Associations of clinical features of functional bowel disorders with gut microbiota characteristics in adolescents: A pilot study

Background. Obesity is a multifactorial disease that is one of the important public health problems in the 21st century. Functional bowel disorders in obese children and adolescents are one of the most common pathologies of the digestive tract. The aim: to characterize the bacteriological composition of the colon microbiota in obese adolescents and identify its associations with the clinical manifestations of functional bowel disorders.Materials and methods. The study included 20 adolescents aged 11–17 years. Stool consistency was assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale. The study of biological material was carried out using standard bacteriological methods. To assess the strength of the relationship between the nominal variables, Cramer’s V test was used.Results. It has been shown that in adolescents with obesity and functional bowel disorders, there is a decrease in the number of representatives of bifidoflora, an increase in the microbial density of Escherichia coli with altered enzymatic properties and an excessive growth of potentially pathogenic enterobacteria. In obese adolescents with functional bowel disorders, abdominal pain associated with the act of defecation is associated with the presence of enterobacteria and E. coli with altered enzymatic properties. Rare bowel movements are associated with an increased abundance of Enterococcus spp. and the presence of opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae microorganisms. Frequent bowel movements are associated with the presence of E. coli with altered enzymatic properties and Clostridium spp. In the presence of loose stool, Clostridium spp. is present; unstable stool (alternation of hard and liquid stools in one patient) is associated with a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and E. coli with normal enzymatic properties, the appearance of E. coli with altered enzymatic properties, opportunistic microorganisms of Enterobacteriaceae family and Clostridium spp. Conclusion. The relationship between the clinical symptoms of functional bowel disorders and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota in obese adolescents may be a justification for conducting in-depth studies aimed at finding early predictors of functional bowel diseases associated with obesity in the adult cohort.

Características químicas y microbiológicas del ensilado de mango (Mangifera indica L) inoculado con yogur natural

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la composición química y microbiológica del ensilado de mango de rechazo inoculado con yogur natural para uso en la alimentación animal. Se elaboraron 25 microsilos plásticos de 1 kg y se determinó el pH, materia seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), cenizas, extracto etéreo (EE), extracto libre de nitrógeno (ELN) y energía bruta (EB), así como la probable presencia de Escherichia coli, Clostridium spp y Salmonella sp. Se tomaron muestras los días 1, 4, 8, 15 y 30 del estudio. El pH fue más alto en el día 1 y estable entre el día 4 y 30. En el día 8 de fermentación se determinó un buen contenido de MS, PB, cenizas, ELN, FB, EB y bajo nivel de EE. El ensilado estuvo libre de los patógenos analizados. La combinación de fruta de mango madura molida, sal mineral, melaza, carbonato de calcio, y yogur natural produjo un alimento ensilado con un valor nutricional aceptable para la alimentación de animales de interés zootécnico.

Características químicas y microbiológicas del ensilado de cáscara de cacao (Theobroma cacao L) tratada con yogur natural

Se determinaron las características químicas y microbiológicas del ensilado de cáscara de cacao (Theobroma cacao L) tratado con yogur natural como fuente de inóculo para uso en animales de interés zootécnico. Se emplearon 25 microsilos plásticos de 1 kg de capacidad, y se evaluaron en los días 1, 4, 8, 15 y 30 de fermentación. Los indicadores químicos fueron el pH, materia seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra bruta (FB), cenizas, extracto etéreo (EE), extractos libres de nitrógeno (ELN) y energía bruta (EB). Los indicadores microbiológicos fueron la presencia o ausencia de Escherichia coli, Clostridium spp y Salmonella spp. El ensilado presento un pH idóneo y un buen contenido de MS, PB, cenizas, ELN, EB y bajo nivel de EE. Los análisis microbiológicos fueron negativos para los microorganismos en evaluación. La combinación de cáscara de cacao molida, sal mineral, melaza, carbonato de calcio y yogur natural produjo un ensilado de apreciada calidad nutricional para uso en la alimentación animal.

ESTUDO DE CASO: AVALIAÇÃO DA QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA DO LAGO DA PEDRA BRANCA, PALHOÇA, SC

Localizado a 15 quilômetros do centro de Florianópolis, o município de Palhoça, o bairro Pedra Branca, se destaca dos demais bairros por ter sido planejado no final da década de 90, buscando o equilíbrio entre a ocupação urbana, qualidade de vida e respeito ao meio ambiente. Iniciou pela transformação de uma fazenda familiar, e atualmente atrai pessoas de diversas regiões por apresentar opções de convivência e lazer para as pessoas de todas as idades que podem desfrutar dos parques, praças, lagos e áreas de descanso a céu aberto. Em maio de 2019, a associação de moradores do bairro, detectou a mortandade de patos que viviam no entorno do lago Pedra Branca e através de análises, foi detectada a presença na água da bactéria responsável pela mortandade dos patos, Clostridium spp (botulismo). Amostras de água foram coletadas no Lago Pedra Branca e realizadas análise de pH, turbidez, oxigênio dissolvido (OD), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), fósforo, nitrogênio amoniacal, nitrito, nitrato e coliformes termotolerantes. As amostras foram coletadas seguindo o guia de coleta e preservação de amostras da CETESB e analisadas de acordo com a metodologia descrita pelo Standard Methods of Examination of Water and Wastewater (ALPHA, 2012). Os valores de pH, turbidez, oxigênio dissolvido, nitrito e nitrato seapresentaram dentro da faixa recomendada pela Resolução CONAMA 357/2005. Entretanto, para os parâmetros DBO, fósforo, nitrogênio amoniacal e coliformes termotolerantes, os valores se apresentaram acima dos limites máximos permitidos, onde o uso se aplica a recreação de contato primário, sugerindo uma possível contaminação por matéria orgânica e/ou efluentes domésticos. Com objetivo de fornecer à comunidade uma forma de tratamento e prevenir o surgimento de novas doenças, acarretando na mortandade de novos animais ali residentes, bem como o impedimento de utilização do lago como fonte de lazer, foram realizados testes de aeração forçada nas amostras de água coletadas, e os resultados obtidos ficaram condizentes com uma água doce Classe 1, própria para recreação de contato primário.

The correlations between gut microbiota of Muslim Thai lactating women and their dietary intake and gut microbiota of breastfed infants

Introduction: Foods and nutrients are essential not only for human health, but also for the balance of gut microbiota. This research aimed to correlate the gut microbiota of lactating women with their food/ nutrient intakes, as well as with their infants’ gut microbiota. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 27 pairs of mothers and their exclusively breastfed infants. For lactating women, the dietary assessment was conducted by 24-hour recall, and food groups were assessed following the Food and Agriculture Organization’s guidelines, while nutrient intake was analysed using INMUNCAL V3 programme. Gut microbiota of mothers and infants were measured in stool samples using fluorescent in situ hybridisation technique. Results: It was found that energy intake of mothers was only 66% of the recommended Thai Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Most micronutrient and dietary fibre intakes were below the Thai DRIs. Vitamin A (VA)-rich fruits and vegetables food group correlated positively with Lactobacillus species (spp). The association between gut microbiota and nutrient intake of lactating women showed that total protein, phosphorus, and VA were positively correlated with Bifidobacterium spp.; while β-carotene and vitamin C were also positively correlated with Lactobacillus spp. In contrast, consumption of eggs and calcium correlated negatively with Clostridium spp./ Enterobacter spp. Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of lactating women and breastfed infants showed strong correlations. Conclusion: Food and nutrient intakes of lactating women were correlated with their Clostridium spp./Enterobacter spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. Furthermore, Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of mothers and breastfed infants showed strong correlations.

Effect of Vitamin A-Fortified Rice on the Gut Microbiota of Thai Lactating Women and Their Exclusively Breastfed Infants

The optimal vitamin A (VA) status of lactating women is important for mothers and their breastfed infants, especially in protecting against infectious diseases. Vitamin A fortified rice is one of the food-base intervention strategy which has the potential to improve VA status. Vitamin A and gut microbiota are interrelated in their effect on human health and immunity however no specific relationship has been proved in these groups of population. This study aimed to determine the effect of VA fortified rice on the gut microbiota changes of lactating woman-exclusively breastfed infant pairs. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of VA fortified rice was conducted in 70 lactating women-infants pairs for 14 weeks. Gut microbiota was measured using the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and next generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Based on the FISH technique, the numbers of Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in mothers fed VA-fortified rice at the end of the study. In contrast, the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of infants whose mothers fed with VA-fortified rice was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. The NGS technique confirmed that results with the increasing of Lactobacillus, B. longum and B. Choerinum in the infant of intervention group. In conclusion, VA-fortified rice was efficacious in decreasing Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. in lactating women and raising the number of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in their breastfed infants. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Gut microbiota, Lactating woman-infant pairs, Randomized controlled trial, Vitamin A