Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Jan 2006
Multicenter StudyComparative evaluation of a new bedside faecal occult blood test in a prospective multicentre study.
Faecal occult blood testing is an established method of colorectal neoplasia screening. Guaiac-based tests are limited by poor patient compliance, low sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value. Newer immunochemical-based tests, accurate but tedious, require a well-established laboratory set up. There is need for simpler immunochemical tests that can be performed at the out-patient clinic. ⋯ This bedside immunochemical strip test proved to be a simple, convenient, non-cumbersome and accurate tool with similar performance characteristics for detection of any bleeding lesion including colorectal neoplasia when compared with an established immunochemical faecal occult blood test.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Jan 2006
Multicenter StudyPerforated peptic ulcer: use of pre-admission oral glucocorticoids and 30-day mortality.
Despite evidence that use of glucocorticoids increases the risk of complicated peptic ulcer disease, limited data exist on how use of oral glucocorticoids affects outcome for patients with peptic ulcer perforation. ⋯ Pre-admission use of oral glucocorticoids is associated with up to a twofold increase in 30-day mortality among patients hospitalized with perforated peptic ulcer.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Nov 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialGabapentin reduces rectal mechanosensitivity and increases rectal compliance in patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
Gabapentin has been shown to reduce elements of central sensitization in human experimental hyperalgesia. It remains uninvestigated whether gabapentin has beneficial effects for irritable bowel syndrome associated with visceral hypersensitivity. ⋯ Our results show that gabapentin reduces rectal sensory thresholds through attenuating rectal sensitivity to distension and enhancing rectal compliance in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients. The clinical efficacy of this drug in irritable bowel syndrome patients warrants investigation.
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Obesity has been linked to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms and oesophageal adenocarcinoma; however, there is no published evidence for an association with Barrett's oesophagus. ⋯ This retrospective cross-sectional study in male veterans shows that overweight is associated with a two-and-half-fold increased risk of Barrett's oesophagus. Larger studies of the underlying mechanism are warranted to better understand how and why obese patients are at greater risk for Barrett's oesophagus.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Nov 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialInfluence of ghrelin on gastric emptying and meal-related symptoms in idiopathic gastroparesis.
Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, is released from the stomach. Animal studies suggest that ghrelin stimulates gastrointestinal motor activity. ⋯ In idiopathic gastroparesis, administration of ghrelin enhances gastric emptying and improves meal-related symptoms. These observations suggest a potential for ghrelin receptor agonists in the treatment of gastroparesis.