Background/Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with limited effective treatments, prompting the need for investigation of novel therapeutic approaches. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) have demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory properties, but their combined effects on UC have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the combined administration of EPA and GLA on clinical and histopathologic features of experimental UC models. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomized in three groups (DSS group, Ensure Plus group, and Oxepa group), with twelve rats in each group. Experimental colitis was induced by administrating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) 8%. The DSS group received tap water, the Ensure Plus group was given a high caloric diet, and the Oxepa group received a special diet containing high levels of EPA and GLA. Disease activity index (DAI) and microscopic activity index (MAI) were measured. Inflammatory markers were calculated both in blood and large intestine, liver, spleen, and lung tissue samples. Neutrophil and macrophage populations were assessed with immunohistochemistry. Results: No significant differences in the DAI index were found between the groups, but the MAI revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). While no significant differences were observed in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels in the large intestine showed statistically significant differences (p = 0.05), with the Ensure Plus and Oxepa groups displaying lower levels compared to the DSS group (p = 0.021 and p = 0.043, respectively). Significant differences in neutrophil infiltration were found in both the large intestine (p < 0.001) and lungs (p = 0.002), with the Oxepa group showing fewer cells. Similarly, significant differences in macrophage infiltration were observed in the large intestine (p = 0.038) and spleen (p < 0.001), with the Oxepa group having lower macrophage counts. Conclusions: In conclusion, the combination of EPA and GLA demonstrates local anti-inflammatory effects and improves the histopathological outcomes in UC.
Introduction: Robotic gastrectomy is increasingly used in the surgical management of gastric cancer. Indocyanine green (ICG) near-infrared fluorescence imaging has emerged as a technique that enables real-time visualization of lymphatic drainage pathways, potentially facilitating more precise and individualized lymph node dissection. However, the clinical value of ICG-guided fluorescent lymphography during robotic gastrectomy remains incompletely established. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 31 January 2026 for comparative studies evaluating ICG-guided fluorescent lymphography versus standard robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.4.2) and the meta package. Results: Six studies, including 406 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Use of ICG was associated with a higher number of retrieved lymph nodes (mean difference [MD] 8.48; 95% CI 4.61–12.36; p = 0.001; I2 = 55.5%). Operative time was modestly shorter in the ICG group (MD −10.84 min; 95% CI −21.08 to −0.61; p = 0.038). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss (MD −4.02 mL; p = 0.289), length of hospital stay (MD −0.82 days; p = 0.131), or postoperative complications (odds ratio 0.83; 95% CI 0.46–1.49; p = 0.534). Conclusions: ICG-guided fluorescence imaging during robotic gastrectomy is associated with increased lymph node retrieval and a small reduction in operative time without evidence of increased perioperative morbidity. Larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes.