Effect of probiotics on pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB activation in ulcerative colitis

Table 1 Demographic characteristics

Parameter	Control (n = 10)	Sulfasalazine group (n = 15)	Probiotic group (n = 15)
Age (yr)	46 ± 1.89	48 ± 1.90	47 ± 1.59
Sex (M:F)	6:4	11:4	12:3
Smoking (yes/no)	3/7	2/13	1/14
Mayo score	0	4	4
Extent of the disease
Left side colitis	0	4	5
Proctitis	0	5	4
Pancolitis	0	6	6
ESR (mm/h)	27 ± 2.1	66.3 ± 1.3	69.2 ± 1.2
Albumin/globulin ratio	1.9 ± 0.2	1.1 ± 1.3	1.2 ± 1.1
Leukocyte count (cells/mm)	4.3 ± 1.2	8.9 ± 1.3	8.5 ± 1.1
Hemoglobin (%)	14 ± 1.5	10.5 ± 1.1	10.7 ± 1.6
Stool frequency (/d)	1	4	4
Blood in stool	-	+	+
Fever	-	-	-
Pulse rate (/min)	80 ± 2	93 ± 3	94 ± 2

ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; +: Minimal.

Table 2 Semi-quantitative index of nuclear factor-κB p65 expression in controls and ulcerative colitis patients

Reaction	Controls	Patients	Sulfasalazine	Probiotics
NF-κB	+ (6)	++++ (6)	+++ (4)	++ (2)
Immunostaining			++ (2)	+ (4)

Brackets indicate number of samples; n = 6 for each group. The intensity of staining for nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is represented in a semi-quantitative evaluation: +: Weak; ++: Moderate; +++: Strong; ++++: Intense reaction.