Clinical and nutritional correlates associated with weight changes in achalasia patients and the impact of laparoscopic Heller myotomy.

Background: Achalasia is characterized by symptoms of esophageal obstruction, preventing food consumption. However, weight loss is observed only in a subset of patients, and data from literature is conflicting.

Aims: Our study aimed at evaluating predictors of weight loss in achalasia patients and at verifying the impact of treatment on nutritional status.

Sleeve Gastrectomy-Induced Body Mass Index Reduction Increases the Intensity of Taste Perception's and Reduces Bitter-Induced Pleasantness in Severe Obesity.

: The sense of taste is involved in food behavior and may drive food choices, likely contributing to obesity. Differences in taste preferences have been reported in normal-weight as compared to obese subjects. Changes in taste perception with an increased sweet-induced sensitivity have been reported in surgically treated obese patients, but data regarding the perception of basic tastes yielded conflicting results.

Predictors of abdominal pain severity in patients with constipation-prevalent irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been associated to altered colonic motility and sensation. Smoking affects pain perception and is a risk factor in the development of post-infectious IBS, but its effect on abdominal pain and colonic transit remains to be elucidated in IBS.

Methods: Forty patients with IBS-C and 28 with IBS-M were selected based on Rome IV criteria.

Impaired Duodenal Palmitoylethanolamide Release Underlies Acid-Induced Mast Cell Activation in Functional Dyspepsia.

Background & Aims: Acid hypersensitivity is claimed to be a symptomatic trigger in functional dyspepsia (FD); however, the neuroimmune pathway(s) and the mediators involved in this process have not been investigated systematically. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous compound, able to modulate nociception and inflammation, but its role in FD has not been assessed.

Methods: Duodenal biopsy specimens from FD and control subjects, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) null mice were cultured at a pH of 3.

Clinical correlation and disease phenotype in patients with esophageal achalasia and comorbid autoimmune diseases.

Background: There is evidence that idiopathic achalasia has an autoimmune component and a significant association with several autoimmune comorbidities has been described. However, data regarding the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in achalasia are not well established, and few studies have explored this association.

Objective: Our primary aim was to prospectively investigate the type and frequency of autoimmune comorbidities in a large cohort of consecutive achalasia patients.

The role of a pre-load beverage on gastric volume and food intake: comparison between non-caloric carbonated and non-carbonated beverage.

Background: There is conflicting data on the effects of carbon dioxide contained in beverages on stomach functions. We aimed to verify the effect of a pre-meal administration of a 300 ml non-caloric carbonated beverage (B+CO2) compared to water or a beverage without CO2 (B-CO2), during a solid (SM) and a liquid meal (LM) on: a) gastric volume, b) caloric intake, c) ghrelin and cholecystokinin (CCK) release in healthy subjects.

Methods: After drinking the beverages (Water, B-CO2, B+CO2), ten healthy subjects (4 women, aged 22-30 years; BMI 23 ± 1) were asked to consume either an SM or an LM, at a constant rate (110 kcal/5 min).

Correlation between oesophageal acid exposure and dyspeptic symptoms in patients with nonerosive reflux disease.

Background & Aims: Oesophageal acidification induces dyspeptic symptoms in healthy individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between oesophageal acid exposure and dyspeptic symptoms in patients with nonerosive reflux disease.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with dominant symptoms of heartburn, negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and concomitant dyspeptic symptoms participated in the study.