Tegaserod in patients with mechanical sensitivity and overlapping symptoms of functional heartburn and functional dyspepsia.

Background: While functional heartburn (FH) and functional dyspepsia (FD) are recognized clinical entities, symptoms often overlap across both disorders. Despite their frequency, little is known of the underlying pathophysiology of overlapping symptoms. This study evaluated the effect of the 5-HT(4) agonist, tegaserod, on visceral sensitivity and symptom improvement in patients with overlapping symptoms of FH and FD.

Effect of esophageal acid and prophylactic rabeprazole on performance in runners.

Introduction: Acid reflux occurs during exercise. The effects of esophageal acid and prophylactic antisecretory treatment on exercise performance are unknown.

Aims: To determine 1) the effect of esophageal acid perfusion during exercise on pulmonary function and exercise performance, and 2) whether acid suppression with rabeprazole (RAB) 20 mg x d(-1) increases exercise performance during esophageal acid infusion.

Effect of naproxen on gastric acid secretion and gastric pH.

Background: The mechanisms for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced inflammation in the stomach are unclear.

Aims: To determine if naproxen (Naprosyn, Roche, Nutley, NJ, USA) alters basal acid output, pentagastrin-stimulated maximal acid output, or fasting gastrin.

Methods: Basal acid output and maximal acid output gastric aspirations were performed pre-naproxen and 7 days post-naproxen 500 mg b.

Effect of tegaserod on esophageal pain threshold, regurgitation, and symptom relief in patients with functional heartburn and mechanical sensitivity.

Background & Aims: Tegaserod, a 5-HT4-receptor partial agonist, effectively treats irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. The role of tegaserod in functional disorders of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is unclear. The aims of this study were to determine if tegaserod improves esophageal pain with mechanical and chemical stimuli, GI symptom profile, and global preference in patients with functional heartburn.

Esophageal visceral sensitivity to bile salts in patients with functional heartburn and in healthy control subjects.

Patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease often have relatively low esophageal acid exposure and respond suboptimally to gastric acid suppression. In these patients, other constituents of gastric contents may induce esophageal symptoms. We have demonstrated that gastric contents can cause heartburn when the gastric pH >4.