AIM： To compare two different daily doses of lansoprazole given for 12 weeks and to assess the role of gastrointestinal （GI） investigations as criteria for selecting patients. METHODS： Out of 45 patients referred ...AIM： To compare two different daily doses of lansoprazole given for 12 weeks and to assess the role of gastrointestinal （GI） investigations as criteria for selecting patients. METHODS： Out of 45 patients referred for unexplained chronic persistent cough, 36 had at least one of the GI investigations （endoscopy, 24-h esophageal pH- metry and a 4-week trial of proton pump inhibitor （PPI） therapy） positive and were randomly assigned to receive either 30 mg lansoprazole o.d. or 30 mg lansoprazole b.i.d, for 12 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated at baseline （visit 1） after the PPI test （visit 2） and after the 12-week lansoprazole treatment period （visit 3）. RESULTS： Thirty-five patients completed the study protocol. Twenty-one patients （60.0%） reported complete relief from their cough with no difference between the two treatment groups （58.8% and 61.1% had no cough in 30 mg lansoprazole and 60 mg lansoprazole groups, respectively）. More than 80% of the patients who had complete relief from their cough at the end of the treatment showed a positive response to the PPI test. CONCLUSION： Twelve weeks of lansoprazole treatment even at a standard daily dose, is effective in patients with chronic persistent cough. A positive response to an initial PPI test seems to be the best criterion for selecting patients who respond to therapy.展开更多
While lifestyle modifications are currently used as firstline treatment for subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the pathogenetic role of lifestyle factors and consequently, the efficacy of lifestyle ...While lifestyle modifications are currently used as firstline treatment for subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the pathogenetic role of lifestyle factors and consequently, the efficacy of lifestyle measures is controversial. Our aim was to systematically review the pathogenetic link between overweight/ obesity, dietary habits, physical activity and GERD, and the beneficial effect of specific recommended changes, by means of the available literature from the 1999 to the present. Obesity, in particular, abdominal obesity, plays a key role in determining GERD symptoms and complications through mechanical and metabolic effects. Controlled weight loss (by diet or surgery) is effective in improving GERD symptoms. No definitive data exist regarding the role of diet and, in particular, of specific foods or drinks, in influencing GERD clinical manifestations. Moderate physical activity seems to be beneficial for GERD, while vigorous activity may be dangerous in predisposed individuals. In conclusion, being obese/overweight and GERD-specific symptoms and endoscopic features are related, and weight loss significantly improves GERD clinical-endoscopic manifestations. The role of dietary behavior, mainly in terms of specific dietary components, remains controversial. Mild routine physical activity in association with diet modifications, i.e. a diet rich in fiber and low in fat, is advisable in preventing reflux symptoms.展开更多
Diarrhoea is an alteration of normal bowel movement characterized by an increase in the water content, volume, or frequency of stools. Diarrhoea needs to be classified according to the trends over time （acute or chro...Diarrhoea is an alteration of normal bowel movement characterized by an increase in the water content, volume, or frequency of stools. Diarrhoea needs to be classified according to the trends over time （acute or chronic） and to the characteristics of the stools （watery, fatty, inflammatory）. Secretory diarrhoeas, mostly acute and of viral aetiology in more than 70% of cases, are by far the most important subtype of diarrhoeas in terms of frequency, incidence and mortality （over 2.5 million deaths/year in developing countries）. Natural and synthetic opiates such as morphine, codeine, and Ioperamide which react with endogenous opiates （enkephalins, beta-endorphins, dynorphins） mainly act on intestinal motility and slow down transit. An antidiarrhoeal drug developed in recent years, racecadotril, acts as an enkephalinase inhibitor. Clinical studies have shown that it is just as effective as ioperamide in resolving acute diarrhoea but with greater reduction in pain and abdominal distension. Some studies have explored the prevalence of diarrhoea in old age. An epidemiological study carried out in Italy by 133 General Practitioners on 5515 elderly outpatients reported a prevalence of diarrhoea, defined according to the Rome criteria, of 9.1%. Infectious diseases （19%） and drug use （16%） were the most common causes of diarrhoea in old age. Regardless of the cause, the treatment of elderly patients with diarrhoea must include rehydration and nutritional support. Every year, more than 50 million tourists travel from industrialized countries to places where hygiene levels are pool. At least 75% of those travelling for short periods mention health problems, and in particular traveller＇s diarrhoea.展开更多
文摘AIM： To compare two different daily doses of lansoprazole given for 12 weeks and to assess the role of gastrointestinal （GI） investigations as criteria for selecting patients. METHODS： Out of 45 patients referred for unexplained chronic persistent cough, 36 had at least one of the GI investigations （endoscopy, 24-h esophageal pH- metry and a 4-week trial of proton pump inhibitor （PPI） therapy） positive and were randomly assigned to receive either 30 mg lansoprazole o.d. or 30 mg lansoprazole b.i.d, for 12 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated at baseline （visit 1） after the PPI test （visit 2） and after the 12-week lansoprazole treatment period （visit 3）. RESULTS： Thirty-five patients completed the study protocol. Twenty-one patients （60.0%） reported complete relief from their cough with no difference between the two treatment groups （58.8% and 61.1% had no cough in 30 mg lansoprazole and 60 mg lansoprazole groups, respectively）. More than 80% of the patients who had complete relief from their cough at the end of the treatment showed a positive response to the PPI test. CONCLUSION： Twelve weeks of lansoprazole treatment even at a standard daily dose, is effective in patients with chronic persistent cough. A positive response to an initial PPI test seems to be the best criterion for selecting patients who respond to therapy.
文摘While lifestyle modifications are currently used as firstline treatment for subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the pathogenetic role of lifestyle factors and consequently, the efficacy of lifestyle measures is controversial. Our aim was to systematically review the pathogenetic link between overweight/ obesity, dietary habits, physical activity and GERD, and the beneficial effect of specific recommended changes, by means of the available literature from the 1999 to the present. Obesity, in particular, abdominal obesity, plays a key role in determining GERD symptoms and complications through mechanical and metabolic effects. Controlled weight loss (by diet or surgery) is effective in improving GERD symptoms. No definitive data exist regarding the role of diet and, in particular, of specific foods or drinks, in influencing GERD clinical manifestations. Moderate physical activity seems to be beneficial for GERD, while vigorous activity may be dangerous in predisposed individuals. In conclusion, being obese/overweight and GERD-specific symptoms and endoscopic features are related, and weight loss significantly improves GERD clinical-endoscopic manifestations. The role of dietary behavior, mainly in terms of specific dietary components, remains controversial. Mild routine physical activity in association with diet modifications, i.e. a diet rich in fiber and low in fat, is advisable in preventing reflux symptoms.
文摘Diarrhoea is an alteration of normal bowel movement characterized by an increase in the water content, volume, or frequency of stools. Diarrhoea needs to be classified according to the trends over time （acute or chronic） and to the characteristics of the stools （watery, fatty, inflammatory）. Secretory diarrhoeas, mostly acute and of viral aetiology in more than 70% of cases, are by far the most important subtype of diarrhoeas in terms of frequency, incidence and mortality （over 2.5 million deaths/year in developing countries）. Natural and synthetic opiates such as morphine, codeine, and Ioperamide which react with endogenous opiates （enkephalins, beta-endorphins, dynorphins） mainly act on intestinal motility and slow down transit. An antidiarrhoeal drug developed in recent years, racecadotril, acts as an enkephalinase inhibitor. Clinical studies have shown that it is just as effective as ioperamide in resolving acute diarrhoea but with greater reduction in pain and abdominal distension. Some studies have explored the prevalence of diarrhoea in old age. An epidemiological study carried out in Italy by 133 General Practitioners on 5515 elderly outpatients reported a prevalence of diarrhoea, defined according to the Rome criteria, of 9.1%. Infectious diseases （19%） and drug use （16%） were the most common causes of diarrhoea in old age. Regardless of the cause, the treatment of elderly patients with diarrhoea must include rehydration and nutritional support. Every year, more than 50 million tourists travel from industrialized countries to places where hygiene levels are pool. At least 75% of those travelling for short periods mention health problems, and in particular traveller＇s diarrhoea.
