Publications by authors named "Maria Vazquez-Roque"

Background: The impact of English proficiency on gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) outcomes remains unclear. In this analysis, we compare inpatient GIB outcomes between patients with English as their primary language (EPL) and those with a primary language other than English (PLOE).

Methods: Using the 2019 State Inpatient Databases for New Jersey, Maryland, and Michigan, we created an analysis cohort of GIB hospitalizations using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes.

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Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients often experience meal-associated symptoms. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Aim: To determine small intestinal mechanisms of lipid-induced symptoms and rectal hypersensitivity in IBS METHODS: We recruited 26 IBS patients (12 IBS-C, 14 IBS-D) and 15 healthy volunteers (HV).

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Background: Accurately diagnosing gastroparesis relies upon gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) being performed correctly. Jointly published protocol guidelines have long been available; however, the extent to which practitioners adhere to these guidelines is unknown.

Aims: This study aimed to assess national compliance with established GES protocol guidelines.

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced endoscopy procedures, prompting a study on integrating PCR testing to safely resume these practices.
  • A retrospective analysis compared three strategies for endoscopy utilization: urgent-only procedures, semiurgent testing, and testing all patients, focusing on their effectiveness and costs amidst varying COVID-19 prevalence.
  • Results showed that strategies involving testing allowed for a significant increase in procedures done, with PCR testing emerging as a vital approach to restarting endoscopic services safely while considering both economic and health impacts.
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Abdominal bloating and distension are 2 of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Abdominal bloating is characterized by symptoms of trapped gas, abdominal pressure, and fullness. Abdominal distension is defined as a measurable increase in abdominal girth.

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A 21-year-old woman presented to our clinic after 7 years of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and iron-deficiency anemia. Initial upper endoscopy revealed severe inflammation and nodularity of the gastric body and active infection. After eradication therapy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed gastric atrophy with nodularity resolution.

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The contributions of gastric emptying (GE) and gastric accommodation (GA) to satiation, satiety, and postprandial symptoms remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between GA or GE with satiation, satiety, and postprandial symptoms in healthy overweight or obese volunteers (total = 285, 73% women, mean BMI 33.5 kg/m): 26 prospectively studied obese, otherwise healthy participants and 259 healthy subjects with previous similar GI testing.

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Article Synopsis
  • Increased intestinal permeability may contribute to symptoms in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), and a gluten-free diet shows improvements compared to a gluten-containing diet.
  • A study examined intestinal tight junction components in IBS-D patients before and after gluten exposure, analyzing biopsies for specific proteins related to permeability.
  • Results indicated that diet affects protein expressions linked to intestinal permeability, suggesting mechanisms behind gluten-related symptoms in IBS-D patients.
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Background & Aims: In patients with positive results from serologic tests for celiac disease, analysis of tissues samples from the duodenal bulb, in addition to those from other parts of the small bowel, might increase the diagnostic yield. However, biopsies are not routinely collected from the duodenal bulb because of concerns that villous atrophy detected there could be caused by other disorders (Brunner glands or peptic duodenitis, gastric metaplasia, shorter villi, or lymphoid follicles). We investigated whether analysis of biopsies from duodenal bulbs of all patients undergoing endoscopy (a population with a low probability for celiac disease) increases diagnoses of celiac disease.

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Nonceliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is the clinical term used to describe gastrointestinal (GI) and/or extraintestinal symptoms associated with gluten ingestion. The prevalence of NCGS is unknown. The condition has clinical features that overlap with those of celiac disease (CD) and wheat allergy (WA).

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Constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, with prevalence in the general population of approximately 20%. In the elderly population the incidence of constipation is higher compared to the younger population, with elderly females suffering more often from severe constipation. Treatment options for chronic constipation (CC) include stool softeners, fiber supplements, osmotic and stimulant laxatives, and the secretagogues lubiprostone and linaclotide.

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Background & Aims: Ghrelin receptors are located in the colon. Relamorelin is a pentapeptide selective agonist of ghrelin receptor 1a with gastric effects, but its effects in the colon are not known. We aimed to evaluate the effects of relamorelin on bowel movements (BMs) and gastrointestinal and colonic transit (CT) in patients with chronic constipation.

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Objective: To examine the association of gene variants of uncoupling proteins (UCP)-2 and -3 with obesity and gastrointestinal (GI) traits.

Methods: In 255 overweight or obese adults, the associations of gene variants in UCP-2 (-3474, rs659366) and UCP-3 (rs1626521, rs2075577, rs15763) with body weight (BW) and GI traits were studied. Gene variants were genotyped by TaqMan® assay.

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Background & Aims: Weight loss after pharmacotherapy varies greatly. We aimed to examine associations of quantitative gastrointestinal and psychological traits with obesity, and to validate the ability of these traits to predict responses of obese individuals to pharmacotherapy.

Methods: In a prospective study, we measured gastric emptying of solids and liquids, fasting and postprandial gastric volume, satiation by nutrient drink test (volume to fullness and maximal tolerated volume), satiety after an ad libitum buffet meal, gastrointestinal hormones, and psychological traits in 328 normal-weight, overweight, or obese adults.

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Background: Patients with disorders of gastrointestinal function may undergo unnecessary treatment if misdiagnosed as motility disorders.

Objective: To report on clinical features, medical, surgical and psychiatric co-morbidities, and prior treatments of a patient cohort diagnosed concurrently with non-psychogenic rumination syndrome and pelvic floor dysfunction (also termed rectal evacuation disorder).

Methods: From a consecutive series (1994-2013) of 438 outpatients with rectal evacuation disorders in the practice of a single gastroenterologist at a tertiary care center, 57 adolescents or adults were diagnosed with concomitant rumination syndrome.

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While the symptoms of gastroparesis are common, an accurate diagnosis is based on a combination of those symptoms with a documented delay in gastric emptying. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness, bloating, and abdominal discomfort. Patients with gastroparesis face many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

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Chronic constipation (CC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) are common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Current treatment options, either prescription or nonprescription medications, have limited efficacy in a subset of patients. There is significant demand for more efficacious medications for the treatment of CC and IBS-C.

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Background & Aims: Patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) could benefit from a gluten-free diet (GFD).

Methods: We performed a randomized controlled 4-week trial of a gluten-containing diet (GCD) or GFD in 45 patients with IBS-D; genotype analysis was performed for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. Twenty-two patients were placed on the GCD (11 HLA-DQ2/8 negative and 11 HLA-DQ2/8 positive) and 23 patients were placed on the GFD (12 HLA-DQ2/8 negative and 11 HLA-DQ2/8 positive).

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Genetic variations in metabolism of endocannabinoids and in CNR1 (gene for cannabinoid 1 receptor) are associated with symptom phenotype, colonic transit, and left colon motility in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our aim was to evaluate associations between two variations in CNR1 genotype (rs806378 and [AAT]n triplets) with symptom phenotype, small bowel and colonic transit, and rectal sensations in 455 patients with IBS and 228 healthy controls. Small bowel and colonic transit were measured by scintigraphy, rectal sensation by isobaric distensions.

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Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea (IBS-D) carrying human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2/8 genotypes benefit from gluten withdrawal. Our objective was to compare gastrointestinal barrier function, mucosal inflammation, and transit in nonceliac IBS-D patients and assess association with HLA-DQ2/8 status. In 45 IBS-D patients who were naive to prior exclusion of dietary gluten, we measured small bowel (SB) and colonic mucosal permeability by cumulative urinary lactulose and mannitol excretion (0-2 h for SB and 8-24 h for colon), inflammation on duodenal and rectosigmoid mucosal biopsies (obtained in 28 of 45 patients), tight junction (TJ) protein mRNA and protein expression in SB and rectosigmoid mucosa, and gastrointestinal and colonic transit by validated scintigraphy.

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The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analog ROSE-010 reduced pain during acute exacerbations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our objective was to assess effects of ROSE-010 on several gastrointestinal (GI) motor and bowel functions in constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C). In a single-center, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study, we evaluated safety, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics in female patients with IBS-C.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to distinguish dys-synergic defaecation (DD) from slow transit constipation (STC) and normal bowel function by analyzing medical records of 1,411 patients over 16 years.
  • Results showed that DD is linked to a greater difference in rectoanal pressure and smaller perineal descent compared to STC, with both conditions exhibiting slower colonic transit than healthy controls.
  • Regional transit measurements helped differentiate DD from STC, indicating DD has delayed overall colonic transit, which can assist in identifying specific patient subgroups with constipation.
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