A short review on the features of the non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat intestine.

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a non-obese experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that allows researchers to monitor diabetes-induced changes without jeopardizing the effects of obesity. This rat strain exhibits notable gastrointestinal features associated with T2DM, such as marked alterations in intestinal morphology, reduced intestinal motility, slow transit, and modified microbiota compared to Wistar rats. The primary treatments for diabetic patients include administration of hypoglycemic agents and insulin, and lifestyle changes. Emerging procedures, including alternative therapies, metabolic surgeries, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition, have been shown to improve the diabetic state of GK rats. This review describes the morpho-physiological diabetic-associated features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of GK rats. We also describe promising strategies, e.g., metabolic surgery and modulation of gut microbiota composition, used to target the GIT of this animal model to improve the diabetic state.

A short review on the features of the non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat intestine

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a non-obese experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that allows researchers to monitor diabetes-induced changes without jeopardizing the effects of obesity. This rat strain exhibits notable gastrointestinal features associated with T2DM, such as marked alterations in intestinal morphology, reduced intestinal motility, slow transit, and modified microbiota compared to Wistar rats. The primary treatments for diabetic patients include administration of hypoglycemic agents and insulin, and lifestyle changes. Emerging procedures, including alternative therapies, metabolic surgeries, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition, have been shown to improve the diabetic state of GK rats. This review describes the morpho-physiological diabetic-associated features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of GK rats. We also describe promising strategies, e.g., metabolic surgery and modulation of gut microbiota composition, used to target the GIT of this animal model to improve the diabetic state.

A short review on the features of the non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat intestine

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a non-obese experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that allows researchers to monitor diabetes-induced changes without jeopardizing the effects of obesity. This rat strain exhibits notable gastrointestinal features associated with T2DM, such as marked alterations in intestinal morphology, reduced intestinal motility, slow transit, and modified microbiota compared to Wistar rats. The primary treatments for diabetic patients include administration of hypoglycemic agents and insulin, and lifestyle changes. Emerging procedures, including alternative therapies, metabolic surgeries, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition, have been shown to improve the diabetic state of GK rats. This review describes the morpho-physiological diabetic-associated features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of GK rats. We also describe promising strategies, e.g., metabolic surgery and modulation of gut microbiota composition, used to target the GIT of this animal model to improve the diabetic state.

Bone mineral density and inflammatory bowel disease severity.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). In this study, the association between disease severity and BMD in patients with IBD was evaluated. Associations between BMD and the Montreal classification, disease activity and drug therapy were also tested. A cross-sectional prevalence study with a comparison group was conducted. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were evaluated: 68 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 60 with Crohn's disease (CD). The control group consisted of 67 healthy subjects. All patients and controls had BMD measured and in IBD patients, current medications, hospitalization, and disease location, extent and phenotype, according to the Montreal classification, were recorded. Multiple correspondence analysis was applied to evaluate categorical variables. In the CD group, most patients were diagnosed between 17-40 years of age. Ileocolonic and non-stricturing non-penetrating disease were the most frequent disease location and behavior, respectively. In UC patients, extensive colitis was the most frequent disease location. UC and CD patients were more likely to have osteopenia than controls (OR=14.93/OR=24.38, respectively). In the CD group, male patients, perianal disease, penetrating behavior and age at diagnosis >40 years were associated with low BMD. Taking azathioprine and infliximab also seemed to be associated with osteopenia. In the UC group, we observed an association between low BMD and male patients, left colitis, corticosteroid use and hospitalization. Disease activity was not associated with osteopenia or osteoporosis in CD and UC patients. Disease severity seems to be associated with osteopenia in IBD patients.

[Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients undergoing hemodialysis in Salvador, BA, Brazil]. / Anticorpo contra o vírus C da hepatite em pacientes sob programa de hemodiálise em Salvador, BA, Brasil.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis units has been evaluated in different geographic regions. AIMS: The prevalence of anti-HCV in patients undergoing hemodialysis program in the city of Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil, was studied and its association with transfusions, duration of hemodialysis and ALT elevation. METHOD: During a period of 17 months, all patients undergoing dialytic treatment, were evaluated. The total number of patients was 395, all of whom completed a questionnaire and provided serum samples for laboratory analysis. Serological levels were measured for ALT and the samples were tested for anti-HCV using ELISA II with a further confirmation using RIBA III. RESULTS: Anti-HCV was positive in 23.8% (94/395). The presence of transfusions was associated with anti-HCV and as the number of transfusions used increased, so did the frequency of anti-HCV. Of the patients who never received transfusions, 12.5% (6/48) were anti-HCV positive. The duration of dialytic treatment lasted from 53.44 +/- 36.45 months in the anti-HCV positive group and 22.10 +/- 22.75 months for the group testing negative. ALT elevation was more frequent in the anti-HCV positive group. Positivity for the RIBA III fractions was 79.8%, 100%, 80.9% and 52.1%, for c100-3, c33, c22 and NS5, respectively. The anti-NS5 was even less frequent in the group with elevated ALT. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anti-HCV in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in Salvador, Bahia, is elevated and it is associated with transfusions, a longer duration of dialytic treatment and ALT elevation.