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Background: In Europe, IBS is commonly treated with musculotropic spasmolytics (eg, otilonium bromide, OB). In tertiary care, a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet provides significant improvement. Yet, dietary treatment remains to be explored in primary care. We evaluated the effect of a smartphone FODMAP-lowering diet application versus OB on symptoms in primary care IBS., Methods: IBS patients, recruited by primary care physicians, were randomised to 8 weeks of OB (40 mg three times a day) or diet and followed for 24 weeks. We compared IBS Symptom Severity Score and the proportion of responders (improvement ≥50 points) in all patients and the subgroup fulfilling Rome IV criteria (Rome+). We also evaluated treatment efficacy, quality of life, anxiety, depression, somatic symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ15, PHQ9)) and treatment adherence and analysed predictors of response., Results: 459 primary care IBS patients (41±15 years, 76% female, 70% Rome+) were randomised. The responder rate after 8 weeks was significantly higher with diet compared with OB (71% (155/218) vs 61% (133/217), p=0.03) and more pronounced in Rome+ (77% (118/153) vs 62% (98/158), p=0.004). Patients allocated to diet (199/212) were 94% adherent compared with 73% with OB (148/202) (p<0.001). The significantly higher response rate with diet was already observed after 4 weeks (62% (132/213) vs 51% (110/215), p=0.02) and a high symptom response persisted during follow-up. Predictors of response were female gender (OR=2.08, p=0.04) for diet and PHQ15 (OR=1.10, p=0.02) for OB., Conclusion: In primary care IBS patients, a FODMAP-lowering diet application was superior to a spasmolytic agent in improving IBS symptoms. A FODMAP-lowering diet should be considered the first-line treatment for IBS in primary care., Trial Registration Number: NCT04270487., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JT has given Scientific advice to Alfa Wassermann, Allergan, Christian Hansen, Danone, Grünenthal, Ironwood, Janssen, Kiowa Kirin, Menarini, Mylan, Neutec, Novartis, Noventure, Nutricia, Shionogi, Shire, Takeda, Theravance, Tramedico, Truvion, Tsumura, Zealand and Zeria Pharmaceuticals, has received research support from Shire, Sofar and Tsumura, and has served on the Speaker Bureau for Abbott, Allergan, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Kyowa Kirin, Menarini, Mylan, Novartis, Shire, Takeda, Truvion and Zeria. Funding was provided by a Methusalem grant from Leuven University to JT. HP has given scientific advice to Allergan, Danone, Menarini, Merck Serono, Shire and Zeria and has served on the speaker Bureau of Menarini, Merck Serono, Shire and Zeria. LVO has given scientific advice to Danone and received research support from Nestlé. TV has given scientific advice to VectivBio, Shire, Dr. Falk Pharma, Takeda and Baxter; has received research support from Danone, MyHealth and VectivBio; and has served on the Speaker Bureau for Abbott, Tramedico, Truvion, Will Pharma, My Health, Kyowa Kirin, Menarini, Biocodex, Remedus, Fresenius Kabi and Dr. Falk Pharma. CM has served on the Speaker Bureau for Coca-Cola and Zespri and received travel/conference grants from Danone, Nestlé Health Sciences, Fresenius Kabi. This study was supported by a research grant from the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE). Questionnaires in this trial were developed, translated and provided by the Rome Foundation Research Institute., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain related to defaecation or associated with altered stool frequency or consistency. Despite its prevalence, major uncertainties in the diagnostic and therapeutic management persist in clinical practice., Methods: A Delphi consensus was conducted by 20 experts from Belgium, and consisted of literature review and voting process on 78 statements. Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation criteria were applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. Consensus was defined as > 80 % agreement., Results: Consensus was reached for 50 statements. The Belgian consensus agreed as to the multifactorial aetiology of IBS. According to the consensus abdominal discomfort also represents a cardinal symptom, while bloating and abdominal distension often coexist. IBS needs subtyping based on stool pattern. The importance of a positive diagnosis, relying on history and clinical examination is underlined, while additional testing should remain limited, except when alarm features are present. Explanation of IBS represents a crucial part of patient management. Lifestyle modification, spasmolytics and water-solube fibres are considered first-line agents. The low FODMAP diet, selected probiotics, cognitive behavioural therapy and specific treatments targeting diarrhoea and constipation are considered appropriate. There is a consensus to restrict faecal microbiota transplantation and gluten-free diet, while other treatments are strongly discouraged., Conclusions: A panel of Belgian gastroenterologists summarised the current evidence on the aetiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of IBS with attention for the specificities of the Belgian healthcare system., (© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica.)

Background & Aims: Several studies have established symptomatic and mechanistic benefits of the somatostatin analogue octreotide in patients with dumping syndrome, but clinical use is hampered by the requirement for subcutaneous administration 3 times daily. We compared the efficacy of subcutaneous octreotide with that of the long-acting repeatable (LAR) octreotide formulation, which is administered monthly, in patients with dumping syndrome., Methods: The study included 30 consecutive patients with postoperative dumping, evidenced by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results and insufficient response to dietary measures. OGTT, dumping severity score (summary of scores 0-3 for 8 early and 6 late dumping symptoms), and quality-of-life data were evaluated at baseline, after 3 days of subcutaneous administration of octreotide (0.5 mg), and then after 3 monthly intramuscular injections of octreotide LAR (20 mg)., Results: Both formulations of octreotide significantly reduced total dumping severity scores (21.7 +/- 1.6 at baseline, 11.2 +/- 1.2 for subcutaneous and 14.0 +/- 1.8 for LAR formulations; P < .05). This reduction was associated with significant improvements in the increase in pulse rate (13.8 +/- 5.8 at baseline vs -0.3 +/- 2.2 and 1.9 +/- 1.7; P < .05) as well as the increase in hematocrit level (4.0 +/- 1.4 at baseline vs 0.3 +/- 0.9. and 0.4 +/- 1.0; P < .05), and the lowest glycemia level in the OGTT (54.1 +/- 6.7 at baseline vs 98.9 +/- 7.1 and 67.8 +/- 5.9; P < .05). LAR octreotide administration significantly improved patients' quality of life. Patients' evaluations of their overall treatment efficacy was higher on LAR compared with the subcutaneous formulation (83% vs 52%; P = .01). Gallbladder stones occurred in 4 patients., Conclusions: Monthly administration of LAR octreotide improves OGTT results, symptoms, and quality of life in patients with postoperative dumping.

The p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein represents a broad-acting cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that plays a key role in cell cycle regulation. Furthermore, p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein has been described as a direct participant in regulating genes involved in growth arrest, senescence and aging. In response to genotoxic insults (e.g., following chemotherapeutic treatment), p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein accumulates mainly through p53-mediated transcriptional activation and is also regulated at the post-transcriptional level. In tumor cells, p53 is frequently mutated leading to reduced p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein induction that may contribute to resistance to treatment by DNA-damaging agents. In order to identify compounds capable of restoring p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein level, we have developed a 96-multi-well plate-based high throughput screening assay in intact cells using the Applied Biosystems Fluorometric Microvolume Assay Technology (FMAT) macro-confocal system. Briefly, following incubation with test compounds, human MCF7 breast carcinoma cells were fixed and p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein was detected using anti-p21(Waf1/Cip1) monoclonal antibody and anti-mouse IgG conjugated to the red fluorescent dye Alexafluor 633. FMAT provides a set of raw images at a high magnification, in which fluorescence concentrated in a cell is detected as a specific signal. The mean fluorescence of a population of cells is calculated independently of the number of cells as with a classical FACS analysis. This is of particular interest for screening anticancer drugs that may affect cell number and therefore may impact on the readout. This assay was validated using reference compounds such as camptothecin and actinomycin D, known inducers of p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein.