A novel histologic phenotype of chronic esophagitis, ie, lymphocytic esophagitis, is reported in 20 patients. Lymphocytic esophagitis is characterized by high numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) gathered mainly around peripapillary fields and by none (n = 12) to occasional (n = 8) CD15+ intraepithelial granulocytes. IELs expressed CD3, CD4 (42%), ...

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is seldom caused by tetanus; however, it is a common symptom of tetanus. Treating patients with tetanus is a rare event in industrialized countries and awareness is needed to recognize early signs of this serious disease. In Switzerland, the most recently reported tetanus cases occurred in elderly women ...

Gastric bypass in patients with morbid obesity should be an excellent antireflux procedure, because no acid is produced at the small gastric pouch and no duodenal reflux is present, due to the long Roux-en-Y limb. Five hundred fifty-seven patients with morbid obesity submitted to resectional gastric bypass, and routine preoperative ...

<b>Background: </b>Summary and background data: The Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (HLES) is an unusual primary motor disorder of the esophagus. The significance of this motility disorder is still questionable. <b>Objective: </b>The objectives were: (a) identification of the prevalence of HLES in these patients, (b) identification of the common presenting symptoms ...

Chiari I malformation is as an abnormality of the brain at the cervicomedullary junction. The cerebellar tonsils extend through the foramen magnum and into the upper cervical spinal canal. Compression of the brainstem and lower cranial nerves may occur. Disruption in cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics and the formation of syrinxes ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is the most effective method for examining the upper gastrointestinal tract, and particularly for evaluating portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients, especially for screening purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, accuracy, and tolerance of PillCam ESO capsule endoscopy for ...

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly recognized disorder characterized by intense eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. The aim of this study was to define the clinical syndrome, the endoscopic features, and the distribution of the eosinophil infiltrate in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis. We undertook a prospective evaluation of the ...

Patients with refractory heartburn to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) represent a distinctive group which is difficult to manage. In a systematic review of the relative literature we found that approximately 20% of patients with erosive esophagitis and 15-25% of patients with normal endoscopy and abnormal 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring continue ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence and clinical significance of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) in a population with low prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease are not known. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and its relevance to symptoms and esophageal acid exposure in Korean patients referred for foregut symptoms. METHODS: A total ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Capsule endoscopy, using the PillCam ESO and sending images at a rate of 4 frames per second (fps), has a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) lesions. We tested a new device which produces images at a rate of 14 fps. The ...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the value of barium swallow pharyngoesophagography in the investigation of patients with globus pharyngeus who had no known disease, no operation history in the head and neck region, and no thyroid pathology. We compare the clinical presentation with the radiologic findings ...

BACKGROUND: Cough may be an indicator of aspiration due to oral-pharyngeal dysphagia. METHODS: Relevant literature was identified by searching the Communication Sciences and Disorders Dome, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Educational Resource Information Center, Health & Psychosocial Instruments, the American Psychological Association, and the National ...

Thus far, there has been a paucity of studies that have assessed the value of the different gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptom characteristics in identifying patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus versus those with short-segment Barrett's esophagus. To determine if any of the symptom characteristics of GERD correlates with long-segment Barrett's ...

Chagas' disease and idiopathic achalasia have similar esophageal manifestations such as absent or incomplete lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and aperistalsis in the esophageal body (alterations seen mainly in the distal esophageal body). Our aim in this paper was to study the response of the proximal esophageal body to wet swallows ...

Black esophagus is the uncommon endoscopic finding of extensive black discoloration of the esophageal mucosa, usually from acute esophageal necrosis. Six cases of black esophagus were seen at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) from 1997 through 2003, and 46 cases were reported in the English-language literature from 1963 through 2003. ...

Eosinophilic esophagitis in adults is a recently described entity occurring in young males with dysphagia, in whom esophageal biopsies show eosinophilic infiltration. This study defines the clinical and histological features of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, distinguishing it from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Esophageal biopsies from patients with dysphagia or esophagitis were ...

This cross-sectional, observational study was undertaken to examine whether voluntary activation failure could contribute to the persisting weakness observed in some patients with treated idiopathic inflammatory myositis. In 20 patients with myositis of more than six months' duration (5 males, 15 females; mean [+/- 1 SD] age 53 11 years) ...

To identify the bacterial flora in conditions such as Barrettos esophagus and reflux esophagitis to determine if they are similar to normal esophageal flora. Using broad-range 16S rDNA PCR, esophageal biopsies were examined from 24 patients [9 with normal esophageal mucosa, 12 with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and 3 with ...

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the role of physical and radiological findings before bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records for 82 patients (mean age 26.4 +/- 21.4 months, range 9 months to 13.5 years; 49 males) with a history ...

BACKGROUND: Non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD) often poses diagnostic problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of the addition of multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) recording to esophageal manometry in the work-up of patients with NOD. METHODS: A total of 40 consecutive patients with NOD underwent combined esophageal MII ...

This study determines the relationship among esophageal dysmotility, esophageal acid exposure, and esophageal mucosal injury in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A total of 827 patients with GERD (confirmed by ambulatory pH monitoring) were divided into three groups based on the degree of mucosal injury: group A, no esophagitis, ...

BACKGROUND: Although the wireless Bravo pH system is effective, some patients experience retrosternal sensations possibly caused by esophageal sensitivity that may complicate clinical application. METHODS: Ambulatory pH of 40 consecutive patients with GERD who had erosive esophagitis or nonerosive reflux disease, were monitored for 2 days with the Bravo system. ...

AIM: To determine the risk factors for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma in these patients with columnar-lined esophagus (CLE). METHODS: Data collected retrospectively on 597 consecutive patients diagnosed at endoscopy and histology to have CLE at Leeds General Infirmary between 1984 and 1995 were analyzed. Factors evaluated included age, sex, ...

BACKGROUND: Esophageal mucosal breaks are found in less than half of patients with typical reflux symptom. Thus, endoscopy appears to be an insensitive test for GERD. Lugol chromoendoscopy has been used to detect early esophageal cancer, which is difficult to recognize by routine observation without dye staining. The aim of ...

GOALS: The aim of this study was to compare the esophageal contractions in Chagas' disease and in idiopathic achalasia. BACKGROUND: It is suggested that the esophageal involvement caused by Chagas' disease and by idiopathic achalasia, although similar, shows some differences. STUDY: We studied the contractions at 2, 7, 12, and ...

CONTEXT: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) patients frequently develop Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (MEN1/ZES). Although esophageal reflux symptoms are common in these patients, little is known about long-term occurrence of severe peptic esophageal disease including strictures and Barrett's esophagus (BE). OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to prospectively analyze the ...

HYPOTHESIS: This study was performed to assess the intermediate-term outcomes after laparoscopic Heller myotomy and posterior Toupet fundoplication in a single-surgeon series with the expectation of identifying patient and disease factors associated with poor outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital with a comprehensive ...

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to determine if clearance of a food bolus at preoperative esophagography predicts acceptable outcomes after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for patients with manometrically abnormal esophageal motility. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or symptomatic hiatal hernia with evidence of esophageal dysmotility by stationary manometry ...

OBJECTIVE: The esophagus is the most commonly affected gastrointestinal area in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients with SSc frequently develop gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal injury, and sometimes, intestinal metaplasia, or Barrett's esophagus (BE), which may increase the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. This study sought to determine the prevalence of BE and esophageal ...

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) and achalasia share both clinical and manometric characteristics. Some reports support the notion of progression of DES to achalasia. However, there are currently no prospective data in support of this theory. To assess prospectively the rate of manometric progression of DES to achalasia. Manometry tracings of ...

The use of botulinum toxin is becoming increasingly popular, and application details are being examined in an effort to achieve more satisfactory results with fewer side effects. In the forehead area, the main considerations are the effacement of forehead wrinkles to a desirable extent and the prevention of complications such ...

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of the length between the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) in pediatric patients is essential for intraluminal impedance and dual pH probe recordings. METHODS: We measured the vertical distance between the true vocal cords (TVCs) and the LES in chest x-rays (CXRs) of ...

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopy is commonly performed to evaluate for suspected or established esophageal diseases including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its complications. The newly developed PillCam ESO Esophageal Capsule offers an alternative approach to visualize the esophagus and to evaluate patients with suspected esophageal disease. AIM: Compare the accuracy (specificity, sensitivity, ...

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease occurs in adult patients with immune suppression. This study reviews and discusses the clinical settings, endoscopic features, and locations of GI CMV lesions. METHODS: In total, 1950 endoscopic biopsy reports for all GI tract lesions in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung were retrospectively reviewed ...

AIM: recent guidelines recommend that all cirrhotic patients without previous variceal hemorrhage undergo endoscopic screening to detect esophageal varices. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, laboratory and ultrasound parameters to detect esophageal varices. METHODS: this is a cross sectional study. Fourty seven consecutive cirrhotic patients without history ...

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the findings of idiopathic eosinophilic esophagitis (IEE) at barium studies and determine the frequency of the ringed esophagus in patients with this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved all aspects of this retrospective study and did not require informed consent from patients whose ...

Many causes of esophagitis exist in immunocompromised patients. Uncommon pathogens must be considered to facilitate timely and appropriate therapy. A limited number of cases of esophageal actinomycosis have been reported. This report describes an unusual case of esophageal actinomycosis in a patient with persistent dysphagia. The broad differential may have ...

BACKGROUND: The utility of EGD when used as an initial test for the evaluation of dysphagia is unclear. The objective was to determine the yield and the predictive factors of significant pathology when EGD is performed as the initial test to evaluate dysphagia. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of ...

AIM: Experimental studies suggest that free radicals are involved in acid and pepsin-induced damage of esophageal mucosa. The profile and balance between free radicals and antioxidant systems in human esophagitis are unknown. METHODS: Superoxide anion and its powerful oxidant reaction with nitric oxide (peroxynitrite) generation were determined in esophageal mucosal ...

Background: The effectiveness of partial posterior wrap (Toupet procedure) in patients with defective esophageal body motility is controversial. Aim of the study: To evaluate the effect of Toupet procedure upon the outcome of laparoscopic (LF) and open (OF) fundoplications in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients with defective esophageal body motility. ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate retrospectively the presence of complete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at manometry in patients with achalasia depicted on barium esophagograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study and did not require informed consent. A search of radiology and manometry records identified ...

Foreign body ingestion is commonly seen in emergency departments. Although most cases have a clear history, foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract can be an unexpected finding after operations for other conditions. This study compares the clinical presentations and outcomes for patients requiring or not requiring operations. Between January 1998 ...

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications remain the major cause of postoperative mortality in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. It was unclear whether this dismal complication has a genetic predisposition. We therefore investigated the role of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism in developing these complications. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study ...

AIM: To value whether omeprazole could induce the healing of DIS and regression of symptoms in patients with DGER. METHODS: We enrolled 15 symptomatic patients with a pathological esophageal 24-h pH-metry and bilimetry. Patients underwent endoscopy and biopsies were taken from the distal esophagus. Specimens were analyzed at histology and ...

Botulinum toxin induced therapy failure type B antibody (BT-B, BT-B-AB) has so far only been reported after previous formation of antibodies against botulinum toxin type A (BT-A, BTA- AB). We wanted to explore the risk of BT-B-AB-induced therapy failure in patients who were exposed to botulinum toxin for the first ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence and complications of extravasation of low-osmolar nonionic contrast media, injected manually and by the automatic power injector (API). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three thousand five hundred and sixty patients underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal and thoracic computerized tomography scan in the Department of Clinical Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, ...

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effect of combined administration of prokinetics and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) in gastroesophageal reflux disease is reported to be superior to that of monotherapy with H2RA alone. In addition to its acid-suppressing effect, the H2RA nizatidine also has a prokinetic action by suppressing acetylcholine esterase. The ...

BACKGROUND: The reported frequency of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in patients with reflux symptoms varies from 5% to 15%. The exact frequency of long-segment BE (LSBE) (>3 cm) and short-segment BE (SSBE) (<3 cm) in patients with chronic symptoms of GERD is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine ...

<b>Background: </b> The effectiveness of partial posterior wrap (Toupet procedure) in patients with defective esophageal body motility is controversial. <b> Aim of the study: </b> To evaluate the effect of Toupet procedure upon the outcome of laparoscopic (LF) and open (OF) fundoplications in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients with defective ...

PURPOSE: To analyze the differences in clinical stage, pathologic response to chemoradiotherapy, patterns of failure, and overall survival (OS) between patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ACA) of the esophagus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We stratified patients by two histologies, ACA and SCC, and statistically compared their clinical stage, ...