Ablation of gut microbiota alleviates obesity-induced hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance by modulating bile acid metabolism in hamsters

Since metabolic process differs between humans and mice, studies were performed in hamsters, which are generally considered to be a more appropriate animal model for studies of obesity-related metabolic disorders. The modulation of gut microbiota, bile acids and the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) axis is correlated with obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in mice. However, the interactions among the gut microbiota, bile acids and FXR in metabolic disorders remained largely unexplored in hamsters. In the current study, hamsters fed a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) were administered vehicle or an antibiotic cocktail by gavage twice a week for four weeks. Antibiotic treatment alleviated HFD-induced glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis and inflammation accompanied with decreased hepatic lipogenesis and elevated thermogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT). In the livers of antibiotic-treated hamsters, cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily B member 1 (CYP7B1) in the alternative bile acid synthesis pathway was upregulated, contributing to a more hydrophilic bile acid profile with increased tauro--muricholic acid (TMCA). The intestinal FXR signaling was suppressed but remained unchanged in the liver. This study is of potential translational significance in determining the role of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism in modulating diet-induced glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis in the hamster.

Mean corpuscular volume and biochemical markers of alcoholism - A comparative study.

Alcoholism is a serious health issue with major socioeconomic consequences. Significant morbidity is related to chronic alcohol use, and alcoholics seek advice only when complications of drinking set in. The diagnosis is often based on patients self-reporting of alcohol consumption, which is unreliable and requires high degree of clinical suspicion. However, if alcohol problems are recognized at an early stage, the physician may be able to prevent their further development and progression. The present study compares the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) with other traditional biochemical markers in alcohol abuse patients and healthy controls. It is a prospective study, and 40 cases and 30 controls were evaluated for biochemical parameters over a period of one year. The study revealed MCV to be possessing 87.5% sensitivity, 83.33% specificity, 87.5% of positive predictive value, 48.39% of negative predictive value and 54.29% of diagnostic accuracy, which makes it a reliable marker. The mean gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations in alcohol dependent subjects were higher as compared to controls. Though clinical histories and questionnaires are the commonest initial means of detection of alcohol abuse, laboratory markers such as MCV should be used for confirming the diagnosis of alcohol abuse. They are also helpful in follow-up of patients undergoing treatment, and monitoring of abstinence