Alteration of intestinal microbiota is associated with diabetic retinopathy and its severity:Samples collected from southeast coast Chinese

BACKGROUND Current approaches for the therapy of diabetic retinopathy(DR),which was one of leading causes of visual impairment,have their limitations.Animal experiments revealed that restructuring of intestinal microbiota can prevent retinopathy.AIM To explore the relationship between intestinal microbiota and DR among patients in the southeast coast of China,and provide clues for novel ways to prevention and treatment methods of DR.METHODS The fecal samples of non-diabetics(Group C,n=15)and diabetics(Group DM,n=30),including 15 samples with DR(Group DR)and 15 samples without DR(Group D),were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing.Intestinal microbiota compositions were compared between Group C and Group DM,Group DR and Group D,as well as patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)(Group PDR,n=8)and patients without PDR(Group NPDR,n=7).Spearman correlation analyses were performed to explore the associations between intestinal microbiota and clinical indicators.RESULTS The alpha and beta diversity did not differ significantly between Group DR and Group D as well as Group PDR and Group NPDR.At the family level,Fusobacteriaceae,Desulfovibrionaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were significantly increased in Group DR than in Group D(P<0.05,respectively).At the genera level,Fusobacterium,Pseudomonas,and Adlercreutzia were increased in Group DR than Group D while Senegalimassilia was decreased(P<0.05,respectively).Pseudomonas was negatively correlated with NK cell count(r=-0.39,P=0.03).Further,the abundance of genera Eubacterium(P<0.01),Peptococcus,Desulfovibrio,Acetanaerobacterium and Negativibacillus(P<0.05,respectively)were higher in Group PDR compared to Group NPDR,while Pseudomonas,Alloprevotella and Tyzzerella(P<0.05,respectively)were lower.Acetanaerobacterium and Desulfovibrio were positively correlated with fasting insulin(r=0.53 and 0.61,respectively,P<0.05),when Negativibacillus was negatively correlated with B cell count(r=-0.67,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that the alteration of gut microbiota was associated with DR and its severity among patients in the southeast coast of China,probably by multiple mechanisms such as producing short-chain fatty acids,influencing permeability of blood vessels,affecting levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1,hypoxia-inducible factor-1,B cell and insulin.Modulating gut microbiota composition might be a novel strategy for prevention of DR,particularly PDR in population above.

Current study and prospect of the Old Red Sand along the southeast coast of China

The Old Red Sand is composed of brown-red, red, or orange-yellow semi-cemented and medium-fine sand sediment, mainly dis- tributed along the southeast coast of China. Based on previous studies, this paper summarizes the distribution and forms, sedi- mentary characteristics, formation mechanism, developing age, reddening process and the paleo-environment, suggesting that the Old Red Sand is mainly aeolian sediment of Late Pleistocene Age. The reddening process is mainly the result of decomposition and oxidation of iron-containing minerals caused by hot and humid tropical and sub-tropical climate. In this study, existing prob- lems are discussed and the prospect of further research is presented as well.

A preliminary study on the volcanic intrusive complex type beryllium metallogenic belt from the southeast coast of China

Beryllium(Be)is one of the unsubstitutable key metals in strategic emerging industries and national defense industries,mainly originating from volcanogenic Be deposits.Thus,volcanogenic Be deposits have become important research objects of key metal deposits,with a focus on their occurrence,metallogenic mechanism,and resource distribution.In the southeast coast of China,the Late Mesozoic volcanic intrusive complex has a good Be metallogenic background,and strong Be mineralization occurs in some areas.Field geological investigation and analyses of samples from Southeast Zhejiang as well as Northeast and Southeast Fujian indicate that Be mineralization in the southeast coast of China is closely related to the hydrothermal processes in the volcanic intrusive complex.In Southeast Zhejiang,Be ore in the Qingtian area mainly occurs in granite porphyry,with the Be content reaching 939 ppm,while strong Be mineralization from Zhangji rhyolite porphyry in the Pingyang area contains up to 11400 ppm Be.In Xiapu County,Northeastern Fujian,the Dawan Be deposit is characterized by constituents of helvite and beryl.In Pinghe County,Southeastern Fujian,the Fulishi Be ore is a quartz vein beryl-type ore.These results suggest that the volcanic intrusive complex area in the southeast coast of China has a wide range of Be mineralization and better Be metallogenic potential,and it is expected to become an important Be metallogenic belt in China.Thus,we should thoroughly investigate the Be resources of granite porphyry,rhyolite porphyry,quartz porphyry,and quartz vein in this volcanic rock area,which can provide a theoretical basis for the exploration and guiding prospecting of volcanic intrusive complex Be deposits.