Gastrointestinal motility and Intestinal structure following oral exposure to acrylamide in Wistar rats

Introduction: Acrylamide, a byproduct of the cooking process, has been reported to be a toxicant with likely carcinogenic properties. Its impairment of gastric function has been previously reported. In this study its effects on gastrointestinal motility and intestinal structure was investigated in male Wistar rats.Methods: Forty-five rats (120-180g) were divided into 3 equal groups (n=15) and treated p.o with either 0.2ml distilled-water, or acrylamide (7.5mg/kg and 15mg/kg respectively) for 28days. Thereafter, gastric emptying and intestinal motility was assessed. Intestinal structure (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), mucosal and intestinal cell counts were evaluated using histological techniques.Results: Gastric emptying and intestinal transit time increased (p<0.05) in the experimental (acrylamidetreated; 7.5mg/kg and 15mg/kg) groups compared to control. Mucosal cell counts (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and ileum intestinal cell counts (p<0.05) were reduced in the experimental groups compared to control. Compared to control, duodenal samples of the experimental groups showed severe coagulative necrosis and sloughing off of the villi, luminal filling with necrotic debris, disruption and necrosis of the crypts of Lieberkühn, moderate polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and vascular congestion. These pathologies albeit with less severity were also observed in the jejunum and ileum of acrylamide treated groups.Conclusion: Increased oral exposure to acrylamide impairs gastric emptying, intestinal motility, mucus secretion and compromises digestive and absorptive functions of the small intestines, especially the duodenum. These observations may be ascribed to acrylamide-induced impaired neuronal signaling, autonomic neuropathy, oxidative stress, inflammation and cell necrosis. Keywords: Acrylamide, gastrointestinal tract, gastric emptying, intestinal motility, small intestines

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 Effects on Gut Health: A Review

Optimal gut motility is central to bowel function and gut health. The link between the gut dysmotility related disorders and dysfunctional-intestinal barriers has led to a hypothesis that certain probiotics could help in normalizing gut motility and maintain gut health. This review investigates the roles of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (B. lactis HN019™) on gut health, and its mechanisms of action in various pre-clinical and clinical studies. Research supports the hypothesis that B. lactis HN019™ has a beneficial role in maintaining intestinal barrier function during gastrointestinal infections by competing and excluding potential pathogens via different mechanisms; maintaining normal tight junction function in vitro; and regulating host immune defense toward pathogens in both in vitro and human studies. This has been observed to lead to reduced incidence of diarrhea. Interestingly, B. lactis HN019™ also supports normal physiological function in immunosenescent elderly and competes and excludes potential pathogens. Furthermore, B. lactis HN019™ reduced intestinal transit time and increased bowel movement frequency in functional constipation, potentially by modulating gut–brain–microbiota axis, mainly via serotonin signaling pathway, through short chain fatty acids derived from microbial fermentation. B. lactis HN019™ is thus a probiotic that can contribute to relieving gut dysmotility related disorders.

Effects of probiotics on loperamide-induced constipation in rats

The role of probiotics in mitigating constipation, gut immunity, and gut microbiota has not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics on loperamide (LP)-induced constipation in Sprague–Dawley rats. Altogether, 150 male Sprague–Dawley rats (age 8 weeks) were used in the experiments following a 12-day acclimatisation period and were randomly divided into three treatment groups (groups 1, 2, and 3). Spastic constipation was induced via oral LP administration (3 mg/kg) for 6 days, 1 h before administering each test compound in groups 1 and 2. A probiotic solution (4 mL/kg body weight) was orally administered once a day for 6 days in group 2. In group 1, a phosphate buffer solution was orally administered once a day for 6 days, 1 h after each LP administration. In group 3, a phosphate buffer solution was orally administered once a day for 6 days. In the probiotic group, faecal parameters improved; faecal n-butyric acid, acetic acid, and IgA concentrations were increased; intestinal transit time was shortened; and disturbance of intestinal microbiota was inhibited. Our findings suggest that this probiotic was useful in improving various symptoms caused by constipation.

Serial transverse enteroplasty and nipple valve construction, two life saving techniques for patients with short bowel syndrome, a report of 5 cases

Background Various abdominal pathologies end up with surgical resection of small intestine. When the small intestine remnant is too short for adequate fluid and micronutrients absorption, short bowel syndrome is diagnosed. The disabling condition needs a multidisciplinary approach to design parenteral nutrition, care for thrombotic, hepatic and infectious complications and gradually wean the patient from parenteral nutrition. Various surgical techniques have been introduced to increase absorptive mucosa and enhance the intestinal adaptation process. Serial transverse enteroplasty and nipple valve reconstruction are among the procedures, which will be discussed in the current article. Case presentation Herein, we presented 5 cases of short bowel syndrome as a consequence of abdominal laparotomies, patients were referred to our center to receive parenteral nutrition and to be prepared for the final autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction or intestinal transplantation, if indicated. Conclusion Patient’s age, performance status and bowel remnant length determines the appropriate technique for autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction. Serial transverse enteroplasty is designed to increase bowel’s length by creating zigzag patterns through dilated bowel loops. Presence of ileocecal valve is crucial to delay intestinal transit time and to prevent colonic bacterial transfer to ileum. Patient’s with ileocecal valve loss benefit from creating an artificial valve, namely, nipple valve.

Clinical assessment and cytokines level in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome participants treated with Lactobacillus-containing cultured milk drink

Gut dysbiosis is linked with the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Manipulation of intestinal microbiota using cultured milk drinks may stimulate the immune system, hence providing beneficial support in IBS treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cultured milk drink on clinical symptoms, intestinal transit time (ITT), fecal pH and cytokines in constipation- predominant IBS (IBS-C) as compared to non-IBS participants. Each recruited participant was given three bottles of 125 ml cultured milk drink containing 10 9 cfu Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Lactobacillus paracasei L. CASEI-01 consumed daily for 30 days. At pre- and post-30-day consumption, fecal pH, ITT, clinical symptoms, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels were assessed. Seventy- seven IBS-C and 88 non-IBS were enrolled. Post-consumption, 97.4% of IBS-C experienced improvements in constipation- related symptoms supported by the significant reduction of ITT and decreased fecal pH (p<0.05). All pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower in post as compared to pre-consumption of cultured milk drinks in IBS-C (p<0.05). There was significant reduction in the IL-8 and TNF-α levels in post- as compared to pre-consumption for the non-IBS (p < 0.05). Cultured milk drink taken daily improved clinical symptoms and reduced cytokines, hence should be considered as an adjunctive treatment in IBS-C individuals.

Comparative assessment of the anti-diarrhoeal effects of the ethanol leaf and stem extracts of lantana camara in Wistar rats

The antidiarrhoeal effects of Lantana camara ethanol leaf and stem extracts were compared in Wistar rats. The phytochemical and acute toxicity tests were also determined. The extracts were evaluated for castor oil- induced diarrhoea and enteropooling as well as intestinal transit in rats. The ethanol stem extract produced significant (P < 0.05), while the ethanol leaf extract produced significant (P < 0.01) dose dependent protection on rats against castor oil induced diarrhoea. The stem extract inhibited intestinal transit time and caused significant (P < 0.05), while leaf extract caused significant (P < 0.01) dose related inhibition of castor oil induced enteropooling in rats, comparable to the standard drugs. The leaf and stem extracts significantly and dose dependently delayed the onset of castor oil induced diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defecation and reduced the severity of diarrhoea in rats. The ethanol leaf and stem extracts of L. camara significantly and dose dependently decreased the volume of intestinal fluid accumulation in the castor oil induced enteropooling. The distance travelled by charcoal meal in intestinal transit time was also reduced. The oral LD50 values obtained were greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats. These findings suggest that both ethanol leaf and stem extracts of Lantana camara may contain some biologically active ingredients that are active for the treatment of diarrhoea in Nigerian herbal traditional medicine. However, the leaf extract has more antidiarrhoeal activities compared to the stem extract in castor oil-induced diarrhoeal in Wistar rats.

Good to Know: Baseline Data on Feed Intake, Fecal Pellet Output and Intestinal Transit Time in Guinea Pig as a Frequently Used Model in Gastrointestinal Research

Guinea pigs are a traditional and frequently used species in gastrointestinal research. Comprehensive knowledge of basic parameters connected with their intestinal function, such as feed intake, fecal pellet output and gastrointestinal transit time, is important for evaluating results from basic gastrointestinal research that may be applied to practical problems in human and veterinary medicine, for example, when establishing diagnostic tools. Our study revealed that over a 24-h period, single-housed guinea pigs showed a continual but day-accentuated feeding activity, consuming 57% of the total feed during the light period, with pronounced peaks of feed intake during the beginning and end of the light period. This was mirrored by fecal pellet output during the light period and almost no defecation during the dark period, while potential coprophagy not measured in this study needs to be considered. A highly comparable feeding activity was recorded in pair-housed guinea pigs, with 60% of overall feed intake within the light period, indicating that such differences in housing conditions did not influence guinea pigs’ feeding behavior. Intestinal transit time was successfully recorded by oral administration of carmine red and counted 5 h on average. Hence, this study provides important information on the basic functional parameters of guinea pigs’ gastrointestinal tract physiology.

The Chronotopic™ System for Pulsatile and Colonic Delivery of Active Molecules in the Era of Precision Medicine: Feasibility by 3D Printing via Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

The pulsatile-release Chronotopic™ system was conceived of as a drug-containing core surrounded by a coat made of swellable/soluble hydrophilic polymers, the latter being able to provide a programmable lag phase prior to drug liberation. This system was also proposed in a colon-targeting configuration, entailing a gastroresistant film to prevent early interaction of the inner coat with gastric fluids and enabling the attainment of a lag phase matching the small intestinal transit time. Over the years, various multiple-step manufacturing processes have been tested for the fabrication of the Chronotopic™ system in both its configurations. This work focused on the evaluation of 3D printing by fused deposition modeling in view of its potential towards product personalization, on demand one-step manufacturing and efficient scale down of batches. The feasibility of each part of the Chronotopic™ system was independently investigated starting from in-house made filaments, characterizing the resulting specimens for physico-technological and performance characteristics. The printing parameters identified as suitable during the set-up phase were then used to fabricate prototypes either in a single step for the pulsatile configuration or following two different fabrication approaches for the colon-targeting one.

Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites reflect hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus)

Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), a taxonomically unique Arctic species, are increasingly exposed to climate and other anthropogenic changes. It is critical to develop and validate reliable tools to monitor their physiological stress response in order to assess the impacts of these changes. Here, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels in response to the administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the winter (1 IU/kg) and summer (2 IU/kg) using two enzyme immunoassays, one targeting primarily cortisol and the other targeting primarily corticosterone. Fecal cortisol levels varied substantially within and among individuals, and none of the animals in either challenge showed an increase in fecal cortisol following the injection of ACTH. By contrast, two of six (winter) and two of five (summer) muskoxen showed a clear response in fecal corticosterone levels (i.e., maximal percentage increase as compared to time 0 levels > 100%). Increases in fecal corticosterone post-ACTH injection occurred earlier and were of shorter duration in the summer than in the winter and fecal corticosterone levels were, in general, lower during the summer. These seasonal differences in FGM responses may be related to the use of different individuals (i.e., influence of sex, age, social status, etc.) and to seasonal variations in the metabolism and excretion of glucocorticoids, intestinal transit time, voluntary food intake, and fecal output and moisture content. Results from this study support using FGMs as a biomarker of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in muskoxen, advance our understanding of the physiological adaptations of mammals living in highly seasonal and extreme environments such as the Arctic, and emphasize the importance of considering seasonality in other species when interpreting FGM levels.

Preoperative Planning of Spiral Intestinal Lengthening and Tailoring: A Geometrical Approach

Short bowel syndrome is a pathological condition resulting from extensive resection of the intestine, generally performed due to congenital abnormalities, Crohn’s disease, mesenteric ischemia, or neoplasms. The main consequence of this syndrome is a reduction of intestinal absorption, which causes malnutrition and dehydration. In the most severe cases, specific and complex surgical procedures are requested to manage the syndrome. Such procedures consist of the intestinal lengthening, with lead to an increase of absorptive mucosal surface and intestinal transit time and an overall enhancement of intestinal absorption. One of the most promising surgical procedures is spiral intestinal lengthening and tailoring, which consists of a spiral incision of the intestinal wall and in the elongation longitudinally of the intestine by sliding one flap over the other. The final intestinal lengthening is strictly dependent on a series of parameters, some of which are defined by the surgeon. The present paper proposes a mathematical model, based on patient specific anatomical data, which aims to help the surgeon in defining the optimal parameters for the intervention and in foreseeing its outcomes from the preoperative planning phase. Such a tool can assist the physician in the surgery room by improving the procedure and reducing surgical times.