Evaluation of the impact of overlapping upper gastrointestinal symptoms on the clinical characteristics of patients with functional constipation, along with risk factor analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Functional constipation (FC), a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, is usually overlapping with upper gastrointestinal symptoms (UGS). We aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of patients with FC overlapping UGS along with the related risk factors. METHODS: The differences in the severity of constipation symptoms, psychological state, quality of life (QoL), anorectal motility and perception function, autonomic function, and the effect of biofeedback therapy (BFT) among patients with FC in different groups were analyzed, along with the risk factors of overlapping UGS. RESULTS: Compared with patients with FC alone, those with FC overlapping UGS had higher scores in the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and lower scores in the Short Form-36 health survey (P < 0.05). Patients with FC overlapping UGS also had lower rectal propulsion, more negative autonomic nervous function, and worse BFT efficacy (P < 0.05). Overlapping UGS, especially overlapping functional dyspepsia, considerably affected the severity of FC. Logistic regression model showed that age, body mass index (BMI), anxiety, exercise, and sleep quality were independent factors influencing overlapping UGS in patients with FC. CONCLUSIONS: Overlapping UGS reduces the physical and mental health and the QoL of patients with FC. It also increases the difficulty in the treatment of FC. Patient's age, BMI, anxiety, physical exercise, and sleep quality might be predictors for FC overlapping UGS.

The central executive network moderates the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and gastrointestinal related issues.

Although most adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, a smaller proportion will go on to be clinically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Persons diagnosed with PTSD have a greater likelihood of developing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, the extent to which subclinical levels of post-traumatic stress (PTS) correspond with the incidence of GI issues in a normative sample is unclear. Resting state fMRI, medical history, psychological survey, and anthropometric data were acquired from the Enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (n = 378; age range 18-85.6 years). The primary aim of this study was to test the main effect of subclinical PTS symptom severity on the number of endorsed GI issues. The secondary aim was to test the moderating effect of high versus low resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the central executive network (CEN) on the relationship between PTS symptom severity and GI issues. Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40) scores were positively associated with the number of endorsed GI issues (b = -0.038, SE = .009, p < .001). The interaction between TSC-40 scores and rsFC within the CEN was significant on GI issues after controlling for sociodemographic and cardiometabolic variables (b = -0.031, SE = .016, p < .05), such that above average rsFC within the CEN buffered the effect of TSC-40 scores on GI issues. Our findings of higher rsFC within the CEN moderating the magnitude of coincidence in PTS and GI symptom severity may reflect the mitigating role of executive control processes in the putative stress signaling mechanisms that contribute to gut dysbiosis.

Association between Self-Perception of Chewing, Chewing Behavior, and the Presence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Candidates for Bariatric Surgery.

Given the changes in the digestive tract post-bariatric surgery, adapting to a new pattern of eating behavior becomes crucial, with special attention to the specifics of chewing mechanics. This study aimed to investigate the association between self-perception of chewing, chewing behavior, and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms in preoperative patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Sixty adult candidates for bariatric surgery at a public hospital in Belém (Brazil) were analyzed. Participants predominantly exhibited unilateral chewing patterns (91.6%), a fast chewing rhythm (73.3%), a large food bolus (80%), liquid intake during meals (36.7%), and 41.7% reported that chewing could cause some issue. Significant associations were found between the perception of causing problems and chewing scarcity (p = 0.006), diarrhea (p = 0.004), absence of slow chewing (p = 0.048), and frequent cutting of food with front teeth (p = 0.034). These findings reveal a relationship between the perception of chewing problems and chewing scarcity, presence of diarrhea, and fast chewing.

Confirmatory validation of the patient health questionnaire - 4 (PHQ-4) for gastrointestinal disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: Using the large Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Survey dataset, the aim of this study was to evaluate the construct and convergent validity and internal consistency of the PHQ-4 across both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal condition cohorts. Another aim was to provide descriptive information about the PHQ-4 including means, confidence intervals and percentage of caseness using a large representative sample. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 26 countries. Confirmatory factor and internal consistency analyses were conducted across subsamples of patients with gastrointestinal conditions (i.e., disorders of gut-brain interaction [DGBI; any DGBI, individual DGBI, and DGBI region], gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), coeliac disease, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, peptic ulcer) and those without a gastrointestinal condition. Convergent validity was also assessed via a series of Pearson's correlation coefficients with PROMIS (physical and mental quality of life), and PHQ-12 (somatisation). RESULTS: Based on 54,127 participants (50.9% male; mean age 44.34 years) confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable to excellent model fits for the PHQ-4 across all subsamples and individual DGBI and DGBI region (Comparative Fit Index >0.950, Tucker-Lewis Index >0.950, Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation <0.05, and Standardised Root Mean Square Residual <0.05). The PHQ-4 was found to demonstrate convergent validity (Pearson's correlation coefficients >±0.4), and good internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the PHQ-4 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental health symptomology in both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal cohorts.

Severity and impact of digestive impairment perceived by patients with systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the severity and impact of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and identify associated factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Non-controlled cross-sectional study of patients with SSc (2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria). The main variables were severity of gastrointestinal involvement according to the University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 instrument (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) and dysphagia according to the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). We evaluated reflux, distension, diarrhoea, faecal soilage, constipation, emotional well-being and social functioning, as well as dysphagia. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and the EuroQol-5D-3L. The degree of skin fibrosis was assessed using the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Multivariate models were constructed to analyse factors associated with gastrointestinal involvement and dysphagia. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients with SSc included, 58.7% had moderate, severe or very severe reflux, 57.4% had constipation according to UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 and 49.7% had abdominal distension. Gastrointestinal symptoms interfered significantly with social functioning (42.7%) and emotional well-being (40.0%). Dysphagia (EAT-10≥3) was recorded in 52% of patients, and according to MNA-SF poor nutrition in 30.7%, and clear malnutrition requiring a nutritional intervention in 5.3%. Multivariate adjustment revealed an association between severity of gastrointestinal symptoms according to the mRSS (ß=0.249; p=0.002) and Visual Analogue Scale 3-Level EuroQol-5D (VAS-EQ-5D-3L) (ß=-0.302; p=0.001), whereas presence of dysphagia was associated with the mRSS (OR=2.794; p=0.015), VAS-EQ-5D-3L (OR=0.950; p=0.005) and malnutrition (MNA-SF≤7; OR=3.920; p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SSc frequently present severe gastrointestinal symptoms. These are associated with poor quality of life, more severe skin involvement and malnutrition.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, quality of life, and behaviour in adolescents with history of infant colic.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and behavioural problems in a cohort of adolescents with a history of infant colic (IC), as defined by Wessel's criteria. METHODS: 388 adolescents, aged 15-18 years, who participated in a randomised controlled trial for infants with colic, were invited for our observational follow-up study. Prevalence of FGIDs was assessed with the Rome IV Questionnaire on Paediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders (RIV-QPGD), HRQOL through self-report of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and behavioural problems through parent-report of the child behaviour checklist (CBCL). Multivariable models were used to compare prevalence rates of FGIDs and HRQOL scores. RESULTS: 190 (49%) adolescents with a history of IC (cases) and 381 controls were included (median age 17.0 [IQR 16.0-17.0] and 16.0 [15.0-17.0] years, respectively). Cases had a significantly higher risk for postprandial distress syndrome compared to controls (aOR 2.49 (95%CI 1.18-5.25), p = 0.002). After multivariable regression, total, physical and school HRQOL scores were significantly lower in cases compared to controls (p = 0.003, 0.001, and 0.009). CONCLUSION: Adolescents with a history of IC demonstrate higher prevalence rates of postprandial distress syndrome compared to controls. However, conclusions should be made with caution due to attrition and information bias.

Health Is Power, and Health Is Wealth: Understanding the Motivators and Barriers of African American/Black Male Immigrants With Gastrointestinal Conditions.

The digestive health of African American/Black male immigrants in the United States has not been previously studied. Much of what is known about gastrointestinal (GI) concerns in this population is based on studies conducted on the overall Black American population. The purpose of this narrative study was to understand how African American/Black male immigrants with GI concerns navigated their GI condition. Fifteen African American/Black male immigrants from various cities in the United States participated in two remote focus groups to discover what motivates them to take control of their illness. Narrative analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Most men, 47% (n = 7), did not have health insurance, and 67% (n = 10) reported their income was less than US$52,000. The themes identified were: (1) lack of knowledge of GI, (2) denial of initial diagnosis, (3) self-discipline, (4) positive provider interactions, (5) health as a priority, and (6) advice to other African American/Black male immigrants experiencing GI. A strengths-based approach is necessary for describing the health-seeking behaviors among African American/Black male immigrants.

Prevalence and risk factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders in early period medical students: a pilot study in Tunisia.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are highly prevalent in medical students around the world. However, there is no specific data on FGIDs in Tunisia. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of FGIDs in medical students according to the rome III criteria and to identify risk factors associated with these disorders. A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out among the students from the first and the second year of medical studies. We studied the influence of socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, health care seeking, psychosomatic symptoms and hospital anxiety and depression scale on the prevalence of FGIDs among these students. Three hundred and forty-three students (20.3 ± 0.8years) were included in our study. The prevalence of FGIDs was 54.2%. The main FGIDs found were the unspecified functional bowel disorder (46.6%), functional constipation (11.6%), irritable bowel syndrome (7.6%) and functional dyspepsia (6.7%). In logistic regression, abnormal BMI (OR = 2.1, 95% CI= 1-4.3), living in school dormitory (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.7-7.8), low water intake (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1-4.2), digestive medication use (OR = 3.4, 95% CI= 1.3-8.5), and probable or definite anxiety (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1-5.8) were the five risk factors associated with FGIDs. We demonstrate a high prevalence of FGIDs (54.2%) among our students. Risk factors for FGIDs were abnormal BMI, living in school dormitory, low water intake, digestive medication use and anxiety.

Cross-lagged analyses between gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological distress, and disability in emerging adults.

The gut-brain connection refers to communication between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) system. Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are characterized by GI symptoms that accompany distress and disability. Epidemiological research has suggested DGBI rates in emerging adults are increasing. This study investigated the relationship between GI health, distress, and disability in emerging adults across time. Emerging adults were recruited. A repeated-measure design with a 1-month time lag was used to collect data via an online survey (N = 861) across five academic semesters (Spring 2019 to Summer 2020). Measurement equivalence across time was established and a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was specified. Distress at Time 1 predicted GI symptoms at Time 2 (ß = .206, SE = .084, p < .05). GI symptoms at Time 1 predicted disability at Time 2 (ß = .117, SE = .039, p < .01). Higher disability at Time 1 predicted distress at Time 2 (ß = .092, SE = .027, p < .01). The cross-lagged design offers stronger causal inferences than cross-sectional studies used to study the effects of GI symptoms. Findings provide initial evidence of a directional pathway between brain and gut rather than a bidirectional network. Findings highlight the importance of psychogastroenterology.

The effects of gastrointestinal disturbances on the onset of depression and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Stomach pain is an ailment that occurs frequently in the general population. It is not unusual if such stomach issues produce some amount of stress in an individual, but it can be worrying if these pains lead to significant mental health problems. The relationship between some abdominal pain, such as bowel syndrome, and depression or anxiety has been gaining much interest. However, previous studies that have empirically investigated this relationship are scarce. METHODS: To analyze the impact of having gastrointestinal problems, among other socioeconomic conditions, on the onset of depression and anxiety in the Spanish population, we compare treating gastrointestinal diseases as exogenous in a single-equation probit model with a bivariate probit model in which this variable is treated as endogenous. A likelihood-ratio test of the correlation coefficient of the disturbances suggests that gastrointestinal problems are endogenous. Thus, the approach taken herein allows the direct testing of the hypothesis that having gastrointestinal problems and the onset of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are jointly determined by certain socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional analytical study was analyzed using data from a 2017 survey of health indicators and life conditions that was developed by the Statistics Spanish Office. RESULTS: The probability of having depression or anxiety increases with age, stress, daily limitations and gastrointestinal disorders. On the other hand, the probability is lower for men, married people and those who engage in exercise several times per week. Our findings estimate that having gastrointestinal problems increases the probability of having depression in 7% and the probability of anxiety in 8.8% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: Our empirical results suggest that not considering the endogeneity of gastrointestinal problems could result in an overestimate of the impact of this factor on the development of depression or anxiety.

A Rome Working Team Report on Brain-Gut Behavior Therapies for Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This Rome Foundation Working Team Report reflects the consensus of an international interdisciplinary team of experts regarding the use of behavioral interventions, specifically brain-gut behavior therapies (BGBTs), in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). METHODS: The committee members reviewed the extant scientific literature and, when possible, addressed gaps in this literature through the lens of their clinical and scientific expertise. The Delphi method was used to create consensus on the goals, structure, and framework before writing the report. The report is broken into 5 parts: 1) definition and evidence for BGBT, 2) the gut-brain axis as the mechanistic basis for BGBT, 3) targets of BGBTs, 4) common and unique therapeutic techniques seen in BGBT, and 5) who and how to refer for BGBT. RESULTS: We chose to not only review for the reader the 5 existing classes of BGBT and their evidence, but to connect DGBI-specific behavioral targets and techniques as they relate directly, or in some cases indirectly, to the gut-brain axis. In doing so, we expect to increase gastrointestinal providers' confidence in identifying and referring appropriate candidates for BGBT and to support clinical decision making for mental health professionals providing BGBT. CONCLUSIONS: Both gastrointestinal medical providers and behavioral health providers have an opportunity to optimize care for DGBIs through a collaborative integrated approach that begins with an effective patient-provider relationship, thoughtful communication about the brain-gut axis and, when appropriate, a well communicated referral to BGBT.

Increased prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders of gut-brain interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: An internet-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Quarantine with social distancing has reduced transmission of COVID-19; however, fear of the disease and these remedial measures cause anxiety and stress. It is not known whether these events have impacted the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and disorders of brain-gut interaction (DGBI). METHODS: An online platform evaluated the prevalence of GI symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection utilized validated questionnaires and was fully anonymized. Findings were compared with identical data acquired in 2019. The association of results with stress and anxiety was analyzed. RESULTS: Data were collected from 1896 subjects May - August 2019 to 980 non-identical subjects May - June 2020. GI symptoms were reported by 68.9% during the COVID-19 lockdown compared with 56.0% the previous year (p < 0.001). The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (26.3% vs. 20.0%; p < 0.001), functional dyspepsia (18.3% vs. 12.7%; p < 0.001), heartburn (31.7% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.002), and self-reported milk intolerance (43.5% vs. 37.8% p = 0.004) was higher during the pandemic. Many individuals reported multiple symptoms. Anxiety was associated with presence of all GI symptoms. High levels of stress impacted functional dyspepsia (p = 0.045) and abdominal pain (p = 0.013). The presence of DGBI (p < 0.001; OR 22.99), self-reported milk intolerance (p < 0.001; OR 2.50), and anxiety (p < 0.001; OR 2.18) was independently associated with increased GI symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GI symptoms was significantly higher during the COVID-19 lockdown than under normal circumstances the previous year. This increase was attributable to increased numbers of patients with DGBI, an effect that was associated with anxiety.

COVID-19-related personal product shortages are associated with psychological distress in people living with gastrointestinal disorders: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The mental health response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-related product shortages in those living with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders has received little attention. We aimed to explore the association between the pandemic-related product shortages and psychological distress in people with GI disorders. METHODS: This online cross-sectional survey was nested within an ongoing, international, prospective study of well-being in people with GI disorders. The study was advertised in multiple countries in May-September 2020 via patient organizations and social media. The primary outcome measure was distress, evaluated by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. We utilized linear regressions, adjusting for covariates and testing individual moderation effects. KEY RESULTS: Overall, 831 people completed the survey from 27 countries, of whom 82% were female (mean age = 49 years). The most common disorders included inflammatory bowel disease (n = 322), celiac disease (n = 273), and irritable bowel syndrome (n = 260). Significant problems accessing food were reported by 19.8%, non-medical therapies by 16%, toilet paper by 10.8%, and essential medication by 8.9% of the sample (>5% pain medication). There was a positive association between toilet paper and pain medication shortages and distress, and a negative association between food shortages and distress. Significant moderation effects were identified for COVID-19 prevalence and toilet paper and food shortages, and between COVID-19 fear and pain medication shortages. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: The study documented a significant relationship between product shortages and psychological distress, which were associated with COVID-19 prevalence and fear. Strategies addressing COVID-19 fear could potentially modify the relationship between shortages and distress.

The role of mood state and emotion regulation in the discrepancy between gastrointestinal symptom burden recorded prospectively and via recall questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: There is limited empirical evidence of the magnitude of the discrepancy between prospectively recorded gastrointestinal symptom burden and that reported in recall questionnaires. Further, potential sources of the discrepancy are largely unknown. This study sought to quantify the discrepancy and to evaluate the potential role of mood disorder and emotion regulation in the discrepancy. METHODS: One hundred and forty nine subjects (mean age 20 years, 75% female) who met Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and/or functional dyspepsia completed a 7-day prospective recording of the symptoms on a smartphone implemented ecological momentary assessment app, and then on day 8 were asked to recall their symptoms for the preceding 7 days. KEY RESULTS: Gastrointestinal symptom burden assessed by recall was exaggerated relative to that recorded prospectively. The discrepancy was moderate for overall score (Cohen d = 0.52), abdominal pain (d = 0.61) and indigestion (d = 0.49). The discrepancy was generally larger among subjects who reported a physician diagnosis of a gastrointestinal condition with d = 0.87 for overall score and d = 0.89 for abdominal pain. A number of correlations between the discrepancy and psychological traits were identified, including neuroticism with diarrhea discrepancy (r = 0.23, p = 0.004) and visceral-specific anxiety with abdominal pain discrepancy (r = -0.18, p = 0.03). There was no evidence of recency or Hawthorne (observer) effects. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Reports of gastrointestinal symptoms obtained via recall are likely to be exaggerated relative to the actual patient experience, particularly among healthcare seekers. While psychological traits are likely to play some role, much more needs to be understood about the discrepancy.

The Brain-Gut-Microbiome System: Pathways and Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is one of the most prevalent physiological symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A growing body of largely preclinical research suggests that dysbiotic gut microbiota may modulate brain function and social behavior, yet little is known about the mechanisms that underlie these relationships and how they may influence the pathogenesis or severity of ASD. While various genetic and environmental risk factors have been implicated in ASD, this review aims to provide an overview of studies elucidating the mechanisms by which gut microbiota, associated metabolites, and the brain interact to influence behavior and ASD development, in at least a subgroup of individuals with gastrointestinal problems. Specifically, we review the brain-gut-microbiome system and discuss findings from current animal and human studies as they relate to social-behavioral and neurological impairments in ASD, microbiota-targeted therapies (i.e., probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation) in ASD, and how microbiota may influence the brain at molecular, structural, and functional levels, with a particular interest in social and emotion-related brain networks. A deeper understanding of microbiome-brain-behavior interactions has the potential to inform new therapies aimed at modulating this system and alleviating both behavioral and physiological symptomatology in individuals with ASD.

Role of psychological questionnaires in clinical practice and research within functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, also known as disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), affect 40% of the global population. Up to two-thirds of patients with FGIDs experience a major psychological disorder making a thorough psychosocial assessment a critical part of patient care as it can impact treatment approach. Many psychological questionnaires exist in the clinical realm serving different purposes including screening for anxiety and depression, somatization symptoms, health-related anxiety, illness impact, and health-related quality of life. Given the abundance of questionnaires used to screen for similar psychiatric comorbidities, correlation between different instruments is needed to allow for pooling of data. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology & Motility, Snijkers et al. conducted the first comparative study to assess the correlation between the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to determine optimal cutoffs for diagnosis of depressive and anxiety disorders in a cohort of irritable bowel syndrome patients. The biopsychosocial framework as it applies to FGID has led to the inclusion of both psychosocial assessments in clinical management and research protocols. Future directions include the development of symptom-specific questionnaires for groups of FGIDs, culturally specific psychosocial questionnaires, and inclusion of psychosocial well-being as primary or secondary outcomes in clinical research trials. In this review, we aim to explore the role of psychological questionnaires in clinical care and research trials and share practical tips on incorporating a biopsychosocial framework in the care of patients with FGIDs.

Dietary Fat Effect on the Gut Microbiome, and Its Role in the Modulation of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report a higher frequency and severity of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) than typically developing (TD) children. GID-associated discomfort increases feelings of anxiety and frustration, contributing to the severity of ASD. Emerging evidence supports the biological intersection of neurodevelopment and microbiome, indicating the integral contribution of GM in the development and function of the nervous system, and mental health, and disease balance. Dysbiotic GM could be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of GID in children with ASD. High-fat diets may modulate GM through accelerated growth of bile-tolerant bacteria, altered bacterial ratios, and reduced bacterial diversity, which may increase the risk of GID. Notably, saturated fatty acids are considered to have a pronounced effect on the increase of bile-tolerant bacteria and reduction in microbial diversity. Additionally, omega-3 exerts a favorable impact on GM and gut health due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Despite inconsistencies in the data elaborated in the review, the dietary fat composition, as part of an overall dietary intervention, plays a role in modulating GID, specifically in ASD, due to the altered microbiome profile. This review emphasizes the need to conduct future experimental studies investigating the effect of diets with varying fatty acid compositions on GID-specific microbiome profiles in children with ASD.

Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on functional gastrointestinal disorders among paediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common gastrointestinal diseases. The pathophysiology is multifactorial and psychosocial distress worsens symptoms severity. Since the end of 2019 the world has been facing COVID-19 pandemic. The associated control measures have affected the psychological health of people. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders among Italian children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample is composed of 407 patients (187 males, 220 females), aged from 10 to 17 years. The mean age is 14.27 ± 2.24 years. The study was conducted through the Italian version of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III Version.  The prevalence of each disorder has been calculated as the ratio of affected subjects for each disease and the total number of effective cases for that specific disease. RESULTS: The study demonstrates that the prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder in Italian children, during the COVD-19 pandemic, is higher, compared with the one reported in the previous studies. The most frequent disorders are Abdominal Migraine and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first one which provides data of the prevalence of Functional gastrointestinal disorders in sample of Italian adolescents, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study underlines the need to focus on stress management, in order to reduce the effects of the lockdown on the psychological wellness of the youngest.

Short intense psychological stress induced by skydiving does not impair intestinal barrier function.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Psychological stress has been shown to increase intestinal permeability and is associated with the development of gastrointestinal disorders. This study aimed to investigate skydiving as an alternative model to analyse the effect of acute psychological stress on intestinal barrier function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects participated in a tandem skydive followed by a negative control visit, of which 19 (9 females and 10 males, 25.9 ± 3.7 years) were included in the study. Intestinal permeability was assessed by a multi-sugar urinary recovery test. Sucrose recovery and lactulose/rhamnose ratio in 0-5h urine indicated gastroduodenal and small intestinal permeability, respectively, and sucralose/erythritol ratio in 5-24h urine indicated colonic permeability. Blood samples were taken to assess markers associated with barrier function. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03644979) on August 23, 2018. RESULTS: Skydiving resulted in a significant increase in salivary cortisol levels directly after skydiving compared to the control visit. Cortisol levels were still increased two hours after landing, while cortisol levels before skydiving were not significantly different from the baseline at the control visit. Skydiving did not induce a significant increase in gastroduodenal, small intestinal or colonic permeability. There was also no significant increase in plasma intestinal and liver fatty acid-binding proteins, suggesting no damage to the enterocytes. DISCUSSION: These results show that the acute intense psychological stress induced by skydiving does not affect intestinal permeability in healthy subjects. Future models aiming to investigate the effect of stress on human intestinal barrier function should consider a more sustained exposure to the psychological stressor.