Short small bowel in children. Complications and treatment strategies.

Contains fulltext : 19457.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)KUN Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, 16 juni 2004Promotor : Jansen, J.B.M.J. Co-promotores : Weemaes, C.M.R., Bongaerts, G.P.A.172 p

[Unexplained physical symptoms: a widespread problem but still low-profile in training programs and guidelines],[Unexplained physical symptoms : a widespread problem but still low-profile in training programs and guidelines]

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'Geen uitzicht op menswaardig bestaan' (2) : Een medisch/verpleegkundig commentaar

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Preventive and curative effects of probiotics in atopic patients.

Item does not contain fulltextNormally, the transport of allergens through the intestinal epithelia to the blood is limited. It is hypothesised that if these compounds arrive in the blood circulation, they must percolate through the epithelial cell layer. Thus, food allergy (and thus atopic eczema) implies an increased intercellular leakage of the gut wall. Such increased intercellular leakage is thought to be caused by a slightly changed cellular morphology due to a slight cytopathologic effect because of both a limited decay of the cytoskeleton and a slightly reduced turgor. These events may be due to a reduced production of intracellular metabolic energy in the epithelial cells due to an increased concentration of familiar, frequently occurring, potentially toxic bacterial metabolites, i.e., d-lactic acid and/or ethanol. In this hypothesis we suggest that adequate probiotics can (i) prevent the increased characteristic intestinal permeability of children with atopic eczema and food allergy, (ii) can thus prevent the uptake of allergens, and (iii) finally can prevent the expression of the atopic constitution. The use of adequate probiotic lactobacilli, i.e., homolactic and/or facultatively heterolactic l-lactic acid-producing lactobacilli, reduces the intestinal amounts of the bacterial, toxic metabolites, d-lactic acid and ethanol by fermentative production of merely the non-toxic l-lactic acid from glucose. Thus, it is thought that beneficial probiotic micro-organisms promote gut barrier function and both undo and prevent unfavourable intestinal micro-ecological alterations in allergic individuals

Stem cells from residual IVF-embryos - Continuation of life justifies isolation.

Item does not contain fulltextEmbryonic stem cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells that can indefinitely grow in vitro. They are derived from the inner mass of early embryos. Because of their ability to differentiate into all three embryonic germ layers, and finally into specialized somatic cell types, human embryonic stem cells represent important material for studying developmental biology and cell replacement therapy. They are usually isolated from excess human IVF-embryos. Since many people regard isolation of human stem cells as intentional killing of the embryo, it is a very difficult ethical problem. Similar feelings concern medical or scientific use of these stem cells. Is this feeling correct, or does it arise from a sentimental view? The problem encloses two aspects: (i) use of stem cells for medical therapy and scientific research and (ii) isolation of stem cells from human IVF-embryos. Worldwide human tissues are cultured, transplanted and used for medical and scientific research. Therefore, it may be concluded that factual use of human embryonic stem cells cannot be a real ethical problem. The main key of the problem seems to be hidden in the exact definition of 'death'; in other words: is there nothing between 'death' and 'life'? Bacterial spores, lyophilised bacteria and other micro-organisms, micro-organisms stored in glycerol mixtures at -80 degrees C and tissue cultures and sperm cells stored in liquid nitrogen, they are all neither dead nor alive, but still viable. From this point it is clear that there is more than the antithesis 'dead' versus 'alive'. In addition, we think that there is still another alternative: partial death. The present view concerning isolation of stem cells implies that residual embryos and thus new human lives are killed, and that therefore these embryos must be (passively) destroyed. However, it is especially the very well planned IVF-procedure that makes that passive destruction of not-implanted embryos means intentional killing. By isolation of stem cells embryos are not fully killed: at least one embryonic cell, i.e., a stem cell, remains alive. The life of stem cells cannot be qualified as independent. Nevertheless, the embryo's life is not completely stopped and continues in a primitive way of life and consequently it is not completely dead. Against this background we feel that isolation of human embryonic stem cells is preferred instead of passive destruction

New strategies in antimicrobial therapy.

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The beneficial, antimicrobial effects of probiotics.

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Short small bowel patients are permanently disabled due to unrecognised starvation.

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Probiotics: are they incredible panaceas? On the science behind beneficial non-pathogenic microbial agents.

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