Exhaled carbon monoxide concentration is not elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

The present study was initiated to examine whether the concentration of CO in the breath is elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Twenty-three clinically stable patients with IBD in the outpatient clinic (11 with Crohn's disease, 12 with ulcerative colitis), who are non-smokers and non-passive smokers, were selected and the concentration of CO in their breath was measured using a breath gas analyser (TRI lyser mBA-3000). The concentration of CO in the breath of 23 patients with IBD was 2.5+/-0.9 (1.1-4.3) ppm. This concentration comes within the range of standard values in our previous reports (2.5+/-2.2 ppm). Any significant difference was not observed between 2.4+/-0.9 (1.5-4.3) ppm for the 11 Crohn's disease patients and the 2.6+/-1.0 (1.1-3.9) ppm for the 12 ulcerative colitis patients. The results suggest that clinically stable patients with IBD do not show high values for concentration of CO in the breath.

Effect of 4G-beta-D-galactosylsucrose (lactosucrose) on fecal microflora in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Metabolic interaction between the intestinal microflora and the host has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Elemental or low-fat, low-residual diets in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are reported to decrease anaerobic bacteria and to change the composition of the intestinal microflora. We examined the effect of an indigestible agent, 4G-beta-D-galactosylsucrose (lactosucrose), which is selectively utilized by intestinal Bifidobacterium, on the composition of the intestinal microflora. After the administration of lactosucrose to two patients with Crohn's disease and five patients with ulcerative colitis for 2 weeks, significant induction of the growth of Bifidobacterium was observed, and significant reduction in the population level of Bacteroidaceae was seen. Bowel movements improved in four patients. The intestinal environment, estimated by measuring fecal pH, fecal levels of short-chain fatty acids and putrid products, and the urinary secretion of indican, also improved in these patients. These results suggest that lactosucrose may be useful for patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Epidermal growth factor-induced mitogen signals in cultured intestinal epithelial cells

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated proliferation of an intestinal cell line (IEC-6 cells), derived from rat jejunal crypts. EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was analyzed by immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody specific for phosphotyrosine. EGF initiated rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins with molecular masses of 185, 170, 55, and 42 kilodalton (kDa). In addition, EGF caused the rapid elevation of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Thus, EGF-stimulated proliferation and its mitogen signals were clearly observed in IEC-6 cells, suggesting that EGF may play an important role in the maintenance and repair of the intestinal mucosa in vivo.