Revista médica de Chile
-
Despite significant advances in the recognition of etiological factors and pathological mechanisms, the pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) is still not fully understood. Visceral hypersensitivity has been recognized as a characteristic of patients with FGD, especially in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Visceral afferent input is modulated by a variety of mechanisms, operating between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. ⋯ Although imaging techniques indicate that there are also differences in cortical activation. Furthermore, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may benefit FGD. Recent pharmacological studies suggest that 5-HT3 antagonist such as alosetron and cilansetron, and 5-HT4 agonist such as legaserod and prucalopride may also have a potential use in FGD.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jan 2003
Editorial Comment[The relevance of declaring a conflict of interest in medical journals].
Medical journals are often at risk of difusing research articles, reviews, position articles, editorials or letters whose message has been influenced by a conflict of interest. The readers may then be induced to accept conclusions and recommendations based on biased protocols or an unwarranted interpretation of the results. ⋯ Even when a potential conflict of interest exists, it may not necessarily have influenced the manuscript or its review but in order to defend the transparency of the editorial process, from submission to publication, authors, reviewers and editors should declare any conflict of interest they may have and allow others to decide whether the action has been biased or not. In the present issue of Revista Médica de Chile, an updated text of the Instructions to Authors establishes that all authors should sign a statement of having or not a conflict of interest, clarifying which aspects of the work might have been affected by it.