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Background and Objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is regularly used by several patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in many countries. Data concerning the use of CAM in Greek patients with IBD are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and indicators of CAM use in Greek IBD patients. Patients and Methods: Adult patients with IBD attending our specialized IBD department in "Metropolitan General" Hospital, Holargos, Greece, completed a special questionnaire regarding the use of CAM. Several clinical and epidemiological characteristics were recorded. The results were compared with a disease-control group (patients with irritable bowel syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux disease). The study outcome was the prevalence of CAM use in both groups. In this study, 270 patients, of whom 128 were female, with IBD (Crohn's disease 134 and ulcerative colitis 136) and a median age of 42.3 ± 17.5 years (range 31–52), and 138 patients serving as the disease control group were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of previous and current CAM use in patients with IBD was 36.3% versus 27.5% in the control group (no significant differences). No significant differences were also noticed between the patients with either CD or UC. In the multivariable analysis, university education and treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors were independent social indicators of CAM use. Conclusions: The percentage of CAM use by the Greek patients with IBD was quite high, similar to other European countries. Although numerically higher, this percentage was not significantly different compared with the disease control group. The use of CAM in IBD patients in Greece is associated with a higher educational level, and treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptic mucosal damage induced by acute stress is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The study aimed to investigate the protective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of pretreatment with Chios mastic gum (CMG), a traditionally consumed herbal resin naturally deriving from the trunk of Pistacia Lentiscus var. Chia compared to Omeprazole, a standard medication used in the prevention and treatment of gastritis, against the effects of cold restraint stress (CRS) in rat gastric and colonic mucosa.

Background Anastomotic leak remains a dreaded complication in colorectal surgery. Identifying optimal techniques that minimize its incidence is an active area of investigation. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of commonly used hemostatic products on the integrity of colonic anastomoses. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups. In the control group (A), the anastomosis was performed using the standard hand-sewn technique in the ascending colon. In group B the hand-sewn technique was reinforced with a collagen-fibrinogen patch, in group C with fibrin glue, and in group D with a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated oxidized cellulose patch. On the 7th postoperative day, anastomotic bursting pressure measurements were obtained. A specimen surrounding the anastomosis was retrieved for histopathologic evaluation. Results Of the 19 rats, 17 survived and 15 were included in the analysis (5 in each of groups A, B and C). Testing in group D was discontinued following adverse events in the preliminary experiments. The mean bursting pressure of the anastomosis was significantly higher in the control group (A: 221±19.41 mmHg, B: 151±14.42 mmHg, and C: 112±13.57 mmHg; P=0.001). Anastomotic healing parameters were not different between groups. Conclusions Although experimental data support the use of sealants in defective anastomoses, in this study the reinforcement of colonic anastomosis with fibrin or oxidized cellulose-PEG sealants did not improve either bursting pressure values or anastomotic healing. More data from robust anastomoses of animals and humans are needed before sealing becomes common clinical practice in colorectal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translational perspective: Ischemic heart disease remains a major medical problem with high mortality rates. Beside the great efforts devoted to research worldwide and the use of numerous experimental models, an absolute understanding of myocardial infarction and tissue loss has not yet been achieved. Furthermore, the regeneration of myocardial tissue and the improvement of myocardial activity after ischemia is one of the major areas of interest in the medical (and especially cardiovascular) community. In a novel experimental rat model, the beneficial effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT) in a surgically induced ischemic myocardium was documented. From a clinical perspective, this work supports the surgical administration of MSCT in the infarcted area during coronary artery bypass surgery. Aims: The regeneration of myocardial tissue and the improvement of myocardial activity after ischemia is one of the major areas of interest in cardiovascular research. We developed a novel experimental rat model and used it to examine the effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (MSCT) on myocardial ischemia evaluated by SPECT-CT and immunohistochemistry. Methods and results: An open thoracotomy took place for forty adult female Wistar rats with (n = 30) or without (n = 10) surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in order to cause myocardial ischemia. Myocardial viability was evaluated via SPECT/CT 7 days before surgery, as well as at 7 and 14 days post-surgery. At day 0, 15 animals received homologous stem cells injected at the ischemic myocardium area. A SPECT/CT evaluation showed decreased activity of the myocardial cells in the left ventricle one week post-infarction. Regeneration of the ischemic myocardium fifteen days post-infarction was recorded only in animals subjected to stem cell transplantation. These findings were also confirmed by histology and immunohistochemical analysis, with the significantly higher expression of GATA4 and Nkx2.5. Conclusions: The positive effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in the ischemic myocardium was recorded. The application of SPECT-CT allowed a clear evaluation of both the quality and quantity of the living myocardium post-infarction, leading to a new approach in the research of cardiovascular diseases. From a clinical perspective, MSCT may be beneficial when accompanied by myocardial revascularization procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Inflammation and dysregulation in the intestinal barrier function in acute pancreatitis (AP) trigger pancreatic lesions, systemic inflammatory response, and multiple organ dysfunction. Eugenol, as the main component of clove (Syzygium aromaticum), is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We studied the potentially beneficial effect of eugenol in a rodent model of biliopancreatic duct ligation-induced AP. Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, AP, and AP + eugenol (15 mg/kg/day). Serum TNFα, IL-6, IL-18, and resistin levels, as well as IL-6, TNFα, MPO, HMGB1, and CD45 tissue expression, were determined at various timepoints after the induction of AP. Results: Eugenol attenuated hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestinal mucosal, submucosal, and muscular layers. IL-6 and resistin serum levels were significantly reduced in the AP + eugenol group, while serum TNFα and IL-18 levels remained unaffected overall. TNFα pancreatic and intestinal expression was attenuated by eugenol at 72 h, while IL-6 expression was affected only in the pancreas. MPO, CD45, and HMGB1 intestinal expression was significantly reduced in eugenol-treated rats. Conclusions: Eugenol managed to attenuate the inflammatory response in the intestine in duct ligation-induced AP in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study is to find out in which direction two antioxidant promising molecules, the erythropoietin and the U-74389G, affect serum Testosterone (T) levels and what the magnitude of this alteration is. The posttreatment effects on serum Testosterone (T) levels were calculated, separately by each drug and afterwards a comparative calculation was following. Objectives: The estimation was extracted by the results of the 2 previous studies, each of which had estimated a certain influence, after the respective drug administration in an induced Ischemia-Reperfusion (IR) rat experiment. Materials and Methods: The 2 temporal experimental endpoints at which the serum T levels were measured were the 60th reperfusion min (for the 3 groups A, C and E) as well the 120th reperfusion min (for the other 3 groups B, D and F). Especially, the groups A and B were the placebo ones, the groups C and D were the post Epo; whereas the groups E and F were the post L administration. Results: The first previous study of Epo presented a non-significant hypertestosteronemic effect by 0.276%±0.272% (p-value=0.3006). Similarly, the second previous study of U-74389G presented also a non-significant hypertestosteronemic effect by 0.111%±0.179% (p-value=0.5245). The results of these 2 studies co-calculated as belonging to the same experimental setting, provided the outcome of L being just by 0.4046004 [0.4035126 - 0.4056911] less hypertestoteronemic than Epo (p-value=0.0000). Conclusion: The intrinsic antioxidant capacity of U-74389G ascribes just 0.4046004 [0.4035126 - 0.4056911] less hypertestoteronemic influence than Epo (p-value=0.0000). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]