Confirmatory factor analysis of the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) among patients with chronic constipation.

Background and aim: PAC-SYM is widely adopted to asses constipation severity. However, it has been validated in a small sample, few items have been included based on expert opinion and not on empirical grounds, and its factor structure has never been replicated. We aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of PAC-SYM in patients with chronic constipation. Methods: We enrolled 2,203 outpatients with chronic constipation in two waves. We used wave I sample to test the psychometric properties of the PAC-SYM and wave II sample to cross-validate its factor structure, to assess criterion validity, responsiveness to clinical change, and its minimal clinically important difference. Results: O…

NOD2/CARD15,and intestinal permeability in patients,first degree relatives and controls in high incidence area of Crohn's disease.

NOD2/CARD15 mutations and ontestinal permeability in pts,first degree relatives and controls in a high incidence area of Crohn's disease

NOD1/CARD15,TLR4 and intestinal permeability in pts,first degree relatives and controls in a high incidence area of CD

NOD2/CARD15 FREQUENCY IN CROHN'DISEASE IN SICILY:AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY