Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups in which group 1 received a sham operation (controls), groups 2-5 underwent common bile duct ligation and transection 14 days before the experiments. Two days prior to the studies, animals in groups 1 and 2 received saline orally, while groups 3–5 received an oral administration of either cholic acid, deoxycholic acid or whole bile. Specimens were taken for bacterial culture, and blood was collected for endotoxin assay. The rate of positive bacterial cultures from mesenteric lymph nodes in jaundiced salinetreated animals was significantly higher (p < 0.05) as compared with both controls and the other jaundiced animals treated with either bile or bile acids. Assays were positive for endotoxin in the jaundiced salinetreated group, whereas they were negative in both controls and bile- or bile-acid-treated animals. We conclude that oral administration of cholic acid, deoxycholic acid or whole bile inhibited bacterial translocation and endotoxin absorption in obstructive jaundice in the rat.

Helicobacter pylori infection in humans is associated with chronic type B gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric carcinoma. A high intake of carotenoids and vitamin C has been proposed to prevent development of gastric malignancies. The aim of this study was to explore if the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis rich in the carotenoid astaxanthin and vitamin C can inhibit experimental H. pylori infection in a BALB/cA mouse model. Six-week-old BALB/cA mice were infected with the mouse-passaged H. pylori strain 119/95. At 2 weeks postinoculation mice were treated orally once daily for 10 days (i) with different doses of algal meal rich in astaxanthin (0.4, 2, and 4 g/kg of body weight, with the astaxanthin content at 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively), (ii) with a control meal (algal meal without astaxanthin, 4 g/kg), or (iii) with vitamin C (400 mg/kg). Five mice from each group were sacrificed 1 day after the cessation of treatment, and the other five animals were sacrificed 10 days after the cessation of treatment. Culture of H. pylori and determination of the inflammation score of the gastric mucosae were used to determine the outcome of the treatment. Mice treated with astaxanthin-rich algal meal or vitamin C showed significantly lower colonization levels and lower inflammation scores than those of untreated or control-meal-treated animals at 1 day and 10 days after the cessation of treatment. Lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in mice treated with the astaxanthin-rich algal meal and vitamin C compared with that of animals not treated or treated with the control meal. Both astaxanthin-rich algal meal and vitamin C showed an inhibitory effect on H. pylori growth in vitro. In conclusion, antioxidants may be a new strategy for treating H. pylori infection in humans.The human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori causes type B chronic gastritis and is associated with peptic ulcer disease as well as gastric cancer (7,9,38). Some epidemiological studies have shown the difference between the prevalence of H. pyloriassociated diseases and intake of certain vitamins and antioxidants in various populations (10,28,33) and that a high intake of vitamin C, ␣-tocopherol, or ␤-carotene in food reduces the risk of gastric carcinoma (2, 30). H. pylori infection in humans is characterized by a marked infiltration of neutrophilic leukocytes of the gastric mucosa, and the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) may play a part in the development of severe chronic type B gastritis (15,26).Astaxanthin is a carotenoid found in many different organisms in nature, but the main dietary sources for humans are found in crustaceans and other seafood, especially salmon. Astaxanthin is a powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant in vitro (8,16,19) and was shown to be most effective in stimulating immune defenses when different carotenoids were compared (12,13,23). Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant required for many biological functions such as the normal synthesis of hormones, neurotransmitters, collagen, and carni...

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The attachment of Helicobacter pylori to the human gastric mucosa is a complex process involving several speci®c structures recognised by the cell surface receptors. Sialylated multivalent high mol. wt glycoproteins have been shown to inhibit H. pylori sialic acidspeci®c haemagglutination. This study explored whether sialylated glycoconjugates from bovine milk could inhibit an experimental H. pylori infection in a mouse model. BALB=cA mice (6±8 weeks old) were inoculated with a mouse-passaged H. pylori strain 317p. Four weeks after infection the mice were given lactoferrin (iron-free LF or 20% iron-saturated LF) or bovine milk fat globule membrane fractions (MFGM or defatted MFGM) orally (400 mg=kg body weight) once daily for 10 days and then killed to examine for bacterial colonisation and gastritis. Mice treated with iron-free LF, 20% iron-saturated LF, MFGM or defatted MFGM showed 30%, 10%, 20% or 20% healing rates, respectively, when compared with the H. pylori-infected control. Gastric colonisation by H. pylori was remarkably decreased in all mice treated with bovine milk glycoconjugates and the in¯ammation score was also signi®cantly lower in treated mice than in infected control animals. The fact that there was no signi®cant difference between iron-free LF and iron-saturated LF or MFGM and defatted MFGM suggested that iron is not crucial for inhibition of H. pylori by lactoferrin and that the lipid part of MFGM is not important for anti-H. pylori activity. In conclusion, bovine milk glycoconjugates showed potencies to inhibit H. pylori infection in this mouse model and, therefore, could be considered as candidates for non-antibiotic strategies against H. pylori infection in man.

Changes in the colonic mucosa-associated microflora were determinated both in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis and in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. In patients with active ulcerative colitis, significant decreases in the number of anaerobic bacteria (Brain Heart Infusion medium), anaerobic gram-negatives and Lactobacillus were found, whereas no changes were seen in the number of aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, no significant differences in colonic mucosa-associated microflora could be demonstrated. Similar changes were seen in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. Thus, 4 days after acetic acid administration, at which time the colitis was well developed as evaluated by morphological appearance and myeloperoxidase activity, reduction in the number of anaerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus was seen. The first day after acetic acid administration, when the colitis had not developed, or after 14 days, when the colitis had been overcome, no alterations were seen in the mucosa-associated microflora as compared with control rats. We conclude that a reduction in the number of anaerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus is a common feature in active colitis regardless of the origin of colitis.

Background. In individual patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), established prognostic factors do not satisfactorily predict clinical outcome. Although the karyotype is an independent prognostic factor in certain hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, no data have been reported concerning the possible relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and clinical outcome in patients with SCCHN. Methods. In 116 cases of primary SCCHN, short term cultures were analyzed cytogenetically during 1987 through 1991, the karyotypes were divided into four groups: k1, normal (n = 35); k2, numeric changes only (n = 31); k3, simple structural abnormalities (n = 27); and k4, complex karyotypes (n = 23). The patients were followed for at least 18 months after diagnosis or until death. Results. The 2‐year survival rate was lower in the k4 subgroup (35%) than in the k1, k2, and k3 subgroups taken together (61%), both in the series as a whole (P = 0.02), and in the largest tumor site subgroup, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 32), (P = 0.04). The most prevalent breakpoint was in chromosome band 11q13, occurring in 11 tumors, 10 of which belonged to the k4‐subgroup. The 2‐year survival rate was lower for patients with 11q13 rearrangements (20%) than for those without (60%), both in the series as a whole (P = 0.001), and in the k4‐subgroup (P = 0.02). Conclusions. The results suggest that in SCCHN the presence of a complex karyotype is associated with poor prognosis, particularly when 11q13 rearrangements are pres.

Dysplastic transformation within the ileal pouch mucosa in patients operated for ulcerative proctocolitis is rare even after a long follow-up. These results are reassuring for both patients and surgeons. There seem to be no solid grounds to support routine surveillance for dysplasia in the ileal pouch mucosa in these patients. The surveillance for neoplastic changes in the remaining muscular/epithelial cuff is a separate issue however.