Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society
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Neurogastroenterol. Motil. · Jun 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of baclofen on nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux and measures of sleep quality: a randomized, cross-over trial.
Baclofen, a GABA(b) agonist, has been shown to reduce episodes of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). To determine if baclofen would significantly reduce reflux during sleep, and also improve objective and subjective measures of sleep. ⋯ In addition to reducing the number of reflux events during sleep, baclofen significantly improved several measures of sleep in patients with documented GER and sleep disturbances. Baclofen could therefore be considered as a useful adjunct therapy to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with nighttime heartburn and sleep disturbance who continue to have heartburn and/or sleep complaints despite PPI therapy.
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Neurogastroenterol. Motil. · Jun 2012
Colonic inflammation up-regulates voltage-gated sodium channels in bladder sensory neurons via activation of peripheral transient potential vanilloid 1 receptors.
Primary sensory neurons express several types of ion channels including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and voltage-gated Na(+) channels. Our previous studies showed an increased excitability of bladder primary sensory and spinal neurons triggered by inflammation in the distal colon as a result of pelvic organ cross-sensitization. The goal of this work was to determine the effects of TRPV1 receptor activation by potent agonists and/or colonic inflammation on voltage-gated Na(+) channels expressed in bladder sensory neurons. ⋯ These results provide evidence that colonic inflammation activates TRPV1 receptors at the peripheral sensory terminals leading to an up-regulation of voltage gated Na(+) channels on the cell soma of bladder sensory neurons. This mechanism may underlie the occurrence of peripheral cross-sensitization in the pelvis and functional chronic pelvic pain.