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2024 MAR 16 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Digestive System Diseases and Conditions - Barrett Esophagus [...]

Background: Individuals with Barrett's esophagus, in which the normal squamous esophageal epithelium is replaced with a columnar mucosa, are at increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Mucosal injury may be involved in the progression to neoplasia via the synthesis of prostaglandins and other mediators of inflammation. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in prostaglandin synthesis. We examined the effect of inhibiting COX-2 activity in Barrett's esophageal cells. Methods: Primary esophageal epithelial and fibroblast cell cultures were established from endoscopic biopsy specimens from 20 consecutive patients with Barrett's esophagus. COX-2 expression and activity were determined on pooled cell cultures by reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction and prostaglandin [E.sub.2] (PG[E.sub.2]) enzyme immunoassay, respectively. Proliferation was measured by Ki-67 staining. PG[E.sub.2] levels were determined in supernatants from epithelial cells treated with the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398, proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1[beta] and tumor necrosis factor-[alpha]), and conditioned medium from fibroblast cultures (both unstimulated and stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines). Results: Esophageal epithelial cells and fibroblasts expressed COX-2 messenger RNA. Compared with control-treated cells, NS-398 decreased proliferation of Barrett's esophageal epithelial cells by 55% (95% confidence interval = 47.1% to 63.8%; P

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Aspirin use appears to reduce the risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE), the largest known risk factor for [...]

Three studies presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology's 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego underscore the growing disparities in gastrointestinal disease, particularly colon cancer and Barrett's [...]

Abstract A 40-year-old liver transplant patient presented with symptoms of esophagitis. He was initially managed conservatively, but esophagitis rapidly progressed to an ulcerated mass and adenocarcinoma in 4 weeks time [...]

Synopsis: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), GERD, and Barrett's esophagus (BE) are all on the rise, and there is no doubt that BE is a major risk factor for EAC. However, many [...]

TUCSON, ARIZ. -- High levels of survivin gene expression may identify patients with Barrett's esophagus who are at risk for developing precancerous dysplasia, Daniel Vallbohmer, M.D., reported at the annual [...]

Source: Murray L, et al. BMJ(USA). 2003;3:534-535 ALTHOUGH SURVEILLANCE OF BARRETT'S esophagus (BES) for early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma (E-CA) has become routine, the cost efficacy of this intervention is [...]

ALTHOUGH SURVEILLANCE OF BARETT'S esophagus (BES) for early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma (E-CA) has become routine, the cost efficacy of this intervention is only scantily described. Population data from Northern [...]

The risk for Barrett's esophagus is not increased by gastric surgery for benign peptic ulcer disease, according to Dr. Benjamin Avidan of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in [...]

Background: Many otherwise healthy individuals with episodic heartburn self-medicate with over-the-counter antacids. We evaluated clinical characteristics of subjects who had never been medically diagnosed as having any upper gastrointestinal tract disorder and who used antacids for symptomatic relief of heartburn. Subjects and Methods: Subjects with at least 3 months of frequent heartburn relieved by antacids, and with heartburn on at least 4 of 7 days during the week prior to study entry, had their medical history and gastrointestinal pathological characteristics recorded. Tests included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal motility and sensitivity studies, and 24-hour pH monitoring. Results: Of 178 subjects screened, 13 were excluded on the basis of other gastrointestinal diseases at baseline, including diffuse esophageal spasm, peptic ulcer disease, dysplastic columnar metaplasia of the esophagus (Barrett's esophagus), and adenocarcinoma. Ten subjects were ineligible because of insufficient baseline heartburn. The remaining 155 eligible subjects had heartburn for an average of 11 years. Forty-seven percent had daily symptoms and 70% described heartburn severity as moderate, even though on endoscopy most (53%) had normal-appearing esophageal mucosa (grade 0 or 1). Esophageal acid sensitivity was present in 86% of subjects. Mean lower esophageal sphincter pressures and esophageal contractile amplitudes were at the lower limits of normal and total esophageal acid contact time was slightly increased. Conclusions: Chronic heartburn can reflect a wide range of diagnostic findings, including important underlying pathological features, and may warrant a full medical examination to detect such abnormal conditions and to permit selection of appropriate therapy. Arch Intern Med. 1998; 158:23 73-23 76