Chronic abdominal wall pain: clinical features, health care costs, and long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic abdominal wall pain (CAWP) often is misdiagnosed. We evaluated CAWP patients regarding diagnosis accuracy, clinical features, comorbidity, referral frequency, use of care, and long-term outcome. METHODS: We reviewed the records of all outpatients referred to a gastroenterologist in 5 years, recorded referral indications, and identified patients initially diagnosed with CAWP or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Charts of all CAWP patients were reviewed, and direct costs were estimated for abdominal pain-related physician visits and imaging studies during the 12 months before and 12 months after consultation. We appraised long-term pain status by telephone. RESULTS: Of 2709 patients, CAWP was diagnosed by physical examination in 137 patients; the diagnosis remained unchanged after 47.3 +/- 17.7 (mean +/- SD) months in 133 (97.1%) patients. Women predominated over men 4 to 1, pain was usually upper abdominal, had lasted 25.3 +/- 46.3 months, and obesity and painful comorbidities and depression were common. CAWP and IBS comprised 7.8% and 16.3% of symptomatic referrals, respectively. Prereferral, physicians rarely suspected CAWP and often prescribed therapy for acid-peptic disease. Postconsultation, primary care, emergency and specialist visits, and radiologic examinations markedly decreased (P < 0.001), and estimated annual costs decreased from $1133.87 +/- 953.37 to $541.33 +/- 989.04 (P < 0.0001). Therapy varied, and 44 (47.3%) patients had no pain at follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: CAWP is a common underrecognized disorder. Comorbidities are frequent, and health care use is high. Diagnosis is accurate and reduces health care costs. Over the long term, pain disappearance and persistence occurs in approximately equal proportions of patients.     

Has the identification of rectal hypersensitivity any implication in the clinical outcome of irritable bowel syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Sixty percent of patients with irritable bowel disease (IBS) are hypersensitive to rectal distension. It is uncertain to what extend the identification of this abnormality has an impact in the clinical outcome.Objective: to evaluate if rectal hypersensitivity is associated with a different clinical outcome, prognosis and use of medical resources. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with IBS (Rome II criteria) who underwent a rectal distension study at least one year before were eligible if they have not been included in any research protocol since then. We reviewed how many times in the last year they came to emergency room, underwent an endoscopy, and consulted a gastroenterologist or other medical physician for any reason. Also, a telephone interview was done by a gastroenterology fellow using a structured questionnaire to evaluate the frequency and severity of their symptoms in the last year and last month. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were eligible and 38 were included. Fourteen were not included because inability to made a phone contact or did not consent to phone interview. Twenty six patients were hypersensitive and 12 normosensitive. Both groups had similar symptoms (frequency and severity) but hypersensitive patients visited less to the gastroenterologist (1.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.6 times yearly, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Identification of rectal hypersensitivity to distension is associated to less consultation to gastroenterologist, although severity and frequency of symptoms are not modified. Finding of an objective explanation of the symptoms seems to help patients to understand their disease, leading to a decrease in resources use.     

Activated mast cells in proximity to colonic nerves correlate with abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The mechanisms underlying abdominal pain perception in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are poorly understood. Intestinal mast cell infiltration may perturb nerve function leading to symptom perception. We assessed colonic mast cell infiltration, mediator release, and spatial interactions with mucosal innervation and their correlation with abdominal pain in IBS patients. METHODS: IBS patients were diagnosed according to Rome II criteria and abdominal pain quantified according to a validated questionnaire. Colonic mucosal mast cells were identified immunohistochemically and quantified with a computer-assisted counting method. Mast cell tryptase and histamine release were analyzed immunoenzymatically. Intestinal nerve to mast cell distance was assessed with electron microscopy. RESULTS: Thirty-four out of 44 IBS patients (77%) showed an increased area of mucosa occupied by mast cells as compared with controls (9.2% +/- 2.5% vs. 3.3 +/- 0.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). There was a 150% increase in the number of degranulating mast cells (4.76 +/- 3.18/field vs. 2.42 +/- 2.26/field, respectively; P = 0.026). Mucosal content of tryptase was increased in IBS and mast cells spontaneously released more tryptase (3.22 +/- 3.48 pmol/min/mg vs. 0.87 +/- 0.65 pmol/min/mg, respectively; P = 0.015) and histamine (339.7 +/- 59.0 ng/g vs. 169.3 +/- 130.6 ng/g, respectively; P = 0.015). Mast cells located within 5 microm of nerve fibers were 7.14 +/- 3.87/field vs. 2.27 +/- 1.63/field in IBS vs. controls (P < 0.001). Only mast cells in close proximity to nerves were significantly correlated with severity and frequency of abdominal pain/discomfort (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Colonic mast cell infiltration and mediator release in proximity to mucosal innervation may contribute to abdominal pain perception in IBS patients.     

H. pylori infection and visceral hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIM: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain and changes in stool habits. Visceral hypersensitivity (VH) is a key factor in the pathophysiology of IBS. The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the induction of VH in the upper gastrointestinal tract is controversially discussed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of rectal barostat in eliciting abdominal symptoms in patients with IBS in relation to H. pylori infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 31 patients (19 female, 12 male, mean age 45.6 +/- 10 years) with normal colonoscopy and clinical signs of IBS were examined by rectal barostat (pressure-controlled balloon distension in the rectum). Induction of typical abdominal discomfort (far from the balloon) defined the examination positive. Level of nonpainful perception (L1), feeling of defecation (L2), and pain or stool urgency (L3) were registered in comparison with a healthy control group (CG; n = 15, 9 female, 6 male). The H. pylori status was defined by (13)C-urea breath test (n = 46). RESULTS: Typical abdominal discomfort was induced in 9 patients (pain group, PG) by pressure-controlled rectal distension (H. pylori status: 8 positive, 1 negative). Patients not presenting with abdominal pain to rectal distension (nonpain group, NPG) were all H. pylori negative (p < 0.001). L3 as an indicator of VH was reached at a lower pressure threshold in PG than in NPG or CG (p < 0.05). The perception was not different between NPG and CG (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The induction of typical abdominal discomfort in patients with IBS by the use of rectal barostat occurred predominantly in H. pylori infected patients and suggests that H. pylori infection may be involved in triggering VH in patients with IBS. Further studies in larger patient groups and after H. pylori eradication therapy are needed to confirm and extend this observation.     

The effects of probiotics on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorder that has heterogeneous clinical presentations such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal distension. It is known that several mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of IBS. Probiotics may target one or more pathophysiologic pathways in IBS and may improve the symptoms of IBS. However, the results of studies about probiotics on IBS are controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on GI symptoms and intestinal gas volume changes in patients with IBS. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly allocated to be treated with Medilac DS (Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecium) (n=20) or placebo (n=20) in a double-blind, prospective manner. The change in intestinal gas volume and symptom scores after 4-week treatment were evaluated for the efficacy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in bloating, frequency of gas expulsion, frequency of defecation, and hardness of stool before and after the treatment. However, the severity of abdominal pain and the frequency of abdominal pain decreased significantly in Medilac DS group (2.4+/-1.3 cm/day --> 1.6+/-1.6 cm/day, 1.7+/-1.3/day --> 1.0+/-1.0/day) (p=0.044, p=0.038), but not in placebo group (2.1+/-2.0 cm/day --> 1.8+/-2.1 cm/day, 1.3+/-1.2/day --> 1.4+/-1.9/day). In both groups, intestinal gas volume at baseline, after 2-week treatment, and after 4-week treatment did not show significant change. Medilac DS was well tolerated without adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Medilac DS is a safe and useful probiotic agent for the treatment of abdominal pain in patients with IBS.     

Overlapping upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients with constipation or diarrhea

OBJECTIVES: Distinguishing between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia can be challenging because of the variations in symptom patterns, which commonly overlap. However, the overlap is poorly quantified, and it is equally uncertain whether symptom patterns differ in subgroups of IBS arbitrarily defined by primary bowel patterns of constipation (IBS-C) and diarrhea (IBS-D). We aimed to determine and to compare the distribution of GI symptoms, both, upper and lower, among IBS-C and IBS-D patients. METHODS: A total of 121 consecutive patients presenting with a diagnosis of IBS were grouped according to primary bowel symptoms as IBS-C (58 women and 18 men, mean age 47 +/- 17 yr) or IBS-D (26 women and 19 men, mean age 47 +/- 15 yr). The Hopkins Bowel Symptom Questionnaire, which includes a brief Quality of Life assessment, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 90-Revised were completed by all patients at intake. RESULTS: IBS-C patients reported significantly more overall GI symptoms when compared to patients with IBS-D (6.67 vs 4.62, respectively, p<0.001). Abdominal pain patterns differed in patients with IBS-C versus IBS-D (lower abdominal pain: 40.8% vs 24.4% p=0.05 and upper abdominal pain: 36.8% vs 24.4%, respectively). Bloating was substantially more common in IBS-C patients (75%) than in IBS-D (40.9%). There were no significant differences in personality subscales by IBS subgroup; however, somatization was positively associated with multiple symptom reports and was negatively correlated with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Upper GI symptoms consistent with functional dyspepsia were more frequent in IBS-C. Although there was considerable overlap of upper and lower GI symptoms in patients with IBS-C and IBS-D, the former had more frequent lower abdominal pain and bloating.     

Alterations in rectal sensitivity and motility in childhood irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Children with chronic abdominal pain have a heterogeneous clinical presentation, but no organic cause can be identified in most of them. Some children present with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We hypothesized that visceral hypersensitivity and motor abnormalities may be underlying mechanisms in these children. METHODS: Rectal sensation and rectal contractile response to a meal were studied in 8 children with IBS and 8 children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and were compared with those of 9 healthy volunteers (HVs). RESULTS: The threshold for pain, but not that for first sensation and urge to defecate, was significantly decreased in IBS patients (6 +/- 1 mm Hg) compared with FAP patients and HVs (17 +/- 1 and 22 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively). In HVs and patients with FAP, ingestion of a meal induced a decrease in rectal volume with an early and late component. This motor pattern was absent in children with IBS. In IBS patients, no rapid volume waves were observed during fasting in contrast to FAP patients (2.7 +/- 0.3/10 min) and HVs (1.8 +/- 0.5/10 min). CONCLUSIONS: Children fulfilling the Rome II criteria for IBS have a significantly lowered threshold for pain and a disturbed contractile response to a meal. Comparable to results reported in adults, sensory and motor abnormalities might play a pathophysiologic role in childhood IBS.     

Sensitivity disturbances in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia

BACKGROUND: Although visceral hypersensitivity is a common feature among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), studies on somatic sensitivity have given controversial results. AIM: To assess visceral sensitivity in response to isotonic rectal distensions and somatic sensitivity at different layers of the body wall (skin, subcutis, and muscle) in patients with IBS and fibromyalgia (FM), within and outside the area of abdominal pain referral. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 10 patients with IBS, 5 patients with FM, 9 patients with IBS+FM, and 9 healthy controls. Rectal distensions were performed by increasing tension at 4 g steps up to 64 g or discomfort. Pain thresholds to electrical stimulation were measured within and outside the areas of abdominal pain referral. RESULTS: Patients with IBS and IBS+FM demonstrated rectal hypersensitivity in comparison to controls. The threshold of discomfort was 44 +/- 5 g in IBS and 36 +/- 5 in IBS+FM patients, while patients with FM and healthy controls tolerated all distensions without discomfort. In the areas of pain referral, pain thresholds of all three tissues of the body wall were lower than normal in all patients groups (p < 0.001). In control areas, the pain thresholds were normal in skin, and lower than normal in subcutis and muscle in IBS (p < 0.001). FM and IBS+FM demonstrated somatic hypersensitivity at all sites (p < 0.001 vs healthy). CONCLUSION: Our observations seem to indicate that, although sharing a common hypersensitivity background, multiple mechanisms may modulate perceptual somatic and visceral responses in patients with IBS and FM.     

Irritable bowel syndrome in France: a common, debilitating and costly disorder

OBJECTIVE: This epidemiological investigation aims to measure the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the general population using the Rome II criteria and to evaluate the medical management including treatments and the impact of IBS on patient life. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of 20,000 French subjects, aged 18 years and over, were interviewed by SOFRES (French Public Opinion Poll Institute) in May 2001. In a second phase (June/July 2001), a 48-question self-administered questionnaire was given to the subjects who have been selected during the first phase as suffering from IBS (Rome II criteria). RESULTS: The prevalence of IBS was 4.7% (confidence interval, 4.36-5.04% with 5% risk) with a predominance in women (5.7% versus 3.7%, P < 0.01). The abdominal pain was often longstanding (> 5 years, 50%), intense (43%) and nocturnal (35%). During the most recent painful episode the levels of associated transit problems were almost equally divided between diarrhoea (36%), constipation (29%) and alternate episodes of both (31%). Apart from pain, bloating was given as the most frequent (73%) and most troublesome (24%) symptom. Since the onset, 80% of subjects with IBS had consulted a doctor (90% consulted a general physician, 57% a gastroenterologist, 50% both) and of these, 80% consulted within the previous 12 months. Sixty-seven per cent of subjects underwent additional investigations since the start of their illness (average of 3.4 examinations per patient examined: colonoscopy, 34.1%; laboratory tests, 34%; and abdominal ultrasound, 27.7%). Over the previous 12 months, 8% of the subjects had been admitted to hospital (average length of stay, 6.6 days), 11% of employed subjects had to take time off, 93% of subjects had taken prescribed medication (87%), but 43% of people thought it was ineffective. The effect on daily life was considerable (score, 6.2/10; close to the score for flu, 7/10). Two-thirds of the individuals changed their diet; 54% said it affected their social life and 29% their professional life. Seventy-four per cent of patients trusted their doctor, with a satisfaction index of 63%, but 45% of patients would like to have more information on IBS. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the Rome II criteria detected IBS with a prevalence of 4.7%. The recruited subjects had severe symptoms (frequency, intensity and duration) that had a considerable effect on their daily life. The high level of referrals and initial consultations in all categories and the patient's attitudes towards the illness and its treatment emphasize the relative ineffectiveness of care for patients suffering from IBS.     

Rectal distention testing in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: sensitivity,specificity, and predictive values of pain sensory thresholds

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Visceral hypersensitivity was detected in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and has been proposed as a biological marker of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and the predictive values of pain thresholds evaluated by rectal distention using an electronic barostat in patients with or without IBS and in control subjects. METHODS: Patients were diagnosed according to Rome II criteria. Rectal sensory thresholds were determined in 164 patients (86 IBS patients, 26 painless constipation, 21 functional dyspepsia, and 31 miscellaneous conditions) and in 25 normal controls. All subjects underwent a series of rectal isobaric distentions using an electronic barostat. The bag was progressively distended from 0 to 48 mm Hg and, in response to distention, subjects reported on discomfort or pain. RESULTS: Pain thresholds were lower in IBS patients (30.4 +/- 6.7 mm Hg) compared with controls (44.5 +/- 5), painless constipated (45.4 +/- 5.3), functional dyspepsia (39.4 +/- 7.8), and miscellaneous patients (43.2 +/- 5.5). At the level of 40 mm Hg, the sensitivity of the rectal barostat to identify IBS patients from normal subjects and non-IBS patients was 95.5% and its specificity was 71.8%. The positive predictive value was 85.4%. The negative predictive value was 90.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Lowered rectal pain threshold is a hallmark of IBS patients. Rectal barostat testing is useful to confirm the diagnosis of IBS and to discriminate IBS from other causes of abdominal pain.     

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine does not change rectal sensitivity and symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although widely prescribed, the evidence for the use of antidepressants for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is limited. In this study, we hypothesized that fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, has visceral analgesic properties, leading to increased sensory thresholds during rectal distention and improvement of symptoms, in particular in IBS patients with visceral hypersensitivity. METHODS: Forty non-depressed IBS patients underwent a rectal barostat study to assess the sensitivity to rectal distention before and after 6 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine 20 mg or placebo. Abdominal pain scores, individual gastrointestinal symptoms, global symptom relief, and psychologic symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, 21 of 40 patients showed hypersensitivity to rectal distention. Fluoxetine did not significantly alter the threshold for discomfort/pain relative to placebo, either in hypersensitive (19 +/- 3 vs. 22 +/- 2 mm Hg above MDP) or in normosensitive (34 +/- 2 vs. 39 +/- 4 mm Hg above MDP) IBS patients. Overall, 53% of fluoxetine-treated patients and 76% of placebo-treated patients reported significant abdominal pain scores after 6 weeks (not significant). In contrast, in hypersensitive patients only, fluoxetine significantly reduced the number of patients reporting significant abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal symptoms, global symptom relief, and psychologic symptoms were not altered. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine does not change rectal sensitivity in IBS patients. Possible beneficial effects on pain perception need to be confirmed in larger trials.     

Psychologic considerations in the irritable bowel syndrome

Among medical clinic patients consulting for IBS, symptoms of psychologic distress are common, and more than half of these patients are found to have a psychiatric diagnosis in addition to bowel dysfunction. Many investigators have therefore concluded that IBS is a psychophysiologic disorder and proposed that patients with IBS be treated with psychologic techniques. However, recent studies suggest that this association may be spurious; persons in the community who have symptoms of IBS but do not consult a doctor have no more psychologic symptoms than persons without bowel symptoms. This indicates that psychologic symptoms do not cause bowel symptoms, but, instead, influence which persons with bowel symptoms will consult a physician. The bowel symptoms and the psychologic symptoms that coexist in most patients with IBS may be best thought of as comorbid conditions. Neither causes the other, but both may be serious enough to warrant treatment. Moreover, in some patients whose bowel symptoms consist of vague complaints of abdominal pain not specifically related to defecation or to changes in the frequency or consistency of bowel habits, the psychologic disorder may be primary. Psychologic stress may exacerbate IBS whether or not the patient has a psychiatric disorder, and psychologic stress may trigger acute episodes of symptoms similar to those of IBS even in persons without IBS. However, the magnitude of this correlation is modest, suggesting that only about 10% of the variation in bowel symptoms is attributable to stress. Psychologically oriented treatments have a role in the management of IBS. Most patients who consult internists about bowel symptoms have significant levels of depression and anxiety, and they tend to notice and to worry about somatic complaints more when they experience these dysphoric affects. Psychologic treatments that reduce the level of their psychologic distress also frequently reduce the frequency and severity of complaints about bowel symptoms. Tricyclic antidepressants may be tried as a first line of treatment; they have been shown to be superior to placebo for the management of abdominal pain and diarrhea but not constipation. In patients who do not show an adequate response to antidepressants, brief psychotherapy focusing on better ways of coping with current problems, hypnosis, or behavior therapy emphasizing methods of controlling reactions to stress are recommended. Controlled trials show these treatment approaches to be superior to medical management alone. It may appear paradoxical that psychologic treatments aimed at the management of emotions are so frequently found to reduce bowel symptoms, because the motility disorder responsible for the bowel symptoms may be unrelated to the psychologic symptoms that influence the patient to seek treatment.+4     

Pertinence of a pre-colonoscopy consultation for routine information delivery

AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients have a better level of information about colonoscopy and are more satisfied with medical care when they attend a dedicated consultation with a gastroenterologist prior to the procedure. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study which compared "exposed" (E) and "non exposed" (NE) patients. In group E, information about colonoscopy was delivered by a gastroenterologist during a special consultation at least 24 hours before the procedure. In group NE, information was delivered in the usual manner. The patients' level of information was measured after colonoscopy and 3 months later. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included in group E and 18 in group NE. The level of information was better in group E, 5.2 +/- 2.1 versus 3.3 +/- 2.1 (P<0.04), as was satisfaction with medical care, 24.9 +/- 4.6 versus 23.0 +/- 5.1 (P<0.03). The differences in information levels remained at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The information delivered during a dedicated precolonoscopy consultation increases assimilation of knowledge concerning the procedure and the patient's satisfaction with medical care.     

Psychological factors in the irritable bowel syndrome.

This paper reviews recent psychological studies of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or 'functional abdominal pain'. Many studies have used unreliable or invalid methods of assessment and some have confused personality with treatable psychiatric illness. Reliable and valid measures have indicated that 40-50% of patients with recently diagnosed functional abdominal pain have demonstrable psychiatric illness; these patients have a worse prognosis than those who are psychologically normal. When psychiatric disorder is diagnosed in a patient with IBS there are three possibilities: (1) The patient may have developed abdominal and psychiatric symptoms simultaneously in which case treatment of the latter may relieve the bowel symptoms. (2) Psychiatric disorder may precipitate increased concern about bowel symptoms, and consequent attendance at the gastroenterology clinic, of those with chronic mild symptoms. In this case it is illness behaviour, rather than abdominal symptoms, that is caused by the anxiety/depression. (3) Those with chronic neurotic symptoms as part of their personality must be screened for organic disease if they have a fresh onset of bowel symptoms; but they are at high risk of becoming persistent clinic attenders. Further research is needed to clarify when psychological abnormalities play a role in the aetiology of IBS and when they are coincidental, but lead to illness behaviour. The role of psychological factors in the aetiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is far from clear, but a review of the literature suggests that some consistent patterns are emerging in spite of methodological problems. There have been three major defects with studies that have linked IBS with neurotic symptomatology. First, the measurement of psychological factors has generally been imprecise. Second, most studies have considered IBS patients as a single group, without making allowance for differing symptom patterns. Third, conclusions have been drawn about hospital samples and extrapolated to all IBS subjects, without taking account of factors which affect consulting behaviour. Most studies have been concerned with psychological factors so these will be considered in most detail.     

Association of the -1438 G/A and 102 T/C polymorphism of the 5-Ht2A receptor gene with irritable bowel syndrome 5-Ht2A gene polymorphism in irritable bowel syndrome

GOALS: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there were any association between the 102 T/C and -1438 G/A polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and IBS, and abdominal pain, anxiety and depression. BACKGROUND: Genes involved in serotonin (5-HT) metabolism are good candidates for the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recently, a silent polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene was identified that is defined by a T to C transition at position 102. Also, a novel G to A base change at position -1438 of the promoter region has been detected in 5-HT2A receptor gene. STUDY: Fifty-four patients with IBS diagnosed according to the Rome 1 criteria and 107 healthy individuals were included in the study. PCR was used to amplify a 468-bp (G-->A) and 342-bp (T-->C) fragment of genomic DNA containing the polymorphism. Hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to assess the risk of depression and anxiety. Severity of chronic abdominal pain was determined by visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: It was shown that there was a high incidence of homozygote C allele of the 102T/C polymorphism (%22.2; OR: 7.89, P = 0.04) and homozygote A allele of the -1438 G/A promoter region (%%37; OR: 11.14, P = 0.01) in patients with IBS. The risk of having an anxiety disorder was 83.3% in patients with C/C genotype, which was higher than other allele carrying patients, and overall mean (%52.7). (chi = 8.56, P = 0.014). The patients with T/T genotype had a VAS score of 54.93 +/- 2.59 mm, which was significantly higher than that of the patients with other genotypes (p1 = 0.02, p2 = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the patients with homozygote C allele of the 102 T/C polymorphisms or homozygote A allele of the -1438 G/A polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene, have a high risk of IBS. On the other hand, T/T genotype of 102 T/C polymorphism may be associated with more severe pain in patient with IBS.     

Pan-enteric dysmotility, impaired quality of life and alexithymia in a large group of patients meeting ROME Ⅱ criteria for irritable bowel syndrome

AIM: Psychological factors, altered motility and sensationd isorders of the intestine can be variably associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Such aspects have not been investigated simultaneously. The aim of this paper was to evaluate gastrointestinal motility and symptoms, psychological spectrum and quality of life in a large group of IBS patients in southern Italy. METHODS: One hundred IBS patients (F:M=73:27, age48&#177;2 years, mean&#177;SE) fulfilling ROME Ⅱ criteria matched with 100 healthy subjects (F:M=70:30, 45&#177;2 years). Dyspepsia,bowel habit, alexithymia, psycho-affective profile and quality of life were assessed using specific questionnaires. Basally and postprandially, changes in gallbladder volumes and antral areas after liquid meal and orocaecal transit time (OCTT) were measured respectively by ultrasonography and H2-breath test. Appetite, satiety, fullness, nausea, and epigastric pain/discomfort were monitored using visual-analogue scales. RESULTS: Compared with controls, IBS patients had increased dyspepsia (score 12.6&#177;0.7 vs 5.1&#177;0.2, P&lt;0.0001),weekly bowel movements (12.3&#177;0.4 vs 5.5&#177;0.2, P&lt;0.00001, comparable stool shape), alexithymia (score 59.1&#177;1.1 vs40.5&#177;1.0, P=0.001), poor quality of life and psychoaffective profile. IBS patients had normal gallbladder emptying, but delayed gastric emptying (T50:35.5&#177;1.0 vs 26.1&#177;0.6 min, P=0.00001) and OCTT (163.0&#177;5.4 vs 96.6&#177;1.8min, P=0.00001). Fullness, nausea, and epigastric pain/discomfort were greater in IBS than in controls. CONCLUSION: ROME Ⅱ IBS patients have a pan-enteric dysmotility with frequent dyspepsia, associated with psychological morbidity and greatly impaired quality of life. The presence of alexithymia, a stable trait, is a novel finding of potential interest to detect subgroups of IBS patients with different patterns recoveed after therapy.     

Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Korea: population-based survey using the Rome II criteria

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in the West. But information on the prevalence of IBS in Asia is still lacking, especially in Korea. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of IBS in the general population of Korea and also to investigate characteristics of IBS and health-care-seeking behavior of IBS patients. METHODS: Telephone interview survey was conducted by Gallup, Korea using a validated questionnaire based on the Rome II criteria. The response rate of the telephone interview survey was 25.2% (n = 1066, 535 male and 531 female responders). A random sample of gender and age (between 18 and 60 years), based on a per capita ratio was obtained. RESULTS: Among 1066 subjects, the prevalence of IBS was 6.6% (70 subjects; 7.1%, male; 6.0%, female). The difference in IBS prevalence by gender was not significant. The prevalence was higher among those in their 20s (P = 0.036). Among 70 subjects with IBS, 10/20 IBS subjects sought health care due to abdominal pain. Among the risk factors of IBS, marital status had a significant difference; the following risk factors are arranged in descending order: age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-2.25), alcohol intake (OR: 1.38, 95%CI: 0.81-2.35), gender (OR: 1.19, 95%CI: 0.73-1.94), demographics (OR: 1.09, 95%CI: 0.53-2.25), income (OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.54-1.45), education level (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.46-1.40), smoking (OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.37-1.12), and marital status (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.35-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IBS in the Korean population is 6.6%, and the male:female ratio is similar. Also, IBS is more frequent in younger subjects. Irritable bowel syndrome subjects visited a physician mostly due to abdominal pain.     

Capsule endoscopy interpretation: the role of physician extenders]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: capsule endoscopy (CE) allows for a new era in small-bowel examination. Nevertheless, physicians time for CE-interpretation remains longer than desirable. Alternative strategies to physicians have not been widely investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of physician extenders in CE-interpretation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: one CE-experienced gastroenterologist and two physician extenders reviewed independently 20 CE-procedures. Each reader was blinded to the findings of their colleagues. A consensus formed by the readers and a second CE-experienced gastroenterologist was used as gold standard. Number, type and location of images selected, character of CE-exams and their relationship with indications were recorded. Gastric emptying time (GEt), small-bowel transit time (SBTt) and time spent by readers were also noted. RESULTS: sensitivity and specificity for "overall" lesions was 79 and 99% for the gastroenterologist; 86 and 43% for the nurse; and 80 and 57% for the resident. All 34 "major" lesions considered by consensus were found by the readers. Agreement between consensus and readers for images classification and procedures interpretation was good to excellent (? from 0.55 to 1). No significant differences were found in the GEt and SBTt obtained by consensus and readers. The gastroenterologist was faster than physician extenders (mean time spent was 51.9 +/- 13.5 minutes versus 62.2 +/- 19 and 60.9 +/- 17.1 for nurse and resident, respectively; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: physician extenders could be the perfect complement to gastroenterologists for CE-interpretation but gastroenterologists should supervise their findings. Future cost-efficacy analyses are required to assess the benefits of this alternative.     

Herbal medicine with curcuma and fumitory in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of two herbal remedies used in the treatment of IBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, IBS patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) Curcuma xanthorriza 60 mg daily (curcuma group) (n=24), 2) Fumaria officinalis 1500 mg daily (fumitory group) (n=24) and 3) placebo (n=58). The study treatment was applied three times a day for 18 weeks. The main outcome parameters were changes in global patient ratings of IBS-related pain and distension on a visual analogue scale (0-50 mm) between baseline and at the end of treatment. Additional outcome parameters included global assessments of changes in IBS symptoms and psychosocial stress caused by IBS. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (mean age 48+/-12 years, 63% F) were included in the intention-to-treat group. IBS-related pain decreased by -0.9+/-11.5 (mm+/-SD) in the fumitory group, -0.3+/-9.9 in the placebo group and increased by 2.0+/-9.5 in the curcuma group (p=0.81). IBS-related distension decreased by -1.4+/-12.5 in the curcuma group, -2.1+/-9.2 in the placebo group and increased by 0.3+/-9.3 in the fumitory group (p=0.48). Additionally, the global assessment of changes in IBS symptoms and psychological stress due to IBS did not differ significantly among the three treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither fumitory nor curcuma showed any therapeutic benefit over placebo in patients with IBS. Therefore, the use of these herbs for the treatment of IBS cannot be recommended.