Impacts of Cigarette Smoking Status on Metabolomic and Gut Microbiota Profile in Male Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Multi-Omics Study

Akkermansia muciniphila-derived extracellular vesicles mitigate smoking-induced prostate inflammation and fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking (CS) is a well-known risk factor for inducing prostate inflammation and fibrosis, presenting significant threats to male reproductive health. Recent research has highlighted the significant role of gut microbiota (GM) in regulating extra-intestinal organs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Akk and its extracellular vesicles (EVs) on CS-induced prostate inflammation and fibrosis.

METHODS

This study utilized a mouse model of mainstream smoke exposure to investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) and its EVs on prostate tissue affected by CS. Prostate inflammation and fibrosis was assessed through HE staining, qRT-PCR, IHC staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Functional protein P9 enriched in Akk-EVs was used to intervene cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-exposed BPH-1 cells in vitro to validate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects.

RESULTS

The results revealed that CS exposure leads or led to pronounced prostatic inflammation and fibrosis, accompanied by a notable decrease in intestinal levels of Akk. Supplementation with Akk was found to effectively mitigate prostate lesions caused by CS, with the therapeutic effects primarily attributed to the Akk-derived extracellular vesicles (Akk-EVs). The transport kinetics of Akk-EVs to prostate tissue and cells were elucidated, providing insights into their mechanism of action. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that Akk-EVs and their enriched P9 protein effectively ameliorated CS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and collagen deposition in the prostate.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of Akk-EVs and P9 protein, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for CS-induced prostate lesions.

Potential roles of cigarette smoking on gut microbiota profile among Chinese men

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking is posited as a potential factor in disrupting the balance of the human gut microbiota. However, existing studies with limited sample size have yielded inconclusive results.

METHODS

Here, we assessed the association between cigarette smoking and gut microbial profile among Chinese males from four independent studies (N total = 3308). Both 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing methods were employed, covering 206 genera and 237 species. Microbial diversity and abundance were compared among non-smokers, current smokers, and former smokers.

RESULTS

Actinomyces[g], Atopobium[g], Haemophilus[g], Turicibacter[g], and Lachnospira[g] were found to be associated with smoking status (current smokers vs. non-smokers). Metagenomic data provided a higher resolution at the species level, particularly for the Actinomyces[g] branch. Additionally, serum γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-Glu-Cys) was found to have a potential role in connecting smoking and Actinomyces[g]. Furthermore, we revealed putative mediation roles of the gut microbiome in the associations between smoking and common diseases including cholecystitis and type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

We characterized the gut microbiota profile in male smokers and further revealed their potential involvement in mediating the impact of smoking on health outcomes. These findings advance our understanding of the intricate association between cigarette smoking and the gut microbiome.

Genetically Predicted Higher Levels of Caffeic Acid Are Protective Against Ulcerative Colitis: A Comprehensive Metabolome Analysis

BACKGROUND

It is crucial to pinpoint the metabolites that cause Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) to comprehend their pathogenesis and identify possible targets for therapy. To achieve this goal, we performed the first metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) study of Japanese patients with CD and UC.

METHODS

As exposure datasets, genetic instruments with blood-circulating metabolites were obtained from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, which includes 204 metabolites from the genome-wide association study data of 7843 Japanese individuals. As outcome datasets, we enrolled Japanese patients with CD (n = 1803), Japanese patients with UC (n = 1992), and healthy controls (n = 2022). The main analysis utilized the inverse variance-weighted method, while stability of the findings was evaluated through sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

After single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) filtering, 169 SNPs for 45 metabolites were available for MR. Genetically predicted elevated circulating trans-glutaconic acid and tryptophan were associated with a lower CD risk (odds ratio [OR], 0.68; P = 5.95 × 10-3; and OR, 0.64; P = 1.90 × 10-2, respectively). Genetically predicted elevated caffeic acid was associated with a lower UC risk (OR, 0.67; P = 4.2 × 10-4), which remained significant after multiple testing correction. We identified a causal link between UC and 3-hydroxybutyrate (OR, 2.21; P = 1.41 × 10-2), trans-glutaconic acid (OR, 0.72; P = 1.77 × 10-2), and 2-hydroxyvaleric acid (OR, 1.31; P = 4.23 × 10-2). There was no evidence of pleiotropy or reverse causal effects for these candidate metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

In our metabolome-wide MR study, we discovered a notable protective effect of caffeic acid against UC.

Volatile organic compound exposure in relation to lung cancer: Insights into mechanisms of action through metabolomics

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have proven to be hazardous to the human respiratory system. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, targeted determination of eleven VOC metabolites (mVOCs) along with the nontargeted metabolomic analysis was performed on urine samples collected from lung cancer patients and healthy individuals. Nine mVOCs mainly derived from aldehydes, alkenes, amides, and aromatics were detected in > 90 % of the urine samples, suggesting that the participants were ubiquitously exposed to these typical VOCs. A molecular gatekeeper discovery workflow was employed to link the exposure biomarkers with correlated clusters of endogenous metabolites. As a result, multiple metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, and fatty acid β-oxidation were connected with VOC exposure. Furthermore, 16 of 73 molecular gatekeepers were associated with lung cancer and pointed to a few disrupted metabolic pathways related to hydroxysteroids and acylcarnitine. The shift in molecular profiles was validated in rat model post VOC administration. Thereinto, the up-regulation of enzymes involved in acylcarnitine synthesis and transport in rat lung tissues highlighted that the mitochondrial dysfunction may be a potential carcinogenic mechanism. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying lung cancer induced by VOC exposure.

Advancements in Omics and Breakthrough Gene Therapies: A Glimpse into the Future of Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a highly prevalent global disease, associates with significant morbidity and mortality in affected patients. Despite progress in endovascular and open revascularization techniques for advanced PAD, these interventions grapple with elevated rates of arterial restenosis and vein graft failure attributed to intimal hyperplasia (IH). Novel multiomics technologies, coupled with sophisticated analyses tools recently powered by advances in artificial intelligence, have enabled the study of atherosclerosis and IH with unprecedented single-cell and spatial precision. Numerous studies have pinpointed gene hubs regulating pivotal atherogenic and atheroprotective signaling pathways as potential therapeutic candidates. Leveraging advancements in viral and nonviral gene therapy (GT) platforms, gene editing technologies, and cutting-edge biomaterial reservoirs for delivery uniquely positions us to develop safe, efficient, and targeted GTs for PAD-related diseases. Gene therapies appear particularly fitting for ex vivo genetic engineering of IH-resistant vein grafts. This manuscript highlights currently available state-of-the-art multiomics approaches, explores promising GT-based candidates, and details GT delivery modalities employed by our laboratory and others to thwart mid-term vein graft failure caused by IH, as well as other PAD-related conditions. The potential clinical translation of these targeted GTs holds the promise to revolutionize PAD treatment, thereby enhancing patients' quality of life and life expectancy.

Lifestyle Changes in Aging and their Potential Impact on POAG

Primary open angle glaucoma is a primary mitochondrial disease with oxidative stress triggering neuroinflammation, eventually resulting in neurodegeneration. This affects many other areas of the brain in addition to the visual system. Aging also leads to inflammaging - a low-grade chronic inflammatory reaction in mitochondrial dysfunction, so these inflammatory processes overlap in the aging process and intensify pathophysiological processes associated with glaucoma. Actively counteracting these inflammatory events involves optimising treatment for any manifest systemic diseases while maintaining chronobiology and improving the microbiome. Physical and mental activity also provides support. This requires a holistic approach towards optimising neurodegeneration treatment in primary open angle glaucoma in addition to reducing intraocular pressure according personalised patient targets.

Alteration of the gut microbiome in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent research has revealed that alterations of the gut microbiome (GM) play a comprehensive role in the pathophysiology of HF. However, findings in this field remain controversial. In this study, we focus on differences in GM diversity and abundance between HF patients and non-HF people, based on previous 16 S ribosomal RNA (16rRNA) gene sequencing. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases using the keyword "Heart failure" and "Gastrointestinal Microbiome". A significant decrease in alpha diversity was observed in the HF patients (Chao1, I2 = 87.5 %, p < 0.001; Shannon index, I2 = 62.8 %, p = 0.021). At the phylum level, the HF group exhibited higher abundances of Proteobacteria (I2 = 92.0 %, p = 0.004) and Actinobacteria (I2 = 82.5 %, p = 0.010), while Bacteroidetes (I2 = 45.1 %, p = 0.017) and F/B ratio (I2 = 0.0 %, p＜0.001) were lower. The Firmicutes showed a decreasing trend but did not reach statistical significance (I2 = 82.3 %, p = 0.127). At the genus level, the relative abundances of Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus and Klebsiella were increased in the HF group, whereas Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Dorea and Megamona exhibited decreased relative abundances. Dialister, Blautia and Prevotella showed decreasing trends but without statistical significance. This observational meta-analysis suggests that GM changes are associated with HF, manifesting as alterations in GM abundance, disruptions in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) bacteria, and an increase in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) producing bacteria.

Two cosmoses, one universe: a narrative review exploring the gut microbiome's role in the effect of urban risk factors on vascular ageing

In the face of rising global urbanisation, understanding how the associated environment and lifestyle impact public health is a cornerstone for prevention, research, and clinical practice. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with urban risk factors contributing greatly to its burden. The current narrative review adopts an exposome approach to explore the effect of urban-associated physical-chemical factors (such as air pollution) and lifestyle on cardiovascular health and ageing. In addition, we provide new insights into how these urban-related factors alter the gut microbiome, which has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We focus on vascular ageing, before disease onset, to promote preventative research and practice. We also discuss how urban ecosystems and social factors may interact with these pathways and provide suggestions for future research, precision prevention and management of vascular ageing. Most importantly, future research and decision-making would benefit from adopting an exposome approach and acknowledging the diverse and boundless universe of the microbiome.

The Metabolomic Profile of Microscopic Colitis Is Affected by Smoking but Not Histopathological Diagnosis, Clinical Course, Symptoms, or Treatment

Microscopic colitis (MC) is classified as collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC). Genetic associations between CC and human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) have been found, with smoking being a predisposing external factor. Smoking has a great impact on metabolomics. The aim of this explorative study was to analyze global metabolomics in MC and to examine whether the metabolomic profile differed regarding the type and course of MC, the presence of IBS-like symptoms, treatment, and smoking habits. Of the 240 identified women with MC aged ≤73 years, 131 completed the study questionnaire; the Rome III questionnaire; and the Visual Analog Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS). Blood samples were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry (UHLC-MS/UHPLC-MSMS). The women, 63.1 (58.7-67.2) years old, were categorized based on CC (n = 76) and LC (n = 55); one episode or refractory MC; IBS-like symptoms or not; use of corticosteroids or not; and smoking habits. The only metabolomic differences found in the univariate model after adjustment for false discovery rate (FDR) were between smokers and non-smokers. Serotonin was markedly increased in smokers (p < 0.001). No clear patterns appeared when conducting a principal component analysis (PCA). No differences in the metabolomic profile were found depending on the type or clinical course of the disease, neither in the whole MC group nor in the subgroup analysis of CC.

Serum metabolome perturbation in relation to noise exposure: Exploring the potential role of serum metabolites in noise-induced arterial stiffness

Noise pollution has grown to be a major public health issue worldwide. We sought to profile serum metabolite expression changes related to occupational noise exposure by untargeted metabolomics, as well as to evaluate the potential roles of serum metabolites in occupational noise-associated arterial stiffness (AS). Our study involved 30 noise-exposed industrial personnel (Lipo group) and 30 noise-free controls (Blank group). The untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed by employing a UPLC-HRMS. The associations of occupational noise and significant differential metabolites (between Blank/Lipo groups) with AS were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models. We performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis to further screen for AS's risk metabolites. We explored 177 metabolites across 21 categories significantly differentially expressed between Blank/Lipo groups, and these metabolites were enriched in 20 metabolic pathways. Moreover, 15 metabolites in 4 classes (including food, glycerophosphocholine, sphingomyelin [SM] and triacylglycerols [TAG]) were adversely associated with AS (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, five metabolites (homostachydrine, phosphatidylcholine (PC) (32:1e), PC (38:6p), SM (d41:2) and TAG (45:1) have been proven to be useful predictors of AS prevalence. However, none of these 15 metabolites were found to have a mediating influence on occupational noise-induced AS. Our study reveals specific metabolic changes caused by occupational noise exposure, and several metabolites may have protective effects on AS. However, the roles of serum metabolites in noise-AS association remain to be validated in future studies.

Impact of Smoking on Salivary Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress in Young Adults: A Comparative Analysis between Traditional Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes, and Heat-Not-Burn Products

BACKGROUND Smoking nicotine is considered to be one of the most harmful addictions, leading to the development of a number of health complications, including many pathologies in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of smoking traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heat-not-burn products on profiles of salivary lipids and lipid peroxidation products in the unstimulated and stimulated saliva of healthy young adults with a smoking habit of up to 3 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 3 groups of 25 smoking patients each and a control group matched for age, gender, and oral status. In saliva collected from patients from the study groups and participants from the control group, the concentrations of sphingolipids: sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramides, and salivary lipid peroxidation products - malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) - were measured. The normality of distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For comparison of the results, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey test was used. RESULTS We demonstrated that each type of smoking causes a decrease in the concentration of salivary lipids, and there was an increased concentration of salivary MDA and 4-HNE. CONCLUSIONS Smoking in the initial period of addiction leads to an increase in the concentration of lipid peroxidation products through increased oxidative stress, leading to disturbance of the lipid balance of the oral cavity (eg, due to damage to cell membranes).

Daily Exposure to Environmental Volatile Organic Compounds Triggers Oxidative Damage: Evidence from a Large-Scale Survey in China

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and have been implicated in adverse health outcomes. In this study, concentrations of 11 VOC metabolites (mVOCs) and three oxidative stress biomarkers (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-guanosine, and dityrosine) were determined in 205 urine samples collected from 12 cities across mainland China. Urinary ∑11mVOC concentrations ranged from 498 to 1660 ng/mL, with a geometric mean (GM) value of 1070 ng/mL. The factorial analysis revealed that cooking, solvents, and vehicle emissions were the three primary sources of VOC exposure. A significant regional variation was clearly found in ∑11mVOC concentrations across four regions in China, with high urine VOC concentrations found in North and South China (GM: 1450 and 1340 ng/mL). The multiple linear regression model revealed that most mVOCs were significantly positively correlated with three oxidative stress markers (β range: 0.06-0.22). Mixture effect regression showed that isoprene, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, and benzene were the strongest contributors to oxidative stress. Approximately 80% of the participants have HQ values greater than 1.0 for 1,3-butadiene and benzene, suggesting that their exposure doses were close to potential adverse health effects. Our findings provide comprehensive information on human exposure and potential health risks of VOCs in China.

Cross-talks between gut microbiota and tobacco smoking: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Considerable evidence has been reported that tobacco use could cause alterations in gut microbiota composition. The microbiota-gut-brain axis also in turn hinted at a possible contribution of the gut microbiota to smoking. However, population-level studies with a higher evidence level for causality are lacking.

METHODS

This study utilized the summary-level data of respective genome-wide association study (GWAS) for 211 gut microbial taxa and five smoking phenotypes to reveal the causal association between the gut microbiota and tobacco smoking. Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) design was deployed and comprehensively sensitive analyses were followed to validate the robustness of results. We further performed multivariable MR to evaluate the effect of neurotransmitter-associated metabolites on observed associations.

RESULTS

Our univariable MR results confirmed the effects of smoking on three taxa (Intestinimonas, Catenibacterium, and Ruminococcaceae, observed from previous studies) with boosted evidence level and identified another 13 taxa which may be causally affected by tobacco smoking. As for the other direction, we revealed that smoking behaviors could be potential consequence of specific taxa abundance. Combining with existing observational evidence, we provided novel insights regarding a positive feedback loop of smoking through Actinobacteria and indicated a potential mechanism for the link between parental smoking and early smoking initiation of their children driven by Bifidobacterium. The multivariable MR results suggested that neurotransmitter-associated metabolites (tryptophan and tyrosine, also supported by previous studies) probably played a role in the action pathway from the gut microbiota to smoking, especially for Actinobacteria and Peptococcus.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the current study suggested the role of the specific gut microbes on the risk for cigarette smoking (likely involving alterations in metabolites) and in turn smoking on specific gut microbes. Our findings highlighted the hazards of tobacco use for gut flora dysbiosis and shed light on the potential role of specific gut microbiota for smoking behaviors.

The Impact of Smoking on Microbiota: A Narrative Review

Cigarette smoke is a classic risk factor for many diseases. The microbiota has been recently indicated as a new, major player in human health. Its deregulation-dysbiosis-is considered a new risk factor for several illnesses. Some studies highlight a cross-interaction between these two risk factors-smoke and dysbiosis-that may explain the pathogenesis of some diseases. We searched the keywords "smoking OR smoke AND microbiota" in the title of articles on PubMed^®, UptoDate^®, and Cochrane^®. We included articles published in English over the last 25 years. We collected approximately 70 articles, grouped into four topics: oral cavity, airways, gut, and other organs. Smoke may impair microbiota homeostasis through the same harmful mechanisms exerted on the host cells. Surprisingly, dysbiosis and its consequences affect not only those organs that are in direct contact with the smoke, such as the oral cavity or the airways, but also involve distant organs, such as the gut, heart, vessels, and genitourinary tract. These observations yield a deeper insight into the mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of smoke-related diseases, suggesting a role of dysbiosis. We speculate that modulation of the microbiota may help prevent and treat some of these illnesses.

Gut Failure: A Review of the Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Potentials in the Gut-Heart Axis

Despite considerable advances in the field, heart failure (HF) still poses a significant disease burden among affected individuals since it continues to cause high morbidity and mortality rates. Inflammation is considered to play a key role in disease progression, but the exact underlying pathophysiological mechanisms involved have not yet been fully elucidated. The gut, as a potential source of inflammation, could feasibly explain the state of low-grade inflammation seen in patients with chronic HF. Several derangements in the composition of the microbiota population, coupled with an imbalance between favorable and harmful metabolites and followed by gut barrier disruption and eventually bacterial translocation, could contribute to cardiac dysfunction and aggravate HF. On the other hand, HF-associated congestion and hypoperfusion alters intestinal function, thereby creating a vicious cycle. Based on this evidence, novel pharmaceutical agents have been developed and their potential therapeutic use has been tested in both animal and human subjects. The ultimate goal in these efforts is to reverse the aforementioned intestinal derangements and block the inflammation cascade. This review summarizes the gut-related causative pathways implicated in HF pathophysiology, as well as the associated therapeutic interventions described in the literature.

Altered gut microbiota in the early stage of acute pancreatitis were related to the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most common cause of organ failure in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients, which associated with high mortality. Specific changes in the gut microbiota have been shown to influence progression of acute pancreatitis. We aimed to determine whether early alterations in the gut microbiota is related to and could predict ARDS occurrence in AP patients.

Methods

In this study, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing analysis in 65 AP patients and 20 healthy volunteers. The AP patients were further divided into two groups: 26 AP-ARDS patients and 39 AP-nonARDS patients based on ARDS occurrence during hospitalization.

Results

Our results showed that the AP-ARDS patients exhibited specific changes in gut microbiota composition and function as compared to subjects of AP-nonARDS group. Higher abundances of Proteobacteria phylum, Enterobacteriaceae family, Escherichia-Shigella genus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, but lower abundances of Bifidobacterium genus were found in AP-ARDS group compared with AP-nonARDS groups. Random forest modelling analysis revealed that the Escherichia-shigella genus was effective to distinguish AP-ARDS from AP-nonARDS, which could predict ARDS occurrence in AP patients.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that alterations of gut microbiota in AP patients on admission were associated with ARDS occurrence after hospitalization, indicating a potential predictive and pathogenic role of gut microbiota in the development of ARDS in AP patients.

GlycA, a Biomarker of Low-Grade Inflammation, Is Increased in Male Night Shift Workers

Sustained night shift work is associated with various adverse health risks, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and susceptibility to infectious respiratory diseases. The extent of these adverse health effects, however, seems to greatly vary between night shift workers, yet the underlying reasons and the mechanisms underlying these interindividual differences remain poorly understood. Metabolomics assays in the blood have recently gained much attention as a minimally invasive biomarker platform capturing information predictive of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In this cross-sectional study, we explored and compared the metabolic profiles of 1010 night shift workers and 1010 age- and sex-matched day workers (non-shift workers) from the Lifelines Cohort Study. The metabolic profiles were determined using the ¹H-NMR Nightingale platform for the quantification of 250 parameters of metabolism, including routine lipids, extensive lipoprotein subclasses, fatty acid composition, and various low-molecular metabolites, including amino acids, ketone bodies, and gluconeogenesis-related metabolites. Night shift workers had an increased BMI (26.6 vs. 25.9 kg/m²) compared with day workers (non-shift workers) in both sexes, were slightly more likely to be ever smokers (only in males) (54% vs. 46%), worked on average 5.9 ± 3.7 night shifts per month, and had been working in night shifts for 18.3 ± 10.5 years on average. We observed changes in several metabolic markers in male night shift workers compared with non-shift workers, but no changes were observed in women. In men, we observed higher levels of glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), triglycerides, and fatty acids compared with non-shift workers. The changes were seen in the ratio of triglycerides and cholesterol(esters) to total lipids in different sizes of VLDL particles. Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycAs) are of particular interest as markers since they are known as biomarkers for low-grade chronic inflammation. When the analyses were adjusted for BMI, no significant associations were observed. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between night shift work and metabolic profiles, particularly with respect to the role of sex and BMI in this relationship.

Effects of Smoking on the Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Smoking affects eating habits; however, few studies on smoking and the gut microbiota have reported the effects of diet in detail. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between smoking and the gut microbiota, considering the impact of smoking on dietary intake. Dietary habits and the composition of the gut microbiota were assessed in 195 men with type 2 diabetes (164 non-current smokers and 31 current smokers) using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. The data were compared according to the current smoking status of the participants. Current smokers had high alcohol and sugar/sweetener intake and low fruit intake. The proportion of the Coprococcus genus was higher among current smokers. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for current smoking, age, exercise habits, alcohol intake, sugar and sweetener intake, and fruit intake showed that smoking was associated with the proportion of the Coprococcus genus. Current smoking was associated with both dietary intake and composition of the gut microbiota. Although dietary intake should be considered when investigating the association between smoking and the gut microbiota, the results suggest that the direct effect of smoking is more significant.

Interplay of Lymphocytes with the Intestinal Microbiota in Children with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abnormally high lymphocyte counts are seen in persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a risk factor for NAFLD. We assessed the gut microbiota of 63 healthy children and 63 children with NAFLD using 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing to explore the relationships. Compared with healthy children (HC group), the Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Akkermansia were less abundant, while the Actinobacteria were more abundant in children with NAFLD (FLD group). To understand the effect of lymphocytes on the gut microbiota of children with NAFLD, we compared the microbiota of 41 children with NAFLD and high numbers of lymphocytes (FLD_HL group) and 22 children with NAFLD and low numbers of lymphocytes (FLD_LL group). The abundances of Bacteroidetes, Verrucobacterium, and Akkermansia increased and Actinobacteria decreased in the FLD_LL group compared to the FLD_HL group. Akkermansia was negatively correlated with lymphocyte count. NAFLD may disturb the gut microbiota in children through reducing the abundance of Akkermansia and increasing the abundance of proinflammatory bacteria, such as Escherichia-Shigella. Conclusions: High lymphocyte counts are associated with disturbances of gut microbiota and emergence of opportunistic pathogens in children with NAFLD.

The role of the gut microbiota in health and cardiovascular diseases

The gut microbiota is critical to human health, such as digesting nutrients, forming the intestinal epithelial barrier, regulating immune function, producing vitamins and hormones, and producing metabolites to interact with the host. Meanwhile, increasing evidence indicates that the gut microbiota has a strong correlation with the occurrence, progression and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In patients with CVDs and corresponding risk factors, the composition and ratio of gut microbiota have significant differences compared with their healthy counterparts. Therefore, gut microbiota dysbiosis, gut microbiota-generated metabolites, and the related signaling pathway may serve as explanations for some of the mechanisms about the occurrence and development of CVDs. Several studies have also demonstrated that many traditional and latest therapeutic treatments of CVDs are associated with the gut microbiota and its generated metabolites and related signaling pathways. Given that information, we summarized the latest advances in the current research regarding the effect of gut microbiota on health, the main cardiovascular risk factors, and CVDs, highlighted the roles and mechanisms of several metabolites, and introduced corresponding promising treatments for CVDs regarding the gut microbiota. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on exploring the role of gut microbiota related metabolites and their therapeutic potential in CVDs, which may eventually provide better solutions in the development of therapeutic treatment as well as the prevention of CVDs.

Smoking-induced microbial dysbiosis in health and disease

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of cancer, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, but the precise mechanisms by which such risk is mediated remain poorly understood. Additionally, smoking can impact the oral, nasal, oropharyngeal, lung and gut microbiome composition, function, and secreted molecule repertoire. Microbiome changes induced by smoking can bear direct consequences on smoking-related illnesses. Moreover, smoking-associated dysbiosis may modulate weight gain development following smoking cessation. Here, we review the implications of cigarette smoking on microbiome community structure and function. In addition, we highlight the potential impacts of microbial dysbiosis on smoking-related diseases. We discuss challenges in studying host–microbiome interactions in the context of smoking, such as the correlations with smoking-related disease severity versus causation and mechanism. In all, understanding the microbiome’s role in the pathophysiology of smoking-related diseases may promote the development of rational therapies for smoking- and smoking cessation-related disorders, as well as assist in smoking abstinence.

Differential expression profiles of miRNA in granulomatous lobular mastitis and identification of possible biomarkers

The etiology and pathogenesis of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) remain largely elusive and the expression levels and regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) in GLM have remained mostly undetermined. In the present study, the miRNAs that were differentially expressed in breast biopsy samples from patients with GLM and normal tissue adjacent to fibroadenoma were analyzed, a comprehensive differential expression profile of miRNAs was provided and potential biomarkers were screened out. The expression profile of miRNAs was determined by high-throughput sequencing in the tissues of patients with GLM and healthy controls. Significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were screened by threshold setting and cluster analysis and their target genes were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Finally, circulating differentially expressed miRNAs between the GLM and control groups were further analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A total of 31,077 miRNAs were detected by high-throughput sequencing. By using the cutoff criteria of |log2 fold change|>2.5 and q<0.001, 13 miRNAs that were indicated to be GLM biomarkers were screened out. The expression levels of these 13 miRNAs in the GLM group were higher than those in the control group. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that the occurrence and development of GLM may be associated with autoimmune inflammation, metabolism and pathogenic organisms. miR-451a and miR-5571-3p were confirmed to be significantly increased in the serum of patients with GLM compared with their levels in the serum of healthy volunteers, which suggests that they may be used as biomarkers of GLM. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first report detailing genome-wide miRNA profiling of patients with GLM compared with controls. The possible targets and pathways of GLM were evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. The present study identified 13 differentially expressed miRNAs with important theoretical significance and potential application. Furthermore, miR-451a and miR-5571-3p were verified by RT-qPCR as possible biomarkers of GLM.