to cognitive and motor dysfunction. Changes in the gut microbiota resulting from liver disease play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation. Dysbiosis and altered intestinal permeability, resulting in bacterial translocation and endotoxemia, are responsible for systemic inflammation, which can spread to brain tissue and trigger neuroinflammation. In addition, metabolites derived from the gut microbiota can act on the central nervous system and facilitate the development of neurological complications, exacerbating clinical manifestations. Thus, strategies aimed at modulating the gut microbiota may be effective therapeutic weapons. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of the gut-liver-brain axis in the pathogenesis of neurological dysfunction associated with liver disease, with a particular focus on neuroinflammation. In addition, we highlight emerging therapeutic approaches targeting the gut microbiota and inflammation in this clinical setting.

Relationship between dietary pattern and depressive symptoms: an international multicohort study

BACKGROUND

Several previous studies have shown that dietary patterns are associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms. However, the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between dietary patterns and the risk of depressive symptoms in two large cohort studies.

METHODS

The Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study included a total of 7,094 participants living in Tianjin, China from 2013 to 2019, and the UK Biobank cohort study includes 96,810 participants who were recruited from 22 assessment centers across the UK taken between 2006 and 2010. All participants were free of a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and depressive symptoms at baseline. Dietary patterns at baseline were identified with factor analysis based on responses to a validated food frequency questionnaire in TCLSIH or Oxford WebQ in UK Biobank. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) in TCLSIH or hospital inpatient records in UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 989, and 1,303 participants developed depressive symptoms during 17,410 and 709,931 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for several potential confounders, the multivariable HRs (95% CIs) of the depressive symptoms were 0.71 (0.57, 0.88) for traditional Chinese dietary pattern, 1.29 (1.07, 1.55) for processed animal offal included animal food dietary pattern, and 1.22 (1.02, 1.46) for sugar rich dietary pattern in TCLSIH (all Q4 vs Q1). In the UK Biobank, the HRs (95% CIs) of depressive symptoms were 1.39 (1.16, 1.68) for processed food dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1), 0.90 (0.77, 1.00) for healthy dietary pattern (Q3 vs Q1), and 0.89 (0.75, 1.05) for meat dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1) in the final adjusted model.

CONCLUSION

Dietary patterns rich in processed foods were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and following a traditional Chinese dietary pattern or healthy dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms, whereas meat dietary pattern was not associated.

Unveiling sex-based differences in developing propionic acid-induced features in mice as a rodent model of ASD

Background

Males are more likely to develop autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder than females are, although the mechanisms underlying male vulnerability are not fully understood. Therefore, studying the role of autism etiologies considering sex differences in the propionic acid (PPA) rodent model of autism would build greater understanding of how females are protected from autism spectrum disorder, which may be used as a treatment strategy for males with autism.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the sex differences in oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota impairment as etiological mechanisms for many neurological diseases, with specific reference to autism.

Method

Forty albino mice were divided into four groups of 10 animals each with two control and two treated groups of both sexes received only phosphate-buffered saline or a neurotoxic dose of PPA (250 mg/kg body weight) for 3 days, respectively. Biochemical markers of energy metabolism, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and excitotoxicity were measured in mouse brain homogenates, whereas the presence of pathogenic bacteria was assessed in mouse stool samples. Furthermore, the repetitive behavior, cognitive ability, and physical-neural coordination of the animals were examined.

Results

Collectively, selected variables related to oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and gut bacteria were impaired concomitantly with altered behavior in PPA-induced rodent model, with males being more susceptible than females.

Conclusion

This study explains the role of sex in the higher vulnerability of males to develop autistic biochemical and behavioral features compared with females. Female sex hormones and the higher detoxification capacity and higher glycolytic flux in females serve as neuroprotective contributors in a rodent model of autism.

Fecal and Circulating Biomarkers for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Intestinal Permeability

The study of intestinal permeability is gaining growing interest due to its relevance in the onset and progression of several gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases. Though the involvement of impaired intestinal permeability in the pathophysiology of such diseases is recognized, there is currently a need to identify non-invasive biomarkers or tools that are able to accurately detect alterations in intestinal barrier integrity. On the one hand, promising results have been reported for novel in vivo methods based on paracellular probes, i.e., methods that can directly assess paracellular permeability and, on the other hand, on fecal and circulating biomarkers able to indirectly assess epithelial barrier integrity and functionality. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the intestinal barrier and epithelial transport pathways and to provide an overview of the methods already available or currently under investigation for the measurement of intestinal permeability.

Gut Microbiota is an Impact Factor based on the Brain-Gut Axis to Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of AD has been explained using cholinergic, β-amyloid toxicity, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, and oxidative stress theories. However, an effective treatment method has not been developed. In recent years, with the discovery of the brain-gut axis (BGA) and breakthroughs made in Parkinson's disease, depression, autism, and other diseases, BGA has become a hotspot in AD research. Several studies have shown that gut microbiota can affect the brain and behavior of patients with AD, especially their cognitive function. Animal models, fecal microbiota transplantation, and probiotic intervention also provide evidence regarding the correlation between gut microbiota and AD. This article discusses the relationship and related mechanisms between gut microbiota and AD based on BGA to provide possible strategies for preventing or alleviating AD symptoms by regulating gut microbiota.

Fecal Microbiota Composition, Their Interactions, and Metagenome Function in US Adults with Type 2 Diabetes According to Enterotypes

T2DM etiology differs among Asians and Caucasians and may be associated with gut microbiota influenced by different diet patterns. However, the association between fecal bacterial composition, enterotypes, and T2DM susceptibility remained controversial. We investigated the fecal bacterial composition, co-abundance network, and metagenome function in US adults with T2DM compared to healthy adults based on enterotypes. We analyzed 1911 fecal bacterial files of 1039 T2DM and 872 healthy US adults from the Human Microbiome Projects. Operational taxonomic units were obtained after filtering and cleaning the files using Qiime2 tools. Machine learning and network analysis identified primary bacteria and their interactions influencing T2DM incidence, clustered into enterotypes, Bacteroidaceae (ET-B), Lachnospiraceae (ET-L), and Prevotellaceae (ET-P). ET-B showed higher T2DM incidence. Alpha-diversity was significantly lower in T2DM in ET-L and ET-P (p < 0.0001), but not in ET-B. Beta-diversity revealed a distinct separation between T2DM and healthy groups across all enterotypes (p < 0.0001). The XGBoost model exhibited high accuracy and sensitivity. Enterocloster bolteae, Facalicatena fissicatena, Clostridium symbiosum, and Facalibacterium prausnitizii were more abundant in the T2DM group than in the healthy group. Bacteroides koreensis, Oscillibacter ruminantium, Bacteroides uniformis, and Blautia wexlerae were lower in the T2DM than in the healthy group regardless of the enterotypes in the XGBoost model (p < 0.0001). However, the patterns of microbial interactions varied among different enterotypes affecting T2DM risk. The interaction between fecal bacteria was more tightly regulated in the ET-L than in the ET-B and ET-P groups (p < 0.001). Metagenomic analysis revealed an inverse association between bacteria abundance in T2DM, energy utility, butanoate and propanoate metabolism, and the insulin signaling pathway (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, fecal bacteria play a role in T2DM pathogenesis, particularly within different enterotypes, providing valuable insights into the link between gut microbiota and T2DM in the US population.

Direct and indirect effects of pathogenic bacteria on the integrity of intestinal barrier

Bacterial translocation is a pathological process involving migration of pathogenic bacteria across the intestinal barrier to enter the systemic circulation and gain access to distant organs. This phenomenon has been linked to a diverse range of diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and cancer. The intestinal barrier is an innate structure that maintains intestinal homeostasis. Pathogenic infections and dysbiosis can disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier, increasing its permeability, and thereby facilitating pathogen translocation. As translocation represents an essential step in pathogenesis, a clear understanding of how barrier integrity is disrupted and how this disruption facilitates bacterial translocation could identify new routes to effective prophylaxis and therapy. In this comprehensive review, we provide an in-depth analysis of bacterial translocation and intestinal barrier function. We discuss currently understood mechanisms of bacterial-enterocyte interactions, with a focus on tight junctions and endocytosis. We also discuss the emerging concept of bidirectional communication between the intestinal microbiota and other body systems. The intestinal tract has established 'axes' with various organs. Among our regulatory systems, the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems have been shown to play pivotal roles in barrier regulation. A mechanistic understanding of intestinal barrier regulation is crucial for the development of personalized management strategies for patients with bacterial translocation-related disorders. Advancing our knowledge of barrier regulation will pave the way for future research in this field and novel clinical intervention strategies.

Valorization of polyphenolic compounds from food industry by-products for application in polysaccharide-based nanoparticles

In the last decades, evidence has indicated the beneficial properties of dietary polyphenols. In vitro and in vivo studies support that the regular intake of these compounds may be a strategy to reduce the risks of some chronic non-communicable diseases. Despite their beneficial properties, they are poorly bioavailable compounds. Thus, the main objective of this review is to explore how nanotechnology improves human health while reducing environmental impacts with the sustainable use of vegetable residues, from extraction to the development of functional foods and supplements. This extensive literature review discusses different studies based on the application of nanotechnology to stabilize polyphenolic compounds and maintain their physical-chemical stability. Food industries commonly generate a significant amount of solid waste. Exploring the bioactive compounds of solid waste has been considered a sustainable strategy in line with emerging global sustainability needs. Nanotechnology can be an efficient tool to overcome the challenge of molecular instability, especially using polysaccharides such as pectin as assembling material. Complex polysaccharides are biomaterials that can be extracted from citrus and apple peels (from the juice industries) and constitute promising wall material stabilizing chemically sensitive compounds. Pectin is an excellent biomaterial to form nanostructures, as it has low toxicity, is biocompatible, and is resistant to human enzymes. The potential extraction of polyphenols and polysaccharides from residues and their inclusion in food supplements may be a possible application to reduce environmental impacts and constitutes an approach for effectively including bioactive compounds in the human diet. Extracting polyphenolics from industrial waste and using nanotechnology may be feasible to add value to food by-products, reduce impacts on nature and preserve the properties of these compounds.

Gut microbiota and irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that poses a significant health concern. Although its etiology remains unknown, there is growing evidence that gut dysbiosis is involved in the development and exacerbation of IBS. Previous studies have reported altered microbial diversity, abundance, and composition in IBS patients when compared to controls. However, whether dysbiosis or aberrant changes in the intestinal microbiota can be used as a hallmark of IBS remains inconclusive. We reviewed the literatures on changes in and roles of intestinal microbiota in relation to IBS and discussed various gut microbiota manipulation strategies. Gut microbiota may affect IBS development by regulating the mucosal immune system, brain-gut-microbiome interaction, and intestinal barrier function. The advent of high-throughput multi-omics provides important insights into the pathogenesis of IBS and promotes the development of individualized treatment for IBS. Despite advances in currently available microbiota-directed therapies, large-scale, well-organized, and long-term randomized controlled trials are highly warranted to assess their clinical effects. Overall, gut microbiota alterations play a critical role in the pathophysiology of IBS, and modulation of microbiota has a significant therapeutic potential that requires to be further verified.