Valenta Organized Scientific Symposium on the Problems of Gastroenterology

At the end of May 2015, the 17th International Slavic-Baltic Forum «St.-Petersburg — Gastro-2015» was held in St.-Petersburg. More than 500 Russian and foreign scientists acknowledged for their contribution to the development of modern gastroenterology attended. Within the framework of the forum, Valenta arranged «Comorbidity in gastroenterology.New glance at functional diseases of gastrointestinal tract» scientific symposium chaired by O.N.Minushkin, D.M.Sci., Full Professor, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Head of Therapy and Gastroenterology Department at the Research and Education Medical Center of the RF Presidential Administration. N.A. Agafonova, C.M.Sci., Scientific Secretary of Gastroenterology Department of Postgraduate Vocational Medical Education Faculty at Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU), made a report at the symposium presenting a new vision of gastrointestinal tract functional diseases development and formation by the results of scientific researches performed at the institution.

Statistics in the field of gastroenterological diseases looks quite disappointing. Gastroenterological diseases are on the 3rd to 4th places in the structure of all diseases in the Russian Federation. Thus, 37% of all persons consulting therapists complain of digestive system disorders. For the last 2 years, diseases of the digestive system caused 4.5% of deaths in Russia¹. The main symptoms of gastroenterological diseases (heartburn, eructation, regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, premature saturation, pressure in epigastrium, swelled bowel, constipation, and diarrhea) are caused by bowel motor disorders. These disorders might be secondary — against the background of organic diseases, or primary — in case of functional diseases.

N.A. Agafonova, C.M.Sci., Scientific Secretary of Gastroenterology and Dietetics Department of the Faculty of Advanced Medical Studies at Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU): «Functional diseases of gastrointestinal tract make the majority of causes for a visit to the doctor, especially in out-patient conditions. They can be classified as: esophagus, gastroduodenal and intestinal disorders, functional abdominal pains, biliary and anorectal disorders, and functional disorders in children. The issue of importance and necessity of duly diagnostics and treatment for such diseases is quite urgent for Russian doctors.»

Prokinetics of various mechanisms are used to treat for functional disorders. The results of studies of enkephalinergic intestinal system effector developed by Valenta were presented at the symposium. The medicine is an intestinal peristalsis regulator and features affinity to receptors of both the excitation system and the suppression block of gastrointestinal tract motor function. The medicine acts all across the gastrointestinal tract: at constipations, it promotes stomach emptying, stimulates intestinal peristalsis and smooth muscles of the colon response to alimentary stressors. At hyperkinetic status, the medicine features spasmolytic action. That is, its influence on gastrointestinal tract motor function is modulating and has a normalizing effect both on hypo- and hyperkinetic motor disorders, at all levels of gastrointestinal tract. Besides, the medicine changes visceral sensitivity to soothe visceral pains. Within the study, 50 patients with gastrointestinal tract functional disorders were involved (32 persons suffered from pains in epigastrium region, and 18 persons — from postprandial distress; all patients had intestinal disorders including: 34 — with tendency to constipations, 8 — with tendency to diarrhea, 8 — with tendency to flatulence and pains). The medicine was prescribed to them in a daily dosage of 200 mg 3 times a day for 28 days. By the results of the study, symptoms were terminated for 7 days in 14 persons, in 2 weeks they were terminated in 18 persons, and in 16 persons symptoms were considerably decreased. All patients showed leveling of jejunum and duodenum electric activity indicators, improvement of colon motor activity, and rhythm factor increase. Thus, the medicine restores normal physiological activity of intestinal muscles at various diseases of gastrointestinal tract connected with motor disorders.

Alexander Machin, Marketing and Sales Director of OAO «Valenta Pharm»: "In view of expansion of gastrointestinal diseases in the Russian Federation, our company made gastroenterology one of its key therapeutic fields. Having analyzed the disappointing statistics in the field of gastroenterological diseases, we stepped up our efforts in this direction. Valenta is a socially responsible company, our goal is to make medicinal aid effective and affordable for patients. We invest in our existing portfolio of gastroenterological medicines, and in the innovative development of new products for gastrointestinal diseases.

• ¹ Data of the RF Ministry of Health, 2014