Is There Any Evidence for a Viral Cause in Achalasia?

BACKGROUND Achalasia, as an incurable disease is defined by the lack of normal esophageal peristalsis and loss of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation due to impaired myenteric neural plexus. The exact cause of myenteric neural cells degeneration in achalasia is still unknown. One hypothesis is that certain neurotropic viruses and autoimmune factors cause the inflammatory response in myenteric network, which consequently destroy neural cells.

Metabolic evaluation in patients with nephrolithiasis: A report from Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a major public health problem worldwide. In recent years, growing evidence suggest that this disease may originate from underlying metabolic disorders. This is the first study that reports the frequency of different metabolic abnormalities among patients with nephrolithiasis in Isfahan, a large central province of Iran.