Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population
Abstract Stool consistency is evaluated mainly in reference to indirect indicators such as water content or the appearance of stool forms using Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). Methods of measurement are limited. We thus aimed to develop a simple protocol for direct measurement of stool consistency...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81783-7 |
| _version_ | 1818431115036196864 |
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| author | Kazunori Matsuda Takuya Akiyama Satoshi Tsujibe Kaihei Oki Agata Gawad Junji Fujimoto |
| author_facet | Kazunori Matsuda Takuya Akiyama Satoshi Tsujibe Kaihei Oki Agata Gawad Junji Fujimoto |
| author_sort | Kazunori Matsuda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Stool consistency is evaluated mainly in reference to indirect indicators such as water content or the appearance of stool forms using Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). Methods of measurement are limited. We thus aimed to develop a simple protocol for direct measurement of stool consistency using the TA.XTExpress Texture Analyser (Stable Micro Systems Ltd.). We developed a protocol which enables mechanical quantification of the gram-force against a cylindrical probe (ø 6 mm) pushed into the stool surface at 2.0 mm/s to 5 mm depth. The consistency of 252 stools collected from 40 healthy Belgians was evaluated by the direct method and by the indirect indicators (water content and BSFS) for comparison. The log-transformed stool consistency values measured by the texture analyzer had a negative linear correlation with the stool water contents (r rm = − 0.781) with homoscedastic variance, suggesting the appropriateness of the new protocol. They showed a similar correlation with the BSFS, but with a large variance in the consistency values of normal stool forms. This correlation was much smaller for BSFS scored by subjects (r rm = − 0.587) than by experts (r rm = − 0.789), collectively indicating BSFS as a rough indicator of stool consistency susceptible to subjective bias despite its effectiveness in clinical use. The optimized direct method using the texture analyzer enables the accurate quantification of stool consistency, which facilitates understanding of the intestinal environment and function and thus may enhance the value of the stool as a predictor of human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:44:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f083e6e0b0b4ad3bf43a826bbfc2798 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:44:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f083e6e0b0b4ad3bf43a826bbfc27982022-12-21T22:55:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-01-011111710.1038/s41598-021-81783-7Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general populationKazunori Matsuda0Takuya Akiyama1Satoshi Tsujibe2Kaihei Oki3Agata Gawad4Junji Fujimoto5Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFYakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFYakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFYakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFYakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFYakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology VOFAbstract Stool consistency is evaluated mainly in reference to indirect indicators such as water content or the appearance of stool forms using Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). Methods of measurement are limited. We thus aimed to develop a simple protocol for direct measurement of stool consistency using the TA.XTExpress Texture Analyser (Stable Micro Systems Ltd.). We developed a protocol which enables mechanical quantification of the gram-force against a cylindrical probe (ø 6 mm) pushed into the stool surface at 2.0 mm/s to 5 mm depth. The consistency of 252 stools collected from 40 healthy Belgians was evaluated by the direct method and by the indirect indicators (water content and BSFS) for comparison. The log-transformed stool consistency values measured by the texture analyzer had a negative linear correlation with the stool water contents (r rm = − 0.781) with homoscedastic variance, suggesting the appropriateness of the new protocol. They showed a similar correlation with the BSFS, but with a large variance in the consistency values of normal stool forms. This correlation was much smaller for BSFS scored by subjects (r rm = − 0.587) than by experts (r rm = − 0.789), collectively indicating BSFS as a rough indicator of stool consistency susceptible to subjective bias despite its effectiveness in clinical use. The optimized direct method using the texture analyzer enables the accurate quantification of stool consistency, which facilitates understanding of the intestinal environment and function and thus may enhance the value of the stool as a predictor of human health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81783-7 |
| spellingShingle | Kazunori Matsuda Takuya Akiyama Satoshi Tsujibe Kaihei Oki Agata Gawad Junji Fujimoto Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population Scientific Reports |
| title | Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population |
| title_full | Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population |
| title_fullStr | Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population |
| title_short | Direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in Belgian general population |
| title_sort | direct measurement of stool consistency by texture analyzer and calculation of reference value in belgian general population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81783-7 |
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