Portal vein thrombosis: Insight into physiopathology, diagnosis, and treatment

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative pathogen that is widespread all over the world, infecting more than 50% of the world's population. It is etiologically associated with non-atrophic and atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer and shows a deep association with primary gastric B-cell lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. Recently, the medical research focused on the modification of the gastric environment induced by H. pylori infection, possibly affecting the absorption of nutrients and drugs as well as the production of hormones strongly implicated in the regulation of appetite and growth. Interestingly, the absorption of iron and vitamin B12 is impaired by H. pylori infection, while infected subjects have lower basal and fasting serum levels of ghrelin and higher concentration of leptin compared to controls. Since leptin is an anorexigenic hormone, and ghrelin stimulates powerfully the release of growth hormone in humans, H. pylori infection may finally induce growth retardation if acquired very early in the childhood and in malnourished children. This review is focused on the nutritional effects of H. pylori infection, such as the reduced bioavailability or the malabsorbption of essential nutrients, and of gastrointestinal hormones, as well as on the relationship between H. pylori and the metabolic syndrome.

Background & Aims: There is a growing interest for the use of probiotics for chronic constipation. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed a positive effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on bowel movement frequency in infants with chronic constipation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of L. reuteri in adult patients with functional constipation.Methods: A double-blind, placebo RCT was conducted in 40 adults (18M/22F, 35±15 years) affected by functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a supplementation of L. reuteri (DSM 17938), or matching placebo for 4 weeks. The increase of bowel movements/week was the primary outcome, while the improvement of stool consistency was the secondary outcome.Results: At week 4, the mean increase in bowel movements/week was 2.6 (SD±1.14, 95% CI:1.6-3.6) in the L. reuteri group and 1.0 (SD±1. 95% CI:0.12-1.88) in the placebo group (p=0.046). At the end of the treatment, the mean bowel movements/week was 5.28±1.93 in the L. reuteri group and 3.89±1.79 in the placebo group. There was a not significant difference in the stool consistency between the two groups.Conclusions: L. reuteri is more effective than the placebo in improving bowel movement frequency in adult patients with functional constipation as previously demonstrated in children, even if it seems to have no effect on stool consistency.