OBJECTIVETo study the anatomy of the small intestine,and investigate the optimal selection of donors,recipients,and their small intestine vessels in piglet small intestine transplantation.

METHODSThe weight and length of 30 piglets were measured. Angiography and pigments perfusion were used to observe the main vessels of the small intestine,and the length of the small intestine,and the external diameter of the main vessels of the small intestine were measured in vivo and ex vivo.

RESULTSThe length of the small intestine was 11.5 times as long as the body length, and its weight accounted for 2.3% of the body weight. The outer diameters of abdominal aorta (AT), mesenteric anterior artery (MAA) and its 5(th)-6(th) branches in vivo and ex vitro were 4.3/4.6mm, 2.5/2.7mm and 1.9/2.2mm respectively. The total number of MAA's branches was 6-8 in general and its 5(th)-6(th) branches were the longest [(20.0 +/- 7.0) mm, (22.0 +/- 8.2) mm]. The outer diameter of mesenterial anterior vein (MAV) was 1-2 mm wider than that of MAA.

CONCLUSIONSAT, MAA and its 5(th)-6(th) branches are the preferable vessels for small intestine transplantation. In segmental small intestine transplantation, the length of the small intestine and body weight can be used to primarily select the suitable animals.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Male ; Organ Transplantation ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

Adult ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; surgery ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Male ; Mesentery ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; pathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the transport of glutamine and glucose, expression of their transporters and tissue morphology in intestinal hypoperfusion.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive 60 min of intestinal hypoperfusion (superior mesenteric artery clamp) or serve as normoxic controls (celiotomy only). At the same time, jejunal loops were randomized to receive in situ perfusion of mannitol,glucose,or glutamine.Intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared by calcium precipitation. Sodium-dependent uptake of glucose and glutamine into BBMV were quantitated by rapid mixing and filtration. Histologic examination and immunohistochemistry were performed by pathologists blinded to the groups.

RESULTSWhen compared with the control group, tissue lactate concentration of the hypoperfused group increased significantly (4.9+/-0.3 vs 3.1+/-0.2), especially in the glucose perfused groups (P<0.01). Transport and transporters of glucose in brush border, but not glutamine, decreased during hypoperfusion [(76+/-10) pmol d mg(-1) d 10 s(-1) vs (290+/-13)pmol d mg(-1) d 10 s(-1)]. Tissue structural damage was most severe in glucose perfused groups during hypoperfusion.

CONCLUSIONTransport and expression of transporters of glucose and glutamine in enteral nutrition are differently regulated under conditions of trauma and stress.

Animals ; Enteral Nutrition ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glutamine ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of cervical sympathetic nerve block (SB) on blood flow volume and barrier function of intestinal mucosa after combined radiation and burn injury in rat.

METHODSSD rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 18), combined injury group (n = 100, rats with Co gamma ray body irradiation with a dose of 5 Gy plus 15% TBSA full-thickness burn injury), and combined injury with SB treatment (n = 100, with the same dose of gamma-ray irradiation and burn injury, treated with SB). Twenty rats were sacrificed on 0, 1, 5, 7 days after combined injuries for various observations. SB was conducted with injection of ropivhydrochloride into the neck bilaterally for the SB group, and same amount of normal saline was injected instead in the combined injury group. Blood flow volume, changes in villus height and crypt depth in jejunum, Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity, permeability of small intestine were measured at different time-points.

RESULTSThe blood flow volume in small intestinal mucosal on 1 post-injury days (PID) [(0.29 +/- 0.07) ml x min(-1) x g(-1)] were obviously decreased than that in normal controls [(1.26 +/- 0.23) ml x min(-1) x g(-1), P < 0.01 ], with serious destruction of pit cells, decrease in intestinal mucosal Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity, and increase in intestinal mucosal permeability. Compared with combined injury group, the blood flow volume was [(0.82 +/- 0.11) ml x min(-1) x g(-1) 1 day after combined injury, P < 0.01], and the Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity was obviously increased, and the permeability of small intestine was ameliorated.

CONCLUSIONSB can increase blood flow volume of rat small intestine after combined radiation and burn injury, promote the repair of intestinal epithelium and improve the barrier function of the intestinal wall.

Animals ; Autonomic Nerve Block ; Blood Volume ; physiology ; Burns ; physiopathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; blood supply ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Intestine, Small ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superior Cervical Ganglion

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical outcomes of the transcatheter microcoil embolization in patients with active lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding in the small bowel, as well as to compare the mortality rates between the two groups based on the visualization or non-visualization of the bleeding focus determined by an angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We retrospectively evaluated all of the consecutive patients who underwent an angiography for treatment of acute LGI bleeding between January 2003 and October 2007. In total, the study included 36 patients who underwent a colonoscopy and were diagnosed to have an active bleeding in the LGI tracts. Based on the visualization or non-visualization of the bleeding focus, determined by an angiography, the patients were classified into two groups. The clinical outcomes included technical success, clinical success (no rebleeding within 30 days), delayed rebleeding (> 30 days), as well as the major and minor complication rates. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients, 17 had angiography-proven bleeding that was distal to the marginal artery. The remaining 19 patients did not have a bleeding focus based on the angiography results. The technical and clinical success rates of performing transcatheter microcoil embolizations in patients with active bleeding were 100% and 88%, respectively (15 of 17). One patient died from continued LGI bleeding and one patient received surgery to treat the continued bleeding. There was no note made on the delayed bleeding or on the major or minor complications. Of the 19 patients without active bleeding, 16 (84%) did not have recurrent bleeding. One patient died due to continuous bleeding and multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION: The superselective microcoil embolization can help successfully treat patients with active LGI bleeding in the small bowel, identified by the results of an angiography. The mortality rate is not significantly different between the patients of the visualization and non-visualization groups on angiography.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/mortality/radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/*blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of capsule endoscopic examination in the diagnosis of vascular malformation of small intestine and discuss the operative method of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of 11 cases of vascular malformation of small intestine by the capsule endoscopic diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSAll of the 11 cases received operation with the assistance of intra-operative endoscopic examination, and 10 cases were confirmed to suffer from vascular malformation of small intestine postoperatively. The methods of operation included dot-resection, wedge-shaped resection and segmental resection.

CONCLUSIONSThe capsule endoscopic examination is optimal for the diagnosis of vascular malformation of small intestine. Dot-resection, wedge-shaped resection and segmental resection with the assistance of intra-operative endoscopic examination for the surgical intervention of this disease are recommendable.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo investigate the protective effects of glucagon-like peptide 2(GLP-2) on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice.

METHODSIntestinal ischemia/reperfusion model in mice were set up and 32 mice of Kunming species were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=8): Sham group, I/R group, I/R + GLP-2 group and I/R + glutamine group. The morphologic changes of intestinal mucosa were observed under LM. The villus height and crypt depth of intestine, the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) in intestine and bacterial translocation rates of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) were detected.

RESULTSCompared with sham operation group, the intestinal villi were sloughed in I/R group with decreased villus height and crypt depth (P < 0.01), the DAO activities were decreased (P < 0.01), and MLN bacterial translocation rates were increased (P < 0.05). While GLP-2 administration improved the villus damage, increased DAO activity (P < 0.01), and decreased MLN bacterial translocation rates (P < 0.05), compared with I/R group.

CONCLUSIONGLP-2 have protective effects on intestinal morphology and barrier function after ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; physiopathology

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Child ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Telangiectasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology

Animals ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism