The Relationships between Gut Microbiota and Diabetes Mellitus, and Treatments for Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is considered to be a global epidemic. The combination of genetic susceptibility and an unhealthy lifestyle is considered to be the main trigger of this metabolic disorder. Recently, there has been increased interest in the roles of gut microbiota as a new potential contributor to this epidemic. Research, in recent years, has contributed to an in-depth characterization of the human microbiome and its associations with various diseases, including metabolic diseases and diabetes mellitus. It is known that diet can change the composition of gut microbiota, but it is unclear how this, in turn, may influence metabolism. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the pathogenetic association between microbiota and diabetes and to explore any new therapeutic agents, including nutraceuticals that may modulate the microbiota. We also look at several mechanisms involved in this process. There is a clear, bidirectional relationship between microbiota and diabetes. Current treatments for diabetes influence microbiota in various ways, some beneficial, but others with still unclear effects. Microbiota-aimed treatments have seen no real-world significant effects on the progression of diabetes and its complications, with more studies needed in order to find a really beneficial agent.

EATING PATTERNS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE POPULATION INCLUDED IN THE OBESITY STUDY IN ROMANIA (ORO STUDY)

Context

Four major modifiable behavioral risk factors are considered responsible for the current burden of the non-communicable diseases: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol consumption. Limited data on the lifestyle habits in Romanian population is currently available.

Objective

To assess the eating patterns and physical activity habits and other lifestyle components in various age groups in the population included in the ORO study.

Design

ORO was a cross-sectional, epidemiologic, multicenter non-interventional study conducted from January 2014 until August 2014 in 8 study centers spread in the main historical regions of Romania.

Results

Eating 3 meals/day every day was more frequently reported in the 60-79 years and ≥ 80 years age groups (53.0% and 51.7%) than in the 18-39 years and 40-59 years age groups (26.8% and 35.8%), p <0.001. The frequency of eating breakfast every day increased with age from 43.5% in the youngest age group to 79.3% in the oldest one (p <0.001). Intense and moderate leisure-time physical activity was more frequent among participants in the 18- 39 years age group. Leisure time physical activities were associated with younger age groups, male sex, rural area, higher educational level and non-smoking status. Regular breakfast and regular consumption of 3 meals/day was associated with older age group, male sex and non-smoking status.

Conclusions

Our analysis showed a high frequency of unhealthy lifestyle habits among the younger age groups as compared to the older ones, with the highest frequency of these unhealthy behavior reported in the 18-39 years age group.

The effect of atmospheric pollution on Vitis vinifera L. pollen ultrastructure under natural conditions

The ultrastructural modification of pollen grains in Vitis vinifera L. variety and hybrids in areas of SO2 atmospheric pollution (the main polluting SO2 usually reaches 2.72 mg/m3), nitrogen oxide, and other gases derived from noniron metal processing factories have been studied. Strains 1001 and 1002, resistant varieties, do not undergo ultrastructural modifications. Neuburger and Issabelle, medium resistant ones, have a heterogeneity in ultrastructural organization from normal forms to forms having both wall covers as well as the main organelles changed.

Diabetic lymphangiopathy. An optical and electron microscopic study

The lymphatic capillaries in the tegument of the dorsal side of the leg in patients with diabetes mellitus, and especially in those with clinically manifested macroangiopathy, present morphopathological modifications at the level of the endothelium and the basal membrane. Ultrastructurally, the modifications appear as dilatations of the intercellular space, dislocation or desquamation of the endothelium, an exaggerated growth of the micropinocytic vesicles, the appearance of the intracellular vacuoles and of the lysosomes. These modifications point to an increase in the endothelium permeability, which is an important phenomenon in the diabetic microangiopathy.

Electron-microscopic studies on the effect of calcium pantothenate upon rat liver and locally irradiated epidermis

Calcium pantothenate was administered to Wistar rats in a dose of 180 mg/day/rat for 42 days, in order to investigate its effect upon the ultrastructure of the epidermis locally irradiated with a dose of 600 rep and upon partly hepatectomized liver and locally irradiated epidermis, as compared to control. The resulting data have revealed that calcium pantothenate is metabolized without entailing ultrastructural changes. Both liver and epidermis appear to be protected by calcium pantothenate, which greatly diminishes or even cancels the display of irradiation-induced negative effects. The changes brought about by irradiation are throughly presented and the subcellular mechanisms providing the radioprotection of epidermis and liver are accurately defined.

Short-Chain Fatty Acids as Bacterial Enterocytes and Therapeutic Target in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Diabetes mellitus is a disease with multiple gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, bloating) whose pathogenesis is multifactorial. The most important of these factors is the enteric nervous system, also known as the "second brain"; a part of the peripheral nervous system capable of functioning independently of the central nervous system. Modulation of the enteric nervous system can be done by short-chain fatty acids, which are bacterial metabolites of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, these acids provide multiple benefits in diabetes, particularly by stimulating glucagon-like peptide 1 and insulin secretion. However, it is not clear what type of nutraceuticals (probiotics, prebiotics, and alimentary supplements) can be used to increase the amount of short-chain fatty acids and achieve the beneficial effects in diabetes. Thus, even if several studies demonstrate that the gut microbiota modulates the activity of the ENS, and thus, may have a positive effect in diabetes, further studies are needed to underline this effect. This review outlines the most recent data regarding the involvement of SCFAs as a disease modifying agent in diabetes mellitus type 2. For an in-depth understanding of the modulation of gut dysbiosis with SCFAs in diabetes, we provide an overview of the interplay between gut microbiota and ENS.

Subcellular distribution of calcium within root meristem cells

The barley root (Hordeum vulgare) of 3-day old seedlings were treated with potassium oxalate to study the distribution of calcium among plant cell organelles. The best results were obtained by previously treating the root with 10(-3) M CaCl2 followed by an incubation for 20 min with potassium oxalate. The unstained sections for electronmicroscopy showed the deposits of calcium oxalate as a granular or a dark layer on the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleare envelope. Within all the cells, dark bodies, like vacuoles, were noticed.