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Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2024There are some challenges to diagnosis in the context of similar diagnostic criteria for late-life depression (LLD) and adult depression due to cognitive impairment and...
PURPOSE
There are some challenges to diagnosis in the context of similar diagnostic criteria for late-life depression (LLD) and adult depression due to cognitive impairment and other clinical manifestations. The association between gut microbiota and inflammation remains unclear in LLD. We analyzed gut microbiota characteristics and serum inflammatory cytokines in individuals with LLD to explore the combined role of these two factors in potential biomarkers of LLD.
METHODS
This was an observational cross-sectional study. Fecal samples and peripheral blood from 29 patients and 33 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were collected to detect gut microbiota and 12 inflammatory factors. We analyzed differences in diversity and composition of gut microbiota and evaluated relations among gut microbiota, inflammatory factors, and neuropsychological scales. We extracted potential biomarkers using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis to predict LLD utilizing the combination of the microbiota and inflammatory cytokines.
RESULTS
Elevated systemic inflammatory cytokine levels and gut microbiota dysbiosis were found in LLD patients. Relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level and , and at the genus level among LLD patients was lower than HCs. Abundance of , , and was higher in LLD patients. Notably, IL6, IFNγ, Verrucomicrobia, and levels were correlated with depression severity. Our study identified IL6, , and as predictors of LLD, and their combination achieved an area under the curve of 0.962 in distinguishing LLD patients from HCs.
CONCLUSION
This research offers evidence of changes within gut microbiota and systemic inflammation in LLD. These findings possibly help elucidate functions of gut microbiota and systemic inflammation in LLD development and offer fresh ideas on biomarkers for clinical practise in the context of LLD.
PubMed: 38436041
DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S449224 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Diarrheal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the intestinal...
Diarrheal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the intestinal microbiota among healthy individuals, AIDS patients without diarrhea and AIDS patients with diarrhea through high-throughput sequencing. The microbial diversity in the intestines of patients in the AIDS diarrhea group was significantly increased, and after treatment with Xielikang, the intestinal microbial diversity returned to the baseline level. At the phylum level, compared those in to the healthy (ZC) and AIDS non diarrhea (FN) groups, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomirobia in the AIDS diarrhea (FA) group before treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased. Similarly, compared with those in the FA group, the relative abundances of Bacteroidea and Firmicutes in the AIDS diarrhea (FB) group after treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased after treatment. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. At the genus level, compared with those in the ZC group, the relative abundance of and in the FA group was significantly increased, while the relative abundances of and was significantly decreased compared to that in the ZC group. After treatment with Xielikang, the relative abundance of and in the FB group were significantly decreased, while the relative abundances of and were significantly increased than those in the FA group; moreover, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. The functional prediction results showed that the ketodeoxyoctonate (Kdo) transfer to lipid IVA III and the superpathway of N-acetylglucosamine pathways in the AIDS diarrhea group were significantly altered. The correlation analysis results showed that was positively correlated with inflammatory factors, while and were negatively correlated with inflammatory factors. The composition and function of the intestinal microbiota changed significantly in AIDS diarrhea patients, which affected the immune function of the host. The Xielikang capsule modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota in AIDS diarrhea patients and thus improved immune function and reduced diarrheal symptoms.
PubMed: 38435694
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346955 -
Animal Bioscience Jun 2024This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and...
Effects of dietary mulberry leaves on growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and livestock.
METHODS
The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically analyzed to identify pertinent studies up to December 2022. The effects of mulberry leaf diet was assessed using the weighted mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
In total, 18 studies that sampled 2,335 poultry and livestock were selected for analysis. Mulberry leaves improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed/meat ratio in finishing pigs, and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in chicken. In production performance, mulberry leaves lowered the half carcass weight, slaughter rate, and loin eye area in pigs, and the slaughter rate in chickens. Regarding meat quality in pigs, mulberry leaves reduced the cooked meat percentage, shear force, crude protein, and crude ash, and increased the 24 h pH and water content. In chickens, it increased the drip loss, shear force, 45 min and 24 h pH, crude protein, and crude ash. Mulberry leaves also affect the abundances of gut microbiota, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Megamonas, Escherichia-Shigella, Butyricicoccus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli in poultry and livestock. Mulberry leaves at different doses were associated with changes in antioxidant capacity in chickens, and immune organ indexes in pigs. With respect to egg quality, mulberry leaves at different doses improved the shell strength, yolk color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight. However, moderate doses diminished the egg yolk ratio and the egg yolk moisture content.
CONCLUSION
In general, dietary mulberry leaves improved the growth, production performance, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock, although the effects varied at different doses.
PubMed: 38419533
DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0449 -
Neuro-degenerative Diseases 2023The aim of the work was to establish a prediction model of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression based on intestinal flora by machine learning method.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the work was to establish a prediction model of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression based on intestinal flora by machine learning method.
METHOD
A total of 1,013 patients were recruited, in which 87 patients with MCI finished a two-year follow-up. To establish a prediction model, 61 patients were randomly divided into a training set and 26 patients were divided into a testing set. A total of 121 features including demographic characteristics, hematological indicators, and intestinal flora abundance were analyzed.
RESULTS
Of the 87 patients who finished a two-year follow-up, 44 presented rapid progression. Model 1 was established based on 121 features with the accuracy 85%, sensitivity 85%, and specificity 83%. Model 2 was based on the first fifteen features of model 1 (triglyceride, uric acid, alanine transaminase, F-Clostridiaceae, G-Megamonas, S-Megamonas, G-Shigella, G-Shigella, S-Shigella, average hemoglobin concentration, G-Alistipes, S-Collinsella, median cell count, average hemoglobin volume, low-density lipoprotein), with the accuracy 97%, sensitivity 92%, and specificity 100%. Model 3 was based on the first ten features of model 1, with the accuracy 97%, sensitivity 86%, and specificity 100%. Other models based on the demographic characteristics, hematological indicators, or intestinal flora abundance features presented lower sensitivity and specificity.
CONCLUSION
The 15 features (including intestinal flora abundance) could establish an effective model for predicting rapid MCI progression.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Dysfunction; Machine Learning; Male; Female; Disease Progression; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Aged; Middle Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38417411
DOI: 10.1159/000538023 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024To examine the gut microbiota characteristics in children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis and their interrelationships with the host, while evaluate the vertical...
OBJECTIVES
To examine the gut microbiota characteristics in children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis and their interrelationships with the host, while evaluate the vertical inheritance of microbiota in the development and progression of IgA vasculitis.
METHODS
This study investigated the gut microbiome of 127 IgA vasculitis mother-child pairs and 62 matched healthy mother-child pairs, and compared the gut microbial composition of different groups. The pathway enrichment analysis evaluated potential gut microbiome-mediated pathways involved in the pathophysiology of IgA vasculitis. The Spearman correlation analysis illustrated the relationships between clinical variables and bacterial biomarkers.
RESULTS
This study identified distinct intestinal microbiome in IgA vasculitis children compared to healthy children, and further pointed out the association in gut microbiota between IgA vasculitis children's and their mother's. The relative abundance of and in IgAV children was positively correlated with that in their mothers. The pathway enrichment analysis found microbial biosynthesis of vitamins and essential amino acids was upregulated in children with IgA vasculitis. Correlation analysis showed bacterial biomarkers were correlated with indicators of blood coagulation.
CONCLUSION
Children with IgA vasculitis have unique bacterial biomarkers and may affect coagulation function, and their gut microbiome was closely associated with that of their mothers. The observed association in gut microbiota between IgA vasculitis children and their mothers suggested a potential intergenerational influence of the maternal microbiota on the development or progression of IgA vasculitis in children.
PubMed: 38410769
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1356529 -
Letters in Applied Microbiology Mar 2024The global pandemic of COVID-19 has been over four years, and the role of intestinal microbiota in the occurrence and development of COVID-19 needs to be further...
Opportunistic pathogens increased and probiotics or short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria decreased in the intestinal microbiota of pneumonia inpatients during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant epidemic.
The global pandemic of COVID-19 has been over four years, and the role of intestinal microbiota in the occurrence and development of COVID-19 needs to be further clarified. During the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in China, we analyzed the intestinal microbiome in fecal samples from inpatients with pneumonia and normal individuals in January 2023. The microbiota composition, alpha diversity, beta diversity, differential microbial community, co-occurrence networks, and functional abundance were analyzed. The results showed significant differences in microbiota composition between the two groups. In pneumonia group, the abundance of Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Clostridium, and Coprococcus decreased, while the abundance of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Megamonas increased. Through LEfSe analysis, 37 marker microbiota were identified in pneumonia group. Co-occurrence network analysis found that Lachnospiraceae was critical for the interaction of intestinal microbiota, and the anti-inflammatory bacteria Blautia was negatively correlated with the pro-inflammatory bacteria Ruminococcus. Functional prediction found the up-regulation of steroid biosynthesis, geraniol degradation, and mRNA surveillance pathway in pneumonia group. In conclusion, opportunistic pathogens increased and probiotics, or short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, decreased in the intestinal microbiota of pneumonia inpatients during the Omicron epidemic. Blautia could be used as a probiotic in the treatment of pneumonia patients in the future.
Topics: Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; COVID-19; Inpatients; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Pneumonia; Bacteria; Probiotics
PubMed: 38402465
DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovae022 -
Food Chemistry Jul 2024In this study, litchi polysaccharides were obtained from unfermented or fermented pulp by Lactobacillus fermentum (denoted as LP and LPF, respectively). The differences...
In this study, litchi polysaccharides were obtained from unfermented or fermented pulp by Lactobacillus fermentum (denoted as LP and LPF, respectively). The differences between LP and LPF in the colonic fermentation characteristics and modulatory of gut microbiota growth and metabolism were investigated with an in vitro fecal fermentation model. Results revealed that the strategies of gut bacteria metabolizing LP and LPF were different and LPF with lower molecular weight (Mw) was readily utilized by bacteria. The monosaccharide utilization sequence of each polysaccharide was Ara > Gla > GalA > GlcA ≈ Glu ≈ Man. Moreover, LPF promoted stronger proliferation of Bifidobacterium, Megamonas, Prevotella, and Bacteroides and higher SCFAs production (especially acetic and butyric acids) than LP. Correlation analysis further revealed that Mw could represent an essential structural feature of polysaccharides associated with its microbiota-regulating effect. Overall, Lactobacillus fermentation pre-treatment of litchi pulp promoted the fermentation characteristics and prebiotic activities of its polysaccharide.
Topics: Male; Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Litchi; Lactobacillus; Fermentation; Microbiota; Polysaccharides; Fatty Acids, Volatile
PubMed: 38401310
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138734 -
Orthopaedic Surgery Apr 2024Low bone mineral density is the major prognostic factor for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Accumulating evidence...
OBJECTIVE
Low bone mineral density is the major prognostic factor for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota (GM) have the potential to affect bone development, and the GM signatures are altered in AIS patients. However, the effect of GM alterations on aberrant bone homeostasis in AIS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the GM profile in AIS patients with different bone mineral density (BMD) and explore the association between GM, osteopenia, and aberrant bone turnover.
METHODS
A total of 126 patients with AIS who received surgical treatment were retrospectively included in this study. We analyzed the composition of the GM by 16S rRNA sequencing and BMD by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Based on the BMD of the femur neck, the patients were divided into the osteopenia group (OPN) if the Z score < -1, and the normal (NOR) group if the Z score ≥ -1 SD compared to the healthy control. For the 16S rRNA sequencing, the raw reads were filtered to remove low-quality reads, and operational taxonomic units were identified with the Uparse program. Weighted UniFrac distance matrix for the beta-diversity metrics and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was performed, and the statistical comparisons were made with permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and analysis of similarity (ANONISM). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was used to identify the enriched species in two groups. The "Random forest" was applied to determine the optimal biomarker for OPN according to the mean decrease in Gini value. The metabolic function was predicted by the Tax4Fun analysis. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the associations between GM species, bone turnover markers, and BMD.
RESULTS
The serum β-CTX was increased in the OPN group (n = 67) compared to the NOR group (n = 59). Patients in OPN groups showed significantly decreased α diversity indicated by the Shannon index. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) analysis showed significant clustering of GM between OPN and NOR groups. At genus level, the Escherichia-Shigella and Faecalibacterium were significantly enriched in the OPN group compared to that in the NOR group (p < 0.05), whereas the abundance of Prevotella was significantly decreased (p = 0.0012). The relative abundance of Megamonas and Prevotella was positively correlated with the femur BMD. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was negatively correlated with femur BMD and positively correlated with serum β-CTX levels. Functional analysis revealed significant differences in starch and sucrose metabolism, pyruvate and cysteine, and methionine metabolism between NOR and OPN groups.
CONCLUSION
The alterations of GM in AIS patients are correlated with osteopenia. The association between enriched species, BMD, and bone turnover markers provides novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the clinical management of AIS.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Scoliosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Retrospective Studies; Bone Density; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Femur Neck; Homeostasis
PubMed: 38389213
DOI: 10.1111/os.14019 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Apr 2024The herbal medicine Polygonatum cyrtonema is highly regarded in China for its medicinal and dietary properties. However, further research is needed to elucidate the...
The herbal medicine Polygonatum cyrtonema is highly regarded in China for its medicinal and dietary properties. However, further research is needed to elucidate the structure of its polysaccharide and understand how it promotes human health by modulating the gut microbiota. This study aims to investigate a homogeneous polysaccharide (PCP95-1-1) from Polygonatum cyrtonema and assess its susceptibility to digestion as well as its utilization by intestinal microbiota. The results confirmed that PCP95-1-1 is an agavin-type fructan, which possesses two fructose chains, namely β-(2 → 6) and β-(2 → 1) fructosyl-fructose, attached to the sucrose core, and has branches of β-D-Fruf residues. Moreover, PCP95-1-1 demonstrated resistance to digestion and maintained its reducing sugar content throughout the digestive system, indicating it could reach the gut without being digested. In vitro fermentation of PCP95-1-1 significantly decreased the pH value (p < 0.05) while notably increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), confirming its utilization by human gut microbiota. Additionally, PCP95-1-1 exhibited a significant ability (p < 0.05) to beneficial bacteria such as Megamonas and Bifidobacterium, while reducing the presence of facultative or conditional pathogens such as Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella at the genus level. Consequently, PCP95-1-1 has the potential to positively influence physical well-being by modulating the gut microbiota environment and can be developed as a functional food.
Topics: Humans; Fructans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Polygonatum; Polysaccharides; Fructose
PubMed: 38368108
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121829 -
International Journal of Biological... Apr 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the prebiotic properties of the almond polysaccharide AP-1 on intestinal microorganisms by using an in vitro fecal fermentation...
The aim of this study was to investigate the prebiotic properties of the almond polysaccharide AP-1 on intestinal microorganisms by using an in vitro fecal fermentation method and its anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that during the in vitro fermentation of AP-1, the pH value of the fermentation broth decreased obviously, while the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased significantly, especially acetic acid and butyric acid. In genus level, the number of Clostridium and Megamonas increased markedly in the AP-1 group after 24 h of fermentation. After 48 h of fermentation, there was a noticeable increase in the number of beneficial genera Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae, and a considerable decrease in the number of pro-inflammatory genera. In addition, we found that AP-1 had no toxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. In the LPS-induced inflammation model of RAW264.7 cells, AP-1 could effectively inhibit the release of NO, regulate the level of reactive oxides (ROS), and effectively down-regulate the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS. In conclusion, the almond polysaccharide AP-1 may be a functional active substance aimed at promoting intestinal health and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Lipopolysaccharides; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Prunus dulcis; Transcription Factor AP-1; Polysaccharides; RAW 264.7 Cells; Prunus; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38342264
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130098