Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites by Berberine in Treating Mice With Disturbances in Glucose and Lipid Metabolism.

Introduction: Glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances has become the third major disease after cancer and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Emerging evidence shows that berberine can effectively intervene glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances, but the underlying mechanisms of this remain unclear. To investigate this issue, we performed metagenomic and metabolomic analysis in a group of normal mice (the NC group), mice with disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism (the MC group) and mice with disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism after berberine intervention (the BER group). Result: Firstly, analysis of the clinical indicators revealed that berberine significantly improved the blood glucose and blood lipid of the host. The fasting blood glucose level decreased by approximately 30% in the BER group after 8 weeks and the oral glucose tolerance test showed that the blood glucose level of the BER group was lower than that of the MC group at any time. Besides, berberine significantly reduced body weight, total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride. Secondly, compared to the NC group, we found dramatically decreased microbial richness and diversity in the MC group and BER group. Thirdly, LDA effect size suggested that berberine significantly altered the overall gut microbiota structure and enriched many bacteria, including Akkermansia (p < 0.01), Eubacterium (p < 0.01) and Ruminococcus (p < 0.01). Fourthly, the metabolomic analysis suggested that there were significant differences in the metabolomics signature of each group. For example, isoleucine (p < 0.01), phenylalanine (p < 0.05), and arbutin (p < 0.05) significantly increased in the MC group, and berberine intervention significantly reduced them. The arbutin content in the BER group was even lower than that in the NC group. Fifthly, by combined analysis of metagenomics and metabolomics, we observed that there were significantly negative correlations between the reduced faecal metabolites (e.g., arbutin) in the BER group and the enriched gut microbiota (e.g., Eubacterium and Ruminococcus) (p < 0.05). Finally, the correlation analysis between gut microbiota and clinical indices indicated that the bacteria (e.g., Eubacterium) enriched in the BER group were negatively associated with the above-mentioned clinical indices (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, our results describe that the changes of gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with berberine improving glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances.

Prevalencia de alteraciones del metabolismo glucídico en familiares de primer grado de pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 / Prevalence of glucidic metabolism alterations in first- degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus se considera un síndrome heterogéneo con etiología compleja en el que influyen factores genéticos y ambientales. Objetivo: Identificar la presencia de alteraciones del metabolismo glucídico y factores de riesgo aterogénicos en familiares de primera línea de pacientes diabéticos tipo 2. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que incluyó a 120 pacientes adultos, hijos de pacientes diabéticos, en los que no se encontraban antecedentes de alteraciones del metabolismo glucídico, pertenecientes al Policlínico Universitario Héroes del Moncada, del municipio Plaza de la Revolución. Se estudiaron variables sociodemográficas, variables clínicas y relacionadas con los estilos de vida como la tensión arterial, el índice de masa corporal, colesterol, triglicéridos, glucemias (ayunas y posprandial), hábito de fumar, actividad física y hábitos dietéticos. Resultados: Los pacientes tenían una edad promedio de 54,42 años y predominó el sexo femenino. Se detectaron alteraciones del metabolismo glucídico en 28,3 por ciento de los cuales 23,3 por ciento se consideraron prediabéticos y 5 por ciento diabéticos. Los factores de riesgo que predominaron fueron la dieta inadecuada, obesidad abdominal, hipercolesterolemia e hipertrigliceridemia que fueron más evidentes en los pacientes diagnosticados como diabéticos. Conclusiones: Los familiares de primer grado de pacientes diabéticos pueden presentar una alta prevalencia de alteraciones del metabolismo glucídico y factores de riesgo aterogénicos, aún sin sintomatología evidente, lo que refuerza la necesidad de realizar un diagnóstico temprano para evitar la progresión de la enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is considered a heterogeneous syndrome with a complex etiology, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Objective: To identify the presence of alterations of the glucidic metabolism and atherogenic risk factors in first- degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Heroes del Moncada University Polyclinic, in Plaza de la Revolution municipality. The study included 120 adult patients, descendants of diabetic patients. They had no history of alterations of the glucidic metabolism. Sociodemographic, clinical variables were studied, and those related to lifestyles such as blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, triglycerides, (fasting and postprandial) glycaemia, smoking, physical activity and dietary habits. Results: These patients had average age of 54.42 years and the female sex predominated. Alterations of the glucidic metabolism were detected in 28.3 percent, 23.3 percent of them were considered pre-diabetic and 5 percent diabetic. The predominant risk factors were inadequate diet, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, which was much evident in patients diagnosed as diabetic. Conclusions: The first-degree relatives of diabetic patients may present high prevalence of alterations of glucidic metabolism and atherogenic risk factors, even with no evident symptoms, which reinforces the need of early diagnosis to avoid the progression of the disease(AU)

Incidence and mortality of new-onset glucose disorders in peritoneal dialysis patients in China: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients are at high risk of developing glucose metabolism disturbances (GMDs), such as diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired fast glucose (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). However, it is unclear about the incidence of GMDs in Chinese patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD), as well as the influence of new-onset DM (NODM) on the prognosis of PD patients. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to address these issues. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, and CNKI database for studies that evaluated the incidence of GMDs and mortality in patients with PD. Results were expressed as hazard ratio (HR), risk ratio (RR), or estimate (ES) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs).Meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effects or random-effects model to pool the estimate. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that, the incidences of NODM, NOIGT, and NOIFG were 12% (95%CI: 9, 15%; P < 0.001), 17% (95%CI: 4, 10%; P < 0.001) and 32% (95%CI: 3, 30%, P < 0.001), respectively. Compared with patients without NODM, PD patients with NODM had an increased risk of mortality (HR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.28, 1.98; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of NODM between PD and hemodialysis (HD) patients (RR = 1.23, 95%CI: 0.61, 2.51; P = 0.562). CONCLUSION: Dialysis patients in China had an increased risk of developing GMDs, however, the dialysis modality did not have any significant impact on the incidence of NODM. NODM increased the mortality risk in patients undergoing PD. Thus, physicians should pay attention to the plasma glucose level in patients undergoing dialysis.

Cerebral calcifications and schizophreniform disorder / Calcificações cerebrais e transtorno esquizofreniforme

OBJECTIVES: Discuss pathophysiological aspects of cerebral calcifications (CC) and highlight its importance related to the occurrence of neuropsychiatric syndromes. METHOD: Single case report. RESULT: Man 52 years old, 20 years after going through a total thyroidectomy, starts showing behavioral disturbance (psychotic syndrome). He was diagnosed as schizophrenic (paranoid subtype) and submitted to outpatient psychiatric treatment. During a psychiatric admission to evaluate his progressive cognitive and motor deterioration, we identified a dementia syndrome and extensive cerebral calcifications, derived from iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSION: The calcium and phosphorus disturbances, including hypoparathyroidism, are common causes of CC. Its symptoms can imitate psychiatric disorders and produce serious and permanent cognitive sequelae. The exclusion of organicity is mandatory in any psychiatric investigative diagnosis in order to avoid unfavorable outcomes, such as in the present case report.

OBJETIVOS: Discutir aspectos fisiopatológicos das calcificações cerebrais (CC) e ressaltar sua importância na ocorrência de síndromes neuropsiquiátricas. MÉTODO: Relato de caso individual. RESULTADO: Homem 52 anos de idade, 20 anos após tireoidectomia total, iniciou com alteração comportamental (síndrome psicótica), foi diagnosticado como portador de esquizofrenia paranoide e encaminhado para ambulatório de psiquiatria. Durante internação psiquiátrica, para avaliação de importante deterioração cognitivo e motora, foi verificada a vigência de síndrome demencial e extensas CC, secundários a hipoparatiroidismo iatrogênico. CONCLUSÃO: Os distúrbios do metabolismo do cálcio e do fósforo, incluindo o hipoparatiroidismo, são causas frequentes de CC. Seus sintomas podem mimetizar transtornos psiquiátricos e provocar sequelas cognitivas permanentes. A exclusão de organicidade é mandatória durante toda investigação diagnóstica na psiquiatria, a fim de evitar desfechos desfavoráveis, como no presente relato de caso.