The gut microbiota in adults with chronic intestinal failure.

OBJECTIVE: Fecal microbiota was investigated in adult patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) due to short bowel syndrome (SBS) with jejunocolonic anastomosis (SBS-2). Few or no data are available on SBS with jejunostomy (SBS-1) and CIF due to intestinal dysmotility (DYS) or mucosal disease (MD). We profiled the fecal microbiota of various pathophysiological mechanisms of CIF. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on 61 adults with CIF (SBS-1 30, SBS-2 17, DYS 8, MD 6). Fecal samples were collected and profiled by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Healthy controls (HC) were selected from pre-existing cohorts, matched with patients by sex and age. RESULTS: Compared to HC, SBS-1, SBS-2 and MD patients showed lower alpha diversity; no difference was found for DYS. In beta diversity analysis, SBS-1, SBS-2 and DYS groups segregated from HC and from each other. Taxonomically, the CIF groups differed from HC even at the phylum level. In particular, CIF patients' microbiota was dominated by Lactobacillaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, while depleted in typical health-associated taxa belonging to Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. Notably, compositional peculiarities of the CIF groups emerged. Furthermore, in the SBS groups, the microbiota profile differed according to the amount of parenteral nutrition required and the duration of CIF. CONCLUSIONS: CIF patients showed marked intestinal dysbiosis with microbial signatures specific to the pathophysiological mechanism of CIF as well as to the severity and duration of SBS.

Fecal microbiota transplantation in a rodent model of short bowel syndrome: A therapeutic approach?

Extensive intestinal resection leads to Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS), the main cause of chronic intestinal failure. Colon preservation is crucial for spontaneous adaptation, to improve absorption and reduce parenteral nutrition dependence. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a promising approach in pathologies with dysbiosis as the one observed in SBS patients, was assessed in SBS rats with jejuno-colonic anastomosis. The evolution of weight and food intake, the lenght of intestinal villi and crypts and the composition of fecal microbiota of Sham and SBS rats, transplanted or not with high fat diet rat microbiota, were analyzed. All SBS rats lost weight, increased their food intake and exhibited jejunal and colonic hyperplasia. Microbiota composition of SBS rats, transplanted or not, was largely enriched with Lactobacillaceae, and α- and ß-diversity were significantly different from Sham. The FMT altered microbiota composition and α- and ß-diversity in Sham but not SBS rats. FMT from high fat diet rats was successfully engrafted in Sham, but failed to take hold in SBS rats, probably because of the specific luminal environment in colon of SBS subjects favoring aero-tolerant over anaerobic bacteria. Finally, the level of food intake in SBS rats was positively correlated with their Lactobacillaceae abundance. Microbiota transfer must be optimized and adapted to this specific SBS environment.

Bacterial overgrowth assessment and treatment among pediatric intestinal rehabilitation and nutrition support providers: An international survey of clinical practice patterns.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) is a common, but difficult to diagnose and treat, problem in pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS). Lack of clinical consensus criteria and unknown sensitivity and specificity of bedside diagnosis makes research on this potential SBS disease modifier challenging. The objective of this research was to describe clinical care of SBBO among international intestinal rehabilitation and nutrition support (IR&NS) providers treating patients with SBS. METHODS: A secure, confidential, international, electronic survey of IR&NS practitioners was conducted between March 2021 and May 2021. All analyses were conducted in the R statistical computing framework, version 4.0. RESULTS: Sixty percent of respondents agreed and 0% strongly disagreed that abdominal pain, distension, emesis, diarrhea, and malodorous stool, were attributable to SBBO. No more than 20% of respondents strongly agreed and no more than 40% agreed that any sign or symptom was specific for SBBO. For a first-time diagnosis, 31 practitioners agreed with use of a 7-day course of a single antibiotic, with a majority citing grade 5 evidence to inform their decisions (case series, uncontrolled studies, or expert opinion). The most common first antibiotic used to treat a new onset SBBO was metronidazole, and rifaximin was the second most commonly used. One hundred percent of respondents reported they would consider a consensus algorithm for SBBO, even if the algorithm may be divergent from their current practice. CONCLUSION: SBBO practice varies widely among experienced IR&NS providers. Development of a clinical consensus algorithm may help standardize care to improve research and care of this complex problem and to identify risks and benefits of chronic antibiotic use in SBS.

Antibiotic-driven intestinal dysbiosis in pediatric short bowel syndrome is associated with persistently altered microbiome functions and gut-derived bloodstream infections.

Surgical removal of the intestine, lifesaving in catastrophic gastrointestinal disorders of infancy, can result in a form of intestinal failure known as short bowel syndrome (SBS). Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major challenge in pediatric SBS management. BSIs require frequent antibiotic therapy, with ill-defined consequences for the gut microbiome and childhood health. Here, we combine serial stool collection, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, multivariate statistics and genome-resolved strain-tracking in a cohort of 19 patients with surgically-induced SBS to show that antibiotic-driven intestinal dysbiosis in SBS enriches for persistent intestinal colonization with BSI causative pathogens in SBS. Comparing the gut microbiome composition of SBS patients over the first 4 years of life to 19 age-matched term and 18 preterm controls, we find that SBS gut microbiota diversity and composition was persistently altered compared to controls. Commensals including Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Clostridium species were depleted in SBS, while pathobionts (Enterococcus) were enriched. Integrating clinical covariates with gut microbiome composition in pediatric SBS, we identified dietary and antibiotic exposures as the main drivers of these alterations. Moreover, antibiotic resistance genes, specifically broad-spectrum efflux pumps, were at a higher abundance in SBS, while putatively beneficial microbiota functions, including amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis, were depleted. Moreover, using strain-tracking we found that the SBS gut microbiome harbors BSI causing pathogens, which can persist intestinally throughout the first years of life. The association between antibiotic-driven gut dysbiosis and enrichment of intestinal pathobionts isolated from BSI suggests that antibiotic treatment may predispose SBS patients to infection. Persistence of pathobionts and depletion of beneficial microbiota and functionalities in SBS highlights the need for microbiota-targeted interventions to prevent infection and facilitate intestinal adaptation.

Therapeutic potential of an intestinotrophic hormone, glucagon-like peptide 2, for treatment of type 2 short bowel syndrome rats with intestinal bacterial and fungal dysbiosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that type 2 short bowel syndrome (SBS) rats were accompanied by severe intestinal bacterial dysbiosis. Limited data are available for intestinal fungal dysbiosis. Moreover, no effective therapeutic drugs are available for these microbiota dysbiosis. The aims of our study were to investigate the therapeutic potential of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) for these microbiota dysbiosis in type 2 SBS rats. METHODS: 8-week-old male SD rats which underwent 80% small bowel resection, ileocecum resection, partial colon resection and jejunocolostomy, were treated with saline (SBS group, n = 5) or GLP-2 (GLP2.SBS group, n = 5). The Sham group rats which underwent transection and re-anastomosis were given a saline placebo (Sham group, n = 5). 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing were applied to evaluate the colonic bacterial and fungal composition at 22 days after surgery, respectively. RESULTS: The relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and proinflammatory Proteobacteria increased significantly in SBS group rats, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia and Tenericutes decreased remarkably. GLP-2 treatment significantly decreased Proteus and increased Clostridium relative to the saline treated SBS rats. The diversity of intestinal fungi was significantly increased in SBS rats, accompanied with some fungi abnormally increased and some resident fungi (e.g., Penicillium) significantly decreased. GLP-2 treatment significantly decreased Debaryomyces and Meyerozyma, and increased Penicillium. Moreover, GLP-2 partially restored the bacteria-fungi interkingdom interaction network of SBS rats. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the bacterial and fungal dysbiosis in type 2 SBS rats, and GLP-2 partially ameliorated these microbiota dysbiosis.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics alter the microbiome, increase intestinal fxr, and decrease hepatic steatosis in zebrafish short bowel syndrome.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is associated with changes in the intestinal microbiome and marked local and systemic inflammation. There is also a late complication of SBS, intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) in which hepatic steatosis progresses to cirrhosis. Most patients with SBS arrive at massive intestinal resection after a contaminating intraabdominal catastrophe and have a history of exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics. We therefore investigated whether the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics in conjunction with SBS in zebrafish (ZF) would replicate these systemic effects observed in humans to identify potentially druggable targets to aid in the management of SBS and resulting IFALD. In zebrafish with SBS, broad-spectrum antibiotics altered the microbiome, decreased inflammation, and reduced the development of hepatic steatosis. After two weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotics, these fish exhibited decreased alpha diversity, with less variation in microbial community composition between SBS and sham fish. Additionally, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics was associated with decreased expression of intestinal toll-like receptor 4 (tlr4), increased expression of the intestinal gene encoding the Farnesoid X receptor (fxr), decreased expression of downstream hepatic cyp7a1, and decreased development of hepatic steatosis. SBS in zebrafish reproducibly results in increased epithelial surface area as occurs in human patients who demonstrate intestinal adaptation, but antibiotic administration in zebrafish with SBS reduced these gains with increased cell death in the intervillus pocket that contains stem/progenitor cells. These alternate states in SBS zebrafish might direct the development of future human therapies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a zebrafish model that replicates a common clinical scenario, systemic effects of the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics in a zebrafish model of SBS identified two alternate states that led to the establishment of fat accumulation in the liver or its absence. Broad-spectrum antibiotics given to zebrafish with SBS over 2 wk altered the intestinal microbiome, decreased intestinal and hepatic inflammation, and decreased hepatic steatosis.

The Impact of Lactobacillus Probiotics on the Gut Microbiota in Children With Short Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) frequently struggle with malabsorption and poor growth. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in gut function, and children with SBS have known deficiencies in some commensal gut microbes. One strategy to enhance the gut microbiota is by taking probiotics. However, the efficacy of this approach is not well established. We hypothesized that probiotic supplementation would result in increased levels of the supplemented bacteria and improved growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with SBS who had weaned from parenteral nutrition but with suboptimal growth were randomized to receive probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus johnsonii) or placebo daily for 2 mo. The gut microbiota from monthly stool samples were compared between groups using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Growth between groups was also compared. Statistical analysis was completed using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests as appropriate. RESULTS: Eighteen children with SBS completed the study (n = 9 per group). There were no significant changes to the major bacterial families in either group. Median relative abundance of Lactobacillus did not differ between groups at baseline or at the end of the study (7.67 versus 13.23, P = 0.523 and 1.93 versus 15.8, P = 0.161). Median z scores for weight and length did not differ between groups at the beginning or end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of daily probiotic use in children with intestinal failure is unknown. In this study, Lactobacillus probiotics did not result in a predictable change to the fecal microbiota or overall growth compared with placebo in these patients.

A comparison of small bowel and fecal microbiota in children with short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Babies with short bowel syndrome (SBS) have small intestinal microbial disturbances that impact gut function. Characterizing the small bowel microbiota is challenging, and the utility of sampling stool is unclear. This study compares the microbiota from fecal samples and the small bowel. METHODS: Stool samples were collected (2016-2017) from infants with SBS and colon in continuity (COLON) or SBS with small bowel ostomy (sbSTOMA). The abundance and quantity of major bacterial genera was compared between groups and to healthy controls using 16S rRNA sequencing and qPCR. Kruskall-Wallis test was used for analysis with P values <0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Samples (n = 41) were collected from 15 SBS infants (<2 years) (9 sbSTOMA, 6 COLON) and 3 healthy infants. Demographics and small intestinal length did not differ between sbSTOMA and COLON infants. The microbiota of SBS groups differed significantly from healthy controls. Fecal samples contained higher quantities of bacteria, but there were no significant differences between sbSTOMA and COLON groups in the abundance of facultative or obligate anaerobes, anti-inflammatory Clostridia, Enterobacteriaceae, or Bifidobacterium. CONCLUSION: Infants with SBS have disturbances to their intestinal microbiota. Sampling small intestinal effluent is challenging. Stool samples may provide a window into the more proximal microbial community. TYPE OF STUDY: Diagnostic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Microbial alteration of small bowel stoma effluents and colonic feces in infants with short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Studies about differences in microbial communities between the small intestine and colon in infants with short bowel syndrome (SBS) are rare. We aimed to characterize the bacterial diversity of small bowel stoma effluents and feces of SBS infants. METHODS: Seven SBS infants were enrolled in this study and provided two samples (one from the stoma and the other from the anus) each. Eleven age-matched healthy controls were recruited to provide one fecal sample each. 16S rRNA gene MiSeq sequencing was conducted to characterize the microbiota diversity and composition. RESULTS: The bacterial diversity of the stoma effluents was significantly higher than that in the feces of SBS infants. Proteobacteria dominated in both the stoma effluents and colonic. Acinetobacter (P = 0.004), Klebsiella (P = 0.015), Citrobacter (P = 0.019), and Lactobacillus (P = 0.030) were more abundant in stoma effluents compared to feces of SBS patients, while Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium and Veillonella were less abundant in stoma effluents. Significantly higher levels of Proteobacteria, Enterococcus and lower levels of Blautia, Collinsella, Faecalibacterium, Veillonella were present in the fecal samples of SBS patients than those in the healthy controls. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to metabolism and membrane function were depleted in SBS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant intestinal bacterial groups were different in SBS children before and after the fistula closure. Fecal samples of SBS patients featured overabundant Proteobacteria and less SCFA producing bacteria. Depleted functional profiles of the microbiome were found in fecal samples of SBS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Microbiome and Metabolome Profiles Associated With Different Types of Short Bowel Syndrome: Implications for Treatment.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome and metabolome may significantly influence clinical outcomes in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). The study aimed to describe specific metagenomic/metabolomics profiles of different SBS types and to identify possible therapeutic targets. METHODS: Fecal microbiome (FM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bile acid (BA) spectrum were analyzed in parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent SBS I, SBS II, and PN-independent (non-PN) SBS patients. RESULTS: FM in SBS I, SBS II, and non-PN SBS shared characteristic features (depletion of beneficial anaerobes, high abundance of Lactobacilaceae and Enterobacteriaceae). SBS I patients were characterized by the abundance of oxygen-tolerant microrganisms and depletion of strict anaerobes. Non-PN SBS subjects showed markers of partial FM normalization. FM dysbiosis was translated into VOC and BA profiles characteristic for each SBS cohort. A typical signature of all SBS patients comprised high saturated aldehydes and medium-chain fatty acids and reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content. Particularly, SBS I and II exhibited low protein metabolism intermediate (indole, p-cresol) content despite the hypothetical presence of relevant metabolism pathways. Distinctive non-PN SBS marker was high phenol content. SBS patients' BA fecal spectrum was enriched by chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acids and depleted of lithocholic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental conditions in SBS gut significantly affect FM composition and metabolic activity. The common feature of diverse SBS subjects is the altered VOC/BA profile and the lack of important products of microbial metabolism. Strategies oriented on the microbiome/metabolome reconstitution and targeted delivery of key compounds may represent a promising therapeutic strategy in SBS patients.

Severe Intestinal Dysbiosis in Rat Models of Short Bowel Syndrome with Ileocecal Resection.

BACKGROUND: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) resulting from extensive intestinal resection is thought to significantly affect gut microbiota. Data are limited on the signatures of the intestinal microbiome in SBS with different anatomical types. AIMS: The aim of our investigation was to characterize the composition and function of gut microbiota in SBS with or without ileocecal resection (ICR). METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 75% small bowel resection (SBR) with the ileocecal junction intact (SBR group, jejunoileal anastomosis, n = 10) or removed (ICR group, jejunocolic anastomosis, n = 10), or sham surgery (sham group, n = 10). Colonic contents of the rats were collected 28 days after operation, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on the MiSeq Illumina platform to analyze bacterial composition. RESULTS: Overall structures of the gut microbiome differed significantly among the three groups. The bacterial α-diversity of the ICR group was remarkably lower than that of the sham group. ICR rats were enriched with Lactobacillus and opportunistic pathogens from Proteobacteria but depleted of commensal genera belonging to the Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae families. Genera from the Bacteroidales S24-7 group, Porphyromonadaceae, Prevotellaceae, Rikenellaceae and Christensenellaceae were prevalent in SBR rats. Functional pathways of branched-chain and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and infectious diseases were abundant in the ICR group, while SBR rats featured pathways of C5 branched dibasic acid metabolism, biotin metabolism and one carbon pool folate. CONCLUSIONS: ICR causes dramatically more severe intestinal dysbiosis than SBR only in SBS rat models, resulting in altered functional profiles of the gut microbiome.

The Structure and Function of the Human Small Intestinal Microbiota: Current Understanding and Future Directions.

Despite growing literature characterizing the fecal microbiome and its association with health and disease, few studies have analyzed the microbiome of the small intestine. Here, we examine what is known about the human small intestinal microbiota in terms of community structure and functional properties. We examine temporal dynamics of select bacterial populations in the small intestine, and the effects of dietary carbohydrates and fats on shaping these populations. We then evaluate dysbiosis in the small intestine in several human disease models, including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short-bowel syndrome, pouchitis, environmental enteric dysfunction, and irritable bowel syndrome. What is clear is that the bacterial biology, and mechanisms of bacteria-induced pathophysiology, are enormously broad and elegant in the small intestine. Studying the small intestinal microbiota is challenged by rapidly fluctuating environmental conditions in these intestinal segments, as well as the complexity of sample collection and bioinformatic analysis. Because the functionality of the digestive tract is determined primarily by the small intestine, efforts must be made to better characterize this unique and important microbial ecosystem.

The bacterial communities of the small intestine and stool in children with short bowel syndrome.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) presents an increasing problem in pediatrics. SBS often results from surgical resection of necrotic bowel following necrotizing enterocolitis or treatment of anatomic gastrointestinal defects. SBS is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and creates substantial burdens for patients, families, and the health system. Recent reports have demonstrated that the fecal microbiome of children with SBS is significantly different from healthy control and severe intestinal microbial imbalances is associated with poor growth. We hypothesized that children with SBS and adverse clinical features such as PN dependent, shorter bowel length and lack of ileocecal valve would demonstrate more gut dysbiosis compare with the SBS non-PN dependent. An improved understanding of SBS pathogenesis would enhance management and potentially suggest new interventions. We studied microbial communities of SBS and control non-SBS patients from the jejunum, obtained endoscopically or by ostomy aspiration, and stool. We enrolled SBS patients who did and did not require parenteral nutrition (PN), as a surrogate marker for the seriousness of their disease. We studied the microbiota using high-throughput DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and statistical analyses. We found that microbial diversity was significantly greater in jejunal aspirate than in stool samples in SBS patients, unlike non-SBS patients; that SBS patients receiving enteral feeds had greater diversity, and that SBS patients on PN and enteral feeds had lower differences in diversity in jejunal vs. stool samples. We found a trend toward increased diversity in patients with an intact ileocecal valve, and found that certain taxa were more abundant in the certain sample types, and in SBS patients vs. non-SBS patients. SBS patients have lower microbial diversity, especially patients with more severe disease, patients requiring PN, and those lacking an ileocecal valve. SBS patients, particularly those with more complex characteristics, exhibit differences in their intestinal microbiota. Particular individual taxa were over- and under-represented in patients with more unfavorable disease. While diminished diversity and alterations in microbiota composition are likely consequences of SBS, future efforts aimed at increasing microbial diversity and interventions targeting specific microbiota characteristics might constitute a testable approach to ameliorate some clinical SBS clinical consequences.

Intestinal microbiota in short bowel syndrome.

Children with short bowel syndrome have significant changes to their intestinal microbiota after intestinal loss. The purpose of this article is to understand the potential implications of these changes on gut function, hepatic cholestasis and overall nutrition. Possible therapies to restore the commensal bacterial community in these patients will also be reviewed.

Intestinal Microbial and Metabolic Alterations Following Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplant for D-Lactic Acidosis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) involves the transfer of stool from a healthy individual into the intestinal tract of a diseased recipient. Although used primarily for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, FMT is increasingly being attempted as an experimental therapy for other illnesses, including metabolic disorders. D-lactic acidosis (D-LA) is a metabolic disorder that may occur in individuals with short bowel syndrome when lactate-producing bacteria in the colon overproduce D-lactate. This results in elevated systemic levels of D-lactate, metabolic acidosis, and encephalopathy. In this study, we report the successful use of FMT for the treatment of recurrent D-LA in a child who was unresponsive to conventional therapies. Importantly, we also present profiles of the enteric microbiota, as well as fecal D-/L-lactic acid metabolites, before and longitudinally after FMT. These data provide valuable insight into the putative mechanisms of D-LA pathogenesis and its treatment.

Gut Microbiota Regulation of Tryptophan Metabolism in Health and Disease.

The gut microbiota is a crucial actor in human physiology. Many of these effects are mediated by metabolites that are either produced by the microbes or derived from the transformation of environmental or host molecules. Among the array of metabolites at the interface between these microorganisms and the host is the essential aromatic amino acid tryptophan (Trp). In the gut, the three major Trp metabolism pathways leading to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), kynurenine (Kyn), and indole derivatives are under the direct or indirect control of the microbiota. In this review, we gather the most recent advances concerning the central role of Trp metabolism in microbiota-host crosstalk in health and disease. Deciphering the complex equilibrium between these pathways will facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis of human diseases and open therapeutic opportunities.

What's new in short bowel syndrome?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare disease but with many complications due to intestinal failure, parenteral nutrition and underlying disease. A better prevention, comprehension and treatment could improve the outcome of these patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have been published on acute intestinal failure, first cause of SBS, and gives us strategy to avoid extended intestinal resection and thus SBS. There has been progress in the comprehension of intestinal adaptation, characterized by improvements in intestinal absorption, changes on hormonal secretion, development of a hyperphagia and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Hormonal treatment focusing on intestinal rehabilitation by promoting intestinal hyperadaptation has been proposed in patients with SBS, who require parenteral nutrition and intravenous fluids, such as glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analog which is now recommended by the latest European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Guidelines. SUMMARY: Multimodal treatment of acute meseteric ischemia may avoid intestinal resection and is an effective prevention strategy for SBS. New understandings in intestinal adaptation can help us to optimize this adaptation, including with hormonal therapy. GLP-2 analog is now the treatment of reference in SBS patients with chronic intestinal failure.

Is Serum Methylmalonic Acid a Reliable Biomarker of Vitamin B12 Status in Children with Short Bowel Syndrome: A Case Series.

We describe 3 patients with short bowel syndrome who had persistently elevated serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels while being treated for vitamin B12 deficiency. Following treatment for presumed small bowel bacterial overgrowth, MMA levels normalized. Among patients with short bowel syndrome, MMA levels may have limited specificity for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Alterations in intestinal microbiota relate to intestinal failure-associated liver disease and central line infections.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in modulating the metabolic and immune functions of the intestines. We aimed to analyze the dysbiosis of microbiota in infants with short bowel syndrome (SBS) with different complications. PROCEDURE: We included 26 fecal samples from 18 infants with SBS during parenteral nutrition. The samples were categorized into three groups: asymptomatic, parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD), and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Seven healthy infants were enrolled as controls. Fecal microbiota, secretory IgA, calprotectin, bile acids, and short chain fatty acids were detected. RESULTS: The bacterial diversity of the Asymptomatic and Control Groups was significantly higher than that in the PNALD and CLABSI Groups. Proteobacteria was the most pronounced phylum in the PNALD and CLABSI Groups. Decreased acetate was observed in all SBS samples; however, fecal secretory IgA and calprotectin and the proportion of primary and secondary bile acids did not differ from those in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Marked alterations of the intestinal microbiota with decreased level of acetate were shown in SBS patients compared with healthy controls. Over-abundance of Proteobacteria (especially Enterobacteriaceae) was found in the samples from the PNALD and CLABSI Groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis Study, Level I.