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Objective This article determines the differences in the distal gut and vaginal microbiome in African American (AA) women by prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain (GWG) comparing women with and without obesity and by obesity class. Study Design We prospectively sampled the vaginal and distal gut microbiome in pregnant AA women at two time points during pregnancy. Samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene. Results Distinct differences in vaginal and distal gut α-diversity were observed at time point 1 between women with and without obesity by total GWG. Significant differences in distal gut β-diversity were also found at time point 1 in obese women by GWG. Within the Bacteroides genus, a significant association was observed by total GWG among obese women which was absent in nonobese women. Women with class III obesity who experienced low GWG had the lowest abundance of distal gut Bacteroides and appreciably higher relative abundance of a consortia of vaginal taxa including Atopobium, Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Sneathia. Conclusion These results contribute new evidence showing that GWG in combination with obesity and obesity class is associated with an altered distal gut and vaginal composition early in pregnancy among AA women.

Alterations in diversity and function of the gut microbiome are associated with concomitant changes in immune response, including chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). An important component of the inflammatory response system are the toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs are capable of sensing microbial components, including nucleic acids, lipopolysaccharides, and peptidoglycans, as well as bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMV). OMVs can be decorated with or carry as cargo these TLR activating factors. These microbial factors can either promote tolerance or activate signaling pathways leading to chronic inflammation. Herein we discuss the role of the microbiome and the OMVs that originate from intestinal bacteria in promoting chronic inflammation and the development of colitis-associated CRC. We also discuss the contribution of TLRs in mediating the microbiome-inflammation axis and subsequent cancer development. Understanding the role of the microbiome and its secretory factors in TLR response may lead to the development of better cancer therapeutics.

: Cancer is a heterogeneous disease characterized by an abnormal and uncontrolled division of the cells leading to tumors that invade the adjacent normal tissues. After cardiovascular diseases, it is the second most prevalent disease accounting for one in every six deaths worldwide. This alarming rate thus, demands an urgent need to investigate more effective drugs to combat the said disease. Oxygen and nitrogen-based heterocyclic compounds have shown remarkable therapeutic activity towards several diseases, including cancer. In this review, we have attempted to summarize the work done in the last decade (2009-2019), highlighting the anticancer activity of pyrido fused five-membered heterocyclic ring derivatives. Additionally, we have focused on seven heterocyclic pyridine fused rings: Imidazopyridine, Triazolopyridine, Pyrrolopyridine, Pyrazolopyridines, Thienopyridine, and Isoxazolopyridine. A total of forty-nine compounds have been studied based on their in-vitro cytotoxic activity and their structure-activity relationship, underlining the anticancer activity of their various pharmacophores and substituents. This review, therefore, aims to draw the attention of the researchers worldwide towards the enormous scope of development of heterocyclic drug compounds, focussing mainly on pyrido fused five-membered heterocyclic rings as anticancer drugs.