Risk Of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Research Articles

Usefulness of semi-solid medical foods administered after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Background: Even if preoperative enteral nutrition is administered without any issues, some patients suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., vomiting and diarrhea) after initiating gastrostomy feeding. Because of the amino acid composition and limited amount of lipids, elemental diets may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. However, elemental diets are expensive. Semi-solid medical foods are inexpensive and more closely mimic normal physiology than elemental diets. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of semi-solid medical foods when administered after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).Method: This retrospective study analyzed 91 patients who had PEG performed by the author who was the attending physician. All patients received preoperative enteral nutrition with liquid nutrients, and there were no instances of gastrointestinal symptoms before PEG tube placement. The types of nutrients administered after PEG were divided into three categories: semi-solid medical foods (n = 20), polymeric formulas (n = 26), and elemental diets (n = 45). The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms was compared among the three groups.Results: No gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in the semi-solid medical foods group; the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the semi-solid medical foods group was significantly lower than that of the polymeric formulas group [0% vs. 26.9% (7/26), p 0.05] and was similar to that of the elemental diets group [0% vs. 2.2% (1/45), p = 1].Conclusion: If preoperative enteral nutrition is administered without any issues, semi-solid medical foods are useful as nutrients administered after PEG tube placement.

An Overview of DRF in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is an oral disease-modifying agent indicated for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which is taken twice a day. In EVOLVE-MS-1, Phase 3, a two-year safety study evaluating DRF in patients with RRMS, it is shown that the occurrence of flushing and gastrointestinal treatment-emergent adverse events is comparatively low. This results in a low rate of discontinuation due to treatment-emergent adverse events as compared to dimethyl fumarate (DMF). Monomethyl fumarate (MMF) is a common active metabolite of DMF and DRF. This active metabolite is responsible for the mechanism of actions of the drugs since it crossed the blood-brain barrier. Methanol is the primary metabolite of DMF metabolism but a minor metabolite of DRF metabolism, which results in a lower risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. Both DMF and DRF show similar Tmax and Cmax, which indicate similarity in the efficacy of both the drugs. Therefore, DRF has a similar safety and efficacy profile but better tolerability of treatment-emergent adverse events when compared to DMF. This article provides an updated overview of the pharmacological, therapeutic efficacy, and tolerability of DRF.

Retrospective analysis of long-term gastrointestinal symptoms after Clostridium difficile infection in a nonelderly cohort

Elderly patients and those with comorbid conditions are at high risk for poor outcomes after Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) but outcomes in a healthier, nonelderly population are not well described. We sought to investigate gastrointestinal diagnoses and CDI during hospitalizations in the 24 to 36 months after an initial episode of CDI in nonelderly patients in a cohort with an overall low prevalence of comorbid conditions. We performed a retrospective analysis of hospital admissions from 2010–2013 using the Truven MarketScan database of employment-based private insurance claims. Subjects <65 years of age and their adult dependents (> = 18 years old); a CDI diagnosis in 2011 (index date); at least 12 months of pre-index continuous enrollment; and 24–36 months of continuous post-index enrollment were included. The 12 months of each subject’s enrollment prior to the index date for a CDI served as the reference period for the analyses of that subject’s post-CDI time periods. Hospital claims during the follow-up period were evaluated for gastrointestinal diagnoses and/or CDI ICD-9 codes. The risk of gastrointestinal diagnoses was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for a pre-specified set of baseline demographic and clinical factors. During 2011, 5,632 subjects with CDI met the inclusion criteria for our study. The risk of gastrointestinal diagnoses in patients with a CDI diagnostic code for the same admission was almost 8-fold higher 3 months post-CDI (hazard ratio (HR) = 7.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.97–19.19) than for subjects without CDI and remained statistically significant until month 24 (HR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.04–2.08). After CDI, patients remained at risk for gastrointestinal symptoms with CDI for up to two years. There is an important, long-term healthcare burden after CDI in this population.

Dietary Considerations in Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Potential Role of Protein Digestion and Microbial Putrefaction in the Gut-Brain Axis.

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), characterized by a range of behavioral abnormalities and social deficits, display high incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) co-morbidities including chronic constipation and diarrhea. Research is now increasingly able to characterize the “fragile gut” in these children and understand the role that impairment of specific GI functions plays in the GI symptoms associated with ASD. This mechanistic understanding is extending to the interactions between diet and ASD, including food structure and protein digestive capacity in exacerbating autistic symptoms. Children with ASD and gut co-morbidities exhibit low digestive enzyme activity, impaired gut barrier integrity and the presence of antibodies specific for dietary proteins in the peripheral circulation. These findings support the hypothesis that entry of dietary peptides from the gut lumen into the vasculature are associated with an aberrant immune response. Furthermore, a subset of children with ASD exhibit high concentrations of metabolites originating from microbial activity on proteinaceous substrates. Taken together, the combination of specific protein intakes poor digestion, gut barrier integrity, microbiota composition and function all on a background of ASD represents a phenotypic pattern. A potential consequence of this pattern of conditions is that the fragile gut of some children with ASD is at risk for GI symptoms that may be amenable to improvement with specific dietary changes. There is growing evidence that shows an association between gut dysfunction and dysbiosis and ASD symptoms. It is therefore urgent to perform more experimental and clinical research on the “fragile gut” in children with ASD in order to move toward advancements in clinical practice. Identifying those factors that are of clinical value will provide an evidence-based path to individual management and targeted solutions; from real time sensing to the design of diets with personalized protein source/processing, all to improve GI function in children with ASD.

Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects due to Use of Non-Steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Non-Traumatic Painful Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background: The present study aims at investigation of the gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with use of NSAIDs in patients of Non-Traumatic musculoskeletal painful disorders. Our study is unique in terms that it aims at investigations and evaluations of the gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with use of NSAIDs in patients of non-traumatic musculoskeletal painful disorders, where most of the concurrent and concomitant risk factors like hepatobiliary system, renal system are mostly excluded, along with a dedicated follow up of large population included in our study. Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Diclofenac sodium, Ibuprofen and others are effective for non-traumatic musculoskeletal painful disorders ranging from acute to chronic conditions. NSAIDs are probably most commonly used medications by medical fraternity worldwide for relief from acute, recurring or chronic pain conditions and are easily available in India in many forms as over-the-counter analgesic. Prolonged unsupervised use of these medications leads to disturbance in achieving pain relief and risk of gastrointestinal symptoms ranging from dyspepsia to acute and chronic gastrointestinal ulcer. The most frequent ADRs due to NSAIDs use was gastrointestinal effects leading to discontinuation of treatment. The other ADRs for which NSAIDs are blamed widely are alteration of renal or cardiac parameters in a small subset of patients. Renal and cardiac side effects are well documented and evaluated by clinicians prior to administration of NSAIDs, but the gastrointestinal adverse reactions are overlooked by medical fraternity while

The prevention of eczema in infants and children: an overview of Cochrane and non‐Cochrane reviews

BACKGROUND: Eczema is the most common inflammatory skin disease of childhood, characterized by an itchy red rash that usually involves the face and skin folds. There is currently no curative treatment for eczema, so the reduction of eczema incidence through disease prevention is a desirable goal. Potential interventions for preventing eczema include exclusive breastfeeding, hydrolysed protein formulas and soy formulas when bottle feeding, maternal antigen avoidance, omega oil supplementation, prebiotics and probiotics. OBJECTIVES: This overview of reviews aims to present the current body of data from Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews to provide the most up-to-date evidence on the efficacy and safety of interventions to prevent eczema in infants and children at different risk levels for developing allergic disease. METHODS: Our pool of Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews came from the 2010 United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) Evidence Skin Disorders Annual Evidence Updates Mapping Exercise on Atopic Eczema. This group used a comprehensive search strategy last conducted in August 2010 to identify all systematic reviews on eczema prevention. We identified all reviews that met our pre-specified inclusion criteria, and data were extracted, analysed, compiled into tables and synthesized using quantitative and qualitative methods. MAIN RESULTS: Seven systematic reviews containing 39 relevant trials with 11 897 participants were included in this overview. Overall, there was no clear evidence that any of the main interventions reviewed reduced eczema incidence. In subgroup analyses of infants at high risk of allergic disease, an observational study found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months compared with introduction of solids at three to six months decreased the incidence of eczema by 60% (risk ratio (RR): 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21, 0.78), and a randomized controlled trial found that prebiotics compared with no prebiotics decreased incidence by 58% (RR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.84). However, each of these findings was based on the results of a single small trial, and no intervention reduced eczema incidence beyond the first two years of life. Although we pre-specified incidence of atopic eczema (i.e. eczema associated with immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization) as a primary outcome, data on whether participants diagnosed with eczema were truly atopic were largely lacking from systematic reviews. Similarly, data on atopy, measured using skin prick tests or specific IgE tests to allergens, were not reported in many reviews. No interventions were found to decrease atopy when reported. Adverse events data were generally lacking, but data from a trial of probiotics versus no probiotics showed significantly more spitting up in the first one (RR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.45) and two (RR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.80) months of life, but no overall increase in risk of gastrointestinal symptoms in the first year. AUTHORS#ENTITYSTARTX02019; CONCLUSIONS: Although there is currently no clear evidence showing that any of the interventions examined in this overview prevent eczema in participants not selected for risk of allergic disease, there is some evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months and prebiotics might reduce eczema incidence in high-risk participants. However, these conclusions are based on limited evidence with methodological shortcomings. Future research on prevention of eczema is needed and should examine different types of hydrolysed formulas, prebiotics and probiotics, as well as enhancement of the skin barrier and other novel approaches in infants at different risk levels for developing allergic disease.

Obesity Is Associated With Increased Risk of Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Population-Based Study

Obesity Is Associated With Increased Risk of Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Population-Based Study

Treatment with bisphosphonates: daily or once-weekly oral administration and intravenous injection

Oral bisphosphonates are among the most effective therapeutics available to manage osteoporosis, which increase bone mineral density and reduce the incidence of fractures. Although daily administration of bisphosphonates has been well tolerated in most clinical use, some patients develop upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Once-weekly bisphosphonates offers convenience to patients while showing equal efficacy, which may also provide improved compliance and a lower risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. Now, both alendronate and risedronate are available in once-weekly formulations in US and European countries, which have efficacy and tolerability possibly better than the once-daily doses. Under certain circumstances, intermittent treatment with injectable bisphosphonates could be an alternative when compliance is at risk. This type of treatment must be applicable to some Japanese osteoporotic patients in the nearest future.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of gastrointestinal symptoms

OBJECTIVE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used medications. Although much is known about prescription NSAIDs and risk of GI side effects, little is known about over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs and their risk of GI side effects. The aim of this study was to estimate use of OTC NSAIDs, GI side effects, and professional and self-care for these side effects. METHODS: We conducted a telephone survey of an age-stratified U.S. random sample of 535 persons at least 40 yr old, who used an OTC NSAID for 4 of the previous 7 days, and a matched comparison population of 1068 persons who used no NSAID within the previous 30 days. We measured current use of OTC NSAIDs, GI symptoms, diagnoses and their treatment, and prescription and OTC GI medications. RESULTS: The most commonly used OTC NSAID was aspirin (alone or in combination compounds). Prevention of myocardial infarction or stroke was the most common reason for use (43.2%), followed by all forms of pain relief (44.2%) and relief of arthritis symptoms (24.5%). NSAID users were twice as likely as nonusers to report GI side effects (19.6% vs 9.5%, p = 0.0001), and more than twice as likely to use an OTC GI medication when they had GI symptoms (46.7% vs 20.8%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OTC NSAIDs are not a benign medication even at low dosages. Physicians may be unaware that patients self-medicate with OTC NSAIDs and for GI side effects with additional OTC GI medications. Therefore, physicians should routinely ask patients about all forms of self-treatment.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used medications. Although much is known about prescription NSAIDs and risk of GI side effects, little is known about over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs and their risk of GI side effects. The aim of this study was to estimate use of OTC NSAIDs, GI side effects, and professional and self-care for these side effects. We conducted a telephone survey of an age-stratified U.S. random sample of 535 persons at least 40 yr old, who used an OTC NSAID for 4 of the previous 7 days, and a matched comparison population of 1068 persons who used no NSAID within the previous 30 days. We measured current use of OTC NSAIDs, GI symptoms, diagnoses and their treatment, and prescription and OTC GI medications. The most commonly used OTC NSAID was aspirin (alone or in combination compounds). Prevention of myocardial infarction or stroke was the most common reason for use (43.2%), followed by all forms of pain relief (44.2%) and relief of arthritis symptoms (24.5%). NSAID users were twice as likely as nonusers to report GI side effects (19.6% vs 9.5%, p = 0.0001), and more than twice as likely to use an OTC GI medication when they had GI symptoms (46.7% vs 20.8%, p = 0.001). OTC NSAIDs are not a benign medication even at low dosages. Physicians may be unaware that patients self-medicate with OTC NSAIDs and for GI side effects with additional OTC GI medications. Therefore, physicians should routinely ask patients about all forms of self-treatment.

Lactitol tolerance in healthy Thai adults.

The hydrogen breath analysis test was performed in healthy Thai adults to determine lactitol tolerance. The study was conducted in 39 individuals (11 males and 28 females) aged 18-41 years. All volunteers agreed to participate in this study after the risks and benefits had been fully explained. Subjects were requested not to consume milk, milk products, or high-vegetable diets for a day and to fast from 10 p.m. of the day preceding the test day. After consumption of the test diet (12 and 20 g of lactose or lactitol, respectively, in 250 mL water), the subjects recorded the severity of symptoms for 24 hours. Breath samples were collected after fasting and after consumption of the test diet at 30 min intervals over the 7-hour study period. Breath samples were analyzed for hydrogen using gas chromatography. After consumption of 12 g lactose, the prevalence of lactose malabsorbers was established. The increment of a peak breath hydrogen level of > or = 20 ppm above the baseline level was used as an indicator of lactose malabsorption. The lactose malabsorbers were further classified as lactose tolerance or lactose intolerance according to the gastrointestinal symptoms observed. All 39 healthy Thai adults could be classified into 3 groups as follows: 9 (23%) lactose absorbers (LA), 15 (38.5%) lactose mal-absorber/tolerance (LMT), and 15 (38.5%) lactose mal-absorber/intolerance (LMI). Using the hydrogen breath test, 67% of the subjects were identified as lactitol intolerance after the consumption of 12 g lactitol. The lactitol intolerance comprised 53.8% of LMI, 34.6% of LMT, and 11.5% of LA. Among all subjects, one third of LA (33%), two thirds of LMT (60%), and 93% of LMI were lactitol intolerant. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence and abdominal pain were most pronounced in LMI. Diarrhea was also a prominent manifestation after consumption of 12 g lactitol. Therefore, it was finally decided that 20 g lactose or lactitol were not given to LMI because of the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. After high doses (20 g) of lactose and lactitol consumption, most LMT developed more symptoms than did LA and the main symptom was diarrhea. Consumption of 20 g lactose resulted in fewer symptoms than 20 g lactitol in both LA and LMT. On the basis of the hydrogen breath test, most LA tolerated 12 g lactitol without gastrointestinal symptoms except some flatulence whereas most LMT and LMI did not. Twenty g lactitol was not tolerated by both LA and LMT because there was diarrhea among the subjects, especially in LMT. Although the hydrogen breath analysis test is the best method for identification of lactose malabsorption, it is not the best method to identify lactitol intolerance. A hydrogen concentration of 15 ppm above the baseline level was found to be the best cut-off point to indicate lactitol intolerance although sensitivity was 85% and specificity only 38% in this study. It was further concluded that there is a greater susceptibility to lactitol in human lactose malabsorbers than in lactose absorbers. Our findings might be relevant for the limited use of lactitol in Thailand.

Asymptomatic carriage of intestinal Cryptosporidium in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children

Little information is available on asymptomatic carriage of Cryptosporidium in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children. We prospectively studied a group of asymptomatic children, 78 immunocompetent and 50 immunodeficient, to document the incidence of asymptomatic carriage of cryptosporidiosis in such a population. We also investigated whether the treatment of children who carried asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis could help in reducing their risk of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as the shedding of infectious oocysts. The occurrence of multiple infections with common intestinal pathogens including Giardia lamblia was also investigated. Asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis was documented in 6.4% of immunocompetent and 22% of immunodeficient children. In a control symptomatic population Cryptosporidium was found in 4.4% of immunocompetent and 4.8% of immunodeficient children. Asymptomatic carriage of Cryptosporidium was documented in 2 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children, one of whom also carried Giardia asymptomatically. Treatment with spiramycin (100 mg/kg daily for 14 days) reduced significantly the duration of the shedding of potentially infectious oocysts. Finally no gastrointestinal symptoms developed in children treated for asymptomatic infection with Cryptosporidium, whereas children who were not treated developed gastrointestinal symptoms.