Possible relationships between gut dysbiosis and breast cancer (BC) development and progression have been previously reported. However, the results of these metagenomics studies are inconsistent. Our ...study involved 88 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 86 cancer-free control women. Participants were divided into groups based on their menopausal status. Fecal samples were collected from 47 and 41 pre- and postmenopausal newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 51 and 35 pre- and postmenopausal controls, respectively. In this study, we performed shotgun metagenomic analyses to compare the gut microbial community between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls.
Firstly, we identified 12, 64, 158, and 455 bacterial taxa on the taxonomy level of phyla, families, genera, and species, respectively. Insignificant differences of the Shannon index and β-diversity were found at the genus and species levels between pre- and postmenopausal controls; the differences concerned only the Chao index at the species level. No differences in α-diversity indexes were found between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients, although β-diversity differed these subgroups at the genus and species levels. Consistently, only the abundance of single taxa differed between pre- and postmenopausal controls and cases, while the abundances of 14 and 23 taxa differed or tended to differ between premenopausal cases and controls, and between postmenopausal cases and controls, respectively. There were similar differences in the distribution of enterotypes. Of 460 bacterial MetaCyc pathways discovered, no pathways differentiated pre- and postmenopausal controls or BC patients, while two and one pathways differentiated cases from controls in the pre- and postmenopausal subgroups, respectively.
While our findings did not reveal an association of changes in the overall microbiota composition and selected taxa with the menopausal status in cases and controls, they confirmed differences of the gut microbiota between pre- and postmenopausal BC patients and the corresponding controls. However, these differences were less extensive than those described previously.
Low diversity gut dysbiosis can take different forms depending on the disease context. In this study, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to ...compared the metagenomic and metabolomic profiles of
diarrheal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and defined the additive effect of
infection (CDI) on intestinal dysbiosis.
The study cohort consisted of 138 case-mix cancer patients, 43 IBD patients, and 45 healthy control individuals. Thirty-three patients were also infected with
. In the control group, three well-known enterotypes were identified, while the other groups presented with an additional
-driven enterotype. Bacterial diversity was significantly lower in all groups than in healthy controls, while the highest level of bacterial species richness was observed in cancer patients. Fifty-six bacterial species had abundance levels that differentiated diarrheal patient groups from the control group. Of these species, 52 and 4 (
,
,
, and
) were under-represented and over-represented, respectively, in all diarrheal patient groups. The relative abundances of propionate and butyrate were significantly lower in fecal samples from IBD and CDI patients than in control samples. Isobutyrate, propanate, and butyrate concentrations were lower in cancer, IBD, and CDI samples, respectively. Glycine and valine amino acids were over- represented in diarrheal patients.
Our data indicate that different external and internal factors drive comparable profiles of low diversity dysbiosis. While diarrheal-related low diversity dysbiosis may be a consequence of systemic cancer therapy, a similar phenotype is observed in cases of moderate to severe IBD, and in both cases, dysbiosis is exacerbated by incidence of CDI.
This comprehensive review encompasses studies examining changes in the cervical and cervico-vaginal microbiota (CM and CVM) in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) using next-generation sequencing ...(NGS) technology. HPV infection remains a prominent global health concern, with a spectrum of manifestations, from benign lesions to life-threatening cervical cancers. The CM and CVM, a unique collection of microorganisms inhabiting the cervix/vagina, has emerged as a critical player in cervical health. Recent research has indicated that disruptions in the CM and CVM, characterized by a decrease in
and the overgrowth of other bacteria, might increase the risk of HPV persistence and the progression of cervical abnormalities. This alteration in the CM or CVM has been linked to a higher likelihood of HPV infection and cervical dysplasia. NGS technology has revolutionized the study of the cervical microbiome, providing insights into microbial diversity, dynamics, and taxonomic classifications. Bacterial
gene sequencing, has proven invaluable in characterizing the cervical microbiome, shedding light on its role in HPV infections and paving the way for more tailored strategies to combat cervical diseases. NGS-based studies offer personalized insights into an individual's cervical microbiome. This knowledge holds promise for the development of novel diagnostic tools, targeted therapies, and preventive interventions for cervix-related conditions, including cervical cancer.
Nitrogen metabolism is important for physiological processes during normal growth and development, as well as plant defence responses. Second‐stage juveniles of the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii ...penetrate into the root and initiate permanent feeding sites called syncytia, from which they draw all necessary nutrients. To unravel whether the cyst nematode infestation changes nitrogen metabolism, the enzymatic activity and gene expression of nitrate (NIA) and nitrite (NIR) reductases and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), as well as levels of the metabolites nitrates, nitrites, and ammonium ions were estimated both locally in inoculated roots and systemically in shoots of inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana plants at 3, 7, and 15 days post‐inoculation (dpi). Moreover, gene expression of long hypocotyle 5 (HY5), a basic‐region leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, was also determined, to learn more about the potential transcriptional regulation of the analysed enzymes. It was shown that the activity of nitrogen‐related enzymes and the content of metabolites fluctuated during the whole period of infection. These results were accompanied by organ‐specific and dpi‐dependent gene expression patterns. The high gene expression level of HY5 in infected roots at 7 and 15 dpi coexisted with enhanced expression of NIA1 and NIR1 at 7 dpi and NIA2 at 15 dpi. Enhanced HY5 expression level in shoots of infected plants at 15 dpi was followed by up‐regulation of NIA1 expression, suggesting that HY5 may regulate the gene expression of NIA and NIR during nematode infection. Our results indicate that changes in plant nitrogen metabolism occur during cyst nematode infection.
Cyst nematode infection changed the enzyme activity and gene expression of nitrate and nitrite reductases, glutamate dehydrogenase as well as amounts of nitrates, nitrites, and ammonium ions in plants.
The study investigated the impact of starch degradation products (SDexF) as prebiotics on obesity management in mice and overweight/obese children.
A total of 48 mice on a normal diet (ND) and 48 on ...a Western diet (WD) were divided into subgroups with or without 5% SDexF supplementation for 28 weeks. In a human study, 100 overweight/obese children were randomly assigned to prebiotic and control groups, consuming fruit and vegetable mousse with or without 10 g of SDexF for 24 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed for microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and amino acids (AA) were assessed.
Results showed SDexF slowed weight gain in female mice on both diets but only temporarily in males. It altered bacterial diversity and specific taxa abundances in mouse feces. In humans, SDexF did not influence weight loss or gut microbiota composition, showing minimal changes in individual taxa. The anti-obesity effect observed in mice with WD-induced obesity was not replicated in children undergoing a weight-loss program.
SDexF exhibited sex-specific effects in mice but did not impact weight loss or microbiota composition in overweight/obese children.
High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotypes, specifically HPV16 and HPV18, pose a significant risk for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. In the ...multifaceted cervical microenvironment, consisting of immune cells and diverse microbiota, Lactobacillus emerges as a pivotal factor, wielding significant influence in both stabilizing and disrupting the microbiome of the reproductive tract. To analyze the distinction between the cervical microbiota and Lactobacillus-dominant/non-dominant status of HR-HPV and non-infected healthy women, sixty-nine cervical swab samples were analyzed, included 44 with HR-HPV infection and healthy controls. All samples were recruited from Human Papillomavirus-based cervical cancer screening program and subjected to 16s rRNA sequencing analysis. Alpha and beta diversity analyses reveal no significant differences in the cervical microbiota of HR-HPV-infected women, including 16 and 18 HPV genotypes, and those with squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), compared to a control group. In this study we identified significantly lower abundance of Lactobacillus mucosae in women with HR-HPV infection compared to the control group. Furthermore, changes in bacterial diversity were noted in Lactobacillus non-dominant (LND) samples compared to Lactobacillus-dominant (LD) in both HR-HPV-infected and control groups. LND samples in HR-HPV-infected women exhibited a cervical dysbiotic state, characterized by Lactobacillus deficiency. In turn, the LD HR-HPV group showed an overrepresentation of Lactobacillus helveticus. In summary, our study highlighted the distinctive roles of L. mucosae and L. helveticus in HR-HPV infections, signaling a need for further research to demonstrate potential clinical implications of cervical microbiota dysbiosis.
Esports is a category of competitive video games that, in many aspects, may be similar to traditional sports; however, the gut microbiota composition of players has not been yet studied.
Here, we ...investigated the composition and function of the gut microbiota, as well as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and amino acids, in a group of 109 well-characterized Polish male esports players. The results were compared with two reference groups: 25 endurance athletes and 36 healthy students of physical education. DNA and metabolites isolated from fecal samples were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Physical activity and nutritional measures were evaluated by questionnaire.
Although anthropometric, physical activity and nutritional measures differentiated esports players from students, there were no differences in bacterial diversity, the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, the composition of enterotype clusters, metagenome functional content, or SCFA concentrations. However, there were significant differences between esports players and students with respect to nine bacterial species and nine amino acids. By contrast, all of the above-mentioned measures differentiated professional athletes from esports players and students, with 45 bacteria differentiating professional athletes from the former and 31 from the latter. The only species differentiating all three experimental groups was
, showing the lowest and highest abundance in esports players and athletes, respectively.
Our study confirms the marked impact of intense exercise training on gut microbial structure and function. Differences in lifestyle and dietary habits between esports players and physical education students appear to not have a major effect on the gut microbiota.
Bei der Planung und Ausführung von Anlagen, in denen wassergefährdende Stoffe gelagert werden (sog. L‐Anlagen), müssen nach § 62 Absatz 1 des Wasserhaushaltsgesetzes 1 Maßnahmen zur primären und ...sekundären Sicherheit getroffen und die Standsicherheit, aber auch die Dichtigkeit nachgewiesen werden. Planung und Umsetzung sollen beispielhaft für ein Projekt der chemischen Industrie an einem deutschen Standort aufgezeigt werden.
HOCHTIEF wurde im Rahmen eines Design‐and‐Build‐Projekts mit der Bauplanung und Bauausführung eines Tanklagers beauftragt. Der Auftrag umfasste im Wesentlichen die Errichtung von drei Tanktassen, die im Havariefall als sekundäre Barriere dienen. Eine Tanktasse wurde dabei in Form einer Edelstahlwanne ausgebildet und die zweite als Stahlbetoncontainment mit innen liegender Beschichtung. Das dritte Containment wurde als Betonkonstruktion mit Dichtigkeitsnachweis nach DAfStb‐Richtlinie 2 geplant und ausgeführt, wobei die Ringwand horizontal vorgespannt war. Der Artikel geht auf die Besonderheiten in der Planung und bei der Bauausführung ein.
Design and construction of a storage tank in accordance with the stipulations of the German water resources law
The design and construction of facilities in which water‐hazardous substances need to be stored (L‐Anlagen) must meet all the demands stipulated by the German water resources law 1. The measures refer to primary and secondary safety but also to structural integrity, without neglecting the impermeability of the system. The design and implementation of such measures will be illustrated for a project in a German chemical industrial site.
HOCHTIEF was commissioned with the design and construction of a tank storage facility. Essentially, the contract covered the construction of three storage tanks, which in case of damage should act as a secondary barrier. The first storage tank was planned as a stainless steel basin, the second one as a concrete structure with a coating in the interior side and the third one just as a concrete structure. This third containment, provided with a horizontally pre‐stressed ring wall, was designed and executed as a concrete structure meeting all the impermeability requirements according to the DAfStb guideline 2. This article refers to the specific requirements of the design and construction of such structures.
Design and construction of a storage tank in accordance with the stipulations of the German water resources law The design and construction of facilities in which water-hazardous substances need to ...be stored (L-Anlagen) must meet all the demands stipulated by the German water resources law 1. The measures refer to primary and secondary safety but also to structural integrity, without neglecting the impermeability of the system. The design and implementation of such measures will be illustrated for a project in a German chemical industrial site. HOCHTIEF was commissioned with the design and construction of a tank storage facility. Essentially, the contract covered the construction of three storage tanks, which in case of damage should act as a secondary barrier. The first storage tank was planned as a stainless steel basin, the second one as a concrete structure with a coating in the interior side and the third one just as a concrete structure. This third containment, provided with a horizontally pre-stressed ring wall, was designed and executed as a concrete structure meeting all the impermeability requirements according to the DAfStb guideline 2. This article refers to the specific requirements of the design and construction of such structures.Original Abstract: Bei der Planung und Ausfuehrung von Anlagen, in denen wassergefaehrdende Stoffe gelagert werden (sog. L-Anlagen), muessen nach 62 Absatz 1 des Wasserhaushaltsgesetzes 1 Masnahmen zur primaeren und sekundaeren Sicherheit getroffen und die Standsicherheit, aber auch die Dichtigkeit nachgewiesen werden. Planung und Umsetzung sollen beispielhaft fuer ein Projekt der chemischen Industrie an einem deutschen Standort aufgezeigt werden. HOCHTIEF wurde im Rahmen eines Design-and-Build-Projekts mit der Bauplanung und Bauausfuehrung eines Tanklagers beauftragt. Der Auftrag umfasste im Wesentlichen die Errichtung von drei Tanktassen, die im Havariefall als sekundaere Barriere dienen. Eine Tanktasse wurde dabei in Form einer Edelstahlwanne ausgebildet und die zweite als Stahlbetoncontainment mit innen liegender Beschichtung. Das dritte Containment wurde als Betonkonstruktion mit Dichtigkeitsnachweis nach DAfStb-Richtlinie 2 geplant und ausgefuehrt, wobei die Ringwand horizontal vorgespannt war. Der Artikel geht auf die Besonderheiten in der Planung und bei der Bauausfuehrung ein.
