Diosmectite treatment reduces stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity but does not affect the gut microbiota in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of diosmectite on visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal transit in a rat chronic stress model and on the faecal microbiota.

Materials And Methods: Wistar rats (175-225 g; n=10) were randomized into four groups: diosmectite/control, diosmectite/stress, vehicle/control, and vehicle/stress. Diosmectite (500 mg/kg, PO) was administered for five days for assessment of visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal transit and for three weeks for assessment of faecal microbiota.

Long-term diosmectite use does not alter the gut microbiota in adults with chronic diarrhea.

Background: Diosmectite, a natural colloidal clay, has been used worldwide for a number of approved indications, including the treatment of chronic functional diarrhea. Here, we used high-resolution whole metagenome shotgun sequencing to assess the impact of a 5 weeks administration of diosmectite (3 g/sachet, 3 sachets/day) on the fecal microbiota of 35 adults with functional chronic diarrhea.

Results: Gut microbiota was not impacted by diosmectite administration.

Memory Complaints and Cognitive Decline: Data from the GUIDAGE Study1.

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be a very early symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be associated with a cognitive decline in a cognitively normal population. The McNair and Kahn Scale was used to assess memory complaints in the GuidAge study.

Objective: Our objectives were to examine if the McNair and Kahn Scale can predict cognitive decline and to screen which (if any) of the question(s) of this scale would better predict this cognitive decline.

Tolerance and Long-Term Efficacy of Polyethylene Glycol 4000 (Forlax®) Compared to Lactulose in Elderly Patients with Chronic Constipation.

Objectives: To assess the tolerance and potential nutritional consequences of long-term repeated doses of PEG 4000 (10 to 30 g/day) in elderly patients with chronic constipation as compared to lactulose (10-30 g/day).

Design: Single blind, randomised, multicentre, parallel group comparative study.

Setting: Community-dwelling patients and nursing homes residents aged 70 years and older with a history of chronic constipation.

Analysing Time to Event Data in Dementia Prevention Trials: The Example of the GuidAge Study of EGb761.

Time-to-event analysis is frequently used in medical research to investigate potential disease-modifying treatments in neurodegenerative diseases. Potential treatment effects are generally evaluated using the logrank test, which has optimal power and sensitivity when the treatment effect (hazard ratio) is constant over time. However, there is generally no prior information as to how the hazard ratio for the event of interest actually evolves.

A randomised, double-blind study of polyethylene glycol 4000 and lactulose in the treatment of constipation in children.

Background: Chronic constipation is frequent in children. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of PEG 4000 and lactulose for the treatment of chronic constipation in young children.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind study enrolled 88 young children aged 12 to 36 months, who were randomly assigned to receive lactulose (3.

Long-term use of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (GuidAge): a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Prevention strategies are urgently needed to tackle the growing burden of Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to assess efficacy of long-term use of standardised ginkgo biloba extract for the reduction of incidence of Alzheimer's disease in elderly adults with memory complaints.

Methods: In the randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled GuidAge clinical trial, we enrolled adults aged 70 years or older who spontaneously reported memory complaints to their primary-care physician in France.

IAGG workshop: health promotion program on prevention of late onset dementia.

IAGG, WHO, and SFGG organized a international workshop on Health promotion programs on prevention of late on-set dementia. Thirty world specialists coming from Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia, shared their experience on methods and results of large epidemiological interventions to reduce incidents of dementia or delay its on-set. Chaired by Laura FRATIGLIONI, an expert in Epidemiological studies on dementia issues, the workshop gave opportunity for discussions and controversies about the state-of-the-art.

Efficacy of diosmectite (smecta) in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in adults: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study.

Background. Although diosmectite has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in children, its efficacy in adults still needs to be assessed. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the efficacy of diosmectite on the time to recovery in adults with acute diarrhoea.

Oral diosmectite reduces stool output and diarrhea duration in children with acute watery diarrhea.

Background & Aims: Diosmectite is a clay used to treat children with acute watery diarrhea. However, its effects on stool output reduction, the key outcome for pediatric antidiarrheal drugs, have not been shown.

Methods: Two parallel, double-blind studies of diosmectite efficacy on stool reduction were conducted in children 1 to 36 months old in Peru (n = 300) and Malaysia (n = 302).

GuidAge study: a 5-year double blind, randomised trial of EGb 761 for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease in elderly subjects with memory complaints. i. rationale, design and baseline data.

Primary and secondary prevention strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are urgently needed. We have initiated a five-year prospective prevention study involving patients spontaneously reporting memory complaints. The primary objective is to determine the effect of treatment with EGb 76 on the rate of conversion from memory complaints to AD using survival analysis.

The GuidAge study: methodological issues. A 5-year double-blind randomized trial of the efficacy of EGb 761 for prevention of Alzheimer disease in patients over 70 with a memory complaint.

Background: Preventive approaches in the field of Alzheimer disease (AD) is important but these trials raise many questions. Which protective factor should be studied? What population should be studied? With which principal and secondary criteria? We present here the design of the ongoing GuidAge Study. In the past, several studies suggest that Ginkgo biloba could have a potential benefit effect on cognitive function.

Efficacy of BN165 (Ginkor Fort) in breast cancer related upper limb lymphedema: a preliminary study.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether BN165 (Ginkor Fort), which has been reported to alleviate symptoms of venous insufficiency, has a beneficial effect on lymphatic function or lymphedema symptoms. Using a 3-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled design in 48 patients with upper extremity lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment, improvement in symptoms and signs as well as lymphoscintigraphic kinetic parameters (radiocolloid half-life and lymphatic migration speed) was assessed in response to treatment. A statistically significant effect on limb heaviness was noted.

Effects of polyethylene glycol 4000 on 24-h manometric recordings of left colonic motor activity.

Background: It has been shown that low doses of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 are effective in the treatment of chronic constipation. The aim of this study was to describe the effects on colonic motility of oral PEG 4000 treatment and intraluminal instillation of PEG 4000.

Methods: Left colonic and rectosigmoid manometric recordings were performed for 27 h in six constipated patients and in six healthy volunteers.

Randomized trial of interferon-alpha plus ursodeoxycholic acid versus interferon plus placebo in patients with chronic hepatitis C resistant to interferon.

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) could potentiate the effect of interferon (IFN) in patients with chronic hepatitis C resistant to IFN. We compared the efficacy of IFN with that of a combination of IFN and UDCA.

Methods: Patients were randomized to receive UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) (n = 47) or placebo (n = 44) plus interferon (3 MU three times weekly) for 6 months and were then followed up for 6 additional months.

[Assessment of quality of life of patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Elaboration and validation of a specific questionnaire].

Unlabelled: Quality of life is frequently impaired in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux. The aim of this study was the validation of a new specific quality of life questionnaire in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux.

Methods: A questionnaire was generated as follows: a) item generation with patients, b) item reduction, c) psychometric validation and comparison to a reference questionnaire (SF36) in patients with symptomatic gastro-esophageal reflux, d) assessment of reproducibility, and e) responsiveness over time.

Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on liver iron stores and distribution in rats with normal or iron-supplemented diet.

Iron excess is a potential liver-damaging factor, and bile salts can increase iron digestive absorption and iron biliary excretion. The aim of this study was to investigate in rats the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile salt used in the treatment of chronic liver disease, on the hepatic iron stores in normal and iron-overload conditions. UDCA was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats.