Probiotics in diverticular disease of the colon: an open label study.

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of a symbiotic mixture in preventing recurrence of constipation-related abdominal pain in patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon. METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients (10 men, 36 women, mean age 62.5 years, range 49 to 77 years), previously affected by symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon, were enrolled in a 6-month follow-up study in a prospective, randomized, open-label study. The following symptoms were assessed at entry and through follow-up by using a quantitative scale: constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. After recruitment, the patients were assigned to the following treatment: SCM-III symbiotic mixture, 10 ml three times a day. The colonization of ingested Lactobacillus acidophilus 145 and Bifidobacterium spp. 420 was assessed by species-specific PCR. Forty-five patients completed the study (97%). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (68%) were still symptom free after the 6th month of treatment. Treatment with SCM-III was regarded as "effective" or "very effective" in more than 78% of the patients altogether (p<0.01 vs baseline values). The microbiological study showed that, as compared to baseline values, SCM-III enabled a significant increase of the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria counting and a trend decrease of clostridia. Genomic analysis confirmed the survivability of the ingested strain as long as treatment was given. CONCLUSIONS: The present symbiotic mixture seems to be effective in preventing recurrence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon, especially in those patients with constipation-predominant features.

Effect of a phyto-compound on delayed gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia: a randomized-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a hydro-alcoholic solution of a phytocompound based on Gentianae, Cinchonae, Absinthii and Cinnamomi on gastric emptying in Helicobacter pylori-negative dyspeptic patients. METHODS: The study group consisted of 24 patients with a diagnosis of long-standing dismotility-like functional dyspepsia. All patients were devoid of any major past or ongoing disease and dyspepsia-associated diseases were excluded. After a 2-week wash out period, the patients were randomized to a 2-week treatment in which they were given 20 gtt of the compound 30 min before meals. At the beginning and end of the study, a gastric emptying test was performed by a paracetamol absorption test using a standard meal. The global symptom index (GSI) was assessed daily by a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Treatment with the phytocompound significantly improved the gastric emptying test (P < 0.01) which was delayed in dyspeptic patients as well as GSI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This phytocompound might be an effective therapeutic option in the treatment of dismotility-like dyspepsia.

In view of an optimal gut antifungal therapeutic strategy: an in vitro susceptibility and toxicity study testing a novel phyto-compound.

OBJECTIVE: In view of the raising concern for gut fungal infection, the aim of the present research was to carry out a systematic in vitro study testing the antifungal activity and possible toxicity of a polygodyal-anethole compound (Kolorex) in several strains of Candida albicans and in other fungal pathogens. METHODS: The in vitro susceptibility tests were carried out on 4 strains of C. albicans (C. krusei, C. lipolytica, C. tropicalis, C. utilis), Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus. Cultures were also analyzed by varying medium, pH and inoculum size, and a time-course killing test was carried out. RESULTS: In the present study the polygodyal-anethole compound showed remarkable in vitro activity against the most common fungi, which was significantly better than polygodyal alone. Moreover, such mixture compound was shown to exert its activity against a wide spectrum of fungi, including C. lipolytica and C. tropicalis, which required significantly higher MIC of polygodyal to be unfeasible in clinical application. The activity of the polygodyal-anethole compound was significantly better than polygodyal alone with high inoculum size and low pH. Moreover, it proved to exert a significantly faster biological activity against low inoculum. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the mixture compound Kolorex has a very good profile of antifungal activity in terms of effectiveness and spectrum of action while being devoid of any significant toxicity.