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Biomedical subjects

G Richard Locke

Publications and source records attributed to G Richard Locke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Incidence of presentation of common functional gastrointestinal disorders in children from birth to 5 years: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), abdominal pain of unknown origin, and constipation are thought to be causes for frequent medical visits during childhood. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidences, repeat presentation, clinical symptoms, and sociodemographic risk factors in children who medically presented for GERD, abdominal pain of unknown origin, and constipation from birth to 5 years. METHODS: This was a population-based, retrospective birth cohort study of all children born to mothers residing in Rochester, Minnesota who remained in the area until at least age 5 (n = 5718). The medical records of all individuals were searched for relevant diagnostic billing codes for GERD, abdominal pain of unknown origin, and constipation, without another underlying diagnosis, and manually reviewed. Parental sociodemographic factors collected from birth certificate records on patients and matched controls were compared. RESULTS: The incidence for childhood (age, <5 y) presentation of GERD, abdominal pain of unknown origin, and constipation was .9/1000 person-years, 4.5/1000 person-years, and 6.8/1000 person-years, respectively; there were no significant differences between boys and girls. Three or more medical visits by age 5 occurred in 11%, 19%, and 24% of children who were seen for abdominal pain of unknown origin, constipation, and GERD, respectively. Single parentage, maternal age (<18 y), and maternal education (<high school) were not associated with abdominal pain or constipation presentation. CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of presentation for GERD, abdominal pain of unknown origin, and constipation are among the highest for pediatric disorders, and a cause for repeated medical consultations.

Abdominal Pain↗

Serotonergic modulation of murine fundic tone.

Fundic tone is maintained through a balance of excitatory and inhibitory input to fundic smooth muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the role of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-HT receptors in modulating murine fundic tone. Muscle strips were prepared from the murine fundus. Intracellular recordings were made from circular smooth muscle cells, and the effects of 5-HT on tone and excitatory and inhibitory junction potentials evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were determined. 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent contraction and smooth muscle depolarization that was tetrodotoxin resistant. The 5-HT(1B/D) receptor antagonists GR-127935 and BRL-155172 significantly inhibited 5-HT-induced contractions. The 5-HT(1B/D) agonist sumatriptan contracted murine fundic muscle. The 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist buspirone relaxed fundic smooth muscle, and the relaxation was inhibited by WAY-100135 but not by N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine or tetrodotoxin. 5-HT enhanced both the excitatory and inhibitory responses to EFS. The 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist MDL-72222 partly inhibited both the excitatory and inhibitory response elicited by EFS, whereas the 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist GR-113808 partly inhibited the EFS-evoked inhibitory response. The 5-HT reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine contracted smooth muscle strips, a contraction that was partially inhibited by GR-127935 and abolished by tetrodotoxin. In conclusion, the data suggest that 5-HT modulates murine fundic contractile activity through several different receptor subtypes. Sustained release of 5-HT maintains fundic tone through postjunctional 5-HT(1B/D) receptors. 5-HT(3) receptors modulate excitatory neural input to murine fundic smooth muscle, and both 5-HT(3) and 5-HT(4) receptors modulate inhibitory neural input to murine fundic smooth muscle.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Differences between painless and painful constipation among community women.

BACKGROUND: In the Rome II criteria, patients with both constipation and abdominal pain (AP) (i.e., "painful constipation" (PC)), who do not satisfy criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are included in the same functional constipation (FC) category as patients with constipation without AP (i.e., "painless constipation" (PLC)). What differences, if any, exist between FC without (i.e., PLC) and with AP (i.e., PC) are unclear. METHODS: To compare clinical features among PLC, PC, constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS), and non-C-IBS, a validated questionnaire was mailed (with telephone follow-up of nonresponders) to an age-stratified random sample of 5,200 adult women in Olmsted County, Minnesota. RESULTS: Altogether, 2,800 women (53%) responded. The age-adjusted prevalence of PLC (7.1 per 100; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 6.2-8.0) was higher compared to PC (0.9 per 100; 95% CI, 0.6-1.2). Compared to PLC, patients with PC reported worse general health (i.e., excellent or very good = 37.5% vs 51.2%), more somatic symptoms (mean score = 1.3 vs 0.9), and urinary urgency (% often = 58% vs 32%), and had a higher prevalence of hysterectomy. Bowel symptoms significantly impacted > or =1 domain of quality of life (QOL) in 18% of PC versus 9% of PLC. In a logistic discriminant model, age, general health, impact of bowel symptoms on QOL, somatic symptoms, and urinary urgency independently discriminated between bowel subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PC more closely resemble those with C-IBS than PLC. Consideration should be given to separating PC from PLC in the Rome criteria and in therapeutic trials.

Abdominal Pain↗

A study of candidate genotypes associated with dyspepsia in a U.S. community.

BACKGROUND: The role of genetic predisposition to the development of dyspepsia is unclear. Recently, a significant association was reported with CC genotype of GNbeta3. AIM: To explore the association of candidate genotypes altering adrenergic, serotonergic, CCKergic, and G protein functions, and dyspepsia in a sample from a U.S. community. METHODS: Dyspeptics and healthy controls were identified among community respondents who had been randomly selected to complete validated questionnaires. Other diseases were excluded by face-to-face history and physical examination. Polymorphisms of candidate genes for alpha(2A), alpha(2C), 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2C), CCK-1 receptors and CCK promoter, GNbeta3 protein, and SERT-promoter (SERT-P) were studied. The association between polymorphisms and meal-related or meal-unrelated dyspepsia, high somatic symptom scores, and somatization were evaluated using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: DNA was available from 41 dyspeptics and 47 healthy controls from Olmsted County. Community dyspepsia unrelated to meals was associated with both homozygous GNbeta3 protein 825T and C alleles. There were no significant associations with meal-related dyspepsia. Using Rome II subgroups, the same genotype was associated with dysmotility-like and other dyspepsia. Higher somatization scores were not significantly associated with any of the candidate genes when considered as single factors. CONCLUSION: Meal-unrelated dyspepsia in a U.S. community study is associated with the homozygous 825T or C alleles of GNbeta3 protein. Candidate genes controlling adrenergic, serotonergic, and CCKergic functions do not appear to be associated with dyspepsia.

Adolescent↗

Symptoms and quality of life in community women with fecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Assessments of symptom severity are necessary to guide therapy in fecal incontinence (FI). However, there is no consensus on how self-reported symptom severity in FI should be measured for this purpose, and the relationship between symptoms of FI and its impact on quality of life (QOL) is not known. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to an age-stratified random sample of 5300 women identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Symptom severity was assessed by a validated scale (Fecal Incontinence and Constipation Assessment [FICA]), and impact on 15 domains of QOL was evaluated for subjects who had any FI during the past year. The scale incorporated the type, frequency, and amount of FI, as well as the circumstances surrounding FI (ie, urge or passive FI). A QOL-weighted symptom severity score was derived by weighting the responses for these characteristics, in each subject, by the average QOL impact for all subjects who reported that specific symptom characteristic. The relationship between symptom severity and the QOL-weighted symptom severity score was assessed by Spearman rank correlation. RESULTS: Altogether, 2800 of 5300 (53%) women responded to the survey. FI symptoms were mild (45%), moderate (50%), or severe (5%). Among women with FI, the FICA symptom severity scale was strongly correlated (r(s) = 0.92, P < .0001) with the QOL-weighted symptom severity score. CONCLUSIONS: Among unselected women in the community, self-reported symptom severity, rated by the FICA scale, was strongly correlated with the impact of FI on QOL, supporting the use of this scale to assess symptom severity in FI.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Gender-related differences in dyspepsia: a qualitative systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Relative to men, women are diagnosed more frequently with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. With increased awareness of basic gender differences in perception and treatment of visceral pain, there has been new interest in research on gender disparity in the care of people with functional GI disorders. Past attention has focused on irritable bowel syndrome, whereas gender differences in other disorders are less well described. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to systematically review studies that have examined gender-related differences among patients with dyspepsia. METHODS: MEDLINE, HealthSTAR, and PsycINFO databases were searched for English-language articles on dyspepsia published between 1966 and August 2001. Epidemiologic studies, clinical trials, review articles, and conceptual articles from peer-reviewed journals were included for review. Findings were summarized and discussed within a framework of biological and psychosocial factors. Statistical analysis of combined data was inappropriate because of the inconsistent definition of dyspepsia among different studies and wide variation in the types of articles reviewed. RESULTS: Studies that examine gender-related differences in patients with dyspepsia have focused their investigations on the clinical epidemiology and pathophysiology of dyspepsia. In most epidemiologic studies, no gender analysis was performed beyond a description of sample demographics, and when statistical significance was tested, few consistent gender differences were found. Overall, it appears that men and women with dyspepsia possibly differ with respect to pattern of symptoms, pain perception or modulation, and antinociceptive mechanisms, but these observations have not been confirmed. No study evaluated the clinical implications of these possible differences. CONCLUSIONS: Future efforts should be directed to not only examine gender-related differences in the clinical epidemiology of dyspepsia, but also understand their clinical significance. Therefore, well-designed population-based studies using a consistent definition of dyspepsia are needed to investigate the prevalence of dyspepsia symptoms and patterns of dyspepsia management among men and women.

Domestic Violence↗

Gender, age, society, culture, and the patient's perspective in the functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) often experience emotional distress, a perceived lack of validation, and an unsatisfactory experience with health care providers. A health care provider can provide the patient with a framework in which to understand and legitimize their symptoms, remove self-doubt or blame, and identify factors that contribute to symptoms that the patient can influence or control. This framework can be strengthened with the consideration of various important factors that impact FGID but are often overlooked. These include gender, age, society, culture, and the patient's perspective. There is evidence for sex- and gender-related differences in FGID, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Whereas the majority of FGID, including IBS, bloating, constipation, chronic functional abdominal pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction, are more prevalent in women than men, functional esophageal and gastroduodenal disorders do not appear to vary by gender. Limited studies suggest that sex differences in visceral perception, cardioautonomic responses, gastrointestinal motility, and brain activation patterns to visceral stimuli exist in IBS. Gender differences in social factors, psychological symptoms, and response to psychological treatments have not been adequately studied. However, there appears to be a greater clinical response to serotonergic agents developed for IBS in women compared to men. The impact of social and cultural factors on the meaning, expression, and course of FGID are important. The prevalence of IBS appears to be lower in non-Western than Western countries. Although further studies are needed, the existing literature suggests that they are important to consider from both research and clinical perspectives.

Age Factors↗

Prevalence of atypical symptoms and their association with typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The association between typical and atypical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has received little attention in population-based studies. This study therefore sought to examine the prevalence of atypical symptoms, and their association with typical GER symptoms in Spain. METHODS: A telephone survey using a validated questionnaire was conducted in 2002 on 2500 subjects aged 40-79 years, randomly selected from the general population of Spain. The questionnaire included items on typical GER symptoms (heartburn and acid regurgitation) and several atypical symptoms (chest pain, dysphagia, belching, dyspepsia, globus, hoarseness, hiccups, chronic cough and asthma). The association between typical GER symptoms and each atypical symptom was summarized using odds ratios obtained from logistic regression. RESULTS: The response rate was 71.2%. A total of 60.8% (95% confidence interval 59.0-62.8%) of subjects reported suffering from at least one atypical symptom during the year preceding the interview. The prevalence rates varied from 26.7% for hoarseness to 6.6% for asthma. The prevalence of atypical symptoms was higher among the 791 subjects with typical GER symptoms than among the 1709 subjects reporting no typical GER symptoms (79.6 versus 52.2%). It was also higher among those reporting frequent typical GER symptoms compared with those reporting occasional symptoms (87.8 versus 58%). After adjustment for age, sex, coffee, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and psychosomatic symptoms, an association (P<0.05) was observed between typical symptoms and the respective atypical symptoms, with odds ratios ranging from 1.4 for asthma to 4.6 for belching. After additional adjustment for the remaining atypical symptoms, chest pain, dysphagia, dyspepsia, belching and globus were each independently associated with typical reflux symptoms. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atypical GER symptoms is extremely high. There is an association between typical and atypical GER symptoms, particularly chest pain, dysphagia, dyspepsia, belching and globus.

Adult↗

Association between weight gain and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Excess weight is a risk factor of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) in population-based studies but it is unknown to what extent short-term weight gain (occurring in months) is associated with the development of GERS. Our aim is to examine the association of weight gain with GERS. METHODS: A phone interview was conducted with 2,500 persons aged 40-79 yr selected at random from the general population of Spain. The Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire was used to identify the onset, frequency, and severity of GERS. We also assessed weight, height, and 1-yr weight change (classified as no weight gain, weight gain < or =5 kg, and weight gain >5 kg). We compared the frequency of new (less than 1 yr duration) and old (1 yr or more duration) GERS among weight change subgroups. The association between weight change and GERS was analyzed by logistic regression adjusting for BMI and other potential confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of new and old GERS, respectively, was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in subjects with weight gain >5 kg (14.4% and 32.4%) than in those with weight gain < or =5 kg (8.2% and 27.5%) and no weight gain (5.4% and 22.5%). Subjects with a weight gain < or =5 kg showed an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.5 (95% confidence limits [CL]: 0.9-2.4) for new GERS and of 1.1 (95% CL: 0.8-1.4) for old GERS. Those with a weight gain >5 kg showed an aOR of 3.0 (95% CL: 1.6-6.0) for new GERS and of 1.3 (0.8-2.1) for old GERS. CONCLUSION: Weight gain is associated with GERS, independently of BMI.

Adult↗

Gastrointestinal symptoms in families of patients with an SCN5A-encoded cardiac channelopathy: evidence of an intestinal channelopathy.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, two ion channels associated with congenital long QT syndrome, the SCN5A-encoded Nav1.5 sodium channel and the KCNH2-encoded HERG potassium channel (IKr), have been found on gastrointestinal smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal. The aim of this study was to determine if the cardiac channelopathy-associated mutations in SCN5A or KCNH2 are associated with GI symptom complexes. METHODS: Mayo Clinic's Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory performed comprehensive mutational analysis on index patients referred for long QT syndrome genetic testing and their family members thus establishing a cohort of families for which the genotype status for SCN5A or KCNH2 is known. A valid GI symptom questionnaire was mailed to all family members (both genotype positive and genotype negative) in this cohort. The association between cardiac channel genotype and GI symptoms was assessed by logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Two hundred and nineteen (43% of 529) subjects returned the questionnaire. Fifty percent of the subjects with an SCN5A mutation reported abdominal pain compared to only 13% of controls (OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.3-24.4). Over 65% of subjects with an SCN5A mutation reported a GI symptom complex compared to 28% of controls (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.5-18.3). No associations with KCNH2 genotype status were detected. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to suggest an association between a well-defined cardiac channelopathy and GI symptoms. The role of sodium channelopathies in the pathogenesis of digestive diseases merits exploration.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for fecal incontinence: a population-based study in women.

BACKGROUND: In women with "idiopathic" fecal incontinence (FI), consensus guidelines recommend anal sphincter imaging and surgical repair, when feasible, of anal sphincter defects believed to cause FI. However, the relative contributions of obstetric trauma and bowel symptoms to FI in the community are unknown. METHODS: To assess risk factors for FI during the past year, a previously validated questionnaire was mailed to an age-stratified random sample of 5,300 women residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota. RESULTS: Altogether, 2,800 women (53%) responded. The risk of fecal incontinence increased with age (odds ratio [OR] per decade 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.4). The risk of fecal incontinence was higher among women with rectal urgency (OR 8.3, 95% CI 4.8-14.3) whether or not they also had other bowel disturbances (i.e., constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain) or had a vaginal delivery with forceps or stitches (OR 9.0, 95% CI 5.6-14.4). Among women with FI, rectal urgency and age were also risk factors for symptom severity. In contrast, obstetric risk factors for anorectal trauma did not increase the risk for FI. The risk for FI was not significantly different among women with cesarean section, vaginal delivery with or without forceps or stitches, or anorectal surgery, compared with nulliparous women without any of these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal urgency rather than obstetric injury is the main risk factor for FI in women. These observations reinforce the importance of behavioral, dietary, and pharmacological measures to ameliorate bowel disturbances before anal imaging in women with "idiopathic" FI.

Adult↗

Effects of desipramine and escitalopram on postprandial symptoms induced by the nutrient drink test in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Antidepressants are widely used to treat functional gastrointestinal disorders but their effect on postprandial symptoms remains unstudied. We hypothesized that desipramine and escitalopram would enhance the maximum tolerated volume of nutrient ingested and decrease postprandial symptoms. METHODS: Healthy participants (n=45) all underwent an assessment of symptoms, anxiety and depression, and a standard nutrient drink test (Ensure). Participants were randomized to 11 days of desipramine (50 mg once daily), escitalopram (10 mg once daily) or identical placebo. RESULTS: The maximum tolerated gastric volumes were not significantly different on day 11 for desipramine (1,136+/-478 ml, mean+/-SD), escitalopram (1,198+/-422 ml) and placebo (1,231+/-318 ml). A univariate analysis indicated significant treatment group effects on total symptom scores (p=0.049), but after adjusting for age, gender, BMI and baseline scores, treatment effects were no longer significant (p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: While this study does not rule out a beneficial effect of tricyclics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in functional dyspepsia, neither desipramine nor escitalopram significantly altered the nutrient volume ingested or symptoms induced by the nutrient drink test in healthy volunteers.

Adult↗

Effect of modulation of serotonergic, cholinergic, and nitrergic pathways on murine fundic size and compliance measured by ultrasonomicrometry.

Reduced fasting or postprandial gastric volumes have been implicated in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia. The mechanisms that underlie the control of gastric fundic volume are incompletely understood, partly because of an inability to accurately measure fundic volume in vivo in small animals. Small animals are useful models to evaluate mechanisms, e.g., in knockout animals. The aim of this study was to determine whether an ultrasonometric technique accurately monitors fundic contraction and relaxation in mice in vivo and to determine the effect of modulation of cholinergic, nitrergic, and serotonergic pathways on fundic size and compliance in the intact mouse innervated stomach. Two to four piezoelectric crystals (diameter 1 mm, 24-microm resolution) were glued to the serosal side of fundus and used to measure distance. Validation studies showed excellent correlation between measured changes and actual changes in distances between crystals and excellent reproducibility. The expected responses to pharmacological modulation with bethanechol and nitroglycerin were demonstrated. Atropine increased the distance between the crystals, suggesting a baseline cholinergic regulation of fundic volume. Bethanechol, Nomega-nitro-L-arginine, and the 5-HT1B/D agonist sumatriptan decreased the distance between the crystals, suggesting fundic contraction. Atropine, nitroglycerin, and buspirone caused an increase in intercrystal distance consistent with fundic relaxation. Fundic compliance was investigated by changing intragastric pressure via an implanted catheter. Sumatriptan increased compliance, whereas buspirone increased the distance between crystals but did not change compliance. The data suggest that ultrasonomicrometry is a useful tool that can reproducibly and accurately measure changes in fundic size and the response to pharmacological agents.

Animals↗

Dyspepsia consulters and patterns of management: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Although dyspepsia is common, management patterns in the United States are unknown. AIM: To determine the pattern of dyspepsia evaluation and treatment over 20 years in a population-based cohort, and test the hypothesis that the management was influenced by dyspepsia subgroup and gender. METHODS: The validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota residents (1988-1990). Of the 835 survey respondents, 213 subjects were identified as having dyspepsia according to Rome I Criteria. The medical chart of each dyspeptic subject who had not denied research authorization (n = 206) was reviewed to identify all episodes of care for dyspepsia symptoms 10 years before and 10 years after the date the Bowel Disease Questionnaire was completed. Of these 206 subjects (mean age 47 years, 48% female), 34% had ulcer-like dyspepsia, 32% had dysmotility-like dyspepsia, and 37% had reflux-like dyspepsia. RESULTS: Nearly half (n = 98, 48%) had episodes of care for dyspepsia symptoms over 20 years. Of these 98 subjects, 49% had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 4% motility studies and 12% were tested for Helicobacter pylori. At the first visit of the episode of care closest to Bowel Disease Questionnaire completion, 72% were seen in primary care, 16% in emergency medicine and 2% in gastroenterology. In addition, 13% were referred to gastroenterology clinic within this episode. During the study period, 70% were given an 'acid' diagnosis, 7% a 'motility' diagnosis and 54% a 'functional' diagnosis; 78% received acid suppression agents (28% proton pump inhibitors), 18% psychotropic agents and 7% prokinetic agents. No significant association was found between gender and test usage, specialty referral or type of treatment, although women were three times less likely to receive proton pump inhibitors (odds ratio 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2-9.1). Symptom severity, frequency and pattern were risk factors for health care seeking in dyspepsia. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of care for dyspepsia was similar among dyspepsia subgroups and in men and women.

Adult↗

Current medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms are common. Not everyone who has heartburn has reflux, as some people have functional heartburn in addition to many other symptoms. Alternatively, not everybody who has reflux has heartburn, and many symptoms are identified in which reflux may be playing a role. In most cases, the initial management strategy is empiric medical therapy. Often, this brings symptom relief, but when it does not, alternative diagnoses need to be considered. High-dose treatment trials and ambulatory pH monitoring have become more important than endoscopy in the diagnosis of reflux. Patients who have reflux typically require a chronic disease approach. This can be with medical therapy, surgery, or endoscopic approaches. GERD is associated with decreased quality of life; however, given the many helpful treatment options, no one should suffer from the symptoms of GERD.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

The genetics of irritable bowel syndrome.

Because of the heterogeneity in symptoms and diagnostic findings, patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remain a challenge to treat and to study. This difficulty stems from lack of understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder. Environmental factors likely play an important role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of IBS. Several recent studies suggest a genetic basis for IBS, either in etiology or predicting response to therapy. Because of interest in studying the genetic contributors to this and other functional gastrointestinal disorders, we review the literature on genetic risk factors that might explain the familial clustering of IBS. Familial aggregation studies and twin studies suggest a modest contribution of genetics to the development of IBS. Pharmacogenomic and association studies provide stronger, although far from conclusive, evidence for genetic variants that affect expression of IBS. Together, these studies suggest that a multidisciplinary approach with clinical and psychological tools, epidemiologic methods, and genetic techniques might help elucidate the molecular components leading to the common symptoms of IBS and result in better treatments for those with IBS.

Humans↗