The association of type II diabetes with gut microbiota composition

Faecalibacterium Diversity in the Gut Microbiome of Crohn's Disease Patients

Faecalibacterium has recently garnered attention for its potential health implications. To better understand its role, we developed and assessed real-time PCR assays for detecting and quantifying various Faecalibacterium species in human stool samples from both healthy individuals and Crohn's disease patients, either in flare or remission. The assays targeted the Microbial Anti-inflammatory Molecule (MAM) genes, which encode MAM proteins. These assays demonstrated 100% species-specificity using strains from six Faecalibacterium species: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Faecalibacterium taiwanense, Faecalibacterium duncaniae, Faecalibacterium longum, Faecalibacterium hattori, and Faecalibacterium CNCM4541. They also showed high sensitivity with detection limits of 10^5 bacteria per gram of sample. In healthy individuals, the different Faecalibacterium species varied in abundance. F. taiwanense, F. duncaniae, and F. longum were the most prevalent, around 10^10 bacteria/g of stool. In contrast, F. hattori and CNCM4541 were less abundant, with 10^7 bacteria/g. Despite its low abundance, F. hattori was present in all healthy subjects, while CNCM4541 was detected in only 50% of them. Notably, F. taiwanense, F. duncaniae, and F. longum were found in all healthy individuals. In Crohn's disease patients, both in flare and remission, a decrease in Faecalibacterium species was observed, with no recovery in remission. The most abundant species in Crohn's disease patients were F. prausnitzii and F. duncaniae, around 10^7 bacteria/g, while F. longum, F. hattori, and F. taiwanense were present at lower levels (10^6 bacteria/g), and CNCM4541 was no longer detected. Interestingly, F. prausnitzii showed a smaller decrease in abundance compared with other species. Moreover, F. prausnitzii was significantly more prevalent in patients in remission than in those in flare, suggesting that it may be more resistant to inflammation. These findings highlight the importance of accurately characterizing and quantifying Faecalibacterium species to better understand their role in health and disease.

Advances in Metabolomics: A Comprehensive Review of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Interactions

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major public health challenges worldwide. Metabolomics, the exhaustive assessment of metabolites in biological systems, offers important insights regarding the metabolic disturbances related to these disorders. Recent advances toward the integration of metabolomics into clinical practice to facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers that can improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of T2D and CVDs are discussed in this review. Metabolomics offers the potential to characterize the key metabolic alterations associated with disease pathophysiology and treatment. T2D is a heterogeneous disease that develops through diverse pathophysiological processes and molecular mechanisms; therefore, the disease-causing pathways of T2D are not completely understood. Recent studies have identified several robust clusters of T2D variants representing biologically meaningful, distinct pathways, such as the beta cell and proinsulin cluster related to pancreatic insulin secretion, obesity, lipodystrophy, the liver/lipid cluster, glycemia, and blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome clusters representing different pathways causing insulin resistance. Regarding CVDs, recent studies have allowed the metabolomic profile to delineate pathways that contribute to atherosclerosis and heart failure, as well as to the development of targeted therapy. This review also covers the role of metabolomics in integrated metabolic genomics and other omics platforms to better understand disease mechanisms, along with the transition toward precision medicine. This review further investigates the use of metabolomics in multi-metabolite modeling to enhance risk prediction models for predicting the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events among individuals with T2D, highlighting the value of such approaches in optimizing the preventive and therapeutic models used in clinical practice.

Comparative analysis of dominant gut microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients and healthy individuals: A case-control study

Background

Chronic inflammation in the gut might be linked to microbiota dysbiosis.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate alterations in the gut microbiota composition of adult IBD patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods

This case-control study investigated the relationship between faecal microbiota composition and IBD in adults. Real-time qPCR analysis using bacterial 16S rRNA gene quantified the abundance of six key bacterial groups (Firmicutes, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides fragilis, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) in faecal samples from 30 IBD patients (13 Crohn's disease, 17 ulcerative colitis) and 30 healthy controls. A correlation matrix was employed to assess relationships between these bacteria.

Results

Real-time qPCR revealed significant differences (p-value <0.05) in the abundance of several bacterial groups between IBD patients and healthy controls. Firmicutes, Fusobacterium spp., and B. fragilis were significantly more abundant (p-value <0.05) in IBD patients compared to controls. Conversely, Lactobacillus spp. and F. prausnitzii were both significantly less abundant (p-value <0.05) in IBD patients. While some bacterial groups exhibited trends toward higher abundance in either CD or UC patients, these differences were not statistically significant (p-value >0.111). The correlation matrix analysis revealed specific co-occurrence patterns: Bacteroides showed a strong negative correlation with Prevotella, more abundant in healthy controls, suggesting a shift in dominance in IBD patients. Lactobacillus spp. and F. prausnitzii exhibited a positive correlation in healthy individuals, indicating their potential cooperative role in maintaining gut homeostasis.

Conclusion

This study identified significant alterations in gut microbiota composition in adult IBD patients compared to healthy controls, with notable differences in the abundance of specific bacterial groups. These findings suggest that gut microbiota dysbiosis may play a critical role in IBD pathogenesis. The identification of specific bacterial imbalances provides a foundation for developing microbiota-based therapies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, as potential interventions for restoring microbial balance and mitigating disease progression. Further research is needed to translate these insights into targeted therapeutic strategies and to explore their effectiveness in clinical settings.

TphPMF: A microbiome data imputation method using hierarchical Bayesian Probabilistic Matrix Factorization

In microbiome research, data sparsity represents a prevalent and formidable challenge. Sparse data not only compromises the accuracy of statistical analyses but also conceals critical biological relationships, thereby undermining the reliability of the conclusions. To tackle this issue, we introduce a machine learning approach for microbiome data imputation, termed TphPMF. This technique leverages Probabilistic Matrix Factorization, incorporating phylogenetic relationships among microorganisms to establish Bayesian prior distributions. These priors facilitate posterior predictions of potential non-biological zeros. We demonstrate that TphPMF outperforms existing microbiome data imputation methods in accurately recovering missing taxon abundances. Furthermore, TphPMF enhances the efficacy of certain differential abundance analysis methods in detecting differentially abundant (DA) taxa, particularly showing advantages when used in conjunction with DESeq2-phyloseq. Additionally, TphPMF significantly improves the precision of cross-predicting disease conditions in microbiome datasets pertaining to type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer.

A systematic review on gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims/hypothesis

The gut microbiota play crucial roles in the digestion and degradation of nutrients, synthesis of biological agents, development of the immune system, and maintenance of gastrointestinal integrity. Gut dysbiosis is thought to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the world's fastest growing diseases. The aim of this systematic review is to identify differences in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in individuals with T2DM.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted to identify studies reporting on the difference in gut microbiota composition between individuals with T2DM and healthy controls. Relevant studies were evaluated, and their characteristics and results were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. The studies were assessed for risk of bias and their findings were reported narratively.

Results

58 observational studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included. Beta diversity was commonly reported to be different between individuals with T2DM and healthy individuals. Genera Lactobacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus, Subdoligranulum and Fusobacteria were found to be positively associated; while Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Roseburia, Faecalibacteirum and Prevotella were found to be negatively associated with T2DM.

Conclusions

This systematic review demonstrates a strong association between T2DM and gut dysbiosis, as evidenced by differential microbial abundances and altered diversity indices. Among these taxa, Escherichia-Shigella is consistently associated with T2DM, whereas Faecalibacterium prausnitzii appears to offer a protective effect against T2DM. However, the heterogeneity and observational nature of these studies preclude the establishment of causative relationships. Future research should incorporate age, diet and medication-matched controls, and include functional analysis of these gut microbes.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023459937.

Probiotics Combined with Metformin Improves Sperm Parameters in Obese Male Mice through Modulation of Intestinal Microbiota Equilibrium

The decline in sperm parameters among obese males has attracted significant scholarly interest. The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in obesity, and investigating the intestinal-reproductive axis may offer a novel molecular approach to addressing the decline in male sperm parameters caused by obesity. To clarify whether probiotics, either alone or in conjunction with metformin, can enhance sperm parameters in obese male mice and assess the underlying mechanisms involved. 6-week-old male mice were constructed as obese models. Probiotics and metformin were used as intervention conditions. Changes in inflammatory factors and ROS content were detected by ELISA, morphological changes in testicular and colon tissues were observed by H&E staining, changes in intestinal microbiota abundance were detected by 16SrRNA gene sequencing, and changes in metabolites such as blood glucose, blood lipids, and lipopolysaccharide were detected by biochemical testing to investigate the mechanism of probiotics, metformin, and their combination to ameliorate reproductive impairment in obese male mice. Our results revealed that high-fat diet would result in reduced testicular spermatogenic tubule hierarchy, decreased spermatogenic cell counts, decreased sperm concentration and motility, and altered abundance of intestinal microbiota, whereas the combination of probiotics and metformin could restore high-fat-mediated pathophysiological alterations thereby ameliorating spermatogenic disorders in mice. The combination of probiotics and metformin can attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress, while enhancing androgen production to improve testicular spermatogenic function by re-construction intestinal microbiota equilibrium in HFD mice.

Ethnicity-matched case-control study reveals significant gut microbiota differences in Malaysian adults with type 2 diabetes

Introduction. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health issue projected to exceed 700 million cases by 2045. In Malaysia, T2DM prevalence has risen, with notable ethnic disparities.Gap statement. The gut microbiota's role in T2DM pathogenesis is well recognized, yet its composition in Malaysia's ethnically diverse population remains underexplored.Aim. This study aimed to characterize gut microbiota composition among T2DM and ethnicity-matched adults without diabetes (nonDM) in Malaysia.Methodology. A case-control study was conducted with 45 T2DM and 45 nonDM participants matched by ethnicity from a primary care clinic in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Faecal DNA was subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to identify microbiota diversity and composition differences and compare predicted functional capabilities. Correlations between bacterial taxa, clinical characteristics and dietary intake were analysed.Results. T2DM participants showed decreased alpha diversity (observed, P-value=0.002, r=0.69; Shannon, P-value<0.001, r=0.73) and significant differences in beta diversity (permutational multivariate ANOVA, R²=0.036, P-value=0.001). Linear discriminant analysis effect size and multiple regression analysis, adjusted for covariates age, gender, BMI and intakes of protein, fat, carbohydrate and fibre, identified the phylum Proteobacteria and genera Escherichia-Shigella to be increased, while the genera Anaerostipes and Romboutsia decreased in T2DM. These bacteria were associated with various clinical characteristics and dietary intake. However, these 'potential biomarkers' were not uniformly present across all participants, suggesting that individual bacterial taxa may not serve as universal biomarkers.Conclusion. Significant gut microbiota differences exist between T2DM and nonDM individuals in Malaysia, indicating a dysbiosis characterized by increased pro-inflammatory bacteria and reduced short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in T2DM. While these findings highlight the potential functional relevance of gut microbiota in T2DM pathogenesis, addressing limitations such as participant matching for confounding factors in future studies could uncover additional significant differences in microbiota composition. Furthermore, the variability in taxa prevalence across individuals suggests that targeting microbial metabolic products may offer more promising strategies to inform microbiota-targeted interventions than relying solely on specific bacterial taxa as biomarkers.

Attenuation of Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Rats Assisted by Immobilized Probiotic in Sodium Alginate

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is the most common chronic disease worldwide, characterized mainly by increased glucose concentration in the blood and affecting several organs' functionality. The daily consumption of probiotic bacteria can help control diabetes and reduce the damage caused. Cell immobilization techniques are a powerful tool that provides physical cell protection to such probiotic bacteria against gastrointestinal conditions. We suggest that cell immobilization could be a significant vector for delivering a high quantity of viable probiotics to the gut, helping attenuate hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. Seventy male Wistar rats were used in this work. Nicotinamide was administrated via intraperitoneal injection 15 minutes before inducing type 2 diabetes (DM2), followed by a second intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to induce DM2. Rats were divided into seven groups. For 45 days, a specific treatment was applied to each group. The group of rats, supplied with immobilized Lactobacillus casei, showed a serum glucose concentration of 137 mg/dL, which was close to the one observed in the groups of healthy rats (117 mg/dL) and rats treated with metformin (155 mg/dL). The diabetic rats without treatment presented a higher serum glucose concentration (461 mg/dL). In the rats treated with immobilized L. casei, there was no biochemical parameter alteration, and the cell morphology of the analyzed tissues was similar to those of the healthy group. The consumption of immobilized L. casei could allow a high quantity of viable probiotics to be delivered to the gut, reducing serum glucose concentration by up to 70% compared to diabetic rats and reducing organ damage caused by diabetes.

Unraveling the Role of the Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Diseases

The human gut is a complex ecosystem that supports billions of living species, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, phages, fungi, and unicellular eukaryotes. Bacteria give genes and enzymes for microbial and host-produced compounds, establishing a symbiotic link between the external environment and the host at both the gut and systemic levels. The gut microbiome, which is primarily made up of commensal bacteria, is critical for maintaining the healthy host's immune system, aiding digestion, synthesizing essential nutrients, and protecting against pathogenic bacteria, as well as influencing endocrine, neural, humoral, and immunological functions and metabolic pathways. Qualitative, quantitative, and/or topographic shifts can alter the gut microbiome, resulting in dysbiosis and microbial dysfunction, which can contribute to a variety of noncommunicable illnesses, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome. While most evidence to date is observational and does not establish direct causation, ongoing clinical trials and advanced genomic techniques are steadily enhancing our understanding of these intricate interactions. This review will explore key aspects of the relationship between gut microbiota, eubiosis, and dysbiosis in human health and disease, highlighting emerging strategies for microbiome engineering as potential therapeutic approaches for various conditions.

Gut microbiota composition and type 2 diabetes: Are these subjects linked Together?

Purpose

Evidence suggests that changes in the composition of gut microbiota may be linked to metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes (T2D). The present study aims to evaluate the compositional changes of the intestinal microbiota in patients with T2D as compared to healthy individuals.

Methods

In this case-control study, there were 18 T2D patients and 18 healthy individuals who served as controls. To profile the gut microbiota in both groups, bacterial DNA was extracted from fecal samples and analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

The study discovered that diabetics had significantly greater frequencies of the genus Bacteroides and the phylum Bacteroidetes than did controls (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conversely, the Actinobacteria and Firmicutes phyla were significantly more abundant in the controls (P=0.01 for both). No significant differences were observed in the fecal populations of the genus Enterococcus, Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa, phylum Proteobacteria, and all bacteria between the studied groups (P=0.88, P=0.56, P=0.8, P=0.99, and P=0.7, respectively).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm that T2D may be associated with the gut microbiota fluctuations. These findings may be valuable for developing strategies to control or treatment T2D by restoring the intestinal microbiota through the strategic administration of specific probiotics/prebiotics and lifestyle and dietary modifications.

Impact of bariatric surgery on gut microbiota composition in obese patients compared to healthy controls

Bariatric surgery is vital for sustainable weight loss and metabolic improvement in obese individuals, but its effects on gut microbiota and their role in these benefits require further investigation. Investigate the temporal changes in gut microbiota in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery (gastric sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB)) compared to healthy controls, aiming to understand their role in weight loss and metabolic health improvement. A case-control study included 30 obese patients aged 65-95 undergoing bariatric surgery, and 18 matched healthy controls. Selection criteria were based on age, race, BMI, history of antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics usage. Stool samples were collected at baseline, three months, and six months post-surgery for DNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR analysis to assess gut microbiota changes. Physical activity and dietary intake were evaluated using standardized questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using R. Post-surgery, patients showed significant reductions in weight and BMI, with changes in dietary habits and physical activity. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed substantial alterations in bacterial groups such as Bacteroides and Fusobacterium. However, some groups showed no significant changes, indicating a complex interaction between gut microbiota and bariatric surgery. Notable correlations were found between body weight, BMI, and specific bacterial groups like the C. cluster IV and Lactobacillus, particularly in RYGB patients. Bariatric surgery significantly alters gut microbiota, aiding weight loss and metabolic regulation in obese patients. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing effective obesity management strategies, requiring further research to optimize outcomes.

Hypoglycemic effect of orally administered resistant dextrins prepared with different acids on type 2 diabetes mice induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin

A comparative study was performed to investigate the physicochemical properties and protective effects of hydrochloric acid-resistant dextrin (H-RD), citric acid-resistant dextrin (C-RD) and tartaric acid-resistant dextrin (T-RD) on the metabolic disorders and intestinal microbiota for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. T-RD had the minimum molecular weight, with the highest short chain (DP 6-12) proportion and resistant starch content. After 4-week intervention with the three resistant dextrins, the body weight and fasting blood glucose of T2DM mice were improved significantly, accompanied by the reduction of serum indexes (TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST, CRE, BUN, FINS, and GSP), but the serum HDL-C and liver glycogen levels increased. Among the three RDs intervention groups, T-RD showed the most significant improvement, followed by C-RD and finally H-RD. The 16 s rDNA results indicated that oral administration of resistant dextrins favored the proliferation of specific gut microbiota, including Faecalibaculum, Parabacteroides and Dubosiella, and reduced the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota, which is beneficial for reducing insulin resistance. Herein, the findings supported that the resistant dextrins exhibited a remission effect on T2DM, providing a basis for the development of functional food adjuvants for T2DM treatment.

Role of Gut Microbial Metabolites in Cardiovascular Diseases-Current Insights and the Road Ahead

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality globally. The identification of novel risk factors contributing to CVD onset and progression has enabled an improved understanding of CVD pathophysiology. In addition to the conventional risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking, the role of gut microbiome and intestinal microbe-derived metabolites in maintaining cardiovascular health has gained recent attention in the field of CVD pathophysiology. The human gastrointestinal tract caters to a highly diverse spectrum of microbes recognized as the gut microbiota, which are central to several physiologically significant cascades such as metabolism, nutrient absorption, and energy balance. The manipulation of the gut microbial subtleties potentially contributes to CVD, inflammation, neurodegeneration, obesity, and diabetic onset. The existing paradigm of studies suggests that the disruption of the gut microbial dynamics contributes towards CVD incidence. However, the exact mechanistic understanding of such a correlation from a signaling perspective remains elusive. This review has focused upon an in-depth characterization of gut microbial metabolites and their role in varied pathophysiological conditions, and highlights the potential molecular and signaling mechanisms governing the gut microbial metabolites in CVDs. In addition, it summarizes the existing courses of therapy in modulating the gut microbiome and its metabolites, limitations and scientific gaps in our current understanding, as well as future directions of studies involving the modulation of the gut microbiome and its metabolites, which can be undertaken to develop CVD-associated treatment options. Clarity in the understanding of the molecular interaction(s) and associations governing the gut microbiome and CVD shall potentially enable the development of novel druggable targets to ameliorate CVD in the years to come.

Plant-based and Early Time-restricted Eating for Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Adults: A Narrative Review

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant public health challenge for which effective lifestyle interventions are needed. A growing body of evidence supports the use of both plant-based eating patterns and early time-restricted eating (eTRE) for the prevention and treatment of T2D, but research has not yet explored the potential of these dietary strategies in combination. In this narrative review, we assessed the evidence by which plant-based diets, in conjunction with eTRE, could support T2D care. The electronic databases MEDLINE and the Web of Science were searched for relevant articles published throughout the last decade. Observational research has shown that healthy plant-based eating patterns and eTRE are associated with reductions in T2D risk. Interventional trials demonstrated that plant-based diets promote improvements in glycated hemoglobin, insulin resistance, glycemic management, and cardiometabolic risk factors. These changes may be mediated, in part, by reductions in oxidative stress, dietary acid load, and hepatocellular and intramyocellular lipids. The eTRE strategies were also shown to improve insulin resistance and glycemic management, and mechanisms of action included enhanced regulation of circadian rhythm and increased metabolic flexibility. Integrating these dietary strategies may produce additive benefits, mediated by reduced visceral adiposity and beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition. However, potential barriers to concurrent implementation of these interventions may exist, including social challenges, scheduling constraints, and tolerance. Prospective trials are needed to examine their acceptability and clinical effects.

Harnessing the power of probiotic strains in functional foods: nutritive, therapeutic, and next-generation challenges

Functional foods have become an essential element of the diet in developed nations, due to their health benefits and nutritive values. Such food products are only called functional if they, "In addition to basic nutrition, have valuable effects on one or multiple functions of the human body, thereby enhancing general and physical conditions and/or reducing the risk of disease progression". Functional foods are currently one of the most extensively researched areas in the food and nutrition sciences. They are fortified and improved food products. Presently, probiotics are regarded as the most significant and commonly used functional food product. Diverse probiotic food products and supplements are used according to the evidence that supports their strength, functionality, and recommended dosage. This review provides an overview of the current functional food market, with a particular focus on probiotic microorganisms as pivotal functional ingredients. It offers insights into current research endeavors and outlines potential future directions in the field.

Notoginsenoside R1 Ameliorate High-Fat-Diet and Vitamin D3-Induced Atherosclerosis via Alleviating Inflammatory Response, Inhibiting Endothelial Dysfunction, and Regulating Gut Microbiota

Aim

Natural medicines possess significant research and application value in the field of atherosclerosis (AS) treatment. The study was performed to investigate the impacts of a natural drug component, notoginsenoside R1, on the development of atherosclerosis (AS) and the potential mechanisms.

Methods

Rats induced with AS by a high-fat-diet and vitamin D3 were treated with notoginsenoside R1 for six weeks. The ameliorative effect of NR1 on AS rats was assessed by detecting pathological changes in the abdominal aorta, biochemical indices in serum and protein expression in the abdominal aorta, as well as by analysing the gut microbiota.

Results

The NR1 group exhibited a noticeable reduction in plaque pathology. Notoginsenoside R1 can significantly improve serum lipid profiles, encompassing TG, TC, LDL, ox-LDL, and HDL. Simultaneously, IL-6, IL-33, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels are decreased by notoginsenoside R1 in lowering inflammatory elements. Notoginsenoside R1 can suppress the secretion of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, as well as enhance the levels of plasma NO and eNOS. Furthermore, notoginsenoside R1 inhibits the NLRP3/Cleaved Caspase-1/IL-1β inflammatory pathway and reduces the expression of the JNK2/P38 MAPK/VEGF endothelial damage pathway. Fecal analysis showed that notoginsenoside R1 remodeled the gut microbiota of AS rats by decreasing the count of pathogenic bacteria (such as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) and increasing the quantity of probiotic bacteria (such as Bacteroidetes).

Conclusion

Notoginsenoside R1, due to its unique anti-inflammatory properties, may potentially prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. This mechanism helps protect the vascular endothelium from damage, while also regulating the imbalance of intestinal microbiota, thereby maintaining the overall health of the body.

Polyphenols Influence the Development of Endometrial Cancer by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

Dysbiosis of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract can induce the development of gynaecological tumours, particularly in postmenopausal women, by causing DNA damage and alterations in metabolite metabolism. Dysbiosis also complicates cancer treatment by influencing the body's immune response and disrupting the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain homeostasis in the gut microbiota through the effective use of food components that affect its structure. Recent studies have shown that polyphenols, which are likely to be the most important secondary metabolites produced by plants, exhibit prebiotic properties. They affect the structure of the gut microbiota and the synthesis of metabolites. In this review, we summarise the current state of knowledge, focusing on the impact of polyphenols on the development of gynaecological tumours, particularly endometrial cancer, and emphasising that polyphenol consumption leads to beneficial modifications in the structure of the gut microbiota.

The Networked Interaction between Probiotics and Intestine in Health and Disease: A Promising Success Story

Probiotics are known to promote human health either precautionary in healthy individuals or therapeutically in patients suffering from certain ailments. Although this knowledge was empirical in past tomes, modern science has already verified it and expanded it to new limits. These microorganisms can be found in nature in various foods such as dairy products or in supplements formulated for clinical or preventive use. The current review examines the different mechanisms of action of the probiotic strains and how they interact with the organism of the host. Emphasis is put on the clinical therapeutic use of these beneficial microorganisms in various clinical conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and particularly any malfunction and inflammation of the intestines seriously compromise the health of the whole organism. The interaction between the probiotic strains and the host's microbiota can alleviate the clinical signs and symptoms while in some cases, in due course, it can intervene in the underlying pathology. Various safety issues of the use of probiotics are also discussed.

Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Gut Microbiota: Systematic Review

The gut microbiota is a community situated in the gastrointestinal tract that consists of bacteria thriving and contributing to the functions of our body. It is heavily influenced by what individuals eat, as the quality, amount, and frequency of food consumed can favor and inhibit specific bacteria. Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common but detrimental condition that arises from excessive hyperglycemia, leading to either insulin resistance or damage to the B-cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. A poor diet high in sugar and fats leads to hyperglycemia, and as this persists, it can lead to the development of T2DM. Both insulin resistance and damage to B-cells are greatly affected by the diet an individual consumes, but is there a more involved relationship between the gut microbiota and T2DM? This paper aimed to evaluate the changes in the gut microbiota in patients with T2DM and the impacts of the changes in gut microbiota. Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria prevailed in patients with T2DM and healthy control, but their abundance varied greatly. There was also a significant decrease in bacteria like Lactobacilli spp.and F. prausnitizii associated with insulin resistance. High levels of BMI in patients with T2DM have also been associated with increased levels of A. muciniphilia, which has been associated with decreased fat metabolism and increased BMI. Metabolites such as butyrates and melatonin have also been identified as influencing the development and progression of T2DM. Testosterone levels have also been greatly influenced by the gut microbiota changes in T2DM, such that males with lower testosterone have a greater abundance of bacteria like Gemella, Lachnospiraceae, and Massiia. Identifying these changes and how they impact the body may lead to a treatment addressing insulin dysfunction and the changes that the altered gut microbiota leads to. Future research should address how treatment methods such as healthy diets, exercise, and anti-diabetics affect the gut microbiota and see if they influence sustained changes and reduced hyperglycemia.

Gut firmicutes: Relationship with dietary fiber and role in host homeostasis

Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are the predominant bacterial phyla colonizing the healthy human gut. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary fiber plays a crucial role in host health, yet most studies have focused on how the dietary fiber affects health through gut Bacteroides. More recently, gut Firmicutes have been found to possess many genes responsible for fermenting dietary fiber, and could also interact with the intestinal mucosa and thereby contribute to homeostasis. Consequently, the relationship between dietary fiber and Firmicutes is of interest, as well as the role of Firmicutes in host health. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism of dietary fiber degradation by gut Firmicutes and explain the communication pathway of the dietary fiber-Firmicutes-host axis, and the beneficial effects of dietary fiber-induced Firmicutes and their metabolites on health. A better understanding of the dialogue sustained by the dietary fiber-Firmicutes axis and the host could provide new insights into probiotic therapy and novel dietary interventions aimed at increasing the abundance of Firmicutes (such as Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia) to promote health.

From-Toilet-to-Freezer: A Review on Requirements for an Automatic Protocol to Collect and Store Human Fecal Samples for Research Purposes

The composition, viability and metabolic functionality of intestinal microbiota play an important role in human health and disease. Studies on intestinal microbiota are often based on fecal samples, because these can be sampled in a non-invasive way, although procedures for sampling, processing and storage vary. This review presents factors to consider when developing an automated protocol for sampling, processing and storing fecal samples: donor inclusion criteria, urine-feces separation in smart toilets, homogenization, aliquoting, usage or type of buffer to dissolve and store fecal material, temperature and time for processing and storage and quality control. The lack of standardization and low-throughput of state-of-the-art fecal collection procedures promote a more automated protocol. Based on this review, an automated protocol is proposed. Fecal samples should be collected and immediately processed under anaerobic conditions at either room temperature (RT) for a maximum of 4 h or at 4 °C for no more than 24 h. Upon homogenization, preferably in the absence of added solvent to allow addition of a buffer of choice at a later stage, aliquots obtained should be stored at either -20 °C for up to a few months or -80 °C for a longer period-up to 2 years. Protocols for quality control should characterize microbial composition and viability as well as metabolic functionality.

Machine learning approaches in microbiome research: challenges and best practices

Microbiome data predictive analysis within a machine learning (ML) workflow presents numerous domain-specific challenges involving preprocessing, feature selection, predictive modeling, performance estimation, model interpretation, and the extraction of biological information from the results. To assist decision-making, we offer a set of recommendations on algorithm selection, pipeline creation and evaluation, stemming from the COST Action ML4Microbiome. We compared the suggested approaches on a multi-cohort shotgun metagenomics dataset of colorectal cancer patients, focusing on their performance in disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery. It is demonstrated that the use of compositional transformations and filtering methods as part of data preprocessing does not always improve the predictive performance of a model. In contrast, the multivariate feature selection, such as the Statistically Equivalent Signatures algorithm, was effective in reducing the classification error. When validated on a separate test dataset, this algorithm in combination with random forest modeling, provided the most accurate performance estimates. Lastly, we showed how linear modeling by logistic regression coupled with visualization techniques such as Individual Conditional Expectation (ICE) plots can yield interpretable results and offer biological insights. These findings are significant for clinicians and non-experts alike in translational applications.

Importance of gut microbiota metabolites in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the most common cause of death worldwide and has become a public health concern. The proven notable risk factors for CVD are atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and some genetic defects. However, research has shown a correlation between metabolic health, gut microbiota, and dietary risk factors. The gut microbiota makes an important contribution to human functional metabolic pathways by contributing enzymes that are not encoded by the human genome, for instance, the breakdown of polysaccharides, polyphenols and vitamins synthesis. TMAO and SCFAs, human gut microbiota compounds, have respective immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory effects. Choline and l-carnitine are abundant in high-fat diets and are transformed into TMA by gut bacteria. The liver's phase of metabolism then changes TMA into TMAO. In turn, TMAO promotes the activation of macrophages, damages vascular endothelium, and results in CVD-however, dysbiosis decreases SCFAs and bile acids, which raises intestinal permeability. Congestion in the portal vein, a drop in cardiac output, a reduction in intestinal perfusion, and intestinal leakage are all caused by heart failure. These factors induce systemic inflammation by increasing intestinal leakage. By raising CRP and pro-inflammatory reactions, human gut dysbiosis and elevated TMAO levels promote the development of arterial plaque, hasten the beginning of atherosclerosis, and raise the risk of CAD. A healthy symbiosis between the gut microbiota and host is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet, therefore which are crucial for maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier, growing mucosa, reducing inflammation, and controlling blood pressure.

Faecalibacterium: a bacterial genus with promising human health applications

In humans, many diseases are associated with alterations in gut microbiota, namely increases or decreases in the abundance of specific bacterial groups. One example is the genus Faecalibacterium. Numerous studies have underscored that low levels of Faecalibacterium are correlated with inflammatory conditions, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the forefront. Its representation is also diminished in the case of several diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), dermatitis, and depression. Additionally, the relative presence of this genus is considered to reflect, at least in part, intestinal health status because Faecalibacterium is frequently present at reduced levels in individuals with gastrointestinal diseases or disorders. In this review, we first thoroughly describe updates to the taxonomy of Faecalibacterium, which has transformed a single-species taxon to a multispecies taxon over the last decade. We then explore the links discovered between Faecalibacterium abundance and various diseases since the first IBD-focused studies were published. Next, we examine current available strategies for modulating Faecalibacterium levels in the gut. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects that have been attributed to this genus. Together, epidemiological and experimental data strongly support the use of Faecalibacterium as a next-generation probiotic (NGP) or live biotherapeutic product (LBP).

Strains of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and its extracts reduce blood glucose levels, percent HbA1c, and improve glucose tolerance without causing hypoglycemic side effects in diabetic and prediabetic mice

INTRODUCTION

The commensal bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a prominent member of the microbiome of animals and humans, and it plays an important role in several physiological processes. Numerous studies have correlated the reduction of F. prausnitzii abundance with many disease states, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, obesity, asthma, major depressive disorder, and metabolic diseases in humans. Studies have also correlated F. prausnitzii with diseases in humans involved in altered glucose metabolism, including diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of compositions derived from three strains of F. prausnitzii (coined FPZ) on glucose metabolism in diet-induced obese male C57BL/6J prediabetic and type 2 diabetic mice. The primary endpoints of these studies were measuring changes in fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance (as measured by a glucose tolerance test), and percent hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with longer term treatment. Two placebo-controlled trials were carried out using both live cell FPZ and killed cell FPZ and extracts. Two additional placebo-controlled trials were carried out in non-diabetic mice and mice that previously had type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESULTS

Both trials in prediabetic and diabetic mice revealed that peroral administration of live FPZ or extracts from FPZ lowered fasting blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance compared with control mice. A trial administering longer FPZ treatment also resulted in lowered percent HbA1c compared with control mice. Additionally, trials in non-diabetic mice treated with FPZ demonstrated that FPZ treatment does not lead to hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The trial results have shown that treatment with different formulations of FPZ result in lower blood glucose levels, lower percent HbA1c, and improved glucose response in mice compared with control prediabetic/diabetic mice. FPZ is a promising candidate as an orally administered probiotic or postbiotic to manage and improve pre-diabetes and T2D.

Gut Microbiome and Small RNA Integrative-Omic Perspective of Meconium and Milk-FED Infant Stool Samples

The human gut microbiome plays an important role in health, and its initial development is conditioned by many factors, such as feeding. It has also been claimed that this colonization is guided by bacterial populations, the dynamic virome, and transkingdom interactions between host and microbial cells, partially mediated by epigenetic signaling. In this article, we characterized the bacteriome, virome, and smallRNome and their interaction in the meconium and stool samples from infants. Bacterial and viral DNA and RNA were extracted from the meconium and stool samples of 2- to 4-month-old milk-fed infants. The bacteriome, DNA and RNA virome, and smallRNome were assessed using 16S rRNA V4 sequencing, viral enrichment sequencing, and small RNA sequencing protocols, respectively. Data pathway analysis and integration were performed using the R package mixOmics. Our findings showed that the bacteriome differed among the three groups, while the virome and smallRNome presented significant differences, mainly between the meconium and stool of milk-fed infants. The gut environment is rapidly acquired after birth, and it is highly adaptable due to the interaction of environmental factors. Additionally, transkingdom interactions between viruses and bacteria can influence host and smallRNome profiles. However, virome characterization has several protocol limitations that must be considered.

Exploring the potential impact of probiotic use on drug metabolism and efficacy

Probiotics are frequently consumed as functional food and widely used as dietary supplements, but are also recommended in treating or preventing various gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, their co-administration with other drugs is sometimes unavoidable or even compulsory. Recent technological developments in the pharmaceutical industry permitted the development of novel drug-delivery systems for probiotics, allowing their addition to the therapy of severely ill patients. Literature data regarding the changes that probiotics could impose on the efficacy or safety of chronic medication is scarce. In this context, the present paper aims to review probiotics currently recommended by the international medical community, to evaluate the relationship between gut microbiota and various pathologies with high impact worldwide and, most importantly, to assess the literature reports concerning the ability of probiotics to influence the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of some widely used drugs, especially for those with narrow therapeutic indexes. A better understanding of the potential influence of probiotics on drug metabolism, efficacy and safety could contribute to improving therapy management, facilitating individualized therapy and updating treatment guidelines.

Key Stratification of Microbiota Taxa and Metabolites in the Host Metabolic Health-Disease Balance

Human gut microbiota seems to drive the interaction with host metabolism through microbial metabolites, enzymes, and bioactive compounds. These components determine the host health-disease balance. Recent metabolomics and combined metabolome-microbiome studies have helped to elucidate how these substances could differentially affect the individual host pathophysiology according to several factors and cumulative exposures, such as obesogenic xenobiotics. The present work aims to investigate and interpret newly compiled data from metabolomics and microbiota composition studies, comparing controls with patients suffering from metabolic-related diseases (diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, liver and cardiovascular diseases, etc.). The results showed, first, a differential composition of the most represented genera in healthy individuals compared to patients with metabolic diseases. Second, the analysis of the metabolite counts exhibited a differential composition of bacterial genera in disease compared to health status. Third, qualitative metabolite analysis revealed relevant information about the chemical nature of metabolites related to disease and/or health status. Key microbial genera were commonly considered overrepresented in healthy individuals together with specific metabolites, e.g., Faecalibacterium and phosphatidylethanolamine; and the opposite, Escherichia and Phosphatidic Acid, which is converted into the intermediate Cytidine Diphosphate Diacylglycerol-diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG), were overrepresented in metabolic-related disease patients. However, it was not possible to associate most specific microbiota taxa and metabolites according to their increased and decreased profiles analyzed with health or disease. Interestingly, positive association of essential amino acids with the genera Bacteroides were observed in a cluster related to health, and conversely, benzene derivatives and lipidic metabolites were related to the genera Clostridium, Roseburia, Blautia, and Oscillibacter in a disease cluster. More studies are needed to elucidate the microbiota species and their corresponding metabolites that are key in promoting health or disease status. Moreover, we propose that greater attention should be paid to biliary acids and to microbiota-liver cometabolites and its detoxification enzymes and pathways.

Gut Microbiota and Their Associated Metabolites in Diabetes: A Cross Talk Between Host and Microbes-A Review

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota's composition and function is important in developing insulin resistance and diabetes. Diabetes has also been linked to changes in the circulating and fecal metabolites. Evidence suggests the associations between the gut microbiota and the aberrant diabetes-related metabolome. Metabolites play a crucial role in the host-microbiota interactions. Researchers have used a combination of metagenomic and metabolomic approaches to investigate the relationships between gut microbial dysbiosis and metabolic abnormalities in diabetes. We summarized current discoveries on the associations between the gut microbiota and metabolites in type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes mellitus in the scoping review. According to research, the gut microbiota changes might involve in the development of diabetes through modulating the host's metabolic pathways such as immunity, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. These results add to our understanding of the interplay between the host and gut microbiota metabolism.

Gut Microbiota Modulation for Therapeutic Management of Various Diseases: A New Perspective Using Stem Cell Therapy

Dysbiosis has been linked to various diseases ranging from cardiovascular, neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and metabolic illnesses to cancer. Restoring of gut microbiota balance represents an outstanding clinical target for the management of various multidrug-resistant diseases. Preservation of gut microbial diversity and composition could also improve stem cell therapy which now has diverse clinical applications in the field of regenerative medicine. Gut microbiota modulation and stem cell therapy may be considered a highly promising field that could add up towards the improvement of different diseases, increasing the outcome and efficacy of each other through mutual interplay or interaction between both therapies. Importantly, more investigations are required to reveal the cross-talk between microbiota modulation and stem cell therapy to pave the way for the development of new therapies with enhanced therapeutic outcomes. This review provides an overview of dysbiosis in various diseases and their management. It also discusses microbiota modulation via antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplant to introduce the concept of dysbiosis correction for the management of various diseases. Furthermore, we demonstrate the beneficial interactions between microbiota modulation and stem cell therapy as a way for the development of new therapies in addition to limitations and future challenges regarding the applications of these therapies.

Association of the gut microbiome with fecal short-chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharides, and obesity in young Chinese college students

Introduction

Obesity is a growing health problem among young people worldwide and is associated with gut conditions. This study aimed to explore the relationship between obesity, intestinal microbiota, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in young college students.

Methods

16S rRNA gene sequences, SCFA and LPS contents, and obesity status were analyzed in 68 young college students (20-25 years old).

Results

There were significant differences in intestinal microbial beta diversity among students with different body mass index (BMI). The abundance and proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroides had no significant correlation with BMI. The contents of butyric acid and valeric acid in the feces of obese students were low, and the content of SCFAs had no significant correlation with BMI and LPS. The content of LPS in the feces of obese people was significantly higher than that in healthy people, and there was a significant positive correlation between LPS content and BMI.

Conclusion

In general, there was a correlation between intestinal microbiota, SCFA, LPS, and BMI in young college students. Our results may enrich the understanding of the relationship between intestinal conditions and obesity and contribute to the study of obesity in young college students.

Effect of "maccog" TCM tea on improving glucolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes in community

OBJECTIVES

This work aimed to observe the effect of consuming Chinese herb tea on glucolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Ninety patients with T2DM were recruited from a community and randomly divided into the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). CG maintained conventional treatment and lifestyle, and IG accepted additional "maccog" traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tea (mulberry leaf, radix astragali, corn stigma, cortex lycii, radix ophiopogonis, and gynostemma) for 12 weeks. Glucolipid metabolism, hepatorenal function, and gut microbiota were then measured.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the decreases in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and total cholesterol (TC) were greater (P<0.05) in IG than in CG, and those in glycosylated serum protein (GSP) were almost significantly greater (P=0.066) in IG than in CG. The total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and creatinine (CREA) levels in IG were significantly lower and their decreases were larger in IG than in CG (P<0.05) after the intervention. The Ace and Chao1 indices in IG were slightly higher after the intervention (P=0.056 and 0.052, respectively) than at baselines. The abundance of Actinobacteria, Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Phascolarctobacterium increased significantly after the intervention in IG (P<0.05), and the abundance was higher in IG than in CG (P<0.05 or P<0.1). The abundance of Clostridiales and Lactobacillales was negatively correlated with FPG (P<0.05), Clostridiales and Lachnospiraceae was negatively correlated with GSP (P<0.05), and Bacteroides/Firmicutes was positively correlated with both (P<0.05). No adverse event was observed during the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of "maccog" TCM tea for 12 weeks slightly improved glucolipid metabolism and significantly increased the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota in community patients with T2DM. The increase in beneficial bacteria abundance may be involved in the improvement of glucose metabolism indicators. In addition, this intervention is safe and feasible.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=31281, identifier ChiCTR1800018566.

Characteristic alterations of gut microbiota in uncontrolled gout

Microbiome research has been on the rise recently for a more in-depth understanding of gout. Meanwhile, there is a need to understand the gut microbiome related to uric acid-lowering drug resistance. In this study, 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis was performed for a total of 65 stool samples from 17 healthy controls and 48 febuxostat-treated gout patients (including 28 controlled subjects with decreased uric acid levels and 20 uncontrolled subjects with non-reduced uric acid levels). Alpha diversity of bacterial community decreased in the healthy control, controlled, and uncontrolled groups. In the case of beta diversity, the bacterial community was significantly different among groups (healthy control, controlled, and uncontrolled groups). Taxonomic biomarker analysis revealed the increased population of g-Bifidobacterium in healthy controls and g-Prevotella in uncontrolled patients. PCR further confirmed this result at the species level. Additionally, functional metagenomics predictions led to the exploration of various functional biomarkers, including purine metabolism. The results of this study can serve as a basis for developing potential new strategies for diagnosing and treating gout from microbiome prospects.

Snapshot into the Type-2-Diabetes-Associated Microbiome of a Romanian Cohort

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is alarmingly increasing worldwide, urgently calling for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms in order to step up prevention and improve therapeutic approaches. It is becoming evident that the gut microbiota seem to have an endless capacity to impact T2D. In this study, we profile the gut microbiome patterns in T2D patients from Romania, by using quantitative Real-Time PCR and next generation sequencing. We enrolled a total of 150 individuals (105 T2D patients, 50 of them without metformin treatment and 45 healthy volunteers). The levels of potentially beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria were significantly reduced, while potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as Enterobacteriaceae and Fusobacterium were enriched in T2D patients. We evaluated the correlation between clinical parameters and gut microbiota and identified the genera Bacteroides, Alistipes, Dialister, Bilophila and Sutterella as possible detrimental factors in T2D. Our findings suggest that the gut microbiota may be a potential target in novel approaches to halt the development of T2D-associated complications.

Usnea improves high-fat diet- and vitamin D3-induced atherosclerosis in rats by remodeling intestinal flora homeostasis

Background: Usnea has various pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antiviral, and cardiovasculoprotective effects. Aim of the study: To investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the anti-atherosclerosis (AS) activity of Usnea ethanol extract (UEE) via the regulation of intestinal flora. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of UEE was determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-EOMS). Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. A high-fat diet and intraperitoneal vitamin D3 injections were used to establish a rat model of AS. After 4 weeks of treatment with UEE, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to evaluate the pathomorphology of the aorta, liver, and colon. The composition and diversity of the rat intestinal flora were determined using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of plasma trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), serum bile acid (BA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The protein expression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and flavin monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) in the liver and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in colon tissue was detected via western blotting. Results: Forty-four compounds were identified in UEE. In the rat model of AS, UEE significantly prevented calcium deposition; decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, LPS, TNF-α, and IL-6; and increased the serum level of HDL-C. Additionally, all UEE dosages decreased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota while increased that of Bacteroidetes. FMO3 protein expression and TMAO levels decreased, whereas CYP7A1 protein expression and BA levels increased. The absorption of intestinal-derived LPS was minimized. Furthermore, the protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin was upregulated. Conclusion: UEE ameliorated AS. The underlying mechanism was the reversal of imbalances in the intestinal flora by Usnea, thereby inhibiting calcium deposition, abnormal lipid metabolism, and inflammatory response.

Roseburia intestinalis Modulates PYY Expression in a New a Multicellular Model including Enteroendocrine Cells

The gut microbiota contributes to human health and disease; however, the mechanisms by which commensal bacteria interact with the host are still unclear. To date, a number of in vitro systems have been designed to investigate the host-microbe interactions. In most of the intestinal models, the enteroendocrine cells, considered as a potential link between gut bacteria and several human diseases, were missing. In the present study, we have generated a new model by adding enteroendocrine cells (ECC) of L-type (NCI-H716) to the one that we have previously described including enterocytes, mucus, and M cells. After 21 days of culture with the other cells, enteroendocrine-differentiated NCI-H716 cells showed neuropods at their basolateral side and expressed their specific genes encoding proglucagon (GCG) and chromogranin A (CHGA). We showed that this model could be stimulated by commensal bacteria playing a key role in health, Roseburia intestinalis and Bacteroides fragilis, but also by a pathogenic strain such as Salmonella Heidelberg. Moreover, using cell-free supernatants of B. fragilis and R. intestinalis, we have shown that R. intestinalis supernatant induced a significant increase in IL-8 and PYY but not in GCG gene expression, while B. fragilis had no impact. Our data indicated that R. intestinalis produced short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate whereas B. fragilis produced more propionate. However, these SCFAs were probably not the only metabolites implicated in PYY expression since butyrate alone had no effect. In conclusion, our new quadricellular model of gut epithelium could be an effective tool to highlight potential beneficial effects of bacteria or their metabolites, in order to develop new classes of probiotics.

Chalcone-1-Deoxynojirimycin Heterozygote Reduced the Blood Glucose Concentration and Alleviated the Adverse Symptoms and Intestinal Flora Disorder of Diabetes Mellitus Rats

Chalcone-1-deoxynojirimycin heterozygote (DC-5), a novel compound which was designed and synthesized in our laboratory for diabetes treatment, showed an extremely strong in vitro inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase in our previous studies. In the current research, its potential in vivo anti-diabetic effects were further investigated by integration detection and the analysis of blood glucose concentration, blood biochemical parameters, tissue section and gut microbiota of the diabetic rats. The results indicated that oral administration of DC-5 significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose, both in diabetic and normal rats; meanwhile, it alleviated the adverse symptoms of elevated blood lipid level and lipid metabolism disorder in diabetic rats. Furthermore, DC-5 effectively decreased the organ coefficient and alleviated the pathological changes of the liver, kidney and small intestine of the diabetic rats at the same time. Moreover, the results of 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis suggested that DC-5 significantly increased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and improved the disorder of gut microbiota in diabetic rats. In conclusion, DC-5 displayed a good therapeutic effect on the diabetic rats, and therefore had a good application prospect in hypoglycemic drugs and foods.

Human gut microbiota in health and disease: Unveiling the relationship

The human gut possesses millions of microbes that define a complex microbial community. The gut microbiota has been characterized as a vital organ forming its multidirectional connecting axis with other organs. This gut microbiota axis is responsible for host-microbe interactions and works by communicating with the neural, endocrinal, humoral, immunological, and metabolic pathways. The human gut microorganisms (mostly non-pathogenic) have symbiotic host relationships and are usually associated with the host’s immunity to defend against pathogenic invasion. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is therefore linked to various human diseases, such as anxiety, depression, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. The mechanism leading to the disease development has a crucial correlation with gut microbiota, metabolic products, and host immune response in humans. The understanding of mechanisms over gut microbiota exerts its positive or harmful impacts remains largely undefined. However, many recent clinical studies conducted worldwide are demonstrating the relation of specific microbial species and eubiosis in health and disease. A comprehensive understanding of gut microbiota interactions, its role in health and disease, and recent updates on the subject are the striking topics of the current review. We have also addressed the daunting challenges that must be brought under control to maintain health and treat diseases.

Differential Response of Ileal and Colonic Microbiota in Rats with High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis

Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota are associated with atherosclerosis (AS). However, the functional heterogeneity of each gut segment gives rise to regional differences in gut microbiota. We established a rat model of AS by feeding the rats a high-fat diet for a long period. The pathological and microbiota changes in the ileum and colon of the rats were examined, and correlations between AS and microbiota were analyzed. The aortic mesothelium of the experimental rats was damaged. The intima showed evident calcium salt deposition, indicating that the AS rat model was successfully developed. We noted varying degrees of pathological damage in the ileum and colon of the experimental rats. The 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed significant differences in α-diversity, β-diversity, and microbiota comparisons in the ileum and colon. Furthermore, the ileum and colon of AS rats showed varying degrees of intestinal microbiota disturbance. This article contributes to the study of the relationship between the microbiota in different regions of the gut and AS, and provides new approaches in gut microbiota intervention for the treatment of AS.

Modulation of gut microbiota by bioactive compounds for prevention and management of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Gut microbiota (GM) are specific groups of microbes colonized in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They profoundly influence health, disease protection, and associated with metabolic activities, and play a vital role in the production of functional metabolites from dietary substances. Dysbiosis of GM has been linked to the onset of T2DM and can be altered to attain eubiosis by intervention with various nutritional bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, prebiotics, and probiotics. This review presents an overview of the evidence and underlying mechanisms by which bioactive compounds modulate the GM for the prevention and management of T2DM.

Molecular analysis of dominant paranasal sinus bacteria in patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis

Recent studies have established the possible role of microbiota in developing various diseases. In this regard, attention has shifted to the evaluation of microbiota changes in the paranasal sinuses and its relationship to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), especially CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). This study aimed to examine the bacterial communities of the sphenoidal sinus in Iranian patients with and without CRS. The investigation included 36 subjects, including 18 patients with CRSwNP who underwent Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) and 18 non-CRS patients who underwent Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA) for pituitary adenoma. The surgeries were performed under general anesthesia, and the sphenoidal sinus was sampled using sterile rayon-tipped swabs coated with a sheet. TaqMan quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method (the 16S rDNA gene from bacteria) was used for detection of bacterial communities in different samples. Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were significantly more prevalent in CRS patients than non-CRS patients (P value ≤ 0.05). However, no significant difference in the frequency of Corynebacterium spp. and Staphylococcus aureus was observed between the two groups, and no Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenza species were isolated from any of the samples. The current study's findings indicated a significant difference in the frequency of certain bacterial species in patients with CRS vs. non-CRS patients. By establishing a link between microbial burden and CRS, it is possible to develop effective treatments or even prevent disorders in this body area.

Effect of dendrobium mixture in alleviating diabetic cognitive impairment associated with regulating gut microbiota

Dendrobium mixture (DM) is a patent Chinese herbal formulation consisting of Dendrobii Caulis, Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix as the main ingredients. DM has been shown to alleviate diabetic related symptoms attributed to its anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect on diabetic induced cognitive dysfunction has not been investigated. This study aims to investigate the effect of DM in improving diabetic cognitive impairment and associated mechanisms. Our study confirmed the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of DM and showed its capacity to restore the cognitive and memory function in high fat/high glucose and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The neuroprotective effect was manifested as improved learning and memory behaviours, restored blood-brain barrier tight junction, and enhanced expressions of neuronal survival related biomarkers. DM protected the colon tight junction, and effectively lowered the circulated proinflammatory mediators including tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and lipopolysaccharides. In the gut microbiota, DM corrected the increase in the abundance of Firmicutes, the increase in the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, and the decrease in the abundance of Bacteroidetes in diabetic rats. It also reversed the abundance of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus and Allobaculum genera. Short chain fatty acids, isobutyric acid and ethylmethylacetic acid, were negatively and significantly correlated to Ruminococcus and Allobaculum. Isovaleric acid was positively and significantly correlated with Lactobacillus, which all contributing to the improvement in glucose level, systemic inflammation and cognitive function in diabetic rats. Our results demonstrated the potential of DM as a promising therapeutic agent in treating diabetic cognitive impairment and the underlying mechanism may be associated with regulating gut microbiota.

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

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

Qisheng Wan formula ameliorates cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease rat via inflammation inhibition and intestinal microbiota regulation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Qisheng Wan formula (QWF) was first described in the book Sheng Ji Zong Lu in 1117. The book states that QWF can cure forgetfulness, improve the mind, and make people smart. Hence, QWF has been widely used to treat patients with forgetfulness or dementia. QWF, a classic Chinese formulation, comprises seven herbal drugs: the sclerotium of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., root and rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, and root bark of Lycium chinense Mill.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to utilize modern pharmacological methods to evaluate the therapeutic effects and explore the underlying mechanism of QWF action on rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of QWF was characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The AD rat model was established via a bilateral intraventricular injection of amyloid-β (1-42) (Aβ_1-42). The rats were subsequently treated daily with QWF for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognition processes in the rats, whereas histological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of Aβ_1-42, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 in the hippocampus and colon were assessed. Moreover, the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota were analyzed using 16S rDNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

One hundred and fourteen compounds were characterized in QWF. QWF significantly ameliorated the cognition processes and histopathological damages due to AD in rats by decreasing the deposition of Aβ_1-42 and downregulating the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6. QWF also modulated changes in the diversity and composition of intestinal microbiota to suppress the relative abundance of inflammation-associated microbiota.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that QWF can suppress proinflammatory factors and modulate the intestinal microbiota in AD rats.

Antibiotic Consumption Patterns in European Countries Might Be Associated with the Prevalence of Type 1 and 2 Diabetes

Several publications have raised the issue that the development of diabetes precedes the alteration of the microbiome (dysbiosis) and the role of environmental factors. Antibiotic use induces dysbiosis, and we wanted to estimate the associations between the consumption of antibiotics and the prevalence of diabetes (both types 1 and 2; T1D and T2D, respectively) in European countries. If such an association exists, the dominant use antibiotic classes might be reflected in the prevalence rates of T1D and T2D in different countries. Comparisons were performed between the prevalence of diabetes estimated for 2019 and featured in the Diabetes Atlas and the average yearly consumption of antibiotic classes between 2010 and 2109, calculated from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) yearly reports on antibiotic consumption in Europe. Pearson's correlation and variance analyses were used to estimate the possible relationship. Strong positive (enhancer) associations were found between the prevalence of T1D and the consumption of tetracycline (J01A: p = 0.001) and the narrow-spectrum penicillin (J01CE: p = 0.006; CF: p = 0.018). A strong negative (inhibitor) association was observed with broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin (J01CR: p = 0.003), macrolide (J01F: p = 0.008), and quinolone (J01M: p = 0.001). T2D showed significant positive associations with cephalosporin (J01D: p = 0.048) and quinolone (J01M: p = 0.025), and a non-significant negative association was detected with broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase-sensitive penicillin (J01CA: p = 0.067). Countries showing the highest prevalence rates of diabetes (top 10) showed concordance with the higher consumption of "enhancer" and the lower consumption of "inhibitor" antibiotics (top 10), as indicated by variance analysis. Countries with high prevalence rates of T1D showed high consumption of tetracycline (p = 0.015) and narrow-spectrum, beta-lactamase sensitive penicillin (p = 0.008) and low consumption of "inhibitor" antibiotics [broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase-resistant, combination penicillin (p = 0.005); cephalosporin (p = 0.036); and quinolone (p = 0.003)]. Countries with high prevalence rates of T2D consumed more cephalosporin (p = 0.084) and quinolone (p = 0.054) and less broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase-sensitive penicillin (p = 0.012) than did other countries. The development of diabetes-related dysbiosis might be related to the higher consumption of specific classes of antibiotics, showing positive (enhancer) associations with the prevalence of diabetes, and the low consumption of other classes of antibiotics, those showing negative (inhibitory) associations. These groups of antibiotics are different in T1D and T2D.

Possible Benefits of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii for Obesity-Associated Gut Disorders

Metabolic disorders are an increasing concern in the industrialized world. Current research has shown a direct link between the composition of the gut microbiota and the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. In only a few weeks, an obesity-inducing diet can lead to increased gut permeability and microbial dysbiosis, which contributes to chronic inflammation in the gut and adipose tissues, and to the development of insulin resistance. In this review, we examine the interplay between gut inflammation, insulin resistance, and the gut microbiota, and discuss how some probiotic species can be used to modulate gut homeostasis. We focus primarily on Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a highly abundant butyrate-producing bacterium that has been proposed both as a biomarker for the development of different gut pathologies and as a potential treatment due to its production of anti-inflammatory metabolites.