The American journal of gastroenterology
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyMulticenter, 4-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sodium picosulfate in patients with chronic constipation.
Although it has been used as a laxative for many years, high-quality trials assessing the efficacy of the laxative sodium picosulfate (SPS) are lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of 4-week treatment with SPS in patients with functional constipation as defined by the Rome III diagnostic criteria. ⋯ Treatment of chronic constipation with SPS improves bowel function, symptoms, and QoL and is well tolerated. The dose can be adjusted individually while maintaining benefit.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Feb 2010
Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical TrialDo stool form and frequency correlate with whole-gut and colonic transit? Results from a multicenter study in constipated individuals and healthy controls.
Despite a lack of supportive data, stool form and stool frequency are often used as clinical surrogates for gut transit in constipated patients. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between stool characteristics (form and frequency) and gut transit in constipated and healthy adults. ⋯ Stool form predicts delayed vs. normal transit in adults. However, only a moderate correlation exists between stool form and measured whole-gut or colonic transit time in constipated adults. In contrast, stool frequency is a poor surrogate for transit, even in those with reduced stool frequency.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA randomized clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a new, reduced-volume, oral sulfate colon-cleansing preparation for colonoscopy.
We sought to evaluate a new, low-volume, oral sulfate solution as a bowel preparation for colonoscopy in adult patients. ⋯ The new 960 -ml oral sulfate solution is effective for colonoscopy cleansing and has an acceptable safety profile.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 2009
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyTime trends and impact of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation in clinical practice.
Changing patterns in medical practice may contribute to temporal changes in the incidence of upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) complications. There are limited data on the incidence of lower GI complications in clinical practice and most studies that have been done have serious methodological limitations to inferring the actual burden of this problem. The aims of this study were to analyze time trends of hospitalizations resulting from GI complications originating both from the upper and lower GI tract in the general population, and to determine the risk factors, severity, and clinical impact of these GI events. ⋯ Over the past decade, there has been a progressive change in the overall picture of GI events leading to hospitalization, with a clear decreasing trend in upper GI events and a significant increase in lower GI events, causing the rates of these two GI complications to converge. Overall, mortality has also decreased, but the in-hospital case fatality of upper or lower GI complication events has remained constant. It will be a challenge to improve future care in this area unless we develop new strategies to reduce the number of events originating in the lower GI tract, as well as reducing their associated mortality.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudySafety and efficacy of a new 3.3 g b.i.d. tablet formulation in patients with mild-to-moderately-active ulcerative colitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new twice-daily balsalazide disodium 1.1 g tablet dosing regimen (6.6 g/day, three tablets twice daily) for the treatment of mild-to-moderately-active ulcerative colitis (UC). ⋯ Balsalazide disodium 1.1 g tablets administered as 3.3 g twice daily are effective, well tolerated and significantly better than placebo for improving signs and symptoms of mild-to-moderately-active UC. This new formulation with a reduced pill and dosing burden offers the potential to improve convenience and compliance in patients with active UC.