Antibiotics and probiotics-induced effects on the total fatty acid composition of feces in a rat model

Fatty acids (FAs) play important roles as membrane components and signal transduction molecules. Changes in short chain FA (SCFA) composition are associated with gut microbiota modifications. However, the effect of bacteria-driven changes on the detailed FA spectrum has not been explored yet. We investigated the effect of antibiotics (ABx) and/or probiotics, in four treatment groups on rat stool FA composition. Principal component analysis indicated that the chromatogram profiles of the treatment groups differ, which was also observed at different time points. Linear mixed effects models showed that in the parameters compared (sampling times, treatments. and their interactions), both the weight percentage and the concentration of FAs were affected by ABx and probiotic administration. This study found that the gut microbiome defines trans and branched saturated FAs, most saturated FAs, and unsaturated FAs with less carbon atoms. These results are among the first ones to demonstrate the restoring effects of a probiotic mixture on a substantial part of the altered total FA spectrum, and also revealed a previously unknown relationship between gut bacteria and a larger group of FAs. These findings suggest that intestinal bacteria produce not only SCFAs but also other FAs that may affect the host's physiological processes.

Microfluidic Analysis for the Determination of Protein Content in Different Types of Plant-Based Drinks

The widespread consumption of plant-based drinks, driven by health and dietary reasons (including cow's milk allergy, lactose intolerance, milk protein intolerance, following a vegetarian or vegan diet) necessitates automated and accurate test methods. Our study demonstrates the simultaneous determination of protein components and total protein concentrations in plant-based milk alternatives using a rapid and reproducible microchip gel electrophoretic method. As expected, the electrophoretic profiles of each plant-based drink differed. Based on our analyses and statistical evaluation, it can be determined that the protein profiles of different plant-based beverages do not differ significantly between different manufacturers or different expiry dates. The measured total protein content was compared with the nominal values, i.e., the values stated on the beverage labels. As the number of consumers of functional and specialized plant-based milk alternatives continues to rise, it is important to prioritize methods that provide qualitative and quantitative information on protein composition and other nutrients.

Efficacy of lyophilised bacteria-rich faecal sediment and supernatant with reduced bacterial count for treating patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection - A novel method for capsule faecal microbiota transfer

Background and aims

Faecal microbiota transfer (FMT) has managed to earn its place in the Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) guidelines by having comparable efficacy and recurrence rate of fidaxomicin. After more than 100 successful FMT administration through nasogastric tube, we started using hard gelatine capsules filled with lyophilised faecal sediment and supernatant. Our main question was whether uncoated capsules (containing faecal sediment or supernatant) are comparable to the widely used nasogastric tubes in CDI. We also investigated the effect of storage and time on the survival rate of bacteria in the samples.

Methods

We compared the efficacy of our capsules to other treatment options of CDI at the Department of Infectology at the University of Pécs (Hungary). For our study, stool was collected from a single donor. We treated 10 patients with relapsing CDI, 5 of them received supernatant, 5 received sediment. Donor samples were stored on 4 different temperatures and tested to determine the survival rates of bacteria. As pilot projects, we also assessed the changes of bacterial taxa, protein- and lipid compositions. Moreover, we selected 4 patients to compare their samples prior and after FMT by using microbiome (16S amplicon sequencing), protein, and lipid analyses.

Results

4 out of the 5 patients who received supernatant became symptomless within 2 days after FMT. In the sediment group 3 out of 5 patients were cured from CDI. Comparing the supernatant to the sediment, we found significantly lower number of colony-forming units in the supernatant. We found that -80°C is the most suitable temperature to store the samples. The stool lipid profiles of recipients showed a more diverse composition after FMT, and changes in the stool protein profiles were observed as well. In the microbiome analysis, we observed an increase in the alpha diversity after FMT.

Conclusions

Our study of 10 patients showed good efficacy of lyophilised faecal supernatant using capsules. The single donor approach proved to be effective in our investigation. A significantly lower CFU number was sufficient for the effect, the separation can be achieved by widely available instruments. For storage temperature, -20°C was sufficient in our clinical practice.

Effect of Culture Conditions on Fatty Acid Profiles of Bacteria and Lipopolysaccharides of the Genus Pseudomonas-GC-MS Analysis on Ionic Liquid-Based Column

The profiling of bacterial fatty acids is a well-established technique in identifying and classifying bacteria. Cultivation conditions may affect the biosynthesis, thereby, changing the fatty acid profile in bacteria. The effect of the culture conditions on the fatty acid components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Pseudomonas aeruginosa polyresistant and Pseudomonas putida all are aligned to the genus Pseudomonas. The fatty acids in the lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 were also examined. The effects of the cultivation conditions were followed by using agar and blood agar media at the characteristic temperatures, 25 °C, 37 °C and 42 °C, respectively, and an analysis was made during the 1st, 3rd and 5th day following inoculation. In addition to quantitative differences, we also experienced qualitative differences in the fatty acid profiles which detect newly appearing fatty acids, due to changes in environmental factors. The application of ionic liquid-based column unveils new possibilities for the analyses of fatty acids in GC-MS experiments for bacterial fatty acid profiling. The validation results (response linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, system suitability, intraday and interday repeatability and accuracy) show the high separation efficiency of the ionic liquid-based column in the analyses.

Diagnostic relevance of urinary steroid profiles on ovarian granulosa cell tumors: two case reports

BACKGROUND

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is the most frequent sex cord stromal tumor and represents 2 to 5% of all primary ovarian cancers. Ovarian granulosa cell tumor is a malignant tumor with slow progression and in some cases this tumor is hormonally active. The recurrence of granulosa cell tumor often happens after 5 years.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe two cases of postmenopausal women with adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Patient 1 is a 49-year-old European woman with a recurrent tumor; patient 2 is a 55-year-old European woman without recurrence of tumor. Urinary steroid profiles of patient 1 were monitored during a 5-year period starting from before an operation (13 samples). In patient 2, the urinary steroid profiles were monitored during a 3-year period starting from after an operation (six samples). The 24-hour urinary samples were examined and the urinary concentration of 20 androgen, progesterone, and corticoid metabolites was quantitatively determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion-monitoring mode.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these cases a correlation could be observed between increased levels of the urinary steroids and the recurrence of ovarian granulosa cell tumor; therefore, we concluded that a urinary steroid profile could be a more effective method to follow-up such patients compared to the traditional serum hormones determinations supplemented with conventional tumor markers.

Urinary steroid profile in early pregnancy after in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare the levels of urinary steroid metabolites of patients with successful in vitro fertilization and patients who failed to achieve pregnancy.

DESIGN

Comparison of urinary steroid profiles prior to oocyte pick-up and three weeks after embryo transfer.

SETTING

University hospital.

SAMPLE

Eleven women in the same age range with pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and eleven women who failed to achieve pregnancy.

METHODS

The standard "long" protocol was used for ovarian stimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for assisted in vitro fertilization. The steroid metabolites in urine samples collected for 24 h were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Steroid metabolite levels in urine samples determined in the early pregnancy period.

RESULTS

The levels of androsterone, etiocholanolone, pregnanediol, tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone and tetrahydro-corticosterone were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the urine of women with successful pregnancy three weeks after the embryo transfer, while the levels of tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, allo-tetrahydrocortisol and α-cortolone became higher in the group of patients with unsuccessful pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The production of androgens, progesterone and corticoid steroid metabolites is altered in the early pregnancy period after in vitro fertilization.

Altered urinary profiles of endogenous steroids in postmenopausal women with adenocarcinoma endometrii

OBJECTIVE

The potential role of androgen metabolism as co-factors in the development of carcinoma endometrii was investigated.

DESIGN

The urinary concentration of 23 androgen, progesterone and corticoid metabolites was quantitatively determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion-monitoring. We obtained 24-h urine samples from 13 patients with adenocarcinoma endometrii and from 10 age-matched normal female subjects. In the course of the urinary steroid determination, we observed changes in the steroid profiles in the disease examined compared to the same age and same sex control group. Profiling urinary steroids has to give comprehensive information about the synthesis of steroids including the glandular and peripheral steroid metabolisms.

RESULTS

The concentrations of 16-hydroxy- dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnanediol and pregnenediol were not significantly different in the two groups. The concentrations of androsterone, etiocholanolone, 11beta-hydroxy-androsterone, 11beta-hydroxy-etiocholanolone, pregnanetriol, pregnenetriol, tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone, tetrahydro-corticosterone, allo-tetrahydro-corticosterone, tetrahydrocortisol, allo-tetrahydrocortisol, alpha-cortolone, beta-cortolone and alpha-cortol were significantly lower in the postmenopausal women with adenocarcinoma than in the controls.

CONCLUSION

The changes in the concentrations of single metabolites point out the important role of steroid group, thus providing help in the recognition and treatment of diseased states.

Urinary steroid measurements in some endocrine and psychiatric diseases

In 1990, the worldwide accepted Shackleton method, which provides a possibility of determining the steroid metabolites from urine, was adopted in our laboratory. The procedure is very useful in the diagnosis of different endocrine diseases and in the recognition of dysfunction or absence of enzymes with an important role in steroid metabolism, and it gives possibility to control the treatment in patients with these diseases. Besides the proximate clinical application, the method gives a convenient tool to study the steroid background of these disorders, helping us understand the mechanism of their development. In the last few years, we have examined the steroid profile of patients with hair (androgen alopecia /AA/, effluvium /E/), psychiatric problems (major depression /MD/, eating disorders /EDS/, especially anorexia nervosa and bulimia) and osteoporosis (OP). In all of the examined hair loss diseases, the levels of main androgen metabolites were increased, and elevated 5alpha-reductase activity were found. We could observe the alteration of the activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) enzyme and marked gender differences in the changes of the steroid metabolism in patients with major depression (MD). In women with OP, the significantly decreased level of certain metabolites points to the role of testosterone, androstenedione and DHEA in postmenopausal bone loss in women. Our experiences contribute to the knowledge of the nature and steroid background of some endocrine and psychiatric diseases.

Urinary steroids in young women with eating disorders

Urinary steroid components were measured after enzyme hydrolysis and methoxym-silyl derivatization by capillary gas chromatography in young women with eating disorders. Using three internal standards, programmed temperature from 50 to 300 degrees C and flame ionization detection, on ULTRA-1 capillary column the separation of 28 steroid components is possible. Fifteen young women with different eating disorders, i.e. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and bulimarexia (aged 16-28 years) and 15 healthy women (aged 22-26 years) collected 24-h urine. A significant decrease of dehydroepiandrosterone (p<0.05) and a significant elevation of the stress marker allo-tetrahydrocorticosterone (p<0.05) were observed in the patients with compared to the controls. Among the patients two groups were defined due to a significant difference in the content of the cortisol metabolites compared to each other and to controls (p<0.01). The results confirm the role of dehydroepiandrosterone in eating disorders. The increased level of the stress marker allo-tetrahydrocorticosterone refers to the involvement of stress in these diseases, but the relevance of hormone alteration to the pathophysiology of eating disorders remains to be elucidated. The reason of the differences in cortisol metabolites levels in some patients needs further investigations.