Dynamic Development of Fecal Microbiome During the Progression of Diabetes Mellitus in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Background: Although substantial efforts have been made to link the gut microbiota to type 2 diabetes, dynamic changes in the fecal microbiome under the pathological conditions of diabetes have not been investigated.Methods: Four male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats received Purina 5008 chow [protein = 23.6%, Nitrogen-Free Extract (by difference) = 50.3%, fiber (crude) = 3.3%, ash = 6.1%, fat (ether extract) = 6.7%, and fat (acid hydrolysis) = 8.1%] for 8 weeks. A total of 32 stool samples were collected from weeks 8 to 15 in four rats. To decipher the microbial populations in these samples, we used a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach.Results: Microbiome analysis showed that the changes in the fecal microbiome were associated with age and disease progression. In all the stages from 8 to 15 weeks, phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria primarily dominated the fecal microbiome of the rats. Although Lactobacillus and Turicibacter were the predominant genera in 8- to 10-week-old rats, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Allobaculum were the most abundant genera in 15-week-old rats. Of interest, compared to the earlier weeks, relatively greater diversity (at the genus level) was observed at 10 weeks of age. Although the microbiome of 12-week-old rats had the highest diversity, the diversity in 13–15-week-old rats was reduced. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that F/B was negatively correlated with age. Random blood glucose was negatively correlated with Lactobacillus and Turicibacter but positively correlated with Ruminococcus and Allobaculum and Simpson’s diversity index.Conclusion: We demonstrated the time-dependent alterations of the abundance and diversity of the fecal microbiome during the progression of diabetes in ZDF rats. At the genus level, dynamic changes were observed. We believe that this work will enhance our understanding of fecal microbiome development in ZDF rats and help to further analyze the role of the microbiome in metabolic diseases. Furthermore, our work may also provide an effective strategy for the clinical treatment of diabetes through microbial intervention

Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang Alleviates Intestinal Injury Associated with Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Regulating Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore of Intestinal Mucosa Epithelial Cells

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine whether Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang (DHFZT) could regulate mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) of intestinal mucosa epithelial cells for alleviating intestinal injury associated with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods. A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (sham group, SAP group, and DHFZT group, n=24 per group). The rats in each group were divided into 4 subgroups (n=6 per subgroup) accordingly at 1, 3, 6, and 12 h after the operation. The contents of serum amylase, D-lactic acid, diamine oxidase activity, and degree of MPTP were measured by dry chemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The change of mitochondria of intestinal epithelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results. The present study showed that DHFZT inhibited the openness of MPTP at 3, 6, and 12 h after the operation. Meanwhile, it reduced the contents of serum D-lactic acid and activity of diamine oxidase activity and also drastically relieved histopathological manifestations and epithelial cells injury of intestine. Conclusion. DHFZT alleviates intestinal injury associated SAP via reducing the openness of MPTP. In addition, DHFZT could also decrease the content of serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactic acid after SAP

Hydromorphone ameliorates postoperative pain and depressive disorder in women receiving cesarean section under spinal anesthesia

BackgroundPain and depressive mood disorders during cesarean sections negatively impact both mothers and infants. Studies have shown that hydromorphone has positive effects on both pain management and depressive mood disorders. This study examines how hydromorphone influences postoperative pain and depressive disorders in parturients undergoing cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia.MethodsThis single-center, controlled, randomized trial involved 130 patients. Parturients in the intervention (H) group received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with hydromorphone combined with sufentanil, while those in the control (S) group received sufentanil alone. All cesarean sections were performed under spinal anesthesia. Postoperative pain scores at rest and during movement were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 4 h (T0), 8 h (T1), 12 h (T2), 24 h (T3), and 48 h (T4) postoperatively. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were utilized to measure depressive and anxiety disorders at 3 days and 6 weeks postoperatively. Adverse reactions were also recorded.ResultsThe H group had significantly lower resting VAS scores at all postoperative time points (p = 0.008) and significantly lower movement VAS scores (p < 0.001) compared to the S group. At 3 days postoperatively, BDI scores showed no statistically meaningful variations (p = 0.057) or BAI scores (p = 0.444) between the two group. However, at 6 weeks postoperatively, the H group had significantly lower BDI scores (p = 0.001) and BAI scores (p = 0.012). No statistically significant differences in operative time were observed between the groups. (p = 0.086), time to first ambulation (p = 0.092), sleep quality scores (p = 0.132), or adverse reactions, including chills (p > 0.999), pruritus (p = 0.109), nausea and vomiting (p = 0.718), respiratory depression (p = 0.619), or dizziness (p = 0.619).ConclusionThe synergistic use of hydromorphone and sufentanil in PCIA provides superior analgesia for postoperative pain and decreases postoperative depression and anxiety scores in parturients undergoing cesarean sections

Dai Huang Fu Zi Tang could ameliorate intestinal injury in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock by regulating intestinal blood flow and intestinal expression of p-VASP and ZO-1

BACKGROUND: Dai Huang Fu Zi Tang (DHFZT), an oriental herbal formula, has long been used clinically in treatment of intestinal obstruction, acute pancreatitis, cholecystalgia and chronic diarrhea for thousands of years. Recent studies have demonstrated that DHFZT can reduce intestinal pathological injury and the concentration of enterogenous endotoxin in an animal model. But the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: SD male rats in adult were used to model HS and treated with DHFZT. The serum concentration of endotoxin were analyzed by dynamic turbidimetric method. In addition, the blood flow of small intestine were measured using laser speckle technique. Phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP) and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 protein, intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) were measured by Western Blotting, RT-PCR, ELISA respectively. RESULTS: Present study showed that DHFZT markedly elevated the blood flow of small intestine, protected the intestinal barrier function by up-regulating the expression of ZO-1 protein and down-regulating expression of p-VASP, and notely decreased serum concentration of IFABP and endotoxin in HS. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that DHFZT improves intestinal blood flow, protects the intestinal barrier function, and ameliorates intestinal endotoxaemia in rats with HS

Highly permeable zeolite imidazolate framework composite membranes fabricated via a chelation-assisted interfacial reaction

The preparation of high-permselectivity membranes is still a challenging task due to the limitations of conventional polymeric membranes.</p