Effect of growth hormone, hyperbaric oxygen and combined therapy on the gastric serosa

Table 1 Histological features of healing, morphological and functional findings and neomucosa formation

	Group 1 (control)	Group2 (GH)	Group 3 (HBOT)	Group 4 (GH + HBOT)	P1(Groups 1-2)	P2(Groups 1-3)	P3(Groups 1-4)
Histological findings of wound healing
Epithelialization	0.3	1.3	1.0	1.7	> 0.05	> 0.05	< 0.01
Granulation	2.4	1.4	1.9	1.1	> 0.05	> 0.05	> 0.05
Fibroblast	1.7	1.8	2.0	2.4	> 0.05	> 0.05	< 0.05
Inflammation	1.4	1.1	1.2	1.2	> 0.05	> 0.05	> 0.05
Angiogenesis	4.4	7.5	7.2	8.9	< 0.01	< 0.01	< 0.01
Collagen deposition	0.9	2.2	1.6	2.6	< 0.01	< 0.05	< 0.01
Morphological and functional findings
Villus density	0.2	1.3	1.1	2.0	< 0.01	< 0.01	< 0.01
Villus height (μm)	101 (70-109)	135 (98-153)	118 (81-129)	153 (119-181)	< 0.05	> 0.05	< 0.05
Crypt depth (μm)	83 (74-88)	102 (82-114)	93 (76-101)	120 (101-133)	> 0.05	> 0.05	< 0.05
Goblet cells	0.2	1.4	1.1	2.2	< 0.01	< 0.01	< 0.01
Mucin	0.2	1.7	1.2	2.2	< 0.01	< 0.01	< 0.01

All parameters scored from 0 to 3, angiogenesis counted within 1 mm², villus density, goblet cells, mucin secretion and collagen deposition, scored from 0 to 3. The P¹ value compares Groups 1 and 2, P² value compares Groups 1 and 3, and P³ value compares Groups 1 and 4. All values are expressed as the mean ± SD. GH: Growth hormone; HBOT: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Table 2 The per-operative and 3-wk post-operative venous levels of like growth factor and insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (nmol/L)

	Group 1 (control)	Group 2 (GH therapy)	Group 4 (GH + HBO therapy)	P1(Groups 1-2)	P2(Groups 1-4)
Before the surgery
IGF-1 (nmol/L)	445 (402-482)	421 (405-460)	431 (395-470)	NS	NS
IGFBP-3 (nmol/L)	2250 (2100-2350)	2170 (2000-2300)	2147 (2025-2350)	NS	NS
After the surgery (3 wk)
IGF-1 (nmol/L)	445 (415-500)	799 (755-875)	813 (775-900)	< 0.05	< 0.05
IGFBP-3 (nmol/L)	2290 (2050-2500)	3300 (3000-3600)	3328 (3000-3650)	< 0.05	< 0.05
P	NS	< 0.05	< 0.05

The P value compares the per- and post-operative levels within the same group, P¹ value compares the levels between Groups 1 and 2, and P² value compares the levels between Groups 1 and 4. All values are expressed as the mean ± SD. NS: Non-significant; GH: Growth hormone; HBOT: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; IGF-1: Like growth factor; IGFBP-3: Insulin like growth factor binding protein 3.