Brassica rapa L. prevents Western diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice through its binding capacity of cholesterol and fat

Obesity, a chronic disorder caused by excessive energy intake leading to fat accumulation in adipose tissue, increases the risk of severe diseases. Brassica rapa L. is known as a traditional vegetable in the Nagano area of Japan. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, with different diets as follows: a normal diet, a Western diet (WD), and a WD plus B. rapa L. powder (BP) in a 56-day experiment. Brassica rapa L. supplementation reduced the body weight gain and lipid accumulation of mice significantly. The BP group also had higher fecal bile acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride excretion levels compared with those in the other groups. The antiobesity effects of B. rapa L. were due to its binding with cholesterol and fat, and possibly enhancing the bile acid excretion and modulating gut microbiota, suggesting that B. rapa L. could be a functional vegetable with potential uses in targeting obesity.

Duration of Fecal Excretion of Clostridium Botulinum and Botulinum Neurotoxin in Patients Recovering from Infant Botulism

This study sought to determine duration of fecal excretion of Clostridium botulinum organisms and neurotoxin after onset of infant botulism in 66 affected infants. Median excretion was longer for type A than type B patients (organisms: 5.9 vs 3.5 weeks, toxin: 4.8 vs 1.6 weeks, respectively). Toxin excretion always ceased before organism excretion. Antibiotic therapy did not affect duration of excretion.

Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 concentration and circulation of variants of concern in wastewater of Leuven, Belgium

Wastewater surveillance plays an important role in the management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic all over the world. Using different wastewater collection points in Leuven, we wanted to investigate the use of wastewater surveillance as an early warning system for an uprise of infections and as a tool to follow the circulation of specific variants of concern (VOCs) in particular geographic areas. Wastewater samples were collected from local neighborhood sewers and from a large regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the area of Leuven, Belgium. After virus concentration, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and normalized with the human fecal indicator pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV). A combination of multiplex RT-qPCR assays was used to detect signature mutations of circulating VOCs. Fecal virus shedding of SARS-CoV-2 variants was measured in feces samples of hospitalized patients. In two residential sampling sites, a rise in wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentration preceded peaks in positive cases. In the WWTP, viral load peaks were seen concomitant with the consecutive waves of positive cases caused by the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 strain and subsequent VOCs. During the Omicron BA.1 wave, the wastewater viral load increased to a lesser degree, even after normalization of SARS-CoV-2 concentration using PMMoV. This might be attributable to a lower level of fecal excretion of this variant. Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Alpha, Delta, Omicron BA1/BA.2, and BA.4/BA.5 could be detected based on the presence of specific key mutations. The shift in variants was noticeable in the wastewater, with key mutations of two different variants being present simultaneously during the transition period. Wastewater-based surveillance is a sensitive tool to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation levels and VOCs in larger regions. In times of reduced test capacity, this can prove to be highly valuable. Differences in excretion levels of various SARS-CoV-2 variants should however be taken into account when using wastewater surveillance to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation levels in the population.

Developing models to predict feces and urine excretion in Japanese Black fattening steer by multiple regression analysis

The objective of this study was to develop models for predicting the amount of feces and urine excreted by Japanese Black fattening steer using a dataset of 119 digestion trials for a total of 46 animals. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between feces and urine excretion and feed intake, feed digestibility, and nitrogen balance. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to develop models for predicting the amount of feces and urine excreted using the explanatory variables selected from various animal and dietary parameters based on P-value (<0.10) and variance inflation factor (<3.0). Resultingly, dry matter intake was a primary predictor of feces excreted. The prediction equation for the amount of feces excretion as a function of body weight, dry matter intake, and calculated total digestible nutrients fits the data well (adjusted coefficient of determination [adj R2 ] = 0.519, root mean square error = 1.57). Furthermore, the nitrogen content in the urine was the primary predictor of the urine excretion amount. Thus, the prediction equation for the amount of urine excreted using the nitrogen content in urine yielded a highly accurate model (adj R2  = 0.813, root mean square error = 4.12).

Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Infection in Children: Influence of Antibiotic Therapy on Postconvalescent Excretion and Clinical Course-A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Although published recommendations are available, the use of antibiotics in non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections in children is still controversially debated in clinical practice. Patients might even be put at risk, with necessary antibiotic therapy being withheld due to the widespread concern of prolonged post-convalescent shedding. The authors conducted a systematic review to assess whether antibiotic treatment influences fecal excretion or the clinical course in children with NTS infection. (2) Methods: The review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. In a Medline database search, studies assessing the influence of antibiotic therapy on excretion and/or the clinical course of NTS infections were selected. Studies reporting on adults only were not considered. Out of 532 publications which were identified during the systematic literature search, 14 publications were finally included (3273 patients in total). Quality and bias assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) or the Cochrane risk-of bias tool (ROB-2). (3) Results: Four early studies from decades ago demonstrated a prolongation of intestinal NTS excretion in children after antibiotic treatment, whereas most studies published more recently observed no significant influence, which might be due to having used more “modern” antibiotic regimes (n = 7 studies). Most studies did not describe significant differences regarding the severity and duration of symptoms between untreated patients and those treated with antibiotics. Quality and bias were mainly moderate (NOS) or variable (ROB-2), respectively. (4) Conclusions: There is no substantial evidence of prolonged excretion of NTS in pediatric patients after treatment with newer antimicrobials. Consequently, clinicians should not withhold antibiotics in NTS infection for children at risk, such as for very young children, children with comorbidities, and those with suspected invasive disease due to concerns about prolonged post-convalescent bacterial excretion. In the majority of cases with uncomplicated NTS diarrhea, clinicians should refrain from applying antibiotics.

Fecal Excretion of Mycobacterium leprae, Burkina Faso

Mycobacterium leprae was detected by optical microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and molecular detection in feces collected for the diagnosis of Entamoeba coli enteritis in a leprosy patient in Burkina Faso. This observation raises questions about the role of fecal excretion of M. leprae in the natural history and diagnosis of leprosy.

Feed Quality and Feeding Level Effects on Faecal Composition in East African Cattle Farming Systems

Simple Summary

Sub-Saharan cattle are often exposed to a feed reduction caused by a seasonal lack of forage, which was investigated in the first experiment. The supplementation of roughage-based diets with sweet potato vine silage and urea molasses blocks is recommended to improve the growth of heifers, in particular, which was investigated in the second experiment. Across all data, the fungal C/bacterial C ratio was positively related to nitrogen and negatively to neutral detergent fiber concentrations in feces. This diet-induced shift in the fecal microbial community is relevant for the fertilizer quality of cattle faces after application to soil.

Abstract

Effects of feeding levels below maintenance requirements of metabolizable energy (MER) and of feed supplementation on fecal nutrient and microbial C concentrations were evaluated. In experiment 1, Rhodes grass hay only was offered to Boran steers at 80%, 60%, and 40% of individual MER, while steers at 100% MER additionally received a concentrated mixture. This reduction in MER decreased N, increased fungal C but did not affect bacterial C concentrations in feces. In experiment 2, Holstein × Boran heifers were offered a poor-quality roughage diet without supplement, with sweet potato vine silage or with a urea-molasses block. These two supplements did not affect the fecal chemical composition or fungal C but increased bacterial C concentrations in feces. Across all data, the fungal C/bacterial C ratio was positively related to N and negatively to neutral detergent fiber concentrations in feces, indicating diet-induced shifts in the fecal microbial community.

Dietary Compounds To Reduce In Vivo Inorganic Arsenic Bioavailability

It is estimated that approximately 200 million people are exposed to arsenic levels above the World Health Organization provisional guideline value, and various agencies have indicated the need to reduce this exposure. In view of the difficulty of removing arsenic from water and food, one alternative is to reduce its bioavailability (the amount that reaches the systemic circulation after ingestion). In this study, dietary components [glutathione, tannic acid, and Fe(III)] were used to achieve this goal. As(III) or As(V) (1 mg/kg body weight) was administered daily to BALB/c mice, along with the dietary components, for 15 days. The results confirm the efficacy of Fe(III) and glutathione as reducers of arsenic bioavailability and tissue accumulation. Also, these treatments did not result in reductions of Ca, K, P, and Fe contents in the liver. These data suggest that use of these two compounds could be part of valid strategies for reducing inorganic arsenic exposure in chronically exposed populations.

Comparative Study on Excretive Characterization of Main Components in Herb Pair Notoginseng-Safflower and Single Herbs by LC⁻MS/MS

The herbal medicine combination of notoginseng-safflower has been commonly used clinically for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of six bioactive components (hydroxysafflor yellow A, notoginsenoide R1, ginsenoside Rb1, Re, Rd, and Rg1) in rat urine and feces after oral administration of notoginseng total saponins (NS), safflower total flavonoids (SF), and the combination of NS and SF (CNS). The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters HSS T3 column under gradient elution with acetonitrile and water containing formic acid as the mobile phase. The calibration curves were linear, with correlation coefficient (r) > 0.99 for six components. The intra- and interday precision (RSD) and accuracy (RE) of QC samples were within −14.9% and 14.9%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to study of the urinary and fecal excretion of six bioactive constituents following oral administration of NS, SF, and CNS in rats. Compared to the single herb, the cumulative excretion ratios of six constituents were decreased in the herbal combination. The study indicated that the combination of notoginseng and safflower could reduce the renal and fecal excretion of the major bioactive constituents and promote their absorption in rats.

Effects of feeding outer bran fraction of rice on lipid accumulation and fecal excretion in rats

Outer bran fraction of rice (OBFR) contains higher concentrations of crude fiber, γ-oryzanol, and phytic acid compared to whole rice bran (WRB). In this study, we examined the effects of feeding OBFR on lipid accumulation and fecal excretion in rats. Twenty-one male rats at seven-week-old were divided into a control group and two treatment groups. The control group was fed a control diet, and the treatment groups were fed OBFR- or WRB-containing diet for 21 days. There was no significant difference in growth performance. Feeding OBFR diet increased fecal number and weight accompanied by increased fecal lipid content, while it did not affect mRNA expressions encoding lipid metabolism-related protein in liver. In addition, feeding OBFR-diet decreased the abdominal fat tissue weight and improved plasma lipid profiles, while WRB-containing diet did not affect them. These results suggested that feeding OBFR-diet might prevent lipid accumulation via enhancing fecal lipid excretion in rats.

Antisecretory and antimotility activity of Aconitum heterophyllum and its significance in treatment of diarrhea

Aim:

The roots of the plant Aconitum heterophyllum (EAH) are traditionally used for curing hysteria, throat infection, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, diabetes, and diarrhea. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism involved in the anti-diarrheal activity of roots of A. heterophyllum.

Materials and Methods:

Ant-diarrheal activity of ethanol extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg p.o. was evaluated using fecal excretion and castor oil-induced diarrhea models, while optimized dose, that is, 100 mg/kg p.o. was further subjected to small intestinal transit, intestinal fluids accumulation, PGE₂-induced enteropooling and gastric emptying test. To elucidate the probable mechanism, various biochemical parameters and Na⁺, K⁺ concentration in intestinal fluids were also determined. Further, antibacterial activity of extract along with its standardization using aconitine as a marker with the help of HPLC was carried out.

Results:

The results depicted a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in normal fecal output at 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o. of extract after 5^th and 7^th h of treatment. Castor oil-induced diarrhea model demonstrated a ceiling effect at 100 mg/kg p.o. with a protection of 60.185% from diarrhea. EAH at 100 mg/kg p.o. also showed significant activity in small intestinal transit, fluid accumulation, and PGE₂-induced enteropooling models, which also restored the altered biochemical parameters and prevented Na⁺ and K⁺ loss. The extract with 0.0833% w/w of aconitine depicted a potential antibacterial activity of extract against microbes implicated in diarrhea.

Conclusion:

The study concluded antisecretory and antimotility effect of A. heterophyllum, which mediates through nitric oxide path way.

Determination and pharmacokinetics of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in rats by ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used to increase the flexibility of plastics for industrial products. However, the illegal use of the plasticizer DEHP in food and drinks has been reported in Taiwan in 2011. In order to assess the exact extent of the absorption of DEHP via the oral route, the aim of this study is to develop a reliable and validated ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to evaluate the oral bioavailability of DEHP in rats. The optimal chromatographic separation of DEHP and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP; used as internal standard) were achieved on a C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was consisted of 5 mM ammonium acetate-methanol (11:89, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The monitoring ion transitions were m/z 391.4 → 149.0 for DEHP and m/z 313.3 → 149.0 for BBP. The mean matrix effects of DEHP at low, medium and high concentrations were 94.5 ± 5.7% and 100.1 ± 2.3% in plasma and feces homogenate samples, respectively. In conclusion, the validated UPLC-MS/MS method is suitable for analyzing the rat plasma sample of DEHP and the oral bioavailability of DEHP was about 7% in rats.