The gut microbiome promotes arsenic metabolism and alleviates the metabolic disorder for their mammal host under arsenic exposure.

Gut microbiome can participate in arsenic metabolism. However, its efficacy in the host under arsenic stress is still controversial. To clarify their roles in fecal arsenic excretion, tissue arsenic accumulation, host physiological states and metabolism, in this study, ninety-six C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided to four groups, groups A and B were given sterile water, and groups C and D were given the third generation of broad-spectrum antibiotic (ceftriaxone) to erase the background gut microbiome. Subsequently, groups B and D were subchronicly exposed to arsenic containing feed prepared by adding arsenical mixture (rice arsenic composition) into control feed. In group D, the fecal total arsenic (CtAs) decreased by 25.5 %, iAsIII composition increased by 46.9 %, unclarified As (uAs) composition decreased by 92.4 %, and the liver CtAs increased by 26.7 %; the fecal CtAs was positively correlated with microbial richness and some metabolites (organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, SCFAs, hydrophilic bile acids and their derivatives); and fecal DMA was positively correlated with microbial richness and some metabolites (ferulic acid, benzenepropanoic acid and pentanoic acid); network analysis showed that the numbers of modules, nodes, links were decreased and vulnerability was increased; some SCFAs and hydrophilic bile acid decreased, and hydrophobic bile acids increased (Ps < 0.05). In the tissue samples of group D, Il-18 and Ifn-γ gene expression increased and intestinal barrier-related genes Muc2, Occludin and Zo-1 expression decreased (Ps < 0.05); serum glutathione and urine malondialdehyde significantly increased (Ps < 0.05); urine metabolome significantly changed and the variation was correlated with six SCFAs-producing bacteria, and some SCFAs including isobutyric acid, valeric acid and heptanoic acid decreased (Ps < 0.05). Therefore, the normal gut microbiome increases fecal arsenic excretion and biotransformation, which can maintain a healthier microbiome and metabolic functions, and alleviate the metabolic disorder for their mammal host under arsenic exposure.

Research on Processing-Induced Chemical Variations in Polygonatum Cyrtonema Rhizome by Integrating Metabolomics and Glycomics.

Polygonatum cyrtonema rhizome (PCR), the dried sweet rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, is commonly used as a tonic remedy and a functional food in Asia, Europe, and North America. Multiple components, including secondary metabolites, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, collectively contribute to the therapeutic effects of PCR. Processing time exerts a significant influence on the quality of PCR, but the various processing stages have not been comprehensively chemically profiled. It is urgent to study processing-induced chemical variations in PCR to control the processing degree. In this study, multiple chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques were used in combination with multivariate statistical analysis to perform qualitative and quantitative research on secondary metabolites and carbohydrates in PCR during processing. The results demonstrated that PCR processing can be divided into three stages, namely the raw stage (0 h), the middle stage (1-6 h), and the late stage (8-18 h). Twenty differential compounds were screened from secondary metabolites and oligosaccharides to distinguish PCR in different processing stages. Furthermore, the chemical variations of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCP) also entered a new stage after processing for 6 h. Multiple chemical mechanisms, including hydrolysis, oxidative decomposition, dehydration, Maillard reaction, and polymerization were involved in the processing. This work provides a scientific basis to reveal the relationship between processing stage and chemical variations.

Analytical and clinical evaluation of a novel assay for measurement of interleukin 6 in human whole blood samples.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 6 assays are useful in early detection of infections and risk stratification of critically ill patients, so an assay with a short turnaround-time and near-patient use is preferred. This study evaluated the performance of a new interleukin 6 assay, Pylon IL-6 assay, and explored its potential use in near-patient settings. METHODS: We carried out imprecision, linearity and comparison studies using serum and plasma samples according to CLSI EP guidelines. The stability of whole blood samples during storage was assessed. Furthermore, whole blood samples from pediatric patients with suspected infection were measured to evaluate the assay's diagnostic performance. RESULTS: The within-run CVs and total CVs of Pylon IL-6 assay were determined as 1.8% and 3.0% at 159.3 pg/ml and 3.5% and 4.7% at 8009.9 pg/ml, respectively. The method showed linearity between 1.5 and 42,854 pg/ml. The results of serum samples measured by Pylon assays correlated to those measured by Roche assays, as well as to those of matched whole blood samples measured by Pylon assays. IL-6 in whole blood was found stable for ~8 h at room temperature. Pylon IL-6 results of whole blood samples from 179 pediatric patients with suspected infection showed an AUC of 0.842 in diagnosis of bacterial infection. The turnaround time of Pylon IL-6 assay was only 1 h when using whole blood samples. CONCLUSION: The new assay demonstrated performance comparable to those performed on clinical laboratory instruments and can be used in near-patient settings with whole blood to reduce turnaround times.