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Health Awareness Week

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month

IBS is short for Irritable Bowel Syndrome – a collection of symptoms that result from abnormal functioning in the small and/or large bowel – the most common disorder of the human digestive tract and a medical condition still misunderstood by many. Currently, approximately 20% of the Australian population experience IBS symptoms, with women three times more likely to experience IBS than men. Major IBS symptoms include discomfort, pain, cramping and bloating in the abdominal area and stomach, excessive flatulence (wind), and severe constipation and chronic diarrhea (or both). The Gut Foundation Australia

UpToDate

Articles

Diagnosis

Research

Treatment

E-books

E-journals

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A review
Advances in the identification of specific dysfunctions as causes of individual symptoms in the “IBS spectrum” leads to the potential to enhance the diagnosis and management of symptoms for the majority of patients for whom first-line therapies of IBS and management of comorbid psychological disorders are insufficient. JAMA 2 March 2021

The role of faecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease
What you need to know

  • Faecal calprotectin testing is recommended in patients <60 years old with lower gastrointestinal symptoms and normal initial workup to exclude causes of colonic inflammation
  • A normal faecal calprotectin result has a high negative predictive value for inflammatory bowel disease, and prevents unnecessary investigation when the most likely diagnosis is irritable bowel syndrome
  • Faecal calprotectin should not be used in patients older than 60 or if colorectal cancer is suspected
  • Faecal calprotectin is a sensitive marker of intestinal inflammation and may be elevated in conditions other than inflammatory bowel disease, such as diverticulitis and infectious gastroenteritis, or when patients take medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin

BMJ 13 February 2023

Rational investigations in irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder which accounts for a substantial proportion of a gastroenterologist’s time in the outpatient clinic. However, there is variability in approaches to diagnosis and investigation between physicians, dependent on expertise. Many patients express disappointment over the lack of a patient-centred approach. Consequently, there have been calls for the care of patients with IBS to be standardised, a process which aims to promote high-quality and high-value care. BMJ frontline gastroenterology 10 February 2020

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Research

Incidence and prevalence of self‐reported non‐coeliac wheat sensitivity and gluten avoidance in Australia
The prevalence of self‐reported non‐coeliac wheat sensitivity (SR‐NCWS) was similar in 2015 and 2018. Baseline (2015) and incident SR‐NCWS (2018) were each associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The number of people avoiding dietary gluten exceeds that of people with coeliac disease or SR‐NCWS, and general health considerations and abdominal symptoms are the most frequently reported reasons for avoidance. MJA 17 February 2020

Functional gastrointestinal disorders among healthcare professionals at a tertiary Australian hospital
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs)  and GI symptoms are prevalent among hospital workers. Stress, female sex, irregular working hours, and non-Asian ethnicity appeared to be associated with GI symptoms and FGIDs. JGH open 7 April 2023

Prevalence and impact of faecal incontinence among individuals with Rome IV irritable bowel syndrome
Among individuals with Rome IV IBS, one-in-four repo rted FI according to Rome IV criteria. Physicians should ask patients with IBS about faecal incontinence routinely. Alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics 13 March 2023

The impact of diet and ethnicity on Gut Microbiota variation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A multi-centre study
Gut microbiota variation in multi-ethnic IBS patients may be related to dietary intake and may be helpful to identify patients who are likely to respond to a low FODMAP diet. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 12 March 2023

Role of the gut-brain axis in the shared genetic etiology between gastrointestinal tract diseases and psychiatric disorders : A genome-wide Pleiotropic analysis
These findings suggest that the pleiotropic genetic determinants between gastrointestinal tract diseases and psychiatric disorders are extensively distributed across the genome. These findings not only support the shared genetic basis underlying the GBA but also have important implications for intervention and treatment targets of these diseases simultaneously. JAMA psychiatry 8 February 2023

Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and its association with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
There was an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among patients diagnosed with IBS, primarily in the first year after IBS diagnosis. ANZ journal of surgery 9 February 2023

Nutritional status in irritable bowel syndrome: A North American population-based study
The findings suggest that individuals with IBS should be screened for copper–zinc imbalance. Given zinc's role in the immune system, the “brain–gut” axis, and the gastrointestinal barrier, the identified copper–zinc imbalance may play a role in perpetuating the underlying pathophysiology of IBS. Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis and the potential role of therapeutic zinc supplementation. JGH open 12 February 2020

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Treatment

Best management of irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction which can have a considerable impact on quality of life. Following diagnosis, timely and evidence-based management is vital to the care of patients with IBS, aiming to improve outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction. Good communication is paramount, and clinicians should provide a clear explanation about the disorder, with a focus on exploring the patient’s own beliefs about IBS, and a discussion of any concerns they may have. BMJ frontline gastroenterology 7 June 2021

Understanding and managing psychological disorders in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a practical guide
Mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and impact negatively on their quality of life and disease course. An integrated multidisciplinary IBD team, which includes access to psychology and psychiatry opinion, makes possible the prompt recognition and management of psychological disturbance in patients with IBD. Based on our experience and existing literature, including systematic reviews of the effectiveness of available treatment modalities, a stepwise approach to the maintenance and restoration of psychological well-being is recommended, evolving upwards from lifestyle advice, through behavioural therapies to pharmacotherapy. BMJ frontline gastroenterology 7 December 2022

Rifaximin treatment for individual and multiple symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: An analysis using new end points
Rifaximin significantly improved multiple, concurrent IBS-D symptoms, using clinically relevant definitions of treatment response. Using a novel tri-symptom composite end point (ie, abdominal pain, bloating, fecal urgency), adults with IBS-D treated with a 2-week course of rifaximin were significantly more likely to be composite end point responders than those receiving placebo (≥30% or ≥40% threshold) for the three symptoms. Thus, rifaximin not only met current standard thresholds used for adjudication of responders in clinical trials but also achieved higher thresholds for many of these symptoms, suggesting potential for even more robust clinical improvements. Clinical therapeutics 14 March 2023

Acupuncture for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome : A pilot randomized clinical trial
In this pilot randomized clinical trial, acupuncture in both the specific acupoints (SA) and nonspecific acupoints (NSA) groups showed clinically meaningful improvement in IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) symptoms, although there were no significant differences among the 3 groups. These findings suggest that acupuncture is feasible and safe; a larger, sufficiently powered trial is needed to accurately assess efficacy. JAMA 29 December 2022

Gut-focused hypnotherapy for children and adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome
GFH is highly effective in children and adolescents with IBS. Early intervention with GFH in childhood IBS may reduce the subsequent burden of this problem in adults. BMJ frontline gastroenterology 23 November 2021

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E-books

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Journals

This is just a sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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Previous Awareness Weeks

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