The differences in faecal bacterial population between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and control subjects have been reported in several studies. The aim of the present study was to compare the predominant and clostridial faecal microbiota of IBS subjects and healthy controls by applying denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and a recently developed multiplexed and quantitative hybridi...

Nonrotation is a part of the spectrum of anatomic anomalies comprising malrotation. Most cases of nonrotation are symptomatic and managed surgically with a Ladd's procedure. However, incidental discovery of asymptomatic patients has also been reported. In these cases, the role of surgery is debated. The authors describe a case of nonrotation in a young woman with constipation-predominant irrita...

BACKGROUND The main mechanism underlying irritable bowel syndrome is currently believed to be a dysfunction of the brain-gut axis. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction can contribute to development of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms by disturbing visceral sensations. MATERIAL/METHODS Thirty patients with a diagnosis of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and 30 healthy volunte...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Tegaserod is approved for the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS) in females. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tegaserod on colonic transit time (CTT) and symptoms in male patients with C-IBS. METHODS Forty-four males with C-IBS (Rome II) were enrolled. After a baseline washout period of 2 weeks, 40 patients were random...

BACKGROUND Several studies have examined the effect of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on health outcomes in Western Europe, but less research has focused on the constipation subtype (IBS-C). The current study addresses this gap by comparing patients with IBS-C and matched controls for health status, work productivity, and resource utilization. METHODS Data were obtained from the 2010 5EU Nati...

BACKGROUND Patients who complain of constipation can be divided into those who have lost the natural call to stool, but develop abdominal discomfort after several days without a bowel movement (no urge); and those who experience a constant sensation of incomplete evacuation (urge). AIMS To determine whether the two groups differ in symptoms, colonic transit, and perceptual responses to contro...

Irritable bowel syndrome is defined as abdominal discomfort or pain associated with altered bowel habits for at least three days per month in the previous three months, with the absence of organic disease. In North America, the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome is 5 to 10 percent with peak prevalence from 20 to 39 years of age. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom and often is describ...

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) as the predominant bowel symptom is a prevalent disorder, characterized by recurring abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, and constipation, and imposes a significant socio-economic burden. Traditional treatments generally address just one of the multiple IBS symptoms. The efficacy and safety profile of tegaserod, a serotonin 5-HT(4) receptor ag...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system characterized by abdominal pain related to bowel emptying, defecation impairment and abdominal distention. The aim of the study was to objectify lower gastrointestinal system disturbances in IBS patients. Thirty IBS patients and 30 healthy subjects were included in the study. IBS patients were divided into tw...

AIM To investigate the effectiveness and safety of a symbiotic mixture in preventing recurrence of constipation-related abdominal pain in patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon. METHODS Forty-six consecutive patients (10 men, 36 women, mean age 62.5 years, range 49 to 77 years), previously affected by symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon, were enr...