scholarly journals The Structure Features and Improving Effects of Polysaccharide from Astragalus membranaceus on Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

Antibiotics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Yuli Qi ◽  
Duoduo Ren ◽  
Di Qu ◽  
Yinshi Sun

Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) is often used as a medical and food resource in China. The present study was designed to investigate the features and effects of polysaccharide from Astragalus membranaceus (WAP) on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). WAP was mainly composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose and glacturonic acid, with glucan, arabinogalactan and RG-I regions, and it showed loosely irregular sheet conformation. WAP decreased the inflammatory cell infiltration of colon in AAD rats, increased propionate and butyrate production, improved metabolic levels, adjusted the diversity and composition of gut microbiota, increased the relative abundance of Pseudomonas, and decreased the relative abundance of Allobaculum and Coprococcus. In conclusion, WAP contained different types of polysaccharide regions and sheet three-dimensional conformation, while it ameliorated AAD by recovering the colon structure, adjusting the gut microbiota, and improving the SCFAs levels. The results can provide some data basis for natural products to alleviate the side effects related to antibiotics.

Author(s):  
P.L. Moore

Previous freeze fracture results on the intact giant, amoeba Chaos carolinensis indicated the presence of a fibrillar arrangement of filaments within the cytoplasm. A complete interpretation of the three dimensional ultrastructure of these structures, and their possible role in amoeboid movement was not possible, since comparable results could not be obtained with conventional fixation of intact amoebae. Progress in interpreting the freeze fracture images of amoebae required a more thorough understanding of the different types of filaments present in amoebae, and of the ways in which they could be organized while remaining functional.The recent development of a calcium sensitive, demembranated, amoeboid model of Chaos carolinensis has made it possible to achieve a better understanding of such functional arrangements of amoeboid filaments. In these models the motility of demembranated cytoplasm can be controlled in vitro, and the chemical conditions necessary for contractility, and cytoplasmic streaming can be investigated. It is clear from these studies that “fibrils” exist in amoeboid models, and that they are capable of contracting along their length under conditions similar to those which cause contraction in vertebrate muscles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 50402-1-50402-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ing-Jr Ding ◽  
Chong-Min Ruan

Abstract The acoustic-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) technique has been a matured technique and widely seen to be used in numerous applications. However, acoustic-based ASR will not maintain a standard performance for the disabled group with an abnormal face, that is atypical eye or mouth geometrical characteristics. For governing this problem, this article develops a three-dimensional (3D) sensor lip image based pronunciation recognition system where the 3D sensor is efficiently used to acquire the action variations of the lip shapes of the pronunciation action from a speaker. In this work, two different types of 3D lip features for pronunciation recognition are presented, 3D-(x, y, z) coordinate lip feature and 3D geometry lip feature parameters. For the 3D-(x, y, z) coordinate lip feature design, 18 location points, each of which has 3D-sized coordinates, around the outer and inner lips are properly defined. In the design of 3D geometry lip features, eight types of features considering the geometrical space characteristics of the inner lip are developed. In addition, feature fusion to combine both 3D-(x, y, z) coordinate and 3D geometry lip features is further considered. The presented 3D sensor lip image based feature evaluated the performance and effectiveness using the principal component analysis based classification calculation approach. Experimental results on pronunciation recognition of two different datasets, Mandarin syllables and Mandarin phrases, demonstrate the competitive performance of the presented 3D sensor lip image based pronunciation recognition system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-757
Author(s):  
Kateryna Hazdiuk ◽  
◽  
Volodymyr Zhikharevich ◽  
Serhiy Ostapov ◽  
◽  
...  

This paper deals with the issue of model construction of the self-regeneration and self-replication processes using movable cellular automata (MCAs). The rules of cellular automaton (CA) interactions are found according to the concept of equilibrium neighborhood. The method is implemented by establishing these rules between different types of cellular automata (CAs). Several models for two- and three-dimensional cases are described, which depict both stable and unstable structures. As a result, computer models imitating such natural phenomena as self-replication and self-regeneration are obtained and graphically presented.


Author(s):  
Matthew J. Genge

Drawings, illustrations, and field sketches play an important role in Earth Science since they are used to record field observations, develop interpretations, and communicate results in reports and scientific publications. Drawing geology in the field furthermore facilitates observation and maximizes the value of fieldwork. Every geologist, whether a student, academic, professional, or amateur enthusiast, will benefit from the ability to draw geological features accurately. This book describes how and what to draw in geology. Essential drawing techniques, together with practical advice in creating high quality diagrams, are described the opening chapters. How to draw different types of geology, including faults, folds, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks, and fossils, are the subjects of separate chapters, and include descriptions of what are the important features to draw and describe. Different types of sketch, such as drawings of three-dimensional outcrops, landscapes, thin-sections, and hand-specimens of rocks, crystals, and minerals, are discussed. The methods used to create technical diagrams such as geological maps and cross-sections are also covered. Finally, modern techniques in the acquisition and recording of field data, including photogrammetry and aerial surveys, and digital methods of illustration, are the subject of the final chapter of the book. Throughout, worked examples of field sketches and illustrations are provided as well as descriptions of the common mistakes to be avoided.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1126
Author(s):  
Giovanna Iezzi ◽  
Francesca Di Lillo ◽  
Michele Furlani ◽  
Marco Degidi ◽  
Adriano Piattelli ◽  
...  

Symmetric and well-organized connective tissues around the longitudinal implant axis were hypothesized to decrease early bone resorption by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. Previous studies that referred to the connective tissue around implant and abutments were based on two-dimensional investigations; however, only advanced three-dimensional characterizations could evidence the organization of connective tissue microarchitecture in the attempt of finding new strategies to reduce inflammatory cell infiltration. We retrieved three implants with a cone morse implant–abutment connection from patients; they were investigated by high-resolution X-ray phase-contrast microtomography, cross-linking the obtained information with histologic results. We observed transverse and longitudinal orientated collagen bundles intertwining with each other. In the longitudinal planes, it was observed that the closer the fiber bundles were to the implant, the more symmetric and regular their course was. The transverse bundles of collagen fibers were observed as semicircular, intersecting in the lamina propria of the mucosa and ending in the oral epithelium. No collagen fibers were found radial to the implant surface. This intertwining three-dimensional pattern seems to favor the stabilization of the soft tissues around the implants, preventing inflammatory cell apical migration and, consequently, preventing bone resorption and implant failure. This fact, according to the authors’ best knowledge, has never been reported in the literature and might be due to the physical forces acting on fibroblasts and on the collagen produced by the fibroblasts themselves, in areas close to the implant and to the symmetric geometry of the implant itself.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-216
Author(s):  
Mus Azza Suhana Khairudin ◽  
Abbe Maleyki Mhd Jalil ◽  
Napisah Hussin

A diet high in polyphenols is associated with a diversified gut microbiome. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water. The health benefits of tea might be attributed to the presence of polyphenol compounds such as flavonoids (e.g., catechins and epicatechins), theaflavins, and tannins. Although many studies have been conducted on tea, little is known of its effects on the trillions of gut microbiota. Hence, this review aimed to systematically study the effect of tea polyphenols on the stimulation or suppression of gut microbiota in humans and animals. It was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Articles were retrieved from PubMed and Scopus databases, and data were extracted from 6 human trials and 15 animal studies. Overall, large variations were observed in terms of microbiota composition between humans and animals. A more consistent pattern of diversified microbiota was observed in animal studies. Tea alleviated the gut microbiota imbalance caused by high-fat diet-induced obesity, diabetes, and ultraviolet-induced damage. The overall changes in microbiota composition measured by beta diversity analysis showed that tea had shifted the microbiota from the pattern seen in animals that received tea-free intervention. In humans, a prebiotic-like effect was observed toward the gut microbiota, but these results appeared in lower-quality studies. The beta diversity in human microbiota remains intact despite tea intervention; supplementation with different teas affects different types of bacterial taxa in the gut. These studies suggest that tea polyphenols may have a prebiotic effect in disease-induced animals and in a limited number of human interventions. Further intervention is needed to identify the mechanisms of action underlying the effects of tea on gut microbiota.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Irina Grigor’eva ◽  
Tatiana Romanova ◽  
Natalia Naumova ◽  
Tatiana Alikina ◽  
Alexey Kuznetsov ◽  
...  

The last decade saw extensive studies of the human gut microbiome and its relationship to specific diseases, including gallstone disease (GSD). The information about the gut microbiome in GSD-afflicted Russian patients is scarce, despite the increasing GSD incidence worldwide. Although the gut microbiota was described in some GSD cohorts, little is known regarding the gut microbiome before and after cholecystectomy (CCE). By using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we inventoried the fecal bacteriobiome composition and structure in GSD-afflicted females, seeking to reveal associations with age, BMI and some blood biochemistry. Overall, 11 bacterial phyla were identified, containing 916 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The fecal bacteriobiome was dominated by Firmicutes (66% relative abundance), followed by Bacteroidetes (19%), Actinobacteria (8%) and Proteobacteria (4%) phyla. Most (97%) of the OTUs were minor or rare species with ≤1% relative abundance. Prevotella and Enterocossus were linked to blood bilirubin. Some taxa had differential pre- and post-CCE abundance, despite the very short time (1–3 days) elapsed after CCE. The detailed description of the bacteriobiome in pre-CCE female patients suggests bacterial foci for further research to elucidate the gut microbiota and GSD relationship and has potentially important biological and medical implications regarding gut bacteria involvement in the increased GSD incidence rate in females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Palmas ◽  
Silvia Pisanu ◽  
Veronica Madau ◽  
Emanuela Casula ◽  
Andrea Deledda ◽  
...  

AbstractIn the present study, we characterized the distinctive signatures of the gut microbiota (GM) from overweight/obese patients (OB), and normal-weight controls (NW), both of Sardinian origin. Fecal bacterial composition of 46 OB patients (BMI = 36.6 ± 6.0; F/M = 40/6) was analyzed and compared to that of 46 NW subjects (BMI = 21.6 ± 2.1; F/M = 41/5), matched for sex, age and smoking status, by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on MiSeq Illumina platform. The gut microbial community of OB patients exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of several Bacteroidetes taxa (i.e. Flavobacteriaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Flavobacterium, Rikenella spp., Pedobacter spp., Parabacteroides spp., Bacteroides spp.) when compared to NW; instead, several Firmicutes taxa were significantly increased in the same subjects (Lachnospiraceae, Gemellaceae, Paenibacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, Thermicanaceae, Gemella, Mitsuokella, Streptococcus, Acidaminococcus spp., Eubacterium spp., Ruminococcus spp., Megamonas spp., Streptococcus, Thermicanus, Megasphaera spp. and Veillonella spp.). Correlation analysis indicated that body fatness and waist circumference negatively correlated with Bacteroidetes taxa, while Firmicutes taxa positively correlated with body fat and negatively with muscle mass and/or physical activity level. Furthermore, the relative abundance of several bacterial taxa belonging to Enterobacteriaceae family, known to exhibit endotoxic activity, was increased in the OB group compared to NW. The results extend our knowledge on the GM profiles in Italian OB, identifying novel taxa linking obesity and intestine.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2131
Author(s):  
Shujuan Zheng ◽  
Yanan Wang ◽  
Jingjing Fang ◽  
Ruixuan Geng ◽  
Mengjie Li ◽  
...  

Previous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of oleuropein (OP) consumption on the early stage of type 2 diabetes. However, the efficacy of OP on the advanced stage of type 2 diabetes has not been investigated, and the relationship between OP and intestinal flora has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, to explore the relieving effects of OP intake on the advanced stage of type 2 diabetes and the regulatory effects of OP on intestinal microbes, diabetic db/db mice (17-week-old) were treated with OP at the dose of 200 mg/kg for 15 weeks. We found that OP has a significant effect in decreasing fasting blood glucose levels, improving glucose tolerance, lowering the homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance index, restoring histopathological features of tissues, and promoting hepatic protein kinase B activation in db/db mice. Notably, OP modulates gut microbiota at phylum level, increases the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Deferribacteres, and decreases the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. OP treatment increases the relative abundance of Akkermansia, as well as decreases the relative abundance of Prevotella, Odoribacter, Ruminococcus, and Parabacteroides at genus level. In conclusion, OP may ameliorate the advanced stage of type 2 diabetes through modulating the composition and function of gut microbiota. Our findings provide a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of advanced stage type 2 diabetes.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lito E. Papanicolas ◽  
Sarah K. Sims ◽  
Steven L. Taylor ◽  
Sophie J. Miller ◽  
Christos S. Karapetis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The gut microbiota influences many aspects of host physiology, including immune regulation, and is predictive of outcomes in cancer patients. However, whether conventional myelosuppressive chemotherapy affects the gut microbiota in humans with non-haematological malignancy, independent of antibiotic exposure, is unknown. Methods Faecal samples from 19 participants with non-haematological malignancy, who were receiving conventional chemotherapy regimens but not antibiotics, were examined prior to chemotherapy, 7–12 days after chemotherapy, and at the end of the first cycle of treatment. Gut microbiota diversity and composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results Compared to pre-chemotherapy samples, samples collected 7–12 days following chemotherapy exhibited increased richness (mean 120 observed species ± SD 38 vs 134 ± 40; p = 0.007) and diversity (Shannon diversity: mean 6.4 ± 0.43 vs 6.6 ± 0.41; p = 0.02). Composition was significantly altered, with a significant decrease in the relative abundance of gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes (pre-chemotherapy median relative abundance [IQR] 0.78 [0.11] vs 0.75 [0.11]; p = 0.003), and an increase in the relative abundance of gram-negative bacteria (Bacteroidetes: median [IQR] 0.16 [0.13] vs 0.21 [0.13]; p = 0.01 and Proteobacteria: 0.015 [0.018] vs 0.03 [0.03]; p = 0.02). Differences in microbiota characteristics from baseline were no longer significant at the end of the chemotherapy cycle. Conclusions Conventional chemotherapy results in significant changes in gut microbiota characteristics during the period of predicted myelosuppression post-chemotherapy. Further study is indicated to link microbiome changes during chemotherapy to clinical outcomes.


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