Streptococcus Species Abundance in the Gut Is Linked to Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in 8973 Participants From the SCAPIS Cohort

Relationship between human oral microbiome dysbiosis and neuropsychiatric diseases: An updated overview

The role of the gut-brain axis in mental health disorders has been extensively studied. As the oral cavity is the starting point of the digestive tract, the role that the oral microbiota plays in mental health disorders has gained recent attention. Oral microbiota can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses or translocate to the brain through the trigeminal nerve or olfactory system. Hence, the concept of the oral microbiota-brain axis has emerged. Several hypotheses have been suggested that the oral microbiota can enter the gastrointestinal tract and affect the gut-brain axis; however, literature describing oral-brain communication remains limited. This review summarizes the characteristics of oral microbiota and its mechanisms associated with mental health disorders. Through a comprehensive examination of the relationship between oral microbiota and various neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, this review seeks to identify promising avenues of future research.

A further examination of growth factors, T helper 1 polarization, and the gut microbiome in major depression: Associations with reoccurrence of illness, cognitive functions, suicidal behaviors, and quality of life

Growth factors, T helper (Th)1 polarization, and the microbiome are involved in the pathophysiology of major depression (MDD). It remains unclear whether the combination of these three pathways could enhance the accuracy of predicting the features of MDD, including recurrence of illness (ROI), suicidal behaviors and the phenome. We measured serum stem cell factor (SCF), stem cell growth factor (SCGF), stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the ratio of serum Th1/Th2 cytokines (zTh1-zTh2), and the abundances of gut microbiome taxa by analyzing stool samples using 16S rDNA sequencing from 32 MDD patients and 37 healthy controls. The results show that serum SCF is significantly lower and VEGF increased in MDD. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and ROI are significantly associated with lowered SCF and increasing VEGF. Lifetime and current suicidal behaviors are strongly predicted (63.5%) by an increased VEGF/SCF ratio, Th1 polarization, a gut microbiome enterotype indicating gut dysbiosis, and lowered abundance of Dorea and Faecalobacterium. Around 80.5% of the variance in the phenome's severity is explained by ROI, ACEs, and lowered Parabacteroides distasonis and Clostridium IV abundances. A large part of the variance in health-related quality of life (54.1%) is explained by the VEGF/SCF ratio, Th1 polarization, ACE, and male sex. In conclusion, key features of MDD are largely predicted by the cumulative effects of ACE, Th1 polarization, aberrations in growth factors and the gut microbiome with increased pathobionts but lowered beneficial symbionts.

Gut microbiota: a superior operator for dietary phytochemicals to improve atherosclerosis

Mounting evidence implicates the gut microbiota as a possible key susceptibility factor for atherosclerosis (AS). The employment of dietary phytochemicals that strive to target the gut microbiota has gained scientific support for treating AS. This study conducted a general overview of the links between the gut microbiota and AS, and summarized available evidence that dietary phytochemicals improve AS via manipulating gut microbiota. Then, the microbial metabolism of several dietary phytochemicals was summarized, along with a discussion on the metabolites formed and the biotransformation pathways involving key gut bacteria and enzymes. This study additionally focused on the anti-atherosclerotic potential of representative metabolites from dietary phytochemicals, and investigated their underlying molecular mechanisms. In summary, microbiota-dependent dietary phytochemical therapy is a promising strategy for AS management, and knowledge of "phytochemical-microbiota-biotransformation" may be a breakthrough in the search for novel anti-atherogenic agents.

Impact of Cannabidiol and Exercise on Clinical Outcomes and Gut Microbiota for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors: A Case Report

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains a clinical challenge for up to 80% of breast cancer survivors. In an open-label study, participants underwent three interventions: standard care (duloxetine) for 1 month (Phase 1), oral cannabidiol (CBD) for 2 months (Phase 2), and CBD plus multi-modal exercise (MME) for another 2 months (Phase 3). Clinical outcomes and gut microbiota composition were assessed at baseline and after each phase. We present the case of a 52-year-old female with a history of triple-negative breast cancer in remission for over five years presenting with CIPN. She showed decreased monocyte counts, c-reactive protein, and systemic inflammatory index after each phase. Duloxetine provided moderate benefits and intolerable side effects (hyperhidrosis). She experienced the best improvement and least side effects with the combined (CBD plus MME) phase. Noteworthy were clinically meaningful improvements in CIPN symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and perceived physical function, as well as improvements in pain, mobility, hand/finger dexterity, and upper and lower body strength. CBD and MME altered gut microbiota, showing enrichment of genera that produce short-chain fatty acids. CBD and MME may improve CIPN symptoms, QoL, and physical function through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in cancer survivors suffering from long-standing CIPN.

"Does the Gut microbiome influence disc health and disease?-the interplay between dysbiosis, pathobionts, and disc inflammation: a Pilot Study"

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Gut microbiome alterations resulting in inflammatory responses have been implicated in many distant effects on different organs. However, its influence on disc health is still not fully investigated.

PURPOSE

Our objective was to document the gut biome in healthy volunteers and patients with disc degeneration and to understand the role of gut dysbiosis on human disc health.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental case-control study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

We included 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) and 20 healthy volunteers (HV). HV comprised of age groups 30 to 60 years with no known record of back pain and no clinical comorbidities, with normal MRI. Diseased group (DG) were patients in the same age group undergoing surgery for disc disease (disc herniation-25; discogenic stenosis-15) and without instability (with Modic-20; and non-Modic-20).

OUTCOME MEASURES

N/A.

METHODS

We analyzed 16S V3-V4 rDNA gut metagenome from 20 healthy volunteers (HV) and compared the top signature genera from 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) across Modic and non-Modic groups. Norgen Stool DNA Kit was used for DNA extraction from ∼200 mg of each faecal sample collected using the Norgen Stool Collection Kit.16S V3-V4 rDNA amplicons were generated with universal bacterial primers 341F and 806R and amplified with Q5 High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase. Libraries were sequenced with 250×2 PE to an average of 0.1 million raw reads per sample (Illumina Novaseq 6000). Demultiplexed raw data was assessed with FastQC, and adapter trimmed reads >Q30 reads were processed in the QIME2 pipeline. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by the immunoturbimetry method and Fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) was measured in albumin-globulin-depleted plasma through global proteome analysis.

RESULTS

We observed significant gut dysbiosis between HV and DG and also between the Modic and non-Modic groups. In the Modic group, commensals Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus were significantly depleted, while pathobionts Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Butryvibrio were enriched. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was decreased in DG (Modic-0.62, non-Modic-0.43) compared to HV (0.70). Bacteria-producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids were also depleted in DG. Elevated serum CRP and increased FABP5 were observed in DG.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed gut dysbiosis, an altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, reduced SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased systemic and local inflammation in association with disc disease, especially in Modic changes. The findings have considerable importance for our understanding and prevention of disc degeneration.

RNAseq of INOCA patients identifies innate, invariant, and acquired immune changes: potential autoimmune microvascular dysfunction

Background

Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is a major clinical entity that involves potentially 20%-30% of patients with chest pain. INOCA is typically attributed either to coronary microvascular disease and/or vasospasm, but is likely distinct from classical coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives

To gain insights into the etiology of INOCA and CAD, RNA sequencing of whole blood from patients undergoing both stress testing and elective invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was conducted.

Methods

Stress testing and ICA of 177 patients identified 40 patients (23%) with INOCA compared to 39 controls (stress-, ICA-). ICA+ patients divided into 38 stress- and 60 stress+. RNAseq was performed by Illumina with ribosomal RNA depletion. Transcriptome changes were analyzed by DeSeq2 and curated by manual and automated methods.

Results

Differentially expressed genes for INOCA were associated with elevated levels of transcripts related to mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pcDC), and memory B cells, and were associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Decreased transcripts were associated with neutrophils, but neutrophil transcripts, per se, were not less abundant in INOCA. CAD transcripts were more related to T cell functions.

Conclusions

Elevated transcripts related to pcDC, MAIT, and memory B cells suggest an autoimmune component to INOCA. Reduced neutrophil transcripts are likely attributed to chronic activation leading to increased translation and degradation. Thus, INOCA could result from stimulation of B cell, pcDC, invariant T cell, and neutrophil activation that compromises cardiac microvascular function.

The gut microbiota and diabetes: research, translation, and clinical applications - 2023 Diabetes, Diabetes Care, and Diabetologia Expert Forum

This article summarises the state of the science on the role of the gut microbiota (GM) in diabetes from a recent international expert forum organised by Diabetes, Diabetes Care, and Diabetologia, which was held at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2023 Annual Meeting in Hamburg, Germany. Forum participants included clinicians and basic scientists who are leading investigators in the field of the intestinal microbiome and metabolism. Their conclusions were as follows: (1) the GM may be involved in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, as microbially produced metabolites associate both positively and negatively with the disease, and mechanistic links of GM functions (e.g. genes for butyrate production) with glucose metabolism have recently emerged through the use of Mendelian randomisation in humans; (2) the highly individualised nature of the GM poses a major research obstacle, and large cohorts and a deep-sequencing metagenomic approach are required for robust assessments of associations and causation; (3) because single time point sampling misses intraindividual GM dynamics, future studies with repeated measures within individuals are needed; and (4) much future research will be required to determine the applicability of this expanding knowledge to diabetes diagnosis and treatment, and novel technologies and improved computational tools will be important to achieve this goal.

Elevated fecal calprotectin is associated with gut microbial dysbiosis, altered serum markers and clinical outcomes in older individuals

Fecal calprotectin is an established marker of gut inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Elevated levels of fecal calprotectin as well as gut microbial dysbiosis have also been observed in other clinical conditions. However, systemic and multi-omics alterations linked to elevated fecal calprotectin in older individuals remain unclear. This study comprehensively investigated the relationship between fecal calprotectin levels, gut microbiome composition, serum inflammation and targeted metabolomics markers, and relevant lifestyle and medical data in a large sample of older individuals (n = 735; mean age ± SD: 68.7 ± 6.3) from the TREND cohort study. Low (0-50 μg/g; n = 602), moderate (> 50-100 μg/g; n = 64) and high (> 100 μg/g; n = 62) fecal calprotectin groups were stratified. Several pro-inflammatory gut microbial genera were significantly increased and short-chain fatty acid producing genera were decreased in high vs. low calprotectin groups. In serum, IL-17C, CCL19 and the toxic metabolite indoxyl sulfate were increased in high vs. low fecal calprotectin groups. These changes were partially mediated by the gut microbiota. Moreover, the high fecal calprotectin group showed increased BMI and a higher disease prevalence of heart attack and obesity. Our findings contribute to the understanding of fecal calprotectin as a marker of gut dysbiosis and its broader systemic and clinical implications in older individuals.

Compared to histamine-2 receptor antagonist, proton pump inhibitor induces stronger oral-to-gut microbial transmission and gut microbiome alterations: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

We aim to compare the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) on the gut microbiota through longitudinal analysis.

DESIGN

Healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either PPI (n=23) or H2RA (n=26) daily for seven consecutive days. We collected oral (saliva) and faecal samples before and after the intervention for metagenomic next-generation sequencing. We analysed intervention-induced alterations in the oral and gut microbiome including microbial abundance and growth rates, oral-to-gut transmissions, and compared differences between the PPI and H2RA groups.

RESULTS

Both interventions disrupted the gut microbiota, with PPIs demonstrating more pronounced effects. PPI usage led to a significantly higher extent of oral-to-gut transmission and promoted the growth of specific oral microbes in the gut. This led to a significant increase in both the number and total abundance of oral species present in the gut, including the identification of known disease-associated species like Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus. Overall, gut microbiome-based machine learning classifiers could accurately distinguish PPI from non-PPI users, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.924, in contrast to an AUROC of 0.509 for H2RA versus non-H2RA users.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence that PPIs have a greater impact on the gut microbiome and oral-to-gut transmission than H2RAs, shedding light on the mechanism underlying the higher risk of certain diseases associated with prolonged PPI use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2300072310.

Impact of the gut microbiome on atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory metabolic disease with a complex pathogenesis. However, the exact details of its pathogenesis are still unclear, which limits effective clinical treatment of atherosclerosis. Recently, multiple studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. This review discusses possible treatments for atherosclerosis using the gut microbiome as an intervention target and summarizes the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in the development of atherosclerosis. New strategies for the treatment of atherosclerosis are needed. This review provides clues for further research on the mechanisms of the relationship between the gut microbiota and atherosclerosis.

Changes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota Induced by Proton Pump Inhibitors-A Review of Findings from Experimental Trials

The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has increased considerably in many Western countries, and there is concern that numerous conditions and diseases associated with PPI use may be adverse events. The main function of gastric acid is to defend the organism against orally ingested microorganisms, and there is also concern that alterations not only in the gastric microbiome but also the downstream intestinal microbiome may increase the risk of disease or alter the course of preexisting disease. The current study is a systematic review of the available evidence from experimental trials investigating the effects of PPIs on the gastrointestinal microbiota by next-generation sequencing. Thirteen studies were identified. The effects of PPIs were seen on alterations in diversity and richness in some of the studies, while a larger proportion of the studies detected alterations at various taxonomic levels. The general finding was that PPI use caused an increase in bacteria normally found in the oral microbiota in both the upper and lower GI tract. The most consistent taxonomic alterations seemed to be increases in oral flora along the axis Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus at genus level and various Streptococcus spp., as well as Veillonellaceae, Veillonella and Haemophilus.

Gut dysbiosis was inevitable, but tolerance was not: temporal responses of the murine microbiota that maintain its capacity for butyrate production correlate with sustained antinociception to chronic voluntary morphine

The therapeutic benefits of opioids are compromised by the development of analgesic tolerance, which necessitates higher dosing for pain management thereby increasing the liability for dependence and addiction. Rodent models indicate opposing roles of the gut microbiota in tolerance: morphine-induced gut dysbiosis exacerbates tolerance, whereas probiotics ameliorate tolerance. Not all individuals develop tolerance which could be influenced by differences in microbiota, and yet no study has capitalized upon this natural variation to identify specific features linked to tolerance. We leveraged this natural variation in a murine model of voluntary oral morphine self-administration to elucidate the mechanisms by which microbiota influences tolerance. Although all mice shared similar and predictive morphine-driven microbiota changes that largely masked informative associations with variability in tolerance, our high-resolution temporal analyses revealed a divergence in the progression of dysbiosis that best explained differences in the development in tolerance. Mice that did not develop tolerance also maintained a higher abundance of taxa capable of producing the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate, known to bolster intestinal barriers, suppress inflammation, and promote neuronal homeostasis. Furthermore, dietary butyrate supplementation significantly reduced the development of tolerance. These findings could inform immediate therapies to extend the analgesic efficacy of opioids.

Dietary nitrate intake and net nitrite-generating capacity of the oral microbiome interact to enhance cardiometabolic health: Results from the Oral Infections Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance Study (ORIGINS)

Background

We investigated the association between dietary nitrate intake and early clinical cardiometabolic risk biomarkers, and explored whether the oral microbiome modifies the association between dietary nitrate intake and cardiometabolic biomarkers.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 668 (mean [SD] age 31 [9] years, 73% women) participants was analyzed. Dietary nitrate intakes and alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) scores were calculated from food frequency questionnaire responses and a validated US food database. Subgingival 16S rRNA microbial genes (Illumina, MiSeq) were sequenced, and PICRUSt2 estimated metagenomic content. The Microbiome Induced Nitric oxide Enrichment Score (MINES) was calculated as a microbial gene abundance ratio representing enhanced net capacity for NO generation. Cardiometabolic risk biomarkers included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and were regressed on nitrate intake tertiles in adjusted multivariable linear models.

Results

Mean nitrate intake was 190[171] mg/day. Higher nitrate intake was associated with lower insulin, and HOMA-IR but particularly among participants with low abundance of oral nitrite enriching bacteria. For example, among participants with a low MINES, mean insulin[95%CI] levels in high vs. low dietary nitrate consumers were 5.8[5.3,6.5] vs. 6.8[6.2,7.5] (p=0.004) while respective insulin levels were 6.0[5.4,6.6] vs. 5.9[5.3,6.5] (p=0.76) among partcipants with high MINES (interaction p=0.02).

Conclusion

Higher dietary nitrate intake was only associated with lower insulin and insulin resistance among individuals with reduced capacity for oral microbe-induced nitrite enrichment. These findings have implications for future precision medicine-oriented approaches that might consider assessing the oral microbiome prior to enrollment into dietary interventions or making dietary recommendations.

Exploring of gut microbiota features in dyslipidemia and chronic coronary syndrome patients undergoing coronary angiography

Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) has a high mortality rate, and dyslipidemia is a major risk factor. Atherosclerosis, a cause of CCS, is influenced by gut microbiota dysbiosis and its metabolites. The objective of this study was to study the diversity and composition of gut microbiota and related clinical parameters among CCS patients undergoing coronary angiography and dyslipidemia patients in comparison to healthy volunteers in Thailand. CCS patients had more risk factors and higher inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) than others. The alpha diversity was lower in dyslipidemia and CCS patients than in the healthy group. A significant difference in the composition of gut microbiota was observed among the three groups. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotella, and Streptococcus was significantly increased while Roseburia, Ruminococcus, and Faecalibacterium were lower in CCS patients. In CCS patients, Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Pediococcus were positively correlated with hs-CRP. In dyslipidemia patients, Megasphaera was strongly positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) level and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The modification of gut microbiota was associated with changes in clinical parameters involved in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in CCS patients.

Gut microbiome-based noninvasive diagnostic model to predict acute coronary syndromes

Background

Previous studies have shown that alterations in the gut microbiota are closely associated with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) development. However, the value of gut microbiota for early diagnosis of ACS remains understudied.

Methods

We recruited 66 volunteers, including 29 patients with a first diagnosis of ACS and 37 healthy volunteers during the same period, collected their fecal samples, and sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Functional prediction of the microbiota was performed using PICRUSt2. Subsequently, we constructed a nomogram and corresponding webpage based on microbial markers to assist in the diagnosis of ACS. The diagnostic performance and usefulness of the model were analyzed using boostrap internal validation, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

Compared to that of healthy controls, the diversity and composition of microbial community of patients with ACS was markedly abnormal. Potentially pathogenic genera such as Streptococcus and Acinetobacter were significantly increased in the ACS group, whereas certain SCFA-producing genera such as Blautia and Agathobacter were depleted. In addition, in the correlation analysis with clinical indicators, the microbiota was observed to be associated with the level of inflammation and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Finally, a diagnostic model for ACS based on gut microbiota and clinical variables was developed with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.963 (95% CI: 0.925-1) and an AUC value of 0.948 (95% CI: 0.549-0.641) for bootstrap internal validation. The calibration curves of the model show good consistency between the actual and predicted probabilities. The DCA showed that the model had a high net clinical benefit for clinical applications.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to characterize the composition and function of the gut microbiota in patients with ACS and healthy populations in Southwest China and demonstrates the potential effect of the microbiota as a non-invasive marker for the early diagnosis of ACS.

The gut microbiota and coronary artery calcification in Japanese men

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiota differs between patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls; however, it currently remains unclear whether these differences exist prior to the onset of CAD. We herein investigated the gut microbiota associated with subclinical coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a Japanese population.

METHODS

A total of 663 Japanese men were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Computed tomography and gut microbiology tests were performed, and CAC scores were calculated using the Agatston method. Participants were categorized into 4 groups based on their CAC scores: CAC = 0, 0

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 68.4 years (46-83 years). The numbers of participants in CAC = 0, 0

CONCLUSIONS

The gut microbiota significantly differed from the phylum to genus level in a manner that was dependent on CAC scores, even before the onset of CAD.

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MESH Headings

• Male
• Humans
• Aged
• Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging
• Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology
• Coronary Artery Disease/complications
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Japan/epidemiology
• Risk Factors
• Vascular Calcification/diagnostic imaging
• Vascular Calcification/epidemiology

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Affiliation(s)

Yukiko Okami NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan..
Hisatomi Arima Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
Keiko Kondo NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Zhang Hexun Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Yuichiro Yano NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Aya Kadota NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Sayuki Torii NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Takashi Hisamatsu Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
Akira Fujiyoshi Department of Hygiene, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
Sayaka Kadowaki NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Yoshiyuki Watanabe Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Akira Andoh Department of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Yoshihisa Nakagawa Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Hirotsugu Ueshima NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
Katsuyuki Miura NCD Epidemiology Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan

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Influence of Sex and a High-Fiber Diet on the Gut Microbiome of Alentejano Pigs Raised to Heavy Weights

This study investigates the influence of sex and a dietary transition on the gut microbiota of a local Portuguese pig breed. Three groups of male Alentejano pigs (n = 10 each) were raised between ~40 and 160 kg LW. Group C included pigs that were surgically castrated, while the I group included intact ones; both were fed with commercial diets. The third group, IExp, included intact pigs that were fed commercial diets until ~130 kg, then replaced by an experimental diet based on legumes and agro-industrial by-products between ~130 and 160 kg. Fecal samples were collected two weeks before slaughter. The total DNA was extracted and used for 16S metabarcoding on a MiSeq® System. The dietary transition from a commercial diet to the experimental diet substantially increased and shifted the diversity observed. Complex carbohydrate fermenting bacteria, such as Ruminococcus spp. and Sphaerochaeta spp., were significantly more abundant in IExp (q < 0.05). On the other hand, castrated pigs presented a significantly lower abundance of the potential probiotic, Roseburia spp. and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group (q < 0.01), bacteria commonly associated with better gut health and lower body fat composition. Understanding the role of gut microbiota is paramount to ensure a low skatole deposition and consumers' acceptance of pork products from non-castrated male pigs.

[Correlation Between Plasma Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Lipid Levels in Hyperlipidemic Patients]

Objective

To investigate the correlation between the plasma levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.

Methods

A total of 130 patients who received treatment and underwent coronary angiography at the Heart Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2019 and March 2021 were enrolled. Patients' plasma TMAO levels were determined by stable isotope liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma TMAO levels and the levels of lipids, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was analyzed.

Results

Patients with hyperlipidemia had higher plasma TMAO levels (μmol/L) than patients without hyperlipidemia did (6.73±5.40 vs. 3.82±2.65), with the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). After controlling for the effects of age and body mass index, partial correlation analysis revealed that plasma TMAO levels were positively correlated with plasma TG ( r=0.286, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.366, P<0.001).

Conclusion

There is a correlation between plasma TMAO levels and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.