Active clinical trials for "Digestive System Diseases"

The PHAGE study is designed to determine if a commercial prebiotic product can change the composition of bacteria in the gut for improved intestinal health. A prebiotic is defined as an indigestible dietary component that selectively enhances specific bacterial species in the intestines to confer a health benefit. In this study, the prebiotic a unique combination of bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria. These phages are generally regarded as safe for human consumption and work by infecting bad bacteria in the gut, which allows beneficial bacteria populations to increase. The product, PreforPro, has shown to be effective in culture-based and animal studies, but its efficacy has not been demonstrated in humans. The goal of this study is to see if PreforPro consumption improves gut bacteria profiles in individuals relative to a placebo control and is associated with reduced incidence and severity of gastrointestinal distress.

After institutional review approval, pregnant women that are scheduled for elective cesarean delivery will be approached for participation in the study. The study informed consent will be obtained. The study's time frame inclusive will be from 2013 till 2016. Patients will be randomized to regular diet within 6 hrs postoperative (Early group) versus remaining nothing per os (NPO, i.e nothing per mouth) for 12hrs, and the diet then advanced as tolerated after 12hrs (Routine Group) as standard postoperative protocol in the investigators' institution. Primary outcome will be time to pass flatus. Secondary outcomes will include hospital length of stay, postoperative nausea, vomiting and patient satisfaction. Randomization will be performed using a computer generated random list of numbers assigning patients to the 2 groups of the study. This list of random number assignments will be kept secure in an opaque envelope until the end of the study. Patients in the Early group will be started on regular diet within 6 hrs of surgery, whereas the routine group patients will be kept strict NPO 12hrs, and clear liquid diet will be started after 12hrs. Diet will be advanced as tolerated, i.e. if clears were tolerated or flatus or bowel movement occurred, patients will be started on solid foods. If diet not tolerated, a full liquid diet will be given instead. Consequently if patient tolerated full liquid diet, a regular diet will be then initiated. Patients will be discharged home only if they tolerate solid food with absence of emesis, have flatus or bowel movement. Time Zero is defined as time of skin incision.

Recent studies have shown that FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) free diet is efficient in subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and celiac disease (CD) can experience functional gastrointestinal symptoms not related to inflammation, but data about the use of low FODMAPs diet in these settings are still scarce. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of a low FODMAPs diet in patients with IBS, non-active IBD and CD on strict gluten-free diet (GFD). A low FODMAPs diet could be a valid option to contrast abdominal symptoms in patients with IBS, non-active IBD and CD on GFD, thus improving the quality of life and the social relations.

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is the most common gastrointestinal disease in daily clinical practice. The disease is symptomatic but has no identifiable cause by standard diagnostic tests such as endoscopy. It is characterized by its frequent relapses and thus the disease causes a significant level of stress and anxiety to patients. Due to the complexity and chronicity of the disease, it is believed that appropriate counseling on the nature and management of the disease is necessary to decrease patient's anxiety level and improve quality of life. Indication: Patients who have symptoms suggestive of FGID including non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD), functional dyspepsia (FD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim: To validate the effectiveness of counseling in patients suffering from FGID. Method: Patients recruited to the study will follow the usual management of patients attending the Gastroenterology specialty clinic in Prince of Wales Hospital. Standard blood tests and endoscopy will be performed. Standard medication will be given to the patients for 8 weeks after endoscopy and the patients will come back to the specialty clinic for a final visit. The patient will be given an "on-demand follow up within 1 year" option at final visit. The patient will decide if he/she wants to come back to our specialty clinic to follow up his/her problem within one year. Follow-up after Final Visit Follow-up questionnaires will be mailed to patients 6 months, 1 and 2 years after Final visit. Randomization: All the patients will be randomized into two groups in First Visit: 1) Control group, and 2) Counseling group. Both groups of patients will follow the above protocol, except that 2 extra counseling sessions will be arranged for the Counseling group immediately after visiting the physician.

Aim: To estimate an oral administered recommended minimum efficacy daily dose (MED) of Jarlsberg cheese in order to obtain the needed increased level of Osteocalcin defined as the ratio [Carboxylated / Under Carboxylated] Osteocalcin. Study population: Healthy Voluntary (HV) women between 20 years and pre-menopausal age. Design: Open and randomised two-dimensional single-centre trial with 3-level between-patient Response Surface Pathway (RSP) design in the first dimension and 3-level within-patient RSP design in the secondary dimension.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of Salix Probiotic Blend, administered orally for 30 days, in participants with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances.

In this study researchers want to learn more about the effectiveness of Iberogast® in patients with irritable stomach and concomitant chronic or recurrent heartburn and backward flow of stomach liquid into the esophagus. 60 patients in the age range from 18 - 80 year will be treated over 4 weeks with Iberogast® or placebo - an inactive substance which looks identical to Iberogast®. Patients completed diaries will provide researchers with detailed information on the change of stomach and intestinal symptoms during the treatment period. In addition information on the acidity of the esophagus and stomach liquid will be collected.

Anxiety and stress are problems which are often seen in patients about to undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and taking them under control is important in calming the person and in reducing complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reiki applied before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on levels of anxiety, stress and comfort. This was a single-blind, randomized sham-controlled study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were separated by randomization into three groups: reiki (n=53), sham reiki (n=53) and control (n=53). A total of 159 patients participated in the study. In the reiki group, reiki was applied once for approximately 20-25 minutes before gastrointestinal endoscopy. Collection of data was by a Patient Identification Form, the Visual Analog Scale for Stress, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Short General Comfort Questionnaire.

The purpose of the protocol is to demonstrate that Eziclen®/Izinova®, an osmotic sulphate-based laxative preparation given on the day before colonoscopy has non-inferior efficacy to Klean-Prep® (polyethylene glycol (PEG)-electrolytes) on colon cleansing in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (inclusive) with a body weight >40 kg, scheduled to undergo a colonoscopy for a routinely accepted diagnostic indication.

The inhibitory effect of low dose GLP-1 is investigated on prandial motility of the stomach, duodenum and jejunum in vivo in humans. Supplementary in vitro studies on the mechanism of action of the GLP-1 inhibition of motility as carried out on muscle strips from the upper gastrointestinal tract in man.