Interventions for irritable bowel syndrome: a nursing model.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common problem affecting a significant portion of the U.S. population.

Daily gastrointestinal symptoms in women with and without a diagnosis of IBS.

This study compared daily gastrointestinal symptoms and stool characteristics across two menstrual cycles, and recalled bowel symptoms and psychological distress in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, N = 22), IBS nonpatients (IBS-NP, N = 22), and controls (N = 25). Daily reports of abdominal pain, bloating, intestinal gas, constipation, and diarrhea did not differ significantly between the IBS and IBS-NP groups but both groups reported significantly higher symptoms than the control group. Stool consistencies was significantly looser in the IBS group relative to the control group.

Symptoms and self-care strategies in women with and without dysmenorrhea.

We compared the self-reports of women who reported either none-mild (N = 34) or moderate-extreme (N = 27) pain from uterine cramping regarding, (a) gastrointestinal, perimenstrual, and other symptoms during the 5 days before and after the beginning of menstrual flow; (b) smoking, alcohol use, exercise behaviors, and number of reported stressors; and (c) self-care strategies used for symptom management. Although there were significant differences between the two groups in reported symptoms, there were no significant between groups differences in smoking, alcohol use, exercise behaviors, and number of stressors reported. Despite the number of symptoms reported, relatively few self-care strategies were used.

Gastric motility in rats with varying ovarian hormone status.

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms suggestive of altered motility vary with menstrual cycle phase and menopause, but the effects of ovarian hormones on gastric motility have not been described. Basal and stimulated gastric motility were studied in male and female rats that were ovariectomized and implanted with continuous-release progesterone and/or estrogen pellets. Following 26 days of hormone treatment, rats were implanted with a gastric tension transducer.

TPN-induced sympathetic activation is related to diet, bacterial translocation, and an intravenous line.

Objective: To investigate the effects of an intravenous line and the administration of a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) formula by the parenteral and oral routes on bacterial translocation and urinary catecholamine excretion in rodents.

Methods: Rats were fed chow with or without an intravenous line and a fat-free TPN solution either orally or intravenously for 5 consecutive days. Urine was collected on the first, third, and fifth days of feeding and quantitatively analyzed for norepinephrine and epinephrine excretion.

Dietary fiber and distressing gastrointestinal symptoms in midlife women.

In this descriptive study, 20 midlife women experiencing chronic distressing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms recorded GI symptom severity in a symptom diary for a 30-day period and dietary intake in a 9-day food record. A wide variability in GI symptom severity was noted. Significant negative relationships were present between dietary fiber intake and abdominal pain, awakening with abdominal pain, nausea, awakening with nausea, and awakening with rectal pain.

Comparison of diet composition in women with and without functional bowel disorder.

Nurses are often involved in helping patients alleviate chronic distressing gastrointestinal symptoms such as those associated with irritable bowel syndrome or functional bowel disorder. One therapeutic strategy is to increase dietary fiber intake and to eliminate gastrointestinal (GI) irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco smoking. However, little work has been done to establish a relationship between dietary factors and chronic GI symptoms.

Intestinal transit and body weight responses to ovarian hormones and dietary fiber in rats.

A two-part experimental design was used to study the effects of ovarian hormone cessation, hormone supplementation, and dietary fiber composition on body weight, appetite, and intestinal transit. In Part 1, effects of ovarian hormone status on body weight and baseline and stimulated intestinal transit were measured in chow-fed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX), then injected daily (22 days) with estrogen (E), progesterone (P), the combination (E + P), or placebo.

Women with gastrointestinal symptoms: implications for nursing research and practice.

Irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel disorder are diagnoses used to describe chronic GI symptoms for which no overt pathological condition can be identified. Symptoms are more common in women and are frequently followed in gastroenterology clinics. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the research linking GI symptoms and reproductive cycling and to discuss implications for practice.

Mediation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone induced gastric motility increases in developing rats.

Centrally administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induces vagally mediated gastrointestinal effects which may be cholinergic, serotonergic or a combination. This study investigated mediation of TRH-stimulated gastric motility in developing rats. A serotonin (5-HT) antagonist (5-HT2, ketanserin or xylamidine; 5-HT3, MDL 72222) or an acetylcholine receptor blocker (atropine) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to intracisternal TRH (5-10 micrograms).

Systemic responses to different enteral feeding schedules in rats.

The purpose of this study was to describe selected temporal systemic responses to different enteral feeding schedules using an animal model, as one prerequisite for determining optimal delivery times for human enteral feedings. The effect of feeding schedules and time of day were examined relative to body weight and plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, and corticosterone levels. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 80) were used in a 4 x 4 randomized block design.

Pattern of gastrointestinal and somatic symptoms across the menstrual cycle.

The pattern of gastrointestinal symptoms and select mood and somatic symptoms was examined across two menstrual cycles in women with (n = 19) and without (n = 39) functional bowel distress (FBD). The women (a) rated their gastrointestinal, perimenstrual, mood, and other symptoms and stool frequency and consistency daily; (b) completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire-T; and (c) had serum levels of estrogen and progesterone measured during the menses, follicular, and luteal phases. Stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea were rated higher at menses in the group with FBD than in the group without FBD.

A possible 5-HT3 component of thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced increases in gastric motility in developing rats.

Intracisternal injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) increases gastric motility primarily via a vagal cholinergic mechanism. However, a serotonergic (5-HT) component may also exist. Rats (7, 10, 14, and > or = 50 days of age) were anesthetized and gastric motility monitored via an extraluminal strain gauge.

Morphine inhibits TRH-induced gastric contractile activity.

This study investigated the effect of centrally and peripherally administered thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on gastric contractile activity of rats 14, 21, 28 and adult (greater than or equal to 50) days (D) of age, and the effect of morphine pretreatment on that response. Rats were anesthetized with urethane, then a tension transducer was implanted on the anterior gastric corpus. Following baseline recording, rats were pretreated with intraperitoneal morphine (2 mg/kg).

Morningness-eveningness and early-morning salivary cortisol levels.

The purposes of this exploratory study were: (1) to describe a 2-h segment of the early-morning salivary cortisol levels of morning (M) and evening (E) types of healthy, day-active adults on one morning; and (2) to compare selected demographic and sleep characteristics. The sample consisted of 20 subjects, aged 23-39 years, 10 of each type. Measures included: morningness-eveningness questionnaire score, demographic information, self-report sleep characteristics, and self-report of well-being.

GI symptoms, function, and psychophysiological arousal in dysmenorrheic women.

In a previous study, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and stool characteristics were found to be influenced by menstrual cycle phase. The current study was designed to replicate initial work regarding GI symptoms and stool characteristics and to explore the relationships between GI symptoms, stool characteristics, ovarian hormone levels, and indicators of psychophysiological arousal. Fifty women (dysmenorrheic, N = 22; nondysmenorrheic, N = 28) maintained a daily dairy for recording stool characteristics, GI symptoms, and daily anxiety level.

Morphine inhibits TRH-induced intestinal transit increases.

The current study examined the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) and intracisternal (IC) administration of the opiate agonist, morphine, and an opioid, central beta-endorphin, on thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)-induced small intestinal transit increases. Anesthetized rats, 14-day and older, were studied to determine age-related differences. Results showed that in all age groups IP morphine (2 mg/kg) blocked TRH (15 micrograms)-induced increases in transit of a charcoal bolus.

Menstrual cycle factors related to increased gastric contractile response to tube feeding.

Evidence exists that the ovarian hormones have a modulating effect on gastrointestinal (GI) motility, yet details are sketchy and little attention has been paid to the effect that fluctuating hormone levels might have on women who are receiving enteral feedings. This study compared gastric motility indices in response to tube feedings at two points in the menstrual cycle, concurrently measured ovarian hormone levels, and described three potentially related factors (ie, GI symptoms, uterine cramping pain, reports of daily stressors). Intragastric motility responses to enteral feedings were obtained on 28 women (aged 19-37) during menses and midfollicular phases of two menstrual cycles.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulates intestinal transit in young rats.

The effect of intracisternal injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on small intestinal transit of a charcoal bolus was investigated in 14-, 21-, 28- and 35-day-old and adult rats. Intracisternal TRH (15 micrograms in 2 microliters) was administered, and transit (distance traveled by the charcoal) was measured 120 min later. In all age groups, intracisternal TRH increased charcoal transit significantly (P less than 0.

Age-related variations in jejunum and distal colon contractile response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in vitro.

The effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the contractile activity of the proximal jejunum and distal colon of 3-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, 50-day-old and adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined. Longitudinal segments were mounted in force displacement transducers and bathed in oxygenated, buffered Krebs' solution. In the proximal jejunum TRH 10(-6) M produced a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive tension increase in 3- to 14-day-old rats and a TTX-resistant biphasic response in older rats.

Nursing research opportunities in enteral nutrition.

The concepts of individual adaptations, environmental, and person factors have been suggested as components of a framework for considering existing and potential investigations of enteral feeding as a therapeutic modality. Much of the work regarding adaptations to enteral feeding have described the pathophysiological and experimental responses of individuals--that there is less emphasis on the physiological and behavioral responses is evident in the literature. Also, little investigation has been focused on the environmental risk factors or the person vulnerability factors that are associated with less than optimal adaptations to enteral feeding.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel patterns across the menstrual cycle in dysmenorrhea.

Gastrointestinal (GI) functional indicators and symptoms across the menstrual cycle were examined in three groups of women: dysmenorrheic (n = 15), non-pill-taking nondysmenorrheic (n = 10), and nondysmenorrheic taking birth control pills (BCPs) (n = 9). Group assignment was based on the reported presence or absence of moderate to severe menstrual cramps in a GI Health Diary which subjects kept for two menstrual cycles. Stool consistencies and frequencies and GI symptoms were also recorded in this diary.