Changes In Composition Of Intestinal Microbiota Research Articles

Sheng-Jiang powder ameliorates NAFLD via regulating intestinal microbiota in mice.

Intestinal microbiota have been demonstrated to be involved in the development of NAFLD, while the relationship between the severity of NAFLD and intestinal microbiota is still not fully elucidated. Sheng-Jiang Powder (SJP) showed exact efficacy in treating SFL and great potential in regulating intestinal microbiota, but the effects need to be further addressed in NASH and liver fibrosis. To investigate the differences in intestinal microbiota of NAFLD with different severity and the effect of SJP on liver damage and intestinal microbiota. NAFLD mice models with different severity were induced by high-fat diet (HFD) or choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAHFD) feeding and then treated with SJP/normal saline. Biochemical blood tests, H&E/Masson/Oil Red O/IHC staining, Western blot, and 16SrDNA sequencing were performed to explore intestinal microbiota alteration in different NAFLD models and the effect of SJP on liver damage and intestinal microbiota. Intestinal microbiota alteration was detected in all NAFLD mice. SJP induced increased expression of Pparγ and alleviated liver lipid deposition in all NAFLD mice. Microbiome analysis revealed obvious changes in intestinal microbiota composition, while SJP significantly elevated the relative abundance of Roseburia and Akkermansia, which were demonstrated to be beneficial for improving inflammation and intestinal barrier function. Our results demonstrated that SJP was effective in improving lipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, especially in mice with SFL. The potential mechanism may be associated with the regulation of intestinal microbiota.

Glycomacropeptide as an Efficient Agent to Fight Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Metabolic Syndrome.

There is currently a growing interest in the use of nutraceuticals as a means of preventing the development of complex diseases. Given the considerable health potential of milk-derived peptides, the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of glycomacropeptide (GMP) on metabolic syndrome. Particular emphasis was placed on the potential mechanisms mitigating cardiometabolic disorders in high-fat, high-fructose diet-fed mice in the presence of GMP or Bipro, an isocaloric control. The administration of GMP for 12 weeks reduced obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia caused by a high-fat, high-fructose diet, resulting in a decline in insulin resistance. GMP also lessened systemic inflammation, as indicated by decreased circulating inflammatory cytokines. In the intestinal and hepatic tissues, GMP improved homeostasis by increasing insulin sensitivity and attenuating high-fat, high-fructose-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Biochemical and histological analyses revealed improved hepatic steatosis and fatty acid composition in the livers of high-fat, high-fructose diet-fed mice treated with GMP compared to Bipro. A trend toward a decrease in bile acids without any marked changes in intestinal microbiota composition characterized GMP-treated animals compared to those administered Bipro. GMP offers considerable potential for fighting metabolic syndrome-related components and complications given its beneficial effects on risk factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress without involving the intestinal microbiota.

Fecal microbial biomarkers in older adults with autoimmune diseases.

Aim: To analyze the alterations in the fecal microbiota of older adults with autoimmune disease and determine the diagnostic capabilities of microbial biomarkers. Methods: The raw data of fecal samples from 444 older adults from the publicly available American Gut Project database was analyzed. Results: It was found that there were no significant differences in the microbiota richness and evenness between older adults with autoimmune disease and healthy controls. However, significant differences were observed in the microbiota composition and structure. The subject operating characteristic curve of the eight key microbiota was obtained, and the area under curve value was 70.0%. Conclusion: Older adults with autoimmune disease showed changes in intestinal microbiota composition, which can be used as microbial biomarkers.

Intestinal Microbiota of Anser fabalis Wintering in Two Lakes in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Floodplain.

The intestinal microbiota of migratory birds participate in the life activities of the host and are affected by external environmental factors. The difference in habitat environment provides diversity in external environmental selection pressure for the same overwintering waterfowl, which may be reflected in their intestinal microbiota. Caizi lake and Shengjin Lake in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Floodplain are the main habitats for migratory waterfowl in winter, especially the Anser fabalis (A. fabalis). It is important to explore the changes in intestinal microbiota composition and function of A. fabalis in the early overwintering period to clarify the effect of habitat size and protection status on intestinal microbiota. In this study, the composition and structural characteristics of the intestinal microbiota of A. fabalis in Shengjin Lake (SL) and Caizi Lake (CL) were preliminarily explored in order to obtain data for the migratory birds. In both SL and CL groups, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis showed that Firmicutes was the dominant bacterial phylum, but the relative abundance showed significant differences. Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus in both SL and CL groups. At the species level, the abundance of L. aviaries was the highest, with a relative abundance in both SL and CL groups of more than 34%. When comparing the average relative abundance of the 15 most abundant genera, it was found that Subdoligranulum, Exiguobacterium, and Terrisporobacter had higher abundances in the intestinal microbiota of CL A. fabalis, while Streptococcus and Rothia had higher abundances in the intestinal microbiota of SL A. fabalis. There was only a positive correlation between Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria in the intestinal microbiota flora of SL A. fabalis, and the species were closely related. At the same time, there were positive and negative correlations between Firmicutes and Actinomycetes. However, CL is mainly associated with a positive correlation between Firmicutes and Actinomycetes, and there are also a small number of connections between Firmicutes. PICRUSt1 prediction analysis revealed that the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) functions of SL and CL involve energy production and transformation, amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and transcription. Understanding the changes in intestinal microbiota in Aves during the overwintering period is of great importance to explore the adaptation mechanism of migratory Aves to the overwintering environment. This work provides basic data for an A. fabalis intestinal microbiota study.

Homeostasis and Dysbiosis of the Intestinal Microbiota: Comparing Hallmarks of a Healthy State with Changes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The gut microbiota, which represent a community of different microorganisms in the human intestinal tract, are crucial to preserving human health by participating in various physiological functions and acting as a metabolic organ. In physiological conditions, microbiota-host partnership exerts homeostatic stability; however, changes in intestinal microbiota composition (dysbiosis) are an important factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and its two main disease entities: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The incidence and prevalence of these inflammatory conditions have increased rapidly in the last decade, becoming a significant problem for the healthcare system and a true challenge in finding novel therapeutic solutions. The issue is that, despite numerous studies, the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is not completely clear. Based on current knowledge, chronic intestinal inflammation occurs due to altered intestinal microbiota and environmental factors, as well as a complex interplay between the genetic predisposition of the host and an inappropriate innate and acquired immune response. It is important to note that the development of biological and immunomodulatory therapy has led to significant progress in treating inflammatory bowel disease. Certain lifestyle changes and novel approaches-including fecal microbiota transplantation and nutritional supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics-have offered solutions for dysbiosis management and paved the way towards restoring a healthy microbiome, with only minimal long-term unfavorable effects.

Metabolic changes during exclusive enteral nutrition in pediatric Crohn’s disease patients

Background and aimsExclusive enteral nutrition is recommended as a first-line treatment in active pediatric Crohn’s Disease, but its mechanism of action is still not clear. We aimed to assess alterations in the metabolic profile of newly diagnosed pediatric Crohn’s Disease patients before and during exclusive enteral nutrition therapy.MethodsPlasma samples from 14 pediatric Crohn’s Disease patients before and after 3–4 weeks on exclusive enteral nutrition were analyzed using mass spectrometry. T-test, fold change and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used for mining significant features. Correlation analysis was performed between the annotated features and the weighted pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index using Pearson r distance.ResultsAmong the 13 compounds which decreased during exclusive enteral nutrition, most are related to diet, while one is a bacterial metabolite, Bacteriohopane-32,33,34,35-tetrol. The phosphatidic acid metabolite PA(15:1/18:0) was significantly reduced and correlated with the weighted pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index. Lipids increased during exclusive enteral nutrition therapy included phosphatidylethanolamines; PE(24:1/24:1), PE(17:2/20:2) and one lactosylceramide; LacCer(d18:1/14:0).ConclusionFood additives and other phytochemicals were the major metabolites, which decreased following the exclusion of a regular diet during exclusive enteral nutrition. An alteration in bacterial biomarkers may reflect changes in intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism. Thus, metabolomics provides an opportunity to characterize the molecular mechanisms of dietary factors triggering Crohn’s Disease activity, and the mechanisms of action of exclusive enteral nutrition, thereby providing the basis for the development and evaluation of improved intervention strategies for prevention and treatment.

Acupuncture alters the intestinal microbiota in mice with valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism-like behavior

Gut microbiota influences the development of brain and behaviors in patients with autism. Acupuncture therapy reportedly alleviates the symptoms of patients with autism and can regulate the gut microbiota of patients with a disease of the central nervous system via the gut microbiota-brain axis. However, whether acupuncture therapy influences the function and composition of the gut microbiota in patients with autism remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was conducted using a valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism mouse model to investigate how acupuncture therapy influences the intestinal microbiota in terms of species diversity, composition, and function. Mice were treated with VPA to induce autism, and then divided into two groups: autism without treatment (ASD) and autism with manual acupuncture (ASD-MA). Mice in the ASD-MA group were treated with acupuncture once daily for four weeks. And behavior test was performed. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from stool samples to amplify and sequence the V3–V4 regions of 16 ​S rRNA. The alpha and beta diversity were analyzed, and changes in intestinal microbiota composition at various taxonomic levels were analyzed. The Morris water maze test results showed that the number of times the mice reached the platform was significantly higher in the ASD-MA group than in the ASD group. The results of nonmetric multidimensional scaling and principal coordinate analysis, which were used for beta diversity analyses, revealed significant differences in the microbial communities between the ASD and ASD-MA groups. The ASD-MA group mice had changed abundances of some specific microbiota, which were positively correlated with better cognitive performance. Accordingly, the gut microbiota, such as Flavonifractor, Akkermansia, Dorea, Ruminococcus, and Barnesiella, may affect cognitive function of VPA-induced autism mice after acupuncture treatment. In conclusion, the results revealed that acupuncture therapy could affect the composition of the gut microbiota in mice with VPA-induced autism-like behavior.

Gut bacteria after recovery from COVID-19: a pilot study.

COVID-19 has been a major infectious disease lately in humans. 10% of people experience persistent symptoms twelve weeks after having COVID-19. The gut microbiota is essential for host immunity. Thus, gut microbiota composition may contribute to the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The impact of COVID-19 on the gut microbiota of patients during recovery is less explored. We investigated the potential alterations of bacterial gut microbiota of immediately recovered COVID-19 patients, and six months after their recovery. Stool samples were collected from 8 patients with COVID-19 immediately after their recovery, and six months after SARS-CoV-2 clearance, as well as from 8 healthy donors as a control group. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to analyze the correlation between disease recovery and microbiota using the immediately recovered and control group. Specific primers were designed for the most significantly altered bacteria and used to analyze the changes in intestinal microbiota composition of patients using qPCR. qPCR comparisons were performed on three groups: newly recovered from COVID-19, after six months of COVID-19 recovery, and healthy controls. Compared with the healthy control group, patients who immediately recovered from COVID-19 had significantly less presence of 15 bacterial groups. The immediately recovered patients had a very significantly higher relative abundance of the opportunistic pathogen Mycolicibacterium. No differences were found between the immediately recovered patients, and after six months of recovery using the qPCR analyses. Our results contribute novel insights regarding the alteration of human gut microbiota and the emergence of opportunistic pathogens in recovered patients of COVID-19. Further studies with a larger experimental size are needed to reveal balance or dysbiosis in patients after COVID-19 recovery.

Abstract 331: Modulation Of Murine Vasculitis And Cardiovascular Inflammation By The Gut Microbiota

Changes in intestinal microbiota composition and function are associated with development of cardiovascular disease, but the role of these alterations remains unclear in Kawasaki Disease (KD), an acute pediatric vasculitis that targets coronary arteries. Using a murine model of KD vasculitis, we observed reduced development of cardiovascular lesions in germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice. KD vasculitis in mice was associated with alterations in the gut microbiota composition and decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii . Supplementation with live or pasteurized A. muciniphila or F. prausnitzii attenuated the severity of KD cardiovascular inflammation. Oral administration of the short-chain fatty acids acetate or propionate, both produced by A. muciniphila, or butyrate, produced by F. prausnitzii , reduced the development of vascular inflammation. Furthermore, treatment with Amuc_1100, a purified protein isolated from the outer membrane of A. muciniphila , decreased the severity of murine KD vasculitis. Beneficial effects of either pasteurized A. muciniphila or Amuc_1100 on murine KD vasculitis development were associated with improvement of gut barrier function. These results reveal an underappreciated gut microbiota-cardiovascular inflammation axis during murine KD vasculitis. Our findings may incite the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies that modulate the intestinal microbiota composition and function for KD patients.

Early-Life Respiratory Infections in Infants with Cow's Milk Allergy: An Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research.

Acute respiratory infections are a common cause of morbidity in infants and young children. This high rate of respiratory infections in early life has a major impact on healthcare resources and antibiotic use, with the associated risk of increasing antibiotic resistance, changes in intestinal microbiota composition and activity and, consequently, on the future health of children. An international group of clinicians and researchers working in infant nutrition and cow’s milk allergy (CMA) met to review the available evidence on the prevalence of infections in healthy infants and in those with allergies, particularly CMA; the factors that influence susceptibility to infection in early life; links between infant feeding, CMA and infection risk; and potential strategies to modulate the gut microbiota and infection outcomes. The increased susceptibility of infants with CMA to infections, and the reported potential benefits with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics with regard to improving infection outcomes and reducing antibiotic usage in infants with CMA, makes this a clinically important issue that merits further research.

Comparison of Chicken Cecal Microbiota after Metaphylactic Treatment or Following Administration of Feed Additives in a Broiler Farm with Enterococcal Spondylitis History.

Minimizing the clinical signs of Enterococcus cecorum infections causing enterococcal spondylitis in broiler herds is successful when initiated as metaphylaxis in the first week of life. Mechanistically, either the Enterococcus species present at that time are reduced by antibiotic treatment or antibiotic treatment might induce changes in intestinal microbiota composition with an indirect and subsequent influence. The aim of the present study was to examine the cecal microbiota of chickens after administering lincospectin or different additives to evaluate whether these additives have lincospectin-like effects on microbiota. Therefore, 157,400 broiler chickens were reared in four chicken houses (~40,000 birds each) on a broiler farm with history of enterococcal spondylitis. Each flock was treated either with lincospectin or water soluble esterified butyrins, Bacillus (B.) licheniformis or palm oil was added via drinking water during the first days of life. Ten birds per house were dissected at days 11, 20 and 33 of life and cecal microbiota were analyzed (16S rRNA gene sequencing). Lincospectin treatment elicited significant changes in the cecal microbiota composition until slaughter age. Among the tested additives, effects of B. licheniformis on cecal microbiota composition were most similar to those seen after the treatment with lincospectin at day 11.

Carrying asymptomatic gallstones is not associated with changes in intestinal microbiota composition and diversity but cholecystectomy with significant dysbiosis

Gallstone disease affects up to twenty percent of the population in western countries and is a significant contributor to morbidity and health care expenditure. Intestinal microbiota have variously been implicated as either contributing to gallstone formation or to be affected by cholecystectomy. We conducted a large-scale investigation on 404 gallstone carriers, 580 individuals post-cholecystectomy and 984 healthy controls with similar distributions of age, sex, body mass index, smoking habits, and food-frequency-score. All 1968 subjects were recruited from the population-based Study-of-Health-in-Pomerania (SHIP), which includes transabdominal gallbladder ultrasound. Fecal microbiota profiles were determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No significant differences in microbiota composition were detected between gallstone carriers and controls. Individuals post-cholecystectomy exhibited reduced microbiota diversity, a decrease in the potentially beneficial genus Faecalibacterium and an increase in the opportunistic pathogen Escherichia/Shigella. The absence of an association between the gut microbiota and the presence of gallbladder stones suggests that there is no intestinal microbial risk profile increasing the likelihood of gallstone formation. Cholecystectomy, on the other hand, is associated with distinct microbiota changes that have previously been implicated in unfavorable health effects and may not only contribute to gastrointestinal infection but also to the increased colon cancer risk of cholecystectomized patients.

Association between physical activity and changes in intestinal microbiota composition: A systematic review.

The intestinal microbiota comprises bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, helminths and viruses that symbiotically inhabit the digestive system. To date, research has provided limited data on the possible association between an active lifestyle and a healthy composition of human microbiota. This review was aimed to summarize the results of human studies comparing the microbiome of healthy individuals with different physical activity amounts. We searched Medline/Ovid, NIH/PubMed, and Academic Search Complete between August-October 2020. Inclusion criteria comprised: (a) cross-sectional studies focused on comparing gut microbiome among subjects with different physical activity levels; (b) studies describing human gut microbiome responses to any type of exercise stimulus; (c) studies containing healthy adult women and men. We excluded studies containing diet modifications, probiotic or prebiotic consumption, as well as studies focused on diabetes, hypertension, cancer, hormonal dysfunction. Methodological quality and risk of bias for each study were assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions tool. The results from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are shown independently. A total of 17 articles were eligible for inclusion: ten cross-sectional and seven longitudinal studies. Main outcomes vary significantly according to physical activity amounts in longitudinal studies. We identified discrete changes in diversity indexes and relative abundance of certain bacteria in active people. As literature in this field is rapidly growing, it is important that studies incorporate diverse methods to evaluate other aspects related to active lifestyles such as sleep and dietary patterns. Exploration of other groups such as viruses, archaea and parasites may lead to a better understanding of gut microbiota adaptation to physical activity and sports and its potentially beneficial effects on host metabolism and endurance.

Kefir and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation: Implications in Human Health.

In the last decades changes in the pattern of health and disease in Latin America and in the world has been observed, with an increase in cases of chronic non-communicable diseases. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition can contribute to the development of these diseases and be useful in their management. In this context, the consumption of fermented foods with probiotic properties, such as kefir, stands out due to its gut microbiota-modulating capacity. There is an increasing interest in the commercial use of kefir since it can be marketed as a natural beverage containing health-promoting bacteria and has been gaining international popularity in Latin America. Also the consumption of these drinks in Latin America seems to be even more relevant, given the socioeconomic situation of this population, which highlights the need for disease prevention at the expense of its treatment. In this narrative review, we discuss how kefir may work against obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, immunity, and neurological disorders. Peptides, bioactive compounds and strains occurring in kefir, can modulate gut microbiota composition, low-grade inflammation and intestinal permeability, which consequently may generate health benefits. Kefir can also impact on the regulation of organism homeostasis, with a direct effect on the gut-brain axis, being a possible strategy for the prevention of metabolic diseases. Further studies are needed to standardize these bioactive compounds and better elucidate the mechanisms linking kefir and intestinal microbiota modulation. However, due to the benefits reported, low cost and ease of preparation, kefir seems to be a promising approach to prevent and manage microbiota-related diseases in Latin America and the rest of the world.

Citrulline supplementation attenuates the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in female mice through mechanisms involving intestinal arginase

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is by now the most prevalent liver disease worldwide. The non-proteogenic amino acid l-citrulline (L-Cit) has been shown to protect mice from the development of NAFLD. Here, we aimed to further assess if L-Cit also attenuates the progression of a pre-existing diet-induced NAFLD and to determine molecular mechanisms involved. Female C57BL/6J mice were either fed a liquid fat-, fructose- and cholesterol-rich diet (FFC) or control diet (C) for 8 weeks to induce early stages of NASH followed by 5 more weeks with either FFC-feeding +/- 2.5 g L-Cit/kg bw or C-feeding. In addition, female C57BL/6J mice were either pair-fed a FFC +/- 2.5 g L-Cit/kg bw +/- 0.01 g/kg bw i.p. N(ω)-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (NOHA) or C diet for 8 weeks.The protective effects of supplementing L-Cit on the progression of a pre-existing NAFLD were associated with an attenuation of 1) the increased translocation of bacterial endotoxin and 2) the loss of tight junction proteins as well as 3) arginase activity in small intestinal tissue, while no marked changes in intestinal microbiota composition were prevalent in small intestine. Treatment of mice with the arginase inhibitor NOHA abolished the protective effects of L-Cit on diet-induced NAFLD. Our results suggest that the protective effects of L-Cit on the development and progression of NAFLD are related to alterations of intestinal arginase activity and intestinal permeability.

Donor Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Alters Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Obese Individuals With Steatohepatitis.

The intestinal microbiota has been linked to the development and prevalence of steatohepatitis in humans. Interestingly, steatohepatitis is significantly lower in individuals taking a plant‐based, low‐animal‐protein diet, which is thought to be mediated by gut microbiota. However, data on causality between these observations in humans is scarce. In this regard, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using healthy donors is safe and is capable of changing microbial composition in human disease. We therefore performed a double‐blind randomized controlled proof‐of‐principle study in which individuals with hepatic steatosis on ultrasound were randomized to two study arms: lean vegan donor (allogenic n = 10) or own (autologous n = 11) FMT. Both were performed three times at 8‐week intervals. A liver biopsy was performed at baseline and after 24 weeks in every subject to determine histopathology (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network) classification and changes in hepatic gene expression based on RNA sequencing. Secondary outcome parameters were changes in intestinal microbiota composition and fasting plasma metabolomics. We observed a trend toward improved necro‐inflammatory histology, and found significant changes in expression of hepatic genes involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism following allogenic FMT. Intestinal microbial community structure changed following allogenic FMT, which was associated with changes in plasma metabolites as well as markers of . Conclusion: Allogenic FMT using lean vegan donors in individuals with hepatic steatosis shows an effect on intestinal microbiota composition, which is associated with beneficial changes in plasma metabolites and markers of steatohepatitis.

Reduced Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Plasma Concentrations Are Associated with Decreased Psychological Well-Being in Clinically Stable Congestive Heart Failure Patients

Abstract Objectives Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) frequently suffer from cognitive deficits and depressive symptoms. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition have been suggested to promote those features in CHF via alterations in their metabolite release. We examined the association between reduced psychological well-being (including cognitive deficits, depressive symptoms, and quality of life) and changes in plasma concentrations of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and butyrate (C4) as main metabolites of microbial fiber fermentation. We previously found a high correlation between colonic production and plasma concentration. Methods We recruited 15 clinically stable CHF patients (EF: 35.7 (2.6)%, NYHA class: 2.3 (0.2), BW: 100.1 (5.4) kg) and 17 healthy controls (BW: 77.9 (3.2) kg) matched for age and gender. After an overnight fast, venous plasma was collected, vital signs taken, and body composition measured by DXA. Cognitive function, quality of life and severity of depressive symptoms were assessed using questionnaires. SCFA concentrations (in μM) were measured by GC-MS. Stats by unpaired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Data are mean (SE). Results CHF patients showed lower C3 (2.75 (0.13) vs. 3.12 (0.12), P = 0.0498) and C4 (1.18 (0.06) vs. 1.44 (0.09), P = 0.031) while C2 was similar between the groups (50.0 (12.2) vs. 62.0 (9.79), P = 0.203). CHF patients with lower C3 and C4 reported a lower quality of life (C3-MLHFQ score, r: −0.637, P = 0.014) and higher depression (C3-HADS depression score, r: −0.622, P = 0.013; C4-depression: r: −0.474, P = 0.087) and anxiety rates (C3-HADS anxiety score, r: −0.647, P = 0.009). Additionally, lower C2 was associated with a higher systolic blood pressure (r: −0.618, P = 0.024). CHF patients with lower C4 had a higher BMI (r: −0.608, P = 0.021) and fat mass index (r: −0.553, P = 0.040). No correlations with cognitive function were found. Conclusions Plasma propionate and butyrate concentrations are decreased in mainly obese CHF patients and higher SCFA concentrations are associated with less psychological symptoms, lower fat mass and BMI, as well as improved blood pressure. More research is required to test whether fiber supplementation can improve psychological and overall well-being in CHF. Funding Sources NIH; Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance.

Time-dependent alteration to the tight junction structure of distal intestinal epithelia in type 2 prediabetic mice

AimHigh-fat diet (HFD) intake has been associated with changes in intestinal microbiota composition, increased intestinal permeability, and onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this work was twofold: 1) to investigate the structural and functional alterations of the tight junction (TJ)-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier of ileum and colon, that concentrate most of the microbiota, after exposure to a HFD for 15, 30 and 60 days, and 2) to assess the effect of in vitro exposure to free fatty acids (FFAs), one of the components of HFD, on paracellular barrier of colon-derived Caco-2 cells. Methods/key findingsHFD exposure induced progressive metabolic changes in male mice that culminated in prediabetes after 60d. Morphological analysis of ileum and colon mucosa showed no signs of epithelial rupture or local inflammation but changes in the junctional content/distribution and/or cellular content of TJ-associated proteins (claudins-1, -2, -3, and occludin) in intestinal epithelia were seen mainly after a prediabetes state has been established. This impairment in TJ structure was not associated with significant changes in intestinal permeability to FITC-dextran. Exposure of Caco-2 monolayers to palmitic or linoleic acids seems to induce a reinforcement of TJ structure while treatment with oleic acid had a more diverse effect on TJ protein distribution. SignificanceTJ structure in distal intestinal epithelia can be specifically impaired by HFD intake at early stage of T2DM, but not by FFAs in vitro. Since the TJ change in ileum/colon was marginal, probably it does not contribute to the disease onset.

Prebiotics may reduce serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and ghrelin in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Biochemical markers correlate positively with the development and severity of obesity, depression, and anxiety, and can be modulated by changes in intestinal microbiota composition. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of prebiotics or synbiotics on blood biomarkers of obesity, depression, and anxiety (including: ACTH [adrenocorticotropic hormone], cortisol, leptin, ghrelin, TSH [thyroid-stimulating hormone], PTH [parathyroid hormone], vitamin D, BDNF [brain-derived neurotrophic factor], and PCR [polymerase chain reaction]) in individuals with overweight or obesity. MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases were searched, along with the reference lists of included articles. Authors were contacted for unpublished data. RCT in individuals with overweight or obesity, supplemented with prebiotics or synbiotics, assessing any of the outcomes of interest. Data were extracted independently by three researchers. Thirteen studies were identified up to March 7, 2018. Regarding outcomes, 1 study assessed leptin, 4 studies assessed ghrelin, and 10 studies assessed CRP (C-reactive protein). Meta-analysis showed reduction in serum concentrations of ghrelin (-37.17 pg/mL; 95%CI = -69.62, -4.73; P = 0.025) and CRP (SMD [standardized mean difference] = -0.31; 95%CI = -0.58, -0.04; P = 0.027) after supplementation of inulin-type fructans. Prebiotics may help regulate blood concentrations of ghrelin and CRP in overweight or obese individuals.

The Clinical Link between Human Intestinal Microbiota and Systemic Cancer Therapy.

Clinical interest in the human intestinal microbiota has increased considerably. However, an overview of clinical studies investigating the link between the human intestinal microbiota and systemic cancer therapy is lacking. This systematic review summarizes all clinical studies describing the association between baseline intestinal microbiota and systemic cancer therapy outcome as well as therapy-related changes in intestinal microbiota composition. A systematic literature search was performed and provided 23 articles. There were strong indications for a close association between the intestinal microbiota and outcome of immunotherapy. Furthermore, the development of chemotherapy-induced infectious complications seemed to be associated with the baseline microbiota profile. Both chemotherapy and immunotherapy induced drastic changes in gut microbiota composition with possible consequences for treatment efficacy. Evidence in the field of hormonal therapy was very limited. Large heterogeneity concerning study design, study population, and methods used for analysis limited comparability and generalization of results. For the future, longitudinal studies investigating the predictive ability of baseline intestinal microbiota concerning treatment outcome and complications as well as the potential use of microbiota-modulating strategies in cancer patients are required. More knowledge in this field is likely to be of clinical benefit since modulation of the microbiota might support cancer therapy in the future.