Moderate variations in the human diet impact the gut microbiota in humanized mice.

Aim: Drastic diet interventions have been shown to promote rapid and significant compositional changes of the gut microbiota, but the impact of moderate diet variations is less clear. Here, we aimed to clarify the impact of moderate diet variations that remain within the spectrum of the habitual human diet on gut microbiota composition.

Methods: We performed a pilot diet intervention where five healthy volunteers consumed a vegetarian ready-made meal for three days to standardize dietary intake before switching to a meat-based ready-made western-style meal and high sugar drink for two days.

The interplay between dietary fatty acids and gut microbiota influences host metabolism and hepatic steatosis.

Dietary lipids can affect metabolic health through gut microbiota-mediated mechanisms, but the influence of lipid-microbiota interaction on liver steatosis is largely unknown. We investigate the impact of dietary lipids on human gut microbiota composition and the effects of microbiota-lipid interactions on steatosis in male mice. In humans, low intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) is associated with increased microbial diversity independent of fiber intake.

Hepatic expression of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (Lbp) is induced by the gut microbiota through Myd88 and impairs glucose tolerance in mice independent of obesity.

Objective: Gut-derived inflammatory factors can impair glucose homeostasis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated how hepatic gene expression is regulated by gut colonization status through myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) and how one of the regulated genes, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (Lbp), affects insulin signaling and systemic glucose homeostasis.

Methods: Liver transcriptomics analysis was conducted on four groups of mice fed a chow diet: conventionally raised (CONV-R) wild-type, germ-free (GF) wild-type, CONV-R Myd88 KO, and GF Myd88 KO.

Dietary lipids, gut microbiota and lipid metabolism.

The gut microbiota is a central regulator of host metabolism. The composition and function of the gut microbiota is dynamic and affected by diet properties such as the amount and composition of lipids. Hence, dietary lipids may influence host physiology through interaction with the gut microbiota.

GLP-2 analog teduglutide significantly reduces need for parenteral nutrition and stool frequency in a real-life setting.

Background: To evaluate the benefits of teduglutide in a real-life setting, we analyzed the data of 14 patients with short bowel syndrome treated with teduglutide. Additionally, we studied glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) receptor expression in samples of small intestinal and colonic tissue to provide explanations for clinical observations.

Methods: Stool frequency and consistency, sensation of thirst, parental calorie or fluid uptake and the number of days on parenteral support per week were collected for up to 2 years.

Dexmedetomidine is neuroprotective in an in vitro model for traumatic brain injury.

Background: The α2-adrenoreceptor agonist dexmedetomidine is known to provide neuroprotection under ischemic conditions. In this study we investigated whether dexmedetomidine has a protective effect in an in vitro model for traumatic brain injury.

Methods: Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were subjected to a focal mechanical trauma and then exposed to varying concentrations of dexmedetomidine.