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Administration of LBB modulates the gut microbiota and reduces colon cancer development by decreasing tumor incidence, multiplicity/count, and volume via enhanced TLR2-improved gut mucosa epithelial barrier integrity and suppression of apoptosis and inflammation.

Cytoplasmic transfer is an assisted reproductive technique that involves the infusion of ooplasm from a donor oocyte into a recipient oocyte of inferior developmental competence. Although this technique has shown some success for couples with recurrent in vitro fertilization failure, it results in mitochondrial heteroplasmy in the offspring, defined as the presence of two different mitochondrial genomes in the same individual. Because the long-term health consequences of mitochondrial heteroplasmy are unknown, there is a need for appropriate animal models to evaluate any physiological changes of dual mtDNA genotypes. This longitudinal study was designed as a preliminary screen of basic physiological functions for heteroplasmic mice (NZB mtDNA on a BALB/cByJ background). The mice were tested for cardiovascular and metabolic function, hematological parameters, body mass analysis, ovarian reserve, and tissue histologic abnormalities over a period of 15 mo. Heteroplasmic mice developed systemic hypertension that corrected over time and was accompanied by cardiac changes consistent with pulmonary hypertension. In addition, heteroplasmic animals had increased body mass and fat mass compared with controls at all ages. Finally, these animals had abnormalities in electrolytes and hematological parameters. Our findings suggest that there are significant physiological differences between heteroplasmic and control mice. Because ooplasm transfer appears to be consistently associated with mitochondrial heteroplasmy, children conceived through ooplasm transfer should be closely followed to determine if they are at risk for any health problems.

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is one of the most common surgical diseases. Bacterial infection accounts for 50% to 85% of the disease's onset. Since there is a close relationship between the biliary system and the gut, the aims of this study were to characterize and determine the influence of gut microbiota on AC, to detect the pathogenic microorganism in the biliary system, and to explore the relationship between the gut and bile microbiota of patients with AC. A total of 185 713 high-quality sequence reads were generated from the faecal samples of 15 patients and 13 healthy controls by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Patients' samples were significantly enriched in Akkermansia, Enterobacter and Escherichia/Shigella group. The healthy controls, however, showed significant enrichment of Clostridiales, Coprococcus, Coprobacillaceae, Paraprevotella, Turicibacter and TM7-3 in their faecal samples. Escherichia coli was the main biliary pathogenic microorganism, among others such as Klebsiella spp., Clostridium perfringens, Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae in the bile of the patients. Additionally, the amount of bile endotoxin significantly correlated with the number of Enterobacteriaceae, especially E. coli. Our data indicate that Enterobacteriaceae might play essential role in the pathogenesis and/or progress of AC. This was verified in an in vivo model using a pathogenic E. coli isolated from one of the patients in guinea pigs and observed marked gallbladder inflammation and morphologic changes. This study thus provides insight which could be useful for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of AC and related diseases by controlling the growth of Enterobacteriaceae to alleviate the infection.

BackgroundThe Global Initiative defines COPD for chronic obstructive lung disease as an entirely preventable and treatable disease characterized by sputum production, bacterial colonisation, neutrophilic bronchial airway inflammation and poor health status. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that COPD will become the fourth-most common cause of death worldwide, just behind ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and HIV/AIDS, by 2030. The aim of this study was to determine the main structure feature of sputum potentially pathogenic microorganisms in subjects with COPD during the clinical stable state.MethodsWe employed a molecular genetics-based investigation of the bacteria community, including DNA isolation, PCR amplification and DGGE profiling. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) with universal primers targeting the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to characterize the overall COPD patient sputum microbiota composition, and some excised gel bands were cloned for sequencing. Real-time PCR was further utilized to quantitatively analyze the subpopulation of microbiota using group-specific primers targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.ResultsThe DGGE profiles of two groups displayed significant differences between COPD and healthy groups (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR revealed significant increases of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.05) in the COPD group compared with the healthy group.ConclusionThis study revealed strong relationship between alterations of sputum microbiota and COPD. By determining the content of several types of bacteria, we can provide evidence to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of COPD.