BACKGROUND In adult patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) life-threatening constipation has been reported. Since gastrointestinal function in DMD has not been rigorously studied we investigated objective and subjective manifestations of gastrointestinal disturbances in DMD patients. METHODS In 33 patients with DMD, age 12-41 years, eating behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms were ...

The present study investigated the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bf-6 (LMG 24 384) (Bf-6)-supplemented yogurt on colonic transit time (CTT). A triple-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over trial was conducted with sixty-eight women with a self-reported history of straining during bowel movements or hard or lumpy stools in the past 2 years. As per regulat...

BACKGROUND Wireless pH and pressure motility capsule (wireless motility capsule) technology provides a method to assess regional gastrointestinal transit times. AIMS To analyse data from a multi-centre study of gastroparetic patients and healthy controls and to compare regional transit times measured by wireless motility capsule in healthy controls and gastroparetics (GP). METHODS A total o...

PURPOSE Increased awareness of the importance of dietary fibre has led to increased interest in "functional" fibre components like digestion-resistant maltodextrin (RMD). This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study assessed the effects of RMD in the colonic transit time (CTT) and defecation characteristics (frequency, stool volume and consistency). METHODS Sixty-six healthy adult ...

BACKGROUND Colon transit (CT) measurements are used in the management of significant constipation. The radiopaque marker (ROM) method provides limited information. METHODS We proposed to validate wireless motility capsule (WMC), that measures pH, pressure and temperature, to ROM measurement of CT in patients with symptomatic constipation evaluated at multiple centers. Of 208 patients recruite...

BACKGROUND The development of primary constipation in elderly adults usually has a multifactorial etiology. Slow transit constipation and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) are the two most commonly seen constipation subtypes in the elderly. PFD is usually a persistent condition that remains unresponsive to treatment in spite of various therapies currently available to relieve constipation. The aim...

BACKGROUND Constipation is a prominent lower gastrointestinal tract dysfunction that occurs frequently in Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE To investigate colonic transport and dynamic rectoanal behaviour during filling and defecation in patients with PD. METHODS Colonic transit time (CTT) and rectoanal videomanometry analyses were performed in 12 patients with PD (10 men and 2 women; mea...

Chronic constipation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is common and the current methods of treatment are ineffective in some patients. Anecdotal observations suggest that functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the abdominal muscles may be effective in the management of constipation in these patients. Patients and Methods. In this exploratory investigation we studied the effects of F...

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that enemas and polyethylene glycol (PEG) would be equally effective in treating rectal fecal impaction (RFI) but enemas would be less well tolerated and colonic transit time (CTT) would improve during disimpaction. METHODS Children (4-16 years) with functional constipation and RFI participated. One week before disimpaction, a rectal examination was performed, sympto...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Colon transit time (CTT) is a useful diagnostic tool in chronic constipation, but requires good patient compliance. We analyzed the correlation between the gas volume score (GVS) and CTT in patients with chronic constipation. METHODS The study included 145 consecutive patients (65 men) with chronic constipation. The primary outcome was the correlation be-tween the colon GVS an...