Gut microbiota dynamics and fecal SCFAs after colonoscopy: accelerating microbiome stabilization by Clostridium butyricum.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is a classic diagnostic method with possible complications including abdominal pain and diarrhoea. In this study, gut microbiota dynamics and related metabolic products during and after colonoscopy were explored to accelerate gut microbiome balance through probiotics. METHODS: The gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed in four healthy subjects before and after colonoscopy, along with seven individuals supplemented with Clostridium butyricum. We employed 16S rRNA sequencing and GC-MS to investigate these changes. We also conducted bioinformatic analysis to explore the buk gene, encoding butyrate kinase, across C. butyricum strains from the human gut. RESULTS: The gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of four healthy subjects were recovered on the 7th day after colonoscopy. We found that Clostridium and other bacteria might have efficient butyric acid production through bioinformatic analysis of the buk and assessment of the transcriptional level of the buk. Supplementation of seven healthy subjects with Clostridium butyricum after colonoscopy resulted in a quicker recovery and stabilization of gut microbiota and fecal SCFAs on the third day. CONCLUSION: We suggest that supplementation of Clostridium butyricum after colonoscopy should be considered in future routine clinical practice.

The Effects of Er Xian Decoction Combined with Baduanjin Exercise on Bone Mineral Density, Lower Limb Balance Function, and Mental Health in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a common disease in older women that can severely jeopardize their health. Previous studies have demonstrated the effect of Er xian decoction (EXD) or Baduanjin exercise (BE) on PMOP. However, reports on the effect of EXD combined with BE on PMOP are limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of EXD combined with BE on bone mineral density (BMD), lower limb balance, and mental health in women with PMOP. Methods: A 1 : 1 : 1 simple randomization technique was employed. Fifty participants with postmenopausal osteoporosis were allocated to three groups: the EXD group (EXD = 15); the BE group (BE = 18); and the combined group (EXD + BE = 17). After both 8 weeks and 16 weeks of intervention treatment, participants improved significantly with respect to BMD and the one-leg standing test (OLST), Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG) test, self-anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS). The results were used to compare the effect of the intervention on BMD, lower limb balance function, and mental health in patients with PMOP. Results: Compared to the EXD and BE groups, the EXD + BE group showed the strongest effects on BMD, lower limb balance function, and mental health (p < 0.01). A correlation between BMD and lower limb balance and mental health was noted in the EXD + BE group. The change in mental health (SAS score) was correlated with BMD (femoral neck) improvement. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that EXD combined with BE (EXD + BE) may have a therapeutic advantage over both monotherapies for treating BMD, lower limb balance function, and mental health in patients with PMOP. The feasibility of the approach for a large-scale RCT was also confirmed. Er xian decoction combined with Baduanjin exercise (EXD + BE) might offer a viable treatment alternative for participants with postmenopausal osteoporosis given its promising effects in disease control and treatment, with good efficacy and safety profiles.

Hypnotic susceptibility and affective states in bipolar I and II disorders.

BACKGROUND: Highly hypnotizable individuals have impaired executive function, elevated motor impulsivity and increased emotional sensitivity, which are sometimes found in bipolar disorder patients. It is then reasonable to assume that certain aspects of hypnotic susceptibility differ with the types of bipolar disorder. METHODS: The Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C (SHSS:C) test, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the Hypomanic Checklist-32 (HCL-32) and the Plutchick-van Praag Depression Inventory (PVP) were applied to 62 patients with bipolar I disorder, 33 bipolar II disorder, and 120 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The passing rate of the SHSS:C 'Moving hands apart' item was higher in bipolar I patients than in controls, whereas for 'Mosquito hallucination' the rate was lower. Bipolar I and II patients scored significantly higher on MDQ, HCL-32 and PVP scales than controls. The passing rates of 'Mosquito hallucination' in controls, 'Arm rigidity' in bipolar I, and 'Age regression' in bipolar II predicted the respective MDQ scores. CONCLUSION: In contrast to cognitive suggestions, bipolar I patients followed motor suggestions more often under hypnosis. Furthermore, both bipolar disorder patients and healthy volunteers demonstrated associations between mania levels and certain hypnotic susceptibility features. Our study aids in better understanding the altered conscious states in bipolar disorders, and encourages the use of related psychotherapy for these patients.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Expression of NR 2 B Subunit of NMDA Receptor in Amygdala during Morphine Withdrawal in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the spatial learning-memory ability and the expression of NR 2 B subunit of NMDA receptor in the amygdala (AMG) in rats with morphine withdrawal. METHODS: A total of 40. SD rats were randomized into control, model, manual acupuncture and EA groups (n = 10 in each group). The morphine withdrawal model was established by subcutaneous injection of morphine hydrochloride injection at doses of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 50 mg . kg-1 . d-1 continuously for 5 days, followed by injection of naloxone (i. p., 3 mg/kg) for rapid induction of withdrawal syndrome. Manual acupuncture or EA stimulation was applied to bilateral "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), once daily for 6 days. Morris water maze swimming test was conducted for detecting the rats' spatial learning-memory ability. The expression levels of NR 2 B protein and mRNA in AMG was measured by Western blot and Real time-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the escape latency on day 5 of swimming tests was obviously prolonged in the model group (P<0. 01), while in comparison with the model group, the escape latencies in both manual acupuncture and EA groups were obviously shortened (P<0. 01), suggesting an improvement of the rats' learning-memory ability. In addition, the expression levels of NR 2 B protein in both manual acupuncture and EA groups and that of NR 2 B mRNA in the EA group were significantly higher than those of the model group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: Both manual acupuncture and EA interventions can improve the learning-memory ability in morphine withdrawal rats, which is probably partially related to their effects in up-regulating the expression of NR 2 B in the AMG.