Effects of bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide on memory processing

We have previously shown that feeding mice immediately following training enhances memory retention and that one of the gastrointestinal hormones released during a meal, cholecystokinin, also enhances retention after peripheral administration. In the studies reported here we demonstrate that another gastrointestinal peptide, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), enhances retention after peripheral administration, as does its amphibian counterpart, bombesin. GRP_14–27 had the same effect as the intact peptide, while GRP_1–16 was ineffective at enhancing retention. The dose-response curves showed a characteristic inverted U-shape with high doses of both GRP and bombesin being amnestic. The effect of both peptides was time-dependent and both reversed amnesia induced by the anticholinergic, scopolamine. I.c.v. administration of the peptides required higher doses to produce an effect on memory retention. suggesting that the effect was mediated predominantly through a peripheral mechanism. Doses of the peptides that enhanced memory retention after peripheral administration failed to increase serum glucose, suggesting that glucose modulation was not the mechanism by which GRP and bombesin modulate memory processing. Vagotomy inhibited the memory-enhancing effects of both GRP and bombesin, suggesting that these peptides produced their effect by stimulating ascending vagal pathways. These studies, together with our previous study with cholecystokinin, suggest the existence of a gastrointestinal hormonal system, which is activated by the passage of food through the intestine, that enhances memory retention.     

表皮生长因子改善移植小肠黏膜屏障功能的实验研究

目的了解表皮生长因子(epidermalgrowthfactor,EGF)对移植小肠通透性及细菌易位的作用。方法以Wistar大鼠为供体,SD大鼠为受体行异位全小肠移植,并以环孢素A(CsA,6mg.kg-1.d-1,im)抑制排斥反应。表皮生长因子组(EGF组)用微量输液泵持续均匀输入EGF200μg.kg-1.d-1;对照组输入等量生理盐水。第7天以乳果糖及甘露醇行移植肠灌注并收集尿液行高效液相色谱仪分析乳果糖及甘露醇含量,第8天采集移植肠系膜淋巴结及门静脉血行细菌培养。结果对照组尿液中乳果糖含量[(0.093±0.008)vs(0.015±0.002),P=0.0001]及乳果糖/甘露醇比值[(0.132±0.021)vs(0.020±0.005),P=0.0001]明显高于基准,EGF组乳果糖含量[(0.043±0.008)vs(0.015±0.002),P=0.0054]及乳果糖/甘露醇比值[(0.060±0.017)vs(0.020±0.005),P=0.0029]也较基准增加,EGF组乳果糖含量[(0.043±0.008)vs(0.093±0.008),P=0.0067)及乳果糖/甘露醇比值[(0.060±0.017)vs(0.132±0.021),P=0.0116]显著低于对照组。EGF组移植肠系膜淋巴结细菌阳性率为10%,对照组阳性率为60%,明显高于EGF组(P=0.028)。EGF组与对照组门静脉血培养阳性率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论本研究提示EGF能够降低同种移植小肠的通透性及细菌易位率,改善肠黏膜屏障功能。     

肺部、肠道菌群及其相互作用与慢性阻塞性肺疾病发生发展的研究进展

慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是一种常见的慢性呼吸系统疾病,对人类健康造成极大威胁。研究发现,COPD患者与健康人群相比,肺部菌群及肠道菌群的组成结构发生了显著改变,导致黏膜屏障功能及机体免疫稳态被破坏,进而加重病情。积极调节肺部、肠道菌群平衡对于干预COPD的发生、发展有着至关重要的作用,但目前关于肺部、肠道菌群及其相互作用机制在COPD中作用的总结和认识还有待进一步阐明。本文就健康人群以及COPD患者肺部、肠道菌群的组成特点及可能的相互作用机制,以及现阶段基于肺部、肠道菌群及其相互作用防治COPD的最新研究成果进行综述,以期为COPD的发病机制、早期诊断、预防与治疗研究提供新思路。     

高脂饮食诱导的内脏肥胖小鼠模型存在性别差异

目的:比较不同性别BALB/c小鼠采用高脂饮食建立肥胖模型的差异。方法:32只4周龄无特定病原体级BALB/c小鼠（雌雄各半）随机分为雌性对照组、雌性高脂组、雄性对照组和雄性高脂组,每组8只。雌性对照组和雄性对照组采用普通饮食,雌性高脂组和雄性高脂组采用高脂饲料喂养,喂养12周后测量小鼠体重、内脏脂肪比、空腹血糖、葡萄糖耐量、血脂、代谢相关激素水平,并采用16S rRNA测序检测小鼠粪便菌群构成。结果:高脂饮食干预导致雄性小鼠体重和内脏脂肪比明显增加,病理表现为单个脂肪面积明显增大,肝脏脂肪滴堆积,总胆固醇、空腹血糖、口服糖耐量试验时间-血糖曲线下面积以及血清胰岛素水平明显上升（均P<0.05）,并出现明显胰岛素抵抗（P<0.01）。而雌性高脂组体重、内脏脂肪比、血清胰岛素和瘦素水平与雌性对照组差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。高脂干预后小鼠肥胖相关肠道菌群相对丰度显著变化并存在性别差异,其中雄性高脂组肥胖相关菌属（如布劳特菌）相对丰度明显增加,菌群结构变化更明显。结论:高脂饮食喂养12周4周龄BALB/c雄性小鼠可稳定建立以内脏脂肪堆积、代谢功能紊乱和肠道菌群变...     

种植体黏膜下微生物在健康种植体和种植体周炎中的构成与差异：一项横断面研究

目的：探索种植体黏膜下微生物在健康种植体和种植体周炎中的构成与差异,并分析与临床指标存在相关性的菌种,为种植体周炎的病因学研究提供参考。方法：采用横断面研究,共纳入49例患者,20例为健康种植体,29例为种植体周炎,共采集49份黏膜下微生物样本进行16S核糖体RNA(16S ribosomal RNA, 16S rRNA)基因高通量测序。对两组样本的多样性、菌群构成和差异物种进行分析和比较,采用Spearman相关性分析评价菌种与探诊深度(probing pocket depth, PPD)之间的相关性。结果：健康组的α多样性显著低于种植体周炎组[Chao1指数：236.85±66.13 vs. 150.54±57.43,P<0.001; Shannon指数：3.42±0.48 vs. 3.02±0.65,P=0.032]。主成分分析显示,两组样本的群落结构差异有统计学意义[相似性分析(analysis of similarities, ANOSIM),R²=0.243,P=0.001]。与健康种植体相比,种植体周炎黏膜下菌斑中的牙周致病菌显著增加,包括红色...     

Changes in gut bacterial communities in canaries infected by Macrorhabdus ornithogaster

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster is an opportunistic yeast that colonizes the gastric mucosa of many avian species. Until now, no studies have focused on the influence of a gastric infection on the balance of the intestinal microbiota of birds. In this study, 44 faecal samples from individual canaries, with and without M. ornithogaster infection, were analysed. The detection of the yeast was evaluated by 18S rRNA PCR. In order to evaluate the impact of the Macrorhabdus infection on the bacterial communities, culture-independent methods, by the use of amplicon-based sequencing as well as 16S rRNA-DGGE, were adopted. The different health status of animals affected the relative abundance of the main OTUs, with a greater diversification of the gut microbiota in healthy animals compared to the infected. In particular, Lactococcus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Lachnospiraceae, Propionibacterium and Weissella were found to be characteristic of uninfected animals (FDR?<?0.05), while Lactobacillus and Candidatus Arthromitus were characteristic of infected animals (FDR?<?0.05). Both these taxa have been reported as immunostimulatory, involved in immunological disorders. In infected animals the inferred metagenome assessed by PICRUST clearly showed a positive correlation between the presence of M. ornithogaster and KEGG genes related to ether lipid metabolism, already reported to be immunostimulatory by activation of macrophages and to play a pathophysiological role in several immunological disorders. Finally, our results show an interaction between infection of the digestive tract and intestinal microbiota of pet birds and provide insight into the changing of the complex enteric bacterial community.

• HIGHLIGHTS

• Macrorabdus ornithogaster is a gastric yeast that colonizes a wide range of birds.

• Differences were found between infected and healthy animals in gut microbiota.

• Candidatus Arthromitus was closely associated with infected birds.

• M. ornithogaster can affect intestinal microbiota composition of canaries.

     

The vaginal microbiota and its association with human papillomavirus,Chlamydia trachomatis,Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The vaginal microbiota may modulate susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium infections. Persistent infection with a carcinogenic HPV is a prerequisite for cervical cancer, and C. trachomatis, N. gonorrheae and M. genitalium genital infections are all associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility issues.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile infection in Taiwan: Establishment and implementation

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) remains a major public health issue, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become one of the standard therapies for recurrent or refractory CDI. When compared to medical therapies, such as metronidazole or vancomycin, FMT has a high rate of treatment response with acceptable safety and efficiency. Following promulgation of the amendments in September 2018 in Taiwan, FMT has been indicated for recurrent or refractory CDI. The Taiwan Microbiota Consortium contributed to the Taiwan FMT Expert Consensus, which established basic norms and stipulated essential principles, including the indications for transplantation, eligible locations and personnel, donor screening policies, fecal sample handling, and post-FMT follow-up. However, establishing an eligible FMT team in a qualified hospital remains a clinical challenge, and the requirement for facilities and well-screened donors impedes the implementation of FMT. In this review, we aim to provide domestic FMT teams with explicit instructions to facilitate realization and increase the practice of FMT. Based on the Taiwan FMT Expert Consensus and current regulations, we performed a literature review and integrated the experiences of Taiwanese multidisciplinary experts into this article. The content intends to offer clinicians up-to-date evidence and highlight the essential points of FMT.     

Intrinsic ageing of gut epithelial stem cells

The maintenance of integrity of gut epithelium is essential for the well being of the organism throughout life. Gut epithelium is maintained through a carefully controlled balance between cell loss and renewal, which is sustained by the proliferation of the epithelial stem cells. Although these stem cells show no intrinsic limit to their proliferative capacity, recent evidence indicates that they suffer important functional impairments during the course of ageing. This paper reviews what is currently known about intrinsic ageing of gut epithelial stem cells and its functional consequences.     

A Weaning Reaction to Microbiota Is Required for Resistance to Immunopathologies in the Adult

1. Download : Download high-res image (223KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image