Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 on gut microbial imbalance and liver function in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B cirrhosis(HBC)is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible diffuse liver damage and aggravated by intestinal microbial imbalance and metabolic dysfunction.Although the relationship between certain single probiotics and HBC has been explored,the impact of the complex ready-to-eat Lactobacillus paracasei N1115(LP N1115)supplement on patients with HBC has not been determined.AIM To compare the changes in the microbiota,inflammatory factor levels,and liver function before and after probiotic treatment in HBC patients.METHODS This study included 160 HBC patients diagnosed at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 2018 and December 2020.Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group that received LP N1115 supplementation and routine treatment and a control group that received routine treatment only.Fecal samples were collected at the onset and conclusion of the 12-wk intervention period.The structure of the intestinal microbiota and the levels of serological indicators,such as liver function and inflammatory factors,were assessed.RESULTS Following LP N1115 intervention,the intestinal microbial diversity significantly increased in the intervention group(P<0.05),and the structure of the intestinal microbiota was characterized by an increase in the proportions of probiotic microbes and a reduction in harmful bacteria.Additionally,the intervention group demonstrated notable improvements in liver function indices and significantly lower levels of inflammatory factors(P<0.05).CONCLUSION LP N1115 is a promising treatment for ameliorating intestinal microbial imbalance in HBC patients by modulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota,improving liver function,and reducing inflammatory factor levels.

Supplementation with yak (Bos grunniens) bone collagen hydrolysate altered the structure of gut microbiota and elevated short-chain fatty acid production in mice

In this study, yak bone collagen hydrolysate(YBCH)was produced by mixed proteases and provided to standard-diet mice at a different dose(low dose(LD), medium dose(MD), and high dose(HD))to investigate its effects on the composition of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids(SCFA)production. It was found that YBCH was mainly composed of small molecular peptides whose molecular weight below 2 000 Da. Notably, supplementation with different doses of YBCH could significantly downregulate the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the fecal microbiota. At the family level, the Lachnospiraceae abundance was significantly reduced in the YBCH gavage groups(mean reduction ratio 41.7 %, 35.2%, and 36.4% for LD, MD, and HD group, respectively). The predicted functions of gut microbes in the MD group were significantly increased at “lipid metabolism” and “glycan biosynthesis and metabolism”. Moreover, the SCFA production in the YBCH groups was elevated. Especially, the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in the MD group was separately increased 79.7%, 89.2%, and 78.8% than that in the NC group. These results indicated that YBCH might be applied in the development of functional food for intestinal microecological regulation.

Features of gut microbiota in patients with anorexia nervosa

Background:Anorexia nervosa(AN)is a psychological disorder,which is characterized by the misunderstanding of body image,food restriction,and low body weight.An increasing number of studies have reported that the pathophysiological mechanism of AN might be associated with the dysbiosis of gut microbiota.The purpose of our study was to explore the features of gut microbiota in patients with AN,hoping to provide valuable information on its pathogenesis and treatment.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,from August 2020 to June 2021,patients with AN who were admitted into Peking University Third Hospital and Peking University Sixth Hospital(n=30)were recruited as the AN group,and healthy controls(HC)were recruited from a middle school and a university in Beijing(n=30).Demographic data,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)scores of the two groups,and length of stay of the AN group were recorded.Microbial diversity analysis of gut microbiota in stool samples from the two groups was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)gene sequencing.Results:The weight(AN vs.HC,[39.31±7.90]kg vs.[56.47±8.88]kg,P<0.001)and body mass index(BMI,AN vs.HC,[14.92±2.54]kg/m^(2)vs.[20.89±2.14]kg/m^(2),P<0.001)of patients with AN were statistically significantly lower than those of HC,and HAMD scores in AN group were statistically significantly higher than those of HC.For alpha diversity,there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups;for beta diversity,the two groups differed obviously regarding community composition.Compared to HC,the proportion of Lachnospiraceae in patients with AN was statistically significantly higher(AN vs.HC,40.50%vs.31.21%,Z=-1.981,P=0.048),while that of Ruminococcaceae was lower(AN vs.HC,12.17%vs.19.15%,Z=-2.728,P=0.007);the proportion of Faecalibacterium(AN vs.HC,3.97%vs.9.40%,Z=-3.638,P<0.001)and Subdoligranulum(AN vs.HC,4.60%vs.7.02%,Z=-2.369,P=0.018)were statistically significantly lower,while that of Eubacterium_halli_group was significantly higher(AN vs.HC,7.63%vs.3.43%,Z=-2.115,P=0.035).Linear discriminant effect(LEfSe)analysis(LDA score>3.5)showed that o_Lachnospirales,f_Lachnospiraceae,and g_Eubacterium_halli_group(o,f andg represents order,family and genus respectively)were enriched in patients with AN.Microbial function of nutrient transport and metabolism in AN group were more abundant(P>0.05).In AN group,weight and BMI were significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of Bacteroidota and Bacteroides,while positively correlated with Subdoligranulum.BMI was significantly positively correlated with Firmicutes;HAMD scores were significantly negatively correlated with Faecalibacterium.Conclusions:The composition of gut microbiota in patients with AN was different from that of healthy people.Clinical indicators have correlations with the abundance of gut microbiota in patients with AN.