Evaluation of Gallbladder Contractility Using Both CCK and Milk Consecutively
Abdominal PainThis study aims to combine the use of IV CCK administration followed by oral milk during a HIDA scan to further stimulate the gallbladder contractility and decrease the number of false abnormal HIDA scans and unnecessary cholecystectomies in some patients.
Effect of Escitalopram vs. Reboxetine on Gastro-intestinal Sensitivity of Patients With Major Depressive...
Major DepressionPain1 morePatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly have many gastrointestinal complaints. Gastrointestinal pain is classified into 2 categories: visceral and somatic pain. The main aim of this study is to compare somatic and visceral sensitivity between healthy people and pateints with MDD. These two sensitivities will be assessed by the 2 following tests: standardized rectal distension and Transdermal transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. Thereafter, patients with MDD will be randomly allocated to escitalopram or reboxetine. After 6 weeks of treatment, somatic and visceral sensitivity will be reassessed.
Peppermint Oil Pharmacokinetics/Dynamics
Abdominal PainIn children 7-12 years of age with functional abdominal pain (n=42) determine: Aim 1 - To examine and characterize the threshold of the exposure (PK) vs. response (PD) relationship of PMO (menthol) Aim 2 - PD of PMO as assessed by: Microbiome composition (16S RNA sequencing) Transit rate/contractile activity (using the SmartPill®) Aim 3 - Evaluate the potential association between PD response and clinical symptoms (abdominal pain and stooling pattern via validated diary), psychosocial distress (anxiety, depression, somatization), and characterize potential side effects (questionnaire)
Evaluating the Impact of Automated Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Symptoms (AEGIS) on Clinical Outcomes...
Abdominal PainDeglutition Disorders5 moreHealthcare delivery now mandates shorter visits with higher documentation requirements, undermining the patient-provider interaction. Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to improve outcomes and quality of care in this pressured environment, and are endorsed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act as an important mechanism to support value-based healthcare. However, EHR systems were principally designed to support the transactional needs of administrators and billers, less so to nurture the relationship between patients and their providers. The purpose of this research is to identify ways to use EHRs to support clinical gastroenterologists and their patients while meeting the meaningful use requirements of the HITECH Act. To improve clinic visit efficiency and meet criteria for meaningful use, investigators developed a patient-provider portal (P3) that systematically collects patient symptoms using a computer algorithm called Automated Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Symptoms (AEGIS). AEGIS utilizes computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to guide patients through questions drawn from a library of over 300 symptom attributes measuring the timing, severity, frequency, location, quality, and character of their GI symptoms, along with relevant comorbidities, family history, and alarm features. The system then automatically "translates" the patient report into a full narrative HPI available for use by GI providers in an EHR. In a cross-sectional study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology comparing AEGIS versus physician-documented HPIs, investigators found that blinded physician reviewers perceived that AEGIS HPIs were of higher overall quality, better organized, and more succinct, comprehensible, complete and useful compared to HPIs written by physicians during usual care in academic GI clinics. In the current study, investigators aim to evaluate computer-generated HPIs prospectively on a wider scale in diverse academic and community-based settings. Moreover, investigators aim to test an enhanced AEGIS intervention that ties patient HPIs to an individualized "education prescription" which guides the patient through a library of multi-media educational materials on GI symptoms, conditions, and treatments.
The Clinical Application of MCCES in Examination of Human Colon
Abdominal PainDiarrhea1 moreThis study is to determine the feasibility and safety of magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy system in examination of human colon under the real time monitoring by colonoscopy in the clinical application.
SIBO, Immune Activation, and FGIDs in Children
Small Intestinal Bacterial OvergrowthIrritable Bowel Syndrome2 morePURPOSE: This study will evaluate the relationships between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), immune activation, inflammation, and symptoms in pediatric abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), i.e., irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD), & functional abdominal pain (FAP), to better understand the role of SIBO in their pathogenesis. DESIGN & PROCEDURES: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Patients followed at the UT-Houston Pediatric GI clinic, aged 4-17 years, undergoing endoscopic evaluation of abdominal pain, meeting Rome III diagnostic criteria for IBS, FD, or FAP, without evidence of an organic etiology of abdominal pain upon routine laboratory, radiologic, endoscopic, histologic evaluation. Sample Size: At least 30 patients, ≥ 15 with SIBO (i.e., positive small bowel aspirate culture and/or glucose breath hydrogen test), and ≥15 without SIBO. Sample Materials: Small bowel biopsies and aspirates, serum, breath samples, symptom questionnaire responses. Measures: 1) Immune activation & inflammation - measured by serum cytokine levels & small intestinal tissue inflammatory cell infiltration & cytokine levels. 2) Symptoms - measured by Abdominal Pain Index, Wong-Baker FACES™ Pain Rating Scale, Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms - Rome III Version. 3) Small bowel microbiota analysis - assessed by 454 pyrosequencing. RISKS & POTENTIAL BENEFITS: Aside from the risks associated with routine endoscopy with biopsies, which would occur even without study enrollment, the risks associated with serum collection, one extra biopsy specimen collection, small bowel aspirate collection, completion of pain scales/ questionnaires, and the glucose breath hydrogen test for the purposes of the study are minimal. POTENTIAL IMPACT: This study should yield valuable information regarding the relationships between SIBO, immune activation, inflammation, and symptoms in pediatric IBS, FD, and FAP. Potential biomarkers to support the diagnosis of these FGIDs and novel targets for therapy, such as immune molecules and previously unrecognized bacterial phylotypes and species possibly contributing to disease pathogenesis, may be identified. Also, determining the reliability of the glucose breath hydrogen test vs. small bowel aspirate culture in the diagnosis of SIBO in this setting may enable the physician to avoid invasive and costly procedures in the diagnostic work-up of children with these FGIDs.
Abdominal Plane Blocks (APB) in Chronic Abdominal Pain (CAP)
Abdominal PainAbdominal Myofascial Pain Syndrome (AMPS)1 moreBackground: Chronic Abdominal Pain (CAP) is the sixth most common cause of hospital admission from any cause in women and the tenth most common cause in men. In the UK, it has been estimated that chronic abdominal pain costs the economy in excess of £100 million per annum. The mechanism of CAP is poorly understood. Patients with acute exacerbation of their CAP have multiple hospital admissions, prolonged length of stay and utilise significant health care resources. These patients have undergone multiple investigations with negative results leading to frustration for both the patient and the clinician. Additional testing and investigations increases costs, patient morbidity and comes with added risks. Patients are discharged once the flare up settles. The investigators have shown that treating patients with steroid injection followed by pulsed radio frequency treatment six months later can reduce the length of stay, repeat hospital admission, improve mood and provide durable pain relief in patients with CAP. The steroid is injected into a specific plane in the abdominal wall and is called abdominal plane block (APB). The investigators currently offer ABP treatment as a standard treatment in the management of patients with CAP. Aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Abdominal Plane Block (APB) treatment in reducing hospital readmission over 12 months in patients admitted with exacerbation of CAP Methods: The proposed study is a prospective, observational pilot study that will be conducted at Leicester General Hospital over 36 months. After providing written consent, adult patients admitted to the hospital with acute exacerbation of CAP will receive two sequential APB treatments (steroid injection followed by pulsed radio frequency treatment) six month apart. If the first treatment with steroid does not provide any benefit, the participants will receive a rescue treatment (trigger point injection with steroids). Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires on pain scores, mood and quality of life. Length of hospital stay, number of hospital re-admission following APB treatment as well as any complication from the APB treatment will be recorded. Participation in the study will end at 12 months following the first APB treatment on completion of relevant questionnaires.
Diagnostic Performance of Low-Dose CT for Acute Abdominal Conditions
Abdominal PainAcute Pain3 moreThe goal of this non-inferiority observational study is to assess the diagnostic performance of low-dose CT with deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in adult participants with acute abdominal conditions. The main research question is: • Can low-dose CT with DLIR achieve the same diagnostic performance as standard CT for the diagnosis of acute abdominal conditions. Participants will be examined with an additional low-dose CT directly after the standard CT. Participant will be their own controls.
Heart Rate Variability in Children With a Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder
Abdominal PainThe current study is designed to assess relationships between anxiety/stress, autonomic nervous system balance, and electrical activity in the stomach before and after eating/drinking in children with abdominal pain.
Anchoring Patients Pain Scores in the Emergency Department
Abdominal PainChest Pain5 moreThe proposed research will be a prospective, observational study to test the hypothesis that anchoring will affect verbal pain scores in the emergency department. There will be a small retrospective aspect to this study to obtain patient satisfaction ratings.