Efficacy of incremental loads of cow's milk as a treatment for lactose malabsorption in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Lactose intolerance (LI) is commonly seen in East Asian countries. Several studies showed that lactose or milk loading has been used as a treatment for lactose malabsorption (LM) in Western countries, but there have been no reports regarding this type of treatment in Japan. As lactose or milk loading requires ingestion of large amounts of lactose within a short period, this is considered to be too harsh for Japanese people because of their less habitual milk consumption (175 mL per day in average) than Western people. In this study, we demonstrated lactose tolerance acquisition in a suitable way for Japanese. AIM: To examine the efficacy of lactose (cow's milk) loading treatment in patients with LM. METHODS: Individuals with abdominal symptoms induced by milk or dairy products (LI symptoms) were identified with a questionnaire. A 20 g lactose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) was carried out to confirm LM diagnosis and to evaluate co-existence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Respondents diagnosed with LM were selected as study subjects and were treated with incremental loads of cow's milk, starting from 30 mL and increasing up to 200 mL at 4-7 d intervals. After the treatment, changes in symptoms and LM diagnostic value of 20 g LHBT were investigated. Stool samples pre- and post-treatment were examined for changes in intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing. Informed consent was obtained prior to each stage of the study. RESULTS: In 46 subjects with LI symptoms (10-68 years old, mean age 34 years old) identified with the questionnaire, 35 (76.1%) were diagnosed with LM by 20 g LHBT, and 6 had co-existing SIBO. The treatment with incremental cow's milk was carried out in 32 subjects diagnosed with LM (14-68 years old, median age 38.5 years old). The mean period of the treatment was 41 ± 8.6 d. Improvement of symptoms was observed in 29 (90.6%; 95% confidence interval: 75.0%-98.0 %) subjects. Although 20 g LHBT indicated that 10 (34.5%) subjects had improved diagnostic value of LM, no change was observed in 16 (55.2%) subjects. Analysis of the fecal intestinal microbiota showed a significant increase in Blautia in 7 subjects who became symptom-free after the treatment (P = 0.0313). CONCLUSION: LM was diagnosed in approximately 75% of the subjects who had LI. Incremental loads of cow's milk is regarded as a useful treatment for LM without affecting everyday life.

Antibiotics-induced depression in mice via the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal dysbacteriosis is associated with depression. This study aimed to establish an antibiotics-induced depression mouse model and explore the mechanism of antibiotic-induced depression. METHODS: C57BL/6 J mice were treated with antibiotics to prepare the antibiotic-induced depression mouse model. Behavioral tests and depression-related bio-markers were examined. To understand the abundance of different bacteria in intestinal flora and screen out the predominant bacterial species, metagenomic analysis of feces was carried out. Finally, we detected the expression of NF-κB-p65 and p-NF-κB-p65 in PFC and the hippocampus using Western blot. RESULTS: Mixtures A and B caused depression-like behavior in mice. Norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hippocampus and PFC of antibiotic-induced depression mice significantly decreased. The serum adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone concentrations increased. The abundance values of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Klebsiella aerogenes in antibiotic-induced depression mice significantly increased, and the characteristic KO genes and metabolic pathways in antibiotic-induced depression mice were significantly different with in CUMS depression mice (the positive control) and normal mice. The relative levels of p-NF-κB-p65 in antibiotics-induced depression mice were significantly higher than in normal mice. LIMITATIONS: How dysbacteriosis induces inflammation in the central nervous system is unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Specific antibiotic mixture can cause depression-like behavior and changes of depression-related bio-markers in mice. The antibiotic-induced depression mice display changes in the species and metabolism of intestinal bacterial flora. The activation of NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway in the central nervous system may act as one of the mechanisms in the development of antibiotic-induced depression.

Total body irradiation induced mouse small intestine senescence as a late effect.

Radiation can induce senescence in many organs and tissues; however, it is still unclear how radiation stimulates senescence in mouse small intestine. In this study, we use the bone marrow transplantation mouse model to explore the late effects of total body irradiation on small intestine. Our results showed that almost all of the body hairs of the irradiated mice were white (which is an indication of aging) 10 months after the exposure to radiation. Furthermore, compared with the age-matched control mice, there were more SA-ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal)-positive cells and an upregulation of p16 and p21 in 8 Gy-irradiated mice intestinal crypts, indicating that radiation induced senescence in the small intestine. Intestinal bacterial flora profile analysis showed that the diversity of the intestinal bacterial flora decreased in irradiated mice; in addition it showed that the principal components of the irradiated and control mice differed: there was increased abundance of Bacteroidia and a decreased abundance of Clostridia in irradiated mice. To explore the underlying mechanism, an RNA-sequence was executed; the results suggested that pancreatic secretion, and the digestion and absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins were damaged in irradiated mice, which may be responsible for the body weight loss observed in irradiated mice. In summary, our study suggested that total body irradiation may induce senescence in the small intestine and damage the health status of the irradiated mice.

Microbiota intestinal y la dieta en el tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal / Intestinal microbiota and diet in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

RESUMEN Fundamento: La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal comprende la colitis ulcerativa idiopática y la enfermedad de Crohn. En la patogenia intervienen factores genéticos y ambientales como la alteración de las bacterias luminales y el aumento de la permeabilidad intestinal, factores que alteran la inmunidad intestinal, causas estas de lesión gastrointestinal. Objetivo: Analizar la influencia de la dieta en la microbiota intestinal en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal, así como concientizar a los profesionales de la salud en la importancia de la terapia a partir de la dieta, como pilar esencial en el control de esta enfermedad digestiva crónica. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda en bases de datos como: Scielo, Pubmed/Medline, Ebsco, Clinical Key, Springer, Web of Science, Infomed, se incluyeron revistas, libros, repositorios de tesis, sitios web de especialidades. Desarrollo: En los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal existe una disbiosis que contribuye potencialmente a una respuesta inmune proinflamatoria. Conclusiones: El equilibrio entre el huésped y su microbiota intestinal es esencial para el desarrollo inmunológico óptimo; la modificación de la dieta y la flora bacteriana intestinal son dianas potenciales en el tratamiento y prevención de la misma.

ABSTRACT Background: Inflammatory bowel disease includes idiopathic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In the pathogenesis are present genetic and environmental factors such as alteration of luminal bacteria and increased intestinal permeability, factors that alter the intestinal immunity, these causes of gastrointestinal injury. Objective: To analyze the influence of diet on intestinal microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease, as well as to increase awareness among health professionals about the importance of diet-based therapy as an essential pillar in the control of this chronic digestive disease. Methodology: A search was made in databases such as: Scielo, Pubmed / Medline, Ebsco, Clinical Key, Springer, Web of Science, Infomed, magazines, books, thesis repositories, and specialty websites. Development: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease there is a dysbiosis that potentially contributes to a proinflammatory immune response. Conclusions: The balance between the host and its intestinal microbiota is essential for the optimal immunological development; the modification of the diet and the intestinal bacterial flora are potential targets in the treatment and prevention of it.

Microbiota intestinal y la dieta en el tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal / Intestinal microbiota and diet in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

RESUMEN Fundamento: La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal comprende la colitis ulcerativa idiopática y la enfermedad de Crohn. En la patogenia intervienen factores genéticos y ambientales como la alteración de las bacterias luminales y el aumento de la permeabilidad intestinal, factores que alteran la inmunidad intestinal, causas estas de lesión gastrointestinal. Objetivo: Analizar la influencia de la dieta en la microbiota intestinal en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal, así como concientizar a los profesionales de la salud en la importancia de la terapia a partir de la dieta, como pilar esencial en el control de esta enfermedad digestiva crónica. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda en bases de datos como: Scielo, Pubmed/Medline, Ebsco, Clinical Key, Springer, Web of Science, Infomed, se incluyeron revistas, libros, repositorios de tesis, sitios web de especialidades. Desarrollo: En los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal existe una disbiosis que contribuye potencialmente a una respuesta inmune proinflamatoria. Conclusiones: El equilibrio entre el huésped y su microbiota intestinal es esencial para el desarrollo inmunológico óptimo; la modificación de la dieta y la flora bacteriana intestinal son dianas potenciales en el tratamiento y prevención de la misma (AU)

ABSTRACT Background: Inflammatory bowel disease includes idiopathic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In the pathogenesis are present genetic and environmental factors such as alteration of luminal bacteria and increased intestinal permeability, factors that alter the intestinal immunity, these causes of gastrointestinal injury. Objective: To analyze the influence of diet on intestinal microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease, as well as to increase awareness among health professionals about the importance of diet-based therapy as an essential pillar in the control of this chronic digestive disease. Methodology: A search was made in databases such as: Scielo, Pubmed / Medline, Ebsco, Clinical Key, Springer, Web of Science, Infomed, magazines, books, thesis repositories, and specialty websites. Development: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease there is a dysbiosis that potentially contributes to a proinflammatory immune response. Conclusions: The balance between the host and its intestinal microbiota is essential for the optimal immunological development; the modification of the diet and the intestinal bacterial flora are potential targets in the treatment and prevention of it (AU)

Response of Intestinal Bacterial Flora to the Long-term Feeding of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Mice.

In order to investigate the influence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on intestinal bacterial flora, 24 Kunming mice (KM mice) were randomly placed into four groups, which were labeled as control, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups. They were fed intragastrically with 0.4 mL of 0 mg/L, 2.5 mg/L, 4 mg/L, or 10 mg/L of AFB1 solutions, twice a day for 2 months. The hypervariable region V3 + V4 on 16S rDNA of intestinal bacterial flora was sequenced by the use of a high-flux sequencing system on a Miseq Illumina platform; then, the obtained sequences were analyzed. The results showed that, when compared with the control group, both genera and phyla of intestinal bacteria in the three treatment groups decreased. About one third of the total genera and one half of the total phyla remained in the high-dose group. The dominant flora were Lactobacillus and Bacteroides in all groups. There were significant differences in the relative abundance of intestinal bacterial flora among groups. Most bacteria decreased as a whole from the control to the high-dose groups, but several beneficial and pathogenic bacterial species increased significantly with increasing dose of AFB1. Thus, the conclusion was that intragastric feeding with 2.5~10 mg/mL AFB1 for 2 months could decrease the majority of intestinal bacterial flora and induce the proliferation of some intestinal bacteria flora.

Pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has become one of the most critical health problems in many countries, including Japan. Liver injury in ALD ranges from steatosis and steatohepatitis to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Many factors are thought to contribute to the development and progression of ALD, particularly insulin resistance, generation of reactive oxygen species during alcohol metabolism, adipokines from visceral adipose tissue, and endotoxin derived from the gut. Although the pathogenesis of ALD has been widely investigated, the precise mechanisms are yet to be elucidated and many questions remain. This article reviews the possible mechanisms for the development of ALD identified to date.

Role and Therapeutic Prospect of Intestinal Microecology in Crohn’s Disease / 胃肠病学

The etiology and pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease(CD)are not fully clear,and genetic susceptibility, immunologic disorder,intestinal barrier dysfunction and intestinal microecology are considered to be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of CD. In recent years,the relationship between intestinal microecology and CD has received much attention. Several studies confirmed that the intestinal microecology in CD patients was different from that in normal person. The change of intestinal microecology was correlated with the occurrence of CD,and modulation of intestinal flora was effective in the treatment of CD. This article reviewed the relationship between intestinal microecology and CD and the therapeutic prospect of intestinal microecology for the treatment of CD.

Intestinal Bacterial Flora that Compete on the Haem Precursor Iron Fumarate in Iron Deficiency Anemia Cases

Aims: The study focused on finding if there is any possible relation between the intestinal bacterial population quantitative and qualitative and the deficiency of the most important iron compounds as haem precursors. Methodology and Results: Blood complete picture and stool analyses were done to 750 volunteer cases whom were asked for these analyses by their physicians. Analyses proved that 560 cases representing 75.2 % were anemic as the RBC(s) based on counts of the total studied cases of less than 263 x 104 and the haemoglobin amount ranged between 7.2 and 11.3 g/dl, while the remainder 24.8 % of the volunteer sample was not anemic. A high male/female ratio of anemic cases, 1:27 was also documented. Considering that all the studied stool samples should be completely free from any parasites or any other anemia-related diseases was a priority. Bacteriological analysis of stool samples of the anemic cases resulted in the detection of high counts of total viable bacteria, exceeded 42 x 109 cfu/g, while it was never more than 26 x 106 cfu/g and decreased to 4 x 106 cfu/g in many cases in this study. Identifying of the 361 bacterial isolates, were found to belong to 12 genera and 19 species, 6 of them; Pseudomonas putrefaciens, Micrococcus luteus, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus coagulans , were found and in high counts in the stool samples of only anemic cases. The ability of these isolates to compete for iron compounds such as ferrous fumarate alone or with glucose and phytate as activators or inhibitors to these abilities was investigated. Results proved 11 species out of the 19 identified species are capable to use and compete on ferrous fumarate as a haem precursor. Sensitivity test for the representatives of the 19 species and 6 of the most commonly used antibiotics in the Egyptian pharmacy, using standard disc method, revealed variable susceptibilities of almost all of them to more than one of the studied antibiotics, except Corynebacterium equatium, which was found very resistant to two antibiotics; colistin sulfate and erythrocin. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The study finally concluded the strong role of intestinal bacterial counts and types as competitors on the haem precursor iron-containing compounds like ferrous fumarate.