Do we need endoscopic ultrasonography for the workup of patients with esophageal motility disorder? Oumrani Sarra,Barret Maximilien,Roseau Gilles,Brieau Bertrand,Leblanc Sarah,Coriat Romain,Prat Frédéric,Chaussade Stanislas Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology INTRODUCTION:Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is advised in the workup of achalasia patients to rule out secondary achalasia or pseudoachalasia, and search for a typical esophageal wall thickening. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical contribution of EUS findings in achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders (EMD). METHODS:We conducted a single center retrospective study at a tertiary referral centre. We included all patients with an EUS for the workup of a suspected EMD from January 2012 to December 2017. RESULTS:Sixty-nine patients were included, 52% were men, with a median (±SD) age of 61 ± 14 years. Median (±SD) Eckardt Score was 7 ± 2. EUS was normal in 26 (38%) patients, and showed an esophageal wall thickening in 43 (62%) patients. Three cases of secondary achalasia were diagnosed at mucosal biopsies: 2 esophageal carcinomas and one eosinophilic esophagitis. Esophageal wall thickening was not significantly associated with the type of EMD or achalasia subtype and there was no statistical correlation between the presence of a wall thickening at EUS and therapeutic outcomes. CONCLUSION:In our work, the presence of an esophageal wall thickening was not predictive of the type of EMD nor achalasia subtype or treatment outcome. The contribution of endoscopic ultrasonography in achalasia and other EMD seems limited. 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.02.005

Characteristics of esophageal proper muscle in patients with non-cardiac chest pain using high-frequency intraluminal ultrasound. Kim Jeong Hwan,Choi Yong Sung,Kim Jae J,Rhee Jong Chul,Rhee Poong-Lyul Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology BACKGROUND AND AIM:It is unclear which mechanisms play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of esophageal non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). We aimed to examine the features of esophageal proper muscle and esophageal contractility using a high-frequency intraluminal ultrasound (HFIUS) in patients with NCCP. METHODS:A total of 68 patients with NCCP were classified into two groups according to the results of typical reflux symptoms and/or esophagogastroduodenoscopy and/or 24-h esophageal pH monitoring: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-positive NCCP (n = 34) and GERD-negative NCCP groups (n = 34). Additionally 16 asymptomatic healthy subjects were included as controls. Using HFIUS, we analyzed the esophageal proper muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) at 3 cm above lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and 9 cm above LES during baseline rest and peak contraction periods among the control, GERD-positive NCCP and GERD-negative NCCP groups, and examined the completeness of three phases of esophageal action during five wet swallows in the three groups. RESULTS:The muscle thickness and CSA tended to be larger in GERD-negative NCCP than in GERD-positive NCCP and in control groups at esophageal body during both periods. All of the controls and patients with GERD-positive NCCP presented the complete peristaltic type. Whereas, 11 of 34 patients with GERD-negative NCCP presented the incomplete peristaltic type. CONCLUSIONS:Using HFIUS, patients with GERD-negative NCCP had increased muscle thickness and CSA. Some GERD-negative NCCP had the incomplete peristaltic type. 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2012.07263.x

Developments in Gastrointestinal Electrical Stimulation. Lin Zhiyue,Chen J D Z Critical reviews in biomedical engineering Electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, analogous to pacing the human heart, is an attractive idea. This is because these organs, like the heart, have their own natural pacemakers, and the electrical signals they generate can be altered by externally delivering certain types of electric currents via intraluminal or serosal electrodes to certain areas of the GI tract. A number of studies on animals have been accomplished successfully to treat a variety of disease models, including gastroparesis, dumping, and short bowel syndrome. Over the past 10 years or so, electrical stimulation of the GI tract has received increasing attention among researchers and clinicians because of new techniques, such as implantable devices, and promising results achieved in treatment of gastroparesis and morbid obesity. The objective of this article is to review the advances in electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. First the electrophysiology of the GI tract and history of GI electrical stimulation are introduced. Then various methods of electrical stimulation of the stomach and small bowel in healthy animals and models of GI diseases are reviewed. Finally clinical applications of electrical stimulation to GI disorders and their possible mechanisms are discussed. 10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.v45.i1-6.120

Gastrointestinal Neuropathies: New Insights and Emerging Therapies. Pesce Marcella,Borrelli Osvaldo,Saliakellis Efstratios,Thapar Nikhil Gastroenterology clinics of North America The bewildering complexity of the enteric nervous system makes it susceptible to develop a wide array of motility disorders, collectively called enteric neuropathies. These gastrointestinal conditions are among the most challenging to manage, mainly given poor characterization of their etiopathophysiology and outcomes. Not surprisingly, therefore, targeted or curative therapies for enteric neuropathies are lacking and management is largely symptomatic. Nonetheless, recent advances in neurogastroenterology have witnessed improvements in established strategies, such as intestinal transplantation and the emergence of new treatments including novel drugs, electrical pacing, and manipulation of fecal microbiota, as well as stem cell and gene therapy. 10.1016/j.gtc.2018.07.011

Clinical measurement of gastrointestinal motility and function: who, when and which test? Fox Mark R,Kahrilas Peter J,Roman Sabine,Gyawali C Prakash,Scott S Mark,Rao Satish S,Keller Jutta,Camilleri Michael, Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology Symptoms related to abnormal gastrointestinal motility and function are common. Oropharyngeal and oesophageal dysphagia, heartburn, bloating, abdominal pain and alterations in bowel habits are among the most frequent reasons for seeking medical attention from internists or general practitioners and are also common reasons for referral to gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons. However, the nonspecific nature of gastrointestinal symptoms, the absence of a definitive diagnosis on routine investigations (such as endoscopy, radiology or blood tests) and the lack of specific treatments make disease management challenging. Advances in technology have driven progress in the understanding of many of these conditions. This Review serves as an introduction to a series of Consensus Statements on the clinical measurements of gastrointestinal motility, function and sensitivity. A structured, evidence-based approach to the initial assessment and empirical treatment of patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms is discussed, followed by an outline of the contribution of modern physiological measurement on the management of patients in whom the cause of symptoms has not been identified with other tests. Discussions include the indications for and utility of high-resolution manometry, ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring, gastric emptying studies, breath tests and investigations of anorectal structure and function in day-to-day practice and clinical management. 10.1038/s41575-018-0030-9