Abstract: A method of assessing the state of the lining of the small intestine in a mammal or human injesting a suitable labelled test substrate which requires conversion by a brush border enzyme for transport across the small intestinal lining. Suitable substrates include sucrose and maltose. The transport of these can very conveniently be measured by assessing the amount of label present in carbon dioxide expelled in the breath after a period of time. It has been shown that this method has application to assessing damage cause by chemotherapeutic induced mucositis as well as gastroenteritis with an infectious cause.

Abstract: A method of assessing the state of the lining of the small intestine in a mammal or human injesting a suitable labelled test substrate which requires conversion by a brush border enzyme for transport across the small intestinal lining. Suitable substrates include sucrose and maltose. The transport of these can very conveniently be measured by assessing the amount of label present in carbon dioxide expelled in the breath after a period of time. It has been shown that this method has application to assessing damage cause by chemotherapeutic induced mucositis as well as gastroenteritis with an infectious cause.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for assessing the functioning and/or structural integrity of the gut in animal subjects. The method of the present invention is predicated on assessing the absorption and/or metabolism of one or more test sugars or functional equivalents such as phosphorylated sugars, oligopeptides or oligonucleotides in an animal subject, wherein the level and/or rate of absorption or metabolism of each molecule is examined to give an overall indication of gut functioning and/or gut structural integrity in the animal subject. The methods of the present invention have inter alia medical and diagnostic applications in humans, such as for the diagnosis of various pathologies associated with changes in gut function or permeability. Furthermore, the methods of the present invention may also be applied to assess gut function or structural integrity in other animal, including avian, species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting bacterial colonisation of mucous epithelium in a biological system. The method includes the step of administering to the biological system an effective amount of a mucolytic agent and one or more of colostrum, hyperimmune milk, or a component of colostrum and/or hyperimmune milk that is capable of inhibiting bacterial colonisation in combination with the mucolytic agent.

Abstract: A method of assessing the state of the lining of the small intestine in a mammal or human injesting a suitable labelled test substrate which requires conversion by a brush border enzyme for transport across the small intestinal lining. Suitable substrates include sucrose and maltose. The transport of these can very conveniently be measured by assessing the amount of label present in carbon dioxide expelled in the breath after a period of time. It has been shown that this method has application to assessing damage cause by chemotherapeutic induced mucositis as well as gastroenteritis with an infectious cause.