Gene expression profiling in the intestinal mucosa of obese rats administered probiotic bacteria

This paper will be part of Candido Robles-Sanchez's doctorate, which is being completed as part of the 'Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program' at the University of Granada, Spain. This work was funded by the company Hero Spain, S. A. (grant #3545 managed by Fundacion General EmpresaUniversidad de Granada) and by CEIBiotic, University of Granada, Spain (grant CEI2013P-11).We investigated whether the administration of Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036 modulate the expression of genes in the intestinal mucosa of obese Zucker rats. Forty-eight Zucker-Lepr(fa/fa) and 16 Zucker lean Lepr(+/fa) rats were used. Eight Zucker lean Lepr(+/fa) and 8 Zucker-Lepr(fa/fa) rats were euthanized as a reference. The remaining 40 Zucker-Lepr(fa/fa) rats were then assigned to receive 10(10) colony forming units (CFU) of one of the three probiotic strains, a mixture of L. paracasei CNCM I-4034 and B. breve CNCM I-4035, or a placebo by oral administration for 30 days. An additional group of 8 Zucker lean Lepr(+/fa) rats received the placebo for 30 days. Over 27,000 rat genes were studied using a DNA array. Four animals per group were used. Total RNA was extracted from intestinal mucosa and cDNA was synthesized, fragmented and labeled. Labeled cDNA was hybridized using GeneChip kits, and the latter were scanned. Intensity values of each probe were processed and normalized to obtain an individual value for each set of probes.Company Hero Spain, S. A. 3545CEIBiotic, University of Granada, Spain CEI2013P-1

Efecto de Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036 y Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 sobre la expresión génica de la mucosa intestinal de ratas obesas

Los probióticos son microorganismos vivos que confieren un beneficio a la persona que los consume en cantidades adecuadas. Se ha descrito que ejercen efectos beneficiosos en alergia, enfermedades intestinales, enfermedad hepática crónica e infecciones respiratorias y del tracto urinario, entre otras. Como mecanismos de acción para explicar tales efectos se han propuesto la modificación de la microbiota intestinal, la adherencia competitiva a la mucosa y al epitelio, el fortalecimiento de la barrera epitelial del intestino y la modulación del sistema inmunitario. Nuestro grupo de investigación viene trabajando en los últimos años con tres cepas de probióticos. Las cepas se identificaron como Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4034, Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-4035 y Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036 y están depositadas en el Instituto Pasteur. Fueron aisladas a partir de las heces de recién nacidos alimentados de forma exclusiva con leche materna. La selección de las cepas se hizo en base a sus propiedades in vitro, como su adhesión a células intestinales, sensibilidad a antibióticos y resistencia a sales biliares y pH ácido. Hemos demostrado su seguridad tras ingestión aguda en ratones tanto inmunocompetentes como inmunodeprimidos. Además, inhiben in vitro el crecimiento de Listeria monocytogenes y las infecciones por rotavirus humanos. Del mismo modo, hemos demostrado la tolerancia y seguridad de las tres cepas en un estudio clínico multicéntrico, aleatorizado, doble-ciego y controlado por placebo en voluntarios sanos. La administración oral de las cepas modificó la microbiota intestinal de los voluntarios y además tuvo efectos inmunomoduladores, como aumentos de la IgA secretora intestinal y de citoquinas anti-inflamatorias en suero. Posteriormente, continuamos investigando los efectos de las tres cepas en ratas obesas Zucker. Estas ratas exhiben muchas de las características del síndrome de resistencia a la insulina (SRI) como obesidad, hiperglucemia, resistencia a la insulina, hipercolesterolemia, hipertrigliceridemia y concentraciones elevadas en suero de ácidos grasos libres, en comparación con sus controles delgados, las ratas Zucker-lean Lepr+/fa, por lo que es uno de los más empleados. Además, las ratas Zucker-Leprfa/fa tienen esteatosis hepática y transaminasas elevadas en suero, lo que indica que poseen el componente hepático del SRI. Utilizando este modelo, hemos descrito que la administración de estos probióticos, además de modificar la microbiota intestinal de los animales, disminuye la esteatosis hepática y ejerce efectos anti-inflamatorios, entre los que caben destacar las disminuciones de las concentraciones séricas del factor de necrosis tumoral (TNF)-α, la interleuquina (IL-6) y el lipopolisacárido (LPS) bacteriano.Tesis Univ. Granada. Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Bioquímica y Biología Molecula

Delaying surgery for patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection

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Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care