Objective To investigate the effect of mesenteric lymphatic duct liagtion and glutamine enteral nutrition on intestine and distant organs in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methods Forty male SD rats undergoing gastrostomy were randomly assigned into 5 groups (n=8): sham operation group, normal enteral nutrition group, normal enteral nutrition+lymphatic duct ligation group, glutamine group and glutamine+lymphatic duct ligation group. Sham operation group only received laparotomy after 7 days of full diet, the other four groups were subjected to 60 min of intestinal ischemia after 7 days of enteral nutrition, and the two lymphatic duct ligation groups were plus mesenteric lymphatic duct ligation. The original nutrition continued 3 days after reperfusion. Intestinal permeability was detected on day 1 before reperfusion, day 1 and 3 after reperfusion. Intestinal morphology was observed, endotoxin, D-lactate and diamine oxidase levels in serum, and apoptotic index in lung tissue were detected on day 3 after reperfusion. Results The intestinal permeability in each group was significantly increased on day 1 after reperfusion (Plt;0.05), and which in normal enteral nutrition+lymphatic duct ligation group and glutamine+lymphatic duct ligation group were significantly decreased on day 3 after reperfusion (Plt;0.05). The mucosal thickness and villus height of ileum and mucosal thickness of jejunium in glutamine+lymphatic duct ligation group were significantly higher than those in other groups (Plt;0.05), and villus height of ileum in glutamine group was higher than that in normal enteral nutrition group (Plt;0.05); those morphology indexes in normal enteral nutrition+lymphatic duct ligation group were higher than those in normal enteral nutrition group, but there was no statistical signification (Pgt;0.05). Apoptosis index of lung tissue in lymphatic duct ligation groups was significant lower than that in no-ligation groups (Plt;0.05). Levels of endotoxin, D-lactate, and diamine oxidase in lymphatic duct ligation groups had downward trends compared with no-ligation groups, but there was no statistical signification (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury of rats can cause intestinal permeability increase, bacterial endotoxin translocation and systemic inflammatory response. Mesenteric lymphatic duct ligation and glutamine enteral nutrition intervention can weak lung tissue damage, increase thickness of intestinal mucosa, maintain intestinal barrier function, reduce endotoxin translocation and attenuate systemic inflammatory response. Enteral nutrition with glutamine was better than normal enteral nutrition.
Objective To determine the effects recombinant human growth hormone (GH) and hypocaloric nutrition on postoperative convalescence, we performed a placebo-controlled randomized double-blind trial in 18 patients after elective gastrectomy or colectomy. Methods The subjects received parenteral nutrition containing 20 calories/kg per day and 1 g protein/kg per day. Daily injections of drug or placebo were given during the first postoperative week. Result The nine control subjects lost 3.3 kg (5.9% of preoperative weight) and had a cumulative nitrogen loss of 32.6 ± 4.2 g nitrogen at eight days. The patients receiving GH lost significantly less weight (1.3 kg) and nitrogen loss was 7.3 ± 3.1 g at eight days (Plt;0.001). Kinetic studies demonstrated that anabolic effects of GH were associated with increased protein synthesis, and amino acid flus studies across the forearm revealed increased uptake of amino acid nitrogen in the GH-treated patients. Body composition analysis revealed that the patients receiving GH maintained their lean body mass despite the major surgical procedure. Conclusion We conclude that the postoperative catabolic response can be modified with GH and hypocaloric nutrition. The metabolic and physiologic effects should now be studied in a larger number of patients to determine if this approach can reduce morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay for surgical patients.