The importance of gastric emptying and mucosal folds in the adaptive cytoprotection of mild irritants in rats

The effect of 254 nm ultraviolet C promoting ethanol-induced gastric injury healing - A potential physical factor therapy

BACKGROUND

Gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric bleeding are associated with gastric mucosal injury. Chemical drugs are the current mainstream method, but the limitations are also increasingly apparent. Accumulative basic and clinical evidence has confirmed that ultraviolet C (UVC) has a significant effect on improving superficial infectious inflammation, promoting the healing of injured wounds, mucous membranes and ulcers, and killing microorganisms. It is possible to explore a new treatment method by introducing UVC light into the stomach to treat the damaged gastric mucosa.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the efficacy of introducing 254 nm UVC into the stomach by the self-made light guide at different doses and time to promote the healing of injured gastric mucosa, and explored the potential mechanism underling the treatment effect.

METHODS

The rat model of gastric mucosal injury induced by ethanol was intervened by UVC with different radiation doses. The ulcer index, histopathology, CAT, SOD, MDA, NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and EGF in gastric mucosa and serum were evaluated. In addition, the expression of ASC, IL-1β and Caspase-1 in gastric tissue was evaluated.

RESULTS

UVC significantly improved the histopathological condition of damaged gastric mucosa and reduce the ulcer index. UVC reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, increase the level of EGF in serum. It also significantly increased the levels of SOD, CAT and NO, and reduced the levels of MDA in serum and gastric tissue. The expression of ASC, IL-1β and Caspase-1 in gastric mucosa was significantly inhibited, and it showed a significant dose-dependent trend with UVC irradiation dose.

CONCLUSION

Intragastric irradiation of 254 nm UVC can effectively promote the repair of damaged gastric mucosa by inhibiting inflammatory factors, activating antioxidant system and inhibiting the apoptosis-related proteins, which may provide a promising way for clinical application of physical factors in the treatment of gastric mucosal injury. However, whether the technology can be finally applied to clinical practice requires more rigorous safety and effectiveness studies.

Capsaicin and gastric ulcers

In recent years, infection of the stomach with the organism Helicobacter Pylori has been found to be the main cause of gastric ulcers, one of the common ailments afflicting humans. Excessive acid secretion in the stomach, reduction in gastric mucosal blood flow, constant intake of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), ethanol, smoking, stress etc. are also considered responsible for ulcer formation. The prevalent notion among sections of population in this country and perhaps in others is that "red pepper" popularly known as "Chilli," a common spice consumed in excessive amounts leads to "gastric ulcers" in view of its irritant and likely acid secreting nature. Persons with ulcers are advised either to limit or avoid its use. However, investigations carried out in recent years have revealed that chilli or its active principle "capsaicin" is not the cause for ulcer formation but a "benefactor." Capsaicin does not stimulate but inhibits acid secretion, stimulates alkali, mucus secretions and particularly gastric mucosal blood flow which help in prevention and healing of ulcers. Capsaicin acts by stimulating afferent neurons in the stomach and signals for protection against injury causing agents. Epidemiologic surveys in Singapore have shown that gastric ulcers are three times more common in the "Chinese" than among Malaysians and Indians who are in the habit of consuming more chillis. Ulcers are common among people who are in the habit of taking NSAIDS and are infected with the organism "Helicobacter Pylori," responsible for excessive acid secretion and erosion of the mucosal layer. Eradication of the bacteria by antibiotic treatment and avoiding the NSAIDS eliminates ulcers and restores normal acid secretion.