BACKGROUND The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing worldwide, with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration the current mainstay therapy for affected individuals. However, PPI efficacy is insufficient especially for non-erosive reflux disease. Although it has been reported that prokinetic drugs improve GERD, their effects on esophageal function remain to b...

INTRODUCTION Abdominal pain, bloating, and defecation disturbances are common complaints in gastrointestinal functional disorders. This study explores whether bowel symptoms are correlated to colon transit time (CTT), faecal loading (coprostasis), and colon length; and whether prokinetic intervention can reduce CTT, faecal retention, and symptoms. METHODS This observational and interventional...

OBJECTIVES Initiation of postpyloric feeding is often delayed by difficulties in placement of enteral tubes. We evaluated the effectiveness of bedside postpyloric enteral tube (PET) placement using an electromagnetic (EM)-guided device. We hypothesized that: 1) EM-guided placement of PETs would be successful more often than standard blind placement with a shorter total time to successful placem...

In five fasting, conscious dogs, we compared the prokinetic action of two selective 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 (5-HT4) receptor agonists with low affinity for 5-HT3 receptors ML10302 (2-piperidinoethyl 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate) and SR59768 (2-[(3S)-3-hydroxypiperidino]ethyl 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate) in the duodenum and jejunum, using cisapride as a reference compound. Heart rate ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS GC7101, an extract of Lonicera Flos, is a novel developing drug for reflux esophagitis and functional dyspepsia. However, the drug's exact pharmacological mechanism of action remains unclear. This study assessed the effects of GC7101 on gastro-intestinal (GI) motor function. METHODS We used male guinea pigs to evaluate the effects of GC7101 on GI motility. The contraction of a...

Attention is increasingly being focussed on probiotics as potential agents to restore or improve gastrointestinal (GI) transit. Determining mechanism of action would support robust health claims. The probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 reduces transit time, but its mechanisms of action and effects on motility patterns are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate ...