Validation of Peptest™ in Patients with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Undergoing Impedance Testing.

Background And Aims: Pepsin in the gastric refluxate is a marker for a prior reflux event and rapid detection might be achieved using the Peptest™, an in vitro diagnostic medical device. The aim of this study was to validate the use of Peptest™ to reliably diagnose reflux in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease diagnosed with multichannel intraluminal impedance/ pHmetry (MII-pH).

Methods: 20 reflux patients were recruited of whom 10 had classical GERD and 10 had LPR.

Esophageal Epithelial Resistance and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Muscle Contraction Increase in a Chronic Diabetic Rabbit Model.

Background: Esophageal motility disorders and possibly gastroesophageal reflux disease are common in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims: We aimed to investigate both the electrophysiological characteristics of the esophageal epithelium and the contractility of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle in alloxane-induced diabetic rabbits.

Methods: Electrophysiological properties were measured using an Ussing chamber method.

Tissue resistance in the normal and diseased esophagus.

This paper presents commentaries on reflux-induced injury of human esophageal epithelium; inflammation in human reflux esophagitis; motor consequences of reflux-induced inflammation in esophageal epithelium; the microscopic morphology of esophageal squamous epithelium; intraluminal impedance in the evaluation of the esophageal mucosa; endoscopic tissue morphology of esophageal squamous epithelium; and the developmental biology of esophageal squamous epithelium.

Dietary Phytosterols Protective Against Peptic Ulceration.

Background: In developing countries the prevalence of duodenal ulceration is related to the staple diet and not to the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori. Experiments using animal peptic ulcer models show that the lipid fraction in foods from the staple diets of low prevalence areas gives protection against ulceration, including ulceration due to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and also promotes healing of ulceration. The lipid from the pulse Dolichos biflorus (Horse gram) was highly active and used for further investigations.

The additive effect of ethanol and extract of cigarette smoke on rabbit esophagus epithelium.

Aim: The combination of alcohol and smoking takes a place in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease and squamous cancers of the esophagus. Therefore, a study was designed to assess the impact of these agents alone or in combination on the structure and function of squamous epithelium of rabbit esophagus.

Methods: Rabbit esophageal epithelium was mounted in Ussing Chambers, exposed luminally for ethanol (1-10%), extract of cigarette smoke (EOCS) and combinations or sequential application of these agents.