Laparoscopic antireflux surgery or PPIs in the management of reflux-related esophageal stricture.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with esophageal stricture, particularly benign esophageal stricture. We aimed to evaluate the effects of balloon catheter dilation (BD) combined with laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) surgery and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with reflux-induced esophageal strictures.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients with reflux-induced benign esophageal strictures who underwent balloon dilatation therapy combined with PPIs (BD-PPIs group, n = 58) and balloon dilatation combined with LF (BD-LF group, n = 58).

Endoscopic cardial constriction with band ligation in the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a preliminary feasibility study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive disease, could cause extra-esophageal symptoms. Peroral endoscopic cardial constriction with band ligation (PECC-b) is a minimally invasive method for the treatment of GERD in recent years. The goals of this study were to evaluate the clinical efficacy of PECC-b to treat gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms.

Efficacy evaluation of pepsin in laparoscopic antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: The false positive rate of the PPI test for the diagnosis of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is extremely high.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of the pepsin test on GERD and laparoscopy-assisted anti-reflux surgery for GERD.

Methods: A total of 30 GERD patients were enrolled into this study, and the pre-diagnosis of GERD was determined by symptom evaluation, impedance-pH examination, gastroscopy and pepsin test.

Role of fundoplication in treatment of patients with symptoms of hiatal hernia.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often associated with hiatal hernia (HH). However, the need for fundoplication during hiatal hernia repair (HHR) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HHR with concomitant laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (HHR-LNF) in HH patients.

Dysregulation of PARP1 is involved in development of Barrett's esophagus.

Aim: To investigate the potential role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE).

Methods: A BE mouse model was established to examine the esophageal morphological changes and molecular changes. Microarray analysis was performed to compare the gene expression profiles between BE patients and healthy controls.

Contribution of hiatal hernia to asthma in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: To determine the correlation between asthma and hiatal hernia (HH) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related asthma requiring laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-six GERD patients with medically refractory asthma with (80 patients) or without HH (56 patients) were enrolled. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was assessed by endoscopy, esophageal manometry, reflux monitoring and symptom questionnaires, and treated with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) or LNF with concomitant hiatal hernia repair (LNF-HHR).

The Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Provoking High Blood Pressure Episodes in Patients With Hypertension.

Goals: We assessed the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension and whether antiacid therapy could be used to control blood pressure (BP) on hypertension in patients with GERD.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may provoke cardiovascular disease. Many factors are involved in the development of essential hypertension, but whether GERD has a role needs further study.

Laparoscopic Nissen (total) versus anterior 180° fundoplication for gastro-esophageal reflux disease: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) has been the gold standard for the surgical management of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Laparoscopic anterior 180° fundoplication (180° LAF) is reported to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications while obtaining similar control of reflux. The present meta-analysis was conducted to confirm the value of the 2 techniques.

Mesoatrial Shunt for Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

Background: The long-term efficacy of mesoatrial shunt (MAS) for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is not well studied. The purpose of our study was to investigate the long-term outcome and efficacy of MAS for BCS.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who underwent MAS for BCS from April 1986 to November 1995.

Nissen fundoplication proton pump inhibitors for laryngopharyngeal reflux based on pH-monitoring and symptom-scale.

Aim: To compare the outcomes between laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and type I hiatal hernia diagnosed by oropharyngeal pH-monitoring and symptom-scale assessment.

Methods: From February 2014 to January 2015, 70 patients who were diagnosed with LPR and type I hiatal hernia and referred for symptomatic assessment, oropharyngeal pH-monitoring, manometry, and gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled in this study. All of the patients met the inclusion criteria.

Endovascular Treatment of an Unusual Membranous Obstruction of the Inferior Vena Cava in Budd-Chiari Syndrome Complicated by Mural Portal Vein Thrombosis.

We describe the case of a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome who presented with an unusual membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava complicated by massive portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The patient underwent percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty through the right groin and was prescribed oral warfarin for 6 months. Treatment resulted in the complete disappearance of the PVT.

Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication with duodenojejunostomy for the management of superior mesenteric artery syndrome with reflux symptoms.

Rationale: The patient had symptoms of GERD and the reflux even caused the symptom of cough. Gaining weight is a risk factor for the treatment of reflux as it could exacerbated symptoms of reflux and the drug treatment is not effective. Surgical intervention becomes necessary when there is failure following conservative medical therapy or the patient.

Outcome of the Z-expandable metallic stent for Budd-Chiari syndrome and segmental obstruction of the inferior vena cava.

Objective: Treatment of segmental obstruction of the inferior vena cava (SOIVC) with Z-expandable metallic stents (Z-EMS) is controversial and data on long-term follow-up are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the use of a Z-EMS for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients with SOIVC.

Materials And Methods: Between August 2004 and December 2014, 37 consecutive BCS patients with SOIVC were referred for Z-EMS treatment and subsequently underwent follow-up in our department.

Early and Midterm Outcome After Laparoscopic Fundoplication and a Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Procedure in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background And Aims: Although the minimally invasive endoscopic Stretta procedure is being increasingly used as an alternative strategy to manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the benefits of this procedure have to be further evaluated in clinical settings. This prospective observational study assessed the short-term and midterm outcomes associated with laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication (LTF) and the Stretta procedure.

Patients And Methods: From January 2011 to January 2012, we allocated 80 patients to LTF and 85 to the Stretta procedure.

Experimental study on the construction of small three-dimensional tissue engineered grafts of electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone.

Studies on three-dimensional tissue engineered graft (3DTEG) have attracted great interest among researchers as they present a means to meet the pressing clinical demand for tissue engineering scaffolds. To explore the feasibility of 3DTEG, high porosity poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) was obtained via the co-electrospinning of polyethylene glycol and PCL, and used to construct small-diameter poly-ε-caprolactone-lysine (PCL-LYS-H) scaffolds, whereby heparin was anchored to the scaffold surface by lysine groups. A variety of small-diameter 3DTEG models were constructed with different PCL layers and the mechanical properties of the resulting constructs were evaluated in order to select the best model for 3DTEGs.

Long-term outcomes of patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease following a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure: a prospective observational study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common digestive disease, affecting one third of the world's population. The minimally invasive endoscopic Stretta procedure is being increasingly used as an alternative strategy to manage refractory GERD. However, long-term benefits of this procedure have to be further evaluated in clinical settings.

The in vivo characterization of electrospun heparin-bonded polycaprolactone in small-diameter vascular reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the possibility of using heparin-bonded polycaprolactone grafts to replace small-diameter arteries.

Methods: Polycaprolactone was bonded with heparin. The activated partial thromboplastin time of heparin-bonded polycaprolactone grafts was determined in vitro.

A preliminary investigation of anti-reflux intervention for gastroesophageal reflux related childhood-to-adult persistent asthma.

Background: Childhood-to-adult persistent asthma is usually considered to be an atopic disease. However gastroesophageal reflux may also play an important role in this phenotype of asthma, especially when it is refractory to pulmonary medicine.

Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive GERD patients who had decades of childhood-to-adult persistent asthmatic symptoms refractory to pulmonary medication were enrolled.

Gastroesophageal reflux in chronic cough and cough syncope and the effect of antireflux treatment: case report and literature review.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antireflux treatment on gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-related cough syncope.

Methods: The method used was a retrospective review of the outcomes of antireflux treatment with proton pump inhibitor (PPI), Stretta radiofrequency (SRF), or laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) of 8 patients with chronic cough and cough syncope that was clinically evaluated to be GER related over a period of 2 to 5 years.

Results: In the 8 selected cases, the typical GER symptoms disappeared in 7 cases and were significantly eased in 1 case.

Portal, mesenteric, and splenic vein thromboses after endovascular embolization for gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a splenic arteriovenous fistula.

We present an unusual case of portal, mesenteric, and splenic vein thromboses after endovascular embolization for gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a splenic arteriovenous fistula. The thromboses were successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy. The patient was a 37-year-old woman who presented with portal hypertension manifested by gastrointestinal bleeding with no evidence of liver disease.