The relationship between the esophageal tissue content of neurotensin and the presence or absence of esophageal inflammation.

Neurotensin (NT) decreases lower esophageal sphincter pressure and impedes gastric emptying, thus exacerbating gastroesophageal reflux. The aim was to determine the content of esophageal tissue NT in patients with erosive esophagitis compared to those with normal endoscopy with or without abnormal acid exposure. Consecutive patients (N = 21) with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms underwent an upper endoscopy, at which two biopsies from opposite walls were obtained from normal-appearing mucosa.

Evaluation of symptom index in identifying gastroesophageal reflux disease-related noncardiac chest pain.

Background: Symptom index (SI), which represents the percentage of perceived gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms that correlate with esophageal acid reflux events (pH <4), has been suggested as a measure to improve diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-related noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). Because no study has evaluated the value of the symptom index in NCCP patients, data to support this claim have yet to be elucidated.

Aim: To evaluate the value of SI in identifying gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related NCCP patients.

Short segment Barrett's esophagus: relationship of age with extent of intestinal metaplasia.

Objective: Short segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE) is defined by the presence of intestinal metaplasia in biopsies obtained from mucosa with an appearance suggestive of Barrett's that extends <3 cm into the esophagus. It has been suggested that this lesion may represent a stage in an ongoing process of Barrett's esophagus progression. If so, then the prevalence of SSBE would be expected to decrease with advancing age, and patients followed over time should exhibit an increase in the extent of columnar-lined esophagus.