Increased fasting small-bowel water content in untreated coeliac disease and scleroderma as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background And Aims: The regular overnight migrating motor complex (MMC) ensures that the normal fasting small-bowel water content (SBWC) is minimised. We have applied our recently validated non-invasive magnetic resonance technique to assess SBWC in newly diagnosed coeliac disease (CD), scleroderma (SCD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), conditions possibly associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Methods: A total of 20 CD and 15 SCD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were compared to 20 healthy volunteers (HV) and 26 IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D) patients, as previously reported.

Abnormalities of mucosal serotonin metabolism and 5-HT receptor subunit 3C polymorphism in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea predict responsiveness to ondansetron.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) is a common condition, greatly reducing the quality of life with few effective treatment options available.

Aim: To report the beneficial response shown in our trial with the 5-hydroyxtryptamine (5-HT) receptor 3 antagonist, ondansetron in IBS-D METHODS: A randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of 5 weeks of ondansetron versus placebo in 125 patients meeting modified Rome III criteria for IBS-D as previously described. Patients were compared to 21 healthy controls.

Colonic response to laxative ingestion as assessed by MRI differs in constipated irritable bowel syndrome compared to functional constipation.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) share many symptoms but underlying mechanisms may be different. We have developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to measure intestinal volumes, transit, and motility in response to a laxative, Moviprep(®) . We aim to use these biomarkers to study the pathophysiology in IBS-C and FC.

Colon wall motility: comparison of novel quantitative semi-automatic measurements using cine MRI.

Background: Recently, cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown promise for visualizing movement of the colonic wall, although assessment of data has been subjective and observer dependent. This study aimed to develop an objective and semi-automatic imaging metric of ascending colonic wall movement, using image registration techniques.

Methods: Cine balanced turbo field echo MRI images of ascending colonic motility were acquired over 2 min from 23 healthy volunteers (HVs) at baseline and following two different macrogol stimulus drinks (11 HVs drank 1 L and 12 HVs drank 2 L).