RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Candida albicans frequently inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans leading to gastrointestinal candidiasis, especially following suppression of gastric acidity, but studies on the relation between this fungal infection and gastric pathology are limited due to lack of convenient animal models resembling Candida infection in humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We compared the effects of C. albicans and vehicle inoculation on gastric secretion and healing of gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats treated with 1) ranitidine (30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) s.c.) and 2) aspirin (ASA) (60 mg kg(-1) day(-1) i.g.) with or without probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophillus. At day 0 and at 4, 15 and 25 days after ulcer induction, the ulcer area, the gastric blood flow (GBF), the quantitative gastric cultures of Candida and the expression of mRNAs for pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and growth factors EGF and TGFalpha were assessed in the gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Gastric acid output was reduced by over 40% soon after Candida inoculation and this effect persisted during all time intervals tested. The area of ulcers in control rats significantly decreased at day 15 and the ulcers disappeared almost completely after 25 days of their induction. In contrast, the ulcers were present until day 25 in Candida-inoculated rats followed by a fall in GBF and a rise in plasma gastrin levels, these effects being significantly attenuated by the co-treatment with Lactobacillus. Candidiasis was accompanied by up-regulation of mRNA for IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, EGF and TGFalpha and a significant increment in plasma IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Persistent colonization with Candida could be achieved in rats treated with antisecretory agents or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ASA; 2) candidiasis reduces gastric acid secretion, while delaying ulcer healing possibly due to the impairment in GBF in the ulcer area and enhanced expression and release of IL-1beta and TNFalpha and 3) probiotic therapy could be useful in the treatment against the deleterious action of fungal infection on the healing of pre-existing gastric ulcers.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/uso terapêutico , Antiulcerosos/uso terapêutico , Aspirina/uso terapêutico , Candida albicans/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Probióticos/uso terapêutico , Ranitidina/uso terapêutico , Úlcera Gástrica/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Biópsia , Velocidade do Fluxo Sanguíneo/fisiologia , Candida albicans/efeitos dos fármacos , Doença Crônica , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Citocinas/genética , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Eletroforese em Gel de Ágar , Suco Gástrico/metabolismo , Mucosa Gástrica/irrigação sanguínea , Mucosa Gástrica/metabolismo , Mucosa Gástrica/microbiologia , Gastrinas/sangue , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Lactobacillus acidophilus , Masculino , Microcirculação/efeitos dos fármacos , Microcirculação/patologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Úlcera Gástrica/microbiologia , Úlcera Gástrica/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
Alcohol abuse is an important social and medical problem in Poland and leads to many different medical complications. The aim of the study was examination of immunological disturbances in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Tests were conducted on 70 patients with diagnosed alcoholic liver cirrhosis. In addition to conventional treatment, ubiquitous biotherapy was introduced in 40 patients. The control group consisted of 30 patients, they were treated according to generally accepted principles. Prior to the commencement of treatment, after a month, and then every 3 months, immunological tests were conducted, the state of health, the subjective improvement of patient's health and the time of hospitalization were assessed. The results were subject to statistical analysis using the Statistical program.
Assuntos
Imunoglobulinas/sangue , Cirrose Hepática Alcoólica/imunologia , Cirrose Hepática Alcoólica/terapia , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina A/sangue , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Leucócitos/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate altered patterns of gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with high intracranial pressure due to severe craniocerebral injury producing intracranial hematomas, or to neoplastic processes in the central nervous system. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study population consisted of 50 patients admitted to the Department of Neurotraumatology, Jagiellonian University College of Medicine. The controls were 16 healthy volunteers matched for gender and age. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded with standard cutaneous electrodes using the Synectics (Sweden) system of data storage and analysis. RESULTS: The most significant changes in gastric myoelectrical activity were observed in patients after severe head injury with increased intracranial pressure (Glasgow Coma Scale score 4-7). The percentage of bradygastria increased to 46.5 in these patients, and the signal amplitude was also increased. Significant dysrrhythmias occurred in patients with increased intracranial pressure due to brain tumours. The percentage of tachygastria increased to 36.5. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest changes in gastric myoelectrical activity were found in patients with increased ICP and coma (GCS score 4-7) due to head injury. Bradygastria was found in 46.5% of cases.