An open non-comparative clinical study for the evaluation of safety and efficacy of esomeprazole in patients of reflux oesophagitis in Indian population.

The proton pump inhibitors have consistently been shown to be far more effective than the others are in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the final and rate-limiting step of parietal acid production. The primary objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of esomeprazole 40 mg given once a day for 4 weeks in patients with reflux oesophagitis. An open, non-comparative study was done with 103 patients in 4 centres with endoscopic erosive oesophagitis. Symptoms of reflux oesophagitis such as heartburn/retrosternal pain and regurgitation recorded on a 4-point scale, dysphagia being marked as present or absent. Oesophagitis was graded as 5-point scale. There was a significant decrease in mean score of heartburn (60.8% and 86%), retrosternal pain (60.84% and 86.75%), mean score of regurgitation (65% and 90%) at second and fourth week respectively. Global assessment of overall symptoms by patients showed complete resolution of symptoms in 86.4% patients at week 4. At the end of treatment 93 out of 103 patients showed complete healing, 13.6% of total cases had side effects. Esomeprazole was found effective and safe in the treatment of GERD.

Comparison of polyethylene glycol versus combination of magnesium sulphate and bisacodyl for colon preparation.

Colon preparation using polyethylene glycol (PEGLEC) and combination of bisacodyl and magnesium sulphate was compared in 74 patients. Type of preparation did not influence patient discomfort. The quality of preparation was excellent with PEGLEC in 63.6% as compared to 41.6% with combination preparation. The completion rates were similar in both groups. Good preparation was linked with shorter procedure duration (p = 0.001) and greater depth of examination. No major side effects were noted with both preparations. To conclude, polyethylene glycol is recommended for screening of right colon while combination of bisacodyl and magnesium sulphate is a good and cheap preparation modality to screen the left colon.

Role of pinaverium bromide in south Indian patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The effect of pinaverium bromide in controlling gastrointestinal symptoms in 61 patients with irritable bowel syndrome was studied, as an open trial. Individually, there was significant relief in abdominal discomfort/pain as well as in bowel symptoms in most of the patients. Abdominal pain was reduced in 49%, stool consistency improved in 74%, straining and urgency decreased in 71% and mucus decreased in 64%. Tolerance to the drug administered was good and side-effects reported were few.

Oesophageal manometry in noncardiac chest pain.

Chest pain of oesophageal origin is an important differential diagnosis in patients with cardiac chest pain. A preliminary survey of 40 patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) revealed oesophageal motility disorder in 47.5%; achalasia cardia being the most frequent disease (47.3%). 15.8% of these patients with motility disorder had features of progressive systemic sclerosis and another 15.8% had non specific oesophageal motility disorder (variants). Compared to barium swallow, oesophageal manometry was found to be superior in the diagnosis of oesophageal motility disorder.