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Thickening of the esophageal wall in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been shown in studies using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). We hypothesise that transmural inflammation in EoE results in prominent esophageal wall thickening compared with the mucosal inflammation in GERD. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship among dysphagia, endoscopic appearance, wall thickness, histology, and motility in EoE and GORD.EoE and GERD patients were prospectively studied between February 2012 and April 2021. Patients were studied on 2 separate occasions with endoscopy, EUS and mucosal biopsies, followed by high-resolution manometry. Epidemiology and dysphagia data were obtained.A total of 45 patients (31 EoE, 14 GERD) were included. There were no significant differences in age, sex, duration of disease and presence of esophageal motility disorders. EoE patients had a higher dysphagia score (P 0.001), EREFS score (P 0.001) and peak eosinophil count (P 0.001) compared with GERD patients. Thickness of the submucosa in the distal esophagus in EoE was significantly higher than GERD (P = 0.003) and positively correlated with duration of disease (P = 0.01, R = 0.67). Positive correlation was also found between dysphagia score and distal total esophageal wall thickness (P = 0.03, R = 0.39) in EoE patients. No correlation was found between these variables in GERD patients.Distal esophageal wall thickness positively correlates with dysphagia score in EoE but not GERD. This appears to be related to the composition of the submucosa which can be identified using EUS.

To compare GI symptoms, measures of generic and disease specific health related quality of life (HRQoL), anorectal and pudendal nerve function and anal sphincter morphology between (i) patients ≥2 years after 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT)±high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for carcinoma of the prostate and aged matched patients before radiotherapy and (ii) symptomatic and asymptomatic patients ≥2 years after 3D-CRT ± HDR brachytherapy.Methodology included: (i) modified LENT-SOMA scales for GI symptoms, (ii) EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaires for generic and disease specific HRQoL, (iii) anorectal manometry and terminal motor latency for anorectal and pudendal nerve function and (iv) endorectal ultrasound for anal sphincter morphology. GI symptoms, parameters of HRQoL, anorectal and pudendal nerve function and anal sphincter morphology were compared using Mann-Whitney's U, unpaired t and χImpairment of HRQoL bowel symptoms in the patients ≥2 years after 3D-CRT ± HDR brachytherapy was associated with worse anorectal motor and sensory function, internal and external anal sphincter morphology and 5× greater prevalence of pudendal nerve dysfunction compared with age matched patients before radiotherapy. Symptomatic patients had worse (i) HRQoL measures including global quality of life and bowel and urinary symptom scores, (ii) rectal bleeding, fecal urgency and incontinence scores and (iii) a 2× higher prevalence of pudendal nerve dysfunction compared with asymptomatic patients. Rectal and anal (i) V 40 Gy65%, (ii) Dmax60 Gy, (iii) pudendal nerve Dmax60 Gy and (iv) Anal V 60 Gy40% were associated with a greater prevalence of pudendal nerve dysfunction.3D-CRT ± HDR brachytherapy for prostate carcinoma, impairs late functional measures including HRQoL, anorectal and pudendal nerve function. Rectal, anal and pudendal nerve radiation dose constraints are proposed for reducing the prevalence of pudendal nerve dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Esophageal wave amplitude is an important determinant of esophageal clearance. A threshold of 30 mmHg is widely accepted as the threshold for effective clearance in the distal esophagus. However, the precise relationship between wave amplitude and clearance has received relatively little attention. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of peristaltic wave amplitude on esophageal volume clearance using multiple intraluminal impedance (MII) measurement. METHODS: Concurrent manometry and MII were performed on 42 healthy asymptomatic volunteers and 13 patients with ineffective esophageal motility. Esophageal motility was measured at four sites 5-cm apart, starting 2 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. MII was measured at corresponding sites with electrodes incorporated into the manometric assembly. Ten 5-mL liquid (saline) boluses and ten 5-mL low impedance viscous boluses were tested in each subject. Pressure wave amplitude was determined at each site as well as peristaltic success of the responses. Bolus clearance was measured from individual recording segment and from the esophagus as a whole. RESULTS: The proportion of liquid boluses cleared at each site was directly related to wave amplitude and did not increase significantly above a threshold of 25 mmHg in the proximal esophagus, 22 mmHg in the mid-esophagus, and 30 mmHg in the distal esophagus. Corresponding wave amplitudes for total esophageal clearance were 35-40 mmHg. There was a good correlation between the wave amplitude at one site of the esophagus and those of the rest of the esophagus. For both liquid and viscous boluses, the likelihood of impaired clearance was directly related to the number of segments with hypotensive pressure waves. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm the validity of the wave amplitude threshold required for effective liquid bolus clearance and have established the amplitude threshold for clearance of viscous boluses. However, the number of hypotensive pressure waves required for the definition of ineffective motility may be too low.

Acupuncture has been shown to modulate visceral sensation and function. Traditionally, stimulation at the Neiguan (pericardial meridian) has been used to treat upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Some of the effects of acupuncture may be mediated through release of endogenous opioids and are reversed by naloxone. Gastric distension is the major trigger for transient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxations (TLESRs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electric stimulation at the Neiguan and naloxone on the TLESRs. In 14 healthy volunteers, electrical acupoint stimulation was applied at the Neiguan and a sham point on the hip in randomized order on the same day. In 12 healthy volunteers, the effects of naloxone (80 μg/kg iv bolus injection) and saline on electrical acupoint stimulation were compared on separate days at least 1 wk apart. Esophageal motility was measured during distension of the proximal stomach with 500 ml of air using a barostat balloon. Electric acupoint stimulation at the Neiguan decreased the rate of TLESRs by ∼40% from a median of 6/h to 3.5/h ( P < 0.02). Acupoint stimulation had no effect on basal LES pressure, the residual LES pressure during TLESRs, the duration of TLESRs, or gastrointestinal symptoms of fullness, bloating, discomfort, or nausea. The effect of acupoint stimulation was not inhibited by naloxone. Electric acupoint stimulation at the Neiguan significantly inhibits the frequency of TLESRs in response to gastric distention in healthy subjects. This effect does not appear to be mediated through μ-opioid receptors.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between nadir lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LOSP) and wave amplitude (WA) in oesophageal bolus clearance. Concurrent oesophageal manometry and impedance were performed in 146 subjects [41 healthy, 24 non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD) and 81 gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR)]. Patients with achalasia and diffuse oesophageal spasm were excluded. Swallow responses were categorized by nadir LOSP. For each category of nadir LOSP, WA at the distal 2 recording sites were grouped into bins of 10 mmHg and the proportion of waves in each bin associated with a normal bolus presence time (BPT) was determined. Nadir LOSP, distal BPT, total bolus transit time and the proportion of impaired oesophageal clearance in patients with NOD were greater than those of healthy subjects and patients with GOR. Overall, responses with impaired oesophageal clearance had significantly lower WA (54 +/- 1 vs 81 +/- 1 mmHg; P < 0.0001) and higher nadir LOSP (2.7 +/- 0.4 vs 1.0 +/- 0.1 mmHg, P < 0.001). For each level of nadir LOSP, there was a direct relationship between distal WA and successful bolus clearance of both liquid and viscous boluses from the distal oesophagus. As nadir LOSP increased, the relationship between WA and bolus clearance shifted to the right and higher amplitudes were required to achieve the same effectiveness of clearance. Hypotensive responses with nadir LOSP > or = 3 mmHg were less likely to clear than those with nadir LOSP < 3 mmHg, for both liquid (7/29 vs 162/276; P < 0.001) or viscous boluses (11/46 vs 176/279; P < 0.0001). Nadir LOSP is an important determinant of bolus clearance from the distal oesophagus, particularly in patients with NOD

Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) is being used increasingly to assess oesophageal bolus clearance. However, there is no good standardization of the impedance parameters that define 'effective bolus clearance'. The aim of this study was to define these important impedance parameters and to determine their normal values, Concurrent perfusion manometry and MII were performed in 42 healthy volunteers. Ten, 5-mL liquid (saline) boluses and then, 10 x 5-mL low impedance viscous boluses were tested in each subject in the right-lateral position. Normal values for bolus presence time (BPT) at each site and total bolus transit time (TBTT) were determined from either 'normal' peristaltic responses (amplitude >= 30 mmHg in distal oesophagus) or 'super-normal' peristaltic responses (amplitudes >= 50 mmHg at all sites). The relationship between BPT and TBTT within a response and per-individual performance was determined. A total of 840 swallows of liquids and viscous responses were analysed. BPT and TBTT of viscous swallows were longer than those for liquids. Non-peristaltic responses were significantly more likely not to clear a viscous than a liquid bolus. Within a response, the number of sites with prolonged BPT strongly predicted the incidence of prolonged TBTT. Using impedance criteria, normal oesophageal bolus clearance is defined when an individual completely clears at least 70% of liquid responses and at least 60% of viscous responses. This study provides normal values for impedance measurement of bolus clearance when combined with perfusion manometry. These values will allow standardization of impedance application in oesophageal function testing, in both research and clinical setting.

Delayed esophageal transit and abnormal esophageal motility occur frequently in patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus. However, the relationship between transit and motility has not been assessed directly. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of esophageal motor function documented previously to have delayed esophageal emptying and esophageal transit in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.Concurrent esophageal manometry and radionuclide measurement of transit of liquids and solids were performed in 11 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, 10 age-matched controls, and 11 young normal subjects.Patients with diabetes had a greater frequency of transit hold-up for solids (96%) than did older controls (65%) or young normals (42%) (p0.001), whereas the frequency of transit hold-up for liquid boluses was similar among the three groups (diabetics, 36%; older normals, 17%; young normals, 17%). The major mechanism responsible for bolus hold-up in diabetics was peristaltic failure (liquid, 52%; solid, 67%) and the level of hold-up coincided with the level of bolus hold-up for 10/11 liquid and 27/28 solid boluses.In insulin-dependent diabetes, retarded esophageal transit usually reflects either peristaltic failure or focal low-amplitude pressure waves.

Although it is well recognised that oesophageal symptoms are common during therapeutic mediastinal irradiation of intrathoracic malignant diseases, the effects of mediastinal irradiation on oesophageal function are poorly defined. To clarify the pathogenesis of these sequelae a prospective study was performed to document comprehensively the effects of mediastinal irradiation on oesophageal function. Oesophageal symptoms, barium swallow, endoscopy, and combined radionuclide scintigraphy and oesophageal manometry were evaluated in eight patients with potentially curable intrathoracic malignant disease before treatment, during the last week of mediastinal irradiation, and six to eight weeks after its completion. Before irradiation, structural abnormalities were excluded by barium swallow and endoscopy. All but one patient experienced odynophagia or dysphagia, or both, during mediastinal irradiation (p < 0.001) but endoscopic abnormalities were observed in only three patients and there was no correlation between oesophageal symptoms and endoscopic changes. Irradiation, however, had no significant effect on oesophageal motility or transit. It is concluded that oesophageal symptoms which develop during mediastinal irradiation are not a result of altered oesophageal motility or transit and may reflect increased mucosal sensitivity.

Background/Aims: Investigation of the motor events underlying gastroesophageal reflux has largely been confined to resting, recumbent subjects. The motor events associated with reflux during physical activity remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function underlying reflux in healthy subjects and the effect of exercise and physical activity on reflux mechanisms. Methods: LES pressure was recorded with a perfused sleeve sensor in 10 healthy subjects; intraluminal transducers recorded pressure in the stomach, esophagus, and pharynx, and pH was recorded 5 cm above the LES. Signals were stored in a portable datalogger. Recordings were made for 24 hours, including moderate physical activity, periods of rest and sleep, standardized meals, and standardized exercise. Results: Most reflux episodes (81 of 123; 66%) occurred in the 3 hours after food intake: only 2 episodes occurred during exercise. LES pressure was ≤3 cm H 2 O in 79% of reflux episodes. Transient LES relaxation was the mechanism of reflux in 82% of episodes, irrespective of activity or body position, whereas swallow-related LES relaxations accounted for 13% and persistently absent LES pressure accounted for 1%. Straining occurred in only 20% of episodes. Conclusions: In ambulant healthy subjects, accurate continuous recording of LES function is possible, reflux usually occurs during transient LES relaxations, and straining is not a major factor in the induction of reflux.