Beneficial effect of synbiotics on experimental colon cancer in rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a synbiotic preparation (a mixture of six probiotics and a prebiotic) on aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, dysplasia, inflammation, and colitis-like lesions in experimental colon cancer in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty male rats were categorized into three groups of 20 animals each. Group A was administered 1,2-dimethylydrazine, 15 mg/kg body weight (BW), once a week for 2 weeks. Group B was administered 1,2-dimethylydrazine at the same dose plus synbiotic, started after the second dose of carcinogen and lasted for 5 weeks. Group C was administered synbiotic plus carcinogen from the beginning of the experiment and lasted for 7 weeks. Animals were killed at the end of week 7.

RESULTS

At the end of the experiment, the animals that received carcinogen plus the synbiotic had 100%, whereas the animals that received only carcinogen has 70% survival. Animals of groups B and C had significantly lower percentage of inflammation, colitis-like lesions, and ACF dysplasia than animals of group A, whereas those of group C had the least pathological lesions.

CONCLUSION

Synbiotics seem to protect against the appearance of preneoplastic colon lesions in rats. The results of this experimental study suggest that treatment with a synbiotic preparation exerts significant antimutagenic properties against the development of preneoplastic lesions in rats.

Ulcerative colitis and Sjogren's syndrome in the same patient: report of two cases and a review of the literature

Two cases of coexisting ulcerative colitis and Sjogren's syndrome are presented. Both patients were women and in both ulcerative colitis preceded the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome by several years. The course of ulcerative colitis before the onset of Sjogren's syndrome was quite severe. On the basis of clinical signs and serological and immunogenetic patterns, both patients were classified as suffering from secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Although the combination of the two diseases in the same patient seems to be the result of chance, we think that this combination offers an opportunity for future studies related to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.