Segments Of Small Intestine Research Articles

Experience of the 193 small intestine reconstructions of ureters

BACKGROUND: The ureteral plastic surgery with their extended constrictions and obliterations remains one of the most difficult problems of reconstructive urology. This is especially true in cases where it is impossible to repair the patency of the ureter due to unchanged urinary tract sections. In such cases, various segments of the gastrointestinal tract and, above all, the ileum proved to be the best plastic material. However, the number of such operations in the world is not enough, which requires further accumulation of experience and study of long-term results of ileoureteroplasty.
 AIM: The aim of the research is to present the technical features and results of intestinal plastic surgery of ureters.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2023 ileoureteroplasty was performed in 193 patients of the Clinic of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov on the basis of the urological department of City Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 2. The panel consisted of 71 men (36.8%), 122 women (63.2%). The average age was 51 ± 3.2 years. Indications for these operations were extensive defects of the ureters as a result of complications of surgical intervention on the upper urinary tract in 69 (35.8%) of patients, radiation therapy — in 54 (28.0%) and the consequences of iatrogenic damage to the ureters — in 40 (20.7%). Megaureter (6.2%), Ormond’s disease (7.3%) and neoplasms of the ureters (2.0%) were observed less frequently.
 RESULTS: Unilateral ileoureteroplasty was performed 153 (79.3%), bilateral — 40 (20.7%). The total number of ureteralsurgeries is 235. Since 2013 ileureteroplasty has also been performed with laparoscopic method, and the share of such operations for this period was 35.9%. The early postoperative complications occurred in 18 (9.3%) patients. There were no fatal outcomes. Late complications developed in 16 (11.2%) of 143 examined patients.
 CONCLUSIONS: This surgical tactics may be recommended in the clinical practice of large urological hospital due to our 22-year experience in using small intestine segments to replace extended ureteral constrictions with a minimum number of postoperative complications, no deaths and good long-term results allows us to recommend.

Intestinal Microbiota Community and Blood Fatty Acid Profiles of Albas Cashmere Goats Fed with Flaxseed Oil and Whole Flaxseed.

The present study investigated the effects of flaxseed oil or flaxseed grain on the intestinal microbiota and blood fatty acid profiles of Albas cashmere goats. Sixty kid goats were allocated to three treatments and fed for 90 days with a control treatment, comprising a basal diet (CON, total-mixed ration with flaxseed meal), or experimental treatments, comprising a basal diet with added flaxseed oil (LNO) and a basal diet with added heated flaxseed grain (HLS). On day 90, two goats were randomly selected from each pen (eight goats per treatment) for euthanizing; then, five of the eight goats were randomly selected, and we collected their intestinal (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon) digesta for analysis of the bacteria community. The results indicated that Firmicutes are the most predominant phylum in different segments of the intestinal digesta. Compared with the CON group, the relative abundance of duodenal Firmicutes, jejunal Saccharibacteria, and Verrucomicrobia significantly decreased in the LNO and HLS groups (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the LNO and HLS groups. Compared with the CON and HLS groups, the RA of duodenal and jejunal Proteobacteria remarkably increased in the LNO group (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the CON and HLS groups. Compared with the CON and LNO groups, the RA of Actinobacteria remarkably increased in the small intestine of the HLS group (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the CON and LNO groups in the duodenum and ileum. The results of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that the HLS group was characterized by a higher RA of the [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group in the small intestine and the LNO group was represented by a higher RA of the Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group in the cecum and colon, while the CON group was represented by a higher RA of Solobacterium, Pseudoramibacter, and Acetitomaculum in the small intestine and a higher RA of norank_o__Bradymonadales, the Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group, and Ruminiclostridium_1 in the cecum and colon. In conclusion, the addition of flaxseed oil and grain rich in c18:3n3 to the diet could reduce the microbial diversity of the small intestinal segments and the microbial diversity and richness of the cecum and colon in Albas cashmere goats. And flaxseed grain is more efficient than flaxseed oil in protecting intestinal health and promoting the absorption of c18:3n3.

PSXIII-8 Effects of Dietary Lactobacillus Reuteri on Immune Responses, Blood Profiles, Intestinal Morphology, and Ileal Gene Expression of Weaned Pigs

Abstract Weaning period is critical for gut health and immunity of pigs due to negative effect of weaning stress. Probiotics can be a potential alternative to antibiotics. However, there is limited information on potential mechanism of gut health and immunity of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri on immune responses, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, and ileal gene expression of weaned pigs. A total of 48 weaned pigs [average initial body weight (BW) = 6.51 ± 0.87 kg; 21 days old] were allotted to 2 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design (block: initial BW and sex). Dietary treatments had 6 replicate pens with 4 pigs per pen and fed for 4 weeks. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal weaner diet based on corn-soybean meal (CON) and CON supplemented with 0.02% Lactobacillus reuteri IDCC 3701 (LR). The LR was obtained from a commercial company (ILDONG Bioscience Co., Ltd., Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea). Blood samples were collected from randomly selected one pig per pen on day 1, 7, 14, and 28. Serum was obtained from the blood sample to measure immune responses. On the last day of the experiment, the pigs were euthanized to collect small intestinal segments for intestinal morphology. Ileal mucosa were collected from ileal tissue for gene expression analysis. Measurements were serum cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) using ELISA kits, blood profiles using an automated hematology analyzer, intestinal morphology using hematoxylin and eosin method, and ileal gene expression of tight junction proteins and inflammatory cytokines using qRT-PCR. Data were analyzed by using PROC GLM of SAS. Experimental unit was a pen. Statistical model for immune responses, blood profiles, and intestinal morphology included dietary treatments as a main effect and initial BW as a covariate. The t-test was used for the comparison of ileal gene expression. Pigs fed LR had drecreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) serum TNF-α and IL-6 on day 7 and serum TGF-β1 on day 14 than those fed CON. In addition, pigs fed LR had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) hemoglobin concentration on day 7 than those fed CON, but had reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) hematocrit on day 14. Pigs fed LR had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum than those fed CON. The LR upregulated (P &amp;lt; 0.05) claudin-1 gene compared with CON, but downregulated (P &amp;lt; 0.05) interleukin-8 and TNF-α genes. In conclusion, addition of dietary Lactobacillus reuteri in weaner diets improved intestinal morphology, modulated blood profiles and immune responses, and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Microbiota do not restrict rotavirus infection of colon.

Alterations of the gut microbiome can have significant effects on gastrointestinal homeostasis leading to various diseases and symptoms. Increased understanding of rotavirus infection in relation to the microbiota can provide better understanding on how microbiota can be used for clinical prevention as well as treatment strategies. Our volumetric 3D imaging data show that antibiotic treatment and its consequent reduction of the microbial load does not alter the extent of rotavirus infection of enterocytes in the small intestine and that restriction factors other than bacteria limit the infection of colonocytes.

Prickly Ash Seeds improve immunity of Hu sheep by changing the diversity and structure of gut microbiota.

Prickly Ash Seeds (PAS), as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have pharmacological effects such as anti-asthma, anti-thrombotic, and anti-bacterial, but their impact on gut microbiota is still unclear. This study used a full-length 16 s rRNA gene sequencing technique to determine the effect of adding PAS to the diet on the structure and distribution of gut microbiota in Hu sheep. All lambs were randomly divided into two groups, the CK group was fed with a basal ration, and the LZS group was given a basal diet with 3% of PAS added to the ration. The levels of inflammatory factors (IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in intestinal tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Hu sheep in the CK and LZS group. The results indicate that PAS can increase the diversity and richness of gut microbiota, and can affect the community composition of gut microbiota. LEfSe analysis revealed that Verrucomicrobiota, Kiritimatiella, WCHB 41, and uncultured_rumen_bacterium were significantly enriched in the LZS group. KEGG pathway analysis found that LZS was significantly higher than the CK group in the Excretory system, Folding, sorting and degradation, and Immune system pathways (p < 0.05). The results of ELISA assay showed that the level of IL-10 was significantly higher in the LZS group than in the CK group (p < 0.05), and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly higher in the CK group than in the LZS group (p < 0.05). LEfSe analysis revealed that the dominant flora in the large intestine segment changed from Bacteroidota and Gammaproteobacteria to Akkermansiaceae and Verrucomicrobiae after PAS addition to Hu sheep lambs; the dominant flora in the small intestine segment changed from Lactobacillales and Aeriscardovia to Kiritimatiellae and WCHB1 41. In conclusion, the addition of PAS to sheep diets can increase the number and types of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, improve lamb immunity, and reduce intestinal inflammation. It provides new insights into healthy sheep production.

Rare histological subtypes of bladder cancer in clinical practice: a case series

Non-urothelial tumors account for less than 5% of all bladder malignant neoplasms. The most common non-urothelial tumor is squamous cell carcinoma, often found in the Middle East (about 30% of all cases of bladder cancer BC) due to the spread of schistosomiasis. The glandular type is the second most common non-urothelial morphological variant; it includes 5 tumor subtypes (intestinal, mucinous, signet ring cell, mixed, and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified). The neuroendocrine variant is divided into 4 subgroups (small cell, large cell, highly differentiated, and paragangliomas), of which small cell is the most common, though still rare, and accounts for only about 1% of all BCs. The article presents the clinical cases of three rare BC subtypes: squamous cell, glandular, and neuroendocrine. In the first clinical case, a radical cure of a patient with signet ring cell BC was described: at the first stage, the bladder, prostate, and vesicles were removed with a cystoplasty using a small intestine segment according to the Bricker technique with an extended pelvic lymph node dissection; the second stage included 8 courses of adjuvant drug treatment according to the XELOX regimen. In the second clinical case, the treatment of the metastatic neuroendocrine BC was described using the following regimens: EP (etoposide + cisplatin), carboplatin + irinotecan, GemOx (gemcitabine + oxaliplatin). The third clinical case described a patient with bladder squamous cell carcinoma. The stage I treatment was based on the GC regimen; at stage II, the bladder, prostate, and vesicles were removed with intestinal orthotopic cystoplasty and extended lymph node dissection; due to progression revealed during the follow-up examination, the patient received another GC course. Although non-urothelial BCs are very rare, studies are currently being conducted on the effectiveness of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in treating this cohort of patients.

Effect of nanosilver as feed additive on performance, blood biochemistry, caecal microbiology and intestinal histomorphology of Vanaraja chicken

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nanosilver (NS) as feed additive on performance, blood biochemistry and intestinal histomorphology of Vanaraja chicken. Chicks (180 day old) after one week of age were distributed randomly into five treatment groups of four replicates, each having 9 chicks. Treatment groups consisted of T1 (Control) fed basal diet without any additive and in T2, T3, T4 and T5, NS was added to the diet @ 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg diet, respectively. Cumulative body weight gain also improved significantly with the inclusion of NS with highest gain in T5. There was no difference in the feed consumption among various groups including control. Feed conversion ratio was better in T5 compared to other groups. There was no difference in blood biochemical parameters among groups except for the protein levels which were highest in NS supplemented groups than control. The total viable and coliform counts decreased significantly in the group wherein NS was fed in the diet compared to the control. Villus height in different segments of small intestine improved significantly with the inclusion of NS in the diet with better values in T5 followed by T4. From the present study, it could be concluded that nanosilver up to 80 mg/kg level was effective in improving the growth performance, caecal microbiology and intestinal histomorphology of vanaraja birds.

Growth, Health, and Carcass Traits of Broilers Supplemented with Acalypha australis L. Leaf Extract, Whey Protein, or their Combination in the Diet

The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary administration of Acalypha australis L. leaf extract, whey powder, or a combination of both on the growth, physiological condition, and carcass traits of broilers. A total of 392 broiler chicks was divided into four groups based on a fully randomized design, including (1) control (C, basal feed without additives), (2) basal feed supplemented with 1% Acalypha australis L. leaf extract (AALE), (3) basal feed with 1% whey powder (WHEY), and (4) basal feed with 1% Acalypha australis L. extract and 1% whey powder (AALEWHEY). Samples (i.e., internal organs, blood, intestinal digesta, small intestinal segments, and breast and thigh meats) were collected on day 33. Data were treated with an analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple analysis. Treatments did not affect body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05). Abdominal fat was higher in the treated broilers than in the control (C) (p<0.05). The serum high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were lower in AALE, WHEY, and AALEWHEY groups than in the control (C) (p<0.05). Serum creatinine concentrations were higher in WHEY and AALEWHEY groups than in C and AALE groups (p<0.05). The AALE, WHEY, and AALEWHEY groups had higher duodenal villi height than C group (p<0.05). The villi height to crypt depth ratios were higher in the jejunum of the WHEY and AALEWHEY group than in the C group (p<0.05). The pH of breast meat was higher in the C group than in AALE and AALEWHEY groups (p<0.05). The lightness values of breast meats were lower in the AALEWHEY group than in the other groups (p<0.05). The redness values of breast meats were lower in the C group than in the AALE, WHEY, and AALEWHEY groups, while the yellowness values were lower in C and AALE groups than in WHEY and AALEWHEY groups (p<0.05). The pH values of thigh meats were higher in the AALE group than in control (C), WHEY, and AALEWHEY groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, the treatment of broilers with leaf extract of Acalypha australis L., whey powder, or a combination of both improved intestinal morphology and meat quality without affecting the growth performance of broilers.

Mesenteric lipoma in a child: A case report

Lipoma is a benign tumor of mature fat cells. It quite rarely occurs in the intestinal mesentery in children. Mesenteric lipomas usually do not cause gastrointestinal symptoms unless they affect the intestinal passage. However, as the mass grows, symptoms suggestive of partial intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and abdominal distension, may be observed, or total intestinal obstruction may develop due to volvulus. In our study, a case with mesenteric lipoma with acute abdominal findings was presented. A four-year-old male patient presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. On physical examination, the patient was agitated and dehydrated, the abdomen was distended, and there was widespread tenderness; however, the mass was not palpable. Computed Tomography (CT) revealed a suspicious appearance for leiomyosarcoma with a size of 102x79x87 mm in fat density containing septa. In the exploration, a 120x120x70 mm encapsulated, lobular mass was detected 50 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve, covering the 10 cm ileal segment. The mass was excised totally together with a 10 cm small intestine segment, and ileal anastomosis was performed. The diagnosis of mesenteric lipoma was confirmed histopathologically. As a result, mesenteric lipoma, which is rare in children, is a benign pathology, and its treatment is total surgical excision. In children with signs of intestinal obstruction, mesenteric lipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis, whether the mass is palpated or not.

Histological mapping of healing of the small and large intestine – A quantitative study in a porcine model

BackgroundGastrointestinal anastomoses are performed in many patients every year. The pathogenesis of aberrant anastomotic healing and the causes of intestinal leakage are not fully understood. The present study gathered and critically evaluated histological quantitative data to deepen current knowledge of anastomotic healing in the small and large intestine and its complications and outline the options for further experimental in vivo research in large porcine animal models. MethodsThree groups of porcine intestinal anastomoses were compared: small intestine without defect (SI; n = 7), small intestine with an additional defect (SID; n = 8), and large intestine (LI; n = 7). Multilevel sampling (2112 micrographs) and stereological methods were used for histological quantification of proliferation (Ki-67 immunohistochemistry), neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase staining), vascularity (von Willebrand factor) and type I and type III collagen formation (picrosirius red in polarized light) within the region of anastomosis compared to the region outside of anastomosis. ResultsQuantitative histological evaluation revealed the following results. i) Proliferation, vascularity, and collagen, but not neutrophils, were more highly expressed within the anastomosis than outside of the anastomosis region. ii) Porcine large and small intestine were not interchangeable based on histological evaluation of surgical experiments. The presence or absence of an additional experimental defect strongly affected healing, but the healing seemed complete after 21 days. iii) The microscopic structure of small intestine segments was more affected by their proximity to the anastomosis than the structure of large intestine segments. ConclusionsHistological quantification was more laborious than the previously used semiquantitative scoring system evaluating the healing rate of intestinal anastomoses, but it provided detailed maps of biological processes within individual intestine layers. The primary data collected in the study are open and available for power sample analyses to calculate the minimum numbers of samples justified in future experiments on porcine intestines. The porcine intestine is a promising animal model with translational potential for human surgery.

Microbial diversity and metabolic function in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), a large flightless omnivorous ratite, are farmed for their fat and meat. Emu fat can be rendered into oil for therapeutic and cosmetic use. They are capable of gaining a significant portion of its daily energy requirement from the digestion of plant fibre. Despite of its large body size and low metabolic rate, emus have a relatively simple gastroinstetinal (GI) tract with a short mean digesta retention time. However, little is known about the GI microbial diversity of emus. The objective of this study was to characterize the intraluminal intestinal bacterial community in the different segments of small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) using pyrotag sequencing and compare that with the ceca. Gut content samples were collected from each of four adult emus (2 males, 2 females; 5–6 years old) that were free ranged but supplemented with a barley-alfalfa-canola based diet. We amplified the V3-V5 region of 16S rRNA gene to identify the bacterial community using Roche 454 Junior system. After quality trimming, a total of 165,585 sequence reads were obtained from different segments of the small intestine (SI). A total of 701 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in the different segments of small intestine. Firmicutes (14–99%) and Proteobacteria (0.5–76%) were the most predominant bacterial phyla in the small intestine. Based on species richness estimation (Chao1 index), the average number of estimated OTUs in the small intestinal compartments were 148 in Duodenum, 167 in Jejunum, and 85 in Ileum, respectively. Low number of core OTUs identified in each compartment of small intestine across individual birds (Duodenum: 13 OTUs, Jejunum: 2 OTUs, Ileum: 14 OTUs) indicated unique bacterial community in each bird. Moreover, only 2 OTUs (Escherichia and Sinobacteraceae) were identified as core bacteria along the whole small intestine. PICRUSt analysis has indicated that the detoxification of plant material and environmental chemicals seem to be performed by SI microbiota, especially those in the jejunum. The emu cecal microbiome has more genes than SI segments involving in protective or immune response to enteric pathogens. Microbial digestion and fermentation is mostly in the jejunum and ceca. This is the first study to characterize the microbiota of different compartments of the emu intestines via gut samples and not fecal samples. Results from this study allow us to further investigate the influence of the seasonal and physiological changes of intestinal microbiota on the nutrition of emus and indirectly influence the fatty acid composition of emu fat.

Novel qualitative and quantitative ultrasound markers to facilitate prenatal diagnosis of congenital duodenal obstruction

Objective Accurate prenatal diagnosis of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is challenging. We aimed to determine new ultrasound metrics for accurate prenatal diagnosis of fetal CDO. Methods Data pertaining to 46 fetuses with suspected small intestinal obstruction (26 CDO; 16 high jejunal obstructions) were retrospectively analyzed. Prenatal ultrasonographic features including dilated intestinal length, stomach length, maximum intestinal dilatation, ratio of dilated intestinal length at late gestation and dilated stomach length (I/S ratio), and location of distal end of dilated bowel segment relative to spine were compared between CDO and high jejunal obstruction groups. The diagnostic performance of ultrasound indices was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Results In 25 out of 26 CDO cases, the distal end of the dilated small intestine segment was located on the right side of spine, while that in the high jejunal obstruction group was located on the left side of spine. The dilated intestinal length and I/S ratio in CDO group were significantly smaller than those in high jejunal obstruction group (p < .05). Dilated intestinal length <51 mm or I/S ratio <1 showed high sensitivity (100, 100%) and specificity (96.1, 92.3%) for CDO (area under the curve: 0.995 and 0.988, respectively). There were no significant differences in the AUCs of dilated intestinal length and I/S ratio. Significant correlation of the site of obstruction in CDO with fetal dilated intestinal length and I/S ratio (r = 0.686; 0.660, p < .001, respectively) were noted. Conclusion Location of the distal end of the dilated small intestine segment relative to the spine, dilated intestinal length, and I/S ratio may help differentiate fetal CDO from high jejunal obstruction. The latter two metrics were associated with the site of obstruction in CDO patients.

Regional distributions of curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin in the liver and small intestine of rats when orally co-administered with quercetin and paeoniflorin.

Curcumin (CUR), derived from the dietary spice turmeric, is a polyphenolic compound with various biological and pharmacological activities. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is one of the major reductive metabolites of curcumin. A pharmacokinetic study using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of curcumin, THC, quercetin (QR), and paeoniflorin (PF) in rat plasma had been performed. In this study, the regional distributions of curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin in the liver and the three segments of small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) of rats when orally co-administered with quercetin and paeoniflorin were carried out. Drug concentrations were determined using UHPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that curcumin was well distributed in the small intestine, while the distributions of tetrahydrocurcumin in the liver, duodenum, jejunum were similar, but much more abundant in the ileum. When orally co-administered with quercetin and paeoniflorin, the tissue to plasma concentration ratios (Kp values) of curcumin in the three segments of the small intestine were increased, indicating that the presence of quercetin and paeoniflorin increases the distribution of curcumin in these regions. Moreover, the half-life (t1/2 ) of THC in the liver was significantly prolonged, and the Kp value of THC in the liver was increased and the Kp values in the small intestine were decreased, suggesting that the combination of quercetin and paeoniflorin might suppress the metabolism of curcumin in the small intestine. In brief, the combination had an effect on the distributions of curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin in the liver and small intestine of rats.

Lacticaseibacillus casei decrease long-chain fatty acids and most substances in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis.

To evaluate the long-chain fatty acid and major compounds levels in the feces after prophylactic oral use of Lacticaseibacillus casei in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis. Fifteen Swiss mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=5/group): The negative or positive control groups (n = 5) received saline orally for 18 days and an the intraperitoneal (i.p.) of saline or 5 Fluorouracil (450 mg/kg) in 15th day, respectability. L. casei group received oral concentration of L. casei (1x109 CFU/mL) for 18 days, the i.p. injection of 5-fluorouracil (450 mg/kg) in 15th days. Tissue samples from colon and each small intestine segment were collected for histopathological analysis. Stool samples were collected. Fecal composition of long-chain fatty acids and sterols were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on the 15th and the 18th day. The mucosa layer of all small intestine segments of animals from L. casei showed well preserved epithelium and glands, without necrosis signs, but Goblet cells number decreased. Several long-chain fatty acids and sterols have been identified before and after in the groups. L. casei administration after 5-FU treatment reduced concentrations of linoleic acid (18:2) (p < 0.001) and oleic acid (18:1) (p < 0.001) in feces. L. casei prevented the mucosal damage associated with 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis reduced long-chain fatty acid levels in the feces.

An experimental study: the effect of S. boulardii on abemaciclibinduced diarrhea.

In our study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on abemaciclib-induced diarrhea model, which is a commonly used drug in breast cancer. Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups as control (Group 1), abemaciclib (Group 2), and abemaciclib + Saccharomyces boulardii (Group 3) groups. The clinical status, body weight, and defecation status were monitored daily. At the end of the 15-day experiment period, the rats were killed with high-dose anesthesia and the resected small intestine segments were evaluated histopathologically. Lesions were classified according to thickening of the villus, inflammation and edema of mucosa and intraepithelial leukocyte accumulation. Then, mean values of both crypt depths and villi thicknesses were calculated for each rat. Normal distribution assumption was controlled with the Shapiro-Wilk test. One-way analysis of variance for normally distributed variables in the comparisons of more than two independent groups and Kruskal-Wallis test for nonnormally distributed variables were used. The significance value was accepted as 0.05. : There was one death in Group 3, but none in the others. There were no findings of mucositis in Group I. There was mild diarrhea and weight loss in only one rat in Group 1. For the comparison of the severity of diarrhea (72.5%/39%) and weight loss (72.5%/45%), a decrease was found in Group 3 according to Group 2 (p < 0.01). Histopathological findings such as edema, inflammation, and intraepithelial leukocyte accumulation also showed a decrease in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (p < 0.01). Saccharomyces boulardii should be considered as a treatment option in abaemaciclib (chemotherapy)-induced diarrhea. Further comparative studies and in vivo human randomized controlled studies can be conducted in the future.

Effects of Microencapsulated Probiotics on Performance, Organ Development, Diarrhoea Incidences, Blood Parameters, Intestinal Histomorphology and Microflora in Weaning Piglets

The study aimed to assess the effects of the dietary supplementation of microencapsulated L. acidophilus and L. plantarum and their combination on the growth performance, organ development, diarrhoea incidences, blood profiles, intestinal histomorphology and microflora in weaned piglets. For that, 160 piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 8.52 ± 0.15 kg were divided into four groups (40 piglets/group) and allotted to one of the four dietary treatments as follows: a basal diet (C diet) or a basal diet containing 1 × 108 CFU/g of L. acidophilus (LA diet), or a diet containing 3 × 108 CFU/g of L. plantarum (LP diet) and a diet with the combination of both bacterial strains (LA + LP diet) for 21 days. On day 14, probiotics significantly increased ADFI, while FCR was higher in the LA and LP groups than the C and LA + LP groups. No effects (p &gt; 0.05) on visceral organs weight, intestinal pH and biochemical parameters among treatments were noticed. Treatments significantly lowered diarrhoea incidence compared to control. Villus width was greater (p &lt; 0.05) in all small intestinal segments in piglets fed probiotics. In the jejunum and ileum villus length, crypt length, and total villi length were higher (p &lt; 0.05), particularly in the LA + LP group. The probiotics, particularly the LA + LP group, modulated the cecal, jejunum and ileum microbial community structure and increased (p &lt; 0.05) the amount of Lactobacillus spp. while decreasing the populations of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus. Our results indicated that dietary supplementation of microencapsulated probiotics, particularly the combination of L. plantarum and L acidophilus strains, maintained growth performance, lowered diarrhoea incidence and beneficially altered the intestinal architecture and microbial populations of weaned piglets.

Immunodetection of P2X2 Receptor in Enteric Nervous System Neurons of the Small Intestine of Pigs.

Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is one of the best-known and frequently studied neurotransmitters. Its broad spectrum of biological activity is conditioned by the activation of purinergic receptors, including the P2X2 receptor. The P2X2 receptor is present in the central and peripheral nervous system of many species, including laboratory animals, domestic animals, and primates. However, the distribution of the P2X2 receptor in the nervous system of the domestic pig, a species increasingly used as an experimental model, is as yet unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of the P2X2 receptor in the neurons of the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the pig small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) by the immunofluorescence method. In addition, the chemical code of P2X2-immunoreactive (IR) ENS neurons of the porcine small intestine was analysed by determining the coexistence of selected neuropeptides, i.e., vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (sP), and galanin. P2X2-IR neurons were present in the myenteric plexus (MP), outer submucosal plexus (OSP), and inner submucosal plexus (ISP) of all sections of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). From 44.78 ± 2.24% (duodenum) to 63.74 ± 2.67% (ileum) of MP neurons were P2X2-IR. The corresponding ranges in the OSP ranged from 44.84 ± 1.43% (in the duodenum) to 53.53 ± 1.21% (in the jejunum), and in the ISP, from 53.10 ± 0.97% (duodenum) to 60.57 ± 2.24% (ileum). Immunofluorescence staining revealed the presence of P2X2-IR/galanin-IR and P2X2-IR/VIP-IR neurons in the MP, OSP, and ISP of the sections of the small intestine. The presence of sP was not detected in the P2X2-IR neurons of any ganglia tested in the ENS. Our results indicate for the first time that the P2X2 receptor is present in the MP, ISP, and OSP neurons of all small intestinal segments in pigs, which may suggest that its activation influences the action of the small intestine. Moreover, there is a likely functional interaction between P2X2 receptors and galanin or VIP, but not sP, in the ENS of the porcine small intestine.

Battery-Free Tattooing Mechanism-Based Functional Active Capsule Endoscopy.

This paper presents a novel tattooing capsule endoscope (TCE) for delivering a certain amount of ink to the submucosal layer of digestive tract organs. A dual-function permanent magnet is used for locomotion and injection activation. The developed capsule endoscope can move actively in 5 DOF due to the interaction between the permanent magnet and a controllable external magnetic field produced by an electromagnet actuation system. In addition, the permanent magnet is involved in a specially designed mechanism to activate a process that creates a squeezing motion to eject the liquid from the storage room to the target. The dimension of the prototype is 12.5 mm in diameter and 34.6 mm in length. The proposed TCE is tested ex vivo using a fresh porcine small-intestine segment. We were able to direct the TCE to the target and deliver the tattoo agent into the tissue. The proposed mechanism can be used for drug delivery or lesion tattooing, as well as to accelerate the realization of the functional capsule endoscope in practice.

The beneficial effects of Lacticaseibacillus casei on the small intestine and colon of Swiss mice against the deleterious effects of 5-fluorouracil.

Intestinal mucositis is one of the most common and important side effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Currently, there are still no specific and effective protocols for its prevention and treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus casei (L. casei) on the progression of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Methods: L. casei (1x109 CFU/ml) or saline was orally administered to Swiss mice, beginning 15 days before intestinal mucositis induction by single intraperitoneal 5-FU administration (450 mg/kg). Body weight, number of peripheral leukocytes and fecal lactic acid bacteria were monitored. After euthanasia, on day 18, tissue samples from colon and each small intestine segment were collected for histopathology. Jejunal tissues were collected and evaluated for iNOS and TNF-alpha immunoexpression, IL-1-beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels, malonaldehyde (MDA) accumulation, invertase activity and factor nuclear kappa B (NFkB-P65) gene expression, toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4), mucin-2 (MUC-2), occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). The positive impact of L. casei on 5-FU-induced leukopenia was observed, but not on 5-FU-induced weight loss in mice. L. casei reduced 5-FU-induced inflammation in the colon and small intestine (p<0.05). Decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 (p<0.05) and MDA (p<0.05) levels, as well as decreased iNOS and TNF-alpha protein expressions (p<0.05) were found in the jejunum from L casei group. In addition, L-casei down-regulated NFKB-P65 (p<0.05) and TLR-4 (p<0.05) gene expressions and up-regulated MUC-2 and mucosal barrier proteins occludin and ZO-1 gene expressions (p<0.05). Furthermore, greater lactic acid bacteria population (p<0.05) was found in the L. casei group when compared to control groups. Oral L. casei administration can protect the intestine of Swiss mice from 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis, thus contributing to overall health.

An alternative asymmetric figure-of-eight single-layer suture technique for bowel anastomosis in an in vitro porcine model.

Anastomotic techniques are of vital importance in restoring gastrointestinal continuity after resection. An alternative asymmetric figure-of-eight single-layer suture anastomotic technique was introduced and its effects were evaluated in an in vitro porcine model. Twelve 15-cm grossly healthy small intestine segments from a porcine cadaver were harvested and randomly divided into asymmetric figure-of-eight single-layer suture (figure-of-eight suture) and single-layer interrupted suture technique (interrupted suture) groups (n = 6 in each group). The anastomosed bowel was infused with methylene blue solution to test anastomotic leakage. Anastomosis construction time, leakage, and suture material cost were recorded and analyzed statistically using Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test. One anastomotic leakage occurred (16.67%) in the figure-of-eight suture group, and two (33.33%) in the interrupted suture group (p > 0.9999). The anastomosis construction time was relatively short in the figure-of-eight suture group, but the difference did not reach a statistically significant level between the two groups. The mean number of suture knots and the cost of suture material in the figure-of-eight suture group were significantly decreased in comparison to the interrupted suture group (15.67 ± 3.30 vs. 22.17 ± 2.03, 167.11 ± 35.20 vs. 236.45 ± 21.70 CNY, p < 0.01, respectively). Our results suggested that the alternative asymmetric figure-of-eight suture technique was safe and economic for intestinal anastomosis. An in vivo experiment is required to elucidate the effects of this suture technique on the physiological anastomotic healing process.