The biodiversity dose-response curve translates theory and practice from ecological restoration into research and clinical priorities for fecal microbiota transplantation

Alcohol-induced gut permeability defect through dysbiosis and enterocytic mitochondrial interference causing pro-inflammatory macrophages in a dose dependent manner

Although toxicity of alcohol toward the intestines and immunity is mentioned, there might be different effect of alcohol in a low and a high dose and the rodent model development using a simple SHIRPA binary score night be useful. Hence, a low and high dose of alcohol (6.30 and 1.26 g/kg/day) were administered in might for 16 weeks before determination of several parameters. As such, the peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of low and high dose of alcohol were approximately at 0.05 and 0.15%, respectively, at 1 h post-administration, which correlated with SHIRPA score at 1.8 ± 0.8 and 7.2 ± 0.6, respectively. After 16 wk of administration, a significant liver injury in high-dose alcohol was indicated by liver enzymes, liver weight, histology score, apoptosis, and hepatic accumulation of triglyceride (TG) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde; MDA) with reduced anti-oxidant (glutathione). Meanwhile, low-dose alcohol demonstrated only elevated apoptosis with increased TG and MDA in liver tissue. Leaky gut from both dose of alcohol was also demonstrated by FITC-dextran, endotoxemia, serum beta glucan, and reduced occludin. However, bacterial abundance (microbiome analysis) of the feces from small bowel of high-dose alcohol, but not the low dose, was different from the control (increased Alitipes spp. with reduced Lachnospiraceae). In conclusion, both low- and high-dose alcohol induced leaky gut, while only the high-dose caused gut dysbiosis and alcohol damaged mitochondria but enhanced glycolysis in enterocytes and macrophages. Leaky gut might be more sensitive than dysbiosis to determine alcohol-induced intestinal injury.

Dose-response curves: the next frontier in plant ecology

A large fraction of experimental work in plant ecology, and thus also on ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services, describes experiments that have been carried out under controlled (glasshouse) conditions. Controlled growth settings commonly sacrifice realism through, for example, reducing the densities of plant species in the pots and controlling how environmental settings such as moisture and light vary in favor of a higher mechanistic resolution, which makes these studies particularly suitable for subsequent syntheses. We explore the possibility that further integration of dose-response curves can maximize the impact of existing studies. We suggest that we can expand considerably the scope of the dose and response variables that are considered in plant ecology.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in developed countries and reduces patients’ quality of life, hinders their ability to work, and increases health care costs. A growing number of trials have demonstrated an aberrant gut microbiota composition in IBS, also known as ‘gut dysbiosis’. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been suggested as a treatment for IBS.

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of FMT for the treatment of IBS.

METHODS

We searched Cochrane Central, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science up to 24 October 2022 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of FMT compared to placebo (including autologous FMT) in treating IBS. The primary outcome was the number of patients with improvements of symptoms measured using a validated, global IBS symptoms score. Secondary outcomes were changes in quality-of-life scores, non-serious and serious adverse events. Risk ratios (RR) and corresponding 95%CI were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, as were the mean differences (MD) and 95%CI for continuous outcomes. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the trials. GRADE criteria were used to assess the overall quality of the evidence.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs (484 participants) were included in the review. FMT resulted in no significant benefit in IBS symptoms three months after treatment compared to placebo (RR 1.19, 95%CI: 0.68-2.10). Adverse events were reported in 97 participants in the FMT group and in 45 participants in the placebo group (RR 1.17, 95%CI: 0.63-2.15). One serious adverse event occurred in the FMT group and two in the placebo group (RR 0.42, 95%CI: 0.07-2.60). Endoscopic FMT delivery resulted in a significant improvement in symptoms, while capsules did not. FMT did not improve the quality of life of IBS patients but, instead, appeared to reduce it, albeit non significantly (MD -6.30, 95%CI: -13.39-0.79). The overall quality of the evidence was low due to moderate-high inconsistency, the small number of patients in the studies, and imprecision.

CONCLUSION

We found insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of FMT for IBS. Larger trials are needed.