To alleviate the constipation problem among the elderly residents of Essex County Geriatric Center, New Jersey, a fiber-supplemented dietary regimen was started. Under this regimen, bran was added to the hot breakfast cereal, thus increasing the crude fiber content of the diet to 6-8 gm compared with the former 4-6 gm. As estimated from recent analysis data, the total dietary fiber was increased from 25 to 40 percent by the addition of bran. This amount of fiber proved effective in preventing constipation in 60 percent of the residents even though many of them had previously required laxatives. Additional programs of dietary fiber supplementation were devised for residents who did not respond to the cereal supplementation or who required nasogastric feedings. In the year following initiation of the program at this Center, the use of laxatives was virtually eliminated, and the institution's pharmacy reported a saving of $44,000 in expenditures for laxative drugs. Recipes are included for the bran-supplemented hot cereal, a special fiber-prune juice supplement, and a fiber-rich liquid for tube-feedings.
Endoscopic and radiographic techniques have not been widely applicable in the evaluation of chemically induced murine colon cancer. The authors investigated methods of cleansing the rat colon and refined endoscopic and radiographic techniques. They compared total colonoscopy (TC) and air-contrast (ACBE) and single-contrast barium enema (SCBE) findings with those obtained at necropsy in rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer. Gastrograffin enemas with bisacodyl suppositiories showed complete evacuation of solid feces. Sprague-Dawley rats treated with DMH had their colons cleansed and then underwent TC (5.0-mm Olympus bronchoscope) and either SCBE or ACBE. Colonoscopy and ACBE were equally sensitive (81.5% and 76.3%, respectively), although SCBE was significantly insensitive in identifying lesions (P less than 0.001). This study demonstrates that: (1) mechanical cleansing of the rat colon is feasible, (2) TC and barium radiology can be done routinely after mechanical cleansing, and (3) TC and double-contrast BE are sensitive in identifying colon lesions. These techniques will provide a means for manipulation of murine tumors and in vivo surveillance.
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