24 Hour Esophageal and Electrogastrography to Investigate the Mechanism of Reflux Esophagitis
Reflux EsophagitisWe hypothesize that gastric dysrhythmias may predispose the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux.
The Role of HRM and Specific Biomarkers of Inflammation in the Diagnosis of Patients With Dysphagia...
Eosinophilic EsophagitisThe aim of the project is to assess the correlation between the results of high-resolution oesophageal manometry and specific biomarkers of inflammation (eotaxin 3, major basic protein, IL-5, IL-13, TGF-beta1) with symptoms of dysphagia, endoscopic and histological features and the assessment of quality of life in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Research hypothesis: The results of high resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) and specific inflammatory biomarkers correlate with symptoms of dysphagia, endoscopic and histological features, and assessment of quality of life in patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis. HRM, along with the determination of specific inflammatory biomarkers present in the peripheral blood, may serve as a less invasive method of assessing the effectiveness of the treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis in relation to the currently used endoscopic examinations.
Diagnostic Value of Linked Color Imaging for Minimal Change Esophagitis in Nonerosive Reflux Esophagitis...
Gastroesophageal Reflux DiseaseMinimal Change Disease1 moreLinked color imaging(LCI),a new system for endoscopy modality,creates clear and bright endoscopic images by using short-wavelength narrow-band laser light combined with white laser light on the basis of magnifying blue laser imaging(BLI) technology.LCI makes red areas appear redder and white areas appear whiter.Thus,it is easier to recognize a slight difference in color of the mucosa.This is a study to assess the effectiveness of LCI for diagnosing esophageal minimal endoscopic lesions and Los Angeles classification system when compared to conventional white-light endoscopy (WLI).Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is a common disease that be defined as a condition which develops when the reflux of stomach contents cause troublesome symptoms and/or complications.Esophageal injury was classified according to the Los Angeles classification system,Non-erosive reflux disease(NERD) is defined by the presence of troublesome reflux-associated symptoms and the absence of mucosal breaks at endoscopy,which includes minimal change oesophagitis and no endoscopic abnormalities.LCI improved the visualization of the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) by enhancing the contrast,mucosa minimal changes could be seen more easily and clearly with LCI than with standard white-light endoscopy.By comparing White-light endoscopy and LCI,it will show if there is any comparable advantage to using one or the other for lesion detection.
Compassionate Use of Dupilumab
Bullous PemphigoidPediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)2 moreProvide Compassionate Use of Dupilumab
Aceto-whitening in the Assessment of Gastrointestinal Neoplasia
Barrett EsophagusBarrett Metaplasia2 moreAcetic acid chromoendoscopy is an established standard technique used to detect dysplasia within the gastrointestinal tract. Acetic acid spray helps to identify neoplasia by highlighting the surface pattern, highlighting the vascular pattern and by a process known as the aceto-whitening reaction, where tissues take acetic acid and turn white for a brief period and then slowly revert back to a normal colour. The neoplastic surface and vascular pattern are all very well described, and have played a big role in the recognition of early cancer. The aceto-whitening reaction is well described but the differential in timing between neoplastic and non-neoplastic areas is not well understood. The investigators aim to establish the differential in the timing of the disappearance of the aceto-whitening reaction between healthy tissue, dysplastic tissue, intramucosal cancer and invasive cancer after acetic acid dye spray in the oesophagus and colon. By understanding this better, the investigators may be able to predict with greater accuracy whether a highlighted abnormal area is cancer or high grade dysplasia, or whether it is low grade dysplasia or inflammation, which has significant prognostic implications for the patient. The investigators hypothesize that the differential in the timing of the disappearance of the aceto-whitening reaction between normal and abnormal tissue could help in the detection of gastrointestinal neoplasia.
New Serological Markers for Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic EsophagitisThe purpose of the study is to investigate if serological parameters such as "extracellular Serum-Tryptase (ST)" and "eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP)" are useful for the diagnosis and surveillance of the eosinophilic esophagitis (EE).
The Bacterial Composition of the Stomach in Reflux Disease
GORDOesophageal Cancer6 moreGastric and oesophageal (OG) cancer associated with poor long term outcome as overall less than 25% of patients survive for more than 5 years due to late recognition of the disease. Growing evidence suggests an important role for bacteria in OG cancer and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GORD) development. About 1 in 10 people suffer from GORD and this one of the most common conditions leading to gastric and oesophageal cancer. In GORD surgical therapy is the most successful preventing cancer but around 85% of patient experience complications afterwards. Acid suppressing medications are reducing the risk of oesophageal cancer but equally increasing the risk of gastric cancer. They also shorten patients' life expectancy and often fail to provide relief. Analysis of stool samples of patients with GORD demonstrated different gut bacterial compositions to normal and rather resembled the one found in cancer. There is a clear need to improve the outcome of OG cancer. This could be achieved by identifying bacteria responsible for cancer development in gastric tissue, gastric content and saliva and potentially eliminate them hence avoid the development of cancer.
Identification of Autoantigens in EGPA and Severe Eosinophilic Asthma
Churg-Strauss SyndromeEosinophilic Asthma2 moreIn this project the investigators will look for auto-antibodies to relevant proteins both in native form and importantly in post-translationally modified forms. Potential modified auto-antigens are eosinophil proteins (analogous to the cytoplasmic neutrophil proteins identified in vasculitides such as Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis) and alternatively structural proteins such as collagen V. As well as advancing the understanding of asthma pathology, identifying a serum auto-antibody that could then be used as a clinical blood test, analogous to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, may revolutionise diagnosis of severe eosinophilic asthma and Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA). There is a considerable burden of undiagnosed severe eosinophilic asthma in part due to difficulties in definitive diagnosis and a diagnostic blood test would help diagnose these patients, allowing them to receive necessary treatment.
The Use of Fractionated Exhaled Nitric Oxide in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Disease Activity...
Eosinophilic EsophagitisThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between fractionated exhaled nitric oxide, peripheral eosinophils, and plasma citrulline and ß-alanine in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) compared to those without EoE. The hypothesis is that a combination of elevated fractional exhaled nitric oxide, increased peripheral eosinophils, and elevated plasma citrulline and ß-alanine is associated with active EoE.
A Pilot Study to Explore the Role of Gut Flora in Crohn's Disease
Crohn DiseaseCrohn Colitis12 moreThis study seeks to correlate microbiome sequencing data with information provided by patients and their medical records regarding Crohn's disease.