Dietary Resistant Potato Starch Alters Intestinal Microbial Communities and Their Metabolites, and Markers of Immune Regulation and Barrier Function in Swine.

Interactions between diet, the microbiota, and the host set the ecological conditions in the gut and have broad implications for health. Prebiotics are dietary compounds that may shift conditions toward health by promoting the growth of beneficial microbes that produce metabolites capable of modulating host cells. This study's objective was to assess how a dietary prebiotic could impact host tissues via modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Pigs fed a diet amended with 5% resistant potato starch (RPS) exhibited alterations associated with gut health relative to swine fed an unamended control diet (CON). RPS intake increased abundances of anaerobic Clostridia in feces and several tissues, as well as intestinal concentrations of butyrate. Functional gene amplicons suggested bacteria similar to Anaerostipes hadrus were stimulated by RPS intake. The CON treatment exhibited increased abundances of several genera of Proteobacteria (which utilize respiratory metabolisms) in several intestinal locations. RPS intake increased the abundance of regulatory T cells in the cecum, but not periphery, and cecal immune status alterations were indicative of enhanced mucosal defenses. A network analysis of host and microbial changes in the cecum revealed that regulatory T cells positively correlated with butyrate concentration, luminal IgA concentration, expression of IL-6 and DEF1B, and several mucosa-associated bacterial taxa. Thus, the administration of RPS modulated the microbiota and host immune status, altering markers of cecal barrier function and immunological tolerance, and suggesting a reduced niche for bacterial respiration.

A Sutureless Vascular Closure Device for Emergent Bovine Xenograft Implantation.

A novel vascular staple (C-staple) was developed that does not enter the vasculature lumen during anastomoses. The objective of this study was to demonstrate C-staple safety when used with a bovine xenograft and compare efficacy of the C-staple procedure with Anastoclip surgical clips or suturing when used with a bovine xenograft. Eight sheep had an acute comparison between suturing and C-staples using both common carotid arteries. Sixteen sheep had xenograft placement in the left carotid artery, eight with C-staples and eight with Anastoclips in a chronic study. Over 6 months, Doppler ultrasound interrogation of the common carotid arteries was performed. After 6 months, arteries were evaluated histopathologically. Cross-clamp and surgical times were longer in the C-staple group than the suture group, and xenograft implantation times were statistically longer with C-staples than with Anastoclips. After 6 months, C-staple biocompatibility was similar to Anastoclips. Patency and hemodynamics of the bovine xenograft were not statistically different between the two groups. C-staples performed as well as the Anastoclips except for implant times, likely due to delivery system differences. Histological findings and clinical outcomes were no different with the two devices. Further refinements of the C-staple delivery system are necessary before proceeding to clinical trials.