[Effects of enteral nutrition on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes of intestinal mucosal and the barrier of mucus in patients with stomal type enteric fistula].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of enteral nutrition on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and the barrier of mucus in patients with stomal type enteric fistulas.


METHODS
Ten patients with stomal type enteric fistulas after long-term fasting were observed. They received enteral nutrition of 146 kJ.kg(-1).d(-1) non-protein calorie and 0.25 g.kg(-1).d(-1) nitrogen per day. Intestinal mucosa were taken by endoscope through stoma of fistula before, 5 and 10 days after enteral nutrition support. Hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemical stain were performed to count the cell counts of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs) and mucin-2 (MUC2) positive cells, specific stain (Alcian Blue) was performed to test the thickness of mucus.


RESULTS
Five days after enteral nutrition, MUC2 positive cells and the thickness of mucus were significantly higher than that before enteral nutrition support (P<0.05). Ten days after enteral nutrition, iIEL cell and CD8 counts were also significantly higher than that before enteral nutrition support (P<0.05), MUC2 positive cells and the thickness of mucus showed a significant increase (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Enteral nutrition is effective in protecting the gut mucosal and improving the immune function of the intestinal intraepithelial in patients with stomal type fistula.
Hong
Shu-jian
SJ
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Medical School, Nanjing 210002, China.
Gu
Guo-sheng
GS
Ren
Jian-an
JA
Li
Ning
N
Li
Jie-shou
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult