Clinical Research Directory

Breath Test-Based Assessment of SIBO in Chronic Pancreatitis and Partial Pancreatectomy

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) results from reduced pancreatic enzyme secretion, leading to malabsorption, malnutrition, and impaired quality of life. Although pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the standard treatment, some patients remain symptomatic despite apparently adequate therapy. Possible causes include suboptimal dosing or concomitant conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This study aims to determine the prevalence of SIBO in symptomatic PEI patients despite adequate PERT and to identify treatable causes of persistent symptoms using non-invasive diagnostic tests, with the goal of improving nutritional status and quality of life.

Capillary Endoscopy Aspiration Catheter

The small intestine is an understudied frontier of microbiome research. While aspiration during endoscopy is considered the gold standard to assess small bowel bacteria, the tools for sterile retrieval are primitive and poorly validated. Endoscopic aspiration is time-consuming and prone to contamination. Inspired by plants' ability to draw water by capillary action, a novel multi-capillary sterile system was designed which is a modified version of the conventional aspiration catheter. The purpose of this study is to examine the time and volume capabilities of this catheter in suctioning various liquids compared to conventional aspiration catheter, in two groups, each includes 23 patients that going under endoscopy at GI lab at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. The investigator will collect up to 2 ml fluid from Duodenum- in first group by using the conventional catheter and in second group by using the capillary catheter. The time collection and the volume of samples in 2 groups will be compared.

Efficacy of Rifaximin in Patients With Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Presenting With Abdominal Bloating.

Abdominal bloating is a common clinical symptom in the digestive system, with obscure origins and complex mechanisms. Its etiology can be attributed to organic diseases and various Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs). In recent years, the roles of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Oral-Cecal Transit Time (OCTT), and gut microbiota dysbiosis in Functional Abdominal Bloating/Distention (FAB/D) have garnered increasing attention. Currently, there is a lack of diagnostic tests and effective treatment measures for patients with bloating. The hydrogen/methane breath test is a safe, economical, and non-invasive examination recommended for diagnosing SIBO. Rifaximin, an antibiotic that acts exclusively in the intestines, has been widely validated for its efficacy in SIBO and in patients with SIBO co-occurring with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). However, research on the role of SIBO in the production of bloating symptoms and the extent to which rifaximin treatment of SIBO alleviates symptoms in clinical bloating patients is still lacking. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of rifaximin in patients with SIBO who primarily present with bloating. Exploring clinical treatment options for bloating provides a reference for its management. Furthermore, questionnaires on psychiatric symptoms and fecal microbiota analysis for patients with bloating-type SIBO can help clarify the etiology of bloating, offering a basis for the etiological treatment of bloating patients in the next steps.

The Safety And Efficacy Of A Probiotic Intervention On Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test-Positive Patients And Related Gastrointestinal Symptoms

The goal of this study is to test the effect of a probiotic formulation on gastrointestinal symptoms, gut and small intestine microbiota in participants suffering from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Two doses of probiotic will be evaluated against placebo.