Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that a high dietary fiber intake is associated inversely with the incidence of asthma in the population. There have been many studies on the role of soluble dietary fiber, but the mechanism of action for insoluble dietary fiber, such as cellulose-the most widely existing dietary fiber, in asthma is still unclear. The current study investigated the outcomes of a high-cellulose diet in a mouse model of asthma and detected pathological manifestations within the lungs, changes in the intestinal microbiome, and changes in intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice. A high-cellulose diet can reduce lung inflammation and asthma symptoms in asthmatic mice. Furthermore, it dramatically changes the composition of the intestinal microbiome. At the family level, a new dominant fungus family Peptostreptococcaceae is produced, and at the genus level, the unique genus Romboutsla, [Ruminococcus]_torques_group was generated. These genera and families of bacteria are closely correlated with lipid metabolism in vivo. Many studies have proposed that the mechanism of dietary fiber regulating asthma may involve the intestinal microbiome producing SCFAs, but the current research shows that a high-cellulose diet cannot increase the content of SCFAs in the intestine. These data suggest that a high-cellulose diet decreases asthma symptoms by altering the composition of the intestinal microbiome, however, this mechanism is thought to be independent of SCFAs and may involve the regulation of lipid metabolism.
Technically, symptom of offspring asthma is also closely reliant on its maternal high-fiber diet as well as the intestinal microbiome. Fruits and vegetables are abundant in inulin, and this naturally soluble dietary fiber is endowed with a potential value on offspring asthma control through the maternal intake, but the mechanism now remains less studied. In this study, rats were given with inulin-included drinking water, whereas in normal group rats were allowed with normal water. Afterwards, we analyzed both the formations of the offspring intestinal microbiome ahead of asthma model establishment and of the maternal intestinal microbiome through high throughput sequence and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by metabolomic analysis. Subsequently, lung inflammation indexes were detected by Elisa, and the expression of short-chain fatty acid receptors (GPR41, GPR43) in the offspring of asthma models were evaluated through qPCR assay. Inulin intake resulted in altered maternal intestinal microbiome composition, with a significant increase in SCFAs-producing bacteria (mainly Bifidobacterium), attenuating the asthmatic inflammatory response in the offspring. Meanwhile, inulin intake during pregnancy modulates the composition of the intestinal microbiome of the offspring, and this alteration appears before the onset of asthma, hence, there should be further studies onto the impacts of offspring’s intestinal microbiome on asthma procession.
Background: Currently, China has an increasingly aging population. However, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in this high-risk population for metabolic diseases remains unknown. To investigate the age and gender specific prevalence and associated factors of MetS in Chinese middle-aged and elderly population, we did the study on it. Methods: Data were retrieved from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and subjected to descriptive statistics. Further, univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relevant factors, and then multivariate logistic regression was selected to construct the final model. Results: In present study, a total of 10,834 participants were included. The overall prevalence of MetS was 32.97% as defined by International Diabetes Federation and 29.75% under National Cholesterol Education Program - The Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. With aging, prevalence of MetS descended in males, while ascended in females. In the >70 years old group, the prevalence of MetS was three times higher in females than that in males (50.43% versus 16.03%). Across all age groups and sexes, the prevalence of MetS in urban areas was significantly higher than in rural areas. In addition, regardless of gender, the prevalence was highest for those living in the north region (28.41% for males & 51.74% for females) and lowest for those living in the southwest region (13.91% for males & 31.58% for females). Finally, two specific correlates, afternoon nap and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), were identified in present study (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of MetS varied in different age groups, sexes, living areas and regions and was associated with afternoon nap and BUN.
To investigate the microbial alteration of the lung in rats after the traffic-related PM2.5 exposure, thirty female rats had exposed to traffic-related PM2.5 and normal air for 17 days, the microbial changes were identified by Illumina high-throughput sequencing. The pathological structure and the microbial diversity of lungs in exposure groups were significantly changed. The most dominant phylum in lung microbiota changed from Firmicutes to Proteobacteria. Also, Sphingomonas was identified as the key differential bacterium between the exposure and control groups. The results suggest that traffic-related PM2.5 can affect the distribution of lung microbiota and may cause damage of the lung tissues and function.
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