Identification of inulin-responsive bacteria in the gut microbiota via multi-modal activity-based sorting.

Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible dietary components that promote the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. In many cases, however, this capability is not systematically evaluated. Here, we develop a methodology for determining prebiotic-responsive bacteria using the popular dietary supplement inulin. We first identify microbes with a capacity to bind inulin using mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with inulin. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of sorted cells revealed that the ability to bind inulin was widespread in the microbiota. We further evaluate which taxa are metabolically stimulated by inulin and find that diverse taxa from the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria respond to inulin, and several isolates of these taxa can degrade inulin. Incubation with another prebiotic, xylooligosaccharides (XOS), in contrast, shows a more robust bifidogenic effect. Interestingly, the Coriobacteriia Eggerthella lenta and Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens are indirectly stimulated by the inulin degradation process, expanding our knowledge of inulin-responsive bacteria.

GLP-2 Improves Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mdr2-/- Mice Via Activation of NR4a1/Nur77 in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Intestinal FXR Signaling.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 may exert antifibrotic effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Thus, we aimed to test whether application of the GLP-2 analogue teduglutide has hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects in the Mdr2/Abcb4-/- mouse model of sclerosing cholangitis displaying hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. METHODS: Mdr2-/- mice were injected daily for 4 weeks with teduglutide followed by gene expression profiling (bulk liver; isolated HSCs) and immunohistochemistry. Activated HSCs (LX2 cells) and immortalized human hepatocytes and human intestinal organoids were treated with GLP-2. mRNA profiling by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic mobility shift assay using cytosolic and nuclear protein extracts was performed. RESULTS: Hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and reactive cholangiocyte phenotype were improved in GLP-2-treated Mdr2-/- mice. Primary HSCs isolated from Mdr2-/- mice and LX2 cells exposed to GLP-2 in vitro displayed significantly increased mRNA expression levels of NR4a1/Nur77 (P < .05). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed an increased nuclear NR4a1 binding after GLP-2 treatment in LX2 cells. Moreover, GLP-2 alleviated the Tgfß-mediated reduction of NR4a1 nuclear binding activity. In vivo, GLP-2 treatment of Mdr2-/- mice resulted in increased intrahepatic levels of muricholic acids (accordingly Cyp2c70 mRNA expression was significantly increased), and in reduced mRNA levels of Cyp7a1 and FXR. Serum Fgf15 levels were increased in Mdr2-/- mice treated with GLP-2. Accordingly, GLP-2 treatment of human intestinal organoids activated their FXR-FGF19 signaling axis. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-2 treatment increased NR4a1/Nur77 activation in HSCs, subsequently attenuating their activation. GLP-2 promoted intestinal Fxr-Fgf15/19 signaling resulting in reduced Cyp7a1 and increased Cyp2c70 expression in the liver, contributing to hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects of GLP-2 in the Mdr2-/- mouse model.

Impact of dobutamine stress on diastolic energetic efficiency of healthy left ventricle: an in vivo kinetic energy analysis.

The total kinetic energy (KE) of blood can be decomposed into mean KE (MKE) and turbulent KE (TKE), which are associated with the phase-averaged fluid velocity field and the instantaneous velocity fluctuations, respectively. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of pharmacologically induced stress on MKE and TKE in the left ventricle (LV) in a cohort of healthy volunteers. 4D Flow MRI data were acquired in eleven subjects at rest and after dobutamine infusion, at a heart rate that was ∼60% higher than the one in rest conditions. MKE and TKE were computed as volume integrals over the whole LV and as data mapped to functional LV flow components, i.e., direct flow, retained inflow, delayed ejection flow and residual volume. Diastolic MKE and TKE increased under stress, in particular at peak early filling and peak atrial contraction. Augmented LV inotropy and cardiac frequency also caused an increase in direct flow and retained inflow MKE and TKE. However, the TKE/KE ratio remained comparable between rest and stress conditions, suggesting that LV intracavitary fluid dynamics can adapt to stress conditions without altering the TKE to KE balance of the normal left ventricle at rest.

Neutral and Pectic Heteropolysaccharides Isolated from Opuntia joconostle Mucilage: Composition, Molecular Dimensions and Prebiotic Potential.

Opuntia joconostle is a semi-wild cactus cultivated for its fruit. However, the cladodes are often discarded, wasting the potentially useful mucilage in them. The mucilage is composed primarily of heteropolysaccharides, characterized by their molar mass distribution, monosaccharide composition, structural features (by vibrational spectroscopy, FT IR, and atomic force microscopy, AFM), and fermentability by known saccharolytic commensal members of the gut microbiota. After fractionation with ion exchange chromatography, four polysaccharides were found: one neutral (composed mainly of galactose, arabinose, and xylose) and three acidic, with a galacturonic acid content from 10 to 35%mol. Their average molar masses ranged from 1.8 × 105 to 2.8 × 105 g·mol-1. Distinct structural features such as galactan, arabinan, xylan, and galacturonan motifs were present in the FT IR spectra. The intra- and intermolecular interactions of the polysaccharides, and their effect on the aggregation behavior, were shown by AFM. The composition and structural features of these polysaccharides were reflected in their prebiotic potential. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria were not able to utilize them, whereas members of Bacteroidetes showed utilization capacity. The obtained data suggest a high economic potential for this Opuntia species, with potential uses such as animal feed in arid areas, precise prebiotic, and symbiotic formulations, or as the carbon skeleton source in a green refinery. Our methodology can be used to evaluate the saccharides as the phenotype of interest, helping to guide the breeding strategy.

Left Ventricular Adverse Remodeling in Ischemic Heart Disease: Emerging Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers.

Post-ischemic left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a biologically complex process involving myocardial structure, LV shape, and function, beginning early after myocardial infarction (MI) and lasting until 1 year. Adverse remodeling is a post-MI maladaptive process that has been associated with long-term poor clinical outcomes. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is the best tool to define adverse remodeling because of its ability to accurately measure LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and their variation over time and to characterize the underlying myocardial changes. Therefore, CMR is the gold standard method to assess in vivo myocardial infarction extension and to detect the presence of microvascular obstruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage, both associated with adverse remodeling. In recent times, new CMR quantitative biomarkers emerged as predictive of post-ischemic adverse remodeling, such as T1 mapping, myocardial strain, and 4D flow. Additionally, CMR T1 mapping imaging may depict infarcted tissue and assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis by using surrogate markers such as extracellular volume fraction, which may predict functional recovery or risk stratification of remodeling. Finally, there is emerging evidence supporting the utility of intracavitary blood flow kinetic energy and hemodynamic features assessed by the 4D flow CMR technique as early predictors of remodeling.

Elucidating the role of the gut microbiota in the physiological effects of dietary fiber.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fiber is an integral part of a healthy diet, but questions remain about the mechanisms that underlie effects and the causal contributions of the gut microbiota. Here, we performed a 6-week exploratory trial in adults with excess weight (BMI: 25-35 kg/m2) to compare the effects of a high-dose (females: 25 g/day; males: 35 g/day) supplement of fermentable corn bran arabinoxylan (AX; n = 15) with that of microbiota-non-accessible microcrystalline cellulose (MCC; n = 16). Obesity-related surrogate endpoints and biomarkers of host-microbiome interactions implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity (trimethylamine N-oxide, gut hormones, cytokines, and measures of intestinal barrier integrity) were assessed. We then determined whether clinical outcomes could be predicted by fecal microbiota features or mechanistic biomarkers. RESULTS: AX enhanced satiety after a meal and decreased homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), while MCC reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and fecal calprotectin. Machine learning models determined that effects on satiety could be predicted by fecal bacterial taxa that utilized AX, as identified by bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging. Reductions in HOMA-IR and calprotectin were associated with shifts in fecal bile acids, but correlations were negative, suggesting that the benefits of fiber may not be mediated by their effects on bile acid pools. Biomarkers of host-microbiome interactions often linked to bacterial metabolites derived from fiber fermentation (short-chain fatty acids) were not affected by AX supplementation when compared to non-accessible MCC. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the efficacy of purified dietary fibers when used as supplements and suggests that satietogenic effects of AX may be linked to bacterial taxa that ferment the fiber or utilize breakdown products. Other effects are likely microbiome independent. The findings provide a basis for fiber-type specific therapeutic applications and their personalization. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02322112 , registered on July 3, 2015. Video Abstract.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oncologic activities (diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials enrollment) of a general hospital in a district with high prevalence of SARS-COV-2 in Italy.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the real impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the qualitative and quantitative fall-out on the management of cancer patients. Our objective was to provide evidence of the effects of SARS-COV-2 on the management of cancer patients in the real world. METHODS: In a general hospital in a district in Italy with high prevalence of COVID-19 during the first wave, we retrospectively analyzed the data of oncologic activity, namely new cancer diagnosis, types of treatment (intravenous or by mouth), clinical research studies, and drug utilization, and compared the findings with those of 2019, before the pandemic. The data have been summarized in boxplot figures for median and interquartile range. RESULTS: In 2020, a significant reduction in new cancer diagnosis was demonstrated when compared with 2019, with 17.4% fewer cancer diagnoses, 84.5% fewer patients enrolled in clinical trials, a 10.6% reduction in intravenous antitumor treatment, and a 42.7% increase in oral anticancer treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate a significant reduction in cancer diagnosis, antitumor venous treatment, and patients enrolled in clinical research studies in 2020 compared with 2019, although there was a significant increase in oral treatment. These data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a deep impact on the real-world management of cancer patients in a district of Italy with a high prevalence of COVID-19.

A Deep Learning-Based and Fully Automated Pipeline for Thoracic Aorta Geometric Analysis and Planning for Endovascular Repair from Computed Tomography.

Feasibility assessment and planning of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) require computed tomography (CT)-based analysis of geometric aortic features to identify adequate landing zones (LZs) for endograft deployment. However, no consensus exists on how to take the necessary measurements from CT image data. We trained and applied a fully automated pipeline embedding a convolutional neural network (CNN), which feeds on 3D CT images to automatically segment the thoracic aorta, detects proximal landing zones (PLZs), and quantifies geometric features that are relevant for TEVAR planning. For 465 CT scans, the thoracic aorta and pulmonary arteries were manually segmented; 395 randomly selected scans with the corresponding ground truth segmentations were used to train a CNN with a 3D U-Net architecture. The remaining 70 scans were used for testing. The trained CNN was embedded within computational geometry processing pipeline which provides aortic metrics of interest for TEVAR planning. The resulting metrics included aortic arch centerline radius of curvature, proximal landing zones (PLZs) maximum diameters, angulation, and tortuosity. These parameters were statistically analyzed to compare standard arches vs. arches with a common origin of the innominate and left carotid artery (CILCA). The trained CNN yielded a mean Dice score of 0.95 and was able to generalize to 9 pathological cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm, providing accurate segmentations. CILCA arches were characterized by significantly greater angulation (p = 0.015) and tortuosity (p = 0.048) in PLZ 3 vs. standard arches. For both arch configurations, comparisons among PLZs revealed statistically significant differences in maximum zone diameters (p < 0.0001), angulation (p < 0.0001), and tortuosity (p < 0.0001). Our tool allows clinicians to obtain objective and repeatable PLZs mapping, and a range of automatically derived complex aortic metrics.

Comparison of Four-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Left Ventricular Fluid Dynamics and Energetics in Ischemic and Restrictive Cardiomyopathies.

BACKGROUND: Time-resolved three-directional velocity-encoded (4D flow) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables the quantification of left ventricular (LV) intracavitary fluid dynamics and energetics, providing mechanistic insight into LV dysfunctions. Before becoming a support to diagnosis and patient stratification, this analysis should prove capable of discriminating between clearly different LV derangements. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of 4D flow in identifying fluid dynamic and energetics derangements in ischemic and restrictive LV cardiomyopathies. STUDY TYPE: Prospective observational study. POPULATION: Ten patients with post-ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), 10 patients with cardiac light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA), and 10 healthy controls were included. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5 T/balanced steady-state free precession cine and 4D flow sequences. ASSESSMENT: Flow was divided into four components: direct flow (DF), retained inflow, delayed ejection flow, and residual volume (RV). Demographics, LV morphology, flow components, global and regional energetics (volume-normalized kinetic energy [KEV ] and viscous energy loss [ELV ]), and pressure-derived hemodynamic force (HDF) were compared between the three groups. STATISTICAL TESTS: Intergroup differences in flow components were tested by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); differences in energetic variables and peak HDF were tested by two-way ANOVA. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: ICM patients exhibited the following statistically significant alterations vs. controls: reduced KEV , mostly in the basal region, in systole (-44%) and in diastole (-37%); altered flow components, with reduced DF (-33%) and increased RV (+26%); and reduced basal-apical HDF component on average by 63% at peak systole. AL-CA patients exhibited the following alterations vs. controls: significantly reduced KEV at the E-wave peak in the basal segment (-34%); albeit nonstatistically significant, increased peaks and altered time-course of the HDF basal-apical component in diastole and slightly reduced HDF components in systole. DATA CONCLUSION: The analysis of multiple 4D flow-derived parameters highlighted fluid dynamic alterations associated with systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in ICM and AL-CA patients, respectively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 3.

[Territorial-based management of patients with cancer on active treatment following the Piacenza (north Italy) Model. Results of 4 consecutive years.] / Le cure oncologiche ed ematologiche sul territorio secondo il modello dell'ASL di Piacenza. Rendiconto di 4 anni consecutivi.

INTRODUCTION: The natural history of cancer has radically changed in the last decade. The burden of travel from patient's residence to health care providers is an important issue that can influence access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer; however this issue is quite neglect by the medical community and by the national health system. In addition, community care in the oncology field is actually debated. METHODS: In the district of Piacenza an innovative model to deliver onco-hematologic treatment near the residence of patients was initiated some years ago. The oncologic and hematologic treatments are delivered by specialized nurses under supervision of medical oncologists or hematologists at the 3 community hospital and at 1 house of health in the district of Piacenza. We conducted a retrospective study involving 1,339 cancer patients (CPs) managed and treated near their residence, CPs were on active medical treatment at the oncology and hematology department Azienda sanitaria (ASL) of Piacenza (North Italy). The electronic data base of the antiblastic drug unit (UFA) of the ASL Piacenza, provided: the number of patients treated each year, number of treatments and the accesses to the territorial medical structure each year. The kms saved to reach the nearest territorial structures instead of the oncologic unit of the city hospital, were registered and recorded. RESULTS: During a 4 years period, from January 2017 to December 2020, 1,339 CPs were treated near their residence, 278 in the year 2017, 347 in 2018, 354 in 2019 and 360 in 2020. The total accesses for treatment in 4 years were 10,003: 2,214 in the year 2017, 2,652 in 2018, 2,524 in 2019 and 2,613 in 2020. The mean distance saved for each patient was 937 kms in the year 2017, 891 in 2018, 879 in 2019, 920 in 2020, totally a mean of 3,627 kms in the 4 years. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We believe that the results of our retrospective study highlight the possibility of treating cancer patients in territorial structures near their residence, with advantages for patients themselves, their caregivers and for the entire community.

Anticoagulation and Vessel Recanalization in Cirrhotic Patients with Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis: A Multidisciplinary "Real Life" Experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a potentially life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a multi-disciplinary approach and early anticoagulation therapy (AT) on bleeding/thrombotic events, recanalization rates and outcome of cirrhotic patients with SVT. METHODS: This is a single-center, registry-based cohort study. Over 17 years, 149 SVT patients were enrolled and prospectively evaluated. Regarding cirrhotic-SVT, a pre-specified algorithm, guiding initial posology of AT and follow-up visits schedule, was performed. Major bleeding (MB), thrombotic events, functional liver scores and all cause-mortality were investigated. Efficacy of AT was evaluated by radiological imaging. RESULTS: In cirrhotic-SVT, the incidence rate of MB was 8.4 per 100 patient-year (95% CI, 3.83-15.97), while the incidence rate of thrombosis was 5.6 per 100 patient-year (95% CI, 2.05-12.2). In incidental SVT treated with AT, MB incidence was 6.5 per 100 patient-year (95% CI: 2.8-12.82), while in symptomatic SVT was 2.2 per 100 patient-year (95% CI: 0.25-8.02). All thrombotic recurrences occurred in incidental SVT (7.7 per 100 patient-years; 95% CI, 3.71-14.26). Overall survival was significantly higher in patients who had at least a partial recanalization (p < 0.01) and partial/total recanalization was independently associated with improved MELD score at multivariate analysis (HR 2.62, 95% CI 1.1-6.47, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In cirrhotic SVT patients, partial or total resolution of thrombosis ameliorates liver function and is associated with higher overall survival. A multidisciplinary approach together with radiological follow-up at pre-fixed time improves patient selection and monitoring.

4D flow evaluation of blood non-Newtonian behavior in left ventricle flow analysis.

Blood is generally modeled as a Newtonian fluid, assuming a standard and constant viscosity; however, this assumption may not hold for the highly pulsatile and recirculating intracavitary flow in the left ventricle (LV), hampering the quantification of fluid dynamic indices of potential clinical relevance. Herein, we investigated the effect of three viscosity models on the patient-specific quantification of LV blood energetics, namely on viscous energy loss (EL), from 4D Flow magnetic resonance imaging: I) Newtonian with standard viscosity (3.7 cP), II) Newtonian with subject-specific hematocrit-dependent viscosity, III) non-Newtonian accounting for the effect of hematocrit and shear rate. Analyses were performed on 5 controls and 5 patients with cardiac light-chain amyloidosis. In Model II, viscosity ranged between 3.0 (-19%) and 4.3 cP (+16%), mildly deviating from the standard value. In the non-Newtonian model, this effect was emphasized: viscosity ranged from 3.2 to 6.0 cP, deviating maximally from the standard value in low shear rate (i.e., <100 s-1) regions. This effect reflected on EL quantifications: in particular, as compared to Model I, Model III yielded markedly higher EL values (up to +40%) or markedly lower (down to -21%) for subjects with hematocrit higher than 39.5% and lower than 30%, respectively. Accounting for non-Newtonian blood behavior on a patient-specific basis may enhance the accuracy of intracardiac energetics assessment by 4D Flow, which may be explored as non-invasive index to discriminate between healthy and pathologic LV.

Crypt residing bacteria and proximal colonic carcinogenesis in a mouse model of Lynch syndrome.

Colorectal cancer is a multifactorial disease involving inherited DNA mutations, environmental factors, gut inflammation and intestinal microbiota. Certain germline mutations within the DNA mismatch repair system are associated with Lynch syndrome tumors including right-sided colorectal cancer with mucinous phenotype and presence of an inflammatory infiltrate. Such tumors are more often associated with bacterial biofilms, which may contribute to disease onset and progression. Inflammatory bowel diseases are also associated with colorectal cancer and intestinal dysbiosis. Herein we addressed the question, whether inflammation can aggravate colorectal cancer development under mismatch repair deficiency. MSH2loxP/loxP Vill-cre mice were crossed into the IL-10-/- background to study the importance of inflammation and mucosal bacteria as a driver of tumorigenesis in a Lynch syndrome mouse model. An increase in large bowel tumorigenesis was found in double knockout mice both under conventional housing and under specific pathogen-free conditions. This increase was mostly due to the development of proximal tumors, a hotspot for tumorigenesis in Lynch syndrome, and was associated with a higher degree of inflammation. Additionally, bacterial invasion into the mucus of tumor crypts was observed in the proximal tumors. Inflammation shifted fecal and mucosal microbiota composition and was associated with enrichment in Escherichia-Shigella as well as Akkermansia, Bacteroides and Parabacteroides genera in fecal samples. Tumor-bearing double knockout mice showed a similar enrichment for Escherichia-Shigella and Parabacteroides. Lactobacilli, Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae family members were depleted upon inflammation. In summary, chronic inflammation aggravates colonic tumorigenesis under mismatch repair deficiency and is associated with a shift in microbiota composition.

Long-Term Consumption of Anthocyanin-Rich Fruit Juice: Impact on Gut Microbiota and Antioxidant Markers in Lymphocytes of Healthy Males.

Polyphenols are considered protective against diseases associated with oxidative stress. Short-term intake of an anthocyanin-rich fruit juice resulted in significantly reduced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand-breaks in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and affected antioxidant markers in healthy volunteers. Consequently, effects of long-term consumption of fruit juice are of particular interest. In focus was the impact on nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the Nrf2-regulated genes NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) as well as effects on the gut microbiota. In a nine-week placebo-controlled intervention trial with 57 healthy male volunteers, consumption of anthocyanin-rich juice significantly increased NQO-1 and HO-1 transcript levels in PBLs compared to a placebo beverage as measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three Nrf2-promotor single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), analyzed by pyrosequencing, indicated an association between individual Nrf2 transcript levels and genotype. Moreover, the Nrf2 genotype appeared to correlate with the presence of specific microbial organisms identified by 16S-PCR and classified as Spirochaetaceae. Furthermore, the microbial community was significantly affected by the duration of juice consumption and intake of juice itself. Taken together, long-term consumption of anthocyanin-rich fruit juice affected Nrf2-dependent transcription in PBLs, indicating systemic effects. Individual Nrf2 genotypes may influence the antioxidant response, thus requiring consideration in future intervention studies focusing on the Nrf2 pathway. Anthocyanin-rich fruit juice had an extensive impact on the gut microbiota.

Conversion of Rutin, a Prevalent Dietary Flavonol, by the Human Gut Microbiota.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the conversion of dietary flavonoids, which can affect their bioavailability and bioactivity and thereby their health-promoting properties. The ability of flavonoids to metabolically-activate the microbiota has, however, not been systematically evaluated. In the present study, we used a fluorescence-based single-cell activity measure [biorthogonal non-canonical ammino acid-tagging (BONCAT)] combined with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to determine which microorganisms are metabolically-active after amendment of the flavonoid rutin. We performed anaerobic incubations of human fecal microbiota amended with rutin and in the presence of the cellular activity marker L-azidohomoalanine (AHA) to detect metabolically-active cells. We found that 7.3% of cells in the gut microbiota were active after a 6 h incubation and 26.9% after 24 h. We then sorted BONCAT-positive cells and observed an enrichment of Lachnospiraceae (Lachnoclostridium and Eisenbergiella), Enterobacteriaceae, Tannerellaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae species in the rutin-responsive fraction of the microbiota. There was marked inter-individual variability in the appearance of rutin conversion products after incubation with rutin. Consistent with this, there was substantial variability in the abundance of rutin-responsive microbiota among different individuals. Specifically, we observed that Enterobacteriaceae were associated with conversion of rutin into quercetin-3-glucoside (Q-glc) and Lachnospiraceae were associated with quercetin (Q) production. This suggests that individual microbiotas differ in their ability to metabolize rutin and utilize different conversion pathways.

Locally acquired hepatitis E virus in Marche Italy: Clinical/laboratory features and outcome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis E Virus is endemic in Europe with increasing numbers of cases in recent years, also in Italy where this phenomenon has hitherto been modest. The aim of this study was to document the clinical features/natural history of locally acquired hepatitis E in our territory and explore factors which determine adverse outcome. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with locally-acquired HEV (hepatitis E virus) in Marche, Italy (2011-2019). RESULTS: 1189 patients were tested for HEV with 89 confirmed cases. 81 (6.8%) had locally acquired infection; 54 (66%) were male (mean age 55.5 years) and 32 (39.5%) had active co-morbidities. 41 cases were viraemic (all HEV-3 (HEV genotype 1,2,3,4)); acute infection was found in 79 and chronic infection in 2. Forty-five cases (55%) required admission to hospital, for a total of 785 days. 4 patients developed acute on-chronic liver failure, 6 developed acute kidney injury and 8 died: all had active comorbidities. Univariate analysis showed that bilirubin, INR, immunosuppression, cirrhosis and diabetes were associated with death. On multivariant analysis the only predictor of death was the presence of diabetes (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis E in Marche Italy is mostly locally acquired and caused by HEV-3 that impacts on the morbidity and mortality particularly for fragile patients.

A fiber-deprived diet disturbs the fine-scale spatial architecture of the murine colon microbiome.

Compartmentalization of the gut microbiota is thought to be important to system function, but the extent of spatial organization in the gut ecosystem remains poorly understood. Here, we profile the murine colonic microbiota along longitudinal and lateral axes using laser capture microdissection. We found fine-scale spatial structuring of the microbiota marked by gradients in composition and diversity along the length of the colon. Privation of fiber reduces the diversity of the microbiota and disrupts longitudinal and lateral gradients in microbiota composition. Both mucus-adjacent and luminal communities are influenced by the absence of dietary fiber, with the loss of a characteristic distal colon microbiota and a reduction in the mucosa-adjacent community, concomitant with depletion of the mucus layer. These results indicate that diet has not only global but also local effects on the composition of the gut microbiota, which may affect function and resilience differently depending on location.

Body Mass Index and Sex Affect Diverse Microbial Niches within the Gut.

Gut microbiota is considered a separate organ with endocrine capabilities, actively contributing to tissue homeostasis. It consists of at least two separate microbial populations, the lumen-associated (LAM) and the mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM). In the present study, we compared LAM and MAM, by collecting stools and sigmoid brush samples of forty adults without large-bowel symptoms, and through a 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. MAM sample analysis revealed enrichment in aerotolerant Proteobacteria, probably selected by a gradient of oxygen that decreases from tissue to lumen, and in Streptococcus and Clostridium spp., highly fermenting bacteria. On the other hand, LAM microbiota showed an increased abundance in Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Oscillospira, genera able to digest and to degrade biopolymers in the large intestine. Predicted metagenomic analysis showed LAM to be enriched in genes encoding enzymes mostly involved in energy extraction from carbohydrates and lipids, whereas MAM in amino acid and vitamin metabolism. Moreover, LAM and MAM communities seemed to be influenced by different host factors, such as diet and sex. LAM is affected by body mass index (BMI) status. Indeed, BMI negatively correlates with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Flavonifractor plautii abundance, putative biomarkers of healthy status. In contrast, MAM microbial population showed a significant grouping according to sex. Female MAM was enriched in Actinobacteria (with an increased trend of the genus Bifidobacterium), and a significant depletion in Veillonellaceae. Interestingly, we found the species Gemmiger formicilis to be associated with male and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, with female MAM samples. In conclusion, our results suggest that gut harbors microbial niches that differ in both composition and host factor susceptibility, and their richness and diversity may be overlooked evaluating only fecal samples.

Prevalence study on potential drug-drug interaction in cancer patients in Piacenza hospital's Onco-Haematology department.

Background Cancer patients can be a human model of potential drug interactions. Usually they receive a large number of different medications, including antineoplastic agents, drugs for comorbid illness and medication for supportive care, however information about these interactions are fragmented and poor. Objective We assessed a prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of drug interaction among patients hospitalized in the Onco-Haematology department, Hospital of Piacenza. Methods Data on drugs administered for cancer, comorbidities, or supportive care were collected from different computerized prescription software in use in the department; we compared them with a database to focus on the co-administration of drugs. A literature review was performed to identify major potential drug interaction and to classify them by level of severity and by strengths of scientific evidence. Results In this study 284 cancer patients were enrolled; patients had taken an average of seven drugs on each day of therapy plus chemotherapeutic agents, we identified 67 potential drug interactions. At least 53 patients had one potential drug interaction. Of all potential drug interactions 63 were classified as moderate severity and only four as major. In 55 cases chemotherapeutic agents were involved in possible interactions with supportive care drugs, meanwhile in 12 cases the potential drug interactions were between supportive care drugs. Conclusions In our centre, thanks to a computerized prescription software, integrated with caution alarm in case of possible interaction, we had a lower rate of potential drug interactions than the one from literature. It is possible to improve the software integrating the alarm with the potential drug interactions between chemotherapy agents and supportive care drugs.