The American journal of gastroenterology
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Early rehospitalizations have been well characterized in many disease states, but not among patients with cirrhosis. The aims of this study were to identify the frequency, costs, predictors, and preventable causes of hospital readmissions among patients with decompensated cirrhosis. ⋯ Hospital readmissions among patients with decompensated cirrhosis are common, costly, moderately predictable, in some cases, possibly preventable, and independently associated with mortality. These findings support the development of disease management interventions to prevent rehospitalization.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Feb 2012
Serum and colonic mucosal immune markers in irritable bowel syndrome.
Low-grade colonic mucosal inflammation has been postulated to have an important role in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The objectives of this study were (i) to identify serum and tissue-based immunological and neuroendocrine markers associated with mucosal inflammation in male (M) and female (F) patients with non-post-infectious IBS (non-PI-IBS) compared with healthy controls and (ii) to assess possible correlations of such markers with IBS symptoms. ⋯ Immune cell counts and levels of cytokines and neuropeptides that are associated with inflammation were not significantly elevated in the colonic mucosa of non-PI-IBS patients, and did not correlate with symptoms. Thus, these findings do not support that colonic mucosal inflammation consistently has a primary role in these patients. However, the finding of decreased IL-10 mRNA expression may be a possible biomarker of IBS and warrants further investigation.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Feb 2012
Obesity, physical inactivity, and colonic diverticular disease requiring hospitalization in women: a prospective cohort study.
Lifestyle factors other than dietary fiber intake and risk for colonic diverticular disease have only been examined in few studies. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and physical inactivity and diverticular disease in a population-based cohort of women. ⋯ Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity among women increase diverticular disease requiring hospitalization.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Oct 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA randomized placebo-controlled phase IIb trial of a3309, a bile acid transporter inhibitor, for chronic idiopathic constipation.
A3309 is a minimally absorbed ileal bile acid (BA) transporter (IBAT) inhibitor. We conducted an 8-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, phase IIb study, which evaluated A3309 in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). ⋯ A3309 increased stool frequency and improved constipation-related symptoms in CIC; effects were maintained over 8 weeks of treatment.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Oct 2011
ReviewSeverity in irritable bowel syndrome: a Rome Foundation Working Team report.
The concept of severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is clinically recognized and operative in diagnostic decision making and treatment planning. Yet, there is no consensus on its definition, and there are limited data on the prevalence of severity subgroups, its medical and psychosocial determinants, and its association with other health status measures. The aims of the Rome Foundation Working Team Committee were to summarize current research, to develop a consensus of understanding on this concept, and to make recommendations for its use in research and clinical care. ⋯ Future work is required to understand more precisely the factors contributing to severity and to develop a valid patient-reported instrument to measure severity in IBS.