Reflux profile of Chinese gastroesophageal reflux disease patients with combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring.

Background And Aims: To investigate the reflux profile of Chinese gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients with the aid of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring technique.

Methods: Consecutive patients presented with GERD symptoms were enrolled to erosive esophagitis (EE) group, non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) group and functional heartburn (FH) group after upper endoscopy, combined MII-pH monitoring and rabeprazole test. Another 20 healthy controls (HC) were recruited.

Normal values of 24-hour combined esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in the Chinese population.

Background: There is a lack of data on combined esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH (MII-pH) monitoring in the Chinese population.

Goals: To define the normal range and compare the parameters to those of the Western population.

Study: Healthy volunteers were recruited and underwent 24-hour ambulatory combined MII-pH monitoring.

Symptom resolution does not predict healing of erosive oesophagitis in Chinese.

Background: Previous studies suggested that Chinese have a milder spectrum of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and a lower dose of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) is sufficient for the control of symptoms as compared with the Western population.

Aims: To determine if 8 weeks of esomeprazole 20 mg daily would be adequate for both symptom resolution and oesophagitis healing in Chinese patients and the predictive factors for the response.

Methods: 66 patients with oesophagitis were included.

Influence of positive family history on clinical characteristics of functional constipation.

Background & Aims: We observed that there is familial aggregation in patients with functional constipation. Their clinical characteristics have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with functional constipation with and without a positive family history.

Differing coping mechanisms, stress level and anorectal physiology in patients with functional constipation.

Aim: To investigate coping mechanisms, constipation symptoms and anorectal physiology in 80 constipated subjects and 18 controls.

Methods: Constipation was diagnosed by Rome II criteria. Coping ability and anxiety/depression were assessed by validated questionnaires.

Pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux diseases in Chinese--role of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and esophageal motor dysfunction.

Background And Aims: Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) is the major mechanism for gastroesophageal reflux in the Western population. The major reflux mechanism in Chinese patients with GERD has not been studied before.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with GERD and 28 controls underwent stationary baseline manometry and the 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring.