Temporal clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune responses of dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis

AIM To investigate the temporal clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune profiles of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced acute colitis.METHODS Acute colitis was induced in C57 BL/6 female mice by administration of 1%, 2% or 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 d. Animals were monitored daily for weight loss, stool consistency and blood in the stool, while spleens and colons were harvested on day 8. A time course analysis was performed in mice ingesting 3% DSS, which included colon proteomics through multiplex assay, colon histological scoring by a blinded investigator, and immune response through flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry of the spleen, mesenteric lymph node and colon.RESULTS Progressive worsening of clinical colitis was observed with increasing DSS from 1% to 3%. In mice ingesting 3% DSS, colon shortening and increase in proinflammatory factors starting at day 3 was observed, with increased spleen weights at day 6 and day 8. This coincided with cellular infiltration in the colon from day 2 to day 8, with progressive accumulation of macrophages F4/80^+, T helper CD4^+(Th), T cytotoxic CD8^+(Tcyt) and T regulatory CD25^+(Treg) cells, and progressive changes in colonic pathology including destruction of crypts, loss of goblet cells and depletion of the epithelial barrier. Starting on day 4, mesenteric lymph node and/or spleen presented with lower levels of Treg, Th and Tcyt cells, suggesting an immune cell tropism to the gut. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that the severity of experimental colitis is dependent on DSS concentration, correlated with clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune response on 3% DSS.

Resting energy expenditure in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with independent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)varies from 20%to 50%,is related to important complications and has a direct impact on the prognosis.Determination of the resting energy expenditure(REE)has become an important parameter in this population,as it allows therapeutic adjustments to recover their nutritional status.The REE in cirrhosis,with and without HCC,is not clearly defined,and requires the identification and definition of the best nutritional approach.AIM To evaluate the REE of patients with cirrhosis,with and without HCC.METHODS This is a prospective observational study evaluating the REE of 118 patients,33 with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and a control group of 85 patients with cirrhosis without HCC,using indirect calorimetry(IC),bioimpedance,and predictive formulas.RESULTS The REE determined by IC in cirrhotic patients with HCC was 1643±364 and in those without HCC was 1526±277(P=0.064).The REE value as assessed by bioimpedance was 1529±501 for those with HCC and 1660±385 for those without HCC(P=0.136).When comparing the values of REE determined by IC and predictive formulas in cirrhotics with HCC,it was observed that only the formulas of the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)/World Health Organization(WHO)(1985)and Cunningham(1980)presented values similar to those determined by IC.When comparing the REE values determined by IC and predictive formulas in cirrhotics without HCC,it was observed that the formulas of Schofield(1985),FAO/WHO(1985),WHO(2000),Institute of Medicine(IOM)(2005)and Katch and McArdie(1996)presented values similar to those determined by IC.CONCLUSION The FAO/WHO formula(1985)could be used for cirrhotic patients with or without HCC;as it is the one with the values closest to those obtained by IC in these cirrhotic patients.