METHODS: We assessed interactions between the taxonomic and functional potential profiles of the gut microbiome (profiled via shotgun metagenomic sequencing), gut transit time (measured via the blue dye method), cardiometabolic health and diet in 863 healthy individuals from the PREDICT 1 study.
RESULTS: We found that gut microbiome taxonomic composition can accurately discriminate between gut transit time classes (0.82 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) and longer gut transit time is linked with specific microbial species such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides spp and Alistipes spp (false discovery rate-adjusted p values <0.01). The blue dye measure of gut transit time had the strongest association with the gut microbiome over typical transit time proxies such as stool consistency and frequency.
CONCLUSIONS: Gut transit time, measured via the blue dye method, is a more informative marker of gut microbiome function than traditional measures of stool consistency and frequency. The blue dye method can be applied in large-scale epidemiological studies to advance diet-microbiome-health research. Clinical trial registry website https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03479866 and trial number NCT03479866.
METHODS: CBCT images were scanned retrospectively and the ones including bilateral M1Ms were included in the study. The evaluation was performed by 1 researcher in each country, trained with CBCT technology. A written and video instruction program explaining the protocol to be followed step-by-step was provided to all observers to calibrate them. The CBCT imaging screening procedure consisted of evaluating axial sections from coronal to apical. The presence of DLC and RE in M1Ms (yes/no) was identified and recorded.
RESULTS: Six thousand three hundred four CBCTs, representing 12,608 M1Ms, were evaluated. A significant difference was found between countries regarding the prevalence of both RE and DLC (P .05).
CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of RE and DLC in M1Ms was 3% and 22%. Additionally, both RE and DLC showed substantial bilaterally. These variations should be considered by endodontic clinicians during endodontic procedures in order to avoid potential complications.