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Biomedical subjects

I Mainie

Publications and source records attributed to I Mainie.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist on oesophageal function and gastro-oesophageal reflux: studies using combined impedance-manometry and combined impedance-pH.

BACKGROUND: 5-HT(4) receptor agonists are used as promotility agents of the stomach, small and large intestine. There is limited information on the influence of 5-HT(4) receptor agonists on oesophageal function and gastro-oesophageal reflux. AIM: To evaluate the effects of tegaserod, a 5-HT(4) agonist on oesophageal function using impedance-manometry and postprandial reflux using impedance-pH monitoring. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled in a double-blind randomized three-period crossover placebo-controlled study. Impedance-manometry and impedance-pH monitoring after a refluxogenic meal were performed at baseline and after 2 days of dosing with tegaserod 6 mg b.d. or placebo. Multichannel intraluminal impedance-EM recorded pressure and bolus transit data during standardized swallows. Multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring recorded the number of 2-h postprandial acid and non-acid reflux episodes. RESULTS: We found no significant difference in distal oesophageal amplitude when subjects received placebo (median 94.5; range: 53-243 mmHg) or tegaserod (93.6; 43-216 mmHg). Bolus transit time was similar during dosing with placebo (7.1; 5.3-9.4 s) and tegaserod (7.2; 5.9-11.1 s). We observed similar numbers of acid and non-acid reflux episodes during dosing with placebo (5; 0-15 and 3; 0-18, respectively) and tegaserod (2; 0-11 and 4; 0-19, respectively). CONCLUSION: Tegaserod, a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist does not change oesophageal motility and gastro-oesophageal reflux parameters in healthy volunteers.

Adult↗

Acid and non-acid reflux in patients with persistent symptoms despite acid suppressive therapy: a multicentre study using combined ambulatory impedance-pH monitoring.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Empiric proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trials have become increasingly popular leading to gastroenterologists frequently evaluating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) patients only after they have "failed" PPI therapy. Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH (MII-pH) monitoring has the ability to detect gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) episodes independent of their pH and evaluate the relationship between symptoms and all types of GOR. Using this technique, we aimed to characterise the frequency of acid and non-acid reflux (NAR) and their relationship to typical and atypical GOR symptoms in patients on PPI therapy. METHODS: Patients with persistent GORD symptoms referred to three centres underwent 24 hour combined MII-pH monitoring while taking PPIs at least twice daily. Reflux episodes were detected by impedance channels located 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, and 17 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) and classified into acid or non-acid based on pH data from 5 cm above the LOS. A positive symptom index (SI) was declared if at least half of each specific symptom events were preceded by reflux episodes within five minutes. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients (103 (61%) females and 65 (39%) males; mean age 53 (range 18-85) years) underwent combined MII-pH monitoring while taking PPIs at least twice daily. One hundred and forty four (86%) patients recorded symptoms during the study day and 24 (15%) patients had no symptoms during testing. Sixty nine (48%) symptomatic patients had a positive SI for at least one symptom (16 (11%) with acid reflux and 53 (37%) with NAR) and 75 (52%) had a negative SI. A total of 171 (57%) typical GORD symptoms were recorded, 19 (11%) had a positive SI for acid reflux, 52 (31%) for NAR, and 100 (58%) had a negative SI. One hundred and thirty one (43%) atypical symptoms were recorded, four (3%) had a positive SI for acid reflux, 25 (19%) had a positive SI for NAR, and 102 (78%) had a negative SI. CONCLUSION: Combined MII-pH identifies the relation of reflux of all types to persistent symptoms and the importance of NAR in patients taking PPIs.

Adolescent↗

Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring to select patients with persistent gastro-oesophageal reflux for laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring detects gastro-oesophageal reflux and identifies acid and non-acid reflux events. It can be used in patients with persistent symptoms on proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The aim of this study was to assess laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication as a treatment for patients with persistent symptoms associated with reflux despite acid suppression documented by MII-pH monitoring. METHOD: A prospectively maintained database identified patients with persistent symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease despite PPI therapy who had undergone MII-pH monitoring and this was cross-referenced with patients who had undergone fundoplication at this institution. Follow-up after fundoplication was by periodic telephone interview and review of clinical records. RESULTS: Of 200 evaluated patients, 19 (14 female; mean age 40 (range 0.7-78) years) underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Before surgery, 18 of 19 patients had a positive symptom index (at least half of symptoms associated with reflux) and one, a negative symptom index. After a mean follow-up of 14 (range 7-25) months, 16 of 17 (94 per cent) patients with a positive symptom index were asymptomatic or markedly improved (one patient was lost to follow-up). Persistent symptoms occurred in the patient with a negative symptom index, and one patient had recurrent symptoms after 9 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with a positive symptom index resistant to PPIs with non-acid or acid reflux demonstrated by MII-pH monitoring can be treated successfully by laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Adolescent↗

Disposable balloon-based oesophageal motility catheters: comparison with solid-state transducers.

BACKGROUND: Current oesophageal manometry systems use either water-perfused or solid-state pressure transducers. Recently developed single-use disposable catheters use small balloons prefilled with air that transmit the pressure of oesophageal contractions to external transducers. AIM: To compare data obtained from single-use disposable balloon catheters to data from solid-state systems. METHODS: Healthy volunteers, patients with ineffective oesophageal motility and nutcracker oesophagus were studied to include a broad range of pressures. A single-use disposable Clinical Innovations (CI) catheter was placed adjacent to a solid-state Konigsberg Instruments (KI) catheter with pressure transducers at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS). Subjects received liquid and viscous swallows at 30-s intervals. Healthy volunteers received additional sets of swallows while having only one catheter in the oesophagus. RESULTS: When both catheters were present in the oesophagus, no differences were noted between mean pressure measurements in the distal oesophagus and there was good correlation between pressures recorded in response to individual swallows. When present alone in the oesophagus the CI catheter recorded lower mean pressures compared with the KI catheter. Overall there was good agreement in classifying swallows as normal, ineffective and simultaneous. CONCLUSION: Single-use oesophageal manometry catheters are promising alternatives to solid-state manometry systems in measuring intra-oesophageal pressures.

Adult↗

Histamine-2 receptor antagonists at night improve gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms for patients on proton pump inhibitor therapy.

While night-time symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common, considerable controversy exists regarding the use of histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2Ras) for night-time reflux control. Some studies have suggested possible tolerance to H2RA while others have suggested that long-term efficacy of gastric acid control can be maintained with night-time H2RA use. The aim of this study was to identify if GERD patients have sustained symptom improvement with long-term use of night-time H2RA. Records of 56 consecutive GERD patients on twice daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and night-time H2RA therapy were reviewed. During a phone interview patients were asked a 5-item questionnaire, which included overall assessment of symptoms, night-time symptoms, sleep disturbance, duration and frequency of therapy. Of the 56 patients, 39 (31 women, mean age 56) completed the questionnaire (15 were not reached and 2 did not recall enough information). All respondents had taken night-time H2RA for at least 1 month (28/39 patients with > 6 months duration) with 33/39 patients taking H2RAs every night. The addition of H2RA led to an improvement in overall symptoms in 28/39 (72%) patients, improvement in night-time reflux symptoms in 25/34 (74%) patients and improvement of GERD-associated sleep disturbance in 18/27 (67%) patients. Five (13%) patients had stopped the H2RA on their own, stating that its efficacy waned after 1 month. Our results suggest that the majority of patients report persistent improvement in GERD symptoms from night-time H2RA use and that possible clinically important tolerance to H2RAs occurs in a small number of patients. Further prospective, placebo-controlled studies may help confirm that there is a role for night-time H2RAs in GERD symptom control.

Drug Administration Schedule↗

Fundoplication eliminates chronic cough due to non-acid reflux identified by impedance pH monitoring.

The symptoms of extra-oesophageal gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) (such as chronic cough and hoarseness) are traditionally more difficult to treat than typical GORD symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation). Patients with extra-oesophageal manifestations may require longer and higher doses of acid suppressive therapy. In patients not responding to acid suppressive therapy the physician faces a dilemma as to whether the symptoms are due to ongoing acid reflux, non-acid reflux, or not associated with reflux. We report the case of a 45 year old woman with a history of a chronic cough referred for fundoplication after documenting her symptoms were associated with non-acid reflux using multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH (MII-pH).

Chronic Disease↗

Teaching PRHO prescribing.

Changes have occurred recently in the teaching syllabus in medical schools across the United Kingdom. These changes have taken the format of modular teaching with group participation and the grouping of topics such as anatomy, physiology and clinical medicine being combined. A short study was designed to assess if students of the new curriculum were competent at answering clinical questions that occur frequently, and common prescribing requests.

Clinical Competence↗

Electrocardiogram and rhythm strip interpretation by final year medical students.

The pre-registration house officers (PRHO) is often called upon to interpret electrocardiograms ECG. We invited final-year medical students who had successfully completed their written final examinations, to interpret three rhythm-strip tracings, and three 12-lead ECG tracings. The rhythm-strips were of ventricular fibrillation (VF), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and complete heart block. Of the three 12-lead ECG tracings, one was an inferior myocardial infarction (MI), one was atrial fibrillation (AF), and one showed no abnormality. Forty-six medical students attended. Of these, 50% had received no formal training in ECG interpretation, although 89% had tried to learn ECG interpretation from books. Only 9% felt confident in their interpretation of ECG tracings. Of the rhythm-strips, 100% correctly identified VF, 96% recognised VT, and 67% identified complete heart block. Of the 12-lead ECG tracings, 61 % recognised the MI, 54% recognised AF, and only 46% successfully identified the normal ECG as such. The group were significantly worse at 12-lead ECG interpretation compared to rhythm-strips (p<0.01). The members of the group who had received formal training in ECG interpretation were significantly better at interpreting both rhythm-strips and 12-lead ECG tracings (p<0.05). It would appear that formal ECG training as an undergraduate improves PRHO interpretation of ECG tracings, and the PRHO should not interpret 12-lead ECG tracings without consulting more senior medical staff.

Cardiology↗