Research progress on the interactions between gut bacterial β-glucuronidases and Chinese herbal medicines / 药学学报

In traditional oral practice, the presystemic interactions with gut microbiota is an important mechanism underlying the holistic health benefits of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), making the study of CHMs distinct from the research of Western medicines of which the systemic exposure (level in blood) is the starting point and the core. Gut microbial metabolism complements host metabolism in maintaining metabolic homeostasis of many biologically important endogenous molecules and the disposition of numerous exogenous compounds. Among them, the widely distributed gut bacterial β-glucuronidases (BGUSs) coordinate with host UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) to play a role in the occurrence and intervention of diseases by affecting the glucuronidation homeostasis and altering the intestinal local and/or systemic exposure of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. On one hand, many ingredients of CHMs undergo enterohepatic circulation; On the other hand, CHMs can act on BGUSs directly or indirectly change the distribution and function of BGUSs through reprogramming gut microbiome. The multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs may play an important role in the overall therapeutic benefits of CHMs. This work firstly summarizes the latest research progress on BGUSs; then the physiological, pathological and pharmacological significance of BGUSs are exemplified with representative endogenous and exogenous compounds from the aspects of nutrient utilization, metabolic homeostasis, and therapeutic response based on the varied substrate spectra of BGUSs; finally, the scattered data in literature were integrated to summarize the multiple interactions between BGUSs and CHMs, highlighting the important role of BGUSs in the holistic actions of CHMs.

Effect of bowel preparation with probiotics on intestinal barrier after surgery for colorectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of bowel preparation with probiotics on intestinal barrier function after surgery for colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 patients undergone colonic surgery were randomly divided into two groups:the trial group and the control group. One-day bowel preparation with probiotics was administered in trial group, while 3-day conventional bowel preparation in control group. Quality of the preparation was estimated during operation and the structure of intestinal epithelium in the colon was observed by microscope. Levels of transmembrane binding protein(occludin) and IgA in the colon were detected by immunohistochemistry method. White blood cell counts, microbial DNA, and C-reactive protein were measured before surgery and 1, 7 days after surgery. Postoperative systemic inflammation response syndrome(SIRS) and infection were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Good and excellent bowel preparation were achieved in 88% in the trial group and 92% in the control group(P=0.072). The expression levels of occludin and IgA of colon were significantly higher in the trial group[(19.32 + or - 2.40)% and (7.60 + or - 1.48)%, respectively] compared with those of the control group [(16.21 + or - 2.54)% and (5.29 + or - 1.57)%,respectively]. The number of microbial DNA PCR-positive patients in the trial group was significantly less than that in the control group after operation. There were no significant differences in the rates of SIRS or complications between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One-day bowel preparation with probiotics can maintain the intestinal barrier function after surgery of colorectal cancer,which is suitable for elective colorectal surgery.</p>

Study on specific metabonomic profiling of serum from colorectal cancer patients by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the specific metabonomic profiling of serum from colorectal cancer patients to find out the low molecule metabolites associated intimately with colorectal cancer,and to establish specific metabolic model for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The metabonomic profiles of the serum samples from colorectal cancer(CRC) patients(n =31) and healthy adults(n =8) were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique combined with a commercial mass spectral library for the peak clustering based on metabolites.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-four endogenous metabolites including some amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids and other intermediate metabolites were identified. By t test statistics with P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively, L-valine, L-threonine, 1-deoxyglucose, glycine and ribitol levels were decreased significantly, but 3-hydroxybutyric acid level was increased significantly in the CRC patient group as compared with healthy adult group. PLS-DA based on these metabolites discriminated two groups for each other. Hierarchical clustering based on above 6 significant differential metabolites revealed that the prediction accuracy of colorectal cancer group was 93.5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GC-MS technique is an alternative tool for the metabonomic study and would be certainly beneficial to the pathological research, early diagnosis and therapy evaluation of CRC.</p>

Proteomic research of biomarker of colorectal cancer metastasis / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the potential markers of colorectal cancer metastasis and the influence of 5-FU on differentially expressed proteins by using proteomic technology, and to elucidate the mechanism of colorectal cancer metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human colorectal carcinoma cell lines of different metastatic potential, Lovo and SW480 were conventionally cultured, and the protein was extracted. 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 5-FU to these two cell lines was measured by MTT assay. Proteins of these two cell lines after intervention by 5-FU at IC(50) were extracted, then 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis was conducted for the proteins. The differential protein spots were examined by mass spectrometry and analyzed by bioinformatics. Difference of expressed proteins in two cell lines before and after the intervention of 5-FU was validated by Western blot and immunofluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven differentially expressed proteins were identified by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The hnRNP K protein and PDI were selected to be examined by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results revealed that the expression of hnRNP K in Lovo was higher than that in SW480, while the expression of PDI was lower in Lovo. After intervention by 5-FU at IC(50), the expression of hnRNP K in Lovo decreased more as compared to SW480, while the expression of PDI in SW480 increased more as compared to Lovo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are significant differences in expression of hnRNP K and PDI proteins between Lovo and SW480 cell lines, and the proteins alter regularly after 5-FU intervention.</p>