Correlation between esophageal contraction amplitude and lower esophageal sphincter pressure in patients with nutcracker esophagus.

Nutcracker esophagus (NE) is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by high-wave amplitude at the distal esophagus. The aim of this study was to analyze patients with NE and determine the relationship between distal esophageal contraction amplitude and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. Esophageal manometry tracings of patients with NE, defined as the presence of distal contraction amplitude of more than 182 mmHg after wet swallow, were analyzed. LES pressure was measured as the mean end-expiratory value. Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis was used to compare esophageal contraction amplitude with LES pressure. This comparison was also performed in patients with isolated hypertensive LES (HLES) and in subjects with normal manometry. Forty patients (25 female, 15 male; mean age 54 years) with NE were included in the study. Mean (SD) distal esophageal contraction amplitude was 230 (35.7) mmHg and mean LES pressure was 27.3 (5.7) mmHg. Esophageal contraction amplitude showed a positive correlation with LES pressure (r = 0.49, P < 0.01). In contrast, no correlation was found in patients with HLES (r = 0.21, P > 0.05) and in those with a normal manometric study (r = 0.18, P > 0.05). It is concluded that in patients with nutcracker esophagus a positive correlation exists between distal esophageal contraction amplitude and LES pressure, suggesting a diffuse hypertensive pattern involving smooth muscle at the distal esophagus and adjacent LES.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with specialized intestinal metaplasia at the esophagogastric junction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Specialized intestinal metaplasia around the esophagogastric junction is considered to be premalignant. The aim of this study was to examine prospectively the prevalence of metaplasia and to correlate its presence with clinical, endoscopic and histological findings. METHODOLOGY: In 101 symptomatic patients (40 women, 61 men; mean age: 55 yr, range: 20-79 yr), biopsies were taken from gastric type mucosa just distal to the esophagogastric junction. They were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff for the detection of specialized intestinal metaplasia and inflammation of the cardiac mucosa (carditis) and with Warthin-Starry for H. pylori presence. RESULTS: Metaplasia was detected in 27 patients (26.7%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that metaplasia was associated significantly with age (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.6), endoscopic suspicion of short segment Barrett's esophagus (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval 2.2-6.9), detection of H. pylori (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-7) and presence of carditis (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-16.8). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of specialized intestinal metaplasia around the esophagogastric junction is high in symptomatic patients. Age, endoscopic evidence of short segment Barrett's esophagus and histological presence of H. pylori and carditis are independent risk factors associated with its presence.

Comparison of 1-week vs. 2- or 4-week therapy regimens with ranitidine bismuth citrate plus two antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies based on ranitidine bismuth citrate have recently been introduced in clinical practice. AIM: To compare the efficacy of three regimens containing ranitidine bismuth citrate given for 1, 2 and 4 weeks, combined with two antibiotics for the first week, in the eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: Eighty-six consecutive patients (50 duodenal ulcer disease, 36 non-ulcer dyspepsia) with H. pylori infection were offered three eradication regimens: (a) 1-week group (n=28), ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. for 7 days; (b) 2-week group (n=29), ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. for 14 days; and (c) 4-week group (n=29), ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. for 28 days. In all patients, clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. were given for the first week. Endoscopy was repeated 1 month after the end of treatment and eradication was considered to be successful if both rapid urease test and histology were negative. RESULTS: Overall, H. pylori was eradicated in 84% (72/86) patients on intention-to-treat analysis, whereas the per protocol cure rate was 89% (72/81). Eradication rates were 23/27 (85%) (95% confidence interval (CI): 66-96%), 25/27 (92%) (95% CI: 76-99%) and 24/27 (89%) (95% CI: 71-98%) in the 1-, 2- and 4-week groups, respectively, on per protocol analysis, and 25/28 (82%) (95% CI: 63-94%), 25/29 (86%) (95% CI: 68-96%) and 24/29 (83%) (95% CI: 64-94%), respectively, on intention-to-treat analysis (P > 0.05, N.S.). No significant differences were observed between groups concerning duodenal ulcer healing, resolution of symptoms and adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-week regimen with ranitidine bismuth citrate, clarithromycin and metronidazole is effective in H. pylori eradication. Prolongation of treatment with ranitidine bismuth citrate for 2 or 4 weeks does not achieve a statistically significant more favourable outcome.

Short vs. long cotrimoxazole courses in eradicating bacteriuria in the elderly.

To test whether longer duration of treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in old age could improve the efficacy of cotrimoxazole therapy, three regimens were given to 75 ambulant bacteriuric residents of a retirement home, aged greater than or equal to 68 years. The groups and regimens were: A:23 subjects (160/800 mg b.i.d. orally x 3 days). B: 24 subjects (160/800 mg i.m. x 10 days); C: 28 subjects (160/800 mg b.i.d. orally x 20 days). One week, one month and five months post-therapy urines were negative in 78.3% vs 52.9% vs 42.9% of group A, in 54.2% vs 56.5% vs 50% of group B and in 57.1% vs 60.7% vs 68% of group C subjects respectively. The data indicate that: 1) the efficacy of any schedule is only moderate irrespective of the presence of antibody-coated bacteria in urine; 2) a 3-day course appears more effective at one week post-therapy; 3) at one and five months greater than or equal to 50% of the subjects were infection-free, the 20 day treatment resulting in fewer failures; 4) subjects with long-term eradication had no mobility problem, low serum creatinine and a normal urinary tract as seen by ultrasound.

Three-day antibiotic therapy in bacteriuria of old age.

A three day oral antibiotic course was given to 71 elderly bacteriuric subjects with no or only moderate mobility problems. Seven of 17 men (41%) and 34 of 54 women (63%) had strongly positive antibody coated bacteria (ACB) in the urine. Following sensitivity tests and randomization one of the following agents was given: cefadroxil 1 g tid (13 subjects): co-trimoxazole 160/800 mg bd (23 subjects); or norfloxacin 400 mg bd (35 subjects). One week after therapy urines were negative in 13 men (76.5%) and 37 women (68.5%). Patients who were fully mobile and/or were ACB(-) responded better than those with moderate mobility problems or who were ACB(+). At six months, urines were negative in six (40%) of 15 men and 15 (33.3%) of 45 women. Two men and six women of these 21 subjects had a positive urine at one month. Of the three agents tested cefadroxil was less effective in women. The study indicates that a three day course will clear bacteriuria in about 70% of patients at one week, but only about 25% will remain free of infection at six months; these are usually patients with adequate mobility and normal renal function.