Functional mechanism underlying cyclooxygenase-2 expression in rat small intestine following administration of indomethacin: Relation to intestinal hypermotility

Background and Aim:  We recently reported that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is upregulated in the rat small intestine after administration of indomethacin, and this may be the key to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced intestinal damage. The present study investigated the mechanism for COX-2 expression induced in the rat small intestine by indomethacin, in relation with ulcerogenic processes.
Methods:  Animals were given indomethacin or SC-560 p.o., and the intestinal mucosa was examined 24 h later.
Results:  Indomethacin caused hemorrhagic lesions in the small intestine, accompanied with an increase in intestinal motility, bacterial invasion and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, as well as the expression of COX-2 mRNA in the mucosa. Although SC-560 did not cause any damage, this agent caused intestinal hypermotility, the bacterial invasion and the upregulation of COX-2 expression. The mucosal PGE₂ content was decreased by SC-560 at 3 h but recovered 12 h later, and this recovery of PGE₂ was attenuated by both atropine and ampicillin, in addition to rofecoxib. The intestinal hypermotility response to indomethacin was prevented by both 16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ and atropine, but not ampicillin. Yet all these agents inhibited not only the bacterial invasion but also the expression of COX-2 and iNOS activity in the intestinal mucosa following indomethacin treatment, resulting in the prevention of intestinal lesions.
Conclusion:  These results suggest that COX-2 expression in the intestinal mucosa following the administration of indomethacin is associated with intestinal hypermotility and bacterial invasion. The intestinal hypermotility caused by COX-1 inhibition may be a key to COX-2 expression after administration of NSAIDs and their intestinal ulcerogenic properties.     

Neurofilament M and calbindin D28k are present in mutually exclusive subpopulations of enteric neurons in the rat submucous plexus

Immunocytochemical methods have been used to examine the localisation of 3 neurofilament proteins and the calcium binding protein, calbindin D_28k, in whole mount preparations of the submucous plexus in the Wistar rat. Neurofilament-M (160 kDA protein) was present in 40% of the submucosal neurons, staining fine filaments in the soma and the axonal processes. Calbindin D_28k was present in 40% of the submucosal neurons staining both the soma and nerves within the plexus. The neurofilament proteins and calbindin D_28k were never observed within the same neurons. Neurofilament-M was co-localised with substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide but not somatostatin or the other neuropeptides investigated. Calbindib D_28k was co-localised with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide Y. Galanin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons did not contain either the neurofilament proteins or calbindin D_28k. The results demonstrate the presence of subsets of submucosal neurons that can be distinguished by the presence of neurofilament-M or calbinsin D_28k.     

Comparison of fecal microflora in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome according to IgE sensitization to food

Atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) commonly often arises during early infancy. In several intervention studies a beneficial influence on AEDS course of certain intestinal bacteria, administered as 'probiotics', has been described. To evaluate the possible role of the natural intestinal microflora in children with allergic eczema/dermatitis syndrome regarding immediate type hypersensitivity to food allergens, children with food allergy (AAEDS, n = 68) have been compared with children without detectable food allergy (NAEDS, n = 25). All children (n = 93) in preschool age, mean age of 2.6 (+/-1.8) years, diagnosed with AEDS who were treated as inpatients in 2003 in a dermatological hospital were included. The correlation between fecal microflora, parasites and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against common food allergens was analyzed. A similar composition of intestinal microflora in children with AAEDS and NAAEDS was found. The food allergens that were most frequently detected were egg white, cow milk, casein, peanut and hazelnut. Furthermore, a significant association between IgE sensitization against important food allergens and components of the fecal microflora could not be demonstrated. With aging changes occur in the intestinal microbiota [Proteus/Klebsiella and age (rho = -0.607) and Enterococcus and age (rho = -0.428)]. In two subjects of the AAEDS group Blastocystis hominis was found. The composition of natural intestinal microflora in children with AAEDS and NAAEDS was similar. Hence, there is no evidence of a role of the intestinal microflora with regard to the development of infant (food) allergy in children with AEDS. The possible consequences for allergic diseases later in life require further investigation.     

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: manifestations, natural history and management

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare pathological condition characterized by a marked derangement of gut propulsive motility mimicking mechanical obstruction, in the absence of any lesion occluding the gut lumen. This disease is often associated with a disabling and potentially life-threatening complications and is still too often unrecognized even in referral centres. As a result, patients receive neither appropriate care nor recognition of their severe health condition. Medical and surgical therapies are often unsatisfactory and long-term outcome turns out to be poor in the vast majority of cases. This article focuses on the main clinical features, the management and long-term outcome of patients affected by CIPO, with particular emphasis on those aspects which remain a matter of debate.     

腹腔镜在急性肠梗阻手术治疗中的应用

目的:评价腹腔镜在急性肠梗阻手术治疗中的价值。方法:对腹腔镜急性肠梗阻手术的适应证、禁忌证、手术方式、注意事项、手术并发症及优缺点等进行了总结与分析。结果:腹腔镜手术已成功地用于治疗由既往腹部手术后粘连、内疝(包括膈疝)、腹壁疝、肠扭转等所引起的急性肠梗阻。结论:腹腔镜急性肠梗阻手术仍是一种探索性的手术,可以代替开腹手术治疗选择性的急性肠梗阻。对于梗阻原因不明者,腹腔镜手术是一种即可以明确梗阻原因,又可以同时进行有效治疗的方法。     

胃粘膜癌前病变的形态定量研究——胃粘膜核腺比值的定量分析

应用自动化图象分析仪对131个胃粘膜肠型病灶(单纯性肠化27个;异型增生:轻度30,中度35个,重度20个;肠型胃癌19个)进行定量分析。以单个腺管内细胞核总面积与细胞面积之比(ING)作为反映细胞核大小、数量及覆层排列程度的客观定量指标。结果发现:单纯性肠化(对照组)0.165±0.025,轻度异型增生0.21±0.023,中度异型增生0.259±0.026,重度异型增生0.32±0.028,分化型胃癌0.371±0.052,各组ING值呈正态,各组间的均值有非常显著的差异(P<0001)。因而,ING可作为胃粘膜癌前病变诊断的指标。     

“肠梗”治疗粘连性肠梗阻425例

本文对采用自行研制的中草药浓缩剂“肠梗”治疗的粘连性肠梗阻４２５例进行临床分析。根据不同的病理及临床特征将其分为三种类型，其中广泛粘连型是“肠梗”治疗的最佳适应症，粘连扭转型是其禁忌证。并对中转手术的指征、时间等问题进行了讨论。认为该方法具有简单易行、安全可靠、成功率高的特点，是一种易于推广的治疗粘连性肠梗阻的有效方法，具有较高的临床实际应用价值     

原发性小肠恶性肿瘤的CT诊断

本文回顾性分析３４例经病理证实的原发性小肠恶性肿瘤的ＣＴ表现。病变包括腺癌１６例，平滑肌肉瘤１２例，淋巴瘤６例。ＣＴ扫描能明确肿瘤向腔内和腔外侵犯的程度，清晰显示肿瘤与邻近结构的关系，有无局部及远处转移等，为临床治疗提供帮助。鉴别诊断应包括小肠良性肿瘤、炎性病变和转移性肿瘤等。     

10Gyγ线照射后小鼠两相邻肠段运动变化

本文用同时记录两相邻空肠段的收缩活动来观察经10Gyγ线照射后小肠运动的变化,以了解照射后是否出现逆蠕动,以便进一步分析肠套叠形成的原因.结果表明,照射后两相邻肠段出现强度不一的收缩活动,并且可以产生逆蠕动;但是这种逆蠕动发生的机率是不大的.本实验未观察到逆蠕动发生的规律性.因此,逆蠕动的产生可能是照射后发生肠套叠的部分原因.     

Effects of enteral feedback inhibition on motility,luminal flow,and absorption of nutrients in proximal gut of minipigs

We wanted to clarify whether the postprandial intestinal feedback control activated by nutrients in the distal gut exerts different effects on motility, transit of digesta, and absorption of nutrients in the proximal gut. Additionally, interrelationships among motility, transit, and absorption were to be elucidated because these relationships have only been investigated in the fasted state. In five minipigs, a 150-cm segment of the proximal jejunum was isolated by two cannulas. Motility of the jejunal segment was recorded by multiple strain gauges and analyzed by computerized methods. Markers (Cr- and Cu-EDTA) were used for the measurement of the flow rate, transit time, and absorption of nutrients. After a meal, the test segment was perfused with 2 kcal/min of an elemental diet over a period of 90 min. A feedback inhibition was activated by infusion of nutrients into the midgut at rates of 1–4 kcal/min. Saline was infused as control. With increasing energy loads infused into the midgut, the motility index and the length of contraction waves decreased, whereas the incidence of stationary contractions increased, ie, the motility changed from a propulsive to a segmenting pattern. These modulations of motility were associated with a linear decrease in the flow rate and a linear increase in transit time. Flow and transit were linearly correlated with each other. Additionally, the reduction in flow rate and the delay in luminal transit were associated with a linear increase in the absorption of nutrients. However, the increase in absorption induced by the feedback mechanism was small (7.3–13.4%) compared to the marked inhibition of the motility parameters (54–64%), the flow rate (59%), and the delay of transit (5.8-fold). Feedback control primarily modulated motor patterns and luminal flow, whereas the small increase in absorption was only a side effect due to the longer contact time of the nutrients with the mucosa.The study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant Eh 64/6-3.