LB: a useful pharmabiotic for the treatment of digestive disorders.

Dysbiosis, a loss of balance between resident bacterial communities and their host, is associated with multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (nonspecific chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), and digestive functional disorders. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic organisms and, more recently, pharmabiotics, have been shown to modulate the human microbiota. In this review, we provide an overview of the key concepts relating to probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic organisms, and pharmabiotics, with a focus on available clinical evidence regarding the specific use of a unique pharmabiotic, the strain LB (), for the management of gastrointestinal disorders.

[Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of constipation in Mexico. B) Diagnostic approach].

Background: Constipation is a heterogeneous symptom so an accurate diagnosis requires an appropriate approach.

Objective And Methods: To establish the clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation in Mexico we have reviewed the diagnostic aspects of constipation according to the availability of resources in our country. In addition, evidence-based recommendations have been provided.

[Usefulness of colonoscopy with biopsy for the study of patients with chronic diarrhea].

Background: the endoscopic evaluation of the colonic mucosa complemented with biopsy sampling may be very useful in the study of patients with chronic diarrhea. However its value in daily practice has not been extensively explored.

Objective: to know the utility of colonoscopy with systematic biopsy sampling in the study of the patients with chronic diarrhea.

[Detection and treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Does it modify the use of health resources?].

Background: It is still unknown whether the treatment and control of conditions that coexist with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) change the utilization of healthcare resources for this disease.

Objectives: To determine whether the treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with IBS decreased the use of healthcare resources and work absenteeism.

Material And Methods: Patients with IBS and subclinical hypothyroidism (cases) and patients with IBS and no hypothyroidism (controls) were diagnosed during a three-year period.

[Comparison of two forms of nasal and pharyngeal topical anestesia for performing esophageal manometry].

Background: The esophageal manometry (EM) is an invasive procedure that causes nasal pain, pharyngeal pain, and nausea. A topical anesthetic may improve tolerance of the examination.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 10% lidocaine with 20% benzocaine as topical anesthetics in order to reduce discomfort during an EM.

[Utility of rabeprazole as a diagnostic test in non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Background: Proton pump inhibitor test (PPIt) has been shown adequate diagnostic usefulness and cost-effectiveness in the evaluation of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, comparative studies of PPIt with 24 hr esophageal pH-metry (24-pH) in non erosive GERD (NERD) are scarce and the utility of rabeprazole as a PPIt has not been evaluated.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic utility of rabeprazole test in patients with NERD.

[Peritoneal coccidioidomycosis].

Background: Peritonitis is a very rare condition that has been found on inmunocompromised patients and patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: To present one case of a patient with chronic abdominal pain that was found to have coccidioidomycosis.

Case Presentation: 50 year old female with 6 months of intermittent abdominal pain referred to right upper quadrant, nausea and vomiting, without fever or jaundice.

[Prevalence of use of alternative and complementary medicine in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Introduction: The prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high in developed countries and is believed to be even higher in developing countries. There are no data on the use of CAM in patients with gastrointestinal tract disorders in Mexico.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of CAM use in Mexican patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

Performance, tolerability, and symptoms related to prolonged pH monitoring using the Bravo system in Mexico.

Background: The traditional system for esophageal 24-h pH monitoring requires transnasal introduction of the catheter with pH sensors; this technique produces discomfort, inconvenience, and interference with daily activity. Recently, a catheter-free pH monitoring system (Bravo) has been proposed as an alternative and promising method for 24-h pH.

Aim: To evaluate performance, tolerability, and symptoms related to this new technology in our population.

[Prevalence of different groups that comprise endoscopy-negative reflux disease].

Background Data: Endoscopic-negative reflux disease (ENRD) is a heterogeneous population. There are few data regarding the prevalenece of each group and subgroups that constitutes ENRD population.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of the differents groups and subgroups in ENRD.

[Efficacy, diagnostic utility and tolerance of intraesophageal pH ambulatory determination with wireless pH-testing monitoring system].

Background: Conventional catheter-based esophageal pH monitoring system produce discomfort and interference with normal activities and diet. An alternative is the wireless pH system which is more comfortable and offers extended recording periods.

Objective: To know the performance, the clinical utility and tolerability of wireless pH 48 h-monitoring system.

[Diagnostic value of limited research in patients with irritable bowel syndrome].

Background: It is a common practice in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, to perform multiple diagnostic tests to rule out organic diseases. However, its usefulness has not yet been evaluated in Mexico.

Objectives: a) To know frequency of an abnormal test; b) to know prevalence of organic diseases, and c) to identify subgroups with high risk of organic disease among IBS patients.