Accumulating evidence implicates gut microbiota as promising targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). With a randomized clinical trial, we tested the hypothesis that alteration of gut microbiota may be involved in the alleviation of T2DM with hyperlipidemia by metformin and a specifically designed herbal formula (AMC). Four hundred fifty patients with T2DM and hyperlipidemia were randomly assigned to either the metformin- or AMC-treated group. After 12 weeks of treatment, 100 patients were randomly selected from each group and assessed for clinical improvement. The effects of the two drugs on the intestinal microbiota were evaluated by analyzing the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene by Illumina sequencing and multivariate statistical methods. Both metformin and AMC significantly alleviated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and shifted gut microbiota structure in diabetic patients. They significantly increased a coabundant group represented by Blautia spp., which significantly correlated with the improvements in glucose and lipid homeostasis. However, AMC showed better efficacies in improving homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and plasma triglyceride and also exerted a larger effect on gut microbiota. Furthermore, only AMC increased the coabundant group represented by Faecalibacterium spp., which was previously reported to be associated with the alleviation of T2DM in a randomized clinical trial. Metformin and the Chinese herbal formula may ameliorate type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia via enriching beneficial bacteria, such as Blautia and Faecalibacterium spp.
Nearly all male cystic fibrosis (CF) patients exhibit tissue abnormalities in the reproductive tract, a condition that renders them azoospermic and infertile. Two swine CF models have been reported recently that include respiratory and digestive manifestations that are comparable to human CF. The goal of this study was to determine the phenotypic changes that may be present in the vas deferens of these swine CF models. Tracts from CFTR(-/-) and CFTR(ΔF508/ΔF508) neonates revealed partial or total vas deferens and/or epididymis atresia at birth, while wild-type littermates were normal. Histopathological analysis revealed a range of tissue abnormalities and disruptions in tubular organization. Vas deferens epithelial cells were isolated and electrophysiological results support that CFTR(-/-) monolayers can exhibit Na(+) reabsorption but reveal no anion secretion following exposure to cAMP-generating compounds, suggesting that CFTR-dependent Cl(-) and/or HCO(3)(-) transport is completely impaired. SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities were detected in all experimental groups, indicating that these two chloride-bicarbonate exchangers were present, but were either unable to function or their activity is electroneutral. In addition, no signs of increased mucus synthesis and/or secretion were present in the male excurrent ducts of these CF models. Results demonstrate a causal link between CFTR mutations and duct abnormalities that are manifested at birth.
Abstract. Soil and water losses in agriculture are major environmental problems worldwide, especially on the Loess Plateau, China. Summer fallow management may help to control soil erosion and conserve water. This study investigated the effects of wheat stubble on runoff, infiltration, and soil loss in laboratory plots under simulated rainfall. The treatments comprised wheat stubble cover (WS) and traditional plowing (TP) in runoff plots (4.0 m × 1.0 m) with three slope gradients (5, 10, and 15°) under simulated rainfall at 80 mm h−1 for 1 h. The runoff volume from WS plots was significantly less than that from TP. The runoff reduction with WS ranged from 91.92 to 92.83 % compared with TP. The runoff rates varied with the runoff volume in the same manner. The infiltration amount was higher with WS (94.8–96.2 % of rainwater infiltrated) than TP (35.4–57.1 %). The sediment concentration was significantly lower with WS than TP. Compared with TP (304.31–731.23 g m−2), the sediment losses were reduced dramatically in WS (2.41–3.78 g m−2) and the sediment loss slightly increased with slope; however, it was greatly increased as slope increased in TP. These results revealed that the stubble cover was the main factor reducing runoff and sediment losses and improving infiltration and that stubble showed a great potential to control erosion and conserve soil and water resources during the summer fallow period in the Loess Plateau region.
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