The footprint of gut microbiota in gallbladder cancer: a mechanistic review

The gastrointestinal mycobiome in inflammation and cancer: unraveling fungal dysbiosis, pathogenesis, and therapeutic potential

The gastrointestinal mycobiome, comprising diverse fungal species, plays a significant role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that dysbiosis of the gut mycobiome, characterized by an overrepresentation of pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus, correlates with increased inflammation and cancer risk. For instance, C. albicans has been shown to induce colonic inflammation through the activation of pattern recognition receptors and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, exacerbating IBD symptoms and potentially facilitating tumorigenesis. Additionally, metagenomic analyses have revealed distinct fungal signatures in colorectal cancer tissues compared to adjacent healthy tissues, highlighting the potential of fungi as biomarkers for disease progression. Mechanistically, gut fungi contribute to disease through biofilm formation, mycotoxin secretion (e.g., aflatoxins, candidalysin), pro-inflammatory cytokine induction (e.g., IL-1β, IL-17), and disruption of epithelial barriers-creating a tumor-promoting and inflammation-prone environment. Furthermore, the interplay between fungi and the bacterial microbiome can amplify inflammatory responses, contributing to chronic inflammation and cancer development. Fungal interactions with bacterial communities also play a synergistic role in shaping mucosal immune responses and enhancing disease severity in both cancer and IBD contexts. As research continues to elucidate these complex fungal-host and fungal-bacterial interactions, targeting the gut mycobiome may offer novel therapeutic avenues for managing IBD and gastrointestinal cancers, emphasizing the need for integrated, mechanistically informed approaches to microbiome research.

Impact on Human Health of Salmonella spp. and Their Lipopolysaccharides: Possible Therapeutic Role and Asymptomatic Presence Consequences

Epidemiologically, one of the most important concerns associated with introducing Salmonella spp. into the environment and food chain is the presence of asymptomatic carriers. The oncogenic and oncolytic activity of Salmonella and their lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) is important and research on this topic is needed. Even a single asymptomatic dose of the S. Enteritidis LPS (a dose that has not caused any symptoms of illness) in in vivo studies induces the dysregulation of selected cells and bioactive substances of the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. LPSs from different species, and even LPSs derived from different serotypes of one species, can define different biological activities. The activity of low doses of LPSs derived from three different Salmonella serotypes (S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Minnesota) affects the neurochemistry of neurons differently in in vitro studies. Studies on lipopolysaccharides from different Salmonella serotypes do not consider the diversity of their activity. The presence of an LPS from S. Enteritidis in the body, even in amounts that do not induce any symptoms of illness, may lead to unknown long-term consequences associated with its action on the cells and biologically active substances of the human body. These conclusions should be important for both research strategies and the pharmaceutical industry &.

Glucosinolates and Indole-3-carbinol from Brassica oleracea L. as inhibitors of E. coli CdtB: insights from molecular docking, dynamics, DFT and in vitro assay

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a common human gut bacterium, is generally harmless but capable of causing infections and contributing to diseases like urinary tract infections, sepsis/meningitis, or diarrheal diseases. Notably, E. coli is implicated in developing gallbladder cancer (GBC) either through ascending infection from the gastrointestinal tract or via hematogenous spread. Certain E. coli strains are known to produce toxins, such as cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs), that directly contribute to the genetic mutations and cellular abnormalities observed in GBC. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is known for its health-promoting properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects, and is rich in essential compounds. Our study investigates the potential of the phytochemicals of B. oleracea to inhibit the CdtB (PDB ID: 2F1N) protein of E. coli which plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of GBC. By employing in silico molecular docking, Glucosinolates and Indole-3-carbinol emerged as promising inhibitors, demonstrating strong bonding affinities of -8.95 and - 8.5 Kcal/mol, respectively. The molecular dynamic simulation showed that both compounds maintained stable interaction with CdtB with minimal conformational changes observed in the protein-ligand complexes. Additionally, the ADMET analysis provided evidence for the drug-likeness properties of the lead compounds. Furthermore, the DFT (Density Functional Theory) revealed that Indole-3-carbinol is more chemically stable but less reactive than Glucosinolates, with HOMO-LUMO gaps of 5.14 eV and 4.50 eV, respectively. Finally, the in vitro antibacterial assessment confirmed the inhibitory effect of Glucosinolates and Indole-3-carbinol against E. coli through disc diffusion assay with the zone of inhibition 34.25 ± 0.541 and 28.67 ± 0.376 mm compared to the control ciprofloxacin. Our study provides crucial data for developing novel therapeutic agents targeting E. coli-associated GBC from the phytochemicals of B. oleracea.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00276-3.

A novel nomogram based on inflammatory-nutritional biomarkers for gallbladder cancer after surgical resection

PURPOSE

Systemic inflammation and nutrition are vital for tumor progression. This study aimed to identify prognostic inflammation nutrition markers and develop a predictive nomogram for gallbladder cancer (GBC).

METHODS

A total of 123 patients with GBC who underwent surgical resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Suzhou Kowloon Hospital were included in our study. The final prognostic variables were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram model was then established, and the consistency index (C-index), calibration curves, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to evaluate the accuracy and discrimination of the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) suggested that our nomogram had better predictive ability and clinical feasibility than a published model.

RESULTS

The cox regression analysis showed that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) > 4.580, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) > -2.091, geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) < 90.83, T3-T4, and N2 are independent prognostic factors. A predictive nomogram was constructed with a C-index of 0.793. In the calibration curves, the nomogram-predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival matched well with the actual survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the high-risk group had worse survival than the low-risk group (P < 0.001). Finally, our nomogram achieved better 1-, 3- and 5-year AUCs than an established model (0.871, 0.844, and 0.781 vs. 0.753, 0.750, and 0.693). DCA also confirmed that our model outperformed the established model.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study revealed that CEA > 4.580, GNRI < 90.83, ALBI > -2.091, T3-T4 stage, and N2 were related to clinical outcomes of patients with GBC after surgical resection. The constructed nomogram has superior predictive ability and clinical practicality.

A Rare Case of Granulicatella adiacens Gallbladder Abscess Associated With Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Granulicatella adiacens, a nutritionally variant streptococcus, is part of the normal oral, gastrointestinal, and urogenital flora. It is associated with bacteremia, infectious endocarditis, and, rarely, bone and joint infections. G. adiacens infections also tend to have high mortality due to diagnostic challenges and antibiotic resistance. Few case reports have documented its role in abscess formation. Here, we report the first known case of G. adiacens causing a gallbladder abscess in a patient with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), a rare but aggressive cancer. Enhanced awareness and improved diagnostic methods are needed to manage such infections and understand their underlying mechanisms, particularly in immunocompromised patients with malignancies.