BACKGROUND/AIMS Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract occurs in about 76% of patients who are diabetic for more than 10 years. Although diabetes-related dysfunctions of the stomach such as gastroparesis have been extensively studied over the recent years, studies about the mechanism underlying colonic symptoms in long-term diabetes models are rare. Therefore, the goal of our study was to cl...

BACKGROUND Gastroparesis is a significant co-morbidity affecting up to 50% of patients with diabetes and is disproportionately found in women. Prior studies have suggested that loss of interstitial cells of Cajal, hyperglycemia, and nitric oxide dysfunction are potential causes of gastroparesis. Since diabetic gastroparesis affects more women than men, we performed an exploratory study with a d...

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in humans and associated with pathogenesis gastric motility disorders such as delayed emptying (DGE). Although HP considered to delay emptying, there has been little research on underlying mechanism. Gastric involves interactions among gastrointestinal hormones, smooth muscle, enteric extrinsic autonomi...

Generalized gut transit abnormalities are observed in some diabetics with gastroparesis. Relations of gastric emptying abnormalities to colon contractile dysfunction are poorly characterized. We measured colon transit and contractility using wireless motility capsules (WMC) in 41 healthy subjects, 12 diabetics with gastroparesis (defined by gastric retention >5 hours), and 8 diabetics with norm...

The importance of insulin and glucagon as fine regulators of glycemic excursions is well established (1). Alterations in gastric emptying are generally not considered important contributors to postprandial hyperglycemia until late complications of diabetes such as gastroparesis have occurred (2,3). It is now emerging that the rate of gastric emptying may be a major determinant of postprandial g...

Undisturbed gastrointestinal motility or peristalsis is critical for effective digestion and absorption of our food and its ingredients. Peristaltic waves in the gut are propelled by the circular and longitudinal layers of smooth muscle cells in the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract. The initiation and regulation of peristalsis is a complex process which, secondary to smooth musc...

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are pacemakers that generate electric waves recorded from the gut and are important for intestinal motility. The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal in colon specimens from patients with idiopathic chronic pseudo-obstruction and other non-tumoral colon disorders as compared with samples from normal colon. The distrib...

like nausea, vomiting, postprandial fullness, abdominal bloating, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea. It is well known that these symptoms are not always brought about by structural diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They can, for example, be caused by alterations of gastrointestinal motility and/or sensation. These disorders affect an important percentage of the po...

BACKGROUND Colonic diverticular disease (diverticulosis) is a common disorder in Western countries. Although its pathogenesis is probably multifactorial, motor abnormalities of the large bowel are thought to play an important role. However, little is known about the basic mechanism that may underlie abnormal colon motility in diverticulosis. AIMS To investigate the interstitial cells of Cajal...