Morbidity, risk of cancer and mortality in 3645 HFE mutations carriers.

Background & Aims: Mutations in the HFE gene can lead to hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) and have been suggested to increase the risk of extra-hepatic diseases, especially breast and colorectal cancer. Here we investigated long-term outcomes of Swedish patients with HFE mutations.

Methods: We identified 3645 patients with a homozygous p.

Symptom pattern following a meal challenge test in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and healthy controls.

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often complain of worsening of symptoms after meal intake. Meal challenge tests have previously been used to study symptoms and pathophysiology in functional dyspepsia.

Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate differences in gastrointestinal (GI) symptom response to a standardized meal test in IBS compared to healthy controls.

Increased TLR2 expression on blood monocytes in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Objectives: The understanding of the mechanisms for increased immune activation in subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is incomplete. We hypothesized that monocytes are more activated in patients with IBS than in the healthy population. We therefore examined activation phenotype and cytokine secretion of blood monocytes.

Structured patient education is superior to written information in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: Education and reassurance are proposed to be of great importance in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but few trials supporting this are available. Our aim was to compare the effects of a structured patient group education (IBS school) versus receiving written information in the form of an IBS guidebook, on knowledge, symptoms, and quality of life in IBS patients.

Methods: Patients with IBS according to the Rome II criteria were randomized to participate in the group education or to receive the guidebook.

Hypervigilance in irritable bowel syndrome compared with organic gastrointestinal disease.

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients are suggested to selectively attend to gastrointestinal (GI) sensations compared with healthy controls. However, it remains unclear whether there are differences between IBS and other chronic GI disorders. We aimed to evaluate the presence of hypervigilance towards the GI tract in IBS compared with patients with organic GI diseases.

T-cell activation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been found to be associated with low-grade immune activation in a subset of patients. We therefore investigated blood and colonic T-cell activity in IBS patients.

Methods: Blood samples were initially obtained from 74 IBS patients and 30 controls.

Altered rectal perception in irritable bowel syndrome is associated with symptom severity.

Background & Aims: Diverging results exist regarding the connection between altered visceral perception and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, as well as the effects of psychological status on visceral sensitivity. We sought to investigate different aspects of rectal perception in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the association with GI and psychological symptoms.

Methods: We included 109 patients with IBS meeting Rome II criteria (77 women; age range, 20-71 years) and 29 healthy controls (21 women; age range, 20-68 years).

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been proposed to be common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with altered small-bowel motility as a possible predisposing factor.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of SIBO, by culture of small-bowel aspirate, and its correlation to symptoms and motility in IBS.

Methods: 162 patients with IBS who underwent small-bowel manometry and culture of jejunal aspirate were included.

Functional findings in irritable bowel syndrome.

The pathophysiology of IBS is complex and still incompletely known. Both central and peripheral factors, including psychosocial factors, abnormal GI motility and secretion, and visceral hypersensitivity, are thought to contribute to the symptoms of IBS. Several studies have demonstrated altered GI motor function in IBS patients and the pattern differs between IBS subgroups based on the predominant bowel pattern.

Health-related quality of life in patients attending a gastroenterology outpatient clinic: functional disorders versus organic diseases.

Background & Aims: Several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders have major effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there are few direct comparisons between functional GI disorders and organic GI diseases. This study aimed to compare HRQOL between these 2 groups and to assess factors of importance for HRQOL.

Methods: Three hundred ninety-nine consecutive patients attending a GI outpatient clinic completed HRQOL instruments (Short Form 36 [SF-36] and Psychological General Well-Being index [PGWB]) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS).