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A curable cause of chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in children: idiopathic myositis of the small intestine.

We report an intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome occurring in a 6-month-old infant girl suffering from acquired major and persistent abdominal distension, which 2 months later required ileostomy. Histologic examination of samples of the small intestine showed considerable inflammatory reaction in the muscular layers of the intestinal wall. Steroid therapy, begun as soon as the histologic results were known, resulted in recovery. In a similar case, reported previously, steroid therapy used after the lesions had already caused fibrosis and atrophy of the intestinal wall, proved ineffective. This particular form of pseudo-obstruction is classified as "idiopathic myositis of the small intestine." It is important to identify the condition because an early course of steroid therapy, before the appearance of fibrotic lesions, could improve the prognosis.

Female↗

Phagocytic and intestinal endothelial and epithelial barrier function during the early stage of small intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury.

The effects of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) on small intestinal mucosal endothelial and epithelial barrier integrity and phagocytic function were assessed in rats subjected to 20- or 40-min mesenteric ischemia and a 3-h reperfusion. The results showed that human serum albumin (125I-HSA) flux through the endothelial layer to the interstitial space increased as did 125I-HSA clearance from blood to the gut lumen and 131I-HSA flux from the gut lumen to the interstitial space in rats with I/R. E. coli adhering to microvilli, invading and passing into the microvessels, were noted on the small intestinal mucosa in animals subjected to 40-min ischemia and a 3-h reperfusion. Phagocytic function increased, especially in the small intestinal wall, lungs, liver, and spleen in the groups with I/R, correlating with the length of ischemia. The results imply that both endothelial and epithelial barrier integrity is impaired in the early phase after I/R and that the epithelial barrier more effectively restricts macromolecular leakage compared with the endothelial barrier. I/R impairs the intestinal barrier not only by causing tissue hypoxia but also by activating the phagocytic system and aggravating barrier damage, which finally may result in bacterial translocation and remote organ dysfunction.

Animals↗

Bacterial antigens alone can influence intestinal barrier integrity, but live bacteria are required for initiation of intestinal inflammation and injury.

Intestinal flora plays a critical role in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory bowel disease. This study examined whether live fecal bacteria were necessary for the initiation of this inflammatory response or whether sterile fecal material would provoke a similar response. Three preparations of fecal material were prepared: (1) a slurry of live fecal bacteria, (2) a sterile lysate of bacterial antigens, and (3) a sterile filtrate of fecal water. Each preparation was introduced via gastric gavage into the intestines of axenic interleukin-10 gene-deficient mice genetically predisposed to develop inflammatory bowel disease. Intestinal barrier integrity and degrees of mucosal and systemic inflammations were determined for each preparation group. Intestinal barrier integrity, as determined by mannitol transmural flux, was altered by both live fecal bacterial and sterile lysates of bacterial antigens, although it was not altered by sterile filtrates of fecal water. However, only live fecal bacteria initiated mucosal inflammation and injury and a systemic immune response. Fecal bacterial antigens in the presence of live bacteria and sterile fecal bacterial antigens have different effects on the initiation and perpetuation of intestinal inflammation.

Animals↗

Bacterial translocation, intestinal microflora and morphological changes of intestinal mucosa in experimental models of Clostridium difficile infection.

Bacteraemia and subsequent sepsis is one possible complication of Clostridium difficile infection. The aim of this study was to examine a correlation between bacterial translocation with morphological changes of intestinal mucosa and shifts of intestinal microflora in experimental models of C. difficile infection. A mouse model was used to study post-antibiotic shifts and mild C. difficile infection, and hamsters were used to study fatal enterocolitis. The influence of pro- and pre-biotics (lactobacilli and xylitol) were also studied in the hamster model. The quantitative composition of luminal and mucosal microflora was evaluated in different intestinal loci, inflammatory changes of mucosa were estimated in histological sections and bacterial translocation was detected in samples from blood, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. In cases of mild C. difficile infection, the extent of disturbance of intestinal microflora appeared to be a more important promoting factor in translocation than inflammatory activity in the mucosa. Translocation was frequent in fatal enterocolitis, with facultative species predominating in the intestinal mucosa and also C. difficile in some cases. The combination of lactobacilli and xylitol had some protective effect against C. difficile infection in these models.

Ampicillin↗

Mesenteric lymphoblast localization throughout the murine small intestine: temporal analysis relating intestinal length and lymphoblast division.

Mesenteric lymphoblasts (MLN) have a predilection to selectively localize in the lamina propria and epithelium of the small intestine. Using an adoptive transfer method, we examined the localization kinetics of these blasts in the intestinal wall with respect to their distribution from duodenum to terminal ileum and also assessed their mitotic activity by autoradiographic techniques. 3H-thymidine-labelled MLN cells were found throughout the small intestine by 6 hr post-transfer and reached a maximum frequency in this organ by 24 hr post-transfer. Donor blasts were most frequent in the duodenum and terminal ileum regions of the gut. Subsequently, the frequency of labelled cells throughout the intestinal wall declined to near zero. The apparent accumulation of MLN blasts in the gut was not related to either a temporary retention and departure from the pulmonary vasculature or to mitotic division of labelled cells in the gut wall. A model describing the relationship between MLN blast localization kinetics in various segments of the intestine was formulated.

Animals↗

Recovery of the small intestine in coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet: changes in intestinal permeability, small bowel morphology and T-cell activity.

Intestinal permeability was assessed before and 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after commencing a gluten-free diet (GFD) in eight coeliac subjects. Intestinal morphology was quantified in six coeliac subjects on a normal diet, six coeliac subjects on a GFD, and 21 normal subjects. T-cell activity was measured in the eight coeliac subjects by soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentration (normal less than 477 U/mL). Intestinal permeability was increased 10-fold with a geometric mean value of 0.72 on a normal diet, and decreased to 0.17 at 4 weeks (P = 0.04), to 0.07 at 8 weeks (P = 0.010), and to 0.20 at 12 weeks (P = 0.015) of a GFD. Two of the eight subjects showed a poor response to gluten withdrawal. Quantitative intestinal morphology showed no significant improvement after 3 to 6 months of a GFD. Mean +/- s.d. sIL-2R concentrations in the eight subjects were increased 5-fold higher than control values at 1400 +/- 530 U/mL on a normal diet and decreased to 750 +/- 200 U/mL after 12 weeks of a GFD (P = 0.004). We conclude that intestinal permeability improves rapidly in the majority of coeliac subjects after commencing a GFD, although some abnormal permeability and increased T-cell activity persists. This may be due to varying degrees of gluten ingestion resulting in continued immune activation.

Adult↗

Isolated intestinal transplantation for intestinal failure.

OBJECTIVE: Parenteral nutrition sustains life in patients with intestinal failure. However, some experience life-threatening complications from parenteral nutrition, and in these individuals intestinal transplantation may be lifesaving. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 28 consecutive isolated small bowel transplants performed in eight adults and 20 children between December 1993 and June 1998 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. RESULTS: The 1-yr patient and graft survivals were 93% and 71%, respectively. The causes of graft loss were hyperacute rejection (n = 1), acute rejection (n = 5), vascular thrombosis (n = 1), and patient death (n = 1). The median length of time required until full enteral nutrition was 27 days. All 28 patients have experienced acute rejection of their small bowel grafts and rejection led to graft failure in five. Jaundice and/or hepatic fibrosis was present preoperatively in 17 of the 28 recipients and hyperbilirubinemia was completely reversed in all patients with functional grafts within 4 months of transplantation. Three patients developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (11%). Three recipients developed cytomegalovirus enteritis and all were successfully treated. CONCLUSIONS: Patient survival after intestinal transplantation is comparable to parenteral nutrition for patients with intestinal failure. Better immunosuppressive regimens are needed to decrease the risk of graft loss from acute rejection. The incidence of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder is higher after intestinal transplantation than after other solid organ transplants and the risk of cytomegalovirus enteritis is low with the use of cytomegalovirus seronegative donors. Liver dysfunction in the absence of established cirrhosis can be reversed.

Adolescent↗

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) does not affect ion transport in human intestine but does in porcine intestine.

The aim of this study was to test whether atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) exerts any effect on human intestinal ion transport, and the porcine intestine was used as a positive control of ANF's effects. Tissues from human proximal (n = 6) and distal (n = 6) colons, and from distal ileum (n = 6) were mounted in Ussing chambers, and short circuit current (Isc) was measured subsequent to serosal application of ANF (10(-6) M), 8-Br-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) (10(-4) M), and theophylline (10(-2) M). ANF did not affect Isc whereas 8-Br-cGMP increased Isc by 28 (8-53), 16 (3-36), and 16 (5-41) microA cm-2 in the distal colon (DC), proximal colon (PC) and distal ileum (DI), respectively. Likewise, transepithelial potential difference (PD) became more negative by 5.0 (0.6-8.9), 2.5 (0.4-4.0) and 0.9 (0.3-2.3) mV in DC, PC, and DI, respectively, subsequent to addition of 8-Br-cGMP. Isc and PD were further increased by theophylline. Additional radio-isotope flux studies in human colon revealed that ANF did not affect electroneutral sodium and chloride transport either. For comparison, ANF (10(-6) M) was administered to large intestinal tissues from young pigs in which ANF induced a significant increase in Isc which was comparable to the 8-Br-cGMP response in humans. The porcine Isc response was partly inhibited by chloride-free solution on the serosal side, by serosal application of bumetanide (10(-4) M) and BaCl2 (10(-3) M), and mucosal application of the chloride-channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC) (10(-3) M). Mucosal amiloride (10(-5) M) pre-treatment reduced baseline Isc but did not affect the porcine intestinal Isc response to ANF. In vitro radio-autography demonstrated specific binding sites for ANF in porcine distal colon, whereas no apparent labelling was observed in human distal colon. These findings suggest that the lack of effect of ANF on sodium and chloride transport in human distal ileum and colon is probably due to lack of ANF receptors. In the porcine intestine, however, the Isc response induced by ANF seems to involve stimulation of electrogenic chloride secretion, whereas electrogenic sodium absorption seems unaffected.

Adolescent↗

Transcellular fluid secretion induced by cholera toxin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the small intestine of the rat.

The permeation of intravenously administered 51Cr-EDTA and [14C]mannitol to the perfused intestinal lumen was measured in anaesthetized rats together with the net intestinal fluid. Net fluid secretion was induced by cholera toxin or by intravenous infusion of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The plasma clearance of Cr-EDTA and mannitol was 0.9 +/- 0.1 and 1.4 +/- 0.2 microliters min-1 g-1 intestine during the control period prior to the secretion and the net fluid absorption was about 7 +/- 5 microliters min-1 g-1. Cholera toxin induced a net fluid secretion of about 30 +/- 7 microliters min-1 g-1 but the clearance did not rise but decreased significantly. The findings for VIP-induced secretion were similar. No indication of solvent drag was seen. Thus it is concluded that the fluid was secreted in channels which were smaller than the probes and we propose that the secreted fluid entered the intestinal lumen through the epithelial cells and not by the paracellular route. The decreased permeation of Cr-EDTA and mannitol from plasma to lumen during volume secretion suggest that there was a decreased mucosal permeability during the secretion. The decrease in permeability was consistent with a decrease in pore size. One explanation of the data is that the pore radius contracted from about 35 to 15 A during cholera if we assume a homogenous pore population. However, the data indicated that there was not a uniform size of the pore.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Region-dependent modulation of intestinal permeability by drug efflux transporters: in vitro studies in mdr1a(-/-) mouse intestine.

Information on the extent to which xenobiotics interact with P-glycoprotein (PGP) during transit through the intestine is crucial in determining the influence of PGP on oral drug absorption. We have recently described a novel use of isolated ileum from PGP-deficient mdr1a(-/-) mice to resolve PGP- and non-PGP-dependent drug efflux and provide a definitive measure of intrinsic drug permeability without recourse to inhibitors. The present study uses this approach to investigate the impact of PGP on intestinal permeability of paclitaxel and digoxin in different regions of the mouse intestine (jejunum, ileum, and proximal and distal colon). Absorption of paclitaxel and digoxin in tissues from wild-type mice was low and showed little regional variation. In contrast, absorption of both drugs was markedly higher in mdr1a(-/-) intestine, although the increase was highly region-dependent, with the ileum and distal colon showing the greatest effect and much smaller changes in the jejunum and proximal colon. These effects were accompanied by the abolition of paclitaxel and digoxin secretion in mdr1a(-/-) mice, suggesting that regional variations in intestinal permeability are masked by differential PGP expression, confirmed by immunoblotting studies. Propranolol permeability, which is not influenced by PGP, showed similar regional variation in both wild-type and mdr1a(-/-) tissues, suggesting that differences are at the level of transcellular permeability. These data suggest that the ileum and the distal colon are regions of relatively high transcellular permeability for xenobiotics that are compensated by enhanced expression of PGP.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

Intestinal epithelial cells preferentially attach to a biomatrix derived from human intestinal mucosa.

Primary intestinal epithelial cells have a very short lifespan in vitro when cultured free of mucosal elements. Support of the basal plasma membrane by a more natural substrate may thus enhance the initiation of primary cell cultures. A cell free biomatrix consisting of native interstitial collagens, basement membrane fragments and microfibrils was extracted from the lamina propria of human intestinal mucosa. Immunofluorescence revealed the presence of collagens type III, IV, and VI and procollagens type I and III as well as fibronectin, laminin and undulin. Primary crypt cells of suckling mice displayed a significantly increased affinity to pepsin and collagenase solubilised intestinal biomatrix when compared with plastic and fibronectin. Colonies of primary crypt cells survived for up to four days and longer on pepsin solubilised biomatrix but only for 48 hours on fibronectin. The intestinal biomatrix preparation has proved to be a useful substrate for the initiation and prolongation of primary intestinal cell cultures.

Adult↗

Very late onset small intestinal B cell lymphoma associated with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia and diffuse cutaneous warts.

As only a handful of lymphoma cases have been reported in conjunction with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, it is not yet clear if this association is merely fortuitous or related to primary intestinal lymphangiectasia induced immune deficiency. We report on two female patients, 50 and 58 years old, who developed small intestinal high grade B cell lymphoma a long time (45 and 40 years, respectively) after the initial clinical manifestations of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. They presented with a longstanding history of fluctuating protein losing enteropathy, multiple cutaneous plane warts, and markedly dilated mucosal and submucosal lymphatic channels in duodenal biopsies. One had a large ulcerated tumour of the proximal ileum and the other diffuse ileal infiltration. In both, histological examination showed centroblastic high grade B cell lymphoma associated with duodenojejuno-ileal mucosal and submucosal lymphangiectasia. They were subsequently successfully treated with surgery and postoperative chemotherapy (AVmCP: adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, Vm26, and prednisolone), and chemotherapy alone (PACOB: adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, bleomycine, and prednisolone), respectively. A three year follow up in both cases showed persistent diffuse lymphangiectasia without evidence of lymphoma. The present findings support the hypothesis that primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is associated with lymphoma development.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Regulation of intestinal phosphate transport. II. Metabolic acidosis stimulates Na(+)-dependent phosphate absorption and expression of the Na(+)-P(i) cotransporter NaPi-IIb in small intestine.

During metabolic acidosis, P(i) serves as an important buffer to remove protons from the body. P(i) is released from bone together with carbonate buffering protons in blood. In addition, in the kidney, the fractional excretion of phosphate is increased allowing for the excretion of more acid equivalents in urine. The role of intestinal P(i) absorption in providing P(i) to buffer protons and compensating for loss from bone during metabolic acidosis has not been clarified yet. Inducing metabolic acidosis (NH(4)Cl in drinking water) for 2 or 7 days in mice increased urinary fractional P(i) excretion twofold, whereas serum P(i) levels were not altered. Na(+)-dependent P(i) transport in the small intestine, however, was stimulated from 1.89 +/- 3.22 to 40.72 +/- 11.98 pmol/mg protein (2 days of NH(4)Cl) in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from total small intestine. Similarly, the protein abundance of the Na(+)-dependent phosphate cotransporter NaPi-IIb in the brush-border membrane was increased 5.3-fold, whereas mRNA levels remained stable. According to immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR NaPi-IIb expression was found to be mainly confined to the ileum in the small intestine, and this distribution was not altered during metabolic acidosis. These results suggest that the stimulation of intestinal P(i) absorption during metabolic acidosis may contribute to the buffering of acid equivalents by providing phosphate and may also help to prevent excessive liberation of phosphate from bone.

Acidosis↗

Putative intestine-specific enhancers located in 5' sequence of the CDX1 gene regulate CDX1 expression in the intestine.

CDX1 is a homeobox transcription factor that plays a critical role in intestinal epithelial cell growth and differentiation. CDX1 gene expression is tightly regulated in a temporal and cell-type specific manner. However, very little is known about the regulatory mechanisms that direct CDX1 gene expression in the intestine. To elucidate these mechanisms, we employed a series of transgenic mouse studies using the 5' flanking sequences of the human CDX1 gene. Transgenic mice containing nucleotides between -5667 and +68 relative to the transcription start site of the CDX1 gene demonstrated ectopic expression of the transgene in the brain and gastric smooth muscle. However, transgenic expression of the nucleotides -15601 to +68 of the CDX1 gene was restricted to the intestinal epithelium, which was identical to endogenous CDX1 gene expression. Taken together, the upstream sequences between -15601 and -5667 contain regulatory elements that direct transgene expression specifically to the intestinal epithelium. Furthermore, DNase I hypersensitivity assays revealed two active chromatin regions in the CDX1 gene (hypertensive sites 1 and 2) located at approximately -5.8 and -6.8 kb upstream of the CDX1 gene, respectively, which may function as potential intestine-specific enhancers.

Animals↗

Intestinal distension alters vagal efferent activity and small intestinal transport in vivo.

We investigated whether intestinal distension altered net water absorption by an adjacent noncontiguous segment of intestine and the mechanism for this effect. Influx and efflux catheters were placed in two intestinal loops, after which the bowel was transected between the loops. During perfusion with Ringers-HCO3-, the proximal loop efflux catheter was elevated 5, 10, or 15 cm above the plane of the rat. Net water absorption was measured in the nondistended caudal (control) loop. Elevation of the proximal loop efflux catheter caused distension and increased intraluminal pressure in this loop but did not alter the circumference or intraluminal pressure of the caudal loop. Distension increased net water absorption by the caudal loop if the vagi were intact and the splanchnic nerves transected. Afferent vagotomy prevented the distension effect. Using the intracellular recording technique, we were able to show that the increase in absorption resulted from a reduction in the activity of vagal neurons innervating the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal distension reduced the neural activity of 24 of 26 vagal efferent neurons. Our results demonstrate that after splanchnectomy intestinal distension activates a neural circuit that includes afferent and efferent vagal fibers, resulting in increased water absorption.

Absorption↗

Part of quercetin absorbed in the small intestine is conjugated and further secreted in the intestinal lumen.

Rutin and quercetin absorption and metabolism were investigated in rats after in situ perfusion of jejunum plus ileum (15 nmol/min). In contrast to rutin, a high proportion of quercetin (two-thirds) disappeared during perfusion, reflecting extensive transfer into the intestinal wall. Net quercetin absorption was not complete (2.1 nmol/min), inasmuch as 52% were reexcreted in the lumen as conjugated derivatives (7.7 nmol/min). Enterohepatic recycling contribution of flavonoids was excluded by catheterization of the biliary duct before perfusion. After a 30-min perfusion period, 0.71 microM of quercetin equivalents were detected in plasma, reflecting a significant absorption from the small intestine. The differential hydrolysis of effluent samples by glucuronidase and/or sulfatase indicates that the conjugated forms released in the lumen were 1) glucuronidated derivatives of quercetin and of its methoxylated forms (64%) and 2) sulfated form of quercetin (36%). In vitro quercetin glucuronides synthetized using jejunal and ileal microsomal fractions were similar to those recovered in the effluent of perfusion. These data suggest that glucuronidation and sulfatation take place in intestinal cells, whereas no glucurono-sulfoconjugates could be detected in the effluent. The present work shows that a rapid quercetin absorption in the small intestine is very effective together with its active conjugation in intestinal cells.

Animals↗

Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) formation in neonatal intestinal mucosa and in cultured intestinal epithelial cells.

We report the presence of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether; 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) in small-intestinal and colonic mucosa of neonatal rats. The PAF-acether content was higher in the colon than in the small intestine, and was lower in the small intestine of 30-day-old animals than in 14-day-old animals. We also report that cultured intestinal epithelial cells (INT 407) produce PAF-acether when stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, and that homogenized INT 407 cells can degrade PAF-acether with the formation of lysoPAF-acether. These findings suggest that intestinal epithelial cells are able to produce and metabolize PAF-acether, a potent mediator of inflammation. The authors propose that this might contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease.

Animals↗

Effects of an inhibitor isolated from human small intestine on organ culture of intestinal mucosa.

Endogenous mitotic inhibitors have been implicated as controlling mechanisms of intestinal epithelium proliferation. We previously reported the purification of an inhibitor of intestinal epithelial cells in culture isolated from a villous extract of human jejunum. This article describes the biologic effects of this inhibitor on organ cultures of rabbit intestinal mucosa. Our results reveal that (1) this factor is not cytotoxic; (2) it inhibits intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in a dose-dependent and reversible manner; (3) it does not appear to be species-specific; (4) it is specific to the digestive tract, and more particularly to the small intestine.

Animals↗