We designed a conscious pig model to investigate myoelectric activity and the number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the proximal jejunum following the Roux-en-Y and 'uncut' Roux procedures in relation to clinical outcomes. Twelve male Polish White pigs (8 weeks old, 10-13 kg) underwent surgery under general anaesthesia first to implant bipolar electrodes and telemetry transmitters for continuous electromyography recordings and then, after 1 week recovery, to create Roux-en-Y (n = 6) and 'uncut' Roux loops (n = 6). Upper gut tissue specimens were studied for the expression of c-kit staining procedure to quantitatively identify the presence of interstitial cells of Cajal. The intestinal migrating motor complex was restored within 10.5 and 37 h in 'uncut' Roux and Roux-en-Y pigs, respectively (P < 0.05). During 2 weeks, the 'uncut' Roux piglets increased their body weight by 18.0%, whereas the Roux-en-Y piglets increased their body weight by only 7.3% (P ≤ 0.05). Two weeks after surgery, the number of ICC located in the region of Auerbach's plexus was higher and adhesions in the abdominal cavity lower in the 'uncut' Roux group. In conclusion, in the pig model, preservation of smooth muscle and ICC network continuity in the proximal jejunum may play an important role in early postsurgical recovery.

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Dear Editor: With interest, we read the paper by Pironi et al. "Chronic radiation-induced proctitis: the 4 % formalin application as non-surgical treatment" considering the problem of proctitis induced by chronic radiation.Radiation-induced proctitis is a very important problem in irradiated patients. The frequency of radiation proctitis, presented in publications, mostly affects severe cases with clear clinical symptoms. It is estimated from 5 % to more than 50 %, and depends on knowledge of doctors treating patients and criteria used for evaluation the symptoms. Main factors determining those criteria are different radiation protocols, observation period, and standard of diagnosis.Evaluation of proctitis starts from some mucosal lesions, which are mostly asymptomatic and can be detected only in proctoscopy and histological examination of the mucosal specimen. This phase, called acute endoscopic proctitis, can lead, in most cases, into acute clinical proctitis with diarrhea, rectal bleeding, mucoid discharge, rectal pain, tenesmus, changes in bowel movements frequency, urgency, and continence problems. Severe symptoms, with bleeding leading to anemia, occur in patients with chronic clinical proctitis. Surgery is avoided in most of the cases so the nonsurgical treatment in those patients is indicated. Effective and popular methods are endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation, laser therapy, application of the low concentration of formalin, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These techniques may cause some complications and side effects. Their effectiveness, as well as time of recurrence of symptoms, varied in different publications.Multiple experiments confirmed indication and effectiveness for the prevention of radiation proctitis. In our opinion, there are three main steps to reduce the frequency and severity of the proctopathy after radiation:1. Early prevention of proctitis starting even before radiation: This may be achieved by anti-inflammatory treatment, usage of the physiological agents and promotion of colonocytes renewal. The therapy can be administered Z. Stojcev