title: Measurement of colonic transit using a delayed-release capsule containing radio-opaque markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colonic transit scintigraphy has several advantages in comparison with radio-opaque marker (ROM) techniques but it is limited to specialized centers. The aim of the study was to validate the ROM technique for measuring colonic transit using delayed-release capsules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colonic transit is expressed as the sum of the weighted mean marker residence times in the colon (geometric centers). Delayed-release capsules containing radio-opaque markers (DC-ROMs) or scintigraphic methods were compared simultaneously in 10 healthy volunteers. Reproducibility and responsiveness of DC-ROM measurements were evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers at an interval of 2 weeks and after bisacodyl treatment, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transit profiles between the scintigraphic and DC-ROM methods were highly correlated (r = 0.994, p < 0.01). The reproducibility and responsiveness of DC-ROM measurements were good. Colonic transit measured by DC-ROM correlated with the stool form scale (r = 0.66, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DC-ROM test is simple, highly reproducible, responsive, and appropriate for clinical trials and clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myung-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hwang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yu Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002214:Capsules; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate