Microbiota-related metabolites correlated with the severity of COVID-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with high mortality, and the treatment options for the severe patients remain limited. Previous studies reported the altered gut microbiota in severe COVID-19. But there are no comprehensive data on the role of microbial metabolites in COVID-19 patients.

The Causal Effect Between Human Microbiota and Scabies: A Study from the Genetic Perspective.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that human flora may affect the development of scabies, however, no studies have proven a causal relationship between human flora and scabies, which would be detrimental to future in-depth studies on human flora and scabies.

Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to analyze the causal effect between human microbiota and scabies, with data on intestinal flora and skin flora from two large published studies and data on scabies from the FinnGen database. Five MR analysis methods were used to increase the reliability of the results, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to increase the robustness of the results.

PPARα agonist ameliorates cholestatic liver injury by regulating hepatic macrophage homeostasis.

Inflammatory response plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver injury. PPARα agonists have been shown to regulate bile acid homeostasis and hepatic inflammation. However, the immunoregulatory mechanisms through which PPARα agonists ameliorate cholestatic liver injury remain unclear.

Synergistic effects of Li01 and psyllium husk prevent mice from developing loperamide-induced constipation.

Constipation is a gastrointestinal (GI) condition marked by difficulty in defecation, abdominal pain and distension, significantly impacting both physical and mental health. Li01 (Li01) is a probiotic known to prevent constipation in mice, while psyllium husk (PSH) is a dietary fiber with high water retention, acting as an intestinal lubricant. This study investigates the effects of a combined treatment of Li01 and PSH on mice with loperamide-induced constipation.

Chinese Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Mother-to-child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (Version 2024).

The , developed by the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases of the Chinese Medical Association in 2019, serves as a valuable reference for standardizing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission in China. As new evidence continues to emerge, it is essential to update these guidelines regularly to optimize clinical practice and research. To this end, the Infectious Disease Physician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and the Chinese Society of Infectious Diseases of the Chinese Medical Association, in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts, have updated the guidelines based on the latest domestic and international research advancements and clinical practices, providing up-to-date guidance for clinicians and maternal and child healthcare workers.

aCCI-HBV-ACLF: A Novel Predictive Model for Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure.

Background: Early identification of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) holds crucial importance in guiding clinical management and reducing mortality. However, existing scoring systems often overlook patient's underlying clinical condition, which significantly impacts prognosis.

Aims: Use the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI) to evaluate the patient's complications to develop a more precise model for predicting transplant-free mortality in HBV-ACLF patients.

Lactobacillus helveticus attenuates alcoholic liver injury via regulation of gut microecology in mice.

Previous reports have demonstrated that alcohol consumption significantly reduces the abundance of Lactobacillus in the gut. In this study, we selected five species of the genus Lactobacillus, commonly found in fermented foods, and acknowledged them as safe, edible, and effective in preventing or treating certain diseases, to evaluate their effects on alcoholic liver disease (ALD). By comparing the liver damage indices in each group, we found that the type strain of Lactobacillus helveticus (LH, ATCC 15009) had the most marked alleviating effect on ALD-induced liver injury.

Organoids: development and applications in disease models, drug discovery, precision medicine, and regenerative medicine.

Organoids are miniature, highly accurate representations of organs that capture the structure and unique functions of specific organs. Although the field of organoids has experienced exponential growth, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, gene editing, and bioinstrumentation, a comprehensive and accurate overview of organoid applications remains necessary. This review offers a detailed exploration of the historical origins and characteristics of various organoid types, their applications-including disease modeling, drug toxicity and efficacy assessments, precision medicine, and regenerative medicine-as well as the current challenges and future directions of organoid research.

Closed-loop theranostic microgels for immune microenvironment modulation and microbiota remodeling in ulcerative colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by the upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dysfunction of gut immune system, and microbiota. The conventional treatments mainly focus on symptom control with medication by overuse of drugs. There is an urgent need to develop a closed-loop strategy that combines in situ monitoring and precise treatment.

Establishment and Evaluation of a Noninvasive Metabolism-Related Fatty Liver Screening and Dynamic Monitoring Model: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) insidiously affects people's health, and many models have been proposed for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. However, there is still a lack of noninvasive and sensitive models to screen MAFLD in high-risk populations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore a new method for early screening of the public and establish a home-based tool for regular self-assessment and monitoring of MAFLD.

Glycyrrhizic acid alleviates concanavalin A-induced acute liver injury by regulating monocyte-derived macrophages.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is characterized by persistent liver inflammation induced by aberrant immune responses. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a prominent bioactive ingredient of licorice, has shown potential as a safe and effective treatment for AIH. However, the immune regulatory mechanism by which GA exerts its therapeutic effect on AIH remains elusive.

S100A8/A9-activated IFNγ NK cells trigger β-cell necroptosis in hepatitis B virus-associated liver cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver cirrhosis (LC), a common condition with high incidence and mortality rates, is often associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying impaired glucose regulation during HBV-associated LC remain unclear.

Methods: Data from 63 patients with LC and 62 patients with LC-associated DM were analysed.

The fecal microbiota of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) causes PBC-like liver lesions in mice and exacerbates liver damage in a mouse model of PBC.

The role of the gut microbiota in the occurrence and progression of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is not fully understood. First, the fecal microbiota of patients with PBC ( = 4) (PBC-FMT) or healthy individuals ( = 3) (HC-FMT) was transplanted into pseudo germ-free mice or 2OA-BSA-induced PBC models. The functions, histology and transcriptome of the liver, and microbiota and metabolome of the feces were analyzed.

Plasma metabolome analysis for predicting antiviral treatment efficacy in chronic hepatitis B: diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic insights.

The early and accurate identification of predictive biomarkers for antiviral treatment efficacy remains a significant clinical challenge, particularly in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to assess whether the plasma metabolome could reliably predict the success of antiviral therapy in CHB patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 56 treatment-naive CHB patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from December 2013 to March 2016.