Impact of probiotics supplement on the gut microbiota in neonates with antibiotic exposure: an open-label single-center randomized parallel controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics, a common strategy used for neonatal infection, show consistent effect on the gut microbiota of neonates. Supplementation with probiotics has become increasingly popular in mitigating the loss of the gut microbiota. However, no clear consensus recommending the use of probiotics in the infection of neonates currently exists. This study examined the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of infectious neonates when used concurrently with or during the recovery period following antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Fifty-five full-term neonates diagnosed with neonatal infections were divided into the following groups: NI (no intervention, antibiotic therapy only), PCA (probiotics used concurrently with antibiotics), and PAA (probiotics used after antibiotics). The NI group received antibiotic treatment (piperacillin-tazobactam) for 1 week and the PCA group received antibiotic treatment together with probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis) for 1 week. The PAA group received antibiotic treatment for 1 week followed by probiotics for 1 week. Fecal samples were collected at four time nodes: newborn, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 42 days after birth. The composition of the gut microbiota was determined by the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. RESULTS: Antibiotic exposure was found to dramatically alter gut microbiota, with a significant decrease of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The use of probiotics did not restore the overall diversity of the gut microbiota. However, using probiotics simultaneously with the antibiotics was found to be beneficial for the gut microbiota as compared to delaying the use of probiotics to follow treatment with antibiotics, particularly in promoting the abundance of Bifidobacterium. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the early use of probiotics may have a potential ability to remodel the gut microbiota during recovery from antibiotic treatment. However, further study is required to fully understand the long-term effects including the clinical benefits.

ISO-alpha-acids improve the hematoma resolution and prevent peri-hematoma inflammations by transforming microglia via PPARgamma-CD36 axis in ICH rats.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effects of ISO-α-acids (IAAs), a PPAR-γ agonist, on ICH rats and its potential mechanism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Sprague Dawley rats ICH model was induced by stereotactic injecting of 100 µl autologous artery blood. Ninety male rats were randomly allocated to five groups: autologous blood and IAAs (IAA); received autologous blood, IAAs and PPAR-γ inhibitor (IAA + GW9662); autologous blood and normal Saline (Saline); only autologous blood (Mock); and only needle injection (Sham). Neurological functions were assessed by mNSS. Hematoma volume, brain water content, surface proteins and inflammatory factors were detected. The microglia anti-inflammatory abilities were also evaluated. RESULTS: IAAs were able to significantly decrease ICH rat's mNSS scores, alleviate brain water content, improve hematoma resolution than Saline, Mock (p < 0.05). More "M2" microglial/macrophage can be induced by IAAs. The expression of CD 36 was statistically higher in IAA than other groups (p < 0.05). Injection of IAAs led to a greatly increasing in CD 11b and CD 206 double-positive anti-inflammatory type microglial/macrophage, moreover, a reduction of inflammatory cytokines expression (p < 0.05). Such protective effects can be relieved by GW9662. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to elucidate the relationship between IAAs and ICH. IAAs were able to accelerate hematoma absorption, alleviate brain edema, suppress peri-hematoma inflammations and finally improved the outcome of ICH rats. The phenotype was due to the IAAs induction of "M2" microglial/macrophage via activating of PPAR-γ and increasing CD 36 expression.

[Anti-hepatic fibrosis effects research on serum containing extracts of Periplaneta americana in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of serum containing extracts of Periplaneta americana. METHODS: The serum contained extracts of Periplaneta americana was prepared with serologic pharmacological method. MTT method was used to observe the effect of serum containing extracts from periplaneta americana on hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and Elisa method was used to detect the contents of TGF-beta1 and collagen I in supernatant. RESULTS: Serum containing extracts I and II (15%) of Periplaneta americana had inhibitory effect on HCS (P < 0.05) after HSC were cultured with serum containing extracts of different concentration of Periolaneta americana for 24, 48 and 72 h. At 24 and 48 h, serum containing extracts I and II of Periplaneta americana decreased the content of collagen I in supernatant without significant difference (P < 0.05). Serum containing extracts I (15%, 9%, 5.4%) of Periplaneta americana could reduce generation of TGF-beta1 in supernatant for 24 h (P < 0.05). As for 48 h, only high concentration serum containing extracts I (15%) deceased the content of TGF-beta1 in supernatant. For 24 and 48 h,serum containing extracts II couldn't reduce the content of TGF-beta1 in supernatant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It has definite effect on anti-hepatic fibrosis with serum containing extracts of Periplaneta americana in vitro. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting HSC propagation and reducing the production of TGF-beta1.