Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Reduced Renal Calcium Oxalate Stones by Regulating Arginine Metabolism in Gut Microbiota

The association between novel negative pressure ureteroscopic lithotripsy combined with flexible ureteroscopy versus percutaneous nephrolithotomy on stone-free rates: implications for clinical practice and policy

The correlation between novel negative pressure ureteroscopic lithotripsy (NP-URL) combined with flexible ureteroscopy (FU) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) on stone-free rates (SFR) remains unclear. There is a lack of evidence from Chinese populations regarding the relationship between SFR and NP-URL combined with FU (NP-URL-FU) versus PCNL. We aimed to assess the association between NP-URL-FU and PCNL on SFR. We conducted a cohort study involving 166 participants with 2-4 cm kidney stones. Data on SFR (7 days and 2 months) were collected from all participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to substantiate the research objectives. NP-URL-FU versus PCNL showed an 86% decrease in the 7-day SFR (OR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.07-0.29). The results remained stable even after adjusting for potential confounders. However, no statistically significant association was found between the surgical method and the 2-month SFR. Further exploratory subgroup analyses showed no significant interactions, with all P values > 0.05. Among patients with 2-4 cm kidney stones, NP-URL-FU was associated with a lower risk of incident 7-day SFR than PCNL. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the long-term stone removal rate. Therefore, NP-URL-FU may be a viable alternative surgical option for patients seeking minimally invasive procedures.

Antibacterial properties and urease suppression ability of Lactobacillus inhibit the development of infectious urinary stones caused by Proteus mirabilis

Infectious urolithiasis is a type of urolithiasis, that is caused by infections of the urinary tract by bacteria producing urease such as Proteus mirabilis. Lactobacillus spp. have an antagonistic effect against many pathogens by secreting molecules, including organic acids. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of Lactobacillus strains isolated from human urine on crystallization of urine components caused by P. mirabilis by measuring bacterial viability (CFU/mL), pH, ammonia release, concentration of crystallized salts and by observing crystals by phase contrast microscopy. Moreover, the effect of lactic acid on the activity of urease was examined by the kinetic method and in silico study. In the presence of selected Lactobacillus strains, the crystallization process was inhibited. The results indicate that one of the mechanisms of this action was the antibacterial effect of Lactobacillus, especially in the presence of L. gasseri, where ten times less P. mirabilis bacteria was observed, compared to the control. It was also demonstrated that lactic acid inhibited urease activity by a competitive mechanism and had a higher binding affinity to the enzyme than urea. These results demonstrate that Lactobacillus and lactic acid have a great impact on the urinary stones development, which in the future may help to support the treatment of this health problem.

Metabolic changes in kidney stone disease

Kidney stone disease (KSD) is one of the earliest medical diseases known, but the mechanism of its formation and metabolic changes remain unclear. The formation of kidney stones is a extensive and complicated process, which is regulated by metabolic changes in various substances. In this manuscript, we summarized the progress of research on metabolic changes in kidney stone disease and discuss the valuable role of some new potential targets. We reviewed the influence of metabolism of some common substances on stone formation, such as the regulation of oxalate, the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), macrophage polarization, the levels of hormones, and the alternation of other substances. New insights into changes in substance metabolism changes in kidney stone disease, as well as emerging research techniques, will provide new directions in the treatment of stones. Reviewing the great progress that has been made in this field will help to improve the understanding by urologists, nephrologists, and health care providers of the metabolic changes in kidney stone disease, and contribute to explore new metabolic targets for clinical therapy.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N-1 improves autism-like behavior and gut microbiota in mouse

Introduction

The gut-brain axis has been widely recognized in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and probiotics are considered to potentially benefit the rescuing of autism-like behaviors. As a probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarumN-1(LPN-1) was utilized to investigate its effects on gut microbiota and autism-like behaviors in ASD mice constructed by maternal immune activation (MIA).

Methods

Adult offspring of MIA mice were given LPN-1 at the dosage of 2  ×  109  CFU/g for 4  weeks before subject to the behavior and gut microbiota evaluation.

Results

The behavioral tests showed that LPN-1 intervention was able to rescue autism-like behaviors in mice, including anxiety and depression. In which the LPN-1 treatment group increased the time spent interacting with strangers in the three-chamber test, their activity time and distance in the central area increased in the open field test, and their immobility time decreased when hanging their tails. Moreover, the supplementation of LPN-1 reversed the intestinal flora structure of ASD mice by enhancing the relative abundance of the pivotal microorganisms of Allobaculum and Oscillospira, while reducing those harmful ones like Sutterella at the genus level.

Discussion

These results suggested that LPN-1 supplementation may improve autism-like behaviors, possibly via regulating the gut microbiota.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum J-15 reduced calcium oxalate kidney stones by regulating intestinal microbiota, metabolism, and inflammation in rats

The prevention role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum against the formation of kidney stones has been increasingly recognized; its mechanism, however, has mainly been focused on inhibiting the inflammation in the colon in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, and the intestinal metabolites from microflora have not been revealed fully with regarding to the stone formation. In this study, we investigated the effect of L. plantarum J-15 on kidney stone formation in renal calcium oxalate (CaOx) rats induced by ethylene glycol and monitored the changes of intestinal microflora and their metabolites detected by 16S rRNA sequencing and widely targeted analysis, followed by the evaluation of the intestinal barrier function and inflammation levels in the colon, blood and kidney. The results showed that L. plantarum J-15 effectively reduced renal crystallization and urinary oxalic acid. Ten microbial genera, including anti-inflammatory and SCFAs-related Faecalibaculum, were enriched in the J-15 treatment group. There are 136 metabolites from 11 categories significantly different in the J-15 supplementation group compared with CaOx model rats, most of which were enriched in the amino acid metabolic and secondary bile acid pathways. The expression of intestinal tight junction protein Occludin and the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin were decreased in the intestine, which further reduced the translocated lipopolysaccharide and inflammation levels in the blood upon J-15 treatment. Thus, the inflammation and injury in the kidney might be alleviated by downregulating TLR4/NF-κB/COX-2 signaling pathway. It suggested that L. plantarum J-15 might reduce kidney stone formation by restoring intestinal microflora and metabolic disorder, protecting intestinal barrier function, and alleviating inflammation. This finding provides new insights into the therapies for renal stones.