Celiac crisis in adults: a case report and review of the literature focusing in the prevention of refeeding syndrome.

Introduction: Celiac crisis is a life-threatening complication of celiac disease that is rarely described in adults.

Case Report: We report the case of a 31-year-old man with celiac crisis as a first manifestation of celiac disease. The patient presented with severe diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte disturbances accompanied by electrocardiographic alterations.

Irritable bowel syndrome subtypes: Clinical and psychological features, body mass index and comorbidities.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes according to bowel habit.

Objective: To investigate whether there are differences in clinical features, comorbidities, anxiety, depression and body mass index (BMI) among IBS subtypes.

Methods: The study group included 113 consecutive patients (mean age: 48 ± 11 years; females: 94) with the diagnosis of IBS.

Pulsed direct and constant direct currents in the pilocarpine iontophoresis sweat chloride test.

Background: The classic sweat test (CST) is the golden standard for cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis. Then, our aim was compare the production and volume of sweat, and side effects caused by pulsed direct current (PDC) and constant direct current (CDC). To determine the optimal stimulation time (ST) for the sweat collection.

Immunochemical fecal occult blood test for detection of advanced colonic adenomas and colorectal cancer: comparison with colonoscopy results.

Background. Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) have been used for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in several countries. There is lack of information concerning diagnostic performances of this method in Brazil.

Delayed small intestinal transit in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes mellitus: investigation of the relationships with clinical features, gastric emptying, psychological distress, and nutritional parameters.

Background: Studies on small intestinal transit in type 1 diabetes mellitus have reported contradictory results. This study assessed the orocecal transit time (OCTT) in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relationships with gastrointestinal symptoms, glycemic control, chronic complications of diabetes, anthropometric indices, gastric emptying, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and psychological distress.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with long-standing (>10 years) type 1 diabetes mellitus (22 women, six men; mean age, 39 ± 9 years) participated in the study.

In search of a tolerance-induction strategy for cow's milk allergies: significant reduction of beta-lactoglobulin allergenicity via transglutaminase/cysteine polymerization.

Objective: To explore the use of β-lactoglobulin polymerized using microbial transglutaminase and heating to identify whether protein polymerization could reduce in vivo allergenicity and maintain in vitro and ex vivo immunoreactivity for use in tolerance-induction protocols.

Methods: Based on previous protocols applied in mice and children, we performed in vivo challenges (using a skin prick test) with native and polymerized β-lactoglobulin in adult patients with an IgE-mediated allergy to plactoglobulin. In vitro humoral immunoreactivity was analyzed using immunoblotting.

Is it just lactose intolerance?

Acquired delayed-onset hypolactasia is a common autosomal recessive condition. Cow's milk allergies, conversely, are less common conditions that may manifest with equivalent symptoms and are able to simulate and/or aggravate lactose intolerance. This study was designed to evaluate the contribution of IgE-mediated cow's milk sensitization to the symptomatology of adult patients with lactose-free diet refractory lactose intolerance.

Beneficial effects of long-term consumption of a probiotic combination of Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Bifidobacterium breve Yakult may persist after suspension of therapy in lactose-intolerant patients.

Background: The efficacy of some probiotic strains for the management of lactose intolerance remains to be established.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of a 4-week consumption of a probiotic product containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Bifidobacterium breve Yakult (10(7)-10(9) CFU of each strain) on symptoms and breath hydrogen exhalation after a lactose load in lactose-intolerant patients and whether the beneficial results persisted after probiotic discontinuation.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with lactose maldigestion and intolerance participated in this study, which comprised 4 hydrogen breath tests: baseline condition (20 g lactose), after lactase ingestion (9000 FCC units), at the end of 4-week probiotic supplementation, and a follow-up test performed 3 months after probiotic discontinuation.

Weight loss and resting energy expenditure in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and during standard treatment.

Objective: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious public health problem worldwide. In clinical studies, weight loss has been reported in 11% to 29% of patients treated with pegylated interferon-α-2a/2b. Few reports have tried to explain such a weight loss.

Investigation of autonomic function and orocecal transit time in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis and the potential influence of these factors on disease outcome.

Background: The presence of autonomic dysfunction in nonalcoholic cirrhosis and its influence on intestinal transit and disease outcome still need clarification.

Goals: To investigate the function of the autonomic nervous system in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis and the possible associations among autonomic dysfunction, severity of liver disease, disturbed intestinal transit, and the development of complications during follow-up.

Study: Measurements of heart rate variability obtained by analysis of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings to assess autonomic function and lactulose breath hydrogen test to determine orocecal transit time were performed in 32 patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis divided into Child A and B.

Food intolerance, diet composition, and eating patterns in functional dyspepsia patients.

The aims of this study are to investigate dietary factors, food intolerance, and the body mass index data, as an indicator of nutritional status, in functional dyspepsia patients. Forty-one functional dyspepsia patients and 30 healthy volunteers answered a standardized questionnaire to identify eating habits and food intolerance, and then completed a 7-day alimentary diary. There was no significant difference in daily total caloric intake between patients and controls.

One-week dual therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate and clarithromycin for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in Brazilian patients with peptic ulcer.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin given for 1 wk in Brazilian patients with peptic ulcer.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with peptic ulcer were randomized in two treatment groups: (1) 1-wk regimen consisting of ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.i.

Gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of a solid meal in functional dyspepsia: influence of gender and anxiety.

Background: Gastric dysmotility and psychological factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia.

Goals: To investigate the influence of gender and anxiety on gastric emptying and intragastric food distribution in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Methods: A standard gastric emptying test was used to study total and compartmental gastric emptying of a solid meal in 22 patients with functional dyspepsia (16 women).

Orocecal transit time in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Background: The importance of intestinal dysmotility in functional dyspepsia is a controversial issue.

Goals: To investigate the orocecal transit time in patients with functional dyspepsia, as well as a possible association between intestinal transit and the presence of anxiety or Helicobacter pylori infection in these patients.

Study: The participants in this study were 23 patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia and 24 control subjects.

Autonomic function in patients with functional dyspepsia assessed by 24-hour heart rate variability.

The function of the autonomic nervous system was assessed in 23 patients with dysmotility-like functional dyspepsia and 12 healthy volunteers by analysis of 24-hr heart rate variability and a battery of five standardized sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular reflex tests. Measures of heart rate variability were obtained by analysis of ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings using both the time and the frequency domain methods. The values of parameters reflecting vagal activity (HF, rMSSD) were significantly lower in patients with functional dyspepsia.