A Retrospective Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Endoscopic Radiofrequency Therapy Under Direct Vision in 59 Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease from 2 Centers in Beijing, China Using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study from 2 centers in Beijing, China aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision in 59 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-nine GERD patients who underwent endoscopic radiofrequency treatment were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group and the non-direct vision radiofrequency therapy group. Indicators such as GerdQ score, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, DeMeester score, acid exposure time, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use were collected before and after radiofrequency treatment. Postoperative complications were also recorded. The efficacy and safety of endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision were evaluated by comparing the indicators of patients in the 2 groups. RESULTS At 3 months after radiofrequency treatment, patients in the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group improved significantly in GerdQ score, decreased from 11.0 (10.0, 12.0) to 6.0 (6.0, 8.0), better than patients in the non-direct vision radiofrequency therapy group, and the better improvements remained at 12 months after the procedure (P<0.05). At 6 months after treatment, patients in the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group had significant improvements in LES pressure, which increased from 8.15 (3.18, 12.88) mmHg to 15.20 (10.25, 27.03) mmHg (P<0.05). There were no severe complications in our trial. CONCLUSIONS When compared with non-visualized endoscopic radiofrequency therapy, treatment under direct vision was safer and improved the GerdQ score and LES pressure at up to 12 months.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not related to the incidence of diabetic nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes.

To analyze the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the incidence of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, the incidence of diabetic nephropathy was assessed in 413 type 2 diabetic patients, by testing the 24 h urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER). The NAFLD was diagnosed based on patient's medical history and liver ultrasound. The difference in diabetic nephropathy incidence between patients with and without NAFLD was tested by X². Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the factors associated with diabetic nephropathy among type 2 diabetic patients. Total 363 out of 413 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The incidences of NAFLD and diabetic nephropathy in participants were approximately 56% (202/363) and 38% (137/363) respectively, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy between patients with and without NAFLD (37.1% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.787). The duration of diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.065, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.014--1.120, p = 0.012), waist circumference (OR 1.077, 95% CI 1.040--1.116, p = 0.000), and fasting blood glucose (FBG; OR 1.136, 95% CI 1.023--1.1262, p = 0.017) were significantly associated with diabetic nephropathy, whereas sex, high blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) were not significantly associated with the disorder. The present results suggest that NAFLD is not related to the incidence of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes, but the duration of diabetes, waist circumference, and FBG are important factors for diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.