Efficacy of S-pantoprazole 20 mg compared with pantoprazole 40 mg in the treatment of reflux esophagitis: a randomized, double-blind comparative trial.

Background: S-isomer (S) pantoprazole is known to be more effective and less dependent on cytochrome 2C19 than R-isomer (R)-pantoprazole.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of S-pantoprazole 20 mg versus pantoprazole 40 mg for treatment of reflux esophagitis.

Methods: This multi-center, double-blind, randomized trial enrolled patients with endoscopically documented reflux esophagitis.

The Feasibility of (18)F-Fluorothymidine PET for Prediction of Tumor Response after Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemoradiotherapy with S-1/Oxaliplatin in Patients with Resectable Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether (18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT) PET is feasible for the early prediction of tumor response to induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: This study was prospectively performed as a collateral study of "randomized phase II study of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy with S-1/oxaliplatin in patients with resectable esophageal cancer". (18)F-FLT positron emission tomography (PET) images were obtained before and after two cycles of induction chemotherapy, and the percent change of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated.

Practice pattern of gastroenterologists for the management of GERD under the minimal influence of the insurance reimbursement guideline: a multicenter prospective observational study.

The objective of the study was to document practice pattern of gastroenterologists for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) under the minimal influence of the insurance reimbursement guideline. Data on management for 1,197 consecutive patients with typical GERD symptoms were prospectively collected during 16 weeks. In order to minimize the influence of reimbursement guideline on the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), rabeprazole was used for the PPI treatment.

Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus remains low in the Korean population: nationwide cross-sectional prospective multicenter study.

Purpose: In contrast to the Western population, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is rare in the Korean population. However, the recent increase in prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may affect the prevalence of BE. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of BE and evaluate its risk factors.