The Fragile culm19 (FC19) mutation largely improves plant lodging resistance, biomass saccharification, and cadmium resistance by remodeling cell walls in rice

Cell wall is essential for plant upright growth, biomass saccharification, and stress resistance. Although cell wall modification is suggested as an effective means to increase biomass saccharification, it is a challenge to maintain normal plant growth with improved mechanical strength and stress resistance. Here, we reported two independent fragile culm mutants, fc19-1 and fc19-2, resulting from novel mutations of OsIRX10, produced by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Compared to wild-type, the two mutants exhibited reduced contents of xylose, hemicellulose, and cellulose, and increased arabinose and lignin without significant alteration in levels of pectin and uronic acids. Despite brittleness, the mutants displayed increased breaking force, leading to improved lodging resistance. Furthermore, the altered cell wall and increased biomass porosity in fc19 largely increased biomass saccharification. Notably, the mutants showed enhanced cadmium (Cd) resistance with lower Cd accumulation in roots and shoots. The FC19 mutation impacts transcriptional levels of key genes contributing to Cd uptake, sequestration, and translocation. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed that the FC19 mutation resulted in alterations of genes mainly involved in carbohydrate and phenylpropanoid metabolism. Therefore, a hypothetic model was proposed to elucidate that the FC19 mutation-mediated cell wall remodeling leads to improvements in lodging resistance, biomass saccharification, and Cd resistance.

Effects of the polypeptide from peanut meal mixed fermentation on lipid metabolism and intestinal flora of hyperlipidemic mice

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is one of the metabolic disorders posing great threat to human health. Our previous studies have shown that the nutritional properties of peanut meal after fermentation are markedly improved, and can effectively improve hyperlipidemia caused by high-fat diet in mice. In this study, in order to facilitate the further utilization of peanut meal, the effect of peanut polypeptide (PP) from peanut meal mixed fermentation on lipid metabolism in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and its possible mechanism were investigated. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (N), high-fat model group (M), PP low-dose group (PL), PP high-dose group (PH), and atorvastatin positive control group (Y).

RESULTS

The results show that PP supplementation can effectively reduce the body weight of mice, decrease the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leptin levels (P < 0.05), increase the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P < 0.05), up-regulate the expression levels of ileal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin (P < 0.05), reduce the hepatocyte injury and lipid accumulation caused by high-fat diet and increase the species richness of intestinal flora.

CONCLUSION

PP can significantly improve hyperlipidemia and regulate intestinal flora disorders caused by hyperlipidemia. The possible mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum leptin levels and up-regulating the expression levels of the ileal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. This study provides evidence for its regulatory role in lipid metabolism and intestinal function, and provides a research basis for the potential nutritional benefits of underutilized food by-products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hydrogen gas ameliorates acute alcoholic liver injury via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and regulation of intestinal microbiota

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a globally prevalent liver-related disorder characterized by severe oxidative stress and inflammatory liver damage, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Hydrogen gas (H2) has been demonstrated to be an efficient antioxidant in various diseases in animals as well as humans. However, the protective effects of H2 on ALD and its underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that H2 inhalation ameliorated liver injury, and attenuated liver oxidative stress, inflammation, and steatosis in an ALD mouse model. Moreover, H2 inhalation improved gut microbiota, including increasing the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Clostridia, and decreasing the abundance of Prevotellaceae and Muribaculaceae, and also improved intestinal barrier integrity. Mechanistically, H2 inhalation blocked activation of the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in liver. Notably, it was further demonstrated that the reshaped gut microbiota may accelerate alcohol metabolism, regulate lipid homeostasis and maintain immune balance by bacterial functional potential prediction (PICRUSt). Fecal microbiota transplantation from mice that had undergone H2 inhalation significantly alleviated acute alcoholic liver injury. In summary, the present study showed that H2 inhalation alleviated liver injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, while also improving intestinal flora and enhancing the intestinal barrier. H2 inhalation may serve as an effective intervention for preventing and treating ALD in a clinical context.

What's gut got to do with it? The role of the microbiota and inflammation in the development of adiposity and obesity

Obesity is a complex and heterogeneous disease characterized by increased adiposity, ie, the accumulation of lipids and the growth of adipose tissue. In this mini-review, we explore the important role of the gut microbiota and immune system in the development of adiposity. Dysbiosis of the microbiota leads to increased permeability of the gut barrier and bacterial products in the bloodstream, which triggers metabolic inflammation of adipose tissue, muscle, and liver. Inflammation in these highly metabolic organs exacerbates adiposity and contributes to the development of comorbidities associated with obesity. Studies in animal models that manipulate the microbiota and/or inflammation have shown promise in the treatment of obesity.

Modulation of the Microbiome-Fat-Liver Axis by Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Potential Alleviated Role in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice

The major characteristics of obesity are abnormal lipid metabolism, chronic inflammation, and imbalanced gut microbiota. It has been reported that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) possess potential for alleviating obesity, considering which the strain-specific functions and diverse mechanisms and the roles and mechanisms of various LAB are worthy of investigation. This study aimed to validate and investigate the alleviating effects and underlying mechanisms of three LAB strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCUH001046 (LP), Limosilactobacillus reuteri NCUH064003, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum NCUH003068 (LF), in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice. The findings demonstrated that the three strains, particularly LP, suppressed body weight gain and fat deposition; ameliorated lipid disorders, liver and adipocyte morphology, and chronic low-grade inflammation; and reduced lipid synthesis via activating the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. In addition, LP and LF decreased the enrichment of bacteria positively correlated with obesity, like Mucispirillum, Olsenella, and Streptococcus, but facilitated the growth of beneficial bacteria negatively correlated with obesity, like Roseburia, Coprococcus, and Bacteroides, along with increasing the short-chain fatty acid levels. It is deduced that the underlying alleviating mechanism of LP was to modulate the hepatic AMPK signaling pathway and gut microbiota by the microbiome-fat-liver axis to alleviate obesity development. In conclusion, as a diet supplement, LP has promising potential in obesity prevention and treatment.

The Diagnostic Potential of the Human Blood Microbiome: Are We Dreaming or Awake?

Human blood has historically been considered a sterile environment. Recently, a thriving microbiome dominated by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla was detected in healthy blood. The localization of these microbes is restricted to some blood cell populations, particularly the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and erythrocytes. It was hypothesized that the blood microbiome originates from the skin-oral-gut axis. In addition, many studies have evaluated the potential of blood microbiome dysbiosis as a prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis, severe liver fibrosis, severe acute pancreatitis, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases. The present review aims to summarize current findings and most recent evidence in the field.

Epigenetic effects of short-chain fatty acids from the large intestine on host cells

Adult humans harbor at least as many microbial cells as eukaryotic ones. The largest compartment of this diverse microbial population, the gut microbiota, encompasses the collection of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotic organisms that populate the gastrointestinal tract, and represents a complex and dynamic ecosystem that has been increasingly implicated in health and disease. The gut microbiota carries ∼100-to-150-times more genes than the human genome and is intimately involved in development, homeostasis, and disease. Of the several microbial metabolites that have been studied, short-chain fatty acids emerge as a group of molecules that shape gene expression in several types of eukaryotic cells by multiple mechanisms, which include DNA methylation changes, histone post-translational modifications, and microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Butyric acid, one of the most extensively studied short-chain fatty acids, reaches higher concentrations in the colonic lumen, where it provides a source of energy for healthy colonocytes, and its concentrations decrease towards the bottom of the colonic crypts, where stem cells reside. The lower butyric acid concentration in the colonic crypts allows undifferentiated cells, such as stem cells, to progress through the cell cycle, pointing towards the importance of the crypts in providing them with a protective niche. In cancerous colonocytes, which metabolize relatively little butyric acid and mostly rely on glycolysis, butyric acid preferentially acts as a histone deacetylase inhibitor, leading to decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. A better understanding of the interface between the gut microbiota metabolites and epigenetic changes in eukaryotic cells promises to unravel in more detail processes that occur physiologically and as part of disease, help develop novel biomarkers, and identify new therapeutic modalities.

Antiobesity Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei Subsp. paracasei, L. casei 431 on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Obesity is currently regarded as a global concern, and the key objectives of the global health strategy include its prevention and control. Probiotic supplementation can help achieve these objectives. This study aimed to assess whether a probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, Lactobacillus casei 431 (henceforth, L. casei 431) possesses antiobesogenic properties. High-fat diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with L. casei 431 for 10 weeks, and the outcomes were compared with those of rats treated with the antiobesity medication orlistat. Body weights, epididymal fat, and tissues from mice were assessed. Furthermore, serological and histological analyses were performed. Epididymal fat accumulation was significantly reduced in groups administered L. casei 431 and orlistat. Furthermore, L. casei 431 and orlistat treatments lowered serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and triglyceride (TG) levels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the liver and epididymal adipose tissues showed that the L. casei 431-treated groups exhibited reduced lipid buildup and adipocyte size. Furthermore, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, adipose TG lipase, and lipoprotein lipase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were upregulated, leading to lipid oxidation and degradation, in L. casei 431-supplemented groups. Furthermore, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, a major factor in lipolysis, was consistently upregulated at the protein level after L. casei 431 administration. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of L. casei 431 in alleviating obesity in rats through optimizing lipid metabolism and some related biomarkers.

Diets Enriched in Sugar, Refined, or Whole Grain Differentially Influence Plasma Cholesterol Concentrations and Cholesterol Metabolism Pathways with Concurrent Changes in Bile Acid Profile and Gut Microbiota Composition in ApoE-/- Mice

This study aimed to compare the effects of diets enriched in sugar, refined grain (RG), or whole grain (WG) on circulating cholesterol concentrations and established and emerging mechanisms regulating cholesterol metabolism. Forty-four male ApoE^-/- mice aged 8 weeks were randomly fed an isocaloric sugar-, RG-, or WG-enriched diet for 12 weeks. Compared to WG-enriched diet, fasting plasma LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations were higher and the mRNA expression of intestinal LXR-α was lower in sugar- and RG-enriched diets; plasma TC, non-HDL-C, TG and VLDL-C concentrations, and cecal concentrations of lithocholic acid were higher and the mRNA expression of intestinal ABCG5 was lower in sugar-enriched diet, and the mRNA expression of hepatic IDOL and cecal concentrations of lithocholic and deoxycholic acids was higher in RG-enriched diet. The relative abundance of Akkermansia, Clostridia_UCG-014, Alistipes, and Alloprevotella, which were lower in sugar- and/or RG- than in WG-enriched diet, had inverse correlations with fasting plasma cholesterol concentrations or cecal concentrations of secondary bile acids and positive correlations with gene expressions in intestinal cholesterol efflux. Conversely, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Lachnoclostridium, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Colidextribacter, and Helicobacter had reverse correlations. Both sugar- and RG-enriched diets had unfavorable effects on cholesterol concentrations; yet, their effects on the gene expressions of cholesterol efflux, uptake, bile acid synthesis, and bile acid concentrations were distinctive and could be partially attributable to the concurrent changes in gut microbiota.

Assessment of Auricularia cornea var. Li. polysaccharides potential to improve hepatic, antioxidation and intestinal microecology in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty acid liver disease (NAFLD) is a reputed global health concern, affecting children and young adults. Accumulating evidence suggests that edible fungi polysaccharides have the potential to relieve NAFLD. Our previous study found that Auricularia cornea var. Li. polysaccharides (ACP) could improve immune by regulating gut microbiota. However, its NAFLD-alleviating potentials have been scarcely reported. This study analyzed the protective effects of Auricularia cornea var. Li. polysaccharides on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD and mechanistic actions. We first analyzed the histology and hepatic lipid profile of animals to evaluate this variant's ameliorating effects on NAFLD. Then, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of ACP were studied. Finally, we explored changes in the gut microbiome diversity for mechanistic insights from the gut-liver region. Results showed that supplementation with ACP substantially reduced homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body fat, liver index rates and weight gain (p < 0.05). This variant also improved HDL-C levels while decreasing triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels which were initially triggered by HFD. ACP mediation also decreased the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels considerably with H&E technique indicating that it can reduce liver lipid accumulation, thus lowering liver damages risks (p < 0.05). The antioxidant potentials of ACP were also demonstrated as it decreased the hepatic levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). Proinflammatory markers like IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations were decreased by ACP supplementation, accompanied with increased IL-4 levels. Finally, ACP supplementation regulated the intestinal microbiota to near normal patterns. In all, ACP protects HFD-induced NAFLD by improving liver characteristics and regulating colonic flora composition, our findings assert that ACP can be a promising strategy in NAFLD therapy.

The Preventive Mechanisms of Bioactive Food Compounds against Obesity-Induced Inflammation

Dietary patterns are promising strategies for preventing and treating obesity and its coexisting inflammatory processes. Bioactive food compounds have received considerable attention due to their actions against obesity-induced inflammation, with limited harmful side effects. They are perceived as food ingredients or dietary supplements other than those necessary to meet basic human nutritional needs and are responsible for positive changes in the state of health. These include polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids, and probiotics. Although the exact mechanisms of bioactive food compounds' action are still poorly understood, studies have indicated that they involve the modulation of the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and hormones; regulate gene expression in adipose tissue; and modify the signaling pathways responsible for the inflammatory response. Targeting the consumption and/or supplementation of foods with anti-inflammatory potential may represent a new approach to obesity-induced inflammation treatment. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to evaluate strategies for bioactive food compound intake, especially times and doses. Moreover, worldwide education about the advantages of bioactive food compound consumption is warranted to limit the consequences of unhealthy dietary patterns. This work presents a review and synthesis of recent data on the preventive mechanisms of bioactive food compounds in the context of obesity-induced inflammation.

A study of the correlation between stroke and gut microbiota over the last 20years: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose

This study intends to uncover a more thorough knowledge structure, research hotspots, and future trends in the field by presenting an overview of the relationship between stroke and gut microbiota in the past two decades.

Method

Studies on stroke and gut microbiota correlations published between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2021 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and then visualized and scientometrically analyzed using CiteSpace V.

Results

A total of 660 papers were included in the study, among which the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany were the leading research centers. Cleveland Clinic, Southern Medical University, and Chinese Academy of Science were the top three institutions. The NATURE was the most frequently co-cited journal. STANLEY L HAZEN was the most published author, and Tang WHW was the most cited one. The co-occurrence analysis revealed eight clusters (i.e., brain-gut microbiota axis, fecal microbiome transplantation, gut microbiota, hypertension, TMAO, ischemic stroke, neuroinflammation, atopobiosis). "gut microbiota," "Escherichia coli," "cardiovascular disease," "risk," "disease," "ischemic stroke," "stroke," "metabolism," "inflammation," and "phosphatidylcholine" were the most recent keyword explosions.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that in the next 10 years, the number of publications produced annually may increase significantly. Future research trends tend to concentrate on the mechanisms of stroke and gut microbiota, with the inflammation and immunological mechanisms, TMAO, and fecal transplantation as hotspots. And the relationship between these mechanisms and a particular cardiovascular illness may also be a future research trend.

The oral bacteriomes of patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma differ from that of healthy controls

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are two of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in developed countries and have become a major public health concern. Substantial evidence has suggested a strong link between respiratory allergy and upper airway dysbacteriosis, but the role of the oral bacteriota is still poorly understood. Here we used 16S rRNA massive parallel sequencing to characterize the oral bacteriome of 344 individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic rhinitis with asthma (ARAS), asthma (AS) and healthy controls (CT). Four of the most abundant (>2%) phyla (Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, and Proteobacteria) and 10 of the dominant genera (Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, Gemella, Haemophilus, Leptotrichia, Neisseria, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Veillonella) in the oral cavity differed significantly (p ≤ 0.03) between AR, ARAS or AS and CT groups. The oral bacteriome of ARAS patients showed the highest intra-group diversity, while CT showed the lowest. All alpha-diversity indices of microbial richness and evenness varied significantly (p ≤ 0.022) in ARAS vs. CT and ARAS vs. AR, but they were not significantly different in AR vs. CT. All beta-diversity indices of microbial structure (Unifrac, Bray-Curtis, and Jaccard distances) differed significantly (p ≤ 0.049) between each respiratory disease group and controls. Bacteriomes of AR and ARAS patients showed 15 and 28 upregulated metabolic pathways (PICRUSt2) mainly related to degradation and biosynthesis (p < 0.05). A network analysis (SPIEC-EASI) of AR and ARAS bacteriomes depicted simpler webs of interactions among their members than those observed in the bacteriome of CT, suggesting chronic respiratory allergic diseases may disrupt bacterial connectivity in the oral cavity. This study, therefore, expands our understanding of the relationships between the oral bacteriome and allergy-related conditions. It demonstrates for the first time that the mouth harbors distinct bacteriotas during health and allergic rhinitis (with and without comorbid asthma) and identifies potential taxonomic and functional microbial biomarkers of chronic airway disease.

Genomic characterization of the rotavirus G3P[8] strain in vaccinated children, reveals possible reassortment events between human and animal strains in Manhiça District, Mozambique

Mozambique introduced the rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix®; GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium) in 2015, and since then, the Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça has been monitoring its impact on rotavirus-associated diarrhea and the trend of circulating strains, where G3P[8] was reported as the predominant strain after the vaccine introduction. Genotype G3 is among the most commonly detected Rotavirus strains in humans and animals, and herein, we report on the whole genome constellation of G3P[8] detected in two children (aged 18 months old) hospitalized with moderate-to-severe diarrhea at the Manhiça District Hospital. The two strains had a typical Wa-like genome constellation (I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1) and shared 100% nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) identities in 10 gene segments, except for VP6. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that genome segments encoding VP7, VP6, VP1, NSP3, and NSP4 of the two strains clustered most closely with porcine, bovine, and equine strains with identities ranging from 86.9-99.9% nt and 97.2-100% aa. Moreover, they consistently formed distinct clusters with some G1P[8], G3P[8], G9P[8], G12P[6], and G12P[8] strains circulating from 2012 to 2019 in Africa (Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi) and Asia (Japan, China, and India) in genome segments encoding six proteins (VP2, VP3, NSP1-NSP2, NSP5/6). The identification of segments exhibiting the closest relationships with animal strains shows significant diversity of rotavirus and suggests the possible occurrence of reassortment events between human and animal strains. This demonstrates the importance of applying next-generation sequencing to monitor and understand the evolutionary changes of strains and evaluate the impact of vaccines on strain diversity.

The Role of the Microbiome in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Asthma

The role of the microbiome in the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma is significant. The purpose of this article is to show the interplay between asthma and the microbiome, and main areas that require further research are also highlighted. The literature search was conducted using the PubMed database. After a screening process of studies published before May 2023, a total of 128 articles were selected in our paper. The pre-treatment bronchial microbiome in asthmatic patients plays a role in their responsiveness to treatment. Gut microbiota and its dysbiosis can contribute to immune system modulation and the development of asthma. The association between the microbiome and asthma is complex. Further research is necessary to clarify which factors might moderate that relationship. An appropriate gut microbiome and its intestinal metabolites are a protective factor for asthma development. Prebiotics and certain dietary strategies may have a prophylactic or therapeutic effect, but more research is needed to establish final conclusions. Although the evidence regarding probiotics is ambiguous, and most meta-analyses do not support the use of probiotic intake to reduce asthma, several of the most recent studies have provided promising effects. Further studies should focus on the investigation of specific strains and the examination of their mechanistic and genetic aspects.

A novel model of adenine-induced chronic kidney disease-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction in mice: The gut-kidney axis

Although constipation is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is no animal model that can be used to study the association between renal impairment and gastrointestinal function without interfering with the gastrointestinal tract of the model. Therefore, we determined whether adenine could induce CKD in association with gastrointestinal dysfunction. Six-week-old ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with saline, 25, 50, or 75 mg adenine/kg body weight for 21 days. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma creatinine, and renal histopathology were evaluated. Defecation status was evaluated from defecation frequency and fecal water content. Colonic smooth muscle contraction was measured by the organ bath technique, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured using an Ussing chamber. In the 50 mg/kg treatment group, BUN and creatinine were significantly increased compared with control, and inflammatory cell infiltration, glomerular necrosis, tubular dilatation, and interstitial fibrosis were observed in renal tissues. Mice in this group also showed a significant decrease in defecation frequency, fecal water content, colonic motility index, and TEER. Overall, 50 mg/kg of adenine was the best dose to induce CKD with associated constipation and intestinal barrier impairment. Therefore, this adenine administration model can be recommended for CKD-associated gastrointestinal dysfunction research.

Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases and the Gut-Brain Axis: The Potential of Therapeutic Targeting of the Microbiome

The human gut microbiome contains the largest number of bacteria in the body and has the potential to greatly influence metabolism, not only locally but also systemically. There is an established link between a healthy, balanced, and diverse microbiome and overall health. When the gut microbiome becomes unbalanced (dysbiosis) through dietary changes, medication use, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and ageing, this has a profound effect on our health and is linked to many diseases, including lifestyle diseases, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, and neurological diseases. While this link in humans is largely an association of dysbiosis with disease, in animal models, a causative link can be demonstrated. The link between the gut and the brain is particularly important in maintaining brain health, with a strong association between dysbiosis in the gut and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. This link suggests not only that the gut microbiota composition can be used to make an early diagnosis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases but also that modifying the gut microbiome to influence the microbiome-gut-brain axis might present a therapeutic target for diseases that have proved intractable, with the aim of altering the trajectory of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others. There is also a microbiome-gut-brain link to other potentially reversible neurological diseases, such as migraine, post-operative cognitive dysfunction, and long COVID, which might be considered models of therapy for neurodegenerative disease. The role of traditional methods in altering the microbiome, as well as newer, more novel treatments such as faecal microbiome transplants and photobiomodulation, are discussed.

Lipid metabolism and rheumatoid arthritis

As a chronic progressive autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by mainly damaging the synovium of peripheral joints and causing joint destruction and early disability. RA is also associated with a high incidence rate and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Recently, the relationship between lipid metabolism and RA has gradually attracted attention. Plasma lipid changes in RA patients are often detected in clinical tests, the systemic inflammatory status and drug treatment of RA patients can interact with the metabolic level of the body. With the development of lipid metabolomics, the changes of lipid small molecules and potential metabolic pathways have been gradually discovered, which makes the lipid metabolism of RA patients or the systemic changes of lipid metabolism after treatment more and more comprehensive. This article reviews the lipid level of RA patients, as well as the relationship between inflammation, joint destruction, cardiovascular disease, and lipid level. In addition, this review describes the effect of anti-rheumatic drugs or dietary intervention on the lipid profile of RA patients to better understand RA.

Regulation of Gut Microflora by Lactobacillus casei Zhang Attenuates Liver Injury in Mice Caused by Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs

The gut-liver axis may provide a new perspective for treating anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATDILI). Herein, the protective effect of Lactobacillus casei (Lc) was investigated by modulating gut microflora (GM) and the toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor (NF)-κB-myeloiddifferentiationfactor 88 (MyD88) pathway. C57BL/6J mice were given three levels of Lc intragastrically for 2 h before administering isoniazid and rifampicin for 8 weeks. Blood, liver, and colon tissues, as well as cecal contents, were collected for biochemical and histological examination, as well as Western blot, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and 16S rRNA analyses. Lc intervention decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels (p < 0.05), recovered hepatic lobules, and reduced hepatocyte necrosis to alleviate liver injury induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs. Moreover, Lc also increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio and decreased Bilophila abundance, while enhancing zona occludens (ZO)-1 and claudin-1 protein expression compared with the model group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Lc pretreatment reduced the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level and downregulated NF-κB and MyD88 protein expression (p < 0.05), thus restraining pathway activation. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio were positively correlated with ZO-1 or occludin protein expression and negatively correlated with pathway protein expression. Desulfovibrio had significant negative relationships with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and LPS levels. In contrast, Bilophila had negative associations with ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 protein expressions and positive correlations with LPS and pathway proteins. The results prove that Lactobacillus casei can enhance the intestinal barrier and change the composition of the gut microflora. Moreover, Lactobacillus casei may also inhibit TLR4-NF-κB-MyD88 pathway activation and alleviate ATDILI.

Paclitaxel Protects against Isoproterenol-Induced Damage in Rat Myocardium: Its Heme-Oxygenase Mediated Role in Cardiovascular Research

(1) Background: In cardiovascular applications, paclitaxel inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration and significantly reduces the occurrence of restenosis and target lesion revascularization. However, the cellular effects of paclitaxel in the myocardium are not well understood; (2) Methods: Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (CTRL), isoproterenol (ISO) treated (1 mg/kg) and two groups treated with paclitaxel (PAC), which was administrated (10 mg/kg/day) for 5 days by gavage/per os alone or in combination (ISO + PAC) 3 weeks after ISO treatment. Ventricular tissue was harvested 24 h later for measurements of heme oxygenase (HO-1), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), NF-κB, TNF-α and myeloperoxidase (MPO); (3) Results: HO-1 protein concentration, HO-1 activity, SOD protein concentration and total glutathione significantly decreased in response to ISO treatment. When PAC was administered in conjunction with ISO, HO-1, SOD concentration and total glutathione were not different from control levels. MPO activity, NF-κB concentration and TNF-α protein concentration were significantly increased in the ISO-only group, while the levels of these molecules were restored when PAC was co-administered; (4) Conclusions: Oral administration of PAC can maintain the expression of important antioxidants, anti-inflammatory molecules, HO-1, SOD and GSH, and suppress the production of TNF-α, MPO and NF-κB, which are involved in myocardial damage. The principal component of this cellular defense seems to be the expression of HO-1.

Clostridium butyricum Reduces Obesity in a Butyrate-Independent Way

Accumulating evidence from recent studies links the gut microbiota to obesity, and microbiome therapy has been examined as a treatment. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), an intestinal symbiont, protects the host from a range of diseases. Studies have shown a negative correlation between the relative abundance of C. butyricum and a predisposition for obesity. However, the physiological function and material basis of C. butyricum for obesity are unclear. Here, five C. butyricum isolates were administered to mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) to determine their anti-obesity effects. All isolates suppressed the formation and inflammation of subcutaneous fat, and the two effective strains considerably reduced weight gain and ameliorated dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation. These positive effects were not achieved by increasing the concentration of intestinal butyrate, and the effective strains could not be replaced by sodium butyrate (NaB). We also discovered that oral supplementation with the two most effective strains changed the metabolism of tryptophan and purine and altered the composition of the gut microbiota. In summary, C. butyricum improved the metabolic phenotypes under the HFD by controlling the composition of the gut microbiota and modulating intestinal metabolites, thereby demonstrating its ability to fight obesity and providing a theoretical foundation for microbial preparations production.

Fungal Gut Microbiome in Myasthenia Gravis: A Sub-Analysis of the MYBIOM Study

An altered gut microbiota is a possible contributing pathogenic factor in myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune neuromuscular disease. However, the significance of the fungal microbiome is an understudied and neglected part of the intestinal microbiome in MG. We performed a sub-analysis of the MYBIOM study including faecal samples from patients with MG (n = 41), non-inflammatory neurological disorder (NIND, n = 18), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP, n = 6) and healthy volunteers (n = 12) by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). Fungal reads were obtained in 51 out of 77 samples. No differences were found in alpha-diversity indices computed between the MG, NIND, CIDP and HV groups, indicating an unaltered fungal diversity and structure. Overall, four mould species (Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Mycosphaerella tassiana, Cladosporium ramonetellum and Alternaria betae-kenyensis) and five yeast species (Candida. albicans, Candida. sake, Candida. dubliniensis, Pichia deserticola and Kregervanrija delftensis) were identified. Besides one MG patient with abundant Ca. albicans, no prominent dysbiosis in the MG group of the mycobiome was found. Not all fungal sequences within all groups were successfully assigned, so further sub-analysis was withdrawn, limiting robust conclusions.

Survival outcomes of HIV-positive adults on peritoneal dialysis at Helen Joseph renal unit

Background

HIV is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease. People with chronic kidney disease in the state sector are likely to be prescribed continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Previous studies have raised concern about the safety of CAPD in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to HIV-negative patients.

Objectives

To compare the risk of peritonitis, and modality and patient survival by HIV status in patients receiving CAPD at Helen Joseph Hospital.

Method

A retrospective study of patients receiving CAPD between 01 January 2007 and 31 December 2017 was undertaken. Five-year patient and modality survival were modelled for PLWH and HIV-negative subgroups and analysed using the log-rank test; the effect of CD4 count, HIV viral load, and duration of antiretroviral therapy on these parameters in PLWH were additionally modelled using the Cox Proportional Hazards technique.

Results

Eighty-four patients, comprising of 21 PLWH and 63 HIV-negative patients, were analysed. No difference was observed in the proportion of patients who had at least one episode of peritonitis between PLWH (61.2%) and HIV-negative patients (63.5%) (P = 0.547). A trend towards increased risk of peritonitis due to Gram-negative organisms in PLWH was noted (odds ratio: 3.20, 95% confidence interval: 0.86-11.9, P = 0.083). No difference was observed in 5-year patient or modality survival on CAPD between PLWH (log-rank P = 0.161) and HIV-negative patients (log-rank P = 0.240).

Conclusion

People living with HIV should not be excluded from CAPD as a mode of kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Analysis of gut microbiota in rats with bile duct obstruction after biliary drainage

The abundance of specific gut microorganisms is strongly associated with the concentrations of microbially modified bile acids. This study aimed to investigate the composition of intestinal microbiota in rats subjected to bile duct ligation or biliary drainage. Extrahepatic bile duct ligation was conducted to induce bile duct obstruction in rats. The bile was drained via a percutaneous biliary drainage catheter to cause bile deficiency. The total DNA extracted from fecal samples was sequenced with 16S DNA sequencing. Taxonomic classifications were conducted using the Mothur algorithm and SILVA138 database and were presented along with the abundance presented using a heatmap. The inter- and intra-group differences in the intestinal microbiome composition were analyzed by ANOSIM test. The biomarker microorganisms were screened using the Linear discriminant analysis Effect size method. The possible functional pathways were predicted using the Tax4Fun package. A total of 3277 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were examined, with 2410 in the Kongbai group, 2236 in the Gengzu group, and 1763 in the Yinliu group. The composition of microorganisms at the levels of phylum, class, order, family, and genus was altered in rats with bile duct obstruction. This composition was then restored by biliary drainage. The top 10 predominant microorganisms were identified that led to the inter-group differences. Functional annotation revealed that the potential functions of the microorganisms with significant differences were enriched in metabolism, cellular processes, and genetic and environmental information processing. The intestinal microbial community was significantly changed in rats with bile duct obstruction. The changes in the abundance of intestinal microbiota Prevotellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were statistically significant after biliary drainage treatment.

Effect of Clostridium butyricum on intestinal microbiota and resistance to Vibrio alginolyticus of Penaeus vannamei

In order to evaluate the effect of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) feeding on intestinal microorganisms and protection against infection by Vibrio alginolyticus (V. alginolyticus) in Penaeus vannamei (P. vannamei). We set up two groups, CG30 (fed normal feed) and CB30 (fed feed supplemented with C. butyricum), for the 30d C. butyricum feeding test, and four groups, CG (CG30 group injected with PBS), CB (CB30 group injected with PBS), VACG (CG30 group injected with V. alginolyticus), and VACB (CB30 group injected with V. alginolyticus), for the 24h infection test. The protective effect of C. butyricum against acute V. alginolyticus infection in P. vannamei was explained in terms of survival, histopathology, changes in enzyme activity, transcriptome analysis, and immune-related genes. We found that feeding C. butyricum significantly altered intestinal microbial populations' abundance and significantly reduced Vibrio spp. In the V. alginolyticus stress test, C. butyricum improved the survival rate and alleviated pathological changes in hepatopancreatic tissues, alleviated the reduction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenoloxidase (PO) activity caused by infection, and increased the lysozyme content in P. vannamei. VACB group compared with the VACG group, 1730 up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 2029 down-regulated DEGs were screened. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that dietary supplementation with C. butyricum suppressed the upregulation of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) transcription factors and the downregulation of prophenoloxidase (proPO), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), and anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) induced by V. alginolyticus infection. In conclusion, feed supplementation with C. butyricum changed P. vannamei's population ratio of intestinal microorganisms. Moreover, C. butyricum has the potential to act as an inhibitor of V. alginolyticus infection and enhance the resistance of P. vannamei to V. alginolyticus infection.

Incorporating the Molecular Mimicry of Environmental Antigens into the Causality of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Molecular mimicry between foreign and self-antigens has been implicated as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis in experimental models and cross-reacting antibodies in patients. This review describes the experimental and clinical evidence for molecular mimicry as a cause of autoimmune hepatitis, indicates the limitations and uncertainties of this premise, and encourages investigations that assess diverse environmental antigens as sources of disease-relevant molecular mimics. Pertinent articles were identified in PubMed using multiple search phrases. Several pathogens have linear or conformational epitopes that mimic the self-antigens of autoimmune hepatitis. The occurrence of an acute immune-mediated hepatitis after vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has suggested that vaccine-induced peptides may mimic disease-relevant tissue antigens. The intestinal microbiome is an under-evaluated source of gut-derived antigens that could also engage in molecular mimicry. Chaperone molecules may enhance the pathogenicity of molecular mimics, and they warrant investigation. Molecular mimics of immune dominant epitopes within cytochrome P450 IID6, the autoantigen most closely associated with autoimmune hepatitis, should be sought in diverse environmental antigens and assessed for pathogenicity. Avoidance strategies, dietary adjustments, vaccine improvement, and targeted manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may emerge as therapeutic possibilities. In conclusion, molecular mimicry may be a missing causality of autoimmune hepatitis. Molecular mimics of key immune dominant epitopes of disease-specific antigens must be sought in diverse environmental antigens. The ubiquity of molecular mimicry compels rigorous assessments of peptide mimics for immunogenicity and pathogenicity in experimental models. Molecular mimicry may complement epigenetic modifications as causative mechanisms of autoimmune hepatitis.

Recent Advances in Understanding of the Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management of Hair Loss Diseases

Hair-loss diseases comprise heterogenous conditions with respective pathophysiology and clinicopathological characteristics. Major breakthroughs in hair follicle biology and immunology have led to the elucidation of etiopathogenesis of non-scarring alopecia (e.g., alopecia areata, AA) and cicatricial alopecia (e.g., lichen planopilaris, LPP). High-throughput genetic analyses revealed molecular mechanism underlying the disease susceptibility of hair loss conditions, such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Hair loss attracted public interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge of hair loss diseases is robustly expanding and thus requires timely updates. In this review, the diagnostic and measurement methodologies applied to hair loss diseases are updated. Of note, novel criteria and classification/scoring systems published in the last decade are reviewed, highlighting their advantages over conventional ones. Emerging diagnostic techniques are itemized with clinical pearls enabling efficient utilization. Recent advances in understanding the etiopathogenesis and management for representative hair diseases, namely AGA, FPHL, AA, and major primary cicatricial alopecia, including LPP, are comprehensively summarized, focusing on causative factors, genetic predisposition, new disease entity, and novel therapeutic options. Lastly, the association between COVID-19 and hair loss is discussed to delineate telogen effluvium as the predominating pathomechanism accounting for this sequela.

Gut Microbiota and the Ways to Correct it in Chronic Kidney Disease

Approximately 13% of the Russian population suffers from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Such a high prevalence of the disease, as well as the complexity and high cost of renal replacement therapy, explain the need for developing and implementing new approaches to treat patients at the pre-dialysis stages. The data collected in recent decades highlight the importance of gut microbiota in the progression of CKD. This review provides information about the microbiota composition in healthy individuals and patients with CKD and discusses the mechanisms of interaction in the intestine-kidney system. The article also presents the specifics of the violation of gut microbiota (GM) and correction thereof in CKD.

A Novel Synbiotic Alleviates Autoimmune Hepatitis by Modulating the Gut Microbiota-Liver Axis and Inhibiting the Hepatic TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation. The intestinal barrier and microbiome play critical roles in AIH progression. AIH treatment remains challenging because first-line drugs have limited efficacy and many side effects. Thus, there is growing interest in developing synbiotic therapies. This study investigated the effects of a novel synbiotic in an AIH mouse model. We found that this synbiotic (Syn) ameliorated liver injury and improved liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. The Syn reversed gut dysbiosis, as indicated by an increase in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Rikenella and Alistipes) and a decrease in potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacterial levels. The Syn maintained intestinal barrier integrity, reduced LPS, and inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. In addition, microbiome phenotype prediction by BugBase and bacterial functional potential prediction using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) showed that Syn improved gut microbiota function involving inflammatory injury, metabolism, immune response, and pathopoiesia. Furthermore, the new Syn was as effective as prednisone against AIH. Therefore, this novel Syn could be a candidate drug for alleviating AIH through its anti-inflammatory and antipyroptosis properties that relieve endothelial dysfunction and gut dysbiosis. IMPORTANCE Synbiotics can ameliorate liver injury and improve liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. Our data indicate that our new Syn not only reverses gut dysbiosis by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacteria but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Thus, its mechanism might be associated with modulating gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3/pyroptosis signaling pathway in the liver. This Syn is as effective as prednisone in treating AIH without side effects. Based on these findings, this novel Syn represents a potential therapeutic agent for AIH in clinical practice.

Gut microbiota dependant trimethylamine N-oxide and hypertension

The human gut microbiota environment is constantly changing and some specific changes influence the host's metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine functions. Emerging evidence of the gut microbiota's role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including hypertension is remarkable. There is evidence showing that alterations in the gut microbiota and especially the gut-dependant metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide is associated with hypertension. However, there is a scarcity of literature addressing the role of trimethylamine N-oxide in hypertension pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the impact of the gut microbiota and gut microbiota dependant trimethylamine N-oxide in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We present evidence from both human and animal studies and further discuss new insights relating to potential therapies for managing hypertension by altering the gut microbiota.

The Role of Next-Generation Probiotics in Obesity and Obesity-Associated Disorders: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Obesity and obesity-associated disorders pose a major public health issue worldwide. Apart from conventional weight loss drugs, next-generation probiotics (NGPs) seem to be very promising as potential preventive and therapeutic agents against obesity. Candidate NGPs such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Anaerobutyricum hallii, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides coprocola, Parabacteroides distasonis, Parabacteroides goldsteinii, Hafnia alvei, Odoribacter laneus and Christensenella minuta have shown promise in preclinical models of obesity and obesity-associated disorders. Proposed mechanisms include the modulation of gut flora and amelioration of intestinal dysbiosis, improvement of intestinal barrier function, reduction in chronic low-grade inflammation and modulation of gut peptide secretion. Akkermansia muciniphila and Hafnia alvei have already been administered in overweight/obese patients with encouraging results. However, safety issues and strict regulations should be constantly implemented and updated. In this review, we aim to explore (1) current knowledge regarding NGPs; (2) their utility in obesity and obesity-associated disorders; (3) their safety profile; and (4) their therapeutic potential in individuals with overweight/obesity. More large-scale, multicentric and longitudinal studies are mandatory to explore their preventive and therapeutic potential against obesity and its related disorders.

A Synbiotic Ameliorates Con A-Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis in Mice through Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Immune Imbalance

SCOPE

Changes in the intestinal flora are related to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) development. The aim of this study is to investigate the synergistic effects of probiotics and prebiotics on liver injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A).

METHODS AND RESULTS

C57BL/6 mice are fed probiotics (Pro), prebiotics (Pre), synbiotic (Syn) for 7 days and then Con A is injected via tail veins to induce AIH. Additionally, methylprednisolone (MP) is gavaged 0.5 h after the Con A injection. It is found that both Pro, Pre, Syn, and MP decrease the levels of serum transaminase, liver F4/80+ macrophage cells, and hepatocellular apoptosis. Pro, Pre, and Syn decrease proinflammatory cytokines, elevate levels of anti-inflammatory as well as restored immune imbalance in AIH. Besides, Pro, Pre, and Syn not only reshape the perturbed gut microbiota, but also maintain intestinal barrier integrity, block the activation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the liver. Interestingly, the effects of Syn are superior to Pro or Pre alone in Con A-induced acute liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Syn obviously facilitates AIH remission. The combined use of Pro and Pre is effective in improving Pro and Pre efficacy and can be an important tool for preventing and adjuvant treating patients for AIH.

Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 attenuates Clostridium perfringens-induced intestinal damage of broilers by modulating intestinal microbiota and the metabolome

Necrotic enteritis (NE), especially subclinical NE (SNE), without clinical symptoms, in chicks has become one of the most threatening problems to the poultry industry. Therefore, increasing attention has been focused on the research and application of effective probiotic strains as an alternative to antibiotics to prevent SNE in broilers. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 (BS) on the prevention of subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE) in broilers. A total of 480 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, each with six replicates pens of twenty birds for 63 d. The negative (Ctr group) and positive (SNE group) groups were only fed a basal diet, while the two treatment groups received basal diets supplemented with BS (1 × 109 colony-forming units BS/kg) (BS group) and 10mg/kg enramycin (ER group), respectively. On days 15, birds except those in the Ctr group were challenged with 20-fold dose coccidiosis vaccine, and then with 1 ml of C. perfringens (2 × 108) at days 18 to 21 for SNE induction. BS, similar to ER, effectively attenuated CP-induced poor growth performance. Moreover, BS pretreatment increased villi height, claudin-1 expression, maltase activity, and immunoglobulin abundance, while decreasing lesional scores, as well as mucosal IFN-γ and TNF-α concentrations. In addition, BS pretreatment increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and decreased that of pathogenic species; many lipid metabolites were enriched in the cecum of treated chickens. These results suggest that BS potentially provides active ingredients that may serve as an antibiotic substitute, effectively preventing SNE-induced growth decline by enhancing intestinal health in broilers.

Study on the Hepatoprotective Effect Mechanism of Polysaccharides from Charred Angelica sinensis on the Layer Chickens Based on the Detection of the Intestinal Floras and Short-Chain Fatty Acids of Cecal Contents and Association Analysis

To analyze the intervention mechanism of polysaccharides from charred Angelica sinensis (CASP) on the liver injury caused by Ceftiofur sodium (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the perspective of the intestine. Ninety-four one-day-old laying chickens underwent free feeding and drinking water for three days. Then, fourteen laying chickens were randomly selected as the control group, and sixteen laying chickens were selected as the model group. Sixteen laying chickens in the rest were randomly selected as the intervention group of CASP. Chickens in the intervention group were given CASP by the oral administration (0.25 g/kg/d) for 10 days, the control and model groups were given the same amount of physiological saline. During the 8th and 10th days, laying chickens in the model and CASP intervention group were subcutaneously injected with CS at the neck. In contrast, those in the control group were subcutaneously injected with the same amount of normal saline simultaneously. Except for the control group, the layer chickens in the model and CASP intervention groups were injected with LPS after CS injection on the 10th day of the experiment. In contrast, those in the control group were injected with the same amount of normal saline at the same time. 48 h after the experiment, the liver samples of each group were collected, and the liver injury was analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy. And the cecum contents of six-layer chickens in each group were collected, and the intervention mechanism of CASP on the liver injury from the perspective of the intestine was analyzed by the 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) detection of cecal contents based on Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and their association analysis was carried out. The results showed that the structure of chicken liver in the normal control group was normal, while that in the model group was damaged. The structure of chicken liver in the CASP intervention group was similar to the normal control group. The intestinal floras in the model group were maladjusted compared to the normal control group. After the intervention of CASP, the diversity, and richness of chicken intestinal floras changed significantly. It was speculated that the intervention mechanism of CASP on the chicken liver injury might be related to the abundance and proportion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Compared with the model group, the indexes of ace, chao1, observed species, and PD whole tree of chicken cecum floras in the intervention group of CASP were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The contents of acetic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs in the intervention group of CASP were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < 0.05), and the contents of propionic acid and valeric acid in the intervention group of CASP were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < 0.05) and normal control group (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the changes in the intestinal floras were correlated with the changes in SCFAs in the cecum. It is confirmed that the liver-protecting effect of CASP is indeed related to the changes in the intestinal floras and SCFAs content in the cecum, which provides a basis for screening liver-protecting alternative antibiotics products for poultry.

Global research on the crosstalk between intestinal microbiome and colorectal cancer: A visualization analysis

Background

Increasing evidence has shown that the intestinal microbiome (IM) is highly linked to colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate scientific output, identify highly cited papers, and explore research hotspots and trends in the field of IM/CRC, we conducted a bibliometric and visualized analysis.

Methods

A bibliographic search regarding IM/CRC research (2012-2021) was implemented on October 17, 2022. The terms attached to IM and CRC were searched for in the titles (TI), abstracts (AB), and author keywords (AK). The main information was extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Biblioshiny from R packages and VOSviewer were used for data visualization.

Results

A total of 1725 papers related to IM/CRC were retrieved. Publications on IM/CRC have grown rapidly from 2012 to 2021. China and the United States were in the leading position for publications in this field and made the most significant contributions to IM/CRC research. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Harvard University were the most productive institutions. The high-yield authors were Yu Jun and Fang Jing Yuan. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences published the most papers, whereas Gut had the most citations. Historical citation analysis showed the evolution of IM/CRC research. Current status and hotspots were highlighted using keyword cluster analysis. The hot topics include the effect of IM on tumorigenesis, the effect of IM on CRC treatment, the role of IM in CRC screening, the mechanisms of IM involvement in CRC, and IM modulation for CRC management. Some topics, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Fusobacterium nucleatum and short-chain fatty acids could be the focus of IM/CRC research in the coming years.

Conclusion

This research evaluated the global scientific output of IM/CRC research and its quantitative features, identified some significant papers, and gathered information on the status and trends of IM/CRC research, which may shape future paths for academics and practitioners.

NEMoE: a nutrition aware regularized mixture of experts model to identify heterogeneous diet-microbiome-host health interactions

BACKGROUND

Unrevealing the interplay between diet, the microbiome, and the health state could enable the design of personalized intervention strategies and improve the health and well-being of individuals. A common approach to this is to divide the study population into smaller cohorts based on dietary preferences in the hope of identifying specific microbial signatures. However, classification of patients based solely on diet is unlikely to reflect the microbiome-host health relationship or the taxonomic microbiome makeup.

RESULTS

We present a novel approach, the Nutrition-Ecotype Mixture of Experts (NEMoE) model, for establishing associations between gut microbiota and health state that accounts for diet-specific cohort variability using a regularized mixture of experts model framework with an integrated parameter sharing strategy to ensure data-driven diet-cohort identification consistency across taxonomic levels. The success of our approach was demonstrated through a series of simulation studies, in which NEMoE showed robustness with regard to parameter selection and varying degrees of data heterogeneity. Further application to real-world microbiome data from a Parkinson's disease cohort revealed that NEMoE is capable of not only improving predictive performance for Parkinson's Disease but also for identifying diet-specific microbial signatures of disease.

CONCLUSION

In summary, NEMoE can be used to uncover diet-specific relationships between nutritional-ecotype and patient health and to contextualize precision nutrition for different diseases. Video Abstract.

Autoimmune Hepatitis and Fibrosis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease of the liver, generally considered a rare condition. The clinical manifestation is extremely varied and can range from paucisymptomatic forms to severe hepatitis. Chronic liver damage causes activation of hepatic and inflammatory cells leading to inflammation and oxidative stress through the production of mediators. This results in increased collagen production and extracellular matrix deposition leading to fibrosis and even cirrhosis. The gold standard for the diagnosis of fibrosis is liver biopsy; however, there are serum biomarkers, scoring systems, and radiological methods useful for diagnosis and staging. The goal of AIH treatment is to suppress fibrotic and inflammatory activities in the liver to prevent disease progression and achieve complete remission. Therapy involves the use of classic steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants, but in recent years scientific research has focused on several new alternative drugs for AIH that will be discussed in the review.

Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.

Weight cycling based on altered immune microenvironment as a result of metaflammation

As a result of the obesity epidemic, more people are concerned about losing weight; however, weight regain is common, leading to repeated weight loss and weight cycling. The health benefits of early weight loss are nullified by weight regain after weight cycling, which has much more severe metabolic consequences. Weight cycling alters body composition, resulting in faster fat recovery and slower muscle reconstruction. This evident fat accumulation, muscle loss, and ectopic fat deposition destroy the intestinal barrier, increase the permeability of the small intestinal epithelium, and cause the lipotoxicity of lipid metabolites and toxins to leak into extraintestinal tissues and circulation. It causes oxidative stress and hypoxia in local tissues and immune cell infiltration in various tissues, all contributing to the adaptation to this metabolic change. Immune cells transmit inflammatory responses in adipose and skeletal muscle tissue by secreting cytokines and adipokines, which mediate immune cell pathways and cause metaflammation and inefficient metabolic degradation. In this review, we focus on the regulatory function of the immunological microenvironment in the final metabolic outcome, with a particular emphasis on the cellular and molecular processes of local and systemic metaflammation induced by weight cycling-induced changes in body composition. Metaflammation in adipose and muscle tissues that is difficult to relieve may cause weight cycling. As this chronic low-grade inflammation spreads throughout the body, metabolic complications associated with weight cycling are triggered. Inhibiting the onset and progression of metabolic inflammation and enhancing the immune microenvironment of adipose and muscle tissues may be the first step in addressing weight cycling.

Research Progress of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Liver Diseases

A growing body of evidence suggested that gut microbiota is associated with liver diseases through the gut-liver axis. The imbalance of gut microbiota could be correlated with the occurrence, development, and prognosis of a series of liver diseases, including alcoholic liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) seems to be a method to normalize the patient's gut microbiota. This method has been traced back to the 4th century. In recent decade, FMT has been highly regarded in several clinical trials. As a novel approach to reconstruct the intestinal microecological balance, FMT has been used to treat the chronic liver diseases. Therefore, in this review, the role of FMT in the treatment of liver diseases was summarized. In addition, the relationship between gut and liver was explored through the gut-liver axis, and the definition, objectives, advantages, and procedures of FMT were described. Finally, the clinical value of FMT therapy in liver transplant (LT) recipients was briefly discussed.

Role of Gut Microbiota in Neurological Disorders and Its Therapeutic Significance

In humans, the gut microbiota (GM) are known to play a significant role in the metabolism of nutrients and drugs, immunomodulation, and pathogen defense by inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The role of the GM in the gut-brain axis (GBA) has been documented for different regulatory mechanisms and associated pathways and it shows different behaviors with individualized bacteria. In addition, the GM are known as susceptibility factor for neurological disorders in the central nervous system (CNS), regulating disease progression and being amenable to intervention. Bidirectional transmission between the brain and the GM occurs in the GBA, implying that it performs a significant role in neurocrine, endocrine, and immune-mediated signaling pathways. The GM regulates multiple neurological disorders by supplementing them with prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, fecal transplantations, and/or antibiotics. A well-balanced diet is critically important for establishing healthy GM, which can alter the enteric nervous system (ENS) and regulate multiple neurological disorders. Here, we have discussed the function of the GM in the GBA from the gut to the brain and the brain to the gut, the pathways associated with neurology that interacts with the GM, and the various neurological disorders associated with the GM. Furthermore, we have highlighted the recent advances and future prospects of the GBA, which may require addressing research concerns about GM and associated neurological disorders.

Dendrobium officinale alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by modulating gut microbiota

Introduction

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study investigated the preventive effect of Dendrobium officinale (DO), including whether its effect was related to the gut microbiota, intestinal permeability and liver inflammation.

Methods

A NASH model was established in rats using a high-fat diet (HFD) and gavage with different doses of DO or Atorvastatin Calcium (AT) for 10 weeks. Body weight and body mass index along with liver appearance, weight, index, pathology, and biochemistry were measured to assess the preventive effects of DO on NASH rats. Changes in the gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and intestinal permeability and liver inflammation were determined to explore the mechanism by which DO treatment prevented NASH.

Results

Pathological and biochemical indexes showed that DO was able to protect rats against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that Proteobacteria, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, Lachnoclostridium, Blautia, Ruminococcus_torques_group, Sutterella, Escherichia-Shigella, Prevotella, Alistipes, and Lactobacillus_acidophilus differed significantly at the phylum, genus, and species levels. DO treatment modulated the diversity, richness, and evenness of gut microbiota, downregulated the abundance of the Gram-negative bacteria Proteobacteria, Sutterella, and Escherichia-Shigella, and reduced gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. DO also restored expression of the tight junction proteins, zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, and occludin in the intestine and ameliorated the increased intestinal permeability caused by HFD, gut microbiota such as Turicibacter, Ruminococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Sutterella, and LPS. Lower intestinal permeability reduced LPS delivery to the liver, thus inhibiting TLR4 expression and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation, improving liver inflammation.

Discussion

These results suggest that DO may alleviate NASH by regulating the gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and liver inflammation.

The gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide and cardiovascular diseases

Morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are exceedingly high worldwide. Researchers have found that the occurrence and development of CVDs are closely related to intestinal microecology. Imbalances in intestinal microecology caused by changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota will eventually alter intestinal metabolites, thus transforming the host physiological state from healthy mode to pathological mode. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is produced from the metabolism of dietary choline and L-carnitine by intestinal microbiota, and many studies have shown that this important product inhibits cholesterol metabolism, induces platelet aggregation and thrombosis, and promotes atherosclerosis. TMAO is directly or indirectly involved in the pathogenesis of CVDs and is an important risk factor affecting the occurrence and even prognosis of CVDs. This review presents the biological and chemical characteristics of TMAO, and the process of TMAO produced by gut microbiota. In particular, the review focuses on summarizing how the increase of gut microbial metabolite TMAO affects CVDs including atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and other CVD-related diseases. Understanding the mechanism of how increases in TMAO promotes CVDs will potentially facilitate the identification and development of targeted therapy for CVDs.

Altered Gut Microbiota Composition and Its Potential Association in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second-most-common cause of cancer death. In recent years, studies have suggested that intestinal microbiota dysregulation is closely related to HCC and can affect the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, there are few data on the relationship between altered gut microbiota composition and its potential association in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Hence, in this study, we aimed to investigate the gut microbiota profile associated with advanced hepatocarcinoma. In total, 20 patients with advanced hepatocarcinoma and 20 matched healthy participants were recruited. Stool samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing to confirm intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. The results showed that the Nseqs index in advanced hepatocarcinoma patients was significantly different compared with that in healthy individuals, while the butyrate-producing bacteria decreased and LPS-producing bacteria increased. Meanwhile, Lactobacillus, Anaerostipes, Fusicatenibacter, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium were significantly correlated with AFP, ALT, AST, and PIVKA. Our findings characterized the gut microbiota composition of advanced hepatocarcinoma, providing an experimental basis and theoretical support for using microbiota to regulate immunotherapy, achieve potential biomarkers for diagnosis, and improve the effect of clinical treatment for patients with advanced hepatocarcinoma.

Protective effect of rosmarinic acid-rich extract from Trichodesma khasianum Clarke against microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet-fed obese mice

Hypertrophy of adipose tissues and dysbiosis are hallmarks of obesity. Although drugs are applied for obesity treatment, side effects limit their use. The anti-obesity capacity of rosmarinic acid (RA) has been documented. Trichodesma khasianum Clarke is an edible RA-rich plant grown in Taiwan. Our previous study found that an 80 % ethanol extract of T. khasianum Clarke leaves (80EETC) ameliorates gastric mucosal damage through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and microbiota modulation abilities. However, the anti-obesity effect of 80EETC remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the protective effects of low-dose 80EETC (125 mg/kg b.w., 80EETCL) or high-dose 80EETC (250 mg/kg b.w., 80EETCH) on obesity development through gut microbiota modulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6 mice. The results showed a high RA content (89.2 ± 7.4 mg/g) in 80EETC. 80EETC administration significantly decreased body weight, body fat ratio, serum lipid levels (TC, TG, and LDL-C), adipose tissue accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, supplementation with 80EETC reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enhanced the relative abundance of gut microbiota (p_Bacteroidetes, f_Lactobacillus, f_Muribaculaceae, f_Prevotellaceae, g_Lactobacillus, g_Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, g_Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, and g_Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014), which negatively correlated with obesity-related factors such as body weight, energy intake, fat accumulation in adipose tissue, TC, TG, LDL, and MDA. In conclusion, RA-rich 80EETC had a protective effect against obesity development and it has potential in healthy food applications.

Compound Probiotic Ameliorates Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Maintaining Intestinal Barrier

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a worldwide health threaten lack of effective treatment. Gut dysbiosis and concomitant augmented intestinal permeability are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of ALD. Research on the protective effect of probiotics on ALD is limited, and more effective intestinal microecological regulators and the related mechanisms still need to be further explored. In the present study, the protective effects and mechanisms of a compound probiotic against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in vivo were explod. It was showed that the compound probiotic ameliorated liver injury in acute ALD mice and stabilized the levels of ALT, AST, and TG in serum. The compound probiotic reversed acute alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis and maintained the intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the production of mucus and the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and thus reduced LPS level in liver. Meanwhile, the compound probiotic reduced inflammation level by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressed oxidative stress level in liver. Furthermore, the compound probiotic alleviated liver lipid accumulation by regulating fatty acid metabolism-associated genes and AMPK-PPARα signaling pathway. Noteworthy, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) realized comparable protective effect with that of compound probiotic. In conclusion, present study demonstrates the beneficial effects and underlying mechanism of the compound probiotic against acute alcohol-induced liver injury. It provides clues for development of novel strategy for treatment of ALD.

Gut-joint axis: Gut dysbiosis can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis via multiple pathways

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance and chronic inflammation. It is pathogenesis complex and includes interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis may play the role of environmental triggers of arthritis in animals and humans. Progress in the understanding of the gut microbiome and RA. has been remarkable in the last decade. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that gut dysbiosis could shape the immune system and cause persistent immune inflammatory responses. Furthermore, gut dysbiosis could induce alterations in intestinal permeability, which have been found to predate arthritis onset. In contrast, metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. However, the precise underlying mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis induces the development of arthritis remain elusive. This review aimed to highlight the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis could contribute to the pathogenesis of RA. The overall data showed that gut dysbiosis could contribute to RA pathogenesis by multiple pathways, including alterations in gut barrier function, molecular mimicry, gut dysbiosis influences the activation and the differentiation of innate and acquired immune cells, cross-talk between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and immune cells, and alterations in the microenvironment. The relative weight of each of these mechanisms in RA pathogenesis remains uncertain. Recent studies showed a substantial role for gut microbiota-derived metabolites pathway, especially butyrate, in the RA pathogenesis.

Biochar application enhanced rice biomass production and lodging resistance via promoting co-deposition of silica with hemicellulose and lignin

Biochar, an environmentally friendly soil amendment, is created via a series of thermochemical processes from carbon-rich organic matter. The biochar addition enhances soil characteristics dramatically and increases crop growth and yields. However, the mechanism by which biochar improves plant lodging resistance, which is heavily influenced by cell walls, remains unknown. Three rice cultivars were grown in an experimental field provided with four concentrations of biochar (10, 20, 30, 40 t ha^-1). The biochar application enhanced biomass production and lodging resistance in all three cultivars by up to 29 % and 22 %, respectively, with the largest improvement at a biochar application rate of 30 t ha^-1. Biochar application significantly enhanced stem cell wall-related characteristics, with an increase in stem breaking force, wall thickness, and plumpness of 52 %, 32 %, and 21 %, respectively, which are suggested to be major contributors to enhanced lodging resistance and biomass yield. Notably, cell wall composition and silica content analysis indicated a significant increase in hemicellulose, lignin, and silica content in biochar-treated samples up to 36 %, 13 %, and 58 %, respectively, when compared to plants not treated with biochar. Integrative analysis suggested that silica, hemicellulose, and lignin were co-deposited in cell walls, which influenced biomass production and lodging resistance. Furthermore, the transcriptome profile revealed that biochar application increased the expression of genes involved in biomass production, cell wall formation, and silica deposition. This study suggests that biochar application might improve both biomass production and lodging resistance by promoting the co-deposition of silicon with hemicellulose and lignin in cell walls.