[Gastric vs. supragastric belching, singultus, aerophagia, and differential diagnoses : An interdisciplinary perspective for otorhinolaryngologists]. / Gastrisches versus supragastrisches "belching", Singultus, Aerophagie und Differenzialdiagnosen : Eine interdisziplinäre Übersicht für den HNO-Arzt.

Belching is the act of expelling air from the stomach or esophagus into the pharynx. Although the process is regarded as physiological, excessive belching might be associated with a significant burden for affected patients in the sense of a belching disorder. Diagnosis of a belching disorder is often challenging, and its differentiation from other conditions such as rumination syndrome, singultus, or aerophagia can be difficult. Treatment of these disorders also represents a challenge for otorhinolaryngologists. Hence, the aim of this review is to provide an interdisciplinary overview of these clinical syndromes and provide practical guidance for their diagnosis and treatment.

Statement of Partnership and Humility: A Structural Intervention to Improve Equity and Justice in Medical Education.

PROBLEM: Due to generational exposure to the Black Lives Matter movement, other anti-bias social movements, and diverse peer advocacy groups, health professions students are often more knowledgeable than their teachers about ways in which systemic racism and bias have led to scientific inaccuracies that contribute to health inequities. However, traditional hierarchies and concerns about retaliation may limit educational communities from benefiting maximally from students' contributions. APPROACH: In spring 2021, faculty and students at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, designed a structural innovation to engage faculty and students in partnership toward decreasing bias in medical education. This article discusses development and implementation of a Statement of Partnership and Humility (SPH) disclosure slide on which faculty acknowledge consideration of potential teaching biases and invite student feedback. OUTCOMES: The initial primary goal of the SPH slide was to increase faculty awareness and engagement in anti-bias topics; however, the unexpected dividends of decreasing faculty anxiety about receiving student feedback and promoting student engagement have proven equally powerful in promoting a healthy, inclusive learning environment. NEXT STEPS: Next steps include gathering qualitative and quantitative data to elicit both faculty and student perspectives on the use of the SPH slide, particularly with regard to psychological safety and openness to feedback.

[Help, I can't burp! A brief overview and case discussion of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction]. / Hilfe, ich kann nicht rülpsen: Falldarstellung und Kurzübersicht zur retrograden krikopharyngealen Dysfunktion.

In this short communication, we discuss the recently described syndrome of retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD) with its first description in 2019 by the laryngologist Dr. Bastian. Diagnosis is generally based on typical clinical symptoms, e.g., the inability to belch, a bloated abdomen and retrosternal gurgling noises. We also describe high-resolution esophageal manometry as a new tool to further secure the diagnosis of R­CPD, as well as therapeutic options such as botulinum toxin injections in the cricopharyngeal muscle or cricopharyngeal myotomy and the published data thereon.

Interventional functional diagnostics in gastrointestinal endoscopy: Combining diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the endoscopy suite with the functional lumen imaging probe.

With technical progress of gastrointestinal functional testing, there has been a demand for more comprehensive examination of esophageal physiology and pathophysiology beyond high-resolution manometry. A new interventional technology based on impedance planimetry, the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP), enables intraluminal measurement of distensibility and compliance of hollow organs. EndoFLIP uses balloon catheters to measure diameter and distension pressure to calculate cross-sectional area and distensibility in different organs (mostly esophagus, stomach, anorectal region) and can be used in wide variety of indications (diagnostics, pre- and post-treatment evaluation) and currently serves as a helpful adjunctive tool in ambiguous clinical cases. EsoFLIP is a therapeutic variation that uses a stiffer balloon catheter allowing for dilation. The trend to simplify the clinical process from diagnosis to treatment tends to a one-session procedure combining diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. In specified conditions like e.g. achalasia or gastroparesis, a combination of EndoFLIP and EsoFLIP procedures may therefore be useful. The aim of this narrative review is to introduce the clinical use of FLIP and its potential benefit in combined diagnostic-therapeutic procedures.

Survival outcomes in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical vs. partial cystectomy.

PURPOSE: While radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), partial cystectomy (PC) is an effective alternative in select patients. We sought to examine differences in survival for RC and PC in a hospital-based registry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with cT2-4 bladder cancer who underwent RC or PC from 2003 to 2015 in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Using inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) to control for known confounders, we compared the primary outcome of overall survival (OS) in patients who underwent RC vs. PC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling were used. We performed a secondary survival analysis for a subcohort of patients with cT2, cN0, tumor size ≤5 cm, and no concurrent carcinoma in situ (CIS), who may be optimal candidates for PC. RESULTS: A total of 22,534 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 6.9% (1,457) underwent PC. RC had longer median OS than PC (67.8 vs. 54.1 months) and on Cox regression analysis (HR 0.88, 95% CI, 0.80-0.95, P = 0.002). However, in our subcohort, there was no difference in OS between RC and PC (HR 1.02, 95% CI, 0.9-1.2, P = 0.74). PC was associated with increased time from surgery to any systemic therapy or death in the subcohort. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with clinically organ-confined MIBC, PC appears to afford similar survival outcomes to RC in a large national data set. The safety and tolerability of PC may warrant consideration in highly selected patients.

[Frequent Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: Management of Functional Dyspepsia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Clinical Practice]. / Häufige Magen-Darm-Beschwerden: Management der funktionellen Dyspepsie und des Reizdarm-Syndroms in der Praxis.

Frequent Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: Management of Functional Dyspepsia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Clinical Practice Abstract: Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two common gastrointestinal entities with overlapping symptoms, should be diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria. This includes one or more of the following symptoms: in FD, postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain or burning; in IBS, recurrent abdominal pain associated with defecation, change in frequency of stool or form of stool. To exclude structural diseases, attention should be paid to alarm symptoms. As far as treatment is concerned, a stepwise scheme proves to be effective for both diseases. Step 1: doctor-patient discussion with explanation of diagnosis and prognosis as well as clarification of therapy goals; lifestyle adaptations; use of phytotherapeutics; step 2: symptom-oriented medication: for FD, PPIs or prokinetics; for IBS, antispasmodics, secretagogues, laxatives, bile acid sequestrants, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, probiotics; step 3: visceral analgesics (antidepressants).

Clarithromycin-based Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is not associated with higher treatment failure compared with non-clarithromycin-based regimens in a tertiary referral hospital in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, various Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens other than clarithromycin-based therapies have been proposed. However, detailed data on which therapies were employed and their eradication success is lacking. The purpose of this study was to analyse the response rates of different eradication therapy schemes. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed data of 1721 patients and included 608 patients undergoing H. pylori eradication therapy at the Department of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital Zurich between 2004 and 2018. The primary endpoint was the success rates of clarithromycin- and non-clarithromycin-containing H. pylori eradication regimens. We furthermore analysed factors with potential impact on the outcome of H. pylori eradication therapies, such as demographics, and smoking and social status. RESULTS: The most common therapy scheme (71% of all cases) was proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-amoxicillin-metronidazole, followed by PPI-amoxicillin-clarithromycin (21%) and PPI-metronidazole-clarithromycin (6%). There was no difference between the H. pylori eradication success of clarithromycin vs non-clarithromycin-containing therapies (71% vs 71%, p = 0.764). CONCLUSION: Despite increasing clarithromycin resistance globally, there was no difference in the eradication success of clarithromycin- and non-clarithromycin-containing therapy regimens in Switzerland. As varying triple therapies do not increase eradication rates in real-world settings, other primary therapy options such as quadruple therapies should be explored.

Altered sensorimotor processing in irritable bowel syndrome: Evidence for a transdiagnostic pathomechanism in functional somatic disorders.

Objective: A recent hypothesis suggests that functional somatic symptoms are due to altered information processing in the brain, with rigid expectations biasing sensorimotor signal processing. First experimental results confirmed such altered processing within the affected symptom modality, e.g., deficient eye-head coordination in patients with functional dizziness. Studies in patients with functional somatic symptoms looking at general, trans-symptomatic processing deficits are sparse. Here, we investigate sensorimotor processing during eye-head gaze shifts in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to test whether processing deficits exist across symptom modalities. Methods: Study participants were seven patients suffering from IBS and seven age- and gender-matched healthy controls who performed large gaze shifts toward visual targets. Participants performed combined eye-head gaze shifts in the natural condition and with experimentally increased head moment of inertia. Head oscillations as a marker for sensorimotor processing deficits were assessed. Bayes statistics was used to assess evidence for the presence or absence of processing differences between IBS patients and healthy controls. Results: With the head moment of inertia increased, IBS patients displayed more pronounced head oscillations than healthy controls (Bayes Factor 10 = 56.4, corresponding to strong evidence). Conclusion: Patients with IBS show sensorimotor processing deficits, reflected by increased head oscillations during large gaze shifts to visual targets. In particular, patients with IBS have difficulties to adapt to the context of altered head moment of inertia. Our results suggest general transdiagnostic processing deficits in functional somatic disorders.

Recognizing and Defining Occasional Constipation: Expert Consensus Recommendations.

Constipation is a common problem, affects 15% of the population, and is often self-diagnosed and self-managed. Over the past 3 decades, there have been significant advances in our understanding and management of chronic constipation, with the emerging recognition that occasional constipation (OC) is another subtype that falls outside current classifications. The purpose of this review was to describe the process of developing and proposing a new definition for OC based on expert consensus and taking into consideration the multifactorial nature of the problem such as alterations in bowel habit that include stool frequency and difficulty with stool passage, perception of the sufferer, duration of symptoms, and potential responsiveness to treatment. Leading gastroenterologists from 5 countries met virtually on multiple occasions through an online digital platform to discuss the problem of OC and recommended a practical, user-friendly definition: "OC can be defined as intermittent or occasional symptomatic alteration(s) in bowel habit. This includes a bothersome reduction in the frequency of bowel movements and/or difficulty with passage of stools but without alarming features. Bowel symptoms may last for a few days or a few weeks, and episodes may require modification of lifestyle, dietary habits and/or use of over-the-counter laxatives or bulking agents to restore a satisfactory bowel habit." Prospective studies are required to validate this definition and determine OC prevalence in the community. This review highlights current knowledge gaps and could provide impetus for future research to facilitate an improved understanding of OC and development of evidence-based management guidelines.

Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility.

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and functional diarrhoea (FDr) are the two major functional bowel disorders characterized by diarrhoea. In spite of their high prevalence, IBS-D and FDr are associated with major uncertainties, especially regarding their optimal diagnostic work-up and management. A Delphi consensus was performed with experts from 10 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 31 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for all the statements. The panel agreed with the potential overlapping of IBS-D and FDr. In terms of diagnosis, the consensus supports a symptom-based approach also with the exclusion of alarm symptoms, recommending the evaluation of full blood count, C-reactive protein, serology for coeliac disease, and faecal calprotectin, and consideration of diagnosing bile acid diarrhoea. Colonoscopy with random biopsies in both the right and left colon is recommended in patients older than 50 years and in presence of alarm features. Regarding treatment, a strong consensus was achieved for the use of a diet low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols, gut-directed psychological therapies, rifaximin, loperamide, and eluxadoline. A weak or conditional recommendation was achieved for antispasmodics, probiotics, tryciclic antidepressants, bile acid sequestrants, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 antagonists (i.e. alosetron, ondansetron, or ramosetron). A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis, and management of IBS-D and FDr.

Linaclotide utilization and potential for off-label use and misuse in three European countries.

Introduction: Linaclotide is approved for adults with moderate-to-severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C). Linaclotide is not indicated for weight loss or for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); it is contraindicated in patients with mechanical bowel obstruction (MBO). Some patients with obesity or eating disorders (ED) may use linaclotide off-label for weight loss or as a laxative. Objectives: To describe the use of linaclotide in clinical practice, including patients with potential for off-label use or misuse. Methods: Post-authorization safety study conducted in three databases from the linaclotide launch date to 2017: the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in the United Kingdom (UK), the Information System for Research in Primary Care database in Spain and the linked Patient, Prescription and Causes of Death Registries in Sweden. Cohorts of patients were identified as having IBS using diagnostic and treatment codes; IBS subtypes were identified using symptoms and treatment codes; patients with obesity, ED, MBO, and IBD were identified using diagnostic codes or body mass index. Results: There were 1319, 1981, and 5081 linaclotide users from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden with a median age of 45, 57, and 51 years, respectively; most were females. In the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden, respectively: 59.0%, 60.3%, and 31.3% of linaclotide users had an IBS diagnosis recorded, and among those, 68.8%, 61.3%, and 92.7% were classified as IBS-C. The proportions of linaclotide users considered at risk for potential off-label use for weight loss or as a laxative were 17.1%, 29.7%, and 1.7%, and the proportions of users considered at risk of misuse due to a history of MBO or IBD were 3.5%, 4.6%, and 5.7% in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden, respectively. Conclusions: Potential linaclotide off-label use and misuse appears limited, as evidenced by the small sizes of the patient subgroups at risk for off-label use and misuse.

Endoscopic pyloromyotomy for the treatment of severe and refractory gastroparesis: a pilot, randomised, sham-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) is a minimally invasive treatment option with promising uncontrolled outcome results in patients with gastroparesis. DESIGN: In this prospective randomised trial, we compared G-POEM with a sham procedure in patients with severe gastroparesis. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with treatment success (defined as a decrease in the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI) by at least 50%) at 6 months. Patients randomised to the sham group with persistent symptoms were offered cross-over G-POEM. RESULTS: The enrolment was stopped after the interim analysis by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board prior to reaching the planned sample of 86 patients. A total of 41 patients (17 diabetic, 13 postsurgical, 11 idiopathic; 46% male) were randomised (21 G-POEM, 20-sham). Treatment success rate was 71% (95% CI 50 to 86) after G-POEM versus 22% (8-47) after sham (p=0.005). Treatment success in patients with diabetic, postsurgical and idiopathic gastroparesis was 89% (95% CI 56 to 98), 50% (18-82) and 67% (30-90) after G-POEM; the corresponding rates in the sham group were 17% (3-57), 29% (7-67) and 20% (3-67).Median gastric retention at 4 hours decreased from 22% (95% CI 17 to 31) to 12% (5-22) after G-POEM and did not change after sham: 26% (18-39) versus 24% (11-35). Twelve patients crossed over to G-POEM with 9 of them (75%) achieving treatment success. CONCLUSION: In severe gastroparesis, G-POEM is superior to a sham procedure for improving both symptoms and gastric emptying 6 months after the procedure. These results are not entirely conclusive in patients with idiopathic and postsurgical aetiologies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03356067; ClinicalTrials.gov.

Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of Faecal Incontinence-A UEG/ESCP/ESNM/ESPCG collaboration.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this project was to create an up-to-date joint European clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of faecal incontinence (FI), using the best available evidence. These guidelines are intended to help guide all medical professionals treating adult patients with FI (e.g., general practitioners, surgeons, gastroenterologists, other healthcare workers) and any patients who are interested in information regarding the diagnosis and management of FI. METHODS: These guidelines have been created in cooperation with members from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG), European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) and the European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology (ESPCG). These members made up the guideline development group (GDG). Additionally, a patient advisory board (PAB) was created to reflect and comment on the draft guidelines from a patient perspective. Relevant review questions were established by the GDG along with a set of outcomes most important for decision making. A systematic literature search was performed using these review questions and outcomes as a framework. For each predefined review question, the study or studies with the highest level of study design were included. If evidence of a higher-level study design was available, no lower level of evidence was sought or included. Data from the studies were extracted by two reviewers for each predefined important outcome within each review question. Where possible, forest plots were created. After summarising the results for each review question, a systematic quality assessment using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) approach was performed. For each review question, we assessed the quality of evidence for every predetermined important outcome. After evidence review and quality assessment were completed, recommendations could be formulated. The wording used for each recommendation was dependent on the level of quality of evidence. Lower levels of evidence resulted in weaker recommendations and higher levels of evidence resulted in stronger recommendations. Recommendations were discussed within the GDG to reach consensus. RESULTS: These guidelines contain 45 recommendations on the classification, diagnosis and management of FI in adult patients. CONCLUSION: These multidisciplinary European guidelines provide an up-to-date comprehensive evidence-based framework with recommendations on the diagnosis and management of adult patients who suffer from FI.

Solid Swallow Examination During High Resolution Manometry and EGJ-Distensibility Help Identify Esophageal Outflow Obstruction in Non-obstructive Dysphagia.

Single water swallow (SWS) high-resolution manometry (HRM) may miss relevant esophageal motility disorders. Solid test meal (STM) during HRM and lately the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) have been shown to be of diagnostic value in the assessment of motility disorders. We aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of STM and FLIP in non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD). Patients assessed for dysphagia with both HRM and FLIP between April 2016 and August 2019 were analyzed for signs of non-obstructive EGJ outflow obstruction (EGJOO) according to Chicago Classification 3.0 (CCv3) and CC adapted for the use with solid swallows (CC-S), followed by an individual group-specific analysis. Five subjects without dysphagia served as control group. Standard HRM- and FLIP-values as well as esophagograms and Eckardt Scores were analyzed. Forty-two patients were identified (male/female, 14/36, median age 62). Twenty-five (59.5%) were diagnosed with EGJOO during STM only (= SWS-negative patients; CC-S). The EGJ distensibility index (EGJ-DI) of symptomatic patients was significantly lower compared to the control group (p = 0.006). EGJ-DI was < 3mm2/mmHg in 67% and 88% of patients diagnosed according to CC-S and CCv3, respectively. The IRP during STM showed a significant association to the corresponding EGJ-DI values (p < 0.001). Seventy-six percent of patients received treatment because of additional STM evaluation with a favorable clinical response rate of 89%. STM and FLIP identify EGJOO in symptomatic patients with normal SWS during HRM. STM resembles an inexpensive and clinically meaningful option to diagnose motility disorders and helps to select patients for interventional treatment.

European guideline on indications, performance, and clinical impact of hydrogen and methane breath tests in adult and pediatric patients: European Association for Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition, European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition consensus.

INTRODUCTION: Measurement of breath hydrogen (H2 ) and methane (CH4 ) excretion after ingestion of test-carbohydrates is used for different diagnostic purposes. There is a lack of standardization among centers performing these tests and this, together with recent technical developments and evidence from clinical studies, highlight the need for a European guideline. METHODS: This consensus-based clinical practice guideline defines the clinical indications, performance, and interpretation of H2 -CH4 -breath tests in adult and pediatric patients. A balance between scientific evidence and clinical experience was achieved by a Delphi consensus that involved 44 experts from 18 European countries. Eighty eight statements and recommendations were drafted based on a review of the literature. Consensus (≥80% agreement) was reached for 82. Quality of evidence was evaluated using validated criteria. RESULTS: The guideline incorporates new insights into the role of symptom assessment to diagnose carbohydrate (e.g., lactose) intolerances and recommends that breath tests for carbohydrate malabsorption require additional validated concurrent symptom evaluation to establish carbohydrate intolerance. Regarding the use of breath tests for the evaluation of oro-cecal transit time and suspected small bowel bacterial overgrowth, this guideline highlights confounding factors associated with the interpretation of H2 -CH4 -breath tests in these indications and recommends approaches to mitigate these issues. CONCLUSION: This clinical practice guideline should facilitate pan-European harmonization of diagnostic approaches to symptoms and disorders, which are very common in specialist and primary care gastroenterology practice, both in adult and pediatric patients. In addition, it identifies areas of future research needs to clarify diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Relationship between Residential Segregation, Later-Life Cognition, and Incident Dementia across Race/Ethnicity.

Systemic racism leads to racial/ethnic residential segregation, which can result in health inequities. We examined if the associations between residential segregation and later-life cognition and dementia differed based on segregation measure and by participant race/ethnicity. Tests of memory (n = 4616), language (n = 4333), visuospatial abilities (n = 4557), and incident dementia (n = 4556) were analyzed in older residents of Northern Manhattan, New York (mean age: 75.7 years). Segregation was measured at the block group-level using three indices: dissimilarity, isolation, and interaction. We fit multilevel linear or Cox proportional hazards models and included a race/ethnicity × segregation term to test for differential associations, adjusting for socioeconomic and health factors. Living in block groups with higher proportions of minoritized people was associated with -0.05 SD lower language scores. Living in block groups with higher potential contact between racial/ethnic groups was associated with 0.06-0.1 SD higher language scores. The findings were less pronounced for other cognitive domains and for incident dementia. Non-Hispanic Black adults were most likely to experience negative effects of neighborhood segregation on cognition (language and memory) and dementia. All indices partly capture downstream effects of structural racism (i.e., unequal distributions of wealth/resources) on cognition. Therefore, desegregation and equitable access to resources have the potential to improve later-life cognitive health.

A rare case of severe gastroenteritis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila after colectomy in a patient with anti-Hu syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Aeromonas hydrophila is a gram-negative facultative anaerobic coccobacillus, which is an environmental opportunistic pathogen. A. hydrophila are involved in several infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis, septicemia and wound infections. However, gastroenteritis caused by Aeromonas spp. are rare and the clinical relevance of Aeromonas species in stool specimens is still under debate. CASE PRESENTATION: Our case concerns a 32-year-old woman who presented at hospital with a worsening watery diarrhea and fever requiring intensive care. A cholera-like illness was diagnosed. The patient had a past history of an anti-Hu syndrome with a myenteric ganglionitis. A molecular multiplex RT-PCR (QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel, QIAGEN) covering a broad spectrum of diverse gastrointestinal pathogens performed directly from the stool was negative but the stool culture revealed growth of A. hydrophila. Further investigations of the A. hydrophila strain in cell cultures revealed the presence of a cytotoxic enterotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: Although A. hydrophila rarely causes gastroenteritis, Aeromonas spp. should be considered as a causative agent of severe gastroenteritis with a cholera-like presentation. This case highlights the need to perform culture methods from stool samples when PCR-based methods are negative and gastrointestinal infection is suspected.

Adding a liquid test meal to a standardized lactulose hydrogen breath test significantly influences abdominal symptom generation and hydrogen values.

OBJECTIVE: While single sugar tests are controversially discussed, combination tests with meals are gaining more attention. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of adding a test meal to lactulose hydrogen breath tests (LHBT) on hydrogen values and abdominal symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). METHODS: Data of 81 FGID patients between 2014-2018 were analyzed. Patients underwent LHBT with 30 g lactulose + 300 mL water and a nutrient challenge test (NCT) including 400 mL liquid test meal + 30 g lactulose. To statistically assess the effect of a test meal on abdominal symptoms and H2, mixed-effect models were used. RESULTS: Adding a test meal to LHBT showed a significant increase in nausea [odds ratio (OR) 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-1.7], decrease in abdominal pain (OR 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9), borborygmi (OR 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.6), diarrhea (OR 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6), and H2 production (estimate -5.3, SE 0.7, P < 0.001). The effect on bloating was only significant in functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome-functional dyspepsia mixed type and functional abdominal pain/bloating (OR 0.1; 95% CI, 0.0-0.2; OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3 resp OR 4.4; 95% CI, 1.8-10.6). CONCLUSIONS: Significant effects on abdominal symptoms and H2 production by adding a test meal to LHBT in FGID patients are shown. Increased occurrence of nausea may be caused by gastric/duodenal hypersensitivity; decreased H2, diarrhea and borborygmi by slower and more physiologic gastric emptying resulting in later arrival of the test substance in the bowel. We recommend NCTs instead of LHBT to more physiologically represent FGID patients' meal-induced burden.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. METHODS: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for 36 statements. RESULTS: The panel agreed with the definition in terms of its cardinal symptoms (early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning), its subdivision into epigastric pain syndrome and postprandial distress syndrome, and the presence of accessory symptoms (upper abdominal bloating, nausea, belching), and overlapping conditions. Also, well accepted are the female predominance of FD, its impact on quality of life and health costs, and acute gastrointestinal infections, and anxiety as risk factors. In terms of pathophysiological mechanisms, the consensus supports a role for impaired gastric accommodation, delayed gastric emptying, hypersensitivity to gastric distention, Helicobacter pylori infection, and altered central processing of signals from the gastroduodenal region. There is consensus that endoscopy is mandatory for establishing a firm diagnosis of FD, but that in primary care, patients without alarm symptoms or risk factors can be managed without endoscopy. There is consensus that H. pylori status should be determined in every patient with dyspeptic symptoms and H. pylori positive patients should receive eradication therapy. Also, proton pump inhibitor therapy is considered an effective therapy for FD, but no other treatment approach reached a consensus. The long-term prognosis and life expectancy are favorable. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis and management of FD.

Increased visceral sensitivity, elevated anxiety, and depression levels in patients with functional esophageal disorders and non-erosive reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about possible underlying psychological abnormalities and physiology of reflux hypersensitivity (RH) as defined in the recent Rome IV classification. We aimed to assess markers of psychological comorbidity as well as gastro-esophageal reflux measurements in RH patients compared to controls and also in patients with functional heartburn (FH) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) versus controls. METHODS: Data of 304 patients visiting our Functional Diagnostics Centre from 2016 to 2018 were analyzed. We focused on a psychological assessment using validated questionnaires (visceral sensitivity index; VSI, hospital anxiety and depression score; HADS) as well as multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) and pH-metry data from the diagnostic work-up. KEY RESULTS: We found a decreased VSI of 57.8 ± 15.4 points (pts) among RH patients (n = 45) indicating higher visceral sensitivity compared to 85.7 ± 2.0 pts in the control group (n = 31, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant difference in VSI was found between the FH (60.8 ± 23.3 pts, n = 59, P < 0.001) and between the NERD (61.9 ± 20.8 pts, n = 67, P < 0.001) both compared to the control group. The HADS also displayed a significant difference between the RH (11.9 ± 6.0 pts, P < 0.001), FH (11.0 ± 7.4 pts, P < 0.001), respectively, NERD (11.3 ± 8.9 pts, P < 0.001) as compared to the control group (2.0 ± 1.4 pts). CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Increased sensation to visceral stimuli as well as anxiety and depression appears to play an important role not only in reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn as defined by Rome IV but also in NERD. These findings are in line with the disease concept of disorders of gut-brain interaction in which psychological comorbidities and visceral hypersensitivity play a major role.