Nine weeks of high-intensity indoor cycling training induced changes in the microbiota composition in non-athlete healthy male college students

Background: The gut microbiota constitutes a dynamic microbial system constantly challenged by environmental conditions, including physical exercise. Limited human studies suggest that exercise could play a beneficial role for gut health, increasing microbial diversity, even if the effects of exercise on gut microbial microorganisms depends on its intensity and duration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nine weeks of high-intensity interval exercise on gut microbiota composition in healthy young adults. Methods: The gut microbiota composition of seventeen healthy male college students was analysed before and after nine weeks of high-intensity interval cycling training by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. PERMANOVA for repeated measures was used to test pre-post differences in the relative abundance of all taxonomic levels, and correlations between variations in microbial composition and physical and dietary features were also assessed. Results: Physical exercise induced changes in microbiota composition, at all taxonomic levels analysed (phyla: F [1, 32]=3.97, p=0.029; classes: F [1, 32]=3.39, p=0.033, orders: F [1, 32]=3.17, p=0.044, families: F [1, 32]=1.54, p=0.037, genera: F [1, 32]=1.46, p=0.015, species: F [1, 32]=1.38, p=0.007). Conversely, no differences were found between pre and post-training conditions for microbial community richness (Chao1: V=105, p=0.06) or diversity (Shannon index: V=62, p=0.52; Simpson index: V=59, p=0.43). Changes in the relative abundance of eighteen genera were correlated to changes of twenty environmental factors grouped in physical features, sport-related features, and dietary features. Conclusions: Nine weeks of high-intensity exercise induced modifications in gut microbiota composition in healthy male college students, shifting the gut microbial population towards a healthier microbiome with benefit to human health in general

Initial performance of the CUORE-0 experiment

CUORE-0 is a cryogenic detector that uses an array of tellurium dioxide bolometers to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of ^{130}Te. We present the first data analysis with 7.1 kg y of total TeO_2 exposure focusing on background measurements and energy resolution. The background rates in the neutrinoless double-beta decay region of interest (2.47 to 2.57 MeV) and in the {\alpha} background-dominated region (2.70 to 3.90 MeV) have been measured to be 0.071 \pm 0.011 and 0.019 \pm 0.002 counts/keV/kg/y, respectively. The latter result represents a factor of 6 improvement from a predecessor experiment, Cuoricino. The results verify our understanding of the background sources in CUORE-0, which is the basis of extrapolations to the full CUORE detector. The obtained energy resolution (full width at half maximum) in the region of interest is 5.7 keV. Based on the measured background rate and energy resolution in the region of interest, CUORE-0 half-life sensitivity is expected to surpass the observed lower bound of Cuoricino with one year of live time.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, version 2 as published in Eur. Phys. J.

Neutrinoless double-beta decay search with CUORE and CUORE-0 experiments

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) is an upcoming experiment designed to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decays. Observation of the process would unambiguously establish that neutrinos are Majorana particles and provide information on their absolute mass scale hierarchy. CUORE is now under construction and will consist of an array of 988 TeO2 crystal bolometers operated at 10 mK, but the first tower (CUORE-0) is already taking data. The experimental techniques used will be presented as well as the preliminary CUORE-0 results. The current status of the full-mass experiment and its expected sensitivity will then be discussed

The impact of synchronous liver resection on the risk of anastomotic leakage following elective colorectal resection. A propensity score match analysis on behalf of the iCral study group

Introduction: how best to manage patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastasis is still controversial, with specific concerns of increased risk of postoperative complications following combined resection. We aimed at analyzing the influence of combined liver resection on the risk of anastomotic leak (AL) following colorectal resection. Methods: we reviewed the iCral prospectively maintained database to compare the relative risk of AL of patients undergoing colorectal resection for cancer to that of patients receiving simultaneous liver and colorectal resection for cancer with isolated hepatic metastases. The incidence of AL was the primary outcome of the analysis. Perioperative details and postoperative complications were also appraised. Results: out of a total of 996 patients who underwent colorectal resection for cancer, 206 receiving isolated colorectal resection were compared with a matched group of 53 patients undergoing simultaneous liver and colorectal resection. Combined surgery had greater operative time and resulted in longer postoperative hospitalization compared to colorectal resection alone. The proportion of overall morbidity following combined resection was significantly higher than after isolated colorectal resection (56.6% vs. 37.9%, p = 0.021). Overall, the two groups of patients did not differ neither on the rate of major postoperative complications, nor in terms of AL (9.4% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.381). At specific multivariate analysis, the duration of surgery was the only risk factor independently associated with the likelihood of AL. Conclusions: combining hepatic with colorectal resection for the treatment of synchronous liver metastasis from colorectal cancer does not increase significantly the incidence of AL

Estrogens maintain bile duct mass and reduce apoptosis after biliodigestive anastomosis in bile duct ligated rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Disapperacence of bile ducts (ductopenia) represents the terminal, common stage of human cholangiopathies, and estrogens exert a major role in stimulating cholangiocyte proliferation. We thus evaluated whether estrogen administration protect from the bile duct loss induced by the biliary-digestive diversion in bile duct ligated (BDL) rats. METHODS: After 3 weeks of BDL, rats were subjected to biliary-digestive diversion and treated with daily injections of 17beta-estradiol or a control solution. RESULTS: Both after 7 and 14 days from the biliary-digestive diversion a marked increase of the number of apoptotic cholangiocytes was observed. In contrast, 17beta-estradiol significantly reduced cholangiocyte apoptosis. 17beta-estradiol also prevented the biliary-digestive diversion-induced loss of PCNA-positive cholangiocytes and of the bile duct mass. Biliary-digestive diversion determined a marked reduction of ERK1/2 phopsphorylation in cholangiocytes that was reversed by the administration of 17beta-estradiol. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that estrogens prevent the increase of cholangiocyte apoptosis and loss of cholangiocyte proliferation induced by the biliary-digestive diversion in the BDL rat. In parallel, 17beta-estradiol also enhanced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which is instead strongly reduced by the biliary-digestive diversion. These novel findings suggest that estrogens could prevent the evolution of cholangiopathies toward ductopenia

Temporin A Soaking in Combination with Intraperitoneal Linezolid Prevents Vascular Graft Infection in a Subcutaneous Rat Pouch Model of Infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis with Intermediate Resistance to Glycopeptides

The efficacy of linezolid and temporin A in the prevention of prosthetic graft infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis with intermediate resistance to glycopeptides was investigated in a subcutaneous rat pouch model. Linezolid and temporin A, alone or combined, greatly reduced the bacterial numbers compared to the effect with control drugs

Cecropin B Enhances Betalactams Activities in Experimental Rat Models of Gram-Negative Septic Shock

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of imipenem, piperacillin combined with cecropin B in the prevention of lethality in 2 rat models of septic shock. Main outcome measures were bacterial growth in blood and intra-abdominal fluid, endotoxin and TNF-α concentrations in plasma, and lethality. BACKGROUND: Sepsis remains a serious clinical problem despite intense efforts to improve survival. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The primary cause of Gram-negative shock results from activation of host effector cells by endotoxin, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) associated with cell membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were given (1) an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 LPS or (2) 2 × 10(10) CFU of E. coli ATCC 25922. All animals were randomized to receive intraperitoneally isotonic sodium chloride solution, 1 mg/kg cecropin B, 20 mg/kg imipenem, and 120 mg/kg piperacillin alone and combined with 1 mg/kg cecropin B. Each group included 20 animals. RESULTS: All compounds reduced the lethality when compared with controls. Piperacillin and imipenem significantly reduced the lethality and the number of E. coli in abdominal fluid compared with saline treatment. On the other hand, each betalactam determined an increase of plasma endotoxin and TNF-α concentration. Combination between cecropin B and betalactams showed to be the most effective treatment in reducing all variables measured. CONCLUSION: Cecropin B enhances betalactams activities in Gram-negative sepic shock rat models

A proposal for the reference intervals of the Italian microbiota "scaffold" in healthy adults

: Numerous factors, ranging from genetics, age, lifestyle, and dietary habits to local environments, contribute to the heterogeneity of the microbiota in humans. Understanding the variability of a "healthy microbiota" is a major challenge in scientific research. The gut microbiota profiles of 148 healthy Italian volunteers were examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the range and diversity of taxonomic compositions in the gut microbiota of healthy populations. Possible driving factors were evaluated through a detailed anamnestic questionnaire. Microbiota reference intervals were also calculated. A "scaffold" of a healthy Italian gut microbiota composition was identified. Differences in relative quantitative ratios of microbiota composition were detected in two clusters: a bigger cluster (C2), which included 124 subjects, was characterized by more people from the northern Italian regions, who habitually practised more physical activity and with fewer dietary restrictions. Species richness and diversity were significantly higher in this cluster (C2) than in the other one (C1) (C1: 146.67 ± 43.67; C2: 198.17 ± 48.47; F = 23.40; P < 0.001 and C1: 16.88 ± 8.66; C2: 35.01 ± 13.40; F = 40.50; P < 0.001, respectively). The main contribution of the present study was the identification of the existence of a primary healthy microbiological framework that is only marginally affected by variations. Taken together, our data help to contextualize studies on population-specific variations, including marginal aspects, in human microbiota composition. Such variations must be related to the primary framework of a healthy microbiota and providing this perspective could help scientists to better design experimental plans and develop strategies for precision tailored microbiota modulation

Changes in gut microbiota composition after 12 weeks of a home-based lifestyle intervention in breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 lockdown

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week home-based lifestyle intervention (based on nutrition and exercise) on gut microbial composition in twenty BC survivors of the MoviS clinical trial (protocol: NCT 04818359). Methods: Gut microbiota analysis through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, anthropometrics, Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence, and cardiometabolic parameters were evaluated before (Pre) and after (Post) the lifestyle intervention (LI). Results: Beneficial effects of the LI were observed on MD adherence, and cardiometabolic parameters (pre vs post). A robust reduction of Proteobacteria was observed after LI, which is able to reshape the gut microbiota by modulating microorganisms capable of decreasing inflammation and others involved in improving the lipid and glycemic assets of the host. A significant negative correlation between fasting glucose and Clostridia_vadinBB60 (r = -0.62), insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index and Butyricicoccus genera (r = -0.72 and -0.66, respectively), and HDL cholesterol and Escherichia/Shigella (r = -0.59) have been reported. Moreover, positive correlations were found between MD adherence and Lachnospiraceae_ND3007 (r = 0.50), Faecalibacterium (r = 0.38) and Butyricimonas (r = 0.39). Conclusion: These data suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle, may contribute to ameliorate several biological parameters that could be involved in the prevention of cancer relapses through the modulation of gut microbiota