Integrative Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Bloating and Pain Associated With Overgrowth of Small Intestinal Bacteria: A Case Report.

Context • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is commonly defined as an increased number of bacteria and/or an abnormal type of bacteria in the small intestine. Conventional treatment for SIBO is typically focused on antibiotics to eradicate the bacterial overgrowth. Numerous studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of herbs, and a diet low in fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) has been shown to enhance antibiotic therapy. Objective • The current case study intended to evaluate the benefits of an alternative, multifaceted approach-including botanical and homeopathic therapies in conjunction with a low-FODMAP diet-in the treatment of SIBO and its associated symptoms. Design • The research team performed a case study. Setting • The study was conducted at SCNM Medical Center (Tempe, AZ, USA). Participant • The participant was a female patient at the SCNM Medical Center with chronic, daily, severe abdominal bloating and pain that particularly worsened after meals and by the end of the day. The patient also had a significant history of chronic constipation that had begun approximately 10 y prior to her experiencing the daily abdominal pain. Intervention • Based on a lactulose breath test for hydrogen and methane, the research team diagnosed the patient with a case of mild SIBO. The treatment approach was multifaceted, involving a low-FODMAP diet, antimicrobial botanical therapy, and homeopathic medicine. Results • The patient's abdominal pain and bloating resolved with the treatment of the SIBO, although her underlying constipation, which was likely associated with other factors, remained. Conclusions • This case study supports an alternative, multifaceted approach to the treatment of SIBO and commonly associated symptoms.

Low-dose methotrexate-induced vulvar edema: A case report.

RATIONALE: Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite of folic acid, which is used for management of ectopic pregnancy. MTX-related toxicity may include cutaneous mucosal damage, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal disorders (gastritis, diarrhea, hematitis), liver and kidney function damage, pulmonary toxicity, cardiac toxicity, and nerve toxicity. However, it is not usual for vulvar edema induced by low-dose methotrexate. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this case report, we described a patient with severe vulvar edema and oral cavity ulceration and scalp ulceration induced by low-dose MTX treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Her presenting complaints were pain in the vulva, oral cavity, and scalp. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed based on clinical findings for MTX toxic reactions. INTERVENTIONS: Vulva was disinfectioned with iodide and Kangfuxin solution, her mouth was rinsed with mouthwash. Three compound glycyrrhizin tablets were orally administered (3 times/day). After 10 days, the broken skin and mucous membrane healed. OUTCOMES: The vulvar edema and oral cavity ulceration and scalp ulceration healed. LESSONS: Our study demonstrated that even low-dose MTX can be induced skin and mucosal injury, patients and doctors should timely detection of drug toxicity reactions, immediately rescue, prompt discontinuation of medication, and symptomatic treatment to avoid accidental occurrence.

Abdominal pain due to lead-contaminated opium: a new source of inorganic lead poisoning in Iran.

Although the incidence of occupational and adult lead poisoning has declined, the problem still exists. We encountered three patients with lead poisoning in Iran, all of whom associated with presented with diffuse abdominal pain, which was at times colicky in nature, anemia, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and slightly abnormal liver biochemistries. A history of opium ingestion was present in each of these patients. None of the patients reported known occupational exposure to toxins. Diagnoses of lead poisoning were confirmed through the detection of elevated blood lead levels. The cause of lead poisoning was attributed to the ingestion of contaminated opium. Opium adulterated with lead had not been previously recognized as a source of lead poisoning in Iran. It is, therefore, pointed out that lead poisoning should be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute abdominal colic of unclear cause in patients with opium addiction.

Safety of early pain relief for acute abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVES: (a) to determine the efficacy of papaveretum in treating pain when administered early to patients presenting with acute abdominal pain and (b) to assess its effect on subsequent diagnosis and management. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. SETTING: Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry. SUBJECTS: 100 consecutive patients with clinically significant abdominal pain who were admitted as emergencies to a surgical firm. INTERVENTIONS: Intramuscular injection of up to 20 mg papaveretum or an equivalent volume of saline. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and tenderness scores, assessment of patient comfort, accuracy of diagnosis, and management decisions. RESULTS: Median pain and tenderness scores were lower after papaveretum (pain score 8.3 in control group and 3.1 in treatment group, p < 0.0001; tenderness score 8.1 in control group and 5.1 in treatment group, p < 0.0001). Forty eight patients were deemed to be comfortable after papaveretum compared with nine after saline. Incorrect diagnoses and management decisions applied to two patients after papaveretum compared with nine patients after saline. CONCLUSION: Early administration of opiate analgesia to patients with acute abdominal pain can greatly reduce their pain. This does not interfere with diagnosis, which may even be facilitated despite a reduction in the severity of physical signs. These patients should not be denied effective treatment.

Hepatic morphopathologic findings of lead poisoning in a drug addict: a case report.

We describe the case of a 40-year old Iranian man who was admitted to our hospital with severe abdominal pain, abnormal liver function tests and normocytic anemia. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, he was a regular user of opium for pain relief. Basophilic stippling of erythrocytes pointed towards the diagnosis of lead intoxication, the most likely source being contaminated Iranian opium. Serum lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels were strongly elevated. To assess the hepatotoxic effects of lead poisoning a liver biopsy was performed. Pathomorphologic findings of hepatotoxicity, rarely reported in humans, included active hepatitis together with extensive microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis, hemosiderosis and cholestasis, and a lymphocytic cholangitis. Whilst treated with chelating therapy, liver enzymes returned to normal, suggesting reversibility of the histological findings.

Experimental human infection with the dog hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible routes for human infection by the dog hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum). DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANT: Relatively small numbers of infective larvae were administered orally and percutaneously to an informed healthy volunteer (J K L) under medical supervision, at intervals between May 1998 and May 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms; weekly blood eosinophil counts; faecal microscopy. RESULTS: A marked blood eosinophilia followed a single oral exposure to 100 infective larvae, while faecal examination remained negative. Eosinophil counts then declined gradually, although a rapid, spontaneous rise several months later, at the beginning of spring, possibly indicated reactivation of dormant larvae. Blood eosinophil numbers did not rise significantly after percutaneous infection with 200 larvae. A subsequent, smaller, oral inoculum of 20 larvae provoked an eosinophil response similar to that of the first experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, following ingestion, some infective larvae of A. caninum develop directly into adult worms in the human gut (as they do in dogs). While the percutaneous route might be the most common means of human exposure to canine hookworm larvae, leading generally to subclinical infection, oral infection may be more likely to provoke symptomatic eosinophilic enteritis.

[Colitis ulcerosa and opioid addiction]. / Opioidsucht bei Colitis ulcerosa.

The occurrence of an opioid addiction within an opioid treatment of pain or diarrhoea in inflammatory bowel disease is rarely reported. We report on a 36-year-old male with a 14 years lasting left sided chronic ulcerative colitis who developed after the initiation of a therapy with tincture of opium because of abdominal pain and diarrhoea an opioid addiction with the consumption of opium and later buprenorphin. Additionally to the diagnostics and therapy of the ulcerative colitis a detoxication was carried out. The diarrhoea slightly increased during the buprenorphin withdrawal. Diarrhoea refractory to other treatment should be treated by loperamid because of its lacking effects on the central nervous system. In chronic abdominal or musculoskeletal pain in inflammatory bowel disease opioids can be used if no surgical or other medical pain relief is possible. A consequent control of the therapeutic and side effects of the opioid therapy is necessary, especially of an abuse of opioid medication. The published case reports of a therapeutic induction of opioid addiction demonstrate that psychiatric comorbidity is an essential or even necessary risk factor. A checklist with seven criteria of opioid addiction during opioid therapy is presented.