Ruizhen Li

Recent studies have indicated that there are imbalances in neurotransmitter levels in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Alterations in peripher

The gut microbiome and its metabolites may be important role in regulating the pathogenesis of obesity. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolome in obese children. This case–control study recruited children aged 7‒14 years and divided them into a normal group (NG) and an obese group (OG) based on their body mass index. Whole-genome shotgun metagenomic analysis was performed on fecal samples from the OG and NG groups to characterize the signatures and functional potential of the gut microbiota. Serum metabolite profiles were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 26) and R software were used for data analysis. A total of 99 children were recruited, with 49 in the OG and 50 in the NG. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria were significantly more abundant in children in the OG than those in the NG. At the genus level, Oscillibacter and Alistipes were significantly lower in children in the OG than those in the NG. Caproate levels significantly increased, whereas butyrate and isobutyrate levels decreased in children in the OG than those in the NG. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) functional analysis revealed 28 enriched KEGG pathways, of which/with the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and enhanced biofilm formation by Escherichia coli were particularly significant in the OG. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that the genus Oscillibacter and species Clostridium_sp._CAG:302 connect serum metabolites and the gut microbiota in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is correlated with the symbiotic status of the gut microbiota. The microbiota influences human metabolism via specific pathways, particularly butyrate, caproate, and the genus Oscillibacter, all closely associated with obesity.

Gut microbiota and their metabolic products might play important roles in regulating the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to characterize gut microbiota and serum amino acid metabolome profiles in children with ASD. A non-randomized controlled study was carried out to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in patients with ASD (n = 30) compared with neurotypical controls (NC) (n = 30) by metagenomic sequencing to define the gut microbiota community and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis to characterize the metabolite profiles. Compared with children in the NC group, those in the ASD group showed lower richness, higher evenness, and an altered microbial community structure. At the class level, Deinococci and Holophagae were significantly lower in children with ASD compared with TD. At the phylum level, Deinococcus-Thermus was significantly lower in children with ASD compared with TD. In addition, the functional properties (such as galactose metabolism) displayed significant differences between the ASD and NC groups. Five dominant altered species were identified and analyzed (LDA score > 2.0, P < 0.05), including Subdoligranulum, Faecalibacterium_praushitzii, Faecalibacterium, Veillonellaceae, and Rumminococcaceae. The peptides/nickel transport system was the main metabolic pathway involved in the differential species in the ASD group. Decreased ornithine levels and elevated valine levels may increase the risk of ASD through a metabolic pathway known as the nickel transport system. The microbial metabolism in diverse environments was negatively correlated with phascolarctobacterium succinatutens. Our study provides novel insights into compositional and functional alterations in the gut microbiome and metabolite profiles in ASD and the underlying mechanisms between metabolite and ASD.

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) usually experience difficulty regarding symbolic play. However, studies on whether symbolic play test (SPT) can differentiate between ASD and other developmental disorders are inconsistent, and evaluating the application value of the SPT in the identification of ASD without global developmental delay (GDD) and developmental language disorder (DLD) is necessary. Methods: A total of 200 children were selected as the research participants. There were 100 cases of ASD without GDD and 100 cases of DLD. All children were tested by SPT and Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Scale-Revision (CNBS-R2016). Binomial logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of SPT in identifying ASD without GDD and DLD. Results: SPT equivalent age was lower than chronological age in the two groups, the difference between the ASD without GDD group was greater than that in the DLD group, and the proportion of SPT equivalent age retardation was higher than that in the DLD group; the differences were statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis showed that there was a difference in SPT equivalent age between DLD and ASD without GDD. When the cut-off value of the SPT was 8.5, the largest area under the ROC curve was 0.723, and the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ASD without GDD were 0.720 and 0.620 respectively. Conclusions: Symbolic play ability in ASD children is worse than that of DLD children at comparable development levels. SPT may be helpful to distinguish ASD without GDD from children with DLD.

Objective: To explore the prevalence and correlation between husbands and lifetime domestic violence (DV) among women in Wuhan, China.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community health center in Wuhan from June 2015 to December 2015. A total of 1015 women who came to the center for gynecological examination were selected through a random sampling. They were assessed using the WHO Violence Against Women Instrument to evaluate the prevalence of DV. The chi-square test, the Wilcoxon rank test, and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the possible risk or protective factors for DV.Results: The lifetime prevalence of DV was 29.36% (298/1015). The risk factors included heavy physical labor (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.63–7.77), long-term drinking (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.19–2.14), overweight or obesity (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01–1.88) and long-term smoking (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.04). Higher education was a protective factor (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.96).Conclusion: Women whose husbands had lower education, performed heavy physical labor, were long-term alcohol consumers, had overweight or obesity, and were long-term smokers were vulnerable to lifetime DV.

The probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii relieved intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation in a gut microbiota-dependent manner.

Objective. To understand the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in Wuhan, China, to explore the correlation between domestic violence and husbands. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community health center in Wuhan from June 2015 to December 2015. Participants were 1015 women who came to the center for gynecological examination. They were assessed using WHO violence against women instrument to evaluate the prevalence of domestic violence. Chi-square test, Wilcoxon rank test and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the possible risk factors of domestic violence. Results. The prevalence of domestic violence was 29.36% (298/1015). The risk factors included heavy physical labor (OR=3.56, 95%CI:1.63~7.78), long-term drinking (OR=1.61, 95%CI:1.20~2.16), overweight or obesity (OR=1.38, 95%CI:1.02~1.88) and long-term smoking (OR=1.02, 95%CI:1.01~1.04). Protective factors were higher education (OR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.66-0.93). Conclusion. The prevalence of domestic violence in women from Wuhan, China was common. We might decrease the occurrence of the possible risk factors of domestic violence to control it.