Prophylactic treatment with growth hormone improves intestinal barrier function and alleviates bacterial translocation in stressed rats

Background Damage to the gut barrier often occurs during critical illnesses. In such cases, it is very important to alleviate impairment of the intestinal barrier and protect intestinal barrier function. This study investigated the protective effect of growth hormone on intestinal barrier function in rats under stress.Methods This study consisted of prospective, randomized, and controlled animal experiments. Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats served as total parenteral nutrition (TPN) models and were divided into three groups: TPN group, sepsis (Sep) group, and growth hormone (GH) group. Another 8 rats served as normal controls. Each group received different stress stimuli. Rats were fed for 7 days, and samples were taken for examination 24 hours after gavaging with dual saccharides.Results The architecture of the small intestinal mucosa in the Sep group showed the most severe damage among all groups. Nitric oxide levels in blood plasma and immunoglobulin A levels in the intestinal mucosa of the GH group w     

丹尼——乳果糖粉治疗肝性脑病的临床观察及护理体会

肝性脑病（HE）是由于严重肝病引起的肝脏功能衰竭而导致代谢紊乱，中枢神经系统功能失调的综合征。我院采用丹尼——乳果糖粉（DLP）治疗肝性脑病，获得较好疗效。现将我们在护理巾一些体会加以小结。     

Effect of probiotics on gastrointestinal symptoms and small intestinal permeability in children with atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether probiotic lactobacilli may alleviate small intestinal inflammation and strengthen the intestinal barrier function in children with atopic dermatitis. STUDY DESIGN: In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, probiotic lactobacilli (Lactobacillus rhamnosus 19070-2 and L reuteri DSM 12246) were administered for 6 weeks to 41 children with moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. Gastrointestinal symptoms were registered before and during treatment and small intestinal permeability was measured by the lactulose-mannitol test. RESULTS: During Lactobacillus supplementation, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms (39% during the placebo period versus 10% during active treatment, P=.002). There was a positive association between the lactulose to mannitol ratio and the severity of the eczema (r=0.61, P=.02 after placebo and r=0.53, P=.05 after active treatment). After probiotic treatment, the lactulose to mannitol ratio was lower (0.073) than after placebo (0.110, P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. The study suggests that probiotic supplementation may stabilize the intestinal barrier function and decrease gastrointestinal symptoms in children with atopic dermatitis.     

Systemic endotoxaemia following obstructive jaundice: the role of lactulose

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice is often accompanied by bacterial translocation and subsequent sepsis. The effect of lactulose in preventing that process was evaluated in an experimental model. Obstructive jaundice was induced in 23 rabbits after common bile duct ligation. METHODS: Animals were divided into two groups. Group A of 11 animals-controls and group B of 12 rabbits, which received 2 ml/kg of lactulose p.o. by a nasogastric tube. Blood was sampled daily, before and after operation. Samples were applied for culture and for estimation of endotoxins (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNFa), and malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) survival of animals of group A was 3.08+/-0.19 days compared to 5.36+/-0.41 days of animals of group B. Serum concentrations of LPS and TNFa of each day of treatment remain constant in animals of group A; they were steadily decreased in animals of group B reaching statistical significance on the fourth day. Similar changes were not found for MDA. CONCLUSION: The administration of lactulose may prevent systemic endotoxaemia and the subsequent inflammatory response in an experimental model of obstructive jaundice, so as to extend survival. These results merit further clinical evaluation.     

Malabsorption Of "Absorbable" Carbohydrates By Normal Individuals

Using the hydrogen breath-analysis test, young adults showed incomplete absorption of fructose and elderly subjects failed to absorb quantitatively the carbohydrate content of mixed meals.     

Improved parameters of lactose maldigestion using lactulose

Lactulose is a disaccharide derived from lactose. There has been recent rekindling of interest in the possible benefits of pro- and prebiotics: mainly, lactic acid-producing bacteria and lactulose for the lower intestine. Since lactose maldigestion is a common genetic trait, we undertook this study to delineate similar effects between these two disaccharides. Nine healthy lactose maldigesting subjects underwent two separate periods of three weeks adaptation, first with 10 g twice daily lactulose and then 1.5 g twice daily lactose (in milk). Adaptation was defined by reduced breath Hydrogen (BH₂) and symptoms after 50 g lactose challenges. In six subjects fecal -galactosidase was measured. All subjects consumed some lactose daily. In the first period, eight subjects improved symptoms and reduced BH₂ significantly, while in the second period they did not. Fecal -galactosidase significantly increased after lactulose. This study supports the notion that lactulose and lactose may have similar clinical effects.     

衍生化毛细管气相色谱法测定人尿液中甘露醇和乳果糖

目的建立毛细管气相色谱法测定人尿液中甘露醇和乳果糖含量.方法用衍生化毛细管气相色谱法,以对照品为外标,色谱柱为SE-30石英毛细管柱(25mm×0.22mmID);柱温起始温度200℃,以15℃*min-1升温至300℃维持10min;进样温度220℃;检测器温度300℃.结果甘露醇和乳果糖的线性范围均在1.25～5.0mg*ml-1范围内,相关系数分别为0.9970和0.9945,平均回收率分别为99.25%和99.34%,RSD为1.02%和0.61%.结论方法灵敏、准确、重现性好,可用于测定生物液体中甘露醇和双糖.     

Carbohydrate Malabsorption: Quantification by Methane and Hydrogen Breath Tests

Rumessen JJ, Nordgaard-Andersen I, Gudmand-Høyer E. Carbohydrate malabsorption: quantification by methane and hydrogen breath tests. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:826-832.

Background: Previous studies in small series of healthy adults have suggested that parallel measurement of hydrogen and methane resulting from gut fermentation may improve the precision of quantitative estimates of carbohydrate malabsorption. Systematic, controlled studies of the role of simultaneous hydrogen and methane measurements using end-expiratory breath test techniques are not available. Methods: We studied seven healthy, adult methane and hydrogen producers and seven methane non-producers by means of end-expiratory breath test techniques. Breath gas concentrations and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded at intervals for 12 h after ingestion of 10,20, and 30 g lactulose. Results: In the seven methane producers the excretion pattern was highly variable; the integrated methane responses were disproportional and not reliably reproducible. However, quantitative estimates of carbohydrate malabsorption on the basis of individual areas under the methane and hydrogen excretion curves (AUCs) tended to improve in methane producers after ingestion of 20 g lactulose by simple addition of AUCs of methane to the AUCs of the hydrogen curves. Estimates were no more precise in methane producers than similar estimates in non-producers. Gastrointestinal symptoms increased significantly with increasing lactulose dose; correlation with total hydrogen and methane excretion was weak. Conclusions: Our study suggests that in methane producers, simple addition of methane and hydrogen excretion improves the precision of semiquantitative measurements of carbohydrate malabsorption. The status of methane production should, therefore, be known to interpret breath tests semiquantitatively. The weak correlation between hydrogen and methane excretion and gas-related abdominal complaints suggests that other factors than net production of these gases may be responsible for the symptoms.     

Diagnosis and treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

A huge number of bacteria are hosted in the gastrointestinal tract, following a gradient increasing towards the colon. Gastric acid secretion and intestinal clearance provide the qualitative and quantitative partitioning of intestinal bacteria; small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when these barrier mechanisms fail. Diagnosis of SIBO is challenging due to the low specificity of symptoms, the frequent association with other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the absence of optimal objective diagnostic tests. The therapeutic approach to SIBO is oriented towards resolving predisposing conditions, and is supported by antibiotic treatment to restore the normal small intestinal microflora and by modifications of dietary habits for symptomatic relief. In the near future, metagenomics and metabolomics will help to overcome the uncertainties of SIBO diagnosis and the pitfalls of therapeutic management, allowing the design of a personalized strategy based on the direct insight into the small intestinal microbial community.