The potential role of small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) in weight loss occurring in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) has not previously been examined. Our hypothesis was that SBBO is an important contributor to the development of weight loss in individuals with PD. The investigators proposed to 1) examine the role of SBBO in weight loss occurring in patients with PD and 2) determine the response to its treatment with a poorly absorbed antibiotic. The investigators performed a prospective, observational case-control study (Part 1) with an open-label therapeutic component (Part 2). Cases were defined as those PD patients who experienced significant weight loss while Controls were defined as those PD patients who did not experience significant weight loss.
Part 1: Consecutive patients seen in the Parkinson's disease clinic at Mayo Clinic in Arizona were approached to participate. After the determination of their eligibility and appropriate signed informed consent, all PD patients (i.e., both Case and Control groups) underwent the following: 1. Assessment of demographic features, weight history and PD history 2. PD and other medications 3. Determination of PD severity using the Unified Parkinson's Disease rating scale 4. Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (GISSI) and modified GISSI. 5. Determination of usual calorie and nutrient intake (Brief Block Food Frequency Questionnaire) 6. Paffenbarger physical activity questionnaire 7. Quality of life (SF12 and PD-specific) 8. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 9. Glucose hydrogen breath test (SBBO test) 10. Qualitative assessments of smell and taste All questionnaires were completed during the 2 hour breath test. Part 2: All individuals in the weight loss group (i.e., only the Case group) were offered open-label treatment with the poorly absorbed antibiotic, rifaximin, 550 mg PO twice a day for 14 days. Treatment did not depend upon the results of the bacterial overgrowth breath test. Thus, both normal and abnormal breath test subjects could have received antibiotic treatment. The patient was contacted by phone 1 month after treatment at which time the presence of GI symptoms was determined and inquiry made about any adverse effects related to rifaximin use. GI symptoms, quality of life, weight measurement, and breath testing were repeated at a 3 month study visit.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
49
All individuals in the weight loss group (i.e., only the Case group) were offered open-label treatment with the poorly absorbed antibiotic, rifaximin, 550 mg PO BID for 14 days. Treatment will not depend upon the results of the bacterial overgrowth breath test. Thus, both normal and abnormal breath test subjects received antibiotic treatment.
Mayo Clinic in Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Number of Subjects With Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO)
SBBO is measured by the Hydrogen Breath Test, which measures the hydrogen and methane gas produced by bacteria in the small bowel that has diffused into the blood, then lungs for expiration. After an overnight fast, subjects ingested a solution consisting of 50 grams of glucose mixed in 150 mL of water. Immediately before ingestion of glucose and at 20-minute intervals for 2 hours following ingestion, laboratory staff collected end-expiratory breath samples and analyzed them for hydrogen and methane using a Quintron sample correction (SC) breath microlyzer. A diagnosis of SBBO was defined by an increase in expiration of 12 parts per million (ppm) or more of hydrogen and/or methane.
Time frame: Baseline to 2 hours
PD-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39)
The PDQ-39 is designed to address aspects of functioning and well-being for those affected by Parkinson's disease. This questionnaire is based on a multi-dimensional model of health. Eight subscale scores may be derived from the items: mobility (10 items), activities of daily living (6 items), emotional well-being (6 items), stigma (4 items), social support (3 items), cognitions (4 items), communication (3 items), bodily discomfort (3 items). Patients are asked to think about their health and general well-being and to consider how often in the last month they have experienced certain events (e.g. difficulty walking 100 yards). Patients are asked to indicate the frequency of each event by selecting one of 5 options (Likert Scale): Never/occasionally/sometimes/often/always or cannot do at all. Each dimension is calculated as a scale from 0 to 100, with 0= no problem at all; 100= maximum level of problem. Sub-scale score are averaged to calculate the summary index.
Time frame: baseline
PD-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39) Over Time in Case Group
The PDQ-39 is designed to address aspects of functioning and well-being for those affected by Parkinson's disease. This questionnaire is based on a multi-dimensional model of health. Eight subscale scores may be derived from the items: mobility (10 items), activities of daily living (6 items), emotional well-being (6 items), stigma (4 items), social support (3 items), cognitions (4 items), communication (3 items), bodily discomfort (3 items). Patients are asked to think about their health and general well-being and to consider how often in the last month they have experienced certain events (e.g. difficulty walking 100 yards). Patients are asked to indicate the frequency of each event by selecting one of 5 options (Likert Scale): Never/occasionally/sometimes/often/always or cannot do at all. Each dimension is calculated as a scale from 0 to 100, with 0= no problem at all; 100= maximum level of problem. Sub-scale score are averaged to calculate the summary index.
Time frame: Baseline and 3 months
Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (GISSI)
The GISSI is a validated, self-administered, multi-dimensional instrument designed to measure the frequency, severity and bothersomeness of individual GI symptoms and to provide subscale scores for interrelated symptom clusters. Factor analyses yielded 5 distinct symptom clusters that were labeled as Constipation/Difficult defecation; Abdominal Pain/Discomfort; Dyspepsia; Diarrhea/Fecal incontinence; Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/Chest symptoms; and Nausea/Vomiting. Scores could range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (GISSI) Over Time in Case Group
The GISSI is a validated, self-administered, multi-dimensional instrument designed to measure the frequency, severity and bothersomeness of individual GI symptoms and to provide subscale scores for interrelated symptom clusters. Factor analyses yielded 5 distinct symptom clusters that were labeled as Constipation/Difficult defecation; Abdominal Pain/Discomfort; Dyspepsia; Diarrhea/Fecal incontinence; Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/Chest symptoms; and Nausea/Vomiting. Scores could range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The HADS is a self-administered 14-item questionnaire (seven for anxiety and seven for depression) Items are rated on a 4-point scale from 0-3 and this means that a person can score between 0 (no symptoms) and 21 (severe symptoms) for either anxiety or depression. The cut-offs used for identifying significant psychiatric distress was \>/= 8. This assessment was only measured at baseline
Time frame: Baseline
Weight Change in Case Group After Treatment
Weight change after treatment
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ)
The PPAQ is a validated, self-administered questionnaire that asks for a recall of physical activity of physical activity over the previous 1-week. From the answers to the questions, a physical activity index (PAI) can be computed, providing an estimate of energy expenditure in kcal/week. The PAI can be estimated using a list of the physical activities a person performs within a time period and the amount of time spent on each activity, e.g. walking to work, light housework, swimming, carrying bricks at work, or whatever applies to an individual person. There is a value called the physical activity ratio for each activity. The list of activities is used to find the relevant values of physical activity ratios, then an overall physical activity level value for the time period is calculated, using time-weighted averages of the physical activity ratios. This assessment was only measured at baseline.
Time frame: Baseline
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