Scientific solution to a complex problem: physiology and multidisciplinary team improve understanding and outcome in chronic constipation and faecal incontinence.

Purpose: There is a lack of diagnostic credibility to direct focused management for children with chronic constipation (CC) and faecal incontinence (FI). The aim is to assess the impact of an innovative Children's Anorectal Physiology Service (CAPS) focusing on improving outcomes in children with CC/FI.

Methods: Prospective data: demographics, bowel and quality of life (QoL)/risk of distress questionnaires.

Identification of proton-pump inhibitor drugs that inhibit Trichomonas vaginalis uridine nucleoside ribohydrolase.

Trichomonas vaginalis continues to be a major health problem with drug-resistant strains increasing in prevalence. Novel antitrichomonal agents that are mechanistically distinct from current therapies are needed. The NIH Clinical Compound Collection was screened to find inhibitors of the uridine ribohydrolase enzyme required by the parasite to scavenge uracil for its growth.

Who is using chronic acid suppression therapy and why?

Objectives: Acid suppression medications have become one of the most commonly prescribed classes of therapeutic agents. Because little data exists describing the chronic use of these agents among a general population, we sought to determine the patterns of use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine type 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in clinical practice, as well as the distribution and severity of symptoms in patients prescribed these therapies.

Methods: Pharmacy billing data from two insurers were used to identify all patients on chronic (>90 days) PPIs and H2RAs within a large, eastern Massachusetts provider network.