Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Original Article

The Effect of Probiotic on Constipation in Rats.: Jin Hee Kim, Sung Chul Park, Jong Yeon Kim, Yoon Ki Park; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2009;26(2):102-107. Published online December 31, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2009.26.2.102

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Constipation is one of the most common disorders in Korea and Western countries. It may be related with life style, diet, physical activity, age, stress and gender, and particularly premenopausal women experience constipation more often than men due to the significant prolongation of the mean colonic transit in women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a probiotic on constipation in loperamide-induced constipated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were divided into 3 groups. Constipation was induced by administration of loperamide for 5 days, and the excreted amount as well as the number of feces was observed. Lactic acid bacteria as a probiotic were administered orally every day for 5 days. RESULTS: The results showed that loperamide administration induced severe experimental constipation in rats. The amount of feces was decreased and the number of pellets was increased by loperamide. The water content in the feces as a parameter of constipation was also decreased by loperamide. On the other hand, the dry weights of feces were not significantly different among the groups. It represents that the amount of food consumption might have been similar among the groups, and constipation was caused by delayed intestinal movement. CONCLUSION: Probiotic administration for 5 days in rats partly alleviated or prevented the constipation induced by loperamide.

Case Reports

Pediatric Crohn's Disease presenting as Severe Constipation and Abdominal Distension.: Myong Soon Sung, Seok Jeong Kang, Kwang Hae Choi; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2008;25(2):139-144. Published online December 31, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2008.25.2.139

Abstract PDF: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that mainly affects children and young adults. Its cause remains unknown. The incidence of pediatric Crohn's disease is increasing, so it is important for clinicians to be aware of the presentation of this disease in the pediatric population. The majority of patients complain of abdominal pain (72%), with only 25% presenting with the 'classical triad' of abdominal pain, weight loss, and diarrhea. Many children with Crohn's disease present in a 'non-classical' manner, with vague complaints such as lethargy or anorexia, which may be associated with only mild abdominal discomfort. Other symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, growth retardation, malnutrition, delayed puberty, psychiatric symptoms, arthropathy, and erythema nodosum. Severe constipation and abdominal distension are uncommon symptoms at diagnosis. We report a case of pediatric Crohn's disease, which was diagnosed after the patient presented with severe constipation and abdominal distension.

A Case of Valsalva Retinopathy Associated with Straining at Stool.: Tae Yoon Lee, Woo Hyok Chang; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2006;23(2):227-231. Published online December 31, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2006.23.2.227

Abstract PDF: The Valsalva maneuver is described as an expiratory effort against a closed glottis or airway. It leads to elevation of retinal venous pressure and may result in retinal hemorrhage. A fifty two-year-old man presented with an acute reduction of central visual acuity in his right eye which occurred after considerable straining at stool. Detailed past medical history revealed that he suffered from chronic constipation and hypertension. There were one disc sized subhyaloid hemorrhage and three small intraretinal hemorrhages around the fovea at the dilated fundus examination. After three months of follow-up without any treatment, the retinal hemorrhages resolved without any sequelae. Here we report a patient with sudden visual loss and retinal hemorrhage.

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