The influences of low protein diet on the intestinal microbiota of mice

Recent research suggests that protein deficiency symptoms are influenced by the intestinal microbiota. We investigated the influence of low protein diet on composition of the intestinal microbiota through animal experiments. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice were fed one of four diets (3, 6, 9, or 12% protein) for 4 weeks (n = 5 per diet). Mice fed the 3% protein diet showed protein deficiency symptoms such as weight loss and low level of blood urea nitrogen concentration in their serum. The intestinal microbiota of mice in the 3% and 12% protein diet groups at day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which revealed differences in the microbiota. In the 3% protein diet group, a greater abundance of urease producing bacterial species was detected across the duration of the study. In the 12% diet protein group, increases of abundance of Streptococcaceae and Clostridiales families was detected. These results suggest that protein deficiency may be associated with shifts in intestinal microbiota

Sorafenib-induced Prostate Volume Reduction, a New Adverse Effect Detected by Imaging: A Pilot Study

Background:  Sorafenib has been used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sorafenib-associated organ reduction have been reported on imaging, such as thyroid, pancreas and muscle, but there has been no research on prostate volume reduction (PVR). Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed 26 patients (twenty with HCC and six patients with RCC) who underwent sorafenib therapy for 31 to 1225 days (median, 100 days). PVR was estimated by two independent readers using CT volumetry. Results:  The sum of all prostate volumes measured by reader 1 was 24.2 ± 13.8 cm3 on the baseline CT and 20.4 ± 10.6 cm3 on the follow-up CT (p < 0.001), and that measured by reader 2 was 22.3 ± 13.9 cm3 on the baseline CT and 19.2 ± 10.6 cm3 on the follow-up CT (p < 0.001). The concordance correlation coefficient for the prostate volume measured by the two readers was 0.95 on the baseline CT scans and 0.94 on the follow-up CT scans. Sorafenib-associated PVR demonstrated slight dependence to the exposure time (r = –0.23). One patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) showed PVR (from 80.4 to 61.5 cm3 [reader 1]; 83.4 to 61.6 cm3 [reader 2]) after sorafenib administration. Sorafenib-associated PVR occurred in patients both with and without underlying liver dysfunction with relative prostate volume changes of 86.7 ± 12.0% and 85.0 ± 9.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated significant PVR with sorafenib treatment in patients regardless of the presence of BPH and underlying liver dysfunction

Sorafenib-induced Prostate Volume Reduction, a New Adverse Effect Detected by Imaging: A Pilot Study

Background: Sorafenib has been used in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sorafenib-associated organ reduction have been reported on imaging, such as thyroid, pancreas and muscle, but there has been no research on prostate volume reduction (PVR).Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 26 patients (twenty with HCC and six patients with RCC) who underwent sorafenib therapy for 31 to 1225 days (median, 100 days). PVR was estimated by two independent readers using CT volumetry.Results: The sum of all prostate volumes measured by reader 1 was 24.2 ± 13.8 cm3 on the baseline CT and 20.4 ± 10.6 cm3 on the follow-up CT (p < 0.001), and that measured by reader 2 was 22.3 ± 13.9 cm3 on the baseline CT and 19.2 ± 10.6 cm3 on the follow-up CT (p < 0.001). The concordance correlation coefficient for the prostate volume measured by the two readers was 0.95 on the baseline CT scans and 0.94 on the follow-up CT scans. Sorafenib-associated PVR demonstrated slight dependence to the exposure time (r = –0.23). One patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) showed PVR (from 80.4 to 61.5 cm3 [reader 1]; 83.4 to 61.6 cm3 [reader 2]) after sorafenib administration. Sorafenib-associated PVR occurred in patients both with and without underlying liver dysfunction with relative prostate volume changes of 86.7 ± 12.0% and 85.0 ± 9.0%, respectively.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated significant PVR with sorafenib treatment in patients regardless of the presence of BPH and underlying liver dysfunction

Transition of the intestinal microbiota of cats with age.

The transition of intestinal microbiota with age has been well described in humans. However, the age-related changes in intestinal microbiota of cats have not been well studied. In the present study, we investigated the composition of intestinal microbiota of cats in 5 different age groups (pre-weanling, weanling, young, aged, senile) with a culture-based method. For lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, we also quantified with molecular-based method, real-time PCR. The results suggested that the composition of the feline intestinal microbiota changes with age, while the changes were different from those of humans and dogs. Bifidobacteria which are predominant in human intestine or lactobacilli which are predominant in dog intestine, did not appear to be important in cat intestines. Enterococci, instead, seem to be major lactic acid producing bacteria in cats. We also identified lactobacilli and bifidobacteria at the species level based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and found that the species composition of Lactobacillus also changed with age

The relative abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> group and <i>Bifidobacterium</i>.

<p>The relative abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> group and <i>Bifidobacterium</i>.</p

Cats used in this study.

<p>Cats used in this study.</p

Fecal microbiota of the different age groups of cats.

<p>Fecal microbiota of the different age groups of cats.</p