Irritable bowel syndrome and basal serum tryptase: correlation between subtype, severity, and comorbidities. A pilot study.

Introduction: the activation of mast cells causes alterations in epithelial and neuromuscular function and is involved in visceral hypersensitivity and dysmotility in gastrointestinal functional disorders.

Objectives: primary: to evaluate differences in basal serum tryptase (BST) between patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy controls. Secondary: BST depending on IBS subtype (diarrhea: IBS-D; constipation: IBS-C), comorbidities and correlation with IBS severity and quality of life.

Esophageal motor disorders are frequent during pre and post lung transplantation. Can they influence lung rejection?

Background: lung transplantation (LTx) is a viable option for most patients with end-stage lung diseases. Esophageal motor disorders (EMD) are frequent in candidates for LTx, but there is very little data about changes in esophageal motility post-LTx.

Aim: the aim of our study was to assess esophageal motor disorders by high resolution manometry (HRM) both pre-LTx and six months post-LTx in patients with and without organ rejection.

How the Body Position Can Influence High-resolution Manometry Results in the Study of Esophageal Dysphagia and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: The body position can influence esophageal motility data obtained with high-resolution manometry (HRM). To examine whether the body position influences HRM diagnoses in patients with esophageal dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: HRM (Manoscan) was performed in 99 patients in the sitting and supine positions; 49 had dysphagia and 50 had GERD as-sessed by 24-hour pH monitoring.

How useful is esophageal high resolution manometry in diagnosing gastroesophageal junction disruption: causes affecting this disruption and its relationship with manometric alterations and gastroesophageal reflux.

Background: High-resolution manometry (HRM) is a breakthrough in the morphological study of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and its degrees of disruption.

Objectives: a) Assessment of risk factors involved in the disruption of the GEJ in patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms; b) the relationship between the type of GEJ and GER demonstrated by 24 hours pH-monitoring; and c) identification of the alterations in the manometric parameters related to the morphology of the GEJ.

Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients with symptoms of GER studied with HRM and classified by the type of GEJ (type I: Normal; type II: Sliding; type III: Hiatal hernia).