Accession Number	<strong>00042737-200106000-00003</strong>.
Author	Bassotti, Gabrio; Fratini, Marco
Institution	Gastrointestinal and Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Perugia, Italy
Title	Of tubes and men: studying manometrically the effects of laxatives on colonic motility.[Article]
Source	European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 13(6):631-633, June 2001.
Abstract	* Chronic constipation is frequent and troublesome in clinical practice. * Laxative use is widespread, but the knowledge of precise mechanism of action requires objective measures. * Colonic manometry is a relatively invasive but safe and effective way to obtain these data. Chronic constipation is encountered frequently in clinical practice, and the use of laxatives is widespread in the general population. The need for effective and safe compounds stimulates research in the field. Unfortunately, to assess the colonic motility effects of these compounds, we have to rely on objective measurements available only through relatively invasive studies, such as manometric recordings of the motor activity of the large bowel. However, the possibility of studying almost the entire length of the viscus with these techniques allows a better definition of the pathophysiological processes involved in the genesis of constipation, and more insights into the effects of specifically acting drugs. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.