Results From a Psychometric Validation Study: Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Report Higher Symptom Burden Using End-of-Day Vs Real-Time Assessment.

Introduction: Real-time assessment of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using the experience sampling method (ESM) is suggested as a more appropriate approach than currently used end-of-day or end-of-week reports. This psychometric evaluation study assesses the validity and reliability of a previously developed ESM-based patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for real-time GI symptom assessment in IBS.

Methods: This multicenter validation study included 230 Rome IV patients with IBS (80% female; mean age 41.

The Socioeconomic Impact of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Analysis of Direct and Indirect Health Care Costs.

Background & Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with substantial costs to society. Extensive data on direct costs (health care consumption) and indirect costs (health-related productivity loss) are lacking. Hence, we examined the socioeconomic costs of IBS and assessed which patient characteristics are associated with higher costs.

Neoehrlichiosis in Symptomatic Immunocompetent Child, South Africa.

We describe a case of neoehrlichiosis in an immunocompetent child with acute febrile illness in South Africa. Neoehrlichiosis was diagnosed by PCR on 16S rDNA from bone marrow aspirate. Phylogenetic analysis indicated an organism closely related to Candidatus Neoehrlichia.

Placebo response in pharmacological trials in patients with functional dyspepsia-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pharmacological trials in functional dyspepsia (FD) are associated with high placebo response rates. We aimed to identify the magnitude and contributing factors to the placebo response.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a dichotomous outcome in adult patients with FD that compared an active pharmacotherapeutic treatment with placebo.

The placebo response rate in pharmacological trials in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Clinical trials in irritable bowel syndrome are associated with high placebo response rates. We aimed to identify the magnitude of the placebo response and the contributing factors to this occurrence.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis with a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials between April 1, 1959, and April 30, 2020.