Idiopathic eosinophilic colitis lesions of the equine small (descending) colon

Five horses with a primary surgical lesion of the small (descending) colon were diagnosed with eosinophilic colitis based on visual and histopathological examination. These were evident as visibly striking, hyperaemic, focal lesions of the small colon, with serosal petechiation, oedema and marked thickening of the intestinal wall at the site. Areas of focal necrosis were also evident. The gross appearance of the lesions were considered to be sufficiently severe in all cases to merit resection, due to concerns about intestinal necrosis and septic peritonitis. An inability to fully exteriorise the affected portion of intestine to perform a resection and anastomosis necessitated intraoperative euthanasia of one horse. A total of three horses survived to hospital discharge. Eosinophilic colitis lesions are a rare cause of severe small colon disease, but should be considered in cases with similar visual characteristics.     

芹菜发酵液对小鼠溃疡性结肠炎的保护作用研究

本试验旨在研究发酵前后芹菜汁的主要功能成分变化和芹菜发酵液对葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导的小鼠溃疡性结肠炎（UC）的防治及免疫调节作用。选取50只4周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组及低、中、高浓度芹菜发酵液组,每组10只。按10 μL/g BW的剂量标准给空白组和模型组小鼠灌胃无菌生理盐水,其他组小鼠则灌胃不同浓度的芹菜发酵液,持续7 d。从第8天开始,除空白组自由饮用无菌水外,其余组连续7 d自由饮用3% DSS溶液;在此过程,每日称量体重,进行疾病活动指数（DAI）评分。在第14天,通过摘眼球取血法获得全血,随后脱颈处死小鼠,解剖取出结肠组织测量长度并通过苏木素-伊红（HE）染色法制作病理切片,进行病理学分析。以流式细胞仪分选技术检测外周血中CD4⁺/CD8⁺T淋巴细胞比值,以酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）和IL-10的含量。结果表明：①芹菜汁经发酵后,总酸、总糖、总多酚、类黄酮、维生素C和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）等多种活性成分的含量均显著增加（P<0.05）。②与模型组相比,芹菜发酵液高浓度组能减少DSS引起的小鼠体重损失（P<0.01）、结肠缩短（P<0.01）和DAI降低（P<0.05）。③组织病理学分析结果表明,各发酵液组的UC症状均得到不同程度改善,肠腺结构相对完整,杯状细胞轻微减少,仅有少量淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞浸入。④流式细胞仪分析结果显示,相较于模型组,发酵液组全血CD4⁺/CD8⁺T淋巴细胞比值极显著升高（P<0.01）。⑤ELISA检测结果显示,与模型组相比,芹菜发酵液组的IL-6、TNF-α和IFN-γ含量极显著下调（P<0.01）,IL-10的含量极显著上调（P<0.01）。综上,芹菜汁经发酵后主要功能活性成分均得到显著提高,并且发酵芹菜液对DSS诱导的小鼠UC具有一定的防治和免疫调节作用,其作用机制可能与维持外周血中CD4⁺与CD8⁺T淋巴细胞平衡,以及抑制促炎症因子（TNF-α、IL-6和IFN-γ）表达,促进抗炎症因子（IL-10）表达有关。     

Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.     

王爱华教授辨治溃疡性结肠炎经验

湖南省名中医王爱华教授认为脾胃气虚为溃疡性结肠炎的发病之本,湿热为致病之标,热毒为下血之因,血瘀为局部病理变化,肠疡为局部病理表现,日久则病及于肾,脾肾双亏,提出健脾助运是根本、调气和血辅其治、清热化湿贯其中的治疗方法。     

博落回提取物猪耐受性评价及其抗结肠炎机制

将健康的50头长大白杂交猪均分为5组,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别按每千克饲料添加博落回散30、150、300、600mg混饲给药,相当于推荐临床剂量的1、5、10、20倍,对照组(CK)饲料中不添加博落回散,连续饲喂60d,研究不同剂量博落回散对猪的生长性能、血液学指标、血清生化指标及组织病理学的影响,基于网络药理学探讨博落回提取物(MCE)抗结肠炎的潜在机制。结果表明,与CK相比,饲料中添加30mg/kg的博落回散可显著提高试验猪的平均日增质量,显著降低料肉比,其他所用剂量的博落回散对试验猪的生长性能均无显著影响;饲料中添加30～600 mg/kg的博落回散的试验猪血液学和血清生化指标均无显著变化,且各脏器组织未见异常病理性损害。可见,饲料中添加30～600 mg/kg博落回散连续饲喂60 d,试验猪具有较好的耐受性。通过SwissTargetPrediction、Genecards、STRING等工具和数据库初步揭示了MCE可能是通过作用于ESR1、BCL2L1、MTOR、MCL1、PTGS2、MAPK8、MMP9、MAPK1、ERBB2和PIK3CA等靶点,并通过ErbB和TNF等...     

Ulceration and stricture of the right dorsal colon after phenylbutazone administration in four horses

Four cases of ulceration and stricture of the right dorsal colon were encountered. Ulceration of the right dorsal colon is generally associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) toxicosis but there are few reports of stricture following ulceration. All four horses had recent phenylbutazone use: three had been given doses well in excess of the recommended dose and in one the dose was marginally above those recommended but was combined with administration of other NSAIDs. All four horses presented with intermittent low-grade colic, weight loss and ventral oedema. Diarrhoea was also seen in three of them. All had hypoproteinaemia due to severe hypoalbuminaemia, and hyperfibrinogenaemia. Hypoalbuminaemia was less severe in one horse and this horse was successfully managed medically. Two cases were definitively diagnosed at exploratory celiotomy and two at necropsy. Exploratory celiotomy was performed in two horses: one was euthanased at surgery and one was managed successfully with medical treatment and remained normal 1 year after surgery. Medical management included feeding of a low-roughage pelleted ration, corn oil, psyllium mucilloid, and discontinuation of NSAID administration.     

Dramatic Changes of Matrix Metalloproteinases-7 and Lysozyme in the Ulcerative Colitis of Mice Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a lifelong illness with profound emotional and social impacts, and could cause serious damage to large intestine, especially in colon. However, the pathogenesis of UC remained unclear. The present study attempts to find out the role of matrix metalloproteinases-7 （MMP-7） and lysozyme in the pathogenesis of UC through a mice model induced by dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）. The UC model was evaluated both by disease activity index （DAI） and the intestinal histopathology. The results show that there is a high correlation between the DAI score and the pathological changes of colon. Interleukin-6 （IL-6） serum levels and large intestinal fluids levels in UC mice are always higher than that of the control groups, which might be associated with the degree of the inflammation damage in the colon. The change tendency of the MMP-7 mRNA and protein expressions are both up-regulated firstly and then down-regulated from 1 to 5 d in the colon, but only the MMP-7 protein is up-regulated at 7 d again. The up-regulated MMP-7 levels in the early stage of UC may play a protective role through the activated defensins, while the down-regulated levels in the mid-later stage of UC may be connected with the severe lesions in the colon. However, the up-regulated MMP-7 levels in the later stage of UC in the colon may also contribute to the tissue repair or be served as a marker to CRC （colorectal cancer）. The distribution of lysozyme protein indicates that there may be Paneth-like cells in the colon. Both the changes of MMP-7 and lysozyme in the small intestine may play a protective role for the safe environment of the whole gut, especially to the colon of UC.     

Equine hyperimmune serum protects mice against Clostridium difficile spore challenge

Clostridium (C.) difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in horses. Vancomycin and metronidazole have been used as standard treatments but are only moderately effective, which highlights the need for a novel alternative therapy. In the current study, we prepared antiserum of equine origin against both C. difficile toxins A and B as well as whole-cell bacteria. The toxin-neutralizing activities of the antibodies were evaluated in vitro and the prophylactic effects of in vivo passive immunotherapy were demonstrated using a conventional mouse model. The data demonstrated that immunized horses generated antibodies against both toxins A and B that possessed toxin-neutralizing activity. Additionally, mice treated with the antiserum lost less weight without any sign of illness and regained weight back to a normal range more rapidly compared to the control group when challenged orally with 10⁷ C. difficile spores 1 day after serum injection. These results indicate that intravenous delivery of hyperimmune serum can protect animals from C. difficile challenge in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, immunotherapy may be a promising prophylactic strategy for preventing C. difficile infection in horses.