title: Probiotic and lactulose: influence on gastrointestinal flora and pH value in minimal hepatic encephalopathy rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to investigate the influence on gastrointestinal flora, counts of bifidobacteria and Enterobacterceae in colon and pH value of gastrointestinal after lactulose and probiotic treatment on rat experimental minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) induced by thioactamide (TAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  MHE was induced by intraperitoneal injection of TAA. 48 male MHE models were then randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (n = 12); MHE group (n = 12) received tap water ad libitum only; lactulose group (n = 12) and probiotics group (n = 12) gavaged respectively with 8 ml/kg of lactulose and 1.5 g/kg of probiotic preparation Golden Bifid (highly concentrated combination probiotic) dissolved in 2 ml of normal saline, once a day for 8 days. The latency of Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) I was used as objective index of MHE. Counts of gastrointestinal flora, counts of bifidobacteria and Enterobacterceae in colon and pH value of gastrointestinal were examined respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to MHE group, counts of gastrointestinal flora has greatly decreased, ratio of bifidobacteria and Enterobacterceae has greatly increased, pH value of colon has greatly descended (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between lactulose group and probiotic group (P > 0.05). Both lactulose and probiotics can effectively prevent bacteria translocation and overgrowth, intensify CR, improved value of B/E, and acidify intestinal, decreased pH value of colon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotic compound Golden Bifid is as useful as lactulose for the prevention and treatment of MHE. Probiotic therapy may be a safe, natural, well-tolerated therapy appropriate for the long-term treatment of MHE.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University Guangdong Province, China ; Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Nansha Central Hospital Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Shu-Man
authors: SM
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University Guangdong Province, China ; Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Nansha Central Hospital Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Jia
authors: Department of Digestive Diseases, Affiliated Twelfth People's Municipal Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College Guangzhou 510620, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Mei-Hua
authors: MH
authors: Zhang
keywords: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy; PH value; gastrointestinal flora; lactulose; probiotics