Prospective switch study comparing two irrigation systems for transanal irrigation in children

Background and study aims: Transanal irrigation (TAI) is used in children to treat constipation and incontinence. Belgium has 2 systems available: Colotip® (cheaper, however not designed for TAI) or Peristeen®. Patients and methods: This patient-control switch study is the first to compare 2 TAI systems. Children regularly using Colotip® for TAI were asked to participate, after consent, a visual analogue scale (VAS) rating the system and a 2-week diary (fecal continence, self-reliance, time spent on the toilet, pain, Bristol stool scale, irrigation volume and frequency of enema) were completed. Non-parametric statistics were used. Results: Out of 26 children using Colotip®, 18 (69%) children participated and 5 refused (fear n=1, satisfaction Colotip® system n=7). Of these 18 children (interquartile range: 3-18 years, median 12.5 years, 9 girls) 5 patients stopped Peristeen® (pain n=1, fear n=1 and balloon loss n=3) and 2 were lost from follow up. Dropouts and included patients showed no statistical difference. In the 11 remaining patients, pseudo-continence (p 0.015), independence (p 0.01) and VAS score (p 0.007) were significantly better with Peristeen®, no difference was found in time spent on the toilet (p 0.288) and presence of pain (p 0.785). Conclusions: In children Peristeen® offered significantly higher pseudo-continence and independency. 30% refused participation because of satisfaction with the Colotip® and 30% spina bifida patients reported rectal balloon loss due to sphincter hypotony. To diminish Peristeen® failure, a test-catheter could be of value. Considering Colotip® satisfaction, both systems should be available. Patient selection for Peristeen® needs further research.

The Effect of Arabinoxylan on Gastrointestinal Tolerance in Generally Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Objectives Arabinoxylan (AX) is a non-digestible carbohydrate composed of (1→4)-β-D-xylan polymers that contain arabinose and varying uronic acid residues. AX was formally identified as a dietary fiber by the U.S. FDA for its effect on maintenance of healthy blood glucose levels. The primary objectives of this human trial were to examine the effects of a novel prebiotic AX wheat fiber extract (87.9% AX) produced by upcycling crop leftovers, such as wheat straw, on gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance, bowel habits, and stool consistency in adults. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with three test periods separated by 2-week washout periods was conducted. Forty-five subjects (M/F: 29/16, aged 47.8 ± 9.6 y, 27.9 ± 4.4 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to consume maltodextrin placebo (PLA) or AX wheat fiber extracts providing 6.37 g AX/d (LAX) or 12.74 g AX/d (HAX) for 3 weeks. Study products were mixed thoroughly with 16 oz. water and consumed twice a day, once each in the morning and evening, with or without food. During the 7 days prior to the start of any intervention (baseline) and prior to the end of each test period, GI symptoms, as well as bowel movement ratings and stool consistency and frequency, were evaluated using the GI Tolerability Questionnaire (GITQ), which assesses abdominal cramping, bloating, burping, flatulence, nausea, reflex, and stomach rumbling, and the Bowel Habits Diary with Bristol Stool Scale. Results There were no statistically significant differences between PLA, LAX, and HAX in the area under curve of the GITQ composite score, as well as severity rating of individual symptoms (P > 0.05). Additionally, stool frequency (median ranging 7.5–8.0 over 7 days), stool consistency (median ranging 3.71–3.84), straining during bowel movements, discomfort during bowel movements, and sensation of incomplete evacuation did not differ between interventions (P > 0.05). There were no reported adverse events that were judged to be related to the AX wheat fiber extract product. Conclusions Consumption of prebiotic AX wheat fiber extract product containing 6.37 or 12.74 g AX per day for 3 weeks did not affect GI tolerance symptom severity and bowel habits and stool consistency in adults and did not result in related adverse events, suggesting that the product is safe and well-tolerated. Funding Sources Comet Bio.

Addition of probiotics to antibiotics improves the clinical course of pneumonia in young people without comorbidities: a randomized controlled trial

This study was aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of probiotics in pneumonia patients. To this end, we enrolled 80 participants diagnosed with pneumonia at Naval Pohang Hospital, Pohang, Korea, from May 2016 to January 2017. The participants were randomly assigned to the control and probiotic groups depending on whether they received probiotics. All participants clinically improved but 22.6% of the participants complained of abnormal stool habits after pneumonia treatment. In comparison, fever duration was significantly shorter in the probiotic group, and the group exhibited an improved general condition. The probiotic group also showed better stool characteristics according to the Bristol stool scale (P = 0.009). Notably, the serum hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in the probiotic group at 2 weeks of treatment (P = 0.015), and all participants in the probiotic group achieved their levels within the normal range. Flow cytometry was used to analyze T-helper 17 (Th17) cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs were promoted and the Th17 cell/Treg ratio was suppressed after 2 weeks of treatment in the probiotic group (P = 0.007 and 0.037, respectively). This study demonstrated that probiotics improved clinical symptoms and normalized inflammatory biomarker levels in patients with pneumonia. Early infection and inflammation recovery may be due to the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics by facilitating the subset of Tregs and suppressing the Th17 cell/Treg ratio.

Effect of a synbiotic, ColonFit, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation and functional diarrhea

Background: Supplementary dietary fiber and probiotics may improve bowel symptoms due to changes in microbiome and fermentation. The aim of the study was the evaluation of symbiotic with psyllium, ColonFit, in patients with functional colonic diseases. Patients and Methods: A prospective observational study in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation and functional diarrhea for a 4-week intake of ColonFit 10 g daily. The type and severity of bowel symptoms (scale 1–5), number and consistency of stool and quality of life features were analyzed in subgroups according to dominant initial symptoms. Results: Complete data were available from 110 patients (mean age 49.9 ± 15.3 years, 58.2% females). Constipation related symptoms were predominant in 46 (41.8%) patients, diarrhea in 28 (25.5%) and mixed type in the rest. The symptoms in constipation predominant group were more severe than in others. The significant change in softening of stool consistency (from 1.9 to 3.8 in Bristol stool scale; p < 0.001), an increase in spontaneous bowel movements (from 3.1 to 5.6× weekly; p = 0,001) and reduction of incomplete bowel movements of 40% and abdominal pain of 42% were observed in constipated patients. The reduction in a number of bowel movement per week (from 17.8 to 13.6; p = 0.001) and improvement of abdominal cramps by 27% and reduction of dietary limitations by 30% were recorded in diarrhea subgroup. The beneficial effect lasted for a two-week follow up after the discontinuation of ColonFit use. Conclusion: The ColonFit use was most beneficial in constipated patients. The improvement of several symptoms was observed in other subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome without any worsening of troubles. The use of the combination of psyllium, inulin and probiotics may offer an effective alternative for the management of functional bowel diseases.

Effect of Limosilactobacillus reuteri LRE02–Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04 Combination on Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in a Pediatric Population: A National Survey

Probiotics are living microorganisms, which, upon oral ingestion, may prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) through the normalization of an unbalanced gastrointestinal flora. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a probiotic combination (Limosilactibacillus reuteri LRE02-DSM 23878 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04-DSM 16605) on the prevention of AAD in an outpatient pediatric setting. Questionnaires were delivered to pediatricians by each patient/parent during the visits after antibiotics and probiotics treatment to monitor physiological parameters. The primary outcome of both groups (probiotics and no probiotics treated) was the evaluation of the prevalence of AAD between the two groups. Evaluation of stool consistency using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) score was performed, as well as the evaluation of AAD duration, frequencies of daily evacuation, and the beginning of diarrhea and weight loss during AAD in both groups and related to antibiotic categories. Results indicated that probiotics, at the recommended dosage of 1.2 × 109 CFU (Colony Forming Unit) per day for 30 days, are associated with lower rates of AAD and a decreased number of days with diarrhea, independent of the type of antibiotic used. Moreover, the use of probiotics resulted in a normal stool consistency in a shorter time period, as evaluated by the BSS.

Diarrhea when COVID-19 in adults

This review provides a systematization of literature on the problem of chronic diarrhea in adults, issues of differential diagnosis and diagnosis at the stage of primary health care Chronic diarrhea is a persistent deviation from the norm with the consistency of stool between types 5 and 7 on the Bristol stool scale and an increase in frequency of more than 4 weeks. The classification of diarrhea in terms of frequency (the most common causes, infrequent and rare), a brief description of clinical and laboratory signs of the most common causes of diarrhea in the practice of a General practitioner and gastroenterologist, a review of the literature on the features of diarrhea in COVID-19, and the stages of diagnostic search.

Feasibility of Low Fermentable Oligosaccharide, Disaccharide, Monosaccharide, and Polyol Diet and Its Effects on Quality of Life in an Italian Cohort

The low Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet has demonstrated excellent results in terms of symptom control and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers, but patients have complained about unsatisfying taste, difficulty in following the diet, and time consumption. To investigate the feasibility of the low FODMAP diet in an Italian (Sardinian) cohort, sixty consecutive eligible outpatients (11 men and 49 women) with IBS were enrolled and followed a low FODMAP diet (gluten allowed, restriction phase of four weeks, reintroduction phase of four weeks). Food habits were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall, Bristol Stool Scale for stool consistency, Visual Analogue Scale for abdominal bloating, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) for abdominal pain, IBS Severity Scoring System for perceived disease severity, and a 12-item Short Form Survey for HRQoL (psychological component summary + mental component summary) were applied at baseline (T0) and at the end of each phase (T1-four weeks and T2-eight weeks). Statistical analysis was performed by dividing the cohort into diarrhoea-dominant IBS (IBS-D) and other IBS subtypes (selected IBS-others). Comparisons between T1 and T2 vs. T0 and T2 vs. T1 were performed. The low FODMAP diet lowered VASp (VAS pain), VASb (VAS bloating), and IBS SSS (IBS Severity Scoring System), and increased PCS (Physical Component Summary) and MCS (Mental Component Summary) in both subgroups. Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) only improved in the IBS-D subgroup. The dropout mean values for MCS were higher than treated subjects and the percentage of unemployment was lower in the dropouts. According to the dropout features, the low FODMAP diet seems to show greater feasibility for patients with more time to dedicate to the diet (unemployed, homemakers, housewives, or students), more motivation, and more severe clinical features, independent of their place of residence.