人体对逆行胃电刺激的内脏敏感性及与胃容受性、胃排空的关系

目的观察逆行胃电刺激(RGES)对内脏感觉、胃容受性和胃排空的影响,并探讨其相互关系。方法健康志愿者12例,胃镜下将双极电极同定在远端胃黏膜,观察不同参数 RGES 引起的症状程度,较小能量刺激对水负荷和固体胃排空功能的影响。结果引起初始感觉的胃电刺激能量为(265.6±134.9)smA~2,最大耐受的刺激能量为(2020.0±865.1)smA~2,对 RGES 的内脏感觉个体差异很大。小于50%引起初始感觉的刺激能量即可显著减少水负荷和延缓同体胃排空,不引起明显症状。引起初始感觉的刺激能量与刺激引起的饮水量减少(r=-0.80,P<0.05)和胃排空时间延长(r=-0.78,P<0.05)呈显著负相关。结论 RGES 可降低胃容受性和延缓胃排空,在对胃电刺激内脏敏感性高的个体这些抑制作用更强。     

正向低频长脉冲对逆向刺激模拟胃异位起搏点诱发胃电过速的治疗作用

目的探讨正向低频长脉冲胃电刺激对逆向高频长脉冲模拟胃异位起搏点诱发胃电过速的治疗作用。方法7条纯种雌性比格犬，依次沿胃大弯前壁浆膜层植入4对心脏起搏电极。通过距离幽门最近的1对电极输入高频长脉冲电信号诱导内源性胃肌电活动发生胃电过速，刺激参数为0．3mA、300ms、9cpm。刺激10min后，通过距离口端最近的1对电极输入不同振幅的低频长脉冲，直至纠正胃电过速，从而获得正向控制胃电过速的最小能量。观察电刺激前、刺激中和刺激后消化不良症状并进行评分。结果正向低频长脉冲能够完全控制逆向高频长脉冲模拟异位起搏点诱发的胃电过速，最小刺激振幅为（5．0±0．93）mA，最小刺激能量为（1500±277．75）（ms×mA）。获得完全控制的正向低频长脉冲与逆向高频长脉冲相比，正常胃慢波百分率升高（95．61％±3．78％ vs42．68％±19．74％，P=0．001），胃电过速百分率降低（3．58％±0．85％ vs40．29％±19．68％，P=0．001），主频降低（6．35±0．66 vs5．60±0．85，P=0．031），主功升高（-9．67±5．08 vs-2．26±1．03，P=0．001）。胃慢波基线期、高频长脉冲（RG-ES）期、完全控制的低频长脉冲（FGES＋RGES）期的消化不良症状评分均为1分，无明显差异。结论正向低频长脉冲能够完全纠正由高频逆向长脉冲模拟人工 异位起搏点引发的胃电过速，并恢复由此降低的胃动力。     

Symptoms associated with hypersensitivity to gastric distention in functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hypersensitivity to gastric distention has been reported in functional dyspepsia, but its characteristics and relevance to symptoms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to define hypersensitivity to gastric distention and its association to specific symptoms in functional dyspepsia. METHODS: We used a gastric barostat to study sensitivity to gastric distention in 80 healthy subjects and in 160 functional dyspepsia patients. Demographic characteristics, gastric emptying, Helicobacter pylori status, gastric accommodation, and a dyspepsia symptom score were obtained from all patients and the relationship with visceral sensitivity was assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The increase of intra-balloon pressure over intra-abdominal pressure needed to induce discomfort or pain is the most appropriate expression of sensitivity to gastric distention because it yields a meaningful lower range of normal and it is independent from age and body mass index. Hypersensitivity to gastric distention was found in 34% of the patients, who did not differ from the other patients in demographic and other pathophysiological characteristics. Hypersensitivity to distention was associated with a higher prevalence of postprandial pain, belching, and weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Hypersensitivity to gastric distention is present in a subset of functional dyspepsia patients. It is associated with symptoms of postprandial epigastric pain, belching, and weight loss.     

Gastric electrical stimulation reduces gastric tone energy dependently

OBJECTIVE: Impaired gastric accommodation is one of the major pathophysiological factors in functional dyspepsia (FD). Gastrointestinal electric stimulation (GES) as a potential therapy for treating patients with motility disorders has been applied in animal models and clinical practice. However, the response of proximal gastric tone to different GES has not been fully understood. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effects of GES with different parameters on gastric tone and to estimate the relationship between gastric volume, stimulation energy, and symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven dogs equipped with a gastric cannula and two pairs of serosal electrodes in the greater curvature were studied with different GES via a pair of electrodes located 10-14 cm above the pylorus. The gastric volume under constant pressure was measured using a barostat device. RESULTS: The results showed that 1) GES increased the gastric volume in a dose-dependent manner with the increase of stimulation frequency or pulse amplitude. 2) The increase in gastric volume with GES was significantly correlated to stimulation energy. 3) Mild symptoms were noted with stimulation and the score of the induced symptoms was linearly and significantly correlated with gastric volume. CONCLUSIONS: GES decreases the proximal gastric tone in an energy-dependent manner. These data suggest that GES could be used to treat patients with impaired gastric accommodation.     

Role of autonomic dysfunction in patients with functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND: The role of autonomic dysfunction in patients with functional dyspepsia is not completely understood. AIMS: 1. to prospectively assess abnormalities of autonomic function in patients with functional dyspepsia, 2. to assess whether autonomic dysfunction in these patients is associated with a. visceral hypersensitivity or b. delayed gastric emptying or c. severity of dyspeptic symptoms. PATIENTS: A series of 28 patients with functional dyspepsia and 14 healthy volunteers without gastrointestinal symptoms were studied. METHODS: All patients and controls were submitted to a battery of five standard cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests, dyspeptic questionnaire, gastric barostat tests and gastric emptying tests. RESULTS: 1. Autonomic function tests showed that both sympathetic and parasympathetic scores of dyspeptic patients were significantly higher than in controls; 2. visceral hypersensitivity was confirmed in dyspeptics in response to proximal gastric distension, demonstrating lower pain threshold; 3. delayed gastric emptying occurred more frequently in patients with functional dyspepsia than in controls; 4. epigastric pain and epigastric burning were significantly more prevalent in patients with definite evidence of autonomic dysfunction; 5. No significant association was found between presence of autonomic dysfunction and presence of visceral hypersensitivity or presence of delayed gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that a possible role of autonomic dysfunction in eliciting dyspeptic symptoms could not be determined from alterations in visceral hypersensitivity or delayed gastric emptying. Autonomic dysfunction might not be the major explanation for symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia.     

Gastric electrical stimulation using endoscopically placed mucosal electrodes reduces food intake in humans

BACKGROUND: Implantable gastric stimulation (IGS) has been proposed for treating obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temporary mucosal electrical stimulation on water and food intake as well as gastric emptying in healthy humans. METHODS: The study was designed to study the effects of temporary gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on symptoms, gastric accommodation, food intake, and gastric emptying. It was performed in 12 healthy volunteers on 3 consecutive days. GES was performed using mucosal electrodes endoscopically placed in the fundus. RESULTS: The amount of maximum water intake was reduced with GES (894 +/- 326 mL) compared with sham-GES (1,093 +/- 417 mL, p = 0.01). The food intake was also reduced with GES (p = 0.012). In comparison with sham stimulation, GES delayed gastric emptying during the first 45 min after the meal but not during the remaining time. GES with parameters effective in reducing water and food intake and delaying gastric emptying did not induce significant dyspeptic symptoms, compared with sham stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: GES using temporary mucosal electrodes decreases food intake as well as maximum intake of water, and has a tendency of delaying gastric emptying. It may have a potential application for the treatment of obesity.     

Role of cholecystokinin and central serotonergic receptors in functional dyspepsia

Symptoms of functional dyspepsia are characterized by upper abdominal discomfort or pain, early satiety, postprandial fullness, bloating, nausea and vomiting. It is a chronic disorder, with symptoms more than 3 mo per year, and no evidence of organic diseases. Dysfunctional motility, altered visceral sensation, and psychosocial factors have all been identified as major pathophysiological mechanisms. It is believed that these pathophysiological mechanisms interact to produce the observed symptoms. Dyspepsia has been categorized into three subgroups based on dominant symptoms. Dysmotility-like dyspepsia describes a subgroup of patients whose symptom complex is usually related to a gastric sensorimotor dysfunction. The brain-gut peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) and serotonin (5-HT) share certain physiological effects. Both have been shown to decrease gastric emptying and affect satiety. Furthermore the CCK induced anorexia depended on serotonergic functions probably acting via central pathways. We believe that abnormalities of central serotonergic receptors functioning together with a hyper responsiveness to CCK or their interactions may be responsible for the genesis of symptoms in functional dyspepsia (FD).     

Gastric Electrical Stimulation With Parameters for Gastroparesis Enhances Gastric Accommodation and Alleviates Distention-Induced Symptoms in Dogs

Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) improves symptoms in patients with gastroparesis. We sought to determine if stimulation at fundus with parameters used for gastroparesis could affect gastric accommodation and distention-induced symptoms in dogs. Nine dogs were implanted with a gastric cannula at the anterior stomach and 1 pair of stimulation electrodes in the fundus. Assessment of gastric accommodation and a series of gastric distention were performed using a barostat. Stimulation parameters were of short pulse trains of 14 Hz, 5 mA, 0.3 ms, and 0.1 s on, 5 s off. GES at fundus significantly decreased fasting gastric tone. Fasting gastric volume was significantly increased from 56.3+/-10.4 mL at baseline to 102.4+/-23.1 mL with stimulation (P=.011). Postprandial gastric accommodation was significantly enhanced with stimulation. The extent of accommodation increased from 249.3+/-39.9 mL in the control session to 325.8+/-25.1 mL with stimulation (P=.011). Symptom scores induced by balloon distention of the stomach were significantly lower during stimulation in comparison with those of baseline (P=.016). In conclusion, GES with parameters for gastroparesis enhances postprandial gastric accommodation and reduces visceral perception in normal dogs. This effect, if seen also in humans, may explain in part the symptomatic improvement associated with GES therapy in patients with gastroparesis.     

Regional cerebral blood flow during gastric balloon distention in functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hypersensitivity to proximal gastric distention as a result of abnormal central nervous system processing of visceral stimuli is a possible pathophysiologic mechanism in functional dyspepsia (FD). Increasing evidence suggests involvement of both lateral and medial pain systems in normal visceral sensitivity and aberrant brain activation patterns in visceral hypersensitivity. We hypothesized that there is involvement of aberrant brain activation in FD with hypersensitivity to gastric distention. Our aim was to investigate regional cerebral blood flow during painful proximal gastric distention in hypersensitive FD. METHODS: Brain (15)O-water positron emission tomography was performed in 13 FD patients with symptoms of gastric hypersensitivity during 3 conditions: no distention, sham distention, and isobaric distention to unpleasant or painful sensation. Pain, discomfort, nausea, and bloating during maximal distention were rated on visual analogue scales. Data were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: The threshold for painful distention was 6.6 +/- 3.8 mm Hg greater than the minimal distending pressure. At the corrected P level of less than .05, subtraction analysis (painful distention - no distention) showed activations in bilateral gyrus precentralis, bilateral gyrus frontalis inferior, bilateral gyrus frontalis medialis, bilateral gyrus temporalis superior, bilateral cerebellar hemisphere, and left gyrus temporalis inferior. Sham distention minus no distention showed no activations. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to healthy volunteers, proximal stomach distention in FD activates components of the lateral pain system and bilateral frontal inferior gyri, putatively involved in regulation of hunger and satiety. In hypersensitive FD, these activations occur at significantly lower distention pressures. In contrast to findings in normosensitivity, none of the components of the medial pain system were significantly activated.     

Electrical therapies for gastrointestinal motility disorders

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are common in clinical settings, including esophageal motility disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, post-operative ileus, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and constipation. While a number of drugs have been developed for treating GI motility disorders, few are currently available. Emerging electrical stimulation methods may provide new treatment options for these GI motility disorders.

Areas covered: This review gives an overview of electrical therapies that have been, and are being developed for GI motility disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux, functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, intestinal motility disorders and constipation. Various methods of gastrointestinal electrical stimulation are introduced. A few methods of nerve stimulation have also been described, including spinal cord stimulation and sacral nerve stimulation. Potentials of electrical therapies for obesity are also discussed. PubMed was searched using keywords and their combinations: electrical stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, sacral nerve stimulation, gastrointestinal motility and functional gastrointestinal diseases.

Expert commentary: Electrical stimulation is an area of great interest and has potential for treating GI motility disorders. However, further development in technologies (devices suitable for GI stimulation) and extensive clinical research are needed to advance the field and bring electrical therapies to bedside.     

短波胃电刺激对大鼠孤束核及下丘脑c-fos表达的影响及其机制

目的 探讨肠肌间神经丛及中枢神经系统相关核团(孤束核及下丘脑)是否参与介导外源性短波胃电刺激调控中枢感觉功能.方法 雄性Wistar大鼠15只,分为对照组、胃电刺激组、去肠肌间神经丛组,均于胃底、胃体交界处植入一对电极,去肠肌间神经丛组大鼠同时胃浆膜面予苯扎氯胺处理,后两组均予短波胃电刺激,持续30 min.SP免疫组化法观察延髓孤柬核及下丘脑c-fos表达.结果 胃电刺激组和去肠肌间神经丛组大鼠每高倍视野下孤束核处c-fos阳性神经元数量分别为(71.6±7.4)和(63.4±10.8)个,下丘脑处则分别为(224.2±47.3)和(249.1±44.0)个,两组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),但均显著高于对照组[(36.4±8.6)和(90.2±47.3)个,P值均＜0.05].结论 孤束核及下丘脑可能是介导短波胃电刺激治疗作用的中枢核团,而肠神经系统不参与介导此作用.     

Nutrient-specific modulation of gastric mechanosensitivity in patients with functional dyspepsia

Intraduodenal lipid infusion induces symptoms and increases sensitivity to gastric distension in patients with functional dyspepsia. To test whether these effects are specific for lipid, we compared the effects of intraduodenal infusions of either lipid or glucose on symptoms and gastric sensory and motor responses to gastric distension. Eighteen dyspeptic patients and nine controls were studied. The stomach was distended with a flaccid bag during isocaloric infusions (1 kcal/ml) of saline and either 10% Intralipid (nine patients) or 26.7% glucose (nine patients) into the duodenum. Dyspeptic symptoms and sensory thresholds for epigastric fullness and discomfort were assessed. Gastric pressure profiles during distensions were similar during lipid and glucose infusions in patients and controls, but both were significantly lower than during saline infusion. Lower volumes were required to induce fullness and discomfort in the patients compared with the controls. In the controls, the threshold volumes required to induce fullness and discomfort were greater during infusion of lipid and glucose than during saline infusion, but in the patients, the threshold volumes were increased during glucose infusion but further reduced during lipid infusion. Moreover, in the patients, nausea was more common during lipid than glucose infusion and did not occur during saline. The controls did not experience any symptoms during any infusion. In conclusion, intraduodenal lipid but not glucose sensitizes the stomach to distension in patients with functional dyspepsia but not in controls.     

Gastric perception thresholds are low and sensory neuropeptide levels high in helicobacter pylori-positive functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In functional dyspepsia (FD) decreased perception levels can be shown on gastric distension. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are involved in the sensitization of afferent neuronal pathways due to chronic inflammation. The role of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal inflammation in the pathogenesis of FD is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess whether FD patients have altered mucosal concentrations of CGRP and SP, and to investigate whether this is associated with visceral hypersensitivity or H. pylori infection. METHODS: Gastrointestinal symptoms, H. pylori status, perception thresholds at gastric balloon distension, and gastric mucosal concentrations of CGRP and SP were determined in 13 FD patients and 18 healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: In H. pylori-positive FD patients discomfort and pain thresholds on gastric distension were lower compared to other groups. Antral mucosal levels of CGRP and SP were higher in H. pylori-positive subjects. In FD significantly negative correlations between discomfort and pain thresholds and antral mucosal concentrations of CGRP and SP were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In FD low perception thresholds on gastric distension are associated with high levels of CGRP and SP in the antrum, suggesting that sensory neuropeptides are involved in FD pathophysiology.     

Perception of changes in wall tension of the proximal stomach in humans

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity to distension of the stomach is a frequent finding in functional dyspepsia. During gastric distension studies both wall tension and elongation are increased. AIM: We wished to distinguish changes in wall tension from changes in elongation in the genesis of perception of mechanical stimuli originating from the proximal stomach in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty six volunteers were studied using gastric barostat and antroduodenal manometry. In 14 subjects, stepwise isobaric and isovolumetric distensions were performed before and during erythromycin infusion. In all volunteers, on a separate occasion, phasic contractions of the proximal stomach were detected as intraballoon pressure increases during fixed volume inflation. These contractions were matched with perception changes during two 10 minute periods, before and during administration of erythromycin. RESULTS: Erythromycin significantly lowered the perception and discomfort thresholds during stepwise gastric distension. During fixed volume inflation, erythromycin increased the number and amplitude of fundic contractions and enhanced their perception from 51.1 (7.4)% to 64.0 (4.7)%. The proportion of perception score increases coinciding with fundic contractions increased from 47.3 (0.7)% to 81.5 (0.5)%. The amplitude of correctly identified isolated fundic pressure waves was higher compared with non-identified waves. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that changes in gastric wall tension may be involved in the genesis of symptoms originating from the stomach.     

Symptoms, gastric function, and psychosocial factors in functional dyspepsia

INTRODUCTION: The classification of functional dyspepsia into meaningful subgroups remains an important goal. The aim of this investigation was to determine correlations between dyspeptic symptoms with gastric physiology and psychologic distress. METHODS: Consecutive patients with functional dyspepsia were evaluated with electrogastrography (EGG), drink test, and solid phase gastric emptying. Subjects also completed the Nepean Dyspepsia Index, Psychologic General Well-Being Index, SCL-90R, and SF-36. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were evaluated. Gastric emptying was performed in 29 of 81 patients and was abnormal in 21%, but no correlation existed between symptoms and T1/2 or TLAG. EGG was abnormal in 42% and drink test was abnormal in 40% of patients. Both were significantly associated with nausea but not with other symptoms. Significant correlations existed with 10 of 15 assessed symptoms and various subscales of the SCL-90R. Somatization was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal pressure, abdominal discomfort, bad breath, chest burning, excessive fullness, bloating, abdominal pain, and regurgitation. Anxiety was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal pressure, and abdominal discomfort. Anger-hostility was associated with abdominal burning and abdominal pressure. Increased interpersonal sensitivity was associated with abdominal burning and chest burning. SCL-90R Global Symptom Score was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal discomfort, and bad breath. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal gastric physiology as measured in this study was not associated with symptoms other than nausea. Significant associations existed between measures of psychiatric distress and digestive symptoms. Symptoms in functional dyspepsia had greater associations with psychologic distress than with commonly employed tests of gastric physiology.     

Diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders of the stomach

Gastric neuromuscular disorders encompass a spectrum of dysfunction in nerve and smooth muscle that includes gastric visceral hypersensitivity, gastric dysrhythmias, fundic dysfunction, antral hypomotility, and gastroparesis. Patients with each disorder may present with such vague dyspepsia symptoms as early satiety, upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, or nausea with or without vomiting. A careful history and physical examination may suggest a gastric neuromuscular disorder, but symptoms are nonspecific. Gastroparesis is the most severe form of neuromuscular dysfunction. Such reversible causes of gastroparesis as mechanical obstruction of the stomach and chronic mesenteric ischemia must be excluded. Gastroparesis, gastric dysrhythmias, and hypersensitivity may follow viral infection or be due to degenerative processes that affect the gastric enteric neurons, smooth muscle, or interstitial cells of Cajal. Commonly, the cause of these gastric neuromuscular disorders is unknown. An approach to the diagnosis and treatment of gastric neuromuscular disorders is reviewed, including dietary counseling, drugs, and medical devices.     

Lansoprazole in the treatment of functional dyspepsia: two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials

PURPOSE: The efficacy of proton pump inhibitor therapy for symptom resolution in patients with functional dyspepsia remains controversial. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of lansoprazole with placebo in relieving upper abdominal discomfort in patients with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: We enrolled 921 patients with functional dyspepsia (defined as persistent or recurrent upper abdominal discomfort during the prior 3 months) and moderate upper abdominal discomfort on at least 30% of screening days; none of the patients had predominant symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux or endoscopic evidence of erosive or ulcerative esophagitis, or gastric or duodenal ulcer or erosion. Patients were assigned randomly to receive lansoprazole 15 mg (n = 305), lansoprazole 30 mg (n = 308), or placebo (n = 308) daily for 8 weeks. Patients recorded the frequency and severity of symptoms in daily diaries. RESULTS: At week 8, significantly (P <0.001) greater mean reductions in the percentage of days with upper abdominal discomfort were reported in patients treated with lansoprazole 15 mg (35%) or 30 mg (34%) compared with those treated with placebo (19%). Similarly, more patients treated with lansoprazole 15 mg (44%) or 30 mg (44%) reported complete symptom resolution (defined as no episodes of upper abdominal discomfort in the 3 days before the study visit) at 8 weeks than did placebo-treated patients (29%, P <0.001). Improvement of upper abdominal discomfort, however, was seen only in patients who had at least some symptoms of heartburn at enrollment. CONCLUSION: Lansoprazole, at a daily dose of 15 mg or 30 mg, is significantly better than placebo in reducing symptoms of persistent or recurrent upper abdominal discomfort accompanied by at least some symptoms of heartburn.     

Relations between upper abdominal symptoms and gastric distension abnormalities in dysmotility like functional dyspepsia and after vagotomy.

Postprandial bloating and fullness are commonly found both in dysmotility like functional dyspepsia, and after vagotomy but the relation between gastric accommodation and symptom production has not been investigated. Intragastric pressure levels and symptoms developed during controlled distension of the gastric fundus were recorded in nine patients with functional dyspepsia, in seven patients after truncal vagotomy, and in 11 healthy volunteers. The procedure was repeated after ingestion of a liquid nutrient meal (250 ml; 250 kcal). Gastric tone, expressed as the average value of pressure over the distension period was lower in controls (median: 11.3 mm Hg) than in either the dyspeptic patients (median: 16.48 mm Hg) or postvagotomy patients (median: 19.12 mm Hg) (p < 0.05). Meal ingestion reduced gastric tone in controls, but no significant change occurred in either the dyspepsia or the postvagotomy patients. Volumes at which discomfort was elicited by distension during fasting were lower both in dyspeptic patients (median: 210 ml) and in postvagotomy patients (median: 180 ml) than in healthy volunteers (median: 660 ml) (p < 0.05). Discomfort thresholds were unaffected by meal ingestion. These results suggest that a disturbance of gastric relaxation may be related to symptom development in dysmotility like functional dyspepsia, while similarities between dyspeptic patients and postvagotomy patients suggest that the impaired gastric accommodation in functional dyspepsia may be due to an underlying vagal defect.     

Reverse gastric pacing reduces food intake without inducing symptoms in dogs

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic potential of reverse gastric pacing (RGP) for obesity by studying the effects of RGP on food intake and symptoms in dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed in 9 dogs in 3 sessions (control, strong RGP and moderate RGP). Gastric myoelectrical activity and food intake were measured in each session. RGP was performed using serosal electrodes implanted in the distal stomach at the physiological frequency of the intrinsic gastric myoelectrical activity with a pulse width of 550-950 ms. The amplitude of the stimulus was set at a level maximally tolerable by the animals in the strong RGP session and 50% of the maximum level in the moderate session. RESULTS: 1) Compared with the control, strong RGP (p<0.001) and moderate RGP (p<0.01) significantly reduced the amount of food intake by 62.9% and 31.7%, respectively (p<0.05, ANOVA). 2) Whereas strong RGP induced significant symptoms, moderate RGP did not induce any significant symptoms in comparison with the control session. 3) The regularity and coupling of gastric myoelectrical activity were significantly impaired with both strong RGP and moderate RGP in the fasting state. CONCLUSIONS: RGP impairs intrinsic gastric myoelectrical activity and substantially and acutely reduces food intake. The reduced food intake and freedom from symptoms resulting from moderate RGP are indicative of the therapeutic potential of RGP in obesity.     

La medicina integrativa en el manejo de la dispepsia funcional. Papel del preparado herbal STW 5

Functional dyspepsia is defined as a group of symptoms, whether related or unrelated to intake, localized in the upper abdomen, that manifest in the form of discomfort or epigastric pain, postprandial fullness and early satiety, in the absence of any demonstrable organic or structural anomaly. The etiopathogenesis and physiopathology of the process are unknown but factors that may be involved include gastric motility disorders, visceral hypersensitivity, psychological and genetic factors, Helicobacter pylori infection, and gastric acid hypersecretion. There is still no etiological treatment and consequently treatment is empirical and based on symptoms. This article reviews the main therapeutic options currently available, with special emphasis on the use of certain phytoceuticals (STW 5), in an attempt to integrate with traditional scientific medicine. This article also proposes an integrative therapeutic algorithm.