Crohn's disease and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Purpose: Evaluate the application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) refractory to pharmacologic therapy, who developed abdominal, anorectal or skin complications.

Methods: Fourteen selected patients with refractory CD and treated at the School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (FMRP-USP) and at the Center of Hyperbaric Medicine, São Paulo Hospital (CEMEHI) were submitted to HBO.

Results: Of the 14 patients evaluated, 11 had a satisfactory response.

Spinal cord transection modifies ileal fluid and electrolyte transport in rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with severe autonomic changes, including inhibition of gastrointestinal (GI) motility. GI motility changes are known to affect electrolytes transport and these changes have not been adequately studied after SCI. We studied the ileal permeability to fluid and electrolytes in rats submitted to experimental spinal cord transection (SCT), between T4 and T5, throughout the first week after SCT.