Active clinical trials for "Gastroesophageal Reflux"

Due to several promoting factors, gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is very frequent in preterm infants. To limit the potentially harmful widespread of pharmacological treatment, a step-wise approach, which firstly undertakes conservative strategies, is currently considered the best choice to manage GER in the preterm population. Among the most common conservative strategies, postural measures seem to effectively reduce GER features in symptomatic preterm babies, whereas feed thickening is almost ineffective. Due to their prematurity, preterm infants <34 weeks gestation are often unable to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing, thus requiring a feeding tube to ensure adequate enteral intakes. Continuous feeding and boluses are the most common techniques of enteral tube feeding in Neonatal Intensive Care Units; at present, however, the effects of these techniques on GER features have not been clearly established. This observational, prospective and explorative study primarily aims to evaluate the effect of different techniques of enteral tube feeding on GER frequency and features in symptomatic preterm infants (gestational age ≤33 weeks) undergoing a diagnostic combined pH and multiple intraluminal impedance (pH-MII) for GER evaluation.

This is a pilot study of a novel disposable transnasal esophagoscope for feasibility, safety and tolerance.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is widely used in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), however, some patients fail to respond to PPI therapy. Recent reporters suggest that depressive disorders, anxiety, sleep dysfunction were related with the symptomatic responses to a PPI treatments. Nevertheless, the predictive factors of response to PPI treatment still remain controversial. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of PPI therapy, and to evaluate the predictors of the PPI response in patients with symptomatic GERD by using the questionnaire which consisted of GERD symptoms, GERD impact scale (GIS), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and WHO quality of life scale abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF).

This PMS study had the objective to evaluate under ordinary medical care conditions the efficacy and tolerability of esomeprazole in patients who where treated by general practitioners and internists.

The purpose of this project is to lay the groundwork for a proposed clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of two approaches to gastroesophageal reflux disease: treatment with medications and treatment with anti-reflux surgery. This project includes a non-interventional pilot study to test ways of measuring outcomes of treatment, and to gauge potential participants' willingness to enroll in the proposed clinical trial.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pantoprazole on sleep disorders in patients with NERD (non-erosive reflux disease) or eGERD (erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease). The prevalence and intensity of the sleep disorders were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire. The study was expected to provide further data on safety and tolerability of pantoprazole.

This is a research study to learn more about whether capsaicin, a natural ingredient of chili peppers that makes them taste "hot", can improve swallowing function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether sucking on a capsaicin lozenge improves sensation in the throat enough to improve swallowing function.

Bile reflux gastropathy is caused by the backward flow of duodenal fluid into the stomach. A retrospective cohort study was performed to declare if the therapeutic biliary interventions cause bile reflux gastropathy, and to estimate its prevalence and risk factors, and to evaluate the gastric mucosa endoscopic and histopathologic changes.

White light endoscopy remains the gold standard technique to evaluate gastrointestinal tract. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is defined as presence of reflux symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation) associated or not with lesions in esophageal mucosa. Based on findings at videoendoscopy GERD patients can have a complicated reflux disease (erosive esophagitis) or not and be considered as a non erosive reflux disease (NERD). 60% of GERD patients have normal endoscopy (NERD) and requires further studies to achieve a definitive diagnosis. Based on this fact is that the study will be focus on NERD patients. Recently an image-enhanced endoscopic technology using a pre-processor band-limited light called Optical Enhancement system (OE system™), was developed (Pentax Medical). This new technology combines digital signal processing with optical filters that limit the spectral characteristics of the illumination light. The new innovated optical filters achieve higher overall transmittance by connecting the peaks of the hemoglobin absorption spectrum (415 nm, 540 nm and 570 nm) creating a continuous wavelength spectrum. There are two modes with different OE filters (Mode 1 and Mode 2). Mode 1 is designed to improve visualization of microvessels with a sufficient amount of light, and Mode 2 is designed to improve contrast of white-light observation by bringing the color tone of the overall image closer to that of natural color. In addition, new scopes has been developed which combines high definition images with optical magnification called Magniview™. These scopes increase the image up to 136 times with a better quality of image than standard scopes without optical zoom. Sharma et al. evaluated esophageal changes in NERD patients using a similar pre-processor filter called Narrow Band Imaging (NBI). They found that a significantly higher proportion of patients with NERD had an increased number, dilation and tortuosity of the microscopic intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs), and were considered the best predictors for diagnosing NERD. They used optical chromoendoscopy technology (NBI) associated to magnification scopes (Olympus GIF Q240Z, 115x), but they did not evaluated if the contribution with this technology to the observations found in GERD patients were as a result of the NBI or the magnification scopes. The investigators opinion is that chromoendoscopy is useful but is the magnification what makes up the difference.

Reflux and dyspeptic symptoms are common affecting 10-20% of the population on a regular basis. Reflux symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation are caused by the return of acid or non-acid gastric contents into the esophagus. Dyspeptic symptoms are caused by abnormal gastric relaxation (impaired accommodation) or increased sensitivity of the stomach to distension during the meal. The effects of diet on gastrointestinal function are debated and the efficacy of dietary management for digestive symptoms has not been established. Epidemiological studies suggest an effect; however, it is not possible to distinguish the effects of fat intake and total energy (i.e. calorie) intake in this work. This issue has been addressed by small physiological studies. The results show that esophageal acid exposure was related to total calorie intake but not to fat content. In contrast, the number of reflux symptoms was 40% higher after the high-fat than the low-fat meals. Similar findings were found for the relationship between gastric distension, fullness and dyspeptic symptoms by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Thus, it appears that fat does not cause digestive dysmotility but heightens sensitivity to visceral events and so increases the number and severity of symptoms reported by patients. As yet, these findings have not been confirmed in larger, more representative surveys. Similar to the effects of food, there are inconsistent findings regarding the effects of alcohol on gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and gastric function. Physiological studies have noted delayed gastric emptying and an increase in reflux events when alcohol is taken with food. However, larger surveys have not confirmed that alcohol triggers reflux or dyspeptic symptoms. The proposed observational, dietary study with cross-over design will assess the independent effects of energy intake (i.e. calorie load) and fat intake on gastric fullness, the number and severity of reflux and dyspeptic symptoms after meals. The effect of alcohol on symptoms after the high calorie, high fat meals will also be documented. The study population of senior academics attending a conference are likely to have a relatively high prevalence of risk factors for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) being predominantly male, with an older age and a larger waist circumference than average in the general community. This will increase study power and relevance of the findings. The results will provide new information concerning the impact of dietary factors and alcohol on digestive symptoms after meals. This data will inform future guidelines for the dietary management of patients with reflux and dyspeptic symptoms after meals which will be relevant in both primary and secondary care.