This study was aimed to evaluate the anorectal dysfunction in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and propose the clinical significance of anorectal manometry in patients with SSc. Seven patients with SSc were evaluated with manometry for anorectal function and an additional 11 normal subjects were collected as a control group. The study group underwent esophageal manometry as well and the correlation bet...

A 73-year-old man presented with a loss of consciousness. He was comatose at the time of admission with a GCS of 5 and no localized neurological signs. Medical records indicated that the patient had undergone surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma 2 years previously. Metastases developed in the reconstructed stomach tube and middle esophagus 6 months after surgery, and the patient had ther...

BACKGROUND & AIMS Gastrointestinal symptom-specific fear and anxiety are important determinants of gastrointestinal symptom perception. We studied learning of fear toward innocuous gastrointestinal sensations as a putative mechanism in the development of gastrointestinal symptom-specific fear and anxiety. METHODS Fifty-two healthy subjects (26 women) received 2 types of esophageal balloon dis...

Distention of the proximal colon may have inhibitory or excitatory effects on the rectum and vice versa. The reflexes between the proximal colon and the rectum have not been well studied due to difficulties in accessing the proximal colon. The aim of this study was to investigate the reflex responses and their mechanisms between the proximal colon and the rectum in consideration of distention-r...

LES pressure increase following diaphragmatic contraction as a pinch-cock action acts as one of the barrier mechanism for gastroesophageal reflux. In achalasia patients, incomplete LES relaxation following wet swallow is one of the characteristic manometric findings, along with loss of peristalsis. On the other hand, it has been reported that swallowing effort or esophageal distention have no e...

Previous studies have identified a reliable relation between the quantity of food ingested and ruminating in profoundly retarded individuals and have established some parametric characteristics of this relation. The present study investigated three different properties of food that may influence this relation. Experiment 1 examined the role of stomach distention produced by including in the sub...

Clinical studies indicate that adenosine contributes to esophageal mechanical hypersensitivity in some patients with pain originating in the esophagus. We have previously reported that the esophageal vagal nodose C fibers express the adenosine A2A receptor. Here we addressed the hypothesis that stimulation of the adenosine A2A receptor induces mechanical sensitization of esophageal C fibers by ...

BACKGROUND Bladder distention is commonly used in diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC). Traditionally performed in the operating room under general or spinal anesthesia (GA), it is expensive and associated with short term morbidity. Office bladder distention using electromotive drug administration (EMDA) has been suggested as an alternative that is well tolerated by patients. W...

BACKGROUND The antenatal diagnosis of a combined esophageal atresia without tracheoesophageal fistula and duodenal atresia with or without gastric perforation is a rare occurrence. These diagnoses are difficult and can be suspected on ultrasound by nonspecific findings including a small stomach and polyhydramnios. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging adds significant anatomical detail and can aid i...