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Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology Oct 2023The aim of this review was to describe the changes in the microbiota of patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and the mechanisms involved in the relationship between the... (Review)
Review
The aim of this review was to describe the changes in the microbiota of patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and the mechanisms involved in the relationship between the microbiome and immunity in BD. A systematic search for relevant articles was made on PubMed and the Cochrane Library database using the following terms: "microbiota AND Behçet's disease" or "microbiome AND Behçet's disease". Sixteen articles were included in a qualitative synthesis. This systematic review on the microbiome and Behçet's disease underlines the presence of gut dysbiosis in BD patients. This dysbiosis is marked by (i) a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria, which could affect T cell differentiation and epigenetic regulation of immune-related genes, (ii) a modification of tryptophan-metabolising bacteria, which could be linked to dysregulated IL-22 secretion, and (iii) a decrease in bacteria known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Regarding oral microbiota, this review underlines the possible role of Streptococcus sanguinis through molecular mimicry and NETosis. Clinical studies of BD have shown that (i) need for dentistry is associated with a more severe course in BD, and (ii) antibiotic-supplemented mouthwash reduces pain and ulcers. Fecal transplantation of BD patients' microbiota into mouse models led to decreased SCFA production, neutrophil activation, and Th1/Th17 responses.Recipient mice showed exacerbated experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In Herpes Virus Simplex-1 (HSV-1) infected mice mimicking BD, administration of butyrateproducing bacteria improved symptoms and immune variables. The microbiome may thus be involved in BD through immunity regulation and epigenetic modifications.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Behcet Syndrome; Dysbiosis; Epigenesis, Genetic; Uveitis; Microbiota; Bacteria
PubMed: 37382445
DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/zbt4gx -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Mar 2023Emerging research indicates the importance of gut microbiota in mediating the relationship between meat intake and human health outcomes. We aimed to assess the state of... (Review)
Review
Emerging research indicates the importance of gut microbiota in mediating the relationship between meat intake and human health outcomes. We aimed to assess the state of available scientific literature on meat intake and gut microbiota in humans (PROSPERO, International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, CRD42020135649). We first conducted a scoping review to identify observational and interventional studies on this topic. Searches were performed for English language articles using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) databases from inception to August 2021 and using keywords related to meat (inclusive of mammalian, avian, and aquatic subtypes) and gut microbiota. Of 14,680 records, 85 eligible articles were included in the scoping review, comprising 57 observational and 28 interventional studies. One prospective observational study and 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified in adults without diagnosed disease. We included the 13 RCTs, comprising 18 comparisons, in the systematic review to assess the effects of higher and lower intakes of total meat and meat subtypes on the gut microbiota composition. The bacterial composition was differentially affected by consuming diets with and without meat or with varied meat subtypes. For example, higher meat intake tended to decrease population sizes of genera Anerostipes and Faecalibacterium, but it increased the population size of Roseburia across studies. However, the magnitude and directionality of most microbial responses varied, with inconsistent patterns of responses across studies. The data were insufficient for comparison within or between meat subtypes. The paucity of research, especially among meat subtypes, and heterogeneity of findings underscore the need for more well-designed prospective studies and full-feeding RCTs to address the relationships between and effects of consuming total meat and meat subtypes on gut microbiota, respectively.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Humans; Diet; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mammals; Meat; Observational Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36822879
DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2022.10.005 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jan 2021Microplastics receive significant societal and scientific attention due to increasing concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Marine mammals are...
Microplastics receive significant societal and scientific attention due to increasing concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Marine mammals are considered indicators for marine ecosystem health and many species are of conservation concern due to a multitude of anthropogenic stressors. Marine mammals may be vulnerable to microplastic exposure from the environment, via direct ingestion from sea water, and indirect uptake from their prey. Here we present the first systematic review of literature on microplastics and marine mammals, composing of 30 studies in total. The majority of studies examined the gastrointestinal tracts of beached, bycaught or hunted cetaceans and pinnipeds, and found that microplastics were present in all but one study, and the abundance varied between 0 and 88 particles per animal. Additionally, microplastics in pinniped scats (faeces) were detected in eight out of ten studies, with incidences ranging from 0% of animals to 100%. Our review highlights considerable methodological and reporting deficiencies and differences among papers, making comparisons and extrapolation across studies difficult. We suggest best practices to avoid these issues in future studies. In addition to empirical studies that quantified microplastics in animals and scat, ten studies out of 30 (all focussing on cetaceans) tried to estimate the risk of exposure using two main approaches; i) overlaying microplastic in the environment (water or prey) with cetacean habitat or ii) proposing biological or chemical biomarkers of exposure. We discuss advice and best practices on research into the exposure and impact of microplastics in marine mammals. This work on marine ecosystem health indicator species will provide valuable and comparable information in the future.
Topics: Animals; Caniformia; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Microplastics; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 33288297
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116142 -
Viruses Jul 2022Arctic regions are ecologically significant for the environmental persistence and geographic dissemination of influenza A viruses (IAVs) by avian hosts and other... (Review)
Review
Arctic regions are ecologically significant for the environmental persistence and geographic dissemination of influenza A viruses (IAVs) by avian hosts and other wildlife species. Data describing the epidemiology and ecology of IAVs among wildlife in the arctic are less frequently published compared to southern temperate regions, where prevalence and subtype diversity are more routinely documented. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review addresses this gap by describing the prevalence, spatiotemporal distribution, and ecological characteristics of IAVs detected among wildlife and the environment in this understudied region of the globe. The literature search was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar using a set of pre-defined search terms to identify publications reporting on IAVs in Arctic regions between 1978 and February 2022. A total of 2125 articles were initially screened, 267 were assessed for eligibility, and 71 articles met inclusion criteria. IAVs have been detected in multiple wildlife species in all Arctic regions, including seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, seals, sea lions, whales, and terrestrial mammals, and in the environment. Isolates from wild birds comprise the majority of documented viruses derived from wildlife; however, among all animals and environmental matrices, 26 unique low and highly pathogenic subtypes have been characterized in the scientific literature from Arctic regions. Pooled prevalence across studies indicates 4.23% for wild birds, 3.42% among tested environmental matrices, and seroprevalences of 9.29% and 1.69% among marine and terrestrial mammals, respectively. Surveillance data are geographically biased, with most data from the Alaskan Arctic and many fewer reports from the Russian, Canadian, North Atlantic, and Western European Arctic. We highlight multiple important aspects of wildlife host, pathogen, and environmental ecology of IAVs in Arctic regions, including the role of avian migration and breeding cycles for the global spread of IAVs, evidence of inter-species and inter-continental reassortment at high latitudes, and how climate change-driven ecosystem shifts, including changes in the seasonal availability and distribution of dietary resources, have the potential to alter host-pathogen-environment dynamics in Arctic regions. We conclude by identifying gaps in knowledge and propose priorities for future research.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Arctic Regions; Birds; Canada; Ecosystem; Influenza A virus; Influenza in Birds; Mammals
PubMed: 35891510
DOI: 10.3390/v14071531 -
Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) Dec 2021Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi trafficking is an essential and highly conserved cellular process. The coat protein complex-II (COPII) arm of the trafficking... (Review)
Review
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi trafficking is an essential and highly conserved cellular process. The coat protein complex-II (COPII) arm of the trafficking machinery incorporates a wide array of cargo proteins into vesicles through direct or indirect interactions with Sec24, the principal subunit of the COPII coat. Approximately one-third of all mammalian proteins rely on the COPII-mediated secretory pathway for membrane insertion or secretion. There are four mammalian Sec24 paralogs and three yeast Sec24 paralogs with emerging evidence of paralog-specific cargo interaction motifs. Furthermore, individual paralogs also differ in their affinity for a subset of sorting motifs present on cargo proteins. As with many aspects of protein trafficking, we lack a systematic and thorough understanding of the interaction of Sec24 with cargoes. This systematic review focuses on the current knowledge of cargo binding to both yeast and mammalian Sec24 paralogs and their ER export motifs. The analyses show that Sec24 paralog specificity of cargo (and cargo receptors) range from exclusive paralog dependence or preference to partial redundancy. We also discuss how the Sec24 secretion system is hijacked by viral (eg, VSV-G, Hepatitis B envelope protein) and bacterial (eg, the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli type III secretion system effector NleA/EspI) pathogens.
Topics: Animals; COP-Coated Vesicles; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Golgi Apparatus; Mammals; Membrane Proteins; Protein Transport; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Secretory Pathway
PubMed: 34533884
DOI: 10.1111/tra.12817 -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Jun 2023The storage and release of calcium ions (Ca2 +) in oocyte maturation and fertilization are particularly noteworthy features of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER... (Review)
Review
The storage and release of calcium ions (Ca2 +) in oocyte maturation and fertilization are particularly noteworthy features of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER is the largest organelle in the cell composed of rough ER, smooth ER, and nuclear envelope, and is the main site of protein synthesis, transport and folding, and lipid and steroid synthesis. An appropriate calcium signaling response can initiate oocyte development and embryogenesis, and the ER is the central link that initiates calcium signaling. The transition from immature oocytes to zygotes also requires many coordinated organelle reorganizations and changes. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to generalize information on the function, structure, interaction with other organelles, and spatiotemporal localization of the ER in mammalian oocytes. Mechanisms related to maintaining ER homeostasis have been extensively studied in recent years. Resolving ER stress through the unfolded protein response (UPR) is one of them. We combined the clinical problems caused by the ER in in vitro maturation (IVM), and the mechanisms of ER have been identified by single-cell RNA-seq. This article systematically reviews the functions of ER and provides a reference for assisted reproductive technology (ART) research.
Topics: Animals; Oocytes; Unfolded Protein Response; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Oogenesis; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Mammals
PubMed: 37171741
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02782-3 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2023According to the EU Early Warning System (EWS), synthetic cathinones (SCs) are the second largest new psychoactive substances (NPS) class, with 162 synthetic cathinones... (Review)
Review
According to the EU Early Warning System (EWS), synthetic cathinones (SCs) are the second largest new psychoactive substances (NPS) class, with 162 synthetic cathinones monitored by the EU EWS. They have a similar structure to cathinone, principally found in Catha Edulis; they have a phenethylamine related structure but also exhibit amphetamine-like stimulant effects. Illegal laboratories regularly develop new substances and place them on the market. For this reason, during the last decade this class of substances has presented a great challenge for public health and forensic toxicologists. Acting on different systems and with various mechanisms of action, the spectrum of side effects caused by the intake of these drugs of abuse is very broad. To date, most studies have focused on the substances' cardiac effects, and very few on their associated neurotoxicity. Specifically, synthetic cathinones appear to be involved in different neurological events, including increased alertness, mild agitation, severe psychosis, hyperthermia and death. A systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus databases according to PRISMA guidelines was performed. A total of 515 studies published from 2005 to 2022 (350 articles from PubMed and 165 from Scopus) were initially screened for eligibility. The papers excluded, according to the criteria described in the Method Section (n = 401) and after full text analyses (n = 82), were 483 in total. The remaining 76 were included in the present review, as they met fully the inclusion criteria. The present work provides a comprehensive review on neurotoxic mechanisms of synthetic cathinones highlighting intoxication cases and fatalities in humans, as well as the toxic effects on animals (in particular rats, mice and zebrafish larvae). The reviewed studies showed brain-related adverse effects, including encephalopathy, coma and convulsions, and sympathomimetic and hallucinogenic toxidromes, together with the risk of developing excited/agitated delirium syndrome and serotonin syndrome.
Topics: Mice; Rats; Humans; Animals; Synthetic Cathinone; Zebrafish; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Fever; Amphetamine; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 37047201
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076230 -
Current Nutrition Reports Sep 2022Cancers are a leading cause of death in humans and for many other species. Diet has often been associated with cancers, and the microbiome is an essential mediator... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Cancers are a leading cause of death in humans and for many other species. Diet has often been associated with cancers, and the microbiome is an essential mediator between diet and cancers. Here, we review the work on cancer and the microbiome across species to search for broad patterns of susceptibility associated with different microbial species.
RECENT FINDINGS
Some microbes, such as Helicobacter bacteria, papillomaviruses, and the carnivore-associated Fusobacteria, consistently induce tumorigenesis in humans and other species. Other microbes, such as the milk-associated Lactobacillus, consistently inhibit tumorigenesis in humans and other species. We systematically reviewed over a thousand published articles and identified links between diet, microbes, and cancers in several species of mammals, birds, and flies. Future work should examine a larger variety of host species to discover new model organisms for human preclinical trials, to better understand the observed variance in cancer prevalence across species, and to discover which microbes and diets are associated with cancers across species. Ultimately, this could help identify microbial and dietary interventions to diagnose, prevent, and treat cancers in humans as well as other animals.
Topics: Animals; Carcinogenesis; Diet; Humans; Mammals; Microbiota; Neoplasms
PubMed: 35704266
DOI: 10.1007/s13668-022-00420-5 -
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England) May 2022The conservation of pathways and genes across species has allowed scientists to use non-human model organisms to gain a deeper understanding of human biology. However,...
SUMMARY
The conservation of pathways and genes across species has allowed scientists to use non-human model organisms to gain a deeper understanding of human biology. However, the use of traditional model systems such as mice, rats and zebrafish is costly, time-consuming and increasingly raises ethical concerns, which highlights the need to search for less complex model organisms. Existing tools only focus on the few well-studied model systems, most of which are complex animals. To address these issues, we have developed Orthologous Matrix and Alternative Model Organism (OMAMO), a software and a web service that provides the user with the best non-complex organism for research into a biological process of interest based on orthologous relationships between human and the species. The outputs provided by OMAMO were supported by a systematic literature review.
AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
https://omabrowser.org/omamo/, https://github.com/DessimozLab/omamo.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Rats; Software; Zebrafish
PubMed: 35561194
DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac163 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023To evaluate the effectiveness and potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San (JWXYS) as an adjunct or mono- therapy for antithyroid drugs... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effectiveness and potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Jiawei-Xiaoyao-San (JWXYS) as an adjunct or mono- therapy for antithyroid drugs (ATDs) in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
METHODS
Eight databases and three trial registries were searched from inception until May 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included and meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0. The Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool 1.0 and GRADE tool was used for quality appraisal. The findings from case reports using mono-JWXYS and pharmacological studies were summarized in tables.
RESULTS
Thirteen RCTs with 979 participants were included. The majority of the included studies were assessed as high risk of bias in one ROB domain. Compared with ATDs, JWXYS plus ATDs resulted in lower free triiodothyronine (FT3) (MD = -1.31 pmol/L, 95% CI [-1.85, -0.76]; low-certainty), lower free thyroxine (MD = -3.24 pmol/L, 95% CI [-5.06, -1.42]; low-certainty), higher thyroid stimulating hormone (MD = 0.42 mIU/L, 95% CI [0.26, 0.59]; low-certainty), higher effectiveness rate of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome (RR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08, 1.52]; low-certainty), lower goiter score (MD = -0.66, 95% CI [-1.04, -0.29]; very low-certainty), lower thyrotrophin receptor antibody (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.73, -0.16]; low-certainty) and fewer adverse events (AEs) (RR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.18, 0.67]; moderate-certainty). Compared with regular dosage of ATDs, JWXYS plus half-dose ATDs resulted in fewer AEs (RR = 0.24, 95% CI [0.10, 0.59]; low-certainty). Compared with ATDs in 1 trial, JWXYS resulted in higher FT3, lower goiter score and fewer AEs. Three case reports showed that the reasons patients sought TCM-only treatment include severe AEs and multiple relapses. Three pharmacological studies demonstrated that JWXYS restored Th17/Treg balance, lowered deiodinases activity, regulated thyroid cell proliferation and apoptosis, and alleviated liver oxidative stress in mouse or rat models.
CONCLUSION
JWXYS may enhance the effectiveness of ATDs for hyperthyroidism, particularly in relieving symptoms and reducing AEs. Mono-JWXYS is not recommended except in patients intolerant to ATDs. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to overall high risk of bias. Further pharmacological studies with more reliable models are needed.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023394923.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Rats; Goiter; Hyperthyroidism; Case Reports as Topic
PubMed: 37780612
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1241962