The effect of erythromycin on gastrointestinal motility in subtotal gastrectomized patients / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: Our objective was to determine the effect of erythromycin (EM) in improving gastrointestinal motility in subtotal gastrectomized patients. We used radio-opaque Kolomarks as an objective method. We conducted a prospective, controlled clinical trial study of 24 patients. METHODS: All patients underwent subtotal gastrectomy with 3 capsules containing Kolomarks (20 markers per 1 capsule) in the remnant stomach before anastomosis. From the day of the operation to the 2nd postoperative day, patients in the EM group began receiving 200 mg of EM intravenously for 30 minutes continuously. We counted the number of Kolomarks in the stomach, passed by stomach, in rectum, and in stool with serial simple abdominal X-ray films on the first postoperative day up to the 7th postoperative day. RESULTS: The study population included 14 patients in the control group and 10 patients in the EM group. The two study groups were compared in terms of their characteristics including age, gender, past medical history, cancer stage, and operation type. No significant differences were found for the demographics between the two groups. We only found a significant difference for the number of Kolomarks passed by the stomach on the 3rd postoperative day (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that 200 mg of EM intravenous infusion during the postoperative period induced rapid gastric emptying, although it did not improve gastrointestinal motility for the entire gastrointestinal tract in subtotal gastrectomized patients.

Effects of Ficus carica paste on constipation induced by a high-protein feed and movement restriction in beagles / 한국실험동물학회지

Constipation is one of the most common functional digestive complaints worldwide. We investigated the laxative effects of figs (Ficus carica L) in a beagle model of constipation induced by high protein diet and movement restriction. The experiments were consecutively conducted over 9 weeks divided into 3 periods of 3 weeks each. All 15 beagles were subjected to a non-treatment (control) period, a constipation induction period, and a fig paste treatment period. We administered fig paste (12 g/kg daily, by gavage) for 3 weeks following a 3-week period of constipation induction in dogs. Segmental colonic transit time (CTT) was measured by counting radiopaque markers (Kolomark) using a radiograph performed every 6 h after feeding Kolomark capsules, until capsules were no longer observed. Fig paste significantly increased fecal quantity in constipated dogs, and segmental CTT was also reduced following fig paste administration. There were no significant differences in feed intake, water intake, body weight, or blood test results, between the constipation and fig paste administration periods. Our results demonstrate that fig is an effective treatment for constipation in beagles. Specifically, stool weight increased and segmental CTT decreased. Fig pastes may be useful as a complementary medicine in humans suffering from chronic constipation.

The Development of Kolomark(TM), A Korean Radio-opaque Marker for Measuring Colon Transit Time / 대한소화관운동학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colon transit time is a useful method for assessing colonic motor function and classifying the type of idiopathic chronic constipation. Among various methods, a radio-opaque marker study is a simple, reproducible and economical method. The commonly used marker, Sitzmarks(R)(Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc. Texas) had limitations in its use due to expensiveness and difficulty in importation. We thought that a new domestic marker comparable to Sitzmarks(R) was necessary and we developed Kolomark (Korean colon marker)(TM). The radio-opaqueness of Kolomark(TM) was compared to that of Sitzmarks(R). METHODS: In two 1000ml of beakers, 350ml of rice-gruel, several chicken-bones and ten rings of Sitzmarks(R) and Kolomark(TM) were mixed separately. Then, X-ray films of the two beakers were taken. The digital image file was analyzed by image(R), a medical image processing program, and the value of pixels were obtained. These were repeated five times. RESULTS: The mean value of pixel of Kolomark(TM) was much lower than that of Sitzmarks(R). The difference between background or beaker and Kolomark(TM) was much greater than that of Sitzmarks. CONCLUSION: Kolomark(TM), a Korean colon marker which is more radio-opaque and cheaper than Sitzmarks(R) is developed and further study is needed to prove its clinical usefulness.