The Relationship between Primary Duodenogastric Reflux and Helicobacter pylori Gastritis in Children.

BACKGROUND: Most studies of the relationship between duodenogastric reflux (DGR) and Helicobacter pylori have reported that the presence of DGR decreases H. pylori colonization, while H. pylori infection increases the frequency of DGR by impairing antroduodenal motility. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between primary DGR and the prevalence of H. pylori in children, as well as the degree of colonization and the presence and severity of gastritis. METHODS: Included in the study were 410 patients between the ages of 2 and 18 years, referred to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic with complaints of dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and nausea/vomiting, who underwent upper gastrointestinal system endoscopic examination and stomach biopsy. The study group included 60 patients with DGR, while 350 non-DGR patients formed the control group. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with DGR was 15.7 ± 2.1 years, while the mean age of the control group was 14.2 ± 3.8 years (p = 0.02). Of those with DGR, 50 (83.3%) were girls, while in the control group, 215 (61.4%) were girls (p = 0.001). Of patients with DGR, 16 were H. pylori (+) (26.7%), while in the control group, 168 were H. pylori (+) (48%) (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to H. pylori degree of colonization (p = 0.08). Gastritis was present in 56 (93.3%) patients in the DGR group and 322 (92%) patients in the control group (p = 0.72). A significant difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of gastritis severity (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of patients with DGR was significantly higher than that of patients without DGR, and DGR was found to be more common in girls. In patients with DGR, H. pylori prevalence was significantly lower than in those without DGR; however, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups with respect to the colonization degree.

Detection of Apical Inflammatory Root Resorption Associated with Periapical Lesion Using Different Methods

The aim of this study was to detect apical inflammatory root resorption (AIRR) associated with periapical lesion using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). This clinical study evaluated AIRR in 88 root apexes, from 52 permanent teeth of 14 patients, extracted for different reasons. The patients were submitted to a clinical interview, review of dental/medical histories and clinical/imaging examinations for treatment planning. All selected teeth showed unrestorable condition because of the extensive coronal breakdown due to carious lesions, and root canal infection associated with periapical lesions. CBCT images were obtained from the patients with the aim of diagnosing the periapical diseases which showed complex or doubtful conditions. Two examiners assessed the presence or absence of AIRR. Apices were also analyzed under SEM. Chi-square test was used to compare the imaging methods for detection of AIRR. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. AIRR associated with root canal infection and apical periodontitis was found in 61.4% of the cases studied by using SEM, and at least half of the cases by CBCT. The microscopic analysis remains as a reference standard against the imaging method to identify AIRR.

O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar reabsorção radicular inflamatória apical (RRIA) associada à lesão periapical utilizando tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Este estudo clínico avaliou RRIA em 88 ápices radiculares de 52 dentes permanentes de 14 pacientes, extraídos por diferentes motivos. Os pacientes foram submetidos a uma entrevista clínica, revisão da história médica/dental, exames clínicos e de imagem para o plano de tratamento. Todos os dentes selecionados apresentaram condição não restaurável devido à extensa perda de estrutura dental associada a lesões cariosas, e infecção do canal radicular associada a lesões periapicais. TCFC foram obtidas dos pacientes com o objetivo de diagnosticar as alterações periapicais que se mostraram complexas ou duvidosas. Dois examinadores avaliaram a presença ou ausência de RRIA. Os ápices foram também analisados por MEV. O teste do qui-quadrado foi usado para comparar os métodos de detecção de RRIA. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em 5%. RRIA associada à infecção do canal radicular e periodontite apical foi encontrada em 61,4% dos casos estudados usando MEV, e pelo menos metade dos casos utilizando TCFC. A análise microscópica continua a ser o padrão frente a métodos de imagens para a identificação de RRIA.

Comparative evaluation of intragastric bile acids and hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux.

AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of a combination of intragastric bile acids and hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the detection of duodenogastric reflux (DGR). METHODS: The study contained 99 patients with DGR and 70 healthy volunteers who made up the control group. The diagnosis was based on the combination of several objective arguments: a long history of gastric symptoms (i.e., nausea, epigastric pain, and/or bilious vomiting) poorly responsive to medical treatment, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms unresponsive to proton-pump inhibitors, gastritis on upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and/or at histology, presence of a bilious gastric lake at > 1 upper GI endoscopy, pathologic 24-h intragastric bile monitoring with the Bilitec device. Gastric juice was aspirated in the GI endoscopy and total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) were tested in the clinical laboratory. Continuous data of gastric juice were compared between each group using the independent-samples Mann-Whitney U-test and their relationship was analysed by Spearman's rank correlation test and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis. Histopathology of DGR patients and 23 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis was compared by clinical pathologists. Using the Independent-samples Mann-Whitney U-test, DGR index (DGRi) was calculated in 28 patients of DGR group and 19 persons of control group who were subjected to hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Receiver operating characteristic curve was made to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these two methods in the diagnosis of DGR. RESULTS: The group of patients with DGR showed a statistically higher prevalence of epigastric pain in comparison with control group. There was no significant difference between the histology of gastric mucosa with atrophic gastritis and duodenogastric reflux. The bile acid levels of DGR patients were significantly higher than the control values (Z: TBA: -8.916, DBIL: -3.914, TBIL: -6.197, all P < 0.001). Two of three in the DGR group have a significantly associated with each other (r: TBA/DBIL: 0.362, TBA/TBIL: 0.470, DBIL/TBIL: 0.737, all P < 0.001). The Fisher's discriminant function is followed: Con: Y = 0.002TBA + 0.048DBIL + 0.032TBIL - 0.986; Reflux: Y = 0.012TBA + 0.076DBIL + 0.089TBIL - 2.614. Eighty-four point zero five percent of original grouped cases were correctly classified by this method. With respect to the DGR group, DGRi were higher than those in the control group with statistically significant differences (Z = -5.224, P < 0.001). Twenty eight patients (59.6%) were deemed to be duodenogastric reflux positive by endoscopy, as compared to 37 patients (78.7%) by hepatobiliary scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: The integrated use of intragastric bile acid examination and scintigraphy can greatly improve the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of DGR.

Transposed intrathoracic stomach: functional evaluation.

BACKGROUND: To study the functional aspects of the transposed stomach in the thoracic cavity and its effects on other organ systems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children who had undergone gastric transposition more than 5 years ago were evaluated for symptoms, anthropometry, anaemia, duodenogastric reflux, pulmonary function, gastric emptying, gastric pH, gastroesophageal reflux and stricture, gastric motility, and gastritis and atrophy on histological examination of gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Ten children were evaluated at a median follow-up of 90.5 months. On evaluation of symptoms, nine children were satisfied with the overall outcome. All patients had their weight and 7 patients had height less than 3 rd percentile for their respective age. Anaemia was present in 7/10 children. On evaluation with hepatobiliary scintigraphy, duodenogastric reflux was present in only 1 patient. Mass contractions of the transposed stomach were present in two thirds of the children. The mean gastric emptying t1/2 was 39.1 minutes. Pulmonary function tests were suggestive of restrictive lung disease in all the patients. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) were worse in children who underwent transposition or diversion following oesophageal anastomotic leak. Acid secretion was preserved in most patients with episodes of high gastric pH during sleep in nearly half. Mild gastritis was present in all patients where as mild atrophy of the gastric mucosa was observed in only 1child. Helicobacter pylori were positive in 3/ 8 children. Barium swallow demonstrated reflux in 2 children. CONCLUSIONS: Most children with transposed stomach remain asymptomatic on follow up. However, subclinical abnormalities are detected on investigations, which need close observation as they can manifest later in life.

Morpho-functional gastric pre-and post-operative changes in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone related disease.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy, gold standard treatment for gallbladder lithiasis, is closely associated with increased bile reflux into the stomach as amply demonstrated by experimental studies. The high prevalence of gallstones in the population and the consequent widespread use of surgical removal of the gallbladder require an assessment of the relationship between cholecystectomy and gastric mucosal disorders.Morphological evaluations performed on serial pre and post - surgical biopsies have provided new acquisitions about gastric damage induced by bile in the organ. METHODS: 62 elderly patients with gallstone related disease were recruited in a 30 months period. All patients were subjected to the most appropriate treatment (Laparoscopic cholecystectomy). The subjects had a pre-surgical evaluation with:• dyspeptic symptoms questionnaire,• gastric endoscopy with body, antrum, and fundus random biopsies,• histo-pathological analysis of samples and elaboration of bile reflux index (BRI).The same evaluation was repeated at a 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: In our series the duodeno-gastric reflux and the consensual biliary gastritis, assessed histologically with the BRI, was found in 58% of the patients after 6 months from cholecystectomy. The demonstrated bile reflux had no effect on H. pylori's gastric colonization nor on the induction of gastric precancerous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystectomy, gold standard treatment for gallstone-related diseases, is practiced in a high percentage of patients with this condition. Such procedure, considered by many harmless, was, in our study, associated with a significant risk of developing biliary gastritis after 6 months during the postoperative period.

A pediatric case of an unusual type of annular pancreas presenting with duodenopancreatic reflux.

Pancreatitis, a late complication of an annular pancreas (AP), results from coexisting pancreaticobiliary malformations including pancreas divisum (PD), and pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). The authors report the case of a 3-year-old boy with an unusual type of AP in which the dorsal anlage encircled the duodenum. The patient developed duodenal obstruction as well as duodenopancreatic reflux with resulting hyperamylasemia and hyperlipasemia. This type of AP associated with duodenopancreatic reflux in AP has not been reported previously. The patient was successfully treated by duodenoduodenostomy, which, by correcting the duodenopancreatic reflux, prevented the later development of pancreatitis.

[Diagnostic aspects of chronic cholangitis after cholecystectomy].

AIM: To determine the chronic cholangitis risk factors and to provide a practically significant diagnostic criteria of chronic cholangitis in patients after cholecystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Were examined the clinical, anamnestic data, clinical laboratory and instrumental studies of the condition of the hepatobiliary system in 127 patients with chronic cholangitis after cholecystectomy. The determination of microbial contamination of bile was performed during the duodenal intubation. RESULTS: In the bile microbial landscape study were noted the violation of biliary system microbiota in 92.1% of cases. Herewith identified a combination of bacterial factors with parasitic invasion (mixed infection) in 28 (22.0%) patients. Cholangitis develops in the presence of duodeno biliary reflux, duodenal motility disorders and hypotonia of Oddi's sphincter in the early postoperative period. In the late periods after cholecystectomy, cholangitis chronization defines outflow obstruction and cholestasis due to functional or organic causes in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for chronic cholangitis should be referred to long history of gallstone disease, performance of cholecystectomy in the emergency order against the inflammatory process of thehepatobiliary system, absence of adequate correction of postoperative hypertension of bile duct, destruction of sphincter apparatus major duodenal papilla during surgery.

[Dysmotility-type dyspepsia and eructation. Introduction of a new gas-analytical method]. / Dysmotilitas típusú dyspepsia és bélgázok. Új gázanalitikai módszer bemutatása.

This paper describes a new gas-analytical method used in a 55-year-old female patient with dyspepsia. Symptoms included epigastric fullness and inflation. Evaluation indicated an increased gas production in the proximal end of the small intestine that entered into the stomach via duodenogastric reflux. High CO2 content of eructed gas was confirmed in eructed gas samples using a tube in situ. Authors propose that this new analytical method of eructed gas may be applied in clinical practice in patients with dyspepsia.

Sphincter of Oddi manometry by choledochoscope in patients with duodenobiliary reflux.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Previous research has confirmed that duodenobiliary reflux exists in patients with choledocholithiasis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the motor activity of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) has an effect on duodenobiliary reflux. METHODS: A total of 51 patients orally ingested 1mL water containing technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetatic acid, and a 2-h bile collection was obtained from the T tube. Technetium counts in the collected bile were performed using an RM905 radioactivity meter. The patients were divided into two groups: reflux group (duodenobiliary reflux positive) and control group (duodenobiliary reflux negative). Next, 33 cases were randomly selected and double blinded to receive SO manometry by choledochoscope. RESULTS: Of the 51 total cases, 16 bile samples exhibited radioactivity. The average SO basal pressure and contraction pressure values were 7.2±3.9mmHg and 53.5±24.5mmHg, respectively, in the reflux group, and 14.7±11.0mmHg and 117.2±65.6mmHg, respectively, in the control group. The choledochus pressure values were 5.1±1.6mmHg and 11.5±7.4mmHg in the reflux group and the control group, respectively. The differences between the groups were statistically significant; however, the SO contraction frequency, SO contraction duration, and duodenum pressure values were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: The decreases in the SO basal pressure and SO contraction pressure, and the decrease in choledochus pressure, might play a role in duodenobiliary reflux.

Effect of low-proof alcoholic beverages on duodenogastro-esophageal reflux in health and GERD.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic beverages are known to increase acidic gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and the risk of esophagitis. Moreover, duodenogastro-esophageal reflux (DGER), containing bile acids, was shown to harmfully alter the esophageal mucosa, alone and synergistically with HCl and pepsin. However, studies directly addressing potential effects of different low proof alcoholic beverages on DGER in health and disease are missing. METHODS: Bilitec readings for beer and white, rose, and red wine were obtained in vitro from pure and from mixtures with bile. One-hour DGER monitoring and pH-metry were performed in 12 healthy subjects and nine reflux patients with DGER after ingestion of a standardized liquid meal together with 300 mL of water, white wine, and in the volunteers, beer and rose wine. KEY RESULTS: Bilitec measurement was found to be feasible in the presence of beer, white wine, and using a threshold of 0.25, rose wine. However, the presence of red wine resulted in extinction values above this threshold. The consumption of all investigated alcoholic beverages, especially of white wine, triggered increased acidic GER, both in healthy participants and patients with reflux disease. In contrast, no relevant DGER was found after intake of alcoholic beverages. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Fiber-optic bilirubin monitoring can be used for DGER monitoring in combination with alcoholic beverages, except with red wine. Low-proof alcoholic beverages are a strong trigger of GER, but not of DGER, both in healthy subjects and patients with reflux disease.

[Duodenogastric reflux and gastric pathology in the elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of duodenogastric reflux (DGR), and to assess the changes in the gastric mucosa in the presence of bile reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study includes the results of 1371 gastroduodenoscopies carried out in 2008, for patients between 65 and 92 years old, the study includes both kind of patients who were admitted to hospital and those who were investigated on an outpatient basis. The main group includes 695 patients with various level of DGR severity, and the control group consists of 676 patients without DGR. RESULTS: DGR was diagnosed in 14.8% more in women. In case of the presence of DGR we have found changes in the antrum mucosa as congestion, and minor erosion, hyperplasia, metaplasia of gastric and esophageal mucosa, and stomach polyps. And we have not noticed such changes when DGR was absent. We have found that the high frequency of antral hyperplasia is correlated to the DGR severity. CONCLUSION: DGR is diagnosed in more than 10% of patients who undergo gastroduodenoscopy. DGR is an indicator of conditions often associated with various morphological changes in gastric mucosa; therefore this finding has to be taken in consideration in the further investigations and management of such patients.

Impact of pantoprazole on duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux (DGER).

BACKGROUND: Duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux (DGER) is considered as an independent risk factor for complicated reflux disease (GERD). Patients with Barrett's esophagus have significantly higher levels of DGER than patients with uncomplicated GERD. However, the clinical response to conventional high-dose PPI therapy in patients with uncomplicated GERD and DGER is largely unknown. METHODS: 30 patients with uncomplicated GERD and combined pathological reflux (acid and bile) were enrolled in the study. Clinical work-up included evaluation of clinical symptoms, esophageal manometry and upper endoscopy. After 6 - 8 weeks of treatment with Pantoprazole 80 mg/d pH measurement and Bilitec 2000 were repeated, and the pattern of symptoms was re-evaluated. RESULTS: Under treatment with Pantoprazole 80 mg/d acid reflux was normalised in 28 patients (93 %). Similarly the mean percentage of DGER (time with an absorption greater than 0.14) was significantly reduced from 19.6 % (+/- 13.7) to 5.7 % (+/- 7.7, p < 0.05). In 15 patients (50 %) an elevated DGER persisted under treatment with Pantoprazole (DGER-NR group) whereas in 15 cases (50 %) a normalisation could be achieved (DGER-R group). The DGER-NR group had significantly higher levels of bile reflux before (and under) treatment compared to the DGER-R group: 22.9 % (9.98 %) vs. 15.6 % (0.72 %), respectively. Overall, the median quality of life index (QLI) improved from 4.78 (+/- 0.86) before to 8.04 +/- 1.84) under therapy. The clinical response under treatment was marikedly reduced in the DGER-NR group compared to the DGER-R group: QLI 7.3 vs. 8.9. Particularly heartburn and nocturnal coughing persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that high-dose pantoprazole therapy effectively exerts acid suppression in GERD patients with combined pathological reflux. However, DGER could only normalised in 50 % of patients. High levels of DGER at diagnosis enhance the risk of persistent DGER under PPI therapy and are associated with a reduced clinical outcome.

[Duodenogastric reflux in patients with recurrent postoperative complicated duodenal ulcers].

Duodenogastric reflux (DGR) was revealed in 52.6% patients, suffering recurrent postoperative complicated duodenal ulcers (RPOCDU). Pylorodestructive operations performance, pyloric involvement into ulcerative infiltrate and absence of chronic duodenal impassability (CHDI) correction during the first operation done had constituted the DGR occurrence causes. While establishing the indications for elective operation performance as well as choosing the surgical method of the RPOCDU treatment it is necessary to take into account the presence and severity degree of DGR. Surgical treatment of DGR must obligatory include not only the pyloric preservation and strenghtening, but the CHDI correction as well. Selective periarterial sympathectomy of duodenum constitutes an effective method, improving her tone without pyloric innervations disturbing.

[The clinical manifestation of duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux (DGER) in the children and adolescents]. / Objawy kliniczne u dzieci i mlodziezy z refluksem zólciowym.

UNLABELLED: The development of the new techniques and methods enabled to investigate the role of duodenal reflux in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) therefore there is a need to establish the most common symptoms occurring in patients with duodenal reflux. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To determinate the type of manifestation and the prevalence of duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux in children and adolescents confirmed in Bilitec 2000 method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 59 patients (37 girls, 22 boys) aged 7-17 years (mean 14.7) with the symptoms of GER there were divided into 2 groups: subgroups: A--18 children with confirmed duodeno-gastroesophageal reflux in Bilitec 2000TM method and B--control consisted of 15 children with short stature referred to endoscopy due to celiac disease exclusion. In accordance to the endoscopic finding there were selected 3 subgroups: 20 patients with duodenal reflux, 19 patients with esophagitis and 20 children presenting those both disorders simultaneously. In all patients from group B the endoscopy, Bilitec 2000 and esophagitis pH metric findings haven't showed any abnormality. RESULTS: The most common complain--in 16 (88.89%) patients was recurrent and/or chronic abdominal pain, next- heartburn in 12 (66.67%), vomits and/or regurgitations in 10 (55.56%) children. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation of duodenal reflux was very much alike as in acid gastroeophageal reflux in the examined group. Therefore the functional gastrointestinal tract examinations have to be included in the diagnostic procedure.

Acid and bile reflux in erosive reflux disease, non-erosive reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may occur with acid, bile or in a mixed form. Endoscopic injury and mucosal metaplasia are a known sequlae to pathological GERD. The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of acid and duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER) to endoscopic severity in patients with GERD and Barrett's esophagus. METHODS: Ninety-one patients complaining of reflux symptoms were studied with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and graded to non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), erosive reflux disease (ERD) and Barrett's esophagus (BE). Esophageal manometry and simultaneous ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH and bilirubin monitoring (Bilitec 2000) were done to all patients. RESULTS: Seventy one patients (78.0%) had ERD (Savary-Miller (grade I-III), 11 patients (12.1%) had NERD and 9 patients (9.9%) had BE suspected endoscopically and diagnosed by histological esophageal biopsy. Combined 24-h esophageal bilirubin and pH monitoring revealed that 39 patients (42.9%) had mixed acid and bile reflux, 16 (17.6%) had pathological acid reflux only, 18 (19.8%) had bile reflux only and 18 patients (19.8%) had no evidence of abnormal reflux. The percentage of the total time of bilirubin absorbance above 0.14, in 71 patients with ERD was (8.18 +/- 11.28%), and in 9 patients with BE was (15.48 +/- 30.48%) which was significantly greater than that in 11 patients with NERD (4.48 +/- 8.99%), p < 0.05 and p = 0.01 respectively. All BE patients had abnormal esophageal bile reflux (3 bile alone and 6 mixed bile and acid); 44 of 71 patients (61.97%) with ERD had abnormal esophageal bile reflux (13 bile alone and 31 mixed bile and acid); meanwhile 15 of them (21.2%) had abnormal acid exposure alone. Of the 11 patients with NERD, 4 patients (36.4%) had abnormal esophageal bile reflux, 2 of them mixed with acid. CONCLUSIONS: The Bilitec method reliably identifies the presence of bilirubin and quantitatively detects duodenogastroesophageal reflux of bile. Mixed reflux (acid and bile) is the chief pattern of reflux in GERD patients in this study. Bile reflux either alone or mixed with acid reflux contributes to the severity of erosive and non-erosive reflux disease as well as to Barrett's esophagus.

[Prevalence of a pathological DGER (duodeno-gastric-oesophageal reflux) in patients with clinical symptoms of reflux disease]. / Prävalenz eines pathologischen Duodeno-Gastro-Osophagealen Refluxes (DGER) bei Patienten mit klinischen Beschwerden einer Refluxerkrankung.

BACKGROUND: According to recent studies DGER (duodeno-gastric-oesophageal reflux) is considered as an independent risk factor for the development of reflux esophagitis and the Barrett metaplasia. The Bilitec 2000 allows a qualitative and quantitative measurement of DGER in patients with symptoms of reflux disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of DGER in patients with reflux symptoms. METHODS: 146 patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease were enrolled in this study. Patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, oesophageal manometry and simultaneous 24 h oesophageal pH and bilirubin monitoring. The presence of pathological DGER and its relations to the symptom pattern, distal oesophageal acid exposure and endoscopic findings were analysed. RESULTS: In 74 out of 146 patients (51 %, 39 men, 34 women) a DGER could be detected. Twenty-eight (32 %) of these patients suffered from an isolated DGER, while 46 (32 %) had a combined acid and DGER reflux. An isolated acid reflux was found in additional 28 (19 %) patients. The degrees of both acid and DGER were significantly higher in those patients with oesophageal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: 1. There is a high prevalence of DGER in patients with the clinical symptoms of a reflux disease. 2. The combined measurement of acid reflux and DGER helps to better define the cause of reflux symptoms. 3. In analogy to the acid reflux DGER increases with the gravity of oesophageal lesions.

A report on associations among gastric pH, bleeding, duodenogastric reflux, and outcomes after trauma.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of multiple organ failure (MOF) in trauma patients may involve the gastrointestinal tract, but its exact origins remain elusive. In a prospective study, the gastric fluid of major torso trauma patients was examined for evidence of duodenogastric reflux and potential gastric injury, and was compared with patient outcomes regarding MOF. METHODS: Patient samples were collected daily for 4 days by nasogastric tube and analyzed for pH, hemoglobin, and bile acid. Blood was collected for analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP). Outcomes were recorded for the presence or absence of MOF. RESULTS: The results showed that most patients exhibited alkaline gastric contents (pH >/=4.9) and elevated levels of hemoglobin immediately after the trauma. Although non-MOF patients demonstrated a decline of both mean gastric pH and bleeding by day 4, MOF patients maintained significant elevations in pH during this time period. Mean total bile acid levels were increased in all patients, signifying the presence of duodenogastric reflux. However, there were no clear differences in mean bile acid concentrations between MOF and non-MOF patients over time, although MOF patients tended to exhibit higher levels. All patients showed a progressive rise in serum CRP during the first 24 hours after trauma, which was maintained for 4 days. The initial rise in serum CRP in MOF patients was delayed compared with that in non-MOF patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that duodenogastric reflux occurs in trauma patients in the first few days after trauma and may contribute to elevated gastric pH and bleeding. Further study is needed to verify whether monitoring the gastric juice of trauma patients during the first several days of hospitalization, for alkaline pH and excessive blood in the gastric lumen, could lead to better assessments of patient status.

Stratification and symptom characteristics of non-erosive reflux disease based on acid and duodenogastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The subgroups and symptom characteristics of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) based on acid and duodenogastroesophageal reflux may be different in Chinese patients to Western patients. This study aimed to explore the stratification and symptom characteristics of patients with NERD. METHODS: Patients with typical heartburn and/or acid regurgitation symptoms were enrolled. Each patient filled out a questionnaire. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed for each patient followed by simultaneous ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH and Bilitec (bilirubin) monitoring. A symptom index (SI) of > or =50% was considered to be positive. RESULTS: Eighty-two consecutive NERD patients were evaluated. Abnormal (NERD pH+) and normal (NERD pH-) 24-h pH tests were found in 24 (29.3%) and 58 (70.7%) patients, respectively. Among 42 NERD pH- patients who reported heartburn symptoms during monitoring, SI was positive in 19 (45.2%) patients (NE-SI+) and negative in 23 (54.8%) patients (NE-SI-). Pathological duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER) was found in 43 (52.4%) patients. No significant differences were noted regarding the prevalence of other upper gastrointestinal symptoms, except for acid regurgitation in NERD pH+ and NERD pH- groups. Additionally, no significant differences were seen in the prevalence of other symptoms, except for chest pain, in groups with pathological and normal DGER. CONCLUSION: The proportion of NERD patients with pathological acid reflux was somewhat lower than that reported in Western countries. The role of DGER in NERD may be important. It is difficult to differentiate whether NERD patients have pathological acid or bile reflux according to symptoms.

[The newly occurred and recurrent gastric ulcers after organ-preserving operations for the ulcer disease].

The literature data and the results of own investigations on gastric recurrent ulcers occurrence after organpreserving operations performance for the ulcer disease are summarized. The data on gastric recurrent ulcers occurrence rate are adduced. Modern views on possible causes of occurrence, necessary volume and informativity of investigation methods and tactics of treatment are presented. Gastroduodenal motor-evacuation function disorders, duodenogastric reflux and gastric hypersecretion are suggested as a most frequent causes of gastric recurrent ulcers occurrence. The method of operative intervention choice for recurrent gastric ulcer is determined by the cause of its occurrence, as well as the character of ulcer complication and the kind of previous surgical procedure performed.