Randomized, multicenter study: on-demand versus continuous maintenance treatment with esomeprazole in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease experience symptomatic relapse after stopping acid-suppressive medication. The aim of this study was to compare willingness to continue treatment with esomeprazole on-demand versus continuous maintenance therapy for symptom control in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) after 6 months.

Methods: This multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group study enrolled adults with NERD who were heartburn-free after 4 weeks' treatment with esomeprazole 20 mg daily.

7-day triple therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection with levofloxacin, amoxicillin, and high-dose esomeprazole in patients with known antimicrobial sensitivity.

Background And Aims: Failed primary anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy results in a high rate of antimicrobial resistance. This necessitates a search for new regimens to cure H. pylori infection.

Long-term follow-up of gastric MALT lymphoma after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Purpose: Cure of infection induces remissions in most patients with early stage Helicobacter pylori- (Hp) positive gastric MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma (GML). We tracked the long-term stability of remissions in this prospective, multicenter trial.

Patients And Methods: In 120 patients with stage I(1E) disease, we performed sequential endoscopic-bioptic follow-up after Hp eradication and polymerase chain reaction of the rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain gene.

Increased prevalence of colorectal adenomas in women with breast cancer.

Background: The frequency of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas was investigated in a large cohort of women with breast cancer in comparison with matched controls, since data on the occurrence of second tumors in women with breast cancer is controversial.

Design: In a cohort study, 188 consecutive women (median age 57 years) with primary breast cancer and 376 age-matched women who served as controls were examined by total colonoscopy. Breast cancer patients and controls were compared for the frequency of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.

Long-term follow-up after complete ablation of Barrett's esophagus with argon plasma coagulation.

Aim: To report the long-term outcome of patients after complete ablation of non-neoplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) with respect to BE relapse and development of intraepithelial neoplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: In 70 patients with histologically proven non-neoplastic BE, complete BE ablation was achieved by argon plasma coagulation (APC) and high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy (120 mg omeprazole daily). Sixty-six patients (94.

Oral budesonide therapy improves quality of life in patients with collagenous colitis.

Introduction: Collagenous colitis is an idiopathic microscopic colitis characterised by watery diarrhoea. The impact of collagenous colitis on quality of life has not been assessed. Our aim was to assess quality of life in patients with this condition and compare the effect of treatment with budesonide capsules or placebo on this parameter.

Helicobacter pylori in gastric corpus of patients 20 years after partial gastric resection.

Aim: To determine the long-term prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastritis in patients after partial gastric resection due to peptic ulcer, and to compare the severity of H pylori-positive gastritis in the corpus mucosa between partial gastrectomy patients and matched controls.

Methods: Endoscopic biopsies were obtained from 57 patients after partial gastric resection for histological examination using hematoxylin/eosin and Warthin-Starry staining. Gastritis was graded according to the updated Sydney system.

Psychometric validation of the German translation of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) questionnaire in patients with reflux disease.

Background: Symptoms of heartburn has an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). When a questionnaire is translated into a new language, a linguistic validation is necessary but not sufficient unless the psychometric characteristics have been verified. The aim is to document the psychometric characteristics of the German translation of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) questionnaire.

A prospective, randomized study of quadruple therapy and high-dose dual therapy for treatment of Helicobacter pylori resistant to both metronidazole and clarithromycin.

Background And Aim: Failure of primary anti-H. pylori therapy results in a high rate of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we investigated the efficacy of high-dose dual therapy and quadruple therapy as salvage treatments for eradication of H.

Budesonide treatment for collagenous colitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Background & Aims: Collagenous colitis is an idiopathic microscopic colitis characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, a typical subepithelial collagen layer, and lymphoplasmacellular infiltration. We investigated the effect of budesonide on symptoms and histology in patients with collagenous colitis in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.

Methods: Patients with chronic diarrhea and histologically proven collagenous colitis were randomized to receive either oral budesonide (Entocort capsules; AstraZeneca, Sodertalje, Sweden) 9 mg/day for 6 weeks or placebo.

Expression of G1 phase cyclins in human gastric cancer and gastric mucosa of first-degree relatives.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of D-type cyclins and cyclin E in gastric cancer patients (N = 34), in healthy first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients (N = 29), and in control subjects (N = 18). Expression of cyclins D1, D2, D3, and E was determined by RT-PCR. Localization of cyclin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

The presence of immunoglobulins in the gastric juice of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori is related to a reduced secretion of acid.

Background: It has been reported that treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) leads to partial elimination and suppression of Helicobacter pylori. In theory, since acid is known to denature immunoglobulins, this antibacterial activity of PPI may be due to a reduction in the acid output favouring humoral immunity.

Materials And Methods: We analysed prospectively fasting gastric juice in 54 consecutive patients attending upper endoscopy for pH and levels of IgG, IgA and IgM.