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Objective To investigate factors related to bowel function and colon motility in acute stroke patients. Method Fifty-one stroke patients (29 males, mean age 63.4±13.6 years, onset 13.4±4.8 days) were recruited and divided into two groups: constipation (n=25) and non-constipation (n=26) groups. We evaluated the amount of intake, voiding function, concomitant swallowing problem and colon transit time (CTT) using radio-opaque markers for ascending, descending and rectosigmoid colons. Th e Adapted Patient Evaluation Conference System (APEC), Korean version of Modifi ed Bathel Index (K-MBI) and Motricity Index (MI) were evaluated. Results Th e constipation group showed signifi cantly prolonged CTT of ascending, descending and entire colon (p<0.05) and more severe swallowing problems (p=0.048). The APEC scale (2.65±1.44 vs 1.52±0.92, p=0.001),K-MBI scores (59.4±14.4 vs 28.0±24.3, p<0.001) and MI scores (69.1±22.3 vs 46.8±25.9, p=0.001) of the constipation group were signifi cantly lower compared to the non-constipation group. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that bowel function in acute stroke patients was associated with functional status and swallowing function, indicating the need for intensive functional training in post-stroke constipation patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of bowel/bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its associations with cognitive impairment. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 150 MS patients. Patients were administered the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT), the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBDS), and the Actionable Bladder Symptom Screening Tool (ABSST). The associations between bowel/bladder dysfunction and cognitive function were assessed through hierarchical regression models using the SDMT and clinicodemographic features as independent variables and NBDS and ABSST scores as dependent variables. Results: The prevalence of bowel/bladder deficits was 44.7%, with 26 patients (17.3%) suffering from bowel deficits and 60 patients (40%) from bladder deficits. The total NBDS and ABSST scores were correlated with the SDMT (β=-0.10, P<0.001 and β=-0.03, P=0.04, respectively) after correction for demographic features and physical disability. Conclusions: Bowel/bladder disorders are common in MS and are associated with both physical and cognitive disability burdens. As SDMT is embedded into routine clinical assessments, a lower score may warrant investigating bowel/bladder dysfunction due to the strong interplay of these factors.

Purpose: This study was a descriptive survey research to identify the impact of bowel function, anxiety and depression on quality of life in patients with rectal cancer who had a sphincter-preserving resection. Methods: Participants were 100 patients who had rectal cancer surgery at W hospital in Korea. Bowel function, anxiety & depression, and quality of life were measured using the BFI (Bowel Function Instrument), HADS (Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale) and the FACT-C (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal). Results: The mean scores were $39.81{\pm}5.16$ for bowel function, $6.15{\pm}3.25$ for anxiety, $7.24{\pm}3.13$ for depression, and $72.50{\pm}13.27$ for quality of life. There were significant negative correlations between quality of life and anxiety (r= -.59, p <.001) and between quality of life and depression (r= -.53, p <.001). But the correlation between quality of life and bowel function was significantly positive (r=.22, p =.025). The influence of the independent variables on the total quality of life was examined using multiple regression analysis. Anxiety (${\beta}$= -.38, p =.002), bowel function (${\beta}$= -.25, p =.028) and occupation (${\beta}$=.16, p =.048) were identified as factors affecting quality of life. The explanation power of this regression model was 44% and it was statistically significant (F=16.53, p <.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in order to improve the bowel function of patients after sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer, effective nursing interventions should be developed. As psychological problem such as anxiety and depression can relate to quality of life for these patients, nurses should work on improving the situation by providing continuous emotional nursing.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess combined effects of early oral feeding after Cesarean section (C/S) under regional anesthesia on bowel function, gastrointestinal complications and surgical recovery. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using KISS, RISS, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Google Scholar to identify randomized clinical trials comparing early oral feeding (EOF) with delayed oral feeding (DOF) after C/S. Outcome variables were bowel function and gastrointestinal complications and surgical recovery. Effect size was calculated using weighted mean differences (WMDs) and relative risks (RRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven studies involving 1,911 patients from 568 studies, 7 studies were included in meta-analysis. EOF was significantly associated with shorter time to recover bowel movement compared with DOF (WMD, - 2.50; CI, - 3.50~- 1.50). EOF was not associated with nausea (RR, 1.15; CI, 0.87~1.53) and vomiting (RR, 0.96; CI, 0.65~1.42), but lower incidence of abdominal distension (RR, 0.70; CI, 0.50~0.98). EOF was significantly associated with shorter time to discontinuation of intravenous fluids (WMD, - 8.88; 95% CI, - 16.65~- 1.11) and removal of urinary catheter (WMD, - 15.23; CI, - 25.62~- 4.85). Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence that EOF after C/S under regional anesthesia not only accelerates return of bowel function and surgical recovery but also reduces gastrointestinal complications. These results suggest that EOF should be offered to women who have undergone C/S to improve the recovery experience and reduce overall medical costs.

Objectives：Recently, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is known to be related with neurotransmitters. This study was designed to determine β-adrenergic receptor function in patients with IBS and to compared with normal controls to examine the relationship between β-adrenergic receptor function and anxiety in IBS patients. Methods：Eighteen IBS patients were compared with the same number of age and sex-matched normal subjects in terms of β-adrenergic receptor function and psychological variables reflecting anxiety levels. To assess β-adrenergic receptor function, Chronotropic 25 dose (CD25) was calculated via isoproterenol stimulation test. Results：CD25 values in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the control group, which reflected increased β-adrenergic receptor function (2.19±1.08 versus 3.89±1.64, p<0.05). Patients with IBS showed higher HAM-A scores (8.88±4.88 versus 3.59±2.65, p<0.01), HAM-D scores (6.41±4.02 versus 2.47±2.40, p<0.01), BDI scores (9.00±6.21 versus 4.72±4.30, p<0.05), and STAI scores (STAI-S：43.41±6.34 versus 33.83±8.18, p<0.01, STAI-T：44.65±7.43 versus 38.17±8.45, p<0.05). In addition, HAM-A scores were negatively correlated with CD25 values in the patient group (r=-0.424, p<0.01). Conclusion：These results suggest that β-adrenergic receptor function is increased in patients with IBS, which could affect increased anxiety levels in these patients. (J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2004;43(1):40-45)

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate gastrointestinal parasympathetic nerve activation and pyloric valve function in patients with functional dyspepsia through analysis of bowel sounds and to investigate clinical characteristics associated with the parameters of bowel sounds. Method : We surveyed clinical characteristics of patients by using a questionnaire about functional dyspepsia. Bowel sounds were recorded for 15 minutes during fasting state and for 40 minutes during postprandial state. We then classified the patients into 3 groups by abnormal states of bowel sounds, specifically by the percentage of B.S. and dominenet frequency, and studied clinical characteristics in each group. Results : Among the 182 subjects, patients who had low activity of parasympathetic nerve were 25.8% and showed a tendency of female-dominant, family history and more frequent abdominal pain. Those who had pyloric valve disturbance were 24.1% and showed no tendency by sex distribution, family history and complained of indigestion sensation. Patients who had both disorders were 10.9%, and their clinical characteristics were non-specific. Conclusion : Analysis of bowel sounds may be useful in evaluating pathophysiological factors of functional dyspepsia.