Motility Disorders Research

Children may view food as an enemy when their body is not able to effectively move it from the mouth into the lower digestive tract. Patients with motility disorders experience abnormal and often ineffective intestinal contractions that can lead to severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation and poor digestion.

Using evidence-based research, investigators are learning more about mechanisms involved in moving food through the digestive tract and are using nuclear medicine to understand how the colon works. Studies are providing new information to inform diagnosis, enhance treatment and predict and improve outcomes of motility disorders.

Faculty Focused on Motility Disorders Research

• Carlo Di Lorenzo, MD
• Hayat M. Mousa, MD
• Jaya Punati, MD
• Sudarshan R. Jadcherla, MD, FRCP(I), DCH

Latest Findings in Motility Disorders Research

The Care of Constipated Children in Primary Care in Different Countries
This study investigated and compared the approach to childhood constipation by primary care physicians in three Western countries.  Findings showed significant differences in practice regarding the performance of a digital rectal examination, need for additional diagnostic tests and use of laxatives in childhood constipation.

Access an abstract of this study: The care of constipated children in primary care in different countries. Acta Paediatr. 2012 Feb 21. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02632.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Comparing Catheter-Type Use in Children Undergoing Colonic Manometery Studies
The use of solid-state catheters has not been evaluated in comparison with perfused catheters in children. This study aims to compare data provided by solid-state and water-perfused catheters in children undergoing colonic manometry studies.

Access an abstract of this study: Solid-state vs water-perfused catheters to measure colonic high-amplitude propagating contractions. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Jan 25. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01870.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Pediatric Patients with Dyspepsia Have Chronic Symptoms, Anxiety, and Lower Quality of Life as Adolescents and Adults
Little is known about long-term health outcomes of children with dyspeptic symptoms. This study examined the natural history of pediatric patients with dyspeptic symptoms, with and without histologic reflux, compared with healthy controls.

Access an abstract of this study: Pediatric Patients with Dyspepsia Have Chronic Symptoms, Anxiety, and Lower Quality of Life as Adolescents and Adults. Gastroenterology. 2012 Jan 5. [Epub ahead of print]

Beliefs and Attitudes of General Pediatricians and Pediatric Gastroenterologists Regarding Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Survey Study
Currently, there are no specific laboratory investigations that can confirm the diagnosis of abdominal pain–related functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and use of symptom-based criteria for FGIDs by pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologist.

Access an abstract of this study: Beliefs and attitudes of general pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists regarding functional gastrointestinal disorders: a survey study. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2011 Oct;50(10):891-6.

Current Motility Disorders Grants

Videofluoroscopic Analysis of Carbonated Thin Liquids in Dysphagic Pediatric Patients, Ohio State University Office of Sponsored Programs (Linda Lowes)

Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate Short-Term Safety, Efficacy, and Long-Term Maintenance of 2 Dose Levels of abeprazole Sodium Delayed-Release Pediatric Bead Formulation in 1- to 11-Year-Old Subjects with Endoscopically Proven GERD, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical (Hayat M. Mousa, MD)

Pediatric Consortium for Research in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (Carlo Di Lorenzo, MD)