Early intrajejunal nutrition: bacterial translocation and gut barrier function of severe acute pancreatitis in dogs

Objective: To evaluate the effect of early intrajejunalnutrition in attenuating bacterial and/or endotoxintranslocation and improving gut barrier function ofsevere acute pancreatitis (SAP) in dogs.Methods: 15 dogs were divided into parenteral nutrition(PN) group(7 dogs)and early intrajejunal nutrition(EIN) group(8). EIN was delivered nutrients via a nee-dle jejunostomy catheter feeding at 48h after operation.SAP model was induced by injecting 1 ml/kg of com-bined solution of 5% sodium taurocholate and 8000-10000 BAEE units trypsin/ml into the pancreas via thepancreatic duct. Systemic blood samples were ob-tained before and 1, 3, 5, 7 d following SAP, and culturedby aerobic as well as anaerobic bacterial growth. Systemicplasma and portal vein endotoxin levels were quantifiedby the chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL)technique. Portal vein blood and specimens of tissuefrom the mesenteriolum and mesocolon lymph nodes,lung, pulmonary portal lymph nodes, pancreatitis tissueand periopancreas tissue were adopted before the experi-ment was finished. Aliquots of the homogenata were cul-tured as blood mentioned above to determine the magnitudeof the bacteria DNA, protein and the villi, the thickness ofmucosa, and the whole bowel wall of the ileum and trans-verse colon were measured.Results: The study showed that the levels of systemicplasma endotoxin and the magnitude of bacterialtranslocation to the portal and systemic blood and dis-tant organ were reduced significantly in the EINgroup as compared with the TPN group. The contentsof protein and DNA, the height of villi, the thicknessof mucosa and whole bowel wall of the ileum andtransverse colon in the EIN group were higher thanthose in the PN group.Conclusion: Our results suggested that EIN is safe andeffective to be adopted by intrajejunal delivery of nu-trients in SAP, decreases the occurrence of gut bacterialtranslocation, and improves the gut barrier function.

Combined probiotic bacteria promotes intestinal epithelial barrier function in interleukin-10-gene-deficient mice

AIM: To investigate the protective effects of combinations of probiotic (Bifico) on interleukin (IL)-10-gene-deficient (IL-10 KO) mice and Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome:Clinical features,pathophysiology,diagnosis and treatment strategies

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by a combination of symptoms, clinical findings and histological abnormalities. Ulcers are only found in 40% of the patients; 20% of the patients have a solitary ulcer, and the rest of the lesions vary in shape and size, from hyperemic mucosa to broad-based polypoid. Men and women are affected equally, with a small predominance in women. SRUS has also been described in children and in the geriatric population. Clinical features include rectal bleeding, copious mucus discharge, prolonged excessive straining, perineal and abdominal pain, feeling of incomplete defecation, constipation, and rarely, rectal prolapse. This disease has well-described histopathological features such as obliteration of the lamina propria by fibrosis and smooth muscle fibers extending from a thickened muscularis mucosa to the lumen. Diffuse collage deposition in the lamina propria and abnormal smooth muscle fiber extensions are sensitive markers for differ-entiating SRUS from other conditions. However, the etiology remains obscure, and the condition is frequently associated with pelvic floor disorders. SRUS is difficult to treat, and various treatment strategies have been advocated, ranging from conservative management to a variety of surgical procedures. The aim of the present review is to summarize the clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies associated with SRUS. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.

Effect of a high-fat diet in development of colonic adenoma in an animal model

AIM: To investigate the effect of a high-fat diet in the formation of the precursors of colorectal cancer using an animal model.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on gut barrier function in experimental obstructive jaundice

AIM:To investigate the mechanisms of Lactobacillus plantarum(L.plantarum)action on gut barrier in preoperative and postoperative experimental obstructive jaundice in rats.METHODS:Forty rats were randomly divided into groups of sham-operation,bile duct ligation(BDL),BDL +L.plantarum,BDL+internal biliary drainage(IBD),and BDL+IBD+L.plantarum.Ten days after L.plantarum administration,blood and ileal samples were collected from the rats for morphological examination,and intestinal barrier function,liver function,intestinal oxidative stress and protein kinase C(PKC)activity measurement.The distribution and expression of the PKC and tight junction(TJ)proteins,such as occludin,zonula occludens-1,claudin-1,claudin-4,junction adhesion molecule-A and F-actin,were examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy,immunohistochemistry,Western blotting,real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.RESULTS:L.plantarum administration substantially restored gut barrier,decreased enterocyte apoptosis,improved intestinal oxidative stress,promoted the activity and expression of protein kinase(BDL vs BDL+L.plantarum,0.295±0.007 vs 0.349±0.003,P<0.05;BDL+IBD vs BDL+IBD+L.plantarum,0.407±0.046 vs 0.465±0.135,P<0.05),and particularly enhanced the expression and phosphorylation of TJ proteins in the experimental obstructive jaundice(BDL vs BDL+L.plantarum,0.266±0.118 vs 0.326±0.009,P<0.05).The protective effect of L.plantarum was more prominent after internal biliary drainage(BDL+IBD vs BDL +IBD+L.plantarum,0.415±0.105 vs 0.494±0.145,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:L.plantarum can decrease intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis,reduce oxidative stress,and prevent TJ disruption in biliary obstruction by activating the PKC pathway.

Preclinical safety,effectiveness evaluation,and screening of functional bacteria for fecal microbiota transplantation based on germ-free animals

Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT),also known as fecal bacterial therapy,is a treatment option that can quickly reconstruct the normal composition of intestinal microbes,and it has a good therapeutic effect on Clostridium difficile infection,as well as on other microecological disorders.However,the causal mechanism of FMT efficacy remains to be clarified,its safety is a major problem,and the standardization and acceptability of FMT need to be improved.This review summarizes its current research status and potential research areas that need to be strengthened,and proposes to clarify the safety of FMT and the causal relationship between FMT and therapeutic effectiveness based on germ-free animals.Meanwhile,the research system is combined with multiomics technology to screen the effective bacteria in FMT,and develop standard,safe,effective and controllable flora of FMT.

Impact of probiotics supplement on the gut microbiota in neonates with antibiotic exposure: an open-label single-center randomized parallel controlled study

Background Antibiotics,a common strategy used for neonatal infection,show consistent effect on the gut microbiota of neonates.Supplementation with probiotics has become increasingly popular in mitigating the loss of the gut microbiota.However,no clear consensus recommending the use of probiotics in the infection of neonates currently exists.This study examined the effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota of infectious neonates when used concurrently with or during the recovery period following antibiotic therapy.Methods Fifty-five full-term neonates diagnosed with neonatal infections were divided into the following groups:NI(no intervention,antibiotic therapy only),PCA(probiotics used concurrently with antibiotics),and PAA(probiotics used after antibiotics).The NI group received antibiotic treatment(piperacillin–tazobactam)for 1 week and the PCA group received antibiotic treatment together with probiotics(Bifidobacterium longum,Lactobacillus acidophilus,and Enterococcus faecalis)for 1 week.The PAA group received antibiotic treatment for 1 week followed by probiotics for 1 week.Fecal samples were collected at four time nodes:newborn,1 week,2 weeks,and 42 days after birth.The composition of the gut microbiota was determined by the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons.Results Antibiotic exposure was found to dramatically alter gut microbiota,with a significant decrease of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.The use of probiotics did not restore the overall diversity of the gut microbiota.However,using probiotics simultaneously with the antibiotics was found to be beneficial for the gut microbiota as compared to delaying the use of probiotics to follow treatment with antibiotics,particularly in promoting the abundance of Bifidobacterium.Conclusions These results suggest that the early use of probiotics may have a potential ability to remodel the gut microbiota during recovery from antibiotic treatment.However,further study is required to fully understand the long-term effects including the clinical benefits.