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) Is ineffective oesophageal motility associated with
IEM is associated with an increased acid clearance times in the distal oesophagus. Gastropharyngeal reflux causes supraoesophageal manifestations such as globus, chronic cough, hoarseness, asthma, chronic sinusitis, or other otorhinolaryngologic diseases. It might be hypothesised that patients with IEM would be unable to clear refluxed acid; this would lead to a prolonged oesophageal dwell time of the refluxed acid and then the refluxed acid would reach to a higher level. As a result, it would be presumed that patients with IEM have more gastropharyngeal reflux than those patients with normal oesophageal motility.A research article published on 21 October 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Prof. Kim from Pusan National University Hospital evaluated the association between IEM and gastropharyngeal reflux in a large series of patients who underwent ambulatory 24-hour dual-probe pH monitoring for the evaluation of supraoesophageal symptoms. More>>
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) Incisionless surgery for heartburn goes for the throat
"The quality of life issues related to reflux really can be severe. In fact, GERD can lead to the development of a need for a lung transplant, and we see that all the time. They're [breathing in stomach acids] and they're scarring and then the lungs don't work ... [and] reflux disease is a big risk factor, the main risk factor, for esophageal cancer, which is a lethal disease."Most reflux patients, however, don't develop that cancer. Only about 1 percent or fewer appear to get esophageal cancer.
Dr. Jobe diagnosed Mrs. Crawford's complication as probable adult-onset asthma. More important, he also provided what is, if its short track record holds up, a cure for both the heartburn and the asthma.
It's a brand-new incisionless surgery he helped to pioneer in the United States called transoral incisionless endoscopic fundoplication, or EsophX. More>>
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) New Test for Chronic Cough
Pulmonologists like Dr. Hahn say the four main causes of chronic cough are post-nasal drip, acid reflux, asthma and a type of non-asthmatic bronchitis. With just a few breaths, the new test allows doctors to find out which patients suffer from two treatable conditions, asthma and bronchitis. "[By doing] this very simple, non-invasive test up front, we were able to find patients who were responsive to inhaled corticosteroids as a treatment for their cough," Dr. Hahn said. Rueggs sees firsthand how this test helps her patients. "They think it's wonderful there's another test that can really zero in on their diagnosis," Rueggs said.Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:
Lisa Lucier Public Affairs Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (507) 284-5005 newsbureau@mayo.edu . More>> - (
) Kidney disease diagnosis takes woman by surprise
DONOHUE: I suffer from acid reflux, and it affects my asthma. I also have a hiatal hernia. My gastroenterologist recommends doctoring with medicine. A surgeon's opinion is that the asthma will not get better without surgery. What is your opinion? — L.W. The upward splashing of stomach acid and stomach juices into the esophagus and higher can induce asthma attacks. The upward splashing is gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD (heartburn). Often, that can be controlled with medicine. If it can't, then surgery should be considered. I'd take the medicine route first. If it doesn't work, then you can consider the surgical approach. DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read your article on the T value of osteoporosis, and I am very confused. You wrote: "A T-score of .5 or less indicates osteoporosis. More>>