Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum (TCI227) Prevented Potassium-Oxonate-Induced Hyperuricemia in Rats.

Hyperuricemia (HC) is one of the important risk factors for gout, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Animal studies have shown that Lactobacillus plantarum can improve microbiota and immune regulation, as well as inhibit uric acid production. However, it is not clear whether L. plantarum can improve HC and intestinal microbiota. We used potassium oxonate (PO) to induce HC in male SD rats and then treated them with L. plantarum TCI227 in a dose-dependent manner (HC + LD, HC + MD, HC + HD) for 4 weeks. We examined organ weight, conducted biochemical examinations of blood and urine, and analyzed the intestinal microbiota in feces through a 16s rDNA sequence analysis. In this study, TCI227 improved body weight, decreased creatinine and serum uric acid, and increased urine uric acid compared to the HC group. Furthermore, TCI227 increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In the fecal microbiota (family), TCI227 increased the level of Lactobacillaceae and then decreased the levels of Deferribacteres and Prevotellaceae compared to the HC group. Finally, in the fecal microbiota (genus), TCI227 decreased the level of Prevotella and then increased the levels of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus compared to the HC group. This study suggested that TCI227 can improve HC and can change the composition of intestinal microbiota in PO-induced male HC SD rats.

A mesoporous biomaterial for biomimetic crystallization in dentinal tubules without impairing the bonding of a self-etch resin to dentin.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: CaCO3@mesoporous silica reacted with phosphoric acid (denoted as CCMS-HP) enables the growth of calcium phosphate crystals in dentinal tubules. This study tested whether CCMS-HP could be used to form a biomimetic barrier on the exposed dentin for prevention of dentin sensitivity without impairing the bonding of Single Bond Universal (SBU) self-etch adhesive to the dentin. METHODS: Twenty-four dentin disks were prepared and divided into three groups: (1) SBU group (n = 8), in which SBU self-etch adhesive was bonded to the dentin disk directly; (2) CCMS-HP group (n = 8), in which CCMS-HP was applied onto the dentin surface; and (3) CCMS-HP/SBU group (n = 8), in which the dentin surface was first treated with CCMS-HP and then boned by SBU. The permeation depth of crystals into the dentinal tubules was examined and measured with a scanning electron microscope. The shear bonding strength of SBU and CCMS-HP/SBU to dentin was also measured. RESULTS: The mean crystal permeation depth was 35.8 ± 6.9 µm for the CCMS-HP/SBU group and 33.6 ± 12.2 µm for the CCMS-HP group; no significant difference was found between the two groups. Moreover, the mean shear bonding strength was 22.7 ± 6.7 MPa for the CCMS-HP/SBU group and 23.3 ± 7.0 MPa for the SBU group. There was also no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: CCMS-HP can be used to form a biomimetic barrier for prevention of dentin sensitivity because it neither impedes the bonding of SBU to dentin nor impairs the shear bonding strength between the SBU and dentin.