View clinical trials related to Constipation - Functional.
Filter by:Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an emerging technology for non-invasive neuromodulation that has broad potential implications and warrants further study. The investigators' clinical experience from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for East-West Medicine (CEWM) has also demonstrated that TEAS can be used as an effective self-care tool for patients with chronic illness who do not have the time or resources for frequent acupuncture treatments. Chronic constipation is the chosen area of study because of the large population with a substantial impairment in health-related quality of life and work productivity. The investigators have recently completed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrating the benefit of perineal self-acupressure on quality of life measurements in this population, which supports investigation into other acupuncture-based self-care interventions. Given these findings, the investigators hypothesize that home patient-administered TEAS can provide measurable improvements in both symptom severity and health related quality of life.
Constipated patients often have mental problems such as depression and anxiety due to difficult defecation. Our previous studies have proved the efficacy of FMT treating constipation. Meanwhile it is believed that mental diseases are correlated to gut microbiota. This trial is based on the theory of the gut-brain-microbiota axis. Patients with constipation, depression and/or anxiety are performed FMT, laboratory, imaging and microbiota examinations, and clinical follow-up, to observe the clinical efficiency of FMT and the potential role of gut microbiome in these gut-brain disorders.
Constipation is a common condition in which an individual suffers with hard stools which are infrequent and difficult to pass. It is poorly understood and treatment is often unsatisfactory. Many patients also experience pain whilst others do not but it is unclear why . It is believed that the pain arises from contractions in the colon, the lower part of the intestines. Some patients with constipation have weak colonic contraction but surprisingly some, particularly those with a lot of pain have strong contractions which are poorly coordinated. These patients all suffer from constipation but would are likely to need very different treatments. At present we cannot identify what type of abnormality of colonic contractions each individual patient suffers from and so are unable to give them the best treatment. This study will take advantage of two new techniques which have been recently developed. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which will allow us to see the contractions of the colon in response to a dose of the laxative Moviprep which increases the flow of fluid into the proximal part of the colon and High Resolution Manometry (HRM) which measures the power and direction of the contraction in much more detail than ever before using a pressure sensing catheter placed into the bowel. Using these 2 techniques we will identify the pattern of contractions in 80 patients with constipation and 40 healthy controls. Participants will then enter into a controlled trial of either a drug which stimulates contractions or one which inhibits contraction. We anticipate that the pattern of contractions identified by the non-invasive MRI technique will predict which treatment will reduce their symptoms most as effectively as the more invasive HRM. If this is the case then our MRI test of colonic responsiveness could become widely used in routine clinical practice
Beneficial therapeutic effect of probiotics has been reported in children with irritable bowel syndrome, but not consistently in other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Although there is evidence that probiotics increase stool frequency and decrease stool consistency in healthy individuals the evidence for efficacy in constipation is limited. Children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and constipation will be included in the study. Children with FAP will be randomized in one of two groups and will receive either L. reuteri in a daily dose of 108 CFU, or placebo during three months. Children with chronic constipation will receive either L. reuteri in a daily dose of 108 CFU and lactulose, or placebo and lactulose. Frequency and intensity of episodes of abdominal pain during and after intervention will be recorded in children with FAP. Frequency of defecation, stool consistency and need for lactulose will be recorded in children with chronic constipation.