Introduction: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is present when repeated backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus causes chronic symptoms or damages the esophageal lining. In recent years, the prevalence of GERD has increased and there is a strong correlation between acid reflux and the increasing incidence of esophageal cancer [1]. The gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) is the key d...

The mechanisms by which gastroesophageal reflux disease esophagitis develops are controversial. Although many support the notion that caustic injury leads to reflux esophagitis, others have proposed that reflux esophagitis is caused by esophageal epithelial cytokine-mediated inflammation. We previously demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is highly expressed and functional in the nontr...

tion of patients with GERD symptoms, including typical symptoms in patients off PPIs, chronic cough and symptoms refractory to PPIs [13–15] . However, few studies have formerly assessed the benefit of impedance-pH monitoring in patients with laryngeal symptoms. Chronic cough related to GERD has been generally attributed to acid reflux. However, acid suppression therapy is not as good as for hea...

BACKGROUND Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in patients with end-stage lung disease (ESLD). GERD may cause obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation (LTx), represented by a decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)). OBJECTIVES To identify the patterns of reflux in patients with ESLD and to determine whether antireflux surgery (ARS) positively impacts...

Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) is a chronic and relapsing disease, defined as "Failure of antireflux barrier, allowing reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus".1 According to the Genval Workshop, this term should be used to include all individuals who are exposed to the risk of physical complications from Gastro-esophageal reflux or who experience clinically significant impairme...

BACKGROUND Asthmatics are known to have esophageal hypomotility. Vagal hypofunction and prolonged intra-esophageal acidification cause esophageal hypomotility. The contribution of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and vagal function to esophageal motility in asthmatics is unclear. We studied the relationship between esophageal motility, GER and vagal function in a cohort of adult asthmatics. METH...

OBJECTIVES The association of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and respiratory disorders is well known but the mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the presence and severity of proximal gastric acid reflux in children having GER with or without respiratory symptoms. METHODS 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring with a dual pH probe placed in the proximal and distal esophagus was pe...

The incidence of esophageal cancer continues to rise in the Western world. Prior studies have suggested that gastroduodenal content reflux from gastroesophageal reflux disease induces the inflammation-mediated progression from hyperplasia to metaplasia, and to adenocarcinoma. We further investigated the sequential development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EADC) with the use of an established su...

BACKGROUND Endoscopic examination (direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy) is the method of choice for diagnosis of respiratory symptoms of unknown cause in children. However, gastroesophageal reflux is being recognized increasingly often as a cause of pediatric respiratory symptoms and is difficult to diagnose on the basis of findings from direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. In cases in which ...

BACKGROUND: Mast cells exert a substantial role in gastrointestinal allergic diseases. Therefore, it is reasonable to presume that mast cell may aid diagnosis in eosinophilic gastroenteropathy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether mast cell count in the esophageal epithelium can discriminate eosinophilic esophagitis, proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)-responsive eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroesopha...