Serum glomerular albumin permeability activity: association with rapid progression to end-stage renal disease in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major cause of renal failure. Sera of some FSGS patients increase glomerular albumin permeability (Palb) during in vitro testing and cause proteinuria in experimental animals.

Objectives: To determine whether permeability activity of FSGS serum (Palb activity) is associated with rate of progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations do not result from passive opening of the cardia by gastric distention.

Background & Aims: Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is the main mechanism for gastroesophageal reflux. Although there is evidence that transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations are neurally mediated, another school of thought is that transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations result from gastric distention, which shortens the sphincter to the point where it opens and the pressure decreases. We assessed the relationship of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation to gastroesophageal junction opening in an unsedated human model.