scholarly journals Stunted childhood growth is associated with decompartmentalization of the gastrointestinal tract and overgrowth of oropharyngeal taxa

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (36) ◽  
pp. E8489-E8498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascale Vonaesch ◽  
Evan Morien ◽  
Lova Andrianonimiadana ◽  
Hugues Sanke ◽  
Jean-Robert Mbecko ◽  
...  

Linear growth delay (stunting) affects roughly 155 million children under the age of 5 years worldwide. Treatment has been limited by a lack of understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Stunting is most likely associated with changes in the microbial community of the small intestine, a compartment vital for digestion and nutrient absorption. Efforts to better understand the pathophysiology have been hampered by difficulty of access to small intestinal fluids. Here, we describe the microbial community found in the upper gastrointestinal tract of stunted children aged 2–5 y living in sub-Saharan Africa. We studied 46 duodenal and 57 gastric samples from stunted children, as well as 404 fecal samples from stunted and nonstunted children living in Bangui, Central African Republic, and in Antananarivo, Madagascar, using 16S Illumina Amplicon sequencing and semiquantitative culture methods. The vast majority of the stunted children showed small intestinal bacterial overgrowth dominated by bacteria that normally reside in the oropharyngeal cavity. There was an overrepresentation of oral bacteria in fecal samples of stunted children, opening the way for developing noninvasive diagnostic markers. In addition, Escherichia coli/Shigella sp. and Campylobacter sp. were found to be more prevalent in stunted children, while Clostridia, well-known butyrate producers, were reduced. Our data suggest that stunting is associated with a microbiome “decompartmentalization” of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by an increased presence of oropharyngeal bacteria from the stomach to the colon, hence challenging the current view of stunting arising solely as a consequence of small intestine overstimulation through recurrent infections by enteric pathogens.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (32) ◽  
pp. 3478-3483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oswaldo Hernandez-Hernandez

Background: In the last decade, various consortia and companies have created standardized digestion protocols and gastrointestinal simulators, such as the protocol proposed by the INFOGEST Consortium, the simulator SHIME, the simulator simgi®, the TIM, etc. Most of them claim to simulate the entire human gastrointestinal tract. However, few results have been reported on the use of these systems with potential prebiotic carbohydrates. Methods: This critical review addresses the existing data on the analysis of prebiotic carbohydrates by different in vitro gastrointestinal simulators, the lack of parameters that could affect the results, and recommendations for their enhancement. Results: According to the reviewed data, there is a lack of a realistic approximation of the small intestinal conditions, mainly because of the absence of hydrolytic conditions, such as the presence of small intestinal brush border carbohydrases that can affect the digestibility of different carbohydrates, including prebiotics. Conclusion: There is a necessity to standardize and enhance the small intestine simulators to study the in vitro digestibility of carbohydrates.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 668-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mami Yamamoto ◽  
Kentaroh Yamamoto ◽  
Hirotaka Taketomi ◽  
Fumio Yamamoto ◽  
Hiroshi Yamamoto

The source of most cases of gastrointestinal bleeding is the upper gastrointestinal tract. Since bleeding from the small intestine is very rare and difficult to diagnose, time is required to identify the source. Among small intestine bleeds, vascular abnormalities account for 70–80%, followed by small intestine tumors that account for 5–10%. The reported peak age of the onset of small intestinal tumors is about 50 years. Furthermore, rare small bowel tumors account for only 1–2% of all gastrointestinal tumors. We describe a 29-year-old man who presented with obscure anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding and underwent laparotomy. Surgical findings revealed a well-circumscribed lesion measuring 45 × 40 mm in the jejunum that initially appeared similar to diverticulosis with an abscess. However, the postoperative pathological diagnosis was a gastrointestinal stromal tumor with extramural growth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Li ◽  
Ru Zhang ◽  
Jinxia Ma ◽  
Shuai Tang ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
...  

The overall gut microbial profile of patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has not been thoroughly investigated. We investigated the microbial communities of mucosal specimens from the duodenum, ileum, sigmoid colon, and feces of patients with and without SIBO, as diagnosed by lactulose breath testing. The bacteria present in the mucosal and fecal samples were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Further analysis was performed using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size method, random forest analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. The microbial diversities of the fecal samples were significantly lower than those of the mucosal samples from the duodenum, ileum, and sigmoid colon (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), while the bacterial compositions of the ileac mucosal samples and sigmoid mucosal samples were similar. The bacterial composition of either the fecal or duodenal mucosal samples were significantly different from those of the other three groups (ANOSIM R = 0.305, P = 0.001). The bacterial compositions of the mucosal samples of the duodenum, ileum, and sigmoid colon in the SIBO + subjects were significantly different from those of the SIBO− subjects (ANOSIM P = 0.039, 0.002, and 0.007, respectively). The relative abundances of 7, 18, and 8 genera were significantly different (LDA score > 3) in the mucosal samples of the duodenum, ileum, and sigmoid colon between the SIBO + and SIBO− groups. Four genera (Lactobacillus, Prevotella_1, Dialister, and norank_f__Ruminococcaceae) showed similar changes among the mucosal samples of the duodenum, ileum, and sigmoid colon in the SIBO + subjects. A signature consisting of four genera in the duodenal mucosa, three genera in the ileac mucosa, or six genera in the mucosa of the sigmoid colon exhibited predictive power for SIBO (area under the curve = 0.9, 0.93, and 0.87, respectively). This study provides a comprehensive profile of the gut microbiota in patients with SIBO. Dysbiosis was observed in the mucosa-associated gut microbiome but not in the fecal microbiome of patients with SIBO. Furthermore, we identified mucosa-associated taxa that may be potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets of SIBO. Further investigation is needed on their mechanisms and roles in SIBO.


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 4169-4175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silja Mentula ◽  
Jaana Harmoinen ◽  
Matti Heikkilä ◽  
Elias Westermarck ◽  
Merja Rautio ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The microbiota of the small intestine is poorly known because of difficulties in sampling. In this study, we examined whether the organisms cultured from the jejunum and feces resemble each other. Small-intestinal fluid samples were collected from 22 beagle dogs with a permanent jejunal fistula in parallel with fecal samples. In addition, corresponding samples from seven of the dogs were collected during a 4-week period (days 4, 10, 14, and 28) to examine the stability of the microbiota. In the jejunal samples, aerobic/facultative and anaerobic bacteria were equally represented, whereas anaerobes dominated in the fecal samples. Despite lower numbers of bacteria in the jejunum (range, 102 to 106 CFU/g) than in feces (range, 108 to 1011 CFU/g), some microbial groups were more prevalent in the small intestine: staphylococci, 64% versus 36%; nonfermentative gram-negative rods, 27% versus 9%; and yeasts, 27% versus 5%, respectively. In contrast, part of the fecal dominant microbiota (bile-resistant Bacteroides spp., Clostridium hiranonis-like organisms, and lactobacilli) was practically absent in the jejunum. Many species were seldom isolated simultaneously from both sample types, regardless of their overall prevalence. In conclusion, the small intestine contains a few bacterial species at a time with vastly fluctuating counts, opposite to the results obtained for the colon, where the major bacterial groups remain relatively constant over time. Qualitative and quantitative differences between the corresponding jejunal and fecal samples indicate the inability of fecal samples to represent the microbiotas present in the upper gut.


2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Huo ◽  
Conghui He ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Tianjun Jia ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The cryptic plasmid pCM is critical for chlamydial colonization in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, orally inoculated plasmid-free Chlamydia sp. was still able to colonize the gut. Surprisingly, orally inoculated Chlamydia sp. deficient in only plasmid-encoded pGP3 was no longer able to colonize the gut. A comparison of live organism recoveries from individual gastrointestinal tissues revealed that pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. survived significantly better than plasmid-free Chlamydia sp. in small intestinal tissues. However, the small intestinal pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. failed to reach the large intestine, explaining the lack of live pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. in rectal swabs following an oral inoculation. Interestingly, pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. was able to colonize the colon following an intracolon inoculation, suggesting that pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. might be prevented from spreading from the small intestine to the large intestine. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that following an intrajejunal inoculation that bypasses the gastric barrier, pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. still failed to reach the large intestine, although similarly inoculated plasmid-free Chlamydia sp. was able to do so. Interestingly, when both types of organisms were intrajejunally coinoculated into the same mouse small intestine, plasmid-free Chlamydia sp. was no longer able to spread to the large intestine, suggesting that pGP3-deficient Chlamydia sp. might be able to activate an intestinal resistance for regulating Chlamydia sp. spreading. Thus, the current study has not only provided evidence for reconciling a previously identified conflicting phenotype but also revealed a potential intestinal resistance to chlamydial spreading. Efforts are under way to further define the mechanism of the putative intestinal resistance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason L. Anders ◽  
Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa ◽  
Wessam Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed ◽  
Takashi Hayakawa ◽  
Ryo Nakao ◽  
...  

AbstractHost–microbe interactions within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) play a pivotal role in shaping host physiology, ecology, and life history. However, these interactions vary across gut regions due to changes in the physical environment or host immune system activity, thereby altering the microbial community. Each animal species may harbor their own unique microbial community due to host species-specific ecological traits such as dietary habits, micro-habitat preferences, and mating behavior as well as physiological traits. While the gut microbiota in wild animals has received much attention over the last decade, most studies comparing closely related species only utilized fecal or colon samples. In this study, we first compared the gut microbial community from the small intestine, cecum, colon, and rectum within three sympatric species of wild rodents (i.e. Apodemus speciosus, A. argenteus, and Myodes rufocanus). We then compared each gut region among host species to determine the effect of both gut region and host species on the gut microbiota. We found that the small intestine harbored a unique microbiome as compared to the lower GIT in all three host species, with the genus Lactobacillus in particular having higher abundance in the small intestine of all three host species. There were clear interspecific differences in the microbiome within all gut regions, although some similarity in alpha diversity and community structure within the small intestine was found. Finally, fecal samples may be appropriate for studying the lower GIT in these species, but not the small intestine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Romanet ◽  
Jörg R. Aschenbach ◽  
Robert Pieper ◽  
Jürgen Zentek ◽  
John K. Htoo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Given the key role of methionine (Met) in biological processes like protein translation, methylation, and antioxidant defense, inadequate Met supply can limit performance. This study investigated the effect of different dietary Met sources on the expression profile of various Met transporters along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pigs. Methods A total of 27 pigs received a diet supplemented with 0.21% DL-Met, 0.21% L-Met, or 0.31% DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (DL-HMTBA). Changes in mRNA expression of B0AT1, ATB0,+, rBAT, ASCT2, IMINO, LAT4, y+LAT1, LAT2, and SNAT2 were evaluated in the oral mucosa, cardia, fundus, pylorus, duodenum, proximal jejunum, middle jejunum, ileum, cecum, proximal colon, and distal colon, complemented by protein expression analysis of B0AT1, ASCT2, LAT2, and LAT4. Results Expression of all investigated transcripts differed significantly along the GIT. B0AT1, rBAT, y+LAT1, LAT2, and LAT4 showed strongest mRNA expression in small intestinal segments. ASCT2, IMINO, and SNAT2 were similarly expressed along the small and large intestines but expression differed in the oral mucosa and stomach. ATB0,+ showed highest mRNA expression in large intestinal tissues, cardia, and pylorus. In pigs fed DL-Met, mRNA expression of ASCT2 was higher than in pigs fed DL-HMTBA in small intestinal tissues and mRNA expression of IMINO was lower than in pigs fed L-Met in large intestinal tissues. Dietary DL-HMTBA induced a stronger mRNA expression of basolateral uptake systems either in the small (LAT2) or large (y+LAT1) intestine. Protein expression of B0AT1 was higher in the middle jejunum and ileum in pigs fed DL-Met when compared with the other Met supplements. LAT4 expression was higher in pigs fed DL-HMTBA when compared with DL-Met (small intestine) and L-Met (small intestine, oral mucosa, and stomach). Conclusion A high expression of several Met transporters in small intestinal segments underlines the primary role of these segments in amino acid absorption; however, some Met transporters show high transcript and protein levels also in large intestine, oral mucosa, and stomach. A diet containing DL-Met has potential to increase apical Met transport in the small intestine, whereas a diet containing DL-HMTBA has potential to increase basolateral Met transport in the small intestine and, partly, other gastrointestinal tissues.


1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-131
Author(s):  
P. N. Grebnev ◽  
Ya. M. Mustafin ◽  
D. V. Osipov

Small intestinal hemangiomas in surgical patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract occur in only 0.009% of cases. Intestinal bleeding is often the first and only sign of a disease that is asymptomatic for a long time. This pathology is also extremely difficult to diagnose.


2020 ◽  
pp. 2879-2883
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Middleton ◽  
Raymond J. Playford

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can be defined as the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine which can interfere with digestion and absorption. Predisposing causes include sustained hypochlorhydria induced by proton pump inhibitors, small intestinal dysmotility and stasis due to anatomical or motor abnormalities, and reduced antibacterial activity as seen in immunological deficiency and chronic pancreatitis. Presentation is predominantly from consequences of malabsorption, including gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. diarrhoea or steatorrhoea) and features of specific nutrient malabsorption (e.g. osteoporosis, anaemia, neuropathy, and night blindness). Definitive diagnosis is difficult, requiring a properly collected and appropriately cultured aspirate from the proximal small intestine revealing a total concentration of a mixed growth of bacteria generally greater than 105 organisms/ml. Alternative investigations frequently used include glucose/lactulose breath tests or either the 13C- or 14C-xylose breath test, with elevated levels of 13CO2 or 14CO2 found in the breath. There may be low levels of cobalamin (metabolized by Gram-negative anaerobes), increased serum folate (synthesized by overgrowth flora), and increased urinary indicans (intraluminal product of bacterial tryptophan metabolism). Aside from treatment of any nutritional deficiencies, specific treatment is with an antimicrobial that is effective against both aerobic and anaerobic enteric bacteria (e.g. doxycycline, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, rifaximin, or ciprofloxacin), which can be administered in rotation to reduce antibiotic resistance. Where possible and appropriate, correction of any underlying cause should also be performed.


Author(s):  
V.M. Wright ◽  
J.A. Walker-Smith ◽  
I.R. Sanderson

Congenital abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract usually manifest shortly after birth, but on occasion symptoms may be delayed for months or even years. Any part of the gut can be affected, with problems including oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula, anterior abdominal wall defects, congenital pyloric stenosis, atresia and stenosis of the small intestine, duplication of the gastrointestinal tract, small-intestinal malrotation with or without volvulus, small-intestinal lymphangiectasia, Meckel’s diverticulum, meconium ileus, congenital short intestine, colonic atresia, Hirschprung’s disease, and imperforate anus....


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