ABSTRACT
We investigated the effect of octylonium bromide on a number of symptoms and functional aspects of the irritable bowel syndrome. Seventy-two patients complaining mainly of abdominal pain were studied in a double-blind trial (octylonium bromide 40 mg tid for 4 weeks or placebo). Clinical parameters were: abdominal pain, bloating and bowel frequency. Sigmoid manometry with simultaneous recording of the thresholds for distension and/or pain upon graded inflation of an endoluminal balloon was performed before and at the end of treatment. In contrast to placebo, octylonium bromide significantly reduced pain and bloating, and significantly increased (p < 0.02) the pain threshold throughout the treatment period. However, comparison with the placebo group failed to show any relevant differences. Neither treatment influenced the frequency of bowel movement. Sigmoid motility during distension was significantly reduced after octylonium bromide (p < 0.05), but it did not change after placebo. In conclusion, octylonium bromide is capable of reducing symptoms and motor reactivity of the sigmoid in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain/prevention & control , Colonic Diseases, Functional/drug therapy , Parasympatholytics/therapeutic use , Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/therapeutic use , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Adult , Aged , Colon, Sigmoid/drug effects , Colonic Diseases, Functional/complications , Colonic Diseases, Functional/physiopathology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Gastrointestinal Motility/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids has been simultaneously evaluated in healthy humans. Gastric emptying of indigestible solids occurs simultaneously during the emptying of digestible solids. The knowledge of the mechanism responsible for gastric emptying of both digestible and indigestible solids may contribute to improve physiologic insight in this field and to develop further clinical applications.
Subject(s)
Digestion/physiology , Food , Gastric Emptying/physiology , Adult , Contrast Media , Gastrointestinal Contents , Humans , Male , Polyethylenes , Pyloric Antrum/diagnostic imaging , Pyloric Antrum/physiology , Pylorus/diagnostic imaging , Pylorus/physiology , Radiography , Stomach/physiology , Time Factors , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Seventy-two patients complaining of abdominal pain were studied in a double blind trial with otilonium bromide (OB) (40 mg tid or placebo). In our patients we performed, before and after the treatment, a clinical evaluation (symptom variations) and functional studies (sigmoid manometry during bowel distension). As regards clinical parameters, otilonium bromide significantly reduced abdominal pain and bloating and significantly increased (p less than 0.02) the pain threshold. However the comparison with the placebo group did not show any difference between the two groups. Sigmoid motility during distension was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) in OB group, whereas it did not change in the placebo group. We can conclude that, in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, OB is able to improve symptoms and to reduce stimulated motor activity of the sigmoid.
Subject(s)
Colonic Diseases, Functional/drug therapy , Parasympatholytics/therapeutic use , Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/therapeutic use , Abdominal Pain/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Colon, Sigmoid/physiopathology , Colonic Diseases, Functional/physiopathology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Gastrointestinal Motility/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensory Thresholds/physiologyABSTRACT
The pancreatic duct or at least parts of this structure can be demonstrated today by sonography in 50-82% according to various authors. We have measured the caliber of the sonographically visualized pancreatic duct in 20 normal subjects after physiological stimulation with meal. The mean caliber of the duct markedly increased after meal. During dilatation a longer segment of duct is more clearly visualized. It is possible to document an increase of caliber of Wirsung duct "in vivo" as an evident sign of pancreatic secretion.
Subject(s)
Food , Pancreatic Ducts/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreatic Ducts/anatomy & histology , Pancreatic Ducts/physiology , Time Factors , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
A probable relationship between Common Bile Duct (CBD) size and sex, age and Body Mass Index (BMI) was investigated in healthy volunteers. Real-time ultrasonography was employed to visualize gallbladder and CBD. No change of CBD size related to sex and BMI was found. A significant increase of CBD related to age was recorded.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Body Mass Index , Common Bile Duct/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reference Values , Sex Factors , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Forty-three patients with active duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori positivity in gastric antrum were randomly assigned to either omeprazole treatment (20 mg once a day) or ranitidine treatment (300 mg once a day) for 28 days. Re-evaluation of the patients (clinical and endoscopic examination and assessments for H pylori detection) was repeated after 2 weeks and at the end of the treatment. Healing rates in the omeprazole group were 40% after 2 weeks and 90% after 4 weeks, in the ranitidine group ulcer healing was recorded in 20% of patients after 2 weeks and in 80% after 4 weeks. Differences between treatments at 2 and 4 weeks were not statistically significant. Clinical response (disappearance of ulcer-related symptoms) was better in the omeprazole group at 2 weeks (p less than 0.05) but not at 4 weeks. At the end of the trial H pylori positivity in gastric antrum disappeared in 95% of the patients treated with omeprazole and in 5% of the patients who received ranitidine (p less than 0.001). The results confirm the effectiveness of omeprazole in short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer and re-emphasize the powerful activity of the drug on H pylori infection.
Subject(s)
Duodenal Ulcer/drug therapy , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Helicobacter pylori , Omeprazole/therapeutic use , Ranitidine/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Drug Administration Schedule , Duodenal Ulcer/microbiology , Endoscopy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pyloric Antrum/microbiology , Random Allocation , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We measured simultaneously gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids in 10 normal subjects and in 14 insulin-requiring diabetic patients. Our results demonstrate that in both diabetics and in controls the gastric emptying of digestible and indigestible solids occurs during the same phase of gastric motor activity, i.e. during the post-prandial period. However, gastric emptying of both digestible and indigestible solids is delayed in diabetic patients compared to controls.
