Metabolism Of Vitamin Research Articles

Yi-Shen-Hua-Shi regulates intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and protects against proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease: a randomized controlled study

Context Yi-Shen-Hua-Shi (YSHS) is a traditional Chinese medicine that treats chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its efficacy in reducing proteinuria and underlying mechanisms is unknown. Objective This single-center randomized controlled trial explored whether YSHS could improve proteinuria and modulate the gut microbiota. Materials and methods 120 CKD patients were enrolled and randomized to receive the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor plus YSHS (n = 56) or RAAS inhibitor (n = 47) alone for 4 months, and 103 patients completed the study. We collected baseline and follow-up fecal samples and clinical outcomes from participants. Total bacterial DNA was extracted, and the fecal microbiome was analyzed using bioinformatics. Results Patients in the intervention group had a significantly higher decrease in 24-h proteinuria. After 4 months of the YSHS intervention, the relative abundance of bacteria that have beneficial effects on the body, such as Faecalibacterium, Lachnospiraceae, Lachnoclostridium, and Sutterella increased significantly, while pathogenic bacteria such as the Eggerthella and Clostridium innocuum group decreased. However, we could not find these changes in the control group. Redundancy analysis showed that the decline in 24-h proteinuria during follow-up was significantly correlated with various taxa of gut bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae and the Lachnoclostridium genus in the YSHS group. KEGG analysis also showed the potential role of YSHS in regulating glycan, lipid, and vitamin metabolism. Discussion and conclusion The YSHS granule reduced proteinuria associated with mitigating intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in CKD patients. The definite mechanisms of YSHS to improve proteinuria need to be further explored. Trial registration ChiCTR2300076136, retrospectively registered.

184 The metabolism of vitamin D is modulated by vitamin C supplementation during porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome challenge in post-weaning piglets

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of different dietary vitamin D sources combined or not with vitamin C on serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations and the expression of genes related to antimicrobial peptides and to the metabolism of vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P). From weaning (d 21) until d 68, 27 piglets were fed a post-weaning diet supplemented with: 1,500 IU of vitamin D3 (CTR; n = 9); 200 IU of vitamin D3 + 2,000 IU of 25(OH)D3 (HD; n = 8); or HD + 500 mg/kg of vitamin C (HD+C; n = 10). From d 40 to 68 piglets were exposed to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) using a natural disease challenge model. At d 68, after blood collection, all piglets were euthanized for the collection of lung and kidney samples. The concentrations of serum 25(OH)D3 were determined by HPLC and the mRNA expression of genes of interest was assessed by qPCR. Data were analyzed in a one-way analysis of variance with three treatments. At d 40 (after 19 d of supplementation), serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were greatest for HD+C (22.48 ± 1.25 ng/mL), intermediate for HD (17.43 ± 0.84 ng/mL), and least for CTR (8.54 ± 0.65 ng/mL) treatments (P < 0.01). At d 68 (after 28 d of PRRS challenge) these values were greatest for HD (14.64 ± 2.77 ng/mL), intermediate for CTR (6.22 ± 0.59 ng/mL), and least for HD+C (2.18 ± 0.13 ng/mL; P < 0.01). No treatments effect was detected on pulmonary CYP27B1, RXRα, SLC23A1, RIGI, PR-39, and pBD1. In lungs, VDR expression was least for HD+C (P ≤ 0.06) whereas MDA5 expression was greatest for HD+C (P ≤ 0.07), and SLC23A2 expression was greatest for HD (P ≤ 0.09; Table 1). No treatments effect was detected on expression of renal FGFR1, KL, RXRα, SLC23A1, SLC23A2, and TPRV5. In kidney, CYP27B1 expression was greatest for HD+C groups (P = 0.03) and CYP24A expression was greatest for HD (P = 0.01). Renal EGR1 and NPT2c expressions were greatest for CTR groups and least for HD+C (P = 0.09) whereas WNK4 expression was greatest for HD+C and least for CTR (P = 0.10). Renal VDR expression was greatest for HD groups and least for HD+C (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, vitamin C supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations in pre-challenged piglets. These concentrations were reduced by vitamin C supplementation after PRRS challenge, which may be related to a greater synthesis of the active form of vitamin D in the kidney. Little effects were detected on pulmonary antimicrobial peptides, but the gene expression related to renal P reabsorption was influenced by HD+C whereas Ca reabsorption was apparently not impacted by treatments.

Chemoreactomic analysis of acyzole in comparison with zinc derivatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Background. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are characterized by ulcerogenic effects and used for effective and safe pharmacotherapy of inflammation and pain. The zinc-containing drug acyzole is a promising anti-inflammatory drug that potentially does not have this drawback. Objective: to conduct chemoreactomic modeling of the pharmacological effects of acyzole and zinc derivatives of well-known NSAIDs (diclofenac, nimesulide, ketorolac).Material and methods. The analysis of the pharmacological capabilities of NSAIDs was based on a chemoinformatic approach, i.e. comparing the chemical structure of the studied molecules with the structures of millions of other molecules with established molecular pharmacological properties. The analysis procedure was based on the latest machine learning technologies developed in the theory of topological and metric analysis of feature descriptions.Results. It was shown that acyzole might have an anti-inflammatory effect due to its impact on the activity of cytokines and, partly, on the metabolism of prostaglandins and leuktrienes. The central effects of acyzole are comparable to those of zinc-NSAIDs. The analgesic effect of acyzole may be associated with kinin receptors inhibition, and weak antihistamine and antinociceptin effects. Acizol may also exhibit a gastroprotective effect. It was established that acyzole, to a lesser extent than the reference molecules, negatively affected the metabolism of vitamins and microelements.Conclusion. Chemoreactomic profiling of acyzole indicates prospects for its use as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Nitric oxide alleviates programmed cell death induced by cadmium in Solanum lycopersicum seedlings through protein S-nitrosylation

Cadmium (Cd), as a non-essential and toxic heavy metal in plants, has deleterious effects on plant physiological and biochemical processes. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important signaling molecules for plants to response diverse stresses. Here, we found that Cd-induced programmed cell death (PCD) was accompanied by NO bursts, which exacerbated cell death when NO was removed and vice versa. Proteomic analysis of S-nitrosylated proteins showed that the differential proteins in Cd-induced PCD and in NO-alleviated PCD mainly exist together in carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism, while some of the differential proteins exist alone in metabolism of cofactors and vitamins and lipid metabolism. Meanwhile, S-nitrosylation of proteins in porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism could explain the leaf chlorosis induced by PCD. Moreover, protein transport protein SEC23, ubiquitinyl hydrolase 1 and pathogenesis-related protein 1 were identified to be S-nitrosylated in vivo, and their expressions were increased in Cd-induced PCD while decreased in NO treatment. Similar results were obtained in tomato seedlings with higher S-nitrosylation. Taken together, our results indicate that NO might be involved in the regulation of Cd-induced PCD through protein S-nitrosylation, especially proteins involved in PCD response.

Unveiling the regulatory mechanism of poly-γ-glutamic acid on soil characteristics under drought stress through integrated metagenomics and metabolomics analysis

It is of utmost importance to understand the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of soil in order to optimize soil management and enhance crop yield. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a stress-resistant amino acid polymer, plays a crucial role in plant drought stress resistance. However, little is known about the effects of γ-PGA on soil characteristics during drought treatments. In this study, the effects of different forms of γ-PGA on soil texture and basic physical and chemical properties under short-term drought conditions were investigated. Furthermore, the impact of γ-PGA on the microbial community and metabolic function of maize was analyzed. Under drought conditions, the introduction of γ-PGA into the soil resulted in notable improvements in the mechanical composition ratio and infiltration capacity of the soil. Concurrently, this led to a reduction in soil bulk density and improved soil organic matter content and fertility. Additionally, metagenomic analysis revealed that under drought conditions, the incorporation of γ-PGA into the soil enhanced the soil microbiota structure. This shift led to the predominance of bacteria that are crucial for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in the soil. Metabolomics analysis revealed that under drought treatment, γ-PGA affected soil metabolic patterns, with a particular focus on alterations in amino acid and vitamin metabolism pathways. Correlation analysis between the soil metagenome and metabolites showed that microorganisms played a significant role in metabolite accumulation. These results demonstrated that γ-PGA could improve soil characteristics under drought conditions and play an important role in soil microorganisms and microbial metabolism, providing further insights into the changes in soil characteristics under drought conditions.

Changes in bacterial community composition in the uterus of Holstein cow with endometritis before and after treatment with oxytetracycline

It is important to study the bacteria that cause endometritis to identify effective therapeutic drugs for dairy cows. In this study, 20% oxytetracycline was used to treat Holstein cows (n = 6) with severe endometritis. Additional 10 Holstein cows (5 for healthy cows, 5 for cows with mild endometritis) were also selected. At the same time, changes in bacterial communities were monitored by high-throughput sequencing. The results show that Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and other common pathogenic bacteria could be detected by traditional methods in cows both with and without endometritis. However, 16S sequencing results show that changes in the abundance of these bacteria were not significant. Endometritis is often caused by mixed infections in the uterus. Oxytetracycline did not completely remove existing bacteria. However, oxytetracycline could effectively inhibit endometritis and had a significant inhibitory effect on the genera Bacteroides, Trueperella, Peptoniphilus, Parvimonas, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium but had no significant inhibitory effect on the bacterial genera Marinospirillum, Erysipelothrix, and Enteractinococcus. During oxytetracycline treatment, the cell motility, endocrine system, exogenous system, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid metabolism, metabolism of terpenoids, polyketides, cofactors and vitamins, signal transduction, and transport and catabolism pathways were affected.

Gut Microbiota Affects Host Fitness of Fall Armyworm Feeding on Different Food Types

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, seriously threatens food and cash crops. Maize, wheat, and even rice damage by FAWs have been reported in many areas of China. It is urgent to clarify the mechanism which FAWs adapt to different feeding hosts and develop effective control technologies. Two-sex life tables and 16s rDNA sequencing were used to determine the host fitness and gut microbial diversity of FAWs when fed four different food types. Considering the life history parameters, pupa weight, and nutrient utilization indexes, the host fitness of FAWs when fed different food types changed in descending order as follows: artificial diet, maize, wheat, and rice. The gut microbial composition and the diversity of FAWs when fed different food types were significantly different, and those changes were driven by low-abundant bacteria. The gut microbes of FAWs that were fed with maize had the highest diversity. The functions of the gut microbes with significant abundance differences were enriched in nutrient and vitamin metabolism and other pathways that were closely related to host adaptation. Furthermore, we identified five genera (Acinetobacter, Variovorax, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Serratia) and one genus (Rahnella) that were positively and negatively correlated with the host fitness, respectively. This study revealed the possible role of gut microbes in the host adaptation of FAWs.

Chronic Pancreatitis-Associated Metabolic Bone Diseases: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Clinical Advances.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disease with an increasing global prevalence. In recent years, a strong association between CP and metabolic bone diseases (MBDs), especially osteoporosis, has been identified, attracting significant attentions in the research field. Epidemiological data suggest a rising trend in the incidence of MBDs among CP patients. Notably, recent studies have highlighted a profound interplay between CP and altered nutritional and immune profiles, offering insights into its linkage with MBDs.At molecular level, CP introduces a series of biochemical disturbances that compromise bone homeostasis. One critical observation is the disrupted metabolism of vitamin D and vitamin K, both essential micronutrients for maintaining bone integrity, in CP patients. In this review, we provide physio-pathological perspectives on the development and mechanisms of CP-related MBDs. We also outline some of the latest therapeutic strategies for treating patients with CP-associated MBDs, including stem cell transplantation, monoclonal antibodies, and probiotic therapy. In summary, CP-associated MBDs represent a rising medical challenge, involving multiple tissues and organs, complex disease mechanisms, and diverse treatment approaches. More in-depth studies are required for understanding the complex interplay between CP and MBDs to facilitate the development of more specific and effective therapeutic approaches.

Inherited metabolic disorders in Cyprus

Selective screening for inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) began in Cyprus in 1990. Over the last thirty-three years 7388 patients were investigated for IMD and 200 diagnoses were made (diagnostic yield 2.7%). The existence of a single laboratory of Biochemical Genetics for the whole island facilitated the creation of a national registry for IMD. The minimal prevalence of IMD in Cyprus is 53.3 cases per 100,000 live births. The most common group are disorders of amino acid metabolism (41.0%), followed by disorders of carbohydrate metabolism (16.5%), disorders of complex molecule degradation (16.5%), mitochondrial disorders (10.5%) and disorders of vitamin and co-factor metabolism (5.5%). Hyperphenylalaninaemia is the most common IMD (14.0%) followed by galactosaemia (7.0%), glutaric aciduria type I (5.5%) and MSUD (4.0%). Some disorders were found to have a relatively high incidence in specific communities, for example Sandhoff disease among the Cypriot Maronites and GM1 gangliosidosis in one particular area of the island. Other disorders were found to have a relatively higher overall incidence, compared to other Caucasian populations, for example galactosaemia, glutaric aciduria type I and MSUD, while fatty acid oxidation defects, Gaucher disease and classic PKU were found to have a relatively lower incidence. Molecular characterization of selected disorders revealed many novel genetic variants, specific to the Cypriot population.

Changes in the Quality and Microbial Communities of Precooked Seasoned Crayfish Tail Treated with Microwave and Biological Preservatives during Room Temperature Storage.

The qualities of precooked foods can be significantly changed by the microorganisms produced during room temperature storage. This work assessed the effects of different antibacterial treatments (CK, without any treatment; microwave treatment, MS; microwave treatment and biological preservatives, MSBP) on the physicochemical properties and microbial communities of precooked crayfish tails during room temperature storage. Only the combination of microwave sterilization and biological preservatives significantly inhibited spoilage, as evidenced by the total viable count (4.15 log CFU/g) after 3 days of room temperature storage, which satisfied the transit time of most logistics companies in China. Changes in pH and TVB-N were also significantly inhibited in the MSBP group compared with those in the CK and MS groups. More than 30 new volatile compounds were produced in the CK groups during room temperature storage. However, in the MSBP groups, the volatile compounds were almost unchanged. The correlations between the microbial composition and volatile compounds suggested that specific bacterial species with metabolic activities related to amino acid, energy, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism, as well as xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, were responsible for the changes in volatile compounds. These bacteria included Psychrobacter, Arthrobacter, Facklamia, Leucobacter, Corynebacterium, Erysipelothrix, Devosia, Dietzia, and Acidovorax. Overall, our findings provide a foundation for the development of strategies to inhibit spoilage in precooked crayfish tails stored at room temperature.

Characteristics of the oral microbiota in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology that is considered to be related to environmental and genetic factors. The aim of this study was to clarify the oral microflora characteristics of pSS patients and to reveal the connection between oral bacterial composition and dental caries using a high-throughput sequencing technique. Thirty-five pSS patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We collected saliva and plaque samples from pSS patients and saliva samples from healthy controls. We used 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) high-throughput sequencing targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region to determine the composition and structure of the microbiota in the three sample sets. Finally, bioinformatics analyses, including the diversity of the microbiota, species differences, and functional prediction were performed. In the alpha diversity and beta diversity analysis, the Chao1 (P < 0.01), observed species (P < 0.01), and PD whole tree indices (P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the saliva and plaque samples of pSS patients than in the saliva samples of healthy controls, but the Shannon (P < 0.01) and Simpson indices (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the healthy controls, and their total diversity significantly differed. In the main flora composition at the genus level (top 10), we identified Prevotella and Veillonella as more enriched in the saliva of pSS patients and Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, and Leptotrichia as more enriched in the plaque of pSS patients. Predictive functional analysis showed that the oral microbiota of pSS patients was related to translation, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and nucleotide metabolism. The oral microbial ecology of patients with pSS is dysregulated, resulting in a decrease in overall diversity. Prevotella and Veillonella may be related to pSS, while Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, and Leptotrichia may be related to dental caries in pSS patients. Key Points • This study revealed differences in the oral microbial composition of patients with pSS compared to healthy controls. • We included a plaque group of pSS patients to identify the microbiota related to pSS and dental caries. • Prevotella and Veillonella may contribute to pSS, and Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, and Leptotrichia are associated with dental caries in pSS patients.

Metagenomic Analyses Reveal Gut Microbial Profiles of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Driven by the Infection of Baculovirus CnmeGV.

The composition of microbiota in the digestive tract gut is essential for insect physiology, homeostasis, and pathogen infection. Little is known about the interactions between microbiota load and oral infection with baculoviruses. CnmeGV is an obligative baculovirus to Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. We investigated the impact of CnmeGV infection on the structure of intestinal microbes of C. medinalis during the initial infection stage. The results revealed that the gut microbiota profiles were dynamically driven by pathogen infection of CnmeGV. The numbers of all the OTU counts were relatively higher at the early and later stages, while the microbial diversity significantly increased early but dropped sharply following the infection. The compositional abundance of domain bacteria Firmicutes developed substantially higher. The significantly enriched and depleted species can be divided into four groups at the species level. Fifteen of these species were ultimately predicted as the biomarkers of CnmeGV infection. CnmeGV infection induces significant enrichment of alterations in functional genes related to metabolism and the immune system, encompassing processes such as carbohydrate, amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism. Finally, the study may provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between host microbiota, baculovirus infection, and pest control of C. medinalis.

Search for predictors of complications of acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation – protocol of a prospective open cohort study PROMETHEUS

During the first year after myocardial infarction, coronary artery restenosis, fatal arrhythmias, hospitalization for heart failure or cardiac death may occur. It is necessary to search for biomarkers to predict complications of myocardial infarction. As such predictors, it seems promising to introduce the ABCDE-SE echocardiographic protocol, as well as study the metabolism of vitamin D and proteins of the fibrinolysis system. Cardiospecific microRNAs-21, -29, -143 can be used as pathogenetic factors in the development of complications; it is proposed to study the ongoing pharmacotherapy and patients’ compliance with it as controllable factors.Aim: To search for predictors of complications of myocardial infarction based on the assessment of echocardiographic parameters, vitamin D metabolism, components of the fibrinolysis system and cardiac-specific microRNAs.Material and Methods. The PROMETHEUS study is designed as a prospective, open-label, non-randomized cohort study. It is planned to include 300 patients newly admitted to the vascular center with a preliminary diagnosis of ST-segment elevation ACS. All patients will have their vitamin D concentrations determined; genetic variants of polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor gene and vitamin D binding protein; concentrations of urokinase and soluble urokinase receptor; microRNA-21, -29, -143, as well as echocardiography using the ABCDE-SE protocol at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months from inclusion. Pharmacotherapy will be assessed at all stages.Expected results: Based on the results of the study, a comprehensive algorithm for optimizing the prediction and prevention of complications of myocardial infarction will be developed and introduced into practical healthcare.

Introducing a Possible Proteomic and Genomic Biomarker Panel Related to Methanol Poisoning: A Review

Context: Methanol is one of the simplest organic compounds widely used in industry. It is highly toxic and unfit for human consumption. The abuse of methanol-containing beverages is becoming a severe health problem. This review discusses new clinical and pathological manifestations alongside proteomic and genomic changes based on methanol's toxic effects. Evidence Acquisition: Medical literature was reviewed in Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed to examine the effect of methanol intoxication on proteomic and genomic changes in the human body. Results: The results revealed the rapid direct absorption of methanol and its spread in body tissues. Various side effects, from digestive problems to neurological disorders, blindness, and death, could occur depending on the consumed dosage. Methanol poisoning causes extensive changes at the protein level, affecting blood coagulation, vitamin metabolism, immune response, and lipid transport processes. Methanol could alter the gene expression profile pattern by increasing the production of free radical species, which cause changes in DNA nucleotides. Conclusions: In conclusion, since methanol poisoning is associated with serious adverse effects (protein expression changes) and mortality, it should be managed seriously and promptly.

Impact of temperature stress on Pyropia yezoensis and its inhabitant microbiota to promote aquaculture

The diverse inhabitant microbiota of Pyropia yezoensis can establish both beneficial and harmful interactions that effect community structure. It is complex to understand the seaweed microbial diversity and their ecological and functional regulations which are affected by numerous environmental factors. In this study, temperature stress was focused to understand the metagenomics of P. yezoensis microbiota, its functional annotation and the metabolites regulation of P. yezoensis. The samples of P. yezoensis from yellow sea of China were divided into two groups i.e low temperature 5°C (LT) and High temperature 25°C (HT). The genes and functional level analysis were followed by using metagenomic sequencing analysis and sequencing of 16sRNA gene. The Pyropia yezoensis samples were also analyzed through LCMS for metabolites regulation due to effects of microbiota and temperature stress. According to taxonomic classification analysis, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were predominant in both samples with over-representation of these species in high temperature stress samples. A diverse relationship between the bacterial communities residing in the LT and HT samples was explored through discriminant analysis. The functional prediction of bacterial communities from KEGG analysis revealed a notable increase in HT predicted genes associated to amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, co-factors and vitamins metabolism, membrane transport, and nucleotide metabolism. The provoked chemical signaling and transportation response from the bacterial community, leading to activation of metabolic genes to utilize the available substrates of seaweed. The LCMS illustrated that the primary metabolites of Pyropia yezoensis were down regulated due to effect of high temperature which indicates a negative effect on the growth and health of Pyropia, while the secondary metabolites were up-regulated showing the defensive mechanism against unbearable stress. These up and down regulated metabolites also activated their respective pathways, suggesting the adoptive mechanism of P. yezoensis in response of high temperature.

Gut microbiota in vaccine naïve Gabonese children with rotavirus A gastroenteritis

BackgroundWhile the gut microbiome modulates the pathogenesis of enteric viruses, how infections caused by rotavirus A (RVA), with or without diarrhoea, alter the gut microbiota has been sparsely studied. MethodsFrom a cohort of 224 vaccine naïve Gabonese children with and without diarrhoea (n = 177 and n = 67, respectively), 48 stool samples were analysed: (i) RVA with diarrhoea (n = 12); (ii) RVA without diarrhoea (n = 12); (iii) diarrhoea without RVA (n = 12); (iv) healthy controls without diarrhoea and RVA (n = 12). The 16S rRNA metabarcoding using Oxford Nanopore sequencing data was analysed for taxonomic composition, abundance, alpha and beta diversity, and metabolic pathways. FindingsAlpha diversity showed that children with acute diarrhoea (with and without RVA infection), and children with acute diarrhoea without RVA had low microbial diversity compared to healthy children (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). No significant differences observed when comparing children with RVA with or without diarrhoea. Beta diversity revealed high microbial heterogeneity in children without diarrhoea. Proteobacteria (68%) and Firmicutes (69%) were most common in the diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea groups, respectively. Proteobacteria (53%) were most common in children without RVA, while Firmicutes (55%) were most common with RVA. At the genus level, Escherichia (21%), Klebsiella (10%) and Salmonella (4%) were abundant in children with diarrhoea, while Blautia (11%), Clostridium (8%), Lachnoclostridium (6%) and Ruminococcus (5%) were abundant in children without diarrhoea. Metabolites involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, nucleotide, and vitamin metabolism were quantitatively altered. InterpretationAlthough host physiology dictates the intestinal milieu, diarrhoea per se can alter a balanced gut microbiota, whereas infectious diarrhoea disrupts the gut microbiome and reduces its diversity.

Spatio-temporal analysis of toxigenic genes expression in the growing Bufo gargarizans based on RNA sequencing data

BackgroundBufo gargarizans Cantor, a widely distributed amphibian species in Asia, produces and releases toxins through its retroauricular and granular glands. Although various tissues have been sequenced, the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxin production remain unclear. To elucidate these mechanisms, abdominal skin (non-toxic secretory glands) and retroauricular gland (toxic secreting glands) samples were collected at different time points (3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months) for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and analysis. ResultsIn comparison to the S group during the same period, a total of 3053, 3026, 1516, 1028, and 2061 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified across five developmental stages. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that DEGs were primarily enriched in biological processes including cellular processes, single-organism processes, metabolic processes, and biological regulation. In terms of cellular components, the DEGs were predominantly localized in the cell and cell parts, whereas molecular function indicated significant enrichment in binding and catalytic activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the metabolism and synthesis of various substances, such as lipid metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and primary bile acid biosynthesis, were accompanied by the development of toads. Additionally, using trend analysis, we discovered candidate genes that were upregulated in the retroauricular glands during development, and the abundance of these genes in the abdominal skin was extremely low. Finally, we identified 26 genes that are likely to be involved in toxin production and that are likely to be involved in toxin anabolism. ConclusionOverall, these results provide new insights into the genes involved in toxin production in B. gargarizans, which will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying toxigenic gene expression.

Dietary metabolites and blood pressure regulation in dietary feeding interventions: a systematic review

Hypertension, characterised by elevated blood pressure (BP), continues to be a major global public health problem. It is defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥90 mmH(1) and is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases(2). Nutritional metabolomics (Nutrimetabolomics) presents an objective approach to explore the interplay between diet and health outcomes(3). Through analysis of intermediate molecules and metabolic byproducts, metabolomic profiles can objectively reflect an individual’s dietary intake and assess variations in metabolism(3). To date, no review has been conducted that investigates the relationship between diet, metabolites and BP regulation. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise findings of human dietary feeding intervention studies that have examined the role of metabolites in BP regulation. A comprehensive search was conducted in November 2022 across EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Search terms were defined using a combination of keywords, including “metabolome”, “diet”, and “blood pressure”. All included intervention studies explored the dietary metabolome from food provision, meals or supplements to a comparator or control intervention and, examined the relationship between dietary-related metabolites and BP in humans and published in English. The initial search identified 1,109 studies, with a final six studies meeting all eligibility criteria and included in the final review. Metabolites were identified in urine (n = 4), plasma (n = 2), or faeces (n = 1). Various analytical techniques were employed, including H-NMR, LC-MS, and GC-MS, while majority of studies used untargeted metabolomics (n = 4). Among included studies, five reported a significant association between individual metabolites and BP or change in BP. These investigations emphasised dietary patterns as the primary focus of analysis. In contrast, one study revealed no relationship between the investigated metabolites and BP. However, this particular study evaluated the impact of a single food product rather than dietary patterns. In total, 39 metabolites were linked to BP, with 36 associated with SBP and 25 with DBP. Several super-pathways involved in blood pressure regulation were identified, across metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, cofactors, vitamins, lipids, nucleotides, peptides, and xenobiotics. Within these, 17 distinct sub-pathways were delineated. The only metabolite found to have a significant relationship with BP measures across multiple studies was N-Acetylneuraminate. In one study, it showed a relationship with DBP, while another study linked it to a decrease in both 24-hour DBP and SBP. No other metabolites were consistently replicated between studies. Nutrimetabolomics appears to be a promising field in evaluation of diet and BP reduction. However, further research is required to understand which metabolites influence BP regulation.

Skin Care in Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

A great deal of advice around maintaining health is focused on nutrition and exercise – in particular what to do and what not to do. Little focus is on the importance of skin care. Just like the heart and lungs, the skin is an organ of the body. In fact it is the largest of all of the organs. It has many functions, many of which support us to maintain health and wellbeing through a complex eco system of the microbiome where it provides protections against pathogens, supports vitamin synthesis, metabolism and immune development.1 In pregnancy, the body’s organs undergo a myriad of physiological changes affecting each system differently.2 There are three categories of skin conditions in pregnancy, benign hormone-related changes such as hyperpigmentation and striae gravidarum, pre-existing skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis, and pregnancy-specific disorders such as atopic eruption of pregnancy.3 Each will require different treatment or care to minimise discomfort or irritation.

Analysis of blood biochemistry and non-targeted metabolomics of endometritis in dairy cows

The incidence of bovine endometritis, which has a negative impact on the reproduction of dairy cows, has been recently increasing. In this study, the differential markers and metabolites of healthy cows and cows with endometritis were analyzed by measuring blood biochemical indicators and immune factors using biochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits combined with nontargeted metabolomics. The LC-QTOF platform was used to evaluate the serum metabolomics of healthy cows and cows with endometritis after 21–27 days of calving. The results showed that glucose, free fatty acid, calcium, sodium, albumin, and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly lower in the serum of cows with endometritis than in healthy cows (P < 0.05). However, the serum potassium, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor levels were significantly higher in cows with endometritis (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum metabolome data analysis of the two groups showed that the expression of 468 metabolites was significantly different (P < 0.05), of which 291 were upregulated and 177 were downregulated. These metabolites were involved in 78 metabolic pathways, including amino acid, nucleotide, carbohydrate, lipid, and vitamin metabolism pathways; signal transduction pathways, and other biological pathways. Taken together, negative energy balance and immune activation, which are related to local abnormalities in amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism, were the important causes of endometritis in dairy cows. Metabolites such as glucose, carnosine, dehydroascorbic acid, L-malic acid, tetrahydrofolic acid, and UDP-glucose may be used as key indicators in the hematological diagnosis and treatment of endometritis in dairy cows.