Dominant bacteria and influencing factors of early intestinal colonization in very low birth weight infants: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe intestine of newborns is colonized by bacteria immediately after birth. This study explored dominant bacteria and influencing factors of early intestinal colonization in the early life of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).MethodsWe enrolled 81 VLBWI and collected anal swabs at 24 h, 7th, 14th and 21st day after birth. We conducted bacterial culture for anal swabs, then selected the colony with obvious growth advantages in the plate for further culture and identification. Afterward, we analyzed the distribution and influencing factors of intestinal dominant microbiota combined with clinical data.ResultsA total of 300 specimens were collected, of which 62.67% (188/300) had obvious dominant bacteria, including 29.26% (55/188) Gram‐positive bacteria and 70.74% (133/188) Gram‐negative bacteria. The top five bacteria with the highest detection rates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis and Serratia marcescens. Meconium‐stained amniotic fluid and chorioamnionitis were correlated with intestinal bacterial colonization within 24 h of birth. Mechanical ventilation and antibiotics were independent risk factors affecting colonization. Nosocomial infection of K. pneumoniae and S. marcescens were associated with intestinal colonization. The colonization rates of K. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. faecium, and E. faecalis increased with the birth time.ConclusionsThe colonization rate in the early life of VLBWI increased over time and the predominant bacteria were Gram‐negative bacteria. Meconium‐stained amniotic fluid and chorioamnionitis affect intestinal colonization in early life. Mechanical ventilation and antibiotics were independent risk factors for intestinal bacterial colonization. The nosocomial infection of some bacteria was significantly related to intestinal colonization.     

Improving Lipophagy by Restoring Rab7 Cycle: Protective Effects of Quercetin on Ethanol-Induced Liver Steatosis

Chronic alcohol consumption retards lipophagy, which contributes to the pathogenesis of liver steatosis. Lipophagy-related Rab7 has been presumed as a crucial regulator in the progression of alcohol liver disease despite elusive mechanisms. More importantly, whether or not hepatoprotective quercetin targets Rab7-associated lipophagy disorder is unknown. Herein, alcoholic fatty liver induced by chronic-plus-single-binge ethanol feeding to male C57BL/6J mice was manifested by hampering autophagosomes formation with lipid droplets and fusion with lysosomes compared with the normal control, which was normalized partially by quercetin. The GST-RILP pulldown assay of Rab7 indicated an improved GTP-Rab7 as the quercetin treatment for ethanol-feeding mice. HepG2 cells transfected with CYP2E1 showed similar lipophagy dysfunction when exposed to ethanol, which was blocked when cells were transfected with siRNA-Rab7 in advance. Ethanol-induced steatosis and autophagic flux disruption were aggravated by the Rab7-specific inhibitor CID1067700 while alleviated by transfecting with the Rab7^Wt plasmid, which was visualized by immunofluorescence co-localization analysis and mCherry-GFP-LC3 transfection. Furthermore, TBC1D5, a Rab GTPase-activating protein for the subsequent normal circulation of Rab7, was downregulated after alcohol administration but regained by quercetin. Rab7 circulation retarded by ethanol and corrected by quercetin was further revealed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Altogether, quercetin attenuates hepatic steatosis by normalizing ethanol-imposed Rab7 turnover disorders and subsequent lipophagy disturbances, highlighting a novel mechanism and the promising prospect of quercetin-like phytochemicals against the crucial first hit from alcohol.     

Assessment of periodontal disease in an adult population survey in Taipei city using CPITN and GPM/T indices

The community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) has been recommended for epidemiological surveys of periodontal status and treatment needs. The prevalence of gingivitis, periodontitis and missing teeth in a study population has been determined using the CPITN and GPM/T (gingivitis: periodontitis: missing teeth) indices. In this study, a survey of periodontal disease was performed among the adult population of Taipei City using the CPITN index. A total of 673 dentated persons (male 339, 50.4%; female 334, 49.6%) were examined and surveyed. Data were then divided into five age groups, 15-19, 20-29, 30-44, 45-64 and 64+. The prevalence of periodontal disease was analyzed using the percentage or sextant from all teeth. Treatment needs were determined by the worst periodontal score per sextant. It was found that about 91% of subjects suffered from various degrees of periodontal disease in at least one tooth. Gingivitis and periodontitis were 86.9% and 33%, respectively. Among them 48.9% had missing teeth. The prevalence of periodontitis and missing teeth increased with age. Most of them involved oral hygiene instruction and scaling. About 11.0% of the subjects needed periodontal surgery. Higher proportions of attachment loss with gingival recession caused by destructive periodontal disease were found in older persons who did not require periodontal surgery. It was concluded that endemic gingivitis and calculus, a moderate prevalence of shallow pockets and a low prevalence of deep pockets were observed among adults in this group in Taipei City and that the CPITN is a practical epidemiological and public health method for screening the periodontal status and treatment needs of a population.