Effects of the concentration and frequency of acid infusion on the development and maintenance of esophageal hyperalgesia in a human volunteer model.

Previous studies have demonstrated that a single 30-min distal esophageal infusion of concentrated (0.15 M, pH 0.8) hydrochloric acid (HCl) induces hyperalgesia to an electrical stimulus in a human model.

Neurophysiologic assessment of esophageal sensory processing in noncardiac chest pain.

Background & Aims: Esophageal hypersensitivity is thought to be important in the generation and maintenance of symptoms in noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). In this study, we explored the neurophysiologic basis of esophageal hypersensitivity in a cohort of NCCP patients.

Methods: We studied 12 healthy controls (9 women; mean age, 37.

Increased capsaicin receptor TRPV1 nerve fibres in the inflamed human oesophagus.

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) patients commonly describe symptoms of heartburn and chest pain. The capsaicin receptor vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) (VR1) is a cation channel expressed by sensory neurones and activated by heat, acid pH and ethanol, which may trigger burning pain.

Aim: To study the distribution of TRPV1-expressing nerve fibres in oesophageal mucosal biopsies from patients with symptomatic oesophagitis and in control subjects.