Rodent-borne hantaviruses (family Bunyaviridae, genus Hantavirus) cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Americas and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Europe and Asia. The viruses are transmitted to humans mainly by inhalation of virus-contaminated aerosols of rodent excreta and secreta. Classic clinical hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome occurs in five phases: fever, hypotension...

INTRODUCTION Re-feeding syndrome is common in patients with long-term starvation. To the best of our knowledge this case is the first to report a patient with short bowel syndrome developing re-feeding syndrome 12 years after the bowel resection. CASE PRESENTATION A 33-year-old Chinese Han man underwent small bowel resection leaving only 40 cm of bowel, without an ileocecal valve, 12 years pr...

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in developed nations. It is characterized by abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and bloating. Several non-pharmacological and pharmacological agents, which target the peripheral gastrointestinal system and central nervous system, are used to treat the syndrome. The individual and societal impact of investigating an...

AIM To determine the prevalence, symptom pattern and impact of the irritable bowel syndrome, across eight European countries, using a standardized methodology. METHODS A community survey of 41 984 individuals was performed using quota sampling and random digit telephone dialing to identify those with diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome or those meeting diagnostic criteria, followed by in-depth...

BACKGROUND Complementary and alternative medical therapies and practices are widely employed in the treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome. AIM To review the usage of complementary and alternative medicine in the irritable bowel syndrome, and to assess critically the basis and evidence for its use. METHODS A systematic review of complementary and alternative medical therapies and practic...

Whilst following up large numbers of patients with irritable bowel syndrome we got the impression that wholemeal wheat and bran products made people with the condition worse rather than better. One hundred consecutive new referrals, all of whom had tried bran, were questioned to resolve this issue. 55% of patients were made worse by bran whereas only 10% had found it helpful. With the exception...

· To understand the nature and pathophysiology of intestinal failure and short bowel syndrome; · To appreciate the need for restriction of salt-free fluids in patients with short bowel syndrome; · To have an understanding of the pharmacological and nutritional therapy of intestinal failure and short bowel syndrome; · To be able to apply this understanding in clinical practice; · To know the pro...

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal illness, defined by symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome has been described as a biopsychosocial condition, in which colonic dysfunction is affected by psychological and social factors. As a result of this unusual constellation, irritable bowel syndrome may be subject to cultural variables that differ in different parts of the globe. In th...

Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of functional gastrointestinal disorders with not yet fully clarified etiology. Recent evidence suggesting that mast cells may play a central role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome paves the way for agents targeting histamine receptors as a potential therapeutic option in clinical treatment. In this review, the role of histamine and histamine re...