Disorders of the brain-gut interaction and eating disorders

BACKGROUND Eating disorders(ED)involve both the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.A similar double involvement is also found in disorders of the brain-gut interaction(DGBI)and symptoms are sometimes similar.AIM To find out where there is an association and a cause-effect relationship,we looked for the comorbidity of DGBI and ED.METHODS A systematic review was undertaken.A literature search was performed.Inclusion criteria for the articles retained for analysis were:Observational cohort population-based or hospital-based and case-control studies,examining the relationship between DGBI and ED.Exclusion criteria were:Studies written in other languages than English,abstracts,conference presentations,letters to the Editor and editorials.Selected papers by two independent investigators were critically evaluated and included in this review.RESULTS We found 29 articles analyzing the relation between DGBI and ED comprising 13 articles on gastroparesis,5 articles on functional dyspepsia,7 articles about functional constipation and 4 articles on irritable bowel syndrome.CONCLUSION There is no evidence for a cause-effect relationship between DGBI and ED.Their common symptomatology requires correct identification and a tailored therapy of each disorder.

genetic studies in irritable bowel syndrome-status quo

AIM To evaluate the most common studied genetic polymorphisms that may have an etiological role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).METHODS The data base Pub Med was searched for studies analyzing the association between gene polymorphisms and IBS. All original full papers, written in English, were retained for further analysis. The retrieved papers were further systematized according to those polymorphisms that have been detected in IBS.RESULTS Considering these criteria, our literature search found 12 polymorphisms, residing in 10 genes, which were reported to be consistently associated with IBS. The initial search identified 189 articles, out of which 48 potentially appropriate articles were reviewed. Of these 48 articles, 41 articles were included in the review. These articles were published between 2002 and 2016. Out of these 41 studies, 17 reported analysis of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene (SLC6A4), eight on guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-3 (GNbeta3), six on the serotonin type 3 receptor genes (HTR3A), four on (HTR3E), three on (HTR2A), three the tumor necrosis factor superfamily member TL1A gene (TNFSF15), and ten on genetic polymorphisms with limited evidence.CONCLUSION Current evidence for the relation between genetic polymorphisms and IBS is limited owing to the fact that high-quality prospective studies and detailed phenotyping of patients suffering from IBS and matched controls were lacking in the past.