Arlesheim

Hydrogen breath tests are used to detect carbohydrate malabsorption, measure the time it takes food to move through the intestines oro-caecal transit time or OCTT, link hydrogen gas increases with abdominal symptoms like bloating and diarrhea, and diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO. Differentiating carbohydrate intolerance from SIBO is important because their treatments differ, with dietary changes used for intolerance and antibiotics for SIBO. Recent guidelines question the accuracy of hydrogen breath tests alone for diagnosing SIBO due to variable OCTT measurements, which can cause false positives. This study evaluates a new, simple, and affordable method combining a 20g lactulose hydrogen breath test with abdominal X-ray imaging to confirm OCTT and diagnose SIBO or carbohydrate intolerance. During the test, if hydrogen levels rise before the contrast agent appears in the cecum, SIBO is indicated. If the contrast agent is visible when hydrogen increases, OCTT is confirmed and symptoms after this point suggest carbohydrate intolerance. This approach aims to improve diagnosis without the higher costs and complexity of other imaging techniques. Participants included adults referred for hydrogen breath testing due to digestive symptoms with no organic disease found. During the test, breath hydrogen is monitored while abdominal X-rays are taken when hydrogen rises. Researchers will assess the safety and practicality of this combined test, measure agreement between observers analyzing OCTT, and determine the prevalence of food intolerance and SIBO among participants. The total assessment occurs within three hours during routine clinical care, using existing clinical data with patient consent.

Researchers are studying the effects of individual music therapy on patients with Parkinsons disease aged 50 to 79. This therapy involves slow, gentle bowing of a string instrument accompanied by singing and lyre playing by a music therapist. The study aims to evaluate whether this approach can reduce anxiety, improve quality of life, and ease autonomic symptoms like unstable blood pressure, which are common and challenging to treat in Parkinsons disease. Anxiety is the main focus, with additional assessments of motivation, depression, and severity of autonomic symptoms. Participants receive eight weekly individual music therapy sessions. Each session includes about 10 minutes of listening to emotionally stimulating lyre music, followed by 20 minutes of guided slow bowing on a low string instrument called the Tenor Chrotta. This therapy is provided by a music therapist who supports the participant with singing. The study also explores how listening to emotionally evocative music affects brain activity and autonomic functions. During the study, participants undergo various assessments including questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, motivation, quality of life, and autonomic dysfunction. Physical measures include heart rate variability, blood pressure stability, tremor intensity, walking ability, and brain activity via electroencephalography EEG. These evaluations occur before treatment, during weekly sessions, and after therapy ends, spanning about four months. The study monitors participants closely to understand the therapys impact on their well-being.