Non-pharmacological treatments in the irritable bowel syndrome

INTRODUCTIONThe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characteried by chronic lower abdominal pain and disordered defaecation associated with bloating ,tenesmus and extra-intestinal symptoms including and functional upper gastrointestinal symptoms .Currently there is nounifying hypothesis which adepuately explains the pathogenesis of the disorder although a number of physiological and psychological abmormalites have been described.

Clinical Study on Deep Insertion at Tianshu (ST 25) for Colonic Slow Transit Constipation

Objective：To observe the clinical effect of deep insertion at Tianshu（ST 25）for colonic slow transit constipation（STC）.Methods：120 cases of STC patients were randomly divided,60 cases in a deep insertion group,30 cases in an electroacupuncture group and 30 cases in a medication group by 2：1：1 ratio.The deep insertion group was treated with deep insertion at Tianshu（ST 25）.The electroacupuncture group was treated with routine insertion at Tianshu（ST 25）.The medication group was treated with oral administration of Lactulose oral liquid.The first voluntary defecation time,and constipation scores before the treatment,four weeks after the treatment and relevant scores of clinical symptoms were assessed in the three groups of the patients.Results：The scores of the clinical symptoms in improvement of constipation were better in the deep insertion group than in the electroacupuncture group and medication group,with differences in statistical significance（P〈0.01）.The unsuccessful numbers in the improvement of defecation and abdominal pain were also better in the deep insertion group than in the other two groups,and better in instant effect in the deep insertion.Conclusion：The improvement of STC clinical symptoms was better by deep insertion at Tianshu（ST 25）than by medication and routine acupuncture method at Tianshu（ST 25）.

Epidemiologic study of the irritable bowel syndrome in Beijing: stratified randomized study by cluster sampling

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in Beijing and its risk factors. METHODS: Phase I: a screening for IBS in Beijing area according to symptoms using both Manning (modified including constipation) and Rome criteria. 2486 subjects were studied by cluster sampling of the inhabitant groups according to a stratified design of urban, suburban and rural areas, and sample size of each area studied was in proportion to the population of the area. Selection of the inhabitant groups was made by simple random sampling. Age of subjects enrolled in the study was 18-70 years. All subjects fulfilling the selection criteria were requested to fill in a questionnaire assisted by trained doctors or medical students during the visit to their families. Phase II: an aliquot of patients who fulfilled at least the Manning criteria were further selected according to their scoring series to undergo detail clinical examination in the hospital including laboratory examination, abdominal ultrasonography, colonoscopy or/and barium enema to exclude organic disease of the colon. Prevalence of IBS of the population was then adjusted by the rate of correct diagnosis during Phase II study. Study using Minnesota Multi-Personality Indices (MMPI) was done in some cases. Probable risk factors were explored by comparing their frequencies among IBS group and non-IBS group using chi 2 and logistic analysis of multifactors. RESULTS: The adjusted point prevalence of IBS in Beijing is 7.26% according to Manning criteria, and is 0.82% according to Rome criteria. There is a higher prevalence rate in city (10.50%) than in rural areas (6.14%) by stratified analysis (P