In patients with active Crohn's disease affecting the ileum, the ascending colon, or both, a controlled-ileal-release formulation of budesonide was more effective in inducing remission than a slow-release formulation of mesalamine.

The educational intervention had no effect on the primary outcome, but decreased the overall prescribing of antibiotics.

Effects of acute mental stress on gastric antral motility were investigated in 23 healthy persons and 25 patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Real-time ultrasonography of gastric antrum was recorded, after ingestion of 500 ml meat soup, during a 4-min resting period, 2.5 min of mental stress, and a 4-min recovery period. Amplitude of antral contractions was scored as a fraction of relaxed area. Motility-index was calculated as the amplitude multiplied by frequency. Measurement of skin conductance reflected sympathetic tone, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was calculated to index vagal tone. Antral motility was reduced by mental stress in the healthy persons, but not in FD patients. Group differences were significant for amplitude (p < 0.002) and motility-index scores (p < 0.02). Sympathetic tone increased during stress in both groups. Vagal tone was lower in the FD patients than in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). The lack of stress-related reduction of motility among patients with FD may, therefore, be a consequence of poor vagal tone.

Background-Steroid dependent patients with Crohn's disease are at high risk of developing glucocorticosteroid induced side eVects. Aims-We evaluated the possibility of switching from systemic steroids to budesonide (Entocort) in prednisolone/ prednisone dependent patients with inactive Crohn's disease aVecting the ileum and/or ascending colon. Patients-Steroid dependent patients with a Crohn's disease activity index <200 were included. Methods-In a double blind multicentre trial, 120 patients were randomly assigned to receive budesonide 6 mg once daily or placebo. Prednisolone was tapered to zero during the first 4-10 weeks and budesonide or placebo was given concomitantly and for a further 12 weeks. Relapse was defined as an index >200 and an increase of 60 points from baseline or withdrawal due to disease deterioration. Results-After one and 13 weeks without prednisolone, relapse rates were 17% and 32%, respectively, in the budesonide group, and 41% and 65% in the placebo group (95% confidence intervals for the diVerence in percentages −41%, −8% and −51%, −16%; p=0.004 and p<0.001, respectively). The number of glucocorticosteroid side eVects was reduced by 50% by switching from prednisolone and was similar in the budesonide and placebo groups. Basal plasma cortisol increased in both groups. Conclusions-The majority of patients with steroid dependent ileocaecal Crohn's disease may be switched to budesonide controlled ileal release capsules 6 mg without relapse, resulting in a sharp decrease in glucocorticosteroid side effects similar to placebo, and with an increase in plasma cortisol levels.