High-fibre diet and Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.

AIM: To investigate in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease the efficacy of symbiotics associated with a high-fibre diet on abdominal symptoms. METHODS: This study was a multicentre, 6-mo randomized, controlled, parallel-group intervention with a preceding 4-wk washout period. Consecutive outpatients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, aged 40-80 years, evaluated in 4 Gastroenterology Units, were enrolled. Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients were randomized to two treatment arms A or B. Treatment A (n = 24 patients) received 1 symbiotic sachet Flortec(©) (Lactobacillus paracasei B21060) once daily plus high-fibre diet for 6 mo. Treatment B (n = 21 patients) received high-fibre diet alone for 6 mo. The primary endpoint was regression of abdominal symptoms and change of symptom severity after 3 and 6 mo of treatment. RESULTS: In group A, the proportion of patients with abdominal pain < 24 h decreased from 100% at baseline to 35% and 25% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively (P < 0.001). In group B the proportion of patients with this symptom decreased from 90.5% at baseline to 61.9% and 38.1% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively (P = 0.001). Symptom improvement became statistically significant at 3 and 6 mo in group A and B, respectively.The proportion of patients with abdominal pain >24 h decreased from 60% to 20% then 5% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively in group A (P < 0.001) and from 33.3% to 9.5% at both 3 and 6 mo in group B (P = 0.03). In group A the proportion of patients with abdominal bloating significantly decreased from 95% to 60% after 3 mo, and remained stable (65%) at 6-mo follow-up (P = 0.005) while in group B, no significant changes in abdominal bloating was observed (P = 0.11). After 6 mo of treatment, the mean visual analogic scale (VAS) values of both short-lasting abdominal pain (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 4.6 ± 2.1 vs 2.2 ± 0.8, P = 0.02; group B: 4.6 ± 2.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.9, P = 0.03) and abdominal bloating (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 5.3 ± 2.2 vs 3.0 ± 1.7, P = 0.005; group B: 5.3 ± 3.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.006) decreased in both groups, whilst the VAS values of prolonged abdominal pain decreased in the Flortec(©) group, but remained unchanged in the high-fibre diet group (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 6.5 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 2.1, P = 0.052; group B: 4.5 ± 3.8 vs 5.5 ± 3.5). CONCLUSION: A high-fibre diet is effective in relieving abdominal symptoms in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. This treatment may be implemented by combining the high-fibre diet with Flortec(©).

Treatment of periocular wrinkles with topical nifedipine.

The appearance of facial expression wrinkles is the result of chronic contraction of mimic muscles. Nifedipine is a dihydropyridinic calcium antagonist which blocks muscular cells' calcium channels, therefore inhibiting their contraction. We assumed that topical nifedipine was able to relax mimic muscular fibres in the same way, thus reducing the depth of wrinkles. We performed a clinical and experimental study, enrolling 64 female patients with periocular wrinkles. They applied a cream containing 0.5% nifedipine (Antrox; Bracco, Milan, Italy) once daily for 90 days. The length and depth of wrinkles (measured by a digital profilometer), moisturizing of periocular skin (measured by a corneometer), and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL; measured by a tewameter), were evaluated. All parameters were measured before the beginning of treatment, and 45 and 90 days later. At the end of the study, topical nifedipine proved statistically effective in reducing the depth of wrinkles. No significant differences in the length of wrinkles were recorded. No significant changes were observed in moisturizing. TEWL gradually improved, although without statistical significance. On the basis of the results of this study, 0.5% nifedipine cream seems to be effective in reducing the depth of periocular wrinkles. Other studies are necessary in order to confirm these results.

Clinical trial on the efficacy of a new symbiotic formulation, Flortec, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a multicenter, randomized study.

OBJECTIVES: Efficacy of symbiotics in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains unknown. METHODS: Patients were randomized to a prebiotic (n=135), or a symbiotic formulation containing Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 (Flortec, n=132). Primary efficacy was the responder rate for pain and global relief of symptoms in the overall population and in patients with predominant diarrhea (n=47). Post hoc time-trend analyses for changes within each treatment were carried out. RESULTS: Patients with absent/mild pain amounted to 54.7% in the symbiotic group and to 57.4% in the prebiotic group at treatment week 4, and to 53.9% and 53.4% at the end of treatment. Patients with amelioration of well-being were, respectively, 60.7% versus 61.7% at treatment week 4, and 63.3% versus 60.9% at the end of treatment. Within each treatment group, patients with absent/mild pain increased in the Flortec and the prebiotic group, but time trend analyses were significant only for Flortec (P=0.019). In IBS-predominant diarrhea, Flortec significantly reduced bowel movements, pain, and IBS scores. CONCLUSIONS: To improve pain and well-being, Flortec is encouraging in patients with diarrhea predominant IBS. To establish its efficacy for the majority of IBS patients, Flortec has to be compared with an inert placebo in future work.