Two-Fold Increase Of Mucosal Substance P Binding In Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Recently it has been shown that antimicrobial peptides, defensins, are produced in Paneth cells.In response to bacterial challenge of the small bowel, granules rich in defensins are secreted into the lumen of the crypts.It has been suggested that Paneth cells, in this way, act as mediators of epithelial host defence.After Roux-en-y Gastric bypass (RGBP), a standard surgical procedure for morbid obesity, food and oral-nasal-pharyngeal secretion pass directly into the small bowel without passing through the acid environment of the normal stomach.We have evaluated the microflora and changes in morphology of Paneth cells after this operation.The study comprised of 18 patients (15 females, median age 44 years) undergoing RGBP for morbid obesity (BMI > 40 mg/kg').Intravenous cefuroxime