Glutamine alone or combined with short-chain fatty acids fails to enhance gut adaptation after massive enterectomy in rats

Effect of a topical formulation containing Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. extract on cutaneous wound healing in rats

This study evaluated the wound healing effects of topical application of an emulsion containing the HPLC-standardised extract from Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (Clusiaceae) leaves in rats. The macroscopic analysis demonstrated that the wounds treated with the C. brasiliense emulsion healed earlier than the wounds treated with emulsion base and Dersani®. The percentage of wound healing in the group treated with the C. brasiliense emulsion was significantly higher than in the other groups at 7 and 14 days. On day 14, the animals treated with the C. brasiliense emulsion exhibited a 90.67% reduction of the wound areas. The histological evaluation revealed that on day 21, the group treated with the C. brasiliense emulsion exhibited a significant increase in fibroblasts compared with the other groups. Thus, the C. brasiliense emulsion had healing properties in the topical treatment of wounds and accelerated the healing process.

Intestinal adaptation following resection

Intestinal adaptation is a natural compensatory process that occurs following extensive intestinal resection, whereby structural and functional changes in the intestine improve nutrient and fluid absorption in the remnant bowel. In animal studies, postresection structural adaptations include bowel lengthening and thickening and increases in villus height and crypt depth. Functional changes include increased nutrient transporter expression, accelerated crypt cell differentiation, and slowed transit time. In adult humans, data regarding adaptive changes are sparse, and the mechanisms underlying intestinal adaptation remain to be fully elucidated. Several factors influence the degree of intestinal adaptation that occurs post resection, including site and extent of resection, luminal stimulation with enteral nutrients, and intestinotrophic factors. Two intestinotrophic growth factors, the glucagon-like peptide 2 analog teduglutide and recombinant growth hormone (somatropin), are now approved for clinical use in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). Both agents enhance fluid absorption and decrease requirements for parenteral nutrition (PN) and/or intravenous fluid. Intestinal adaptation has been thought to be limited to the first 1-2 years following resection in humans. However, recent data suggest that a significant proportion of adult patients with SBS can achieve enteral autonomy, even after many years of PN dependence, particularly with trophic stimulation.

Time- and segment-related changes of postresected intestine: a 4-dimensional model of intestinal adaptation

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to investigate the segment- and time-related changes in rat short bowel syndrome and construct a 4-dimensional (4D) geometrical model of intestinal adaptation.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: 2-day, 7-day, and 15-day postresection groups in which 75% of the jejunoileum was removed. Histological and morphometrical parameters in the remaining proximal to distal intestinal segments, from the jejunum to the distal colon, were comparatively evaluated in the groups. The data were used to construct a 4D geometric model in which villi were considered as cylinders, and their surface area was expressed as cylinder lateral area.

RESULTS

Major adaptive changes were observed in the ileum consisting of an increase in both the diameter of base and the height of villi. A parallel reduction in their number/mm was observed. The resulting ileal architecture was characterized by a limited number of large villi. An opposite pattern was observed in the jejunum whose postresection structure consisted of an increased number of villi. No changes were observed in the colon. Postresection restructuring was early and faster in the ileum than in the jejunum resulting in an increase in absorptive area of 81.5% and 22.5% in the ileum and jejunum, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Postresection adaptation is intestinal segment-specific because all of the major changes occur in the ileum rather than in the jejunum. Sparing ileal segments during resection may improve the outcome of patients undergoing extensive intestinal resection. Our 4D model can be used to test interventions aimed at optimizing postresection intestinal adaptation.

Jatropha toxicity--a review

Jatropha is a nonedible oil seed plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. Global awareness of sustainable and alternative energy resources has propelled research on Jatropha oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production. During the past two decades, several cultivation projects were undertaken to produce Jatropha oil. In future, the increased cultivation of toxic Jatropha plants and utilization of its agro-industrial by-products may raise the frequency of contact with humans, animals, and other organisms. An attempt was thus made to present known information on toxicity of Jatropha plants. The toxicity of Jatropha plant extracts from fruit, seed, oil, roots, latex, bark, and leaf to a number of species, from microorganisms to higher animals, is well established. Broadly, these extracts possess moluscicidal, piscicidal, insecticidal, rodenticidal, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties, and exert adverse effects on animals including rats, poultry, and ruminants. The toxicity attributed to these seeds due to their accidental consumption by children is also well documented. An attempt was also made to identify areas that need further study. The information provided in this review may aid in enhancing awareness in agroindustries involved in the cultivation, harvesting, and utilization of Jatropha plants and its products with respect to the potential toxicity of Jatropha, and consequently in application and enforcement of occupational safety measures. Data on the wide range of bioactivities of Jatropha and its products were collated and it is hoped will create new avenues for exploiting these chemicals by the phamaceutical industry to develop chemotherapeutic agents.