METHODS: We surveyed 16 512 adults from July 2020 to August 2021 in 30 territories. Participants self-reported their medical histories and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes. For each disease subgroup, we generated lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks. Variables with the highest centrality indices in each were identified central or bridge. We validated these networks using nonparametric and case-dropping subset bootstrapping and confirmed central and bridge variables' significantly higher indices through a centrality difference test.
FINDINGS: Among the 48 networks, 44 were validated (all correlation-stability coefficients >0.25). Six central lifestyle factors were identified: less consumption of snacks (for the chronic disease: anxiety), less sugary drinks (cancer, gastric ulcer, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes), less smoking tobacco (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), frequency of exercise (depression and fatty liver disease), duration of exercise (irritable bowel syndrome), and overall amount of exercise (autoimmune disease, diabetes, eczema, heart attack, and high cholesterol). Two central health outcomes emerged: less emotional distress (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, fatty liver disease, gastric ulcer, heart attack, high cholesterol, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes) and quality of life (anxiety, autoimmune disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome). Four bridge lifestyles were identified: consumption of fruits and vegetables (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and insomnia), less duration of sitting (eczema, fatty liver disease, and heart attack), frequency of exercise (autoimmune disease, depression, and heart attack), and overall amount of exercise (anxiety, gastric ulcer, and insomnia). The centrality difference test showed the central and bridge variables had significantly higher centrality indices than others in their networks (P
DESIGN: A single-centre cohort study of 155 patients infected with Campylobacter jejuni. Features of the initial illness as well as current bowel symptoms and the intestinal microbiota composition were recorded soon after infection (visit 1, <40 days) as well as 40-60 days and >80 days later (visits 2 and 3). Microbiota were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing.
RESULTS: PI-BD was found in 22 of the 99 patients who completed the trial. The cases reported significantly looser stools, with more somatic and gastrointestinal symptoms. Microbiota were assessed in 22 cases who had significantly lower diversity and altered microbiota composition compared with the 44 age-matched and sex-matched controls. Moreover 60 days after infection, cases showed a significantly lower abundance of 23 taxa including phylum Firmicutes, particularly in the order Clostridiales and the family Ruminoccocaceae, increased Proteobacteria abundance and increased levels of Fusobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. The microbiota changes were linked with diet; higher fibre consumption being associated with lower levels of Gammaproteobacteria.
CONCLUSION: The microbiota of PI-BD patients appeared more disturbed by the initial infection compared with the microbiota of those who recovered. The prebiotic effect of high fibre diets may inhibit some of the disturbances seen in PI-BD.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02040922.
METHODS: We conducted an anonymized survey from May to June 2020 in 33 countries. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on personal hygiene and social distancing as well as psychological impact of COVID-19 were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences in well-being and compliance to social distancing measures between respondents with and without self-reported IBS. Factors associated with improvement or worsening of IBS symptoms were evaluated.
RESULTS: Out of 2704 respondents, 2024 (74.9%) did not have IBS, 305 (11.3%) had self-reported IBS, and 374 (13.8%) did not know what IBS was. Self-reported IBS respondents reported significantly worse emotional, social, and psychological well-being compared with non-IBS respondents and were less compliant to social distancing measures (28.2% vs 35.3%, P = 0.029); 61.6% reported no change, 26.6% reported improvement, and 11.8% reported worsening IBS symptoms. Higher proportion of respondents with no change in IBS symptoms were willing to practice social distancing indefinitely versus those who deteriorated (74.9% vs 51.4%, P = 0.016). In multivariate analysis, willingness to continue social distancing for another 2-3 weeks (vs longer period) was significantly associated with higher odds of worsening IBS.
CONCLUSION: Our study showed that self-reported IBS respondents had worse well-being and compliance to social distancing measures than non-IBS respondents. Future research will focus on occupational stress and dietary changes during COVID-19 that may influence IBS.
RECENT FINDINGS: Disordered immune reactions and release of cytokines with resultant gut inflammation and dysfunction appear to be key features of PI-IBS. Disordered brain-gut-microbiota interactions, type of infecting agent, and host-genetic susceptibility are risk factors but also are reasons for the varying spectrum of clinical severity. Although prognosis is generally good, symptoms and inflammation may persist for a long time. Symptomatic relief with antidiarrheals, antispasmodics, 5HT3 antagonists, mesalamine, probiotics, and low-dose antidepressants remain the primary approaches, but in some difficult cases, a combination of drugs that target the pathophysiology may be helpful. PI-IBS has many overlapping features with IBS-D and shares similar pathophysiology and management approaches.
METHODS: A total of 163 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A to consume 350 mL of sterilized probiotic with 5.85 g polydextrose daily for 1 week and Group B without polydextrose. Intestinal transit time, fecal pH, fecal weight, and modified Garrigues questionnaires for pre- and post-consumption were assessed.
RESULTS: Median intestinal transit time was significantly reduced from 58 (IQR 43-72) to 45 (IQR 24-59) hours and 48 (IQR 31-72) to 30 (IQR 24-49) hours for Groups A and B, respectively (p bowel syndrome patients. However, daily consumption of sterilized probiotic containing L. helveticus with or without polydextrose for a week alleviated constipation-related symptoms and objectively reduced both fecal pH and intestinal transit time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 20 quails were divided into three groups (n=8 for Groups A and B; n=4 for the control group). The quails in the Groups A and B were infected via intraocular route with 0.03 ml of 103.5 ELD50 and 107.0 ELD50 of NDV strain IBS 002, respectively, while the control group received 1× phosphate-buffered saline. Cloacal swabs and necropsy were taken on day 7 post-infection for all quails were subjected to one-step reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for detection of virus and examination for gross pathological lesion, respectively. Blood serums of infected quails were taken on day 10, 14, and 21 post-day infections and were subjected for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay.
RESULTS: Depression and ruffled feathers, trachea rales, leg paralysis, and torticollis were shown in some of the quails in both infected groups. Based on statistical analysis, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in clinical signs between the infected groups. The results for RT-qPCR were found to be negative for all groups, and no gross pathological lesions of organs observed for quails in both infected groups. Trachea, proventriculus, and cecal tonsil were taken for the detection of NDV by RT-qPCR, and some of the organ samples showed positive detection of virus in both infected groups. HI assay showed an increase in mean titers of antibody across time and between infected groups.
CONCLUSION: In summary, Japanese quails are susceptible to genotype VII NDV based on parameters assessed.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study of consecutive adults in a primary healthcare setting was conducted. Differences in epidemiology, and HRQOL of common FGIDs (functional dyspepsia [FD], irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], functional diarrhea, functional constipation [FC]) between the Rome III and IV criteria were explored.
RESULTS: Among a total of 1002 subjects recruited, the frequency of common FGIDs was 20.7% and 20.9% among subjects based on the Rome III and Rome IV criteria, respectively. The frequency of IBS reduced from 4.0% (Rome III) to 0.8% (Rome IV), while that of functional diarrhea increased from 1.2% (Rome III) to 3.3% (Rome IV). In contrast, there was no significant change in the frequency of FD (7.5% [Rome III] vs 7.6% [Rome IV]) and FC (10.5% [Rome III] vs 11.7% [Rome IV]). Most of the Rome III IBS subjects (52.5%, n = 21) who did not meet Rome IV IBS criteria, fulfilled the criteria for FC, functional diarrhea, FD, or overlap syndrome. Subjects with all FGIDs, regardless of criteria, had more healthcare utilization and lower HRQOL compared to non-FGID controls.
CONCLUSIONS: The Rome IV criteria alter the frequency of IBS and functional diarrhea, but not FD and FC, when compared to the Rome III criteria. Regardless of criteria, FGIDs had a significant impact on healthcare burden and HRQOL.
METHOD: A longitudinal study of consecutive adult patients with various DGBI attending this institution's gastroenterology clinic was conducted. Following 2 years of treatment, the proportion of patients with symptom improvement, details of clinical therapy, factors associated with and the impact of 'no symptom improvement' were determined.
RESULTS: A total of 289 patients (median age 68 years; 64.7% females; 28.4% irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 20.1% functional dyspepsia (FD), 8.7% functional constipation (FC), 42.9% overlap syndrome) were recruited. After 2 years, 66.1% patients reported symptom improvement. Patients with overlap syndrome were less likely to have symptomatic improvement compared to those with a single DGBI (Overlap 55.6% vs IBS 74.4% vs FD 72.4% vs FC 76.0%, p = 0.014). Reassurance was associated with symptom improvement (p