Biomedical subjects

J E Kellow

Publications and source records attributed to J E Kellow.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Gastroparesis and small bowel dysmotility in irritable bowel syndrome.

Alterations in both gastric emptying (GE) and small bowel motility have been reported in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); the relationship, however, between these different measures of upper gut motor function in IBS has not been assessed. The aims of this study were therefore: (1) to compare the prevalence and characteristics of altered small bowel motility in IBS patients with and without delayed GE; and (2) to assess the interrelationships between fasting and postprandial small bowel motility in IBS, accounting for delayed GE. Forty-four IBS patients and 25 healthy controls underwent 24 hr ambulant recording of interdigestive and digestive small bowel motility. On a separate occasion the IBS patients had GE of both solids and liquids measured by a dual-isotope scintigraphic technique. Thirty-nine percent of IBS patients had delayed GE. Patients with normal GE had no interdigestive small bowel abnormalities. However, in patients with delayed GE fasting phase II burst frequency was higher than in controls [median 0.21/hr (IQR 0.15-0.34) vs 0.06/hr (0-0,16), P = 0.004]. Postprandially, abnormal phase III-like activity was higher in diarrhea-predominant IBS patients (0-0.08/hr vs 0/hr, P = 0.01), than in patients with normal GE or controls. Furthermore, IBS patients with delayed GE did not have the normal correlation between fasting and postprandial motor parameters (percentage occurrence of clustered contractions, postprandial pattern duration vs preceding MMC cycle length). In conclusion, small bowel motor dysfunction occurs more frequently in IBS patients with concomitant gastroparesis than in patients with normal GE. These findings provide further evidence that a neuropathic process may contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS in a subgroup of IBS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Small bowel dysmotility in patients with postcholecystectomy sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Postcholecystectomy patients (N = 27) with severe recurrent biliary-like pain who had no evidence of organic disease were subdivided into those with and those without objective evidence of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) based on two separate criteria: (1) clinical criteria-elevated liver function tests and/or amylase with pain, and/or a dilated bile duct, and/or delayed drainage at ERCP (N = 14, SOD classes I and II); and (2) abnormal biliary manometry (N = 19). Prolonged (24-48 hr) ambulant recording of duodenojejunal motor activity was performed in all patients and interdigestive small bowel motor activity compared between patient subgroups and a healthy control group. Phase II motor abnormality was more frequent in patients with, compared to those without, objective clinical criteria of SOD (7/14 vs 0/13, P = 0.003). Phase III abnormality also tended to be more frequent in these patients (7/14 vs 2/13, P = 0.06). In addition, both phase III (P = 0.03) and phase II (P = 0.03) motility index (MI) was higher in patients with sphincter dyskinesia compared to controls; phase II MI was also higher in patients with sphincter stenosis (P = 0.005). Disturbances of small bowel interdigestive motor activity are more prevalent in postcholecystectomy patients with, compared to those without, objective evidence of SOD, and especially in patients with SO dyskinesia. Postcholecystectomy SOD in some patients may thus represent a component of a more generalized intestinal motor disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Effects of oral cisapride on small bowel motility in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cisapride has been reported to improve symptoms in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. AIM: To compare the effects of a 24-h oral dose regimen of cisapride on interdigestive and post-prandial small bowel motor activity in irritable bowel syndrome patients with predominant constipation, irritable bowel syndrome patients with predominant diarrhoea and healthy subjects. METHODS: In 12 irritable bowel syndrome patients (11 females, aged 44 +/- 12 years)--constipation-predominant (irritable bowel syndrome-C, n = 5) and diarrhoea-predominant (irritable bowel syndrome-D, n = 7)--and six healthy subjects, small bowel motor activity was continuously recorded using an ambulatory technique over a 48-h period. Subjects received, in single-blind fashion, placebo tablets q.d.s. in the first 24 h then cisapride 10 mg q.d.s. in the second 24 h. Additional control groups were 13 healthy subjects (eight females, aged 39 +/- 13 years) and 10 irritable bowel syndrome patients (10 females, aged 49 +/- 14 years) who were studied in identical fashion but who did not receive cisapride. RESULTS: Cisapride increased migrating motor complex phase 2 motility index in both irritable bowel syndrome-D (P < 0.01) and irritable bowel syndrome-C (P < 0.05) patients, as well as in healthy subjects (P < 0.01). An increase in fasting discrete clustered contractions occurred in irritable bowel syndrome-D patients (P < 0.001) and in healthy subjects (P < 0.01), but not in irritable bowel syndrome-C patients; the proportion of discrete clustered contractions that were propagated, however, increased only in irritable bowel syndrome-D patients (P < 0.001). In addition, cisapride resulted in an increase in post-prandial motility index in irritable bowel syndrome patients (P < 0.05). Such motor alterations were not observed during the 48-h recording period in the healthy or irritable bowel syndrome patient control groups who did not receive cisapride. CONCLUSIONS: Oral cisapride influences interdigestive and post-prandial small bowel motor activity in both irritable bowel syndrome patients and healthy subjects; the effects of cisapride may be more marked in patients with predominant diarrhoea than in patients with predominant constipation.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Mebeverine alters small bowel motility in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Despite its widespread use in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), limited clinical data exist on the effects of mebeverine hydrochloride on gastrointestinal motility. Human motor activity in the small bowel is more reproducible than that in the large bowel; therefore the aim of this study was to determine in the small bowel the effects of oral mebeverine in both IBS patients and in healthy controls. METHODS: Twelve IBS patients (11 females/1 male, 46 +/- 13 years old)-predominant constipation (IBS-C, n = 6) and predominant diarrhoea (IBS-D, n = 6)-and six healthy controls, underwent continuous 48 h ambulant recording of small bowel motor activity. One low energy (400 kcal) and one high energy (800 kcal) standard meal were administered in each consecutive 24-h period. Subjects received, in blinded fashion, placebo tablets in the first 24 h then mebeverine 135 mg q.d.s. in the second 24 h. RESULTS: Mebeverine had no effect on parameters of small bowel motility in controls. In contrast, in both IBS-C (P = 0.01) and IBS-D (P < 0.05) patients, phase 2 motility index was increased during mebeverine administration. Also, after mebeverine the proportion of the migrating motor complex cycle occupied by phase 2 was reduced in IBS-D (P = 0.01), while phase 2 burst frequency was reduced in IBS-C (P < 0.05). For phase 3 motor activity in IBS-C patients, the propagation velocity was decreased (P < 0.01), and the duration increased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that mebeverine, in the initial dosing period, has a normalizing effect in the small bowel in IBS, enhancing contractile activity in a similar fashion to 'prokinetic' agents, as well as producing alterations in motor activity consistent with an 'antispasmodic' effect.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1996

Jejunal sensorimotor dysfunction in irritable bowel syndrome: clinical and psychosocial features.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The interrelationships between enteric hypersensitivity, dysmotility, and psychosocial factors in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the clinical, jejunal motor, and psychological features in patients with IBS who have heightened sensitivity and those who have normal sensitivity to jejunal balloon distention and (2) examine psychosocial correlates of sensory and/or motor dysfunction. METHODS: Female patients with IBS (n = 24) and healthy controls (n = 9) underwent 24-hour ambulant duodenojejunal manometry, assessment of jejunal sensitivity by balloon distention, and comprehensive psychosocial assessment. RESULTS: In 6 (25%) and 10 (42%) patients, hypersensitivity was present at the threshold for initial perception and at the threshold for pain, respectively. After ingestion of a high-energy standard meal, all patients with heightened sensitivity for perception had abnormalities in the postprandial motor pattern compared with one third of patients with normal sensitivity. In this subgroup with hypersensitivity and postprandial dysmotility, clinical features were not discriminative but an inherently ineffectual coping style featuring both anger hyperreactivity and defensive control of anger was highly characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: In IBS, abnormal postprandial jejunal motor activity is related to jejunal mechanoreceptor-related hypersensitivity, and such sensorimotor dysfunction has a specific psychological profile.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1996

Functional disorders of the small intestine.

Sensorimotor disturbances of the small bowel are implicated increasingly in the pathogenesis of the functional gastrointestinal disorders. In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), alterations in both interdigestive and postprandial motility have been described, for example, the specific peristaltic contractions that are normally present in the ileum appear to occur more frequently and to be associated with abdominal pain in some patients. The latter finding is likely to be related to the selective mechanoreceptor hypersensitivity that has been demonstrated in the small bowel of IBS patients. The level of this afferent dysfunction has, however, not been established; some evidence suggests that personality traits, which predispose to a more severe and prolonged sympathetic response to stressors, may hasten the development of such sensorimotor disturbances.

Colonic Diseases, Functional↗

PubMed1995

Abnormal sphincter of Oddi response to cholecystokinin in postcholecystectomy syndrome patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The irritable sphincter.

Standard biliary manometry, including cholecystokinin (CCK) provocation, was performed on 42 consecutive patients (36 F, 6 M, median age 45 years) with postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) who had no evidence of organic disease but who had objective clinical features suggesting sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) (classes I and II). Patients were subdivided into those with (N = 14) and without (N = 28) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using a validated symptom questionnaire based on the modified Rome criteria. Resting sphincter of Oddi (SO) motor parameters (basal pressure, contractile amplitude and frequency, and proportion of retrograde contractions), the presence of abnormal manometry, and the presence of an abnormal response to CCK were compared in the two groups. No significant differences in resting parameters of SO motor activity between patients with and without IBS were observed, and abnormal biliary manometry as a whole was not more prevalent in either group (8/13 and 18/27, respectively). An abnormal response to CCK (failure of complete inhibition of phasic contractions), however, was demonstrated in five of 12 patients with IBS compared with only one of 23 patients without IBS (P = 0.01). In patients with postcholecystectomy SOD, an abnormal response of the SO to CCK thus appears to be an important feature of the subset of patients with concomitant IBS.

Biliary Dyskinesia↗

PubMed1995

Efficacy of cisapride therapy in functional dyspepsia.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of cisapride therapy in relieving symptoms of functional dyspepsia. METHODS: After a 2-week placebo run-in period, 61 out of 74 patients were eligible to enter a 4-week double-blind treatment phase, consisting of treatment with cisapride (10 mg) or placebo tablets t.d.s. Gastric emptying was assessed scintigraphically at entry to the study. Patients were stratified before treatment into those with or without active chronic (Helicobacter pylori) gastritis. Patients were also classified retrospectively into those with 'reflux-like' dyspepsia (n = 29) and those with 'motility-like' dyspepsia (n = 32). RESULTS: At the end of the active treatment phase, there was a similar significant (P < 0.001) reduction in total symptom score from baseline in both cisapride (8.9 +/- 0.5 to 5.8 +/- 0.6) and placebo (9.7 +/- 0.6 to 5.5 +/- 0.6) groups. Scores for heartburn and continual bloating were significantly reduced in the cisapride but not the placebo group; improvement was attributable to patients with normal, rather than delayed, rates of gastric emptying. For continual bloating, significant improvement also occurred in the cisapride subgroup without gastritis, but not in the subgroup with gastritis (mean symptom score reduction 0.48 +/- 0.18, P = 0.03). For global evaluation by the investigator and by the patient, the overall improvement rates were not statistically different between cisapride and placebo groups. In those with normal gastric emptying, however, there was a significant (P = 0.01) improvement in general well-being in the cisapride but not in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to show major differences in the short-term efficacy of cisapride and placebo in functional dyspepsia. There were indications, however, of beneficial effects of cisapride over placebo in those with 'reflux-like' dyspepsia, and in those without gastroparesis.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Predictive value of symptom profiles in patients with suspected oesophageal dysmotility.

The main aim of the study was to determine prospectively, in patients referred for oesophageal manometry, whether certain combinations of oesophageal symptoms are more likely than others to predict the presence of oesophageal dysmotility or a positive response to acid perfusion testing. In 524 consecutive patients, presenting predominantly with (non-cardiac) chest pain (n = 277), dysphagia (n = 186), or heartburn (n = 61), a standardized symptom assessment was completed before oesophageal manometry and acid perfusion testing. Half the patients in each group reported additional ('secondary') oesophageal symptoms as well as the predominant symptom. Oesophageal dysmotility was categorized in accordance with standard manometric criteria for achalasia, diffuse oesophageal spasm, nutcracker oesophagus, hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter, or non-specific oesophageal motility disorder. In the predominant chest pain group, the prevalence of abnormal manometry was 33%; in the presence of secondary symptoms, especially dysphagia rather than heartburn, however, the prevalence was significantly (p < 0.01) increased. Also in the predominant chest pain group the prevalence of positive acid perfusion testing (44%) was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in those with than in those without secondary symptoms. In the predominant dysphagia group, the prevalence of abnormal manometry was higher than in the other two groups (56%; p < 0.001) but was not affected by the presence or absence of secondary symptoms; this latter finding was also true for the predominant heartburn group. The distribution of specific manometric disorders in any group was not related to the presence or type of secondary symptoms, although a combination of dysphagia and chest pain discriminated achalasia from other manometric disorders.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aphasia↗

PubMed1993

Intragastric distribution and gastric emptying of solids and liquids in functional dyspepsia. Lack of influence of symptom subgroups and H. pylori-associated gastritis.

The relative contributions of altered gastric motor function and Helicobacter pylori-associated active chronic gastritis to the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia are controversial. We therefore evaluated scintigraphically the intragastric distribution and gastric emptying of a mixed solid-liquid meal in 75 patients with functional dyspepsia; patients were subdivided on the basis of both specific symptom clusters and the presence or absence of H. pylori gastritis. Twenty-one (28%) patients displayed abnormal solid and/or liquid gastric emptying, with prolonged solid lag time the most prominent alteration detected. The number of patients with abnormal scintigraphic patterns increased to 36 (48%) when intragastric distribution parameters (fundal half-emptying time and antral maximal fraction) were examined. Although patients with reflux-like dyspepsia (N = 36) demonstrated significantly slower rates of liquid emptying at 45 and 70 min and a higher prevalence of abnormal liquid intragastric distribution when compared to patients with motility-like dyspepsia (N = 39) or to controls (N = 34), the absolute differences were small and unlikely to be of clinical significance. Patients without H. pylori gastritis (N = 50) demonstrated a significantly more prolonged solid lag time when compared to those with H. pylori gastritis (N = 25), but the difference was small and there were no other differences between these two subgroups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Effects of cigarette smoking on solid and liquid intragastric distribution and gastric emptying.

BACKGROUND: The acute effects of cigarette smoking on gastric emptying are controversial, whereas its effects on the intragastric distribution of solids and liquids are not established. METHODS: Dual isotope gastric scintigraphy was performed in 15 habitual smokers (studied twice, either sham smoking or actively smoking) and in 15 age- and sex-matched nonsmokers. RESULTS: Acute smoking was associated with an increased prevalence of episodes of retrograde intragastric movement of solids (3 of 15 sham subjects vs. 12 of 15 actively smoking subjects; P < 0.01) and of liquids (0 of 15 vs. 7 of 15; P < 0.01) from distal to proximal stomach. Fundal half-emptying time (T1/2) for liquids was also prolonged by smoking (43 +/- 19 minutes sham vs. 125 +/- 216 minutes active; P < 0.05). Acute smoking delayed solid lag time (13 +/- 6 minutes sham vs. 32 +/- 18 active; P < 0.05) and liquid T1/2 (46 +/- 21 vs. 90 +/- 50 minutes; P < 0.05). In the nonsmokers, such episodes of proximal intragastric redistribution did not occur, and intragastric and overall emptying parameters did not differ significantly from those of habitual sham smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Acute cigarette smoking produces excessive antrofundal redistribution of both solid and liquid contents and delays solid and liquid gastric emptying.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Motility-like dyspepsia. Current concepts in pathogenesis, investigation and management.

Motility-like dyspepsia, a clinical subgroup of functional dyspepsia, refers to the cluster of symptoms which suggests an underlying motility disturbance of the upper gut. Characteristic symptoms, in addition to upper abdominal pain or discomfort, are nausea, vomiting, early satiety, anorexia, postprandial abdominal bloating and excessive repetitive postprandial belching. Patients with concomitant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are currently excluded from this clinical entity. Delayed gastric emptying of solids and/or liquids, postprandial antral hypomotility and antroduodenal incoordination, gastric myoelectrical arrhythmias and dysfunction of visceral afferents are the major alterations in upper gut sensorimotor activity which have been described. An empirical trial of medical therapy is warranted if there are no "alarm" symptoms at presentation. If symptoms are not relieved after 2-4 weeks, then investigations of the upper gastrointestinal tract, preferably by endoscopy, to exclude the presence of organic disease, is advisable. Management approaches are then reassurance, dietary manipulations and attention to psychosocial aspects. Prokinetic agents appear to be useful as short-term medical therapy in some patients, but optimum long-term treatment strategies, including the use of medications which may improve a diminished tolerance to gut distension, are not established.

Cisapride↗

PubMed1992

Cigarette smoking and nicotine delay postprandial mouth-cecum transit time.

The acute effects of both cigarette smoking and nicotine on postprandial mouth-cecum transit were studied in 20 habitual smokers, 10 males and 10 females. Mouth-cecum transit time was measured by the breath hydrogen technique, following ingestion of a standard mixed liquid meal. Each subject was studied on four separate occasions, either (1) sham or actively smoking two standard cigarettes, commencing 20 min after the meal, or (2) chewing two placebo or nicotine tablets over a 60-min period, commencing immediately after the meal. The time of administration of these stimuli was designed to minimize the effects on mouth-cecum transit time of alterations in gastric emptying. Mouth-cecum transit time was prolonged in response to both smoking [median and interquartile range: 120 (95, 150) min vs 100 (75, 140) min, P = 0.01] and nicotine [120 (80, 170) min vs 100 (70, 140) min, P = 0.002]. No difference was observed between sexes with respect to nicotine; the effect of smoking on mouth-cecum transit time, however, was less pronounced in females compared to males [difference active-placebo: 10 (10, 20) min vs 35 (20, 60) min, P = 0.01]. We conclude that acute cigarette smoking delays mouth-cecum transit time, an effect most likely due to nicotine.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Enteric and central contributions to intestinal dysmotility in irritable bowel syndrome.

The aim of the study was to further elucidate the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome and its subgroups by examining and comparing alterations in small bowel motility, specifically phase II and phase III components of the migrating motor complex. Prolonged recordings of interdigestive small bowel motility were obtained during both diurnal and nocturnal periods in 20 patients with irritable bowel syndrome--10 with predominant constipation and 10 with predominant diarrhea--and in 10 healthy subjects. Diurnal amplitude (mean +/- SD) of phase III activity fronts was lower (P less than 0.05) in constipation-predominant patients (16.3 +/- 3.1 mm Hg) than in diarrhea-predominant patients (20.2 +/- 3.1) or controls (20.9 +/- 2.7). Similar findings were observed nocturnally. Phase III cycle length was also significantly prolonged diurnally in constipation-predominant patients when compared to the other groups. In the diarrhea-predominant group repetitive and rapidly propagated bursts of contractions were observed in eight patients, and this pattern occupied a significantly greater proportion of phase II motor activity than in controls. These alterations in phase II and in phase III components of the migrating motor complex suggest that both local (enteric) and more central mechanisms may operate to produce intestinal dysmotility in the irritable bowel syndrome and that these mechanisms differ according to the predominant alteration of bowel habit.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Suppression of anger and gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Psychologic distress and gastric motor dysfunction have both been implicated in the pathogenesis of functional (non-ulcer) dyspepsia (FD). This study assesses the association between psychologic factors and gastric emptying in 28 FD patients. Subjects completed an extensive range of psychologic questionnaires and underwent dual-isotope scintigraphic assessment of solid and liquid gastric emptying. Attempts to resist, control, suppress, and hold in anger, to adopt a fighting spirit whilst dealing with chronic stressors, and manifest unhappiness were predictors of prolonged gastric emptying. These findings suggest that psychologic factors may be important in the aetiology of gastric stasis and subsequent upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1992

Symptom provocation in irritable bowel syndrome. Effects of differing doses of fructose-sorbitol.

The role of fructose and sorbitol, when ingested together, in the aetiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is controversial. The aims of this study in IBS patients, therefore, were to compare differences in symptom provocation with various doses of fructose-sorbitol and to relate differences in the extent of colonic hydrogen production after each dose to such symptom provocation. Two different mixtures of fructose and sorbitol--20 g fructose plus 3.5 g sorbitol ('lower' dose) and 25 g fructose plus 5 g sorbitol ('higher' dose)--were administered to 15 patients with IBS and to 24 healthy controls. Breath hydrogen concentrations were determined at 10-min intervals for 3 h after ingestion of each mixture, and the presence and severity of a range of gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded on a standard form before, during, and after the study. Total symptom score in IBS patients, but not controls, was greater (p < 0.05) after the higher than after the lower dose of fructose-sorbitol mixture, and, for the higher dose, symptoms were significantly greater in IBS patients than in controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the increase in total symptom score between the higher and lower dose mixtures was of a greater magnitude (p = 0.01) in IBS patients than in controls. No significant correlation was observed between the increase in symptom score and the increase in peak hydrogen concentration or the increase in integrated hydrogen response between lower and higher dose mixtures, although these latter increases were at times substantial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1992

Effects of acute psychologic stress on small-intestinal motility in health and the irritable bowel syndrome.

Psychologic stress may be a provoking factor in the alterations in phase-2 motor activity of the migrating motor complex (MMC) which have been recorded in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To test this, changes in phase-2 duodenojejunal motor activity during 20 min of psychologic stress in 10 patients with IBS were compared with those shown by 10 healthy subjects. Autonomic arousal in response to the stressor was assessed by cardiovascular responses and self-reported levels of anxiety and tension. IBS and controls showed a significant cardiovascular and subjective response to stress which was comparable in the two groups. In general, duodenal phase-2 motor activity was suppressed during stress in both IBS and controls. Jejunal motor activity showed a similar inhibitory response in both groups, but the change in motility index was significant for controls only. Qualitatively, stress did not cause clustered contractions in either the IBS or the control group. However, in IBS patients with clustered contractions in the basal period there was inhibition of this pattern during stress. These findings suggest that acute psychologic stress profoundly suppresses, rather than enhances, duodenojejunal MMC phase-2 motility in healthy subjects. IBS patients, irrespective of their underlying phase-2 motor pattern show similar, although less marked, changes in motility.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Enhanced perception of physiological intestinal motility in the irritable bowel syndrome.

An increased awareness of intestinal distention or contraction is implicated in the pathogenesis of the irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to test this hypothesis in 20 patients with the irritable bowel syndrome and 10 controls by relating the reporting of abdominal sensations to the occurrence of the duodenal phase 3 activity front of the migrating motor complex. During prolonged recordings of interdigestive small bowel motility, subjects were asked to report any episodes of abdominal sensation they experienced. Diurnally, the rate of occurrence of abdominal sensation was significantly greater in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome than in controls (P less than 0.001); such episodes were coincident with a duodenal activity front in 9 patients with the irritable bowel syndrome and in 1 control (P less than .05). Moreover, the rate of occurrence of episodes of sensation was greater (P less than 0.01) during diurnal phase 3 activity than during diurnal phase 2 activity. When episodes were coincident with duodenal phase 3 activity, these activity fronts were of significantly greater amplitude (irritable bowel syndrome: median, 23 mm Hg) than "noncoincident" activity fronts (median, 17 mm Hg; P less than 0.05) in both patients and controls. These data strongly suggest that certain physiological small bowel motor events, if of sufficient contraction amplitude, are able to be perceived by a greater proportion of irritable bowel syndrome patients and with greater frequency than by healthy subjects. The authors conclude that the threshold for perception of intestinal contraction is lower than normal in at least some patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.

Abdomen↗