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Emerging evidence has linked the gut microbiome to human obesity. We performed a metagenome-wide association study and serum metabolomics profiling in a cohort of lean and obese, young, Chinese individuals. We identified obesity-associated gut microbial species linked to changes in circulating metabolites. The abundance of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a glutamate-fermenting commensal, was markedly decreased in obese individuals and was inversely correlated with serum glutamate concentration. Consistently, gavage with B. thetaiotaomicron reduced plasma glutamate concentration and alleviated diet-induced body-weight gain and adiposity in mice. Furthermore, weight-loss intervention by bariatric surgery partially reversed obesity-associated microbial and metabolic alterations in obese individuals, including the decreased abundance of B. thetaiotaomicron and the elevated serum glutamate concentration. Our findings identify previously unknown links between intestinal microbiota alterations, circulating amino acids and obesity, suggesting that it may be possible to intervene in obesity by targeting the gut microbiota., Author(s): Ruixin Liu [1]; Jie Hong [1]; Xiaoqiang Xu [2, 3]; Qiang Feng [2, 4]; Dongya Zhang [2]; Yanyun Gu [1]; Juan Shi [1]; Shaoqian Zhao [1]; Wen Liu [1]; [...]

Quercetin (Que) is one of main compounds in Lysimachia christinae Hance (Christina loosestrife), and has both medicinal and nutritional value. Glycosides from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. (lei gong teng [the thunder duke vine]; TG) have diverse and broad bioactivities but with a high incidence of liver injury. Our previous study reported on the hepatoprotective properties of an ethanol extract from L. christinae against TG-induced liver injury in mice. This research is designed to observe, for the first time, the possible protective properties of the compound Que against TG-induced liver injury, and the underlying mechanisms that are involved in oxidative stress and anti-inflammation. The results indicated that TG caused excessive elevation in serum levels of alanine/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as hepatic lipid peroxidation (all P < 0.01). On the other hand, following TG exposure, we observed significantly reduced levels of biomarkers, including hepatic glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, as well as the enzyme activity and mRNA expression of copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and catalase (CAT) (all P < 0.01). Nevertheless, all of these alterations were reversed by the pre-administration of Que or the drug bifendate (positive control) for 7 consecutive days. Therefore, this study suggests that Que ameliorates TG-induced acute liver injury, probably through its ability to reduce oxidative stress and its anti-inflammatory properties. Key words: hepatoprotection, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines. La quercetine (Que), un des composes principaux de Lysimachia christinae Hance, possede des vertus medicinales et nutritionnelles. Les glycosides de Tripterygium spp. (GT) exercent des activites biologiques variees et etendues, mais leur utilisation s'accompagne d'une incidence elevee de dommage hepatique. Une etude precedente realisee par les auteurs a rapporte l'effet hepatoprotecteur d'un extrait a l'ethanol de L. christinae envers le dommage hepatique induit par les GT chez la souris. Cette recherche a ete concue afin d'examiner de maniere plus approfondie l'effet protecteur possible de la Que envers le dommage hepatique induit par les GT, et les mecanismes sous-jacents impliques dans les effets antioxydants and antiinflammatoires, pour la premiere fois. Les resultats ont indique que les GT provoquaient une elevation excessive d'alanine/ aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST), de phosphatase alcaline (PA) et de gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) seriques, de la peroxydation lipidique hepatique, et des niveaux du facteur necrosant des tumeurs-alpha (TNF-α), une cytokine pro-inflammatoire. Par contre, une reduction significative de biomarqueurs incluant le glutathion hepatique (GSH) et l'activite enzymatique et l'expression de l'ARNm de la glutathion-S-transferase (GST), la glutathion peroxydase (GPx), la superoxyde dismutase a cuivre et zinc (CuZn-SOD) et la catalase (CAT), de meme que la cytokine anti-inflammatoire interleukine-10, a ete observee a la suite d'une exposition aux GT (pour tous P < 0,01). Toutefois, toutes ces anomalies etaient renversees de maniere evidente par une administration prealable de Que et de bifendate pendant 7 jours consecutifs. En consequence, l'etude presente suggere que la Que peut ameliorer le dommage hepatique aigu induit par les GT, probablement par l'intermediaire d'une activite antioxydante et antiinflammatoire. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : hepatoprotection, stress oxydant, enzymes antioxydantes, cytokines pro-inflammatoires, cytokines anti-inflammatoires., Introduction Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), as a rare but severe adverse drug reaction that represents a major problem in pharmacotherapy, both clinically and economically. Nowadays, DILI has been the major [...]

Geniposide (GP) is one of main compounds in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, with both medicinal and nutritional value. This study was designed to determine, for the first time, how GP from G. jasminoides protects against acute alcohol-induced liver injury, and the underlying mechanisms. Mice were orally administered alcohol (6.0 g/kg body mass) 2 h after intragastric administration of GP and bifendate, every day for 7 continuous days. Six hours after the alcohol was administered, levels of serum alanine/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST), hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), and catalase (CAT), and mRNA expression of CuZn-SOD and CAT were assayed. The results demonstrated that GP (20.0, 40.0, or 80 mg/kg) significantly reversed the excessive, alcohol-induced elevation in both serum ALT/AST and hepatic LPO levels. Moreover, hepatic GSH, GST, GPx, CuZn-SOD, and CAT levels were all decreased in the alcohol-treated mice, whereas treatment with GP reversed these decreases. Further analysis indicated that hepatic mRNA expression of CuZn-SOD and CAT in the alcohol-treated mice was significantly down-regulated, whereas GP up-regulated such decreases. Taken together, this study shows that GP protects against acute alcohol-induced liver injury via up-regulating the expression of the main antioxidant enzymes, and thus ameliorates alcohol-induced oxidative stress injury in the liver. Key words: hepatoprotection, oxidative stress, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase, catalase. Le geniposide (GP), un des composes principaux de Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, possede une valeur medicinale et nutritionnelle. Cette etude a ete concue afin d'observer, pour la premiere fois, la protection exercee par le GP de G. jasminoides envers le dommage hepatique induit par l'alcool, ainsi que les mecanismes sous-jacents. Des souris ont recu de l'alcool par voie orale a une dose de 6,0 g/kg de masse corporelle, 2 heures apres l'administration par voie intragastrique de GP et de bifendate, quotidiennement, pendant 7 jours consecutifs. Six apres l'administration d'alcool, les niveaux d'alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST) seriques et la peroxidation lipidique (LPO) hepatique, les niveaux de glutathion (GSH), de glutathion S-transferase (GST), de glutathion peroxydase (GPx), de superoxide dismutase a cuiver et zinc (CuZn-SOD) et de catalase (CAT), de meme que l'expression de l'ARNm de CuZn-SOD et de CAT ont ete mesures. Les resultats ont demontre que le GP (20,0, 40,0 ou 80,0 mg/kg) renversait significativement l'elevation excessive d'ALT/AST dans le serum et de LPO hepatique provoquee par l'alcool. De plus, les niveaux hepatiques de GSH, GST, GPx, CuZn-SOD et CAT diminuaient tous chez les souris traitees a l'alcool, alors que le GP renversait une telle diminution. Des analyses plus poussees ont indique que l'expression hepatique de l'ARNm de CuZn-SOD et de CAT chez les souris traitees a l'alcool etait regulee a la baisse de maniere significative, alors que le GP contrecarrait cette diminution. Dans l'ensemble, l'etude presente montre que le GP protege le foie du dommage induit par l'alcool en regulant a la hausse l'expression des principales enzymes antioxydantes et ce faisant, contrecarre le dommage oxydant provoque par l'alcool dans le foie. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : protection hepatique, stress oxydant, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, superoxyde dismutase a cuivre et zinc, catalase., Introduction Alcohol abuse is one of the main causes of liver disease and is a serious social problem worldwide (Mandayam et al. 2004). The incidence of alcoholic liver disease has [...]

Cloud computing, internet of things and other emerging internet technologies have been widely used in bridge projects. However, current researches are not sufficiently comprehensive in this field for lack of application researches on multiple technology integration in the whole life cycle. In this context, this paper integrates the applications of cloud computing, internet of things and BIM technology to build a BIM management platform, which effectively solves the problems of information islands in the full life cycle, and improves engineering data accumulation, storage, management and application status. Furthermore, three-dimensional visualization management and control in terms of information coordination, monitoring information management, and security risk early warning are addressed to achieve refined management of bridge projects. The practical application results show that the BIM management platform solves the problems of low-level visualization and data integration difficulties in the full life cycle, reduces the overall safety and quality risks of bridge projects, strengthens the collaborative communication among the participating parties, and improves the speed and efficiency of emergency response, which further verifies the mutual complement of cloud computing, internet of things and BIM technology, and its role in intelligent decision-making and management of projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]