Constipation is a digestive disorder that often occurs in the elderly; its main cause is bowel motility disorder. Treatments for patients with chronic constipation include pharmacotherapy, diet changes, and surgery if other therapies do not offer satisfactory results. We describe 4 patients, 2 men (70 and 65 years old) and 2 women (75 and 66 years old), who were diagnosed with chronic constipation (slow transit constipation) and treated with conventional therapy, but did not improve. For that reason, side-to-side ileosigmoidostomy shunting surgery was performed. After the surgery, the average time until normal defecation was 16 days, and the defecation frequency was 3 to 4 times a day with no need for a laxative. No patient had a recurrence of constipation. Based on these results, side-to-side ileosigmoidostomy shunting surgery is expected to restore digestive function and can be considered as an alternative therapy for elderly patients with chronic constipation.
Aged* ; Colostomy ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; Laxatives ; Male ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Constipation is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal complaints. High fiber intake is recommended as an initial therapy for constipation. Ear mushroom is known to have higher fiber contents about 50% than other mushroom. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fiber supplements using ear mushrooms on the improvement of functional constipation. METHODS: We conducted a double blind study with 3 groups (placebo, ear mushrooms alone, and ear mushrooms with additives including cascara sagrada, etc.), which were randomly assigned out of 34 patients with functional constipation, defined by modified Rome II criteria. Number of bowel movement, straining, sense of incomplete evacuation, stool consistency, satisfactory relief, abdominal pain/discomfort and colon transit time were evaluated and analyzed before, during and after the treatment. RESULTS: Both ear mushrooms alone and ear mushrooms with additives significantly improved number of bowel movement, straining, sense of incomplete evacuation, stool consistency and satisfactory relief in patients with functional chronic constipation (p<0.05). Although the use of ear mushrooms with additives was found to be more effective on the improvement of constipation than ear mushrooms alone, it may induce abdominal discomfort or pain. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with functional constipation, fiber supplements using ear mushrooms significantly improved constipation related symptoms without serious side effect.
Adult ; *Agaricales ; Aged ; Constipation/*diet therapy ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that a recently approved synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride. To assess the efficacy on the level of serum LDL cholesterol and other lipoprotein fractions and its safety, we investigated 59 patients for lipid and side effect profile. METHOD: In patients with hypercholesterolemia, who showed 12-hours fasting serum LDL cholesterol>145 mg/dl and <250 mg/dl and triglyceride levels<400 mg/dl were enrolled to diet therapy for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of diet therapy, serum lipid profile were reevaluated and patients with LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dl were assigned to receive 10 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily for 4weeks. After 4 weeks of drug therapy, serum lipid profile were rechecked, if showed LDL cholesterol level> or =130 mg/dl, assigned to receive 20 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily until 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients were assigned to receive atorvastatin therapy, 52 patients completed the study. Among lipid profiles, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels showed significant reduction with mean reduction rate of 28%, 13%, 38%, 32% respectively after 4 weeks and 31%, 13%, 41% and 34% respectively after 8 weeks. HDL-Cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) level did not show significant change after 8 weeks of therapy. Nine patients had mild adverse events, such as elevated ALT, epigastric pain, insomnia, thumb pain. postural hypotension, palpitation and constipation. Only three patients of fifty-nine withdrew from the study due to adverse events related to drug treatment. CONCLUSION: The atorvastatin was highly effective and generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile in patients with primary hypercholestelemia.
Apolipoproteins ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Constipation ; Diet Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Oxidoreductases ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Thumb ; Triglycerides ; Atorvastatin Calcium

Child ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Complementary Therapies ; methods ; Constipation ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Diet Therapy ; methods ; Disease Management ; Environment ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; physiology

This paper covers algorithms for the management of regurgitation, constipation and infantile colic in infants. Anti-regurgitation formula may be considered in infants with troublesome regurgitation, while diagnostic investigations or drug therapy are not indicated in the absence of warning signs. Although probiotics have shown some positive evidence for the management of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), the evidence is not strong enough to make a recommendation. A partially hydrolyzed infant formula with prebiotics and β-palmitate may be considered as a dietary intervention for functional constipation in formula fed infants. Lactulose has been shown to be effective and safe in infants younger than 6 months that are constipated. Macrogol (polyethylene glycol, PEG) is not approved for use in infants less than 6 months of age. However, PEG is preferred over lactulose in infants >6 months of age. Limited data suggests that infant formula with a partial hydrolysate, galacto-oligosaccharides/fructo-oligosaccharides, added β-palmitate may be of benefit in reducing infantile colic in formula fed infants in cases where cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is not suspected. Evidence suggests that the use of extensively hydrolyzed infant formula for a formula-fed baby and a cow's milk free diet for a breastfeeding mother may be beneficial to decrease infantile colic if CMPA is suspected. None of the FGIDs is a reason to stop breastfeeding.
Breast Feeding ; Colic ; Consensus* ; Constipation ; Diagnosis* ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant Formula ; Infant* ; Lactulose ; Middle East* ; Milk ; Milk Proteins ; Mothers ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics

The purpose of the study is to research the side effects of chemotherapy which are experienced by cancer patients, theirself-care behaviors to manage the side effect symptoms, and to for provide the fundamental knowledge basis for nursing intervention and self-care education. The subjects were 15 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in 2 university hospitals. The side effects and self-care behaviors were categorized into 7 themes. 1) First theme Patients experienced nausea, vomiting, alteration in appetite, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion. Patients used emetics, ate sweets, fruits, drank alcohol and cold veberages to deal with nausea and vomiting. They took their favorites, and yogurt and medicine, and an easily digestible diet to decrease the side effects on digestive function. 2) Second theme Patients experienced oral-dryness & stomatitis. Patients consumed water, candy a warm food and various beverages. 3) Third theme, To cope with changed sense of taste, patient ate their favorite foods, and to help offset alteration in tactile sense they used massage. Concerning changed sensitivity to decreased temperature, ultraviolet treatment and various means of keeping warm were used. To deal with the changed sense of smell and hearing, they avoided noise and bad odors as much as possible. 4) Fourth theme Patients experienced discoloured skin and alopecia. Patients wore appropriate clothes to hide it. To deal with alopecia, they used hats, head kerchief, and positive thinking. 5) Fifth theme Patients experienced weight loss, URI symptoms, fatigue, pain, insomnia and they took various food health products, medicines, and naps. 6) Sixth theme Patients experienced musculoskeletal changes and decreased amounts and range of activities. They did self-care behaviors such as taking baths, exercising etc. 7) Seventh theme Patients felt varing level of anxiety and for this they had fellowship with support companies and used religion, self-control, and positive thinking. From the above research, it can be concluded that : Patients used self-care behaviors which were not proved in effectiveness and education for the prevention and management of the related side effects of chemotherapy was not effective, either.
Alopecia ; Anxiety ; Appetite ; Baths ; Beverages ; Candy ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspepsia ; Education ; Emetics ; Fatigue ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Fruit ; Head ; Hearing ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Massage ; Nausea ; Noise ; Nursing ; Odors ; Self Care* ; Skin ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Smell ; Stomatitis ; Thinking ; Vomiting ; Water ; Weight Loss ; Yogurt