title: Effects of probiotics on radiation-induced intestinal injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiotherapy is an important aspect of multimodal cancer therapy, but radiation-induced acute intestinal injury is a common and serious problem. Disruption of morphologic mucosal integrity and normal bacterial microflora after abdominal radiation leads to malabsorption and bacterial translocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactobacillus bulgaricus strain isolated from yogurt was given as a probiotic to rats subjected to radiotherapy. On postradiation day 8 rats were killed. Mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen were excised for microbiologic examinations. Segments of jejunum, ileum, and colon were evaluated for the presence of inflammation, vascularity, and mucus cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study suggest that probiotics may have a protective effect on intestinal mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotics added as substrates can be given by an oral or enteral route to patients who undergo radiotherapy to prevent radiation-induced enteritis and related malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. demirers02@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirer
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydintug
authors.forename: Belma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aslim
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kepenekci
authors.forename: Neriman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sengül
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Evirgen
authors.forename: Devran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerceker
authors.forename: Meltem Nalca
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Andrieu
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.forename: Sercin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karahüseyinoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007082:Ileum / Q000382:microbiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology