SummaryFructooligosaccharides (FOS) reach the large intestine and are fermented into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), lactate, and carbon dioxide. As the major energy source for the epithelial cells of the large intestine, n-butyrate stimulates the proliferation of cells as well as mineral and water absorption from the lumen. We examined the effect of dietary FOS supplementation on luminal SCFA production and its influence on the morphometrical vari ables of mucosa of the large intestine in commercially available pigs. Six weaning piglets were used. After 7 d of adaptation, three pigs were given a test diet containing FOS (10%) ad libitum for 10 d. The other three remained on the basal diet and were used as controls . At the end of the experiment, their large intestines were removed, and the cecum, gyri centrip etales, gyri centrifugales, and rectum were separated. The contents of each portion were col lected and measured for SCFA concentration, pH, and moisture. A micrometer was used to measure the crypt depth. The numbers of epithelial and mitotic cells in the crypt columns were also counted. The concentration of SCFA was significantly higher in piglets fed FOS than in the controls. The concentration of n-butyrate was markedly stimulated by POS . The number of epithelial, mitotic, and mucin-containing cells was higher in piglets fed FOS than in the controls. Accordingly, the crypt depth was larger in the FOS-fed piglets. The luminal n-butyrate concentration showed a significantly positive correlation with the crypt depth and the number of epithelial, mitotic, and mucin-containing cells.

Butyrate has an antitumorigenic effect on colorectal cancer cell lines. Dietary sodium gluconate (GNA) promotes butyrate production in the large intestine. Accordingly, we examined the effect of dietary GNA on tumorigenesis in the large intestine in rats. Male Fisher-344 rats (n = 32) were divided into 4 groups: 2 diets (with or without 50 g GNA/kg basal diet) x 2 treatments (with or without carcinogen administration). Colonic tumors were induced by 3 intraperitoneal injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body wt, 1 time/wk) and dietary deoxycholic acid (2 g/kg basal diet). The experiment was conducted for 33 wk except for a few rats. Ingestion of GNA increased cecal butyrate concentration at the end of experiment (P < 0.01). No tumor development occurred in the untreated groups. Ingestion of GNA decreased the incidence of tumors in rats administered the carcinogen (37.5 vs. 100%, P < 0.05). Ingestion of GNA also decreased the mean number of tumors per rat (0.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.5, P < 0.01). beta-Catenin accumulation and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells in tumors were histochemically examined. The results of this study suggested that the antitumorigenic effect of GNA may involve the stimulation of apoptosis through enhanced butyrate production in the large intestine.

Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm is uncommon, and the common cause is penetrating trauma. Rupture of extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm into the thoracic cavity is extremely rare and fatal due to haemorrhagic shock by massive haemothorax. We report an intrathoracic rupture of the extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm with neurofibromatosis Type 1, successfully treated by coil and liquid embolisation.

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Measurement of sIL-2R levels was sometimes useful in differentiating between sarcoidosis and stage III/IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, staging non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and predicting the presence of the panda and/or lambda sign in sarcoidosis patients.