Effect of supplementation with Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract and Lactobacillus acidophilus on growth performance and intestinal health in broiler chickens.

Intestinal microbiota community is an important factor affecting the nutritional and health status of poultry, and its balance is crucial for improving the overall health of poultry. The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract (GUE), Lactobacillus acidophilus (Lac) and their combination (GL) on growth performance and intestinal health in broilers in an 84-day feeding experiment. Supplementary 0.1% GUE and 4.5×107 CFU/g Lac significantly increased average daily gain (ADG), and GL (0.1% GUE and 4.5×107 CFU/g Lac) increased ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI), and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) in broilers aged 29 to 84 d and 1 to 84 d. Dietary GUE, Lac and GL increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity and decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the jejunum mucosa of broilers, and increased secretory IgA (sIgA) content in broilers at 84 d. Moreover, GUE, Lac and GL increased cecal microbial richness and diversity, and modulated microbial community composition. Both GUE and Lac reduced the harmful bacteria Epsilonbacteraeota, Helicobacter, and H. pullorum at 28 d and Proteobacteria, Escherichia, and E. coli at 84 d, while Lac and GL increased beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and L. gallinarum at 28 d. Compared with individual supplementation, GL markedly increased the SOD activity and the sIgA content, and reduced Helicobacter and Helicobacter pullorum. In conclusion, GUE and Lactobacillus acidophilus as feed additives benefit growth performance and intestinal health, and their combined use shows an even more positive effect in broilers.

Ruptured giant omphalocele with congenital short small intestine: a case report.

We herein present a case of a ruptured giant omphalocele with congenital short small intestine. Vacuum-sealing drainage and carboxymethylcellulose silver dressing promoted wound healing after repair, avoided abdominal compartment syndrome, and reduced the risks of multiple procedures. We review the perioperative management of omphaloceles in congenital short small intestines.

Protective effect of 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy7-O-rhamnosylflavone from Indigofera aspalathoides Vahl on lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal injury in mice.

Intestinal inflammation is one of the main health challenges affecting the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. Accumulating evidence introduces several flavonoids with multifaceted therapeutic properties in inflammatory diseases including intestinal inflammation. Herein, we examined potential anti-inflammatory properties of 5,4'-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy7-O-rhamnosylflavone (DDR) flavone derived from Indigofera aspalathoides Vahl (I. aspalathoides Vahl) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal inflammation and injury in mice. Oral DDR treatment decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. It reduced oxidative stress through augmenting the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the duodenum and colon tissues. Moreover, DDR enhanced the activities of digestive enzymes including trypsin, pancreatic lipase, and amylase, and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by colon microbiota. Histopathological investigation of duodenum and colon revealed that DDR inhibited inflammatory infiltration and largely restored mucosal architecture and protected lining integrity. Importantly, DDR suppressed activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway through reduced expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and expression and phosphorylation of P65. The current study identified DDR as anti-inflammatory flavonoid capable of ameliorating LPS-induced intestinal inflammation through suppression of NF-κB signaling.

Probiotic, fructooligosaccharide and yeast extract mixture improves gut health in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

The present study investigated the effects of a feed additive (FA) containing a probiotic consortium, fructooligosaccharide and yeast extract on growth performance, humoral immune responses, hepatic antioxidant parameters and intestine digestive enzymes, morphology and transcripts in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The fish were reared for 8 weeks, feeding on diets containing 0 (CNT), 0.3 (0.3FA), 1 (1FA) and 2 (2FA) g/kg FA. The results showed that fish growth parameters were significantly and quadratically related to FA levels and FA treatments had better growth performance than CNT treatment. Intestinal amylase activity significantly increased in 2FA, whereas, intestinal protease activity increased in all FA treatments. Intestinal villus length and muscular layer thickness significantly increased in 0.3FA treatment. Blood leucocyte and lymphocyte counts, plasma lysozyme activity and hepatic glutathione content significantly increased in 0.3FA and 1FA treatments; whereas hepatic malondialdehyde significantly decreased in these treatments. Blood neutrophil and monocyte counts significantly increased in 0.3FA treatment, while plasma alternative complement activity significantly increased in 1FA treatments. Plasma bactericidal activities against Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri and Streptococcus iniae, and intestinal expression of heat shock protein 70 and beta-defensin significantly increased in all FA treatments. The abundance of A. hydrophila, Y. ruckeri and S. iniae in fish gut significantly decreased in 0.3FA treatment; these bacteria were absent in the intestines of 1FA and 2FA treatments. The present results suggest that dietary 0.3-1 g/kg of FA can significantly improve growth performance, immune response, intestinal health and hepatic antioxidant capacity in rainbow trout.

Adult Jejunojejunal Intussusception Caused by Small Bowel Leiomyoma.

This article reports a case of a patient with intestinal obstruction admitted to the hospital whose presumed diagnosis by CT was jejunojejunal intussusception. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with an enterectomy of the invaginated segment. The histopathological and immunohistochemical results of the surgical specimen confirmed the presence of a small bowel leiomyoma. This case highlights the importance of a detailed clinical evaluation of patients with an intestinal obstruction who seek emergency care. The cause of intestinal obstruction is a diagnostic challenge due to the numerous pathologies that can lead to the development of the condition. Guided anamnesis, detailed physical examinations, and accurate subsidiary exams that do not delay diagnosis are the cornerstones of emergency room care. Knowing the ideal time to refer the patient to the operating room requires knowledge and practice. The patient reported in this article with jejunal leiomyoma as a cause of intestinal intussusception is surprising for its rarity and illustrates the range of pathologies that can lead to intestinal obstruction.

Tubulocystic enteric duplication: a unique entity.

Enteric duplication has cystic and tubular varieties. A male infant presented with a large cystic, well-demarcated mass in the right flank. On exploratory laparotomy, multiple cystic and tubular lesions were present adjacent to the mesenteric border of the small bowel along with malrotation of the small bowel. The tubule-cystic structure was excised along with the involved normal bowel segment and Ladd's procedure was performed. Histopathological evaluation revealed an intestinal duplication cyst. The occurrence of midgut malrotation and volvulus along with duplication is uncommon. The cyst's substantial size could have been an aetiological factor for malrotation and volvulus. The child's small bowel had adapted remarkably with time. This case highlights a new variant of duplication cysts.

Standard: human intestine-on-a-chip.

Organs-on-chips are microphysiological systems that allow to replicate the key functions of human organs and accelerate the innovation in life sciences including disease modeling, drug development, and precision medicine. However, due to the lack of standards in their definition, structural design, cell source, model construction, and functional validation, a wide range of translational application of organs-on-chips remains a challenging. "Organs-on-chips: Intestine" is the first group standard on human intestine-on-a-chip in China, jointly agreed and released by the experts from the Chinese Society of Biotechnology on 29th April 2024. This standard specifies the scope, terminology, definitions, technical requirements, detection methods, and quality control in building the human intestinal model on a chip. The publication of this group standard will guide the institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper practical protocols and accelerate the international standardization of intestine-on-a-chip for translational applications.

Platycodon D reduces obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet through inhibiting intestinal fat absorption.

Background: Platycodin D (PD) has been reported to treat metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, platycodin D has been reported to activate intestinal 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation levels, thereby reducing lipid absorption. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore whether PD activation of intestinal AMPK and reduced lipid absorption can improve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: Clean-grade male C57/BL mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) (containing 60% calories) for 16 weeks, and oral PD (10 mg/kg/day) was administered at the same time. The liver and intestines were the collected, and the intestines were tested. The expressions of lipid absorption genes (CD36, NPC1L1, and ApoB), the serum total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in the intestines and livers, the fecal free fatty acid (FFA) levels, and the expression of AMPK phosphorylated proteins in the intestines were examined using Western blot analyses. The lipid distribution in the livers, intestines, and fat was detected using Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. A colon cancer cell line (Caco2) was used to confirm the effect of PD on the cellular lipid uptake in vitro. In addition, serum inflammatory factors and liver enzymes were measured to clarify the impact of PD on the circulation of metabolic syndrome. Leptin-deficient mice (OB) were then used to further explore the improvement of PD on body weight and blood lipids. Results: PD had a very significant therapeutic or preventive effect on metabolic syndrome and fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet. PD improved body weight, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance in mice fed a high-fat diet and also prevented non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, reduced blood lipid levels, and increased fecal lipid excretion. In addition, PD reduced lipid absorption by activating the intestinal AMPK protein, which may have involved the inhibition of the gene expression levels of intestinal lipid absorption genes (CD36, NPC1L1, and ApoB). The combined effect of these factors improved hepatic lipid accumulation and lipid accumulation in adipose tissue. It was further found that PD also improved the body weights and blood lipid levels of leptin-deficient mice (OB) mice. Conclusion: PD had a very strong therapeutic effect on mice under a high-fat diet. PD reduced high-fat diet-induced obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting intestinal fat absorption.

CAMKK2-AMPK axis endows dietary calcium and phosphorus levels with regulatory effects on lipid metabolism in weaned piglets.

BACKGROUND: In the realm of swine production, optimizing body composition and reducing excessive fat accumulation is critical for enhancing both economic efficiency and meat quality. Despite the acknowledged impact of dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) on lipid metabolism, the precise mechanisms behind their synergistic effects on fat metabolism remain elusive. RESULTS: Research observations have shown a decreasing trend in the percentage of crude fat in carcasses with increased calcium and phosphorus content in feed. Concurrently, serum glucose concentrations significantly decreased, though differences in other lipid metabolism-related indicators were not significant across groups. Under conditions of low calcium and phosphorus, there is a significant suppression in the expression of FABPs, CD36 and PPARγ in the jejunum and ileum, leading to inhibited intestinal lipid absorption. Concurrently, this results in a marked increase in lipid accumulation in the liver. Conversely, higher levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus promoted intestinal lipid absorption and reduced liver lipid accumulation, with these changes being facilitated through the activation of the CAMKK2/AMPK signaling pathway by high-calcium-phosphorus diets. Additionally, the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the diet significantly altered the composition of liver lipids and the gut microbiota, increasing α-diversity and affecting the abundance of specific bacterial families related to lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: The evidence we provide indicates that the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the diet alter body fat content and lipid metabolism by modulating the response of the gut-liver axis to lipids. These effects are closely associated with the activation of the CAMKK2/AMPK signaling pathway.

Putative diagnosis of neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma: 2 cases in dogs and review of the veterinary literature.

Neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma (NMVH) is an infrequent gastrointestinal lesion described in human and veterinary medical literature. The histologic features of this entity are haphazardly arranged fascicles of smooth muscle, nerve fibers, scattered ganglion cells, and hemangiomatous blood vessels. Here we describe 2 putative cases of NMVH in a 1.7-y-old, intact female Anatolian mixed-breed dog and a 4-mo-old intact male Akita dog. Both animals had gastrointestinal clinical signs, including hematochezia, and on exploratory laparotomy, intussusception was confirmed. Histologic examination confirmed NMVH within the cecal wall in both cases using a panel of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers for vascular structures (CD31), smooth muscle (alpha-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]), and nerves (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP] and S100). The complete surgical excision of the lesion in both animals was considered curative without persistent clinical signs 14 mo and 12 mo, respectively, after surgery.

Burkitt's lymphoma revealed by intestinal obstruction: A case report.

Intestinal obstruction is a surgical emergency frequently encountered in routine practice, usually caused by abdominal adhesions. Although extra nodal lymphoma is most often localized in the gastrointestinal tract and may be responsible for intestinal obstruction, Burkitt's lymphoma is a very rare cause in adults. We report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma mimicking an intestinal obstruction in a 48-year-old adult who presented with an obstructive syndrome and altered general condition. Imaging and anatomopathological examination after immunohistochemical analysis concluded to a multi-systemic Burkitt's lymphoma. Chemotherapy was immediately started with complete remission.

Flowmetry and spectrophotometry can detect reduced intestinal microperfusion in nonsurvivors during equine colic surgery for large intestinal strangulation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of laser Doppler flowmetry and spectrophotometry (LDFS) for large intestinal viability assessment in horses with naturally occurring large intestinal strangulations. METHODS: By use of LDFS, intestinal microperfusion was quantified as tissue oxygen saturation (tSo2), hemoglobin (tHB), and blood flow (tBF) in cases with large colon volvulus and small colon strangulations undergoing colic surgery (n = 17). Intestinal biopsies were taken from the pelvic flexure in all large colon cases and in small colon cases that underwent intraoperative euthanasia. Measurements were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors, and the correlation between LDFS and (immuno)histology was tested (P < .05). RESULTS: The tSo2 and tBF were clearly lower and tHB was higher than previously reported in healthy horses. Following correction of the lesion, pelvic flexure tBF was significantly lower than that of the left ventral colon. Prior to correction of the lesion, microperfusion did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors, but following release of the strangulation the survivors had a significantly higher tSo2 and tBF compared to the nonsurvivors. There was a negative correlation between tBF and interstitium-to-crypt ratio and a positive correlation between tHB and the histological hemorrhage score. There were no significant correlations between LDFS measurements and inflammatory cell counts or hypoxia-inducible factor-1α immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Large intestinal microperfusion was decreased in nonsurvivors compared to survivors and was correlated with histological injury, suggesting that LDFS has the potential to predict tissue injury and postoperative survival. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of LDFS as an ancillary diagnostic aid may improve intraoperative viability assessment during colic surgery.

Age-Specific ADME Gene Expression in Infant Intestinal Enteroids.

In childhood, developmental changes and environmental interactions highly affect orally dosed drug disposition across the age range. To optimize dosing regimens and ensure safe use of drugs in pediatric patients, understanding this age-dependent biology is necessary. In this proof-of-concept study, we aimed to culture age-specific enteroids from infant tissue which represent its original donor material, specifically for drug transport and metabolism. Enteroid lines from fresh infant tissues (n = 8, age range: 0.3-45 postnatal weeks) and adult tissues (n = 3) were established and expanded to 3D self-organizing enteroids. The gene expression of drug transporters P-gp (ABCB1), BCRP (ABCG2), MRP2 (ABCC2), and PEPT1 (SLC15A1) and drug metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4, CYP2C18, and UGT1A1 was determined with RT-qPCR in fresh tissue and its derivative differentiated enteroids. Expression levels of P-gp, BCRP, MRP2, and CYP3A4 were similar between tissues and enteroids. PEPT1 and CYP2C18 expression was lower in enteroids compared to that in the tissue. The expression of UGT1A1 in the tissue was lower than that in enteroids. The gene expression did not change with the enteroid passage number for all genes studied. Similar maturational patterns in tissues and enteroids were visually observed for P-gp, PEPT1, MRP2, CYP3A4, CYP2C18, and VIL1. In this explorative study, interpatient variability was high, likely due to the diverse patient characteristics of the sampled population (e.g., disease, age, and treatment). To summarize, maturational patterns of clinically relevant ADME genes in tissue were maintained in enteroids. These findings are an important step toward the potential use of pediatric enteroids in pediatric drug development, which in the future may lead to improved pediatric safety predictions during drug development. We reason that such an approach can contribute to a potential age-specific platform to study and predict drug exposure and intestinal safety in pediatrics.

Increased Activity of Epithelial Cdc42 Rho GTPase and Tight Junction Permeability in the Cftr Knockout Intestine.

Increased intestinal permeability is a manifestation of cystic fibrosis (CF) in people with CF (pwCF) and in CF mouse models. CF transmembrane conductance regulator knockout (Cftr KO) mouse intestine exhibits increased proliferation and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling relative to wild-type mice (WT). Since the Rho GTPase Cdc42 plays a central role in intestinal epithelial proliferation and tight junction remodeling, we hypothesized that Cdc42 may be altered in the Cftr KO crypts. Immunofluorescence showed distinct tight junction localization of Cdc42 in Cftr KO fresh crypts and enteroids, the latter indicating an epithelial-autonomous feature. Quantitative PCR and immunoblots revealed similar expression of Cdc42 in the Cftr KO crypts/enteroids relative to WT, whereas pull-down assays showed increased GTP-bound (active) Cdc42 in proportion to total Cdc42 in Cftr KO enteroids. Cdc42 activity in the Cftr KO and WT enteroids could be reduced by inhibition of the Wnt transducer Disheveled 2. Using a dye permeability assay, Cftr KO enteroids exhibited increased paracellular permeability to 3kD dextran relative to WT. In Cftr KO relative to WT enteroids, leak permeability and Cdc42 tight junction localization were reduced to a greater extent by inhibition of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling with Endo-IWR1. Increased proliferation or inhibition of Cdc42 activity with ML141 had no effect on WT enteroid permeability. In contrast, inhibition of Cdc42 with ML141 increased permeability to both 3kD dextran and tight-junction impermeant 500 kD dextran in Cftr KO enteroids. These data suggest that increased constitutive Cdc42 activity may alter the stability of paracellular permeability in Cftr KO crypt epithelium.

The lipopolysaccharide structure affects the detoxifying ability of intestinal alkaline phosphatases.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the most potent mediators of inflammation. In swine husbandry, weaning is associated with LPS-induced intestinal inflammation, resulting in decreased growth rates due to malabsorption of nutrients by the inflamed gut. A potential strategy to treat LPS-mediated disease is administering intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP). The latter can detoxify lipid A, the toxic component of LPS, by removal of phosphate groups. Currently, 183 LPS O-serotypes from E. coli have been described, however, comparative experiments to elucidate functional differences between LPS serotypes are scarce. In addition, these functional differences might affect the efficacy of LPS detoxifying enzymes. Here, we evaluated the ability of four LPS serotypes (O26:B6, O55:B5, O111:B4 and O127:B8) derived from Escherichia coli to trigger the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by porcine PBMCs. We also tested the ability of three commercially available IAPs to detoxify these LPS serotypes. The results show that LPS serotypes differ in their ability to trigger cytokine secretion by immune cells, especially at lower concentrations. Moreover, IAPs displayed a different detoxification efficiency of the tested serotypes. Together, this study sheds light on the impact of LPS structure on the detoxification by IAPs. Further research is however needed to elucidate the LPS serotype-specific effects and their implications for the development of novel treatment options to alleviate LPS-induced gut inflammation in weaned piglets.

The influence of iron nutrition on the development of intestine and immune cell divergency in neonatal pigs.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate iron supplementation is essential for neonatal growth and development. However, there are few reports on the effects of iron overload on neonatal growth and immune homeostasis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iron nutrition on neonatal growth and intestinal immunity by administering different levels of iron to neonatal pigs. RESULTS: We found that iron deficiency and iron overload resulted in slow growth in neonatal pigs. Iron deficiency and iron overload led to down-regulation of jejunum intestinal barrier and antioxidant marker genes, and promoted CD8+ T cell differentiation in jejunum and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of pigs, disrupting intestinal health. Moreover, iron levels altered serum iron and tissue iron status leading to disturbances in redox state, affecting host innate and adaptive immunity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasized the effect of iron nutrition on host health and elucidated the importance of iron in regulating redox state and immunity development. This study provided valuable insights into the regulation of redox state and immune function by iron metabolism in early life, thus contributing to the development of targeted interventions and nutritional strategies to optimize iron nutrition in neonates.

Evaluation of the quality characteristics of nitrogen gas-stunned chicken meat and small intestine.

This study aimed to confirm the applicability of the new nitrogen (N2) gas stunning method in the broiler slaughtering process by comparing the meat and small intestine quality following different stunning methods (electrical, carbon dioxide (CO2), N2, and halal). Four treatments were compared: (i) electrical stunning (Elec), (ii) 80% CO2 gas stunning (CO2-gas), (iii) 98% N2 gas stunning (N2-gas), and (iv) the non-stunning method (halal). N2 gas stunning (98%) and the halal method were conducted at the pilot plant abattoir of the national institute of animal science, Korea, and electrical and 80% CO2 stunning were performed on the nearest commercial slaughter house. Meat pH24h, color (lightness, redness and yellowness), proximate composition, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were measured, and in the small intestine, pH24h, color, thickness, and WBSF were measured. The Elec treatment showed high lightness, yellowness, and low redness in both meat and the small intestine, indicated by a pale color; the CO2-gas treatment showed high redness, low lightness, and low yellowness, and the coloration of meat from the N2-gas treatment was intermediate between Elec and CO2-gas. For other quality traits, the N2-gas showed good results and was between Elec and CO2-gas. Additionally, severe stress (low pH in both meats), low WHC in meat, and cracked small intestine with numerous apertures were observed in the CO2-gas, and pale colored hemorrhagic breast meat was found in the Elec. Therefore, in view of animal welfare and quality traits of meat and the small intestine, 98% N2 gas can be considered in broiler stunning.

Video capsule endoscopy findings in dogs with chronic enteropathy and in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: Video capsule endoscopy is a noninvasive technique for evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of using the video capsule ALICAM in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) >10 kg, and to compare macroscopic gastrointestinal morphology between CE dogs and healthy controls (HC). ANIMALS: Fifteen CE dogs and 15 similarly breed, age and body weight matched HC. METHODS: All dogs underwent a clinical work up including blood analyses, fecal samples, abdominal ultrasonographic examination, and blood pressure measurement. The dogs were withheld from food for 16 hours before and 8 hours after they PO received an ALICAM. All recordings were quality assessed, and blindly evaluated by 2 trained observers. RESULTS: The median age of CE dogs and HC was 3.3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.5-5.9) years and 4.7 (IQR 3.3-5.6) years, respectively. The median body weight in the CE dogs and HC was 25.9 (IQR 20.6-30.9) kg, and 29 (IQR 16.2-30.5) kg, respectively. Complete recordings of the gastrointestinal tract were obtained from all dogs without complications. No significant differences were found between groups regarding number of abnormalities such as irregular mucosa, erythema, nonbleeding erosions, bleeding erosions, and dilated lacteals, as well as severity and extent of the abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The use of ALICAM for evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in CE dogs and HC seems safe and feasible regarding gastrointestinal transit and macroscopic morphology assessment in dogs >10 kg. Abnormalities were found in similar proportions in CE dogs and HC.

Comparison and characterization of the bacterial microbiota and SIgA production in different gastrointestinal segments in horses.

In the gastrointestinal mucosa, there is a close cooperation between secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and the composition of the microbiota, which aims to maintain homeostasis as well as act as a protective barrier. The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of microbiota and SIgA production in different parts of the digestive tract (small intestine, cecum, colon and rectum) of nine healthy horses and its reflection in the feces. For this purpose, we determined: the composition of the microbiome (by next-generation Sequencing of Hypervariable Regions V3-V4 and V7-V9 of the 16 S rRNA gene analysis), the amount of SIgA in the intestinal content samples (by ELISA), as well as the number of IgA-producing cells (IgA+) in the tissue samples (by immohistochemical analysis). Significant differences were observed between the small intestine and the large colon in the composition and diversity of the microbiome, as well as the number of IgA + cells in the mucosal lamina propria and the abundance of SIgA in the intestinal lumen. The small intestine in relation to the large colon is characterised by fewer IgA + cells, more SIgA in the intestinal contents and a less diverse microbiome. However, the cecum appears to be the third separate ecosystem, with a high number of IgA + cells and a diverse microbiome. The fecal sample reflects the current state of the large colon, both in terms of the microbiome and SIgA content; however, it is not known to what extent it may be influenced by dysbiosis in other parts of the digestive tract.

Effects of oral contrast agent on the viscoelastic properties of the terminal ileum investigated using magnetic resonance elastography.

Background: While standard clinical magnetic resonance (MR) enterography can detect inflammatory bowel disease, it is of limited value in deciding between medical versus surgical treatment. Alternatively, intestinal MR elastography has the potential to contribute additional information to therapeutic decision-making; however, the influence of bowel distension by oral contrast agent on viscoelastic tissue properties remains elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of oral contrast agent-induced bowel distension on the viscoelastic properties of the terminal ileum in healthy volunteers. Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 20 healthy volunteers (33.2±8.2 years; 10 men, 10 women) underwent multifrequency MR elastography using a single-shot spin-echo echo planar imaging sequence at 1.5 Tesla and drive frequencies of 40, 50, 60 and 70 Hz. Maps of shear wave speed (c in ms-1) and loss angle (φ in rad), representing stiffness and viscous properties, respectively, were generated using tomoelastography data processing. The volunteers were scanned before and after ingestion of 1,000 mL of 2% mannitol solution as oral contrast agent. Results: There was no significant difference in terminal ileum biomechanical properties before vs. after ingestion of an oral contrast agent (mean c: 1.47±0.24 vs. 1.40±0.25 ms-1 with P=0.37; mean φ: 0.70±0.12 rad vs. 0.68±0.12 rad with P=0.61). Moreover, there was no statistically significant correlation between MR elastography parameters before and after the ingestion of oral contrast (c: r=0.22, P=0.36; φ: r=0.24, P=0.30). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that bowel distension for intestinal MR elastography has no systematic effect on the biomechanical tissue properties of the terminal ileum determined by MR elastography. Therefore, future study protocols appear feasible with or without oral contrast agents.