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Background: Pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be through different factors and there is a relationship between the gut flora and the risk of its development. Probiotics can manipulate the microflora in chronic inflammation and may be effective in treating inflammation. Bifidobacterium are saccharolytic and their growth in the gut can be promoted by non-absorbable carbohydrates and its increase in the colon appears to be of benefit.

rial antagonism and/or enhancement of systemic and inIn acute liver failure following hepatitis, toxic insults, testinal mucosal immunity. (HEPATOLOGY 1997;25:642-or after major liver surgery, there is an increased bacte-647.) rial translocation from the gut. This may explain some of the infectious complications seen in these conditions. To elucidate mechanisms and find possible preventiveLactobacilli constitute an integral part of the normal gasmeasures, we investigated the effect of rectal administrointestinal microecology and are involved in host metabotration of arginine and probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus lism. 1 They possess antimicrobial activities, including the spp.) on bacterial translocation and the extent of liver production of bacteriocin and low-molecular-weight antibiotic failure. Sprague-Dawley rats were used and five differsubstances, organic acids, and other metabolic end-products ent Lactobacillus strains (Lb. reuteri R2LC, Lb. rhamnoin both the human and animal gastrointestinal tract. 1-4 Lacsus DSM 6594 (Å strain 271), Lb. plantarum DSM 9843 tobacilli can inhibit the growth of various potentially patho-(Å strain 299v), Lb. fermentum 8704:3 (Å strain 245), and genic bacteria, 1,4,5 and they have been reported to be able to Lb. reuteri (Å strain 108) were administered rectally stimulate host immunity, 6 enhance the host resistance once daily for 8 days with and without 2% arginine.against infection and activate liver and peritoneal macroAcute liver injury (ALI) was induced on the eighth day phages, 7 and enhance intestinal immune function. [8][9][10] Bacteby intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (1.1 g/kg riotherapy with lactobacilli, or other bacterial strains, has body weight), and samples were collected after 24 and been reported to be effective in both pseudomembranous and 48 hours. Bacterial translocation was evaluated by baculcerative colitis. 11-15 terial culture from portal and arterial blood, mesentericOn the other hand, the amino acid, arginine, has a potent lymph nodes, and liver tissue. Liver enzymes and bilirueffect on the immune system, particularly after trauma. 16 It bin were evaluated in the serum. The bacterial load in has a potent secretagogue effect on several endocrine glands, the cecum and colon was determined and the liver histoand these hormones may have a trophic effect on the intestipathological changes were studied. There was no mornal mucosa. [17][18][19] Furthermore, arginine is a known precursor tality at any time. The liver enzymes and bilirubin deof polyamines, which are considered important mediators of creased in some of the groups supplemented with cell growth and differentiation. 20 lactobacilli with and without arginine compared withThe L-arginine -nitric oxide pathway has been proposed to the ALI control group. The incidence of bacterial transbe the primary defense mechanism for killing intracellular location and the number of the translocated bacteria organisms, and to be the main mechanism of macrophage decreased significantly in some of the su...

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