Igor Petrovic

Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals rat colovesical fistula

To establish the effects of BPC 157 on the healing of rat colovesical fistulas, Wistar Albino male rats were randomly assigned to different groups. BPC 157, a stable gastric pentadecapeptide, has been used in clinical applications-specifically, in ulcerative colitis-and was successful in treating both external and internal fistulas. BPC 157 was provided daily, perorally, in drinking water (10µg/kg, 12ml/rat/day) until sacrifice or, alternatively, 10µg/kg or 10ng/kg intraperitoneally, with the first application at 30min after surgery and the last at 24h before sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0ml/kg ip) or water only (12ml/rat/day). Assessment (i.e., colon and vesical defects, fistula leaking, fecaluria and defecation through the fistula, adhesions and intestinal obstruction as healing processes) took place on days 7, 14 and 28. Control colovesical fistulas regularly exhibited poor healing, with both of the defects persisting; continuous fistula leakage; fecaluria and defecation through the fistula; advanced adhesion formation; and intestinal obstruction. By contrast, BPC 157 given perorally or intraperitoneally and in µg- and ng-regimens rapidly improved the whole presentation, with both colon and vesical defects simultaneously ameliorated and eventually healed. The maximal instilled volume was continuously raised until it reached the values of healthy rats, there were no signs of fecaluria and no defecation through the fistula, there was counteraction of advanced adhesion formation or there was an intestinal obstruction. In conclusion, BPC 157 effects appear to be suited to inducing full healing of colocutaneous fistulas in rats.

Large Oedometer for Measuring Stiffness of MBT Waste

One of the benefits of the mechanical and biological waste treatment (MBT) is increased stiffness with respect to the fresh “raw” waste material. Commercially available oedometers typically have a cell diameter from 75 to 254 mm, which is not sufficient specimen size for testing the compressibility behavior of waste materials. Based on the above mentioned consideration, the manufacturing of large oedometer of 500 mm internal diameter started at the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, in September 2008. The quality, durability and performance evaluation of the large oedometer has been made by comparison of five stress-strain curves obtained experimentally with stress-strain curves published by other researchers. In addition, obtained results have been compared to the stress-strain curves related to the fresh and decomposed untreated waste material and to the so- called “bioreactor” waste material. Comparison of results confirmed a reliable behavior of designed oedometer as well as the fact that treatment of fresh “raw” waste material can lead to a stiffer “soil-like” material.

Mini-review of the geotechnical parameters of municipal solid waste: Mechanical and biological pre-treated versus raw untreated waste

The most viable option for biostabilisation of old sanitary landfills, filled with raw municipal solid waste, is the so-called bioreactor landfill. Even today, bioreactor landfills are viable options in many economically developing countries. However, in order to reduce the biodegradable component of landfilled waste, mechanical and biological treatment has become a widely accepted waste treatment technology, especially in more prosperous countries. Given that mechanical and biological treatment alters the geotechnical properties of raw waste material, the design of sanitary landfills which accepts mechanically and biologically treated waste, should be carried out with a distinct set of geotechnical parameters. However, under the assumption that ‘waste is waste’, some design engineers might be tempted to use geotechnical parameters of untreated raw municipal solid waste and mechanical and biological pre-treated municipal solid waste interchangeably. Therefore, to provide guidelines for use and to provide an aggregated source of this information, this mini-review provides comparisons of geotechnical parameters of mechanical and biological pre-treated waste and raw untreated waste at various decomposition stages. This comparison reveals reasonable correlations between the hydraulic conductivity values of untreated and mechanical and biological pre-treated municipal solid waste. It is recognised that particle size might have a significant influence on the hydraulic conductivity of both municipal solid waste types. However, the compression ratios and shear strengths of untreated and pre-treated municipal solid waste do not show such strong correlations. Furthermore, another emerging topic that requires appropriate attention is the recovery of resources that are embedded in old landfills. Therefore, the presented results provide a valuable tool for engineers designing landfills for mechanical and biological pre-treated waste or bioreactor landfills for untreated raw waste as well as planning landfill mining projects.

BPC 157 counteracts QTc prolongation induced by haloperidol, fluphenazine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, sulpiride, and metoclopramide in rats

Aim: Commonly, neuroleptics and prokinetics induce a prolonged QTc interval. In this study, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 counteracts the prolongation of the QTc interval in Wistar rats that underwent daily administration of dopamine neuroleptics or prokinetics. Previously, in rats and mice, BPC 157 counteracted neuroleptic‐induced catalepsy and gastric ulcers. Main methods: To counteract neuroleptic‐ or prokinetic‐induced prolongation of the QTc interval, rats were given a BPC 157 regimen once daily over seven days (10 &mgr;g, 10 ng/kg ip) immediately after each administrations of haloperidol (0.625, 6.25, 12.5, and 25.0 mg/kg ip), fluphenazine (0.5, 5.0 mg/kg ip), clozapine (1.0, 10.0 mg/kg ip), quetiapine (1.0, 10.0 mg/kg ip), sulpiride (1.6, 16.0 mg/kg ip), metoclopramide (2.5, 25.0 mg/kg ip) or (1.0, 10.0 mg/kg ip). Controls simultaneously received saline (5 ml/kg ip). To assess the ECG presentation before and after neuroleptic/prokinetic medication, the assessment was at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min (first administration) as well as at 30 min, 60 min and 24 h (first administration and subsequent administrations) and the ECG recording started prior to drug administration. Key findings: Since very early, a prolonged QTc interval has been continually noted with haloperidol, fluphenazine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, sulpiride, and metoclopramide in rats as a central common effect not seen with domperidone. Consistent counteraction appears with the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Thus, BPC 157 rapidly and permanently counteracts the QTc prolongation induced by neuroleptics and prokinetics. Significance: Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 is suited for counteracting a prolonged QT interval.

Secondary omental torsion as a cause of acute abdomen in a patient with long-standing right-sided inguinal hernia

Omental torsion (OT) is a rare disease entity and in most cases it requires an emergent surgical procedure. Here we report the successful surgical management of secondary omental torsion in a patient who presented with acute abdomen. After the right diagnosis was established by CT-scan the patient underwent surgical procedure where the torsioned and necrotic omentum was successfully identified and resected. The outcome was satisfactory as patient discharged home quickly and recovery was uneventful.

Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Liver Abscess after Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Background: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is among the most reported serotypes of Salmonella species worldwide, but is rarely reported as the causative agent of a liver abscess. Case Report: We present a patient with an abdominal blunt trauma. An initial abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a rupture of the right kidney and of the liver. Two days later, his physical state deteriorated and a new computed tomography scan was obtained. An extremely large 8-centimetre liver abscess was verified. Due to the unsatisfying response to antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage, we operated on the patient. An appendectomy, cholecystectomy and bisegmental liver resection were performed. An intraoperative swab from the abscess was positive for Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. The patient was given intravenous ciprofloxacine. The post-operative course was complicated by a Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infection of the wound, which improved with antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Blunt abdominal trauma may initiate an unpredictable course of the disease in chronic Salmonella carriers.

Tu2028 Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 After 70% Liver Resection in Rats

We suggest that stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 improves function and liver regeneration after 70% liver resection in rats since it can rescue otherwise severe liver lesions after overdose ...

W1339 Safe Anti-Ulcer Peptide, in Trial for Inflammatory Bowel Desease, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL14736) Can Cure Rats With Short Bowel Syndrome Complicated With Ulcerative Colitis

Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 recovered short bowel sydrome in rats after massive small bowel resection, improved intestinal adaptation, villus height, crypt depth, and muscle thickness (and inner (circular) and/or outer (longitudinal) muscular layer)), induced weight gain in weight of normal healthy rats (Dig Dis Sci, 2008 in press). BPC 157 is a safe anti-ulcer peptide (PL-14736, Pliva) in trial for IBD, and wound therapy, no toxicology reported (Gastroenterology, 2005) that healed intestinal anastomosis and fistulas (Dig Dis Sci, 2008, J Pharm Sci, 2008). BPC 157 also prevented and reversed ulcerative colitis induced by cysteamine enema (J Physiol, 1999). However, BPC 157 was not tested after small bowel massive resection in rats with ulcerative colitis. Small bowel resection. Throughtout a 4 week period we tested rats with escalating bowel syndrome and progressive weight loss that had only 20% of small bowel (Dig Dis Sci, 2008, in press). Ulcerative colitis. Cysteamine enema 400 mg/kg i.r., 1ml/rat. Ulcerative colitis+small bowel resection. Enema was applied at 10 min before surgery. BPC 157 medication. BPC 157 (10 μg, 10ng/kg i.p. or in drinking water) first application 30 min following surgery, last 24 h before sacrifice (7, 14, 21, 28 days). Small bowel resection. The rats had an escalating bowel syndrome and progressive weight loss despite the fourfold muscle thickness increase and twofold villus height and crypt depth increase during the first week. BPC 157 groups recovery showed improved intestinal adaptation, villus height, crypt depth, and muscle thickness (and inner (circular) and/or outer (longitudinal) muscular layer))additionally increased. The rats immediately gained weight, ultimately to the weight of normal healthy rats. Ulcerative colitis. Controls exhibited pertinent ulceration, initial weight loss, and then decreased weight gain. BPC 157 rats immediately gained weight, ultimately to the weight of normal healthy rats, and had consistently less ulcerations. Ulcerative colitis+small bowel resection. Ulcerative colitis significantly aggravated all these parameters. BPC 157 retained the same beneficial effects, decreased ulcerative colitis, improved intestinal adaptation, villus height, crypt depth, and muscle thickness (and inner (circular) and/or outer (longitudinal) muscular layer)) additionally increased, early weight gain, ultimately to the weight of normal healthy rats. In addition to the recovery of the rats with short bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis, BPC 157 can cure rats with short bowel syndrome complicated with ulcerative colitis.

Evaluation of cutaneous flap survival by IR thermography

There are plenty of recent studies showing the influence of different drugs on the survival of the cutaneous flap. The effects of a topically applied capsaicin, methylprednisolon, mitomycin and gastric pentadecapeptide BPC-157 in improving skin vitality and preventing distal flap necrosis were tested in a random-pattern dorsal skin flap model. Wistar rats were randomized into five groups, four experimental groups and a control group. A standardized full thickness dorsal random-pattern skin flap was raised on each rat and sutured back into place. A gelatin sponge was placed before suturing between the flap and its recipient bed, with 0.9% saline in the control group and with capsaicin, methylprednisolon, mitomycin and pentadecapeptide BPC157 in the experimental groups. The flap survival was judged one