[Motility disorders of the esophagus].

Motility disorders of the esophagus comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of diseases. Primary malformations of the esophagus are now amenable to improved surgical and gastroenterological therapies; however, they often lead to persistent long-term esophageal dysmotility. Achalasia originates from impaired relaxation of the gastroesophageal sphincter apparatus.

Connective tissue in gut development: a key player in motility and in intestinal desmosis.

Introduction: Efficient intestinal peristalsis is a function of intact enteric nervous system, muscle, and connective muscularis propria tissue. Malfunction of any component results in impaired peristalsis. Hirschsprung disease (HD) as prototypic enteric neural migration disorder is increasingly well characterized.

The London Classification of gastrointestinal neuromuscular pathology: report on behalf of the Gastro 2009 International Working Group.

Objective: Guidelines on histopathological techniques and reporting for adult and paediatric gastrointestinal neuromuscular pathology have been produced recently by an international working group (IWG). These addressed the important but relatively neglected areas of histopathological practice of the general pathologist, including suction rectal biopsy and full-thickness intestinal tissue. Recommendations were presented for the indications, safe acquisition of tissue, histological techniques, reporting and referral of such histological material.

[Twenty years diagnostic competence center for Hirschsprung's disease in Basel].

Background: The experience gained by the Basel Hirschsprung Competence Center over 20 years is presented.

Materials And Methods: A total of 19,365 rectal mucosal biopsies were investigated in the 20 years between 1987 and 2006. All biopsies of rectal mucosa originated from 6,615 children aged between 1 week and 4 years.

The histopathology of gastrointestinal motility disorders in children.

Gastrointestinal motility disorders and chronic constipation are common pediatric problems. Symptoms of abdominal discomfort are frequently encountered in the daily practice of pediatricians and pediatric surgeons. Normal peristalsis depends on the interaction between muscles, nerve cells, and tendinous connective tissue of muscularis propria.